Dear Covington Parents and Community Members,

Ready, Set, Go!
Spring is definitely here and this weekend kicks-off the annual end of the year busy, celebratory season.  Junior Olympics, Open House, CSTEM Showcase, 6th grade Basketball Tournament, 6th grade promotion…the list goes on!

Get ready to celebrate student's work, ideas and friendships.

This Saturday is one of my all-time favorite events in LASD. I love the Junior Olympics and the team spirit and camaraderie that go hand-in-hand with the athletic events.  The opening ceremony is one of the greatest experiences. I love seeing each school entering the field ablaze in their school colors.  I cannot wait to celebrate our Covington students this Saturday and look forward to all that the day will bring.  See everyone in ORANGE on Saturday!

Staffing News
Each spring brings transition and this year we have some news to share.  We are excited for our beloved teachers who are moving on, but will miss them dearly.  Eileen Cuzzi and Jennifer Portillo have shared a message with you below.

From Eileen Cuzzi
Dear Families,

I am both happy and sad to announce that I am retiring.  I’m sad because I know I will miss working with your children.  The teaching profession is so wonderful in that it gives you the opportunity to love children other than your own, and this is what has happened to me at Covington.  It has been so delightful to connect with a new group of children every year, and also to see students grow and progress through Covington. 

My plans are pretty simple- spend time with my family, hike, take classes, learn Spanish (again!), finish the never ending house projects, and garden.  There will probably be a trip or two in there somewhere, too.  You will still see me around, and might even run into me on the Mist Trail at Yosemite, as just happened over Spring Break.

Your children are great and I really appreciate the opportunity to have been a part of their lives.  Thanks for everything!

From Jennifer Portillo
Dear Covington Families,

I have some big, personal news to share. After almost four years of law school, Bar prep, and applying for jobs, my husband, Devan, was recently hired as a District Attorney for Mariposa County! He has started his job there and loves it! My son and I will be joining him at the end of the school year. I am very excited for our family and this big move, and also very sad I will be leaving the Covington community. I have learned so much from this school and my colleagues and principal and I will miss everyone very much. 

We wish our colleagues the best as they embark on their next adventure.

Spirit Friday
The April indoor assembly will take place this coming Friday in our Multipurpose room.  We will conclude with a pep rally to cheer on our athletes competing in the Junior Olympics. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Erin S. Green

Important Dates – Please Note:

April 25 – Indoor Assembly
April 25 – Jr. Olympic Pep Rally –Wear JO shirts
April 26 – LASD Junior Olympics
May 1 – LASD C-Stem Showcase
May 2 – 6th Grade Boys & Girls Basketball Tournament
May 9 – PTA Meeting/Parent Coffee
May 9 – LASD Film Festival
May 15 – Last Day of Homework Club
May 15 – Covington Open House
May 16 – Covington Minimum Day
May 19 – 4-6th Grade Music Concert
May 22 – Jr. Olympic Slide Show
May 23 – Last Indoor Assembly
May 26 – Memorial Day Holiday– No School
May 30 – PTA Volunteer Breakfast
May 30 – Covington Multicultural Fair, 4pm-7pm
June 4 – Primary (K-3) Music Concert
June 6 – Field Day/Minimum Day
June 12 – Last Day of School, 6th Grade Promotion, Minimum Day

http://www.treeering.com/validate

and enter in the passcode:

1013595707721745

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact, Christine Wedner, cwedner@mac.com. Thank you.

Dear 4,5,6 Grade parents,

Junior Olympics is here!!This Saturday 8-4pm

We hope you are as excited as us!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

Please, PLEASE, sign up to help this weekend.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqjTYn1OjU9odDZCMjhoQ0JMRzVTOW9RVm5QNFcxNlE&usp=sharing

REMINDERS

T-Shirts: Wear JO t-shirts on Friday for the Pep Rally and again on Saturday at the Jr. Olympics.

1320 Participants: Arrive between 7:30am and 7:45am. RACE ORDER: ^G, 6B, 5G, 5B, 4G, 4B.  New Course this year!  Please see map http://lasdjo.com/map to find starting line and to understand the course.

6th Grade Band: Arrive with instruments to band staging area near track entrance by 8:30am.  Plan a place to drop your instrument with your parent after opening ceremonies are over.

Opening Ceremonies: Arrive between 8:30am and 8:45am to walk with Covington in the opening ceremonies. Gather on grass near track entrance.  All 4,5,6 grade students and teachers are welcome!

Schedule: The afternoon schedule has been changed slightly.  Dash and Hurdles are immediately following the Jeffrey Baier Mascot Mania.  All relays will continue after finals.  See schedule here: http://lasdjo.com/eventschedule

NOTE: 5th grade boys will have a very quick turnaround between the dash prelims and the dash finals. Results will post online at lasdjo.com and on the fence ASAP after events are finished.

MORE DETAILS

For additional details see this packet https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxYlNlJa9WyTMEhCdFFfNWtpUUU/edit?usp=sharing

and visit lasdjo.com

Covington Coyotes can help save the Polar Bears! Covington 3rd grade Girl Scout Troop 61164 is challenging Covington to walk, bike, scooter, or carpool to school during the six school days from April 30-May 7.  Not only is this good for you and your community, it will reduce CO2 pollution which helps save the polar bears.  Each student in the class that has the most participation will win tokens to use at Area 151 in downtown Los Altos.  Any student that participates all 6 days will be entered into a drawing to win Miyo Frozen Yogurt or Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream (2 winners per grade).  We will be sending a flyer home in this Thursday's folder that contains the tickets the kids will need to put in the envelopes in their classroom.  How it works:  If you carpool, walk, bike or scooter to school that week, fill in a ticket and bring it to the envelope in your teacher’s class.  Winners will be announced May 9 at morning assembly.  Thank you from the girls in Troop 61164!

Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6: Students currently in grade 6 must have proof of a Tdap or Dtap (Pertussis or Whooping Cough) booster given after their 7th birthday (after 10th birthday is recommended) in order to begin seventh grade in August of 2014. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office by May 5th, 2014.

Did you Know?...LAEF funds Physical Education Specialists for 1st-6th graders Junior Olympics is this weekend! Your contributions to LAEF help make this very special tradition possible, by funding the Physical Education program for all first through sixth graders. Make plans to cheer on our student athletes on Saturday, April 26 at Mountain View High School, and please continue to support the PE program with your donations to LAEF! LAEF Representatives at Covington are: Matt Abrahams, matt.abrahams@gmail.comAnjana Nagarajan-Butaney, anjana.nagarajan1@gmail.com Jessica Speiser, jessica@speiser.net Ritu Kapoor (member at-large), ritu.kapoor@gmail.com

District & Community News: http://www.lasdk8.org/PDF_Files/Current_School_News.pdf

Post an Announcement in the Howler? If you have an announcement to include in Howler, please send it to sevard@lasdschools.org.  Announcements must be received by 12:00pm on Friday in order to be considered for the Howler scheduled for the following Tuesday.