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February 03, 2015

Covington School Howler

February 3, 2015

Principal’s Message
Dear Covington Families, We have an amazing group of students at Covington. Can I say that again? We have AM-AZ-ING kids at Covington!! Students love to share. As I walk through classrooms and ask students to share what they are learning, I am impressed by their openness and willingness to take the time to explain their thinking. The fourth graders in the following picture were given a design challenge last week to construct a prototype for a tool that Karana, the main protagonist from the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins, might need. These students designed a spear that could help Karana catch the elusive “devil fish” or octopus, whose meat could feed her for months on the island she lives on. As the students described their spear and why it would be helpful for Karana to have, it was clear to me that they had formed a real connection to the character Karana (not much older than they are) and her experience surviving alone on her island. Students look out for each other. Last week a 6th grader helped comfort a 2nd grader in the nurse’s office. The younger student hurt his arm while out on the playground and the older boy (who was nursing a bump to the head) tried to offer comforting words while they both waited for their parents to arrive. It was the first time they had met but the older student really took the little one under his wing. I hear many similar stories to this everyday on our campus. Students are happy to help out. I asked a group of 6th grade students to help out at New Family and Kindergarten Information night in December and they were more than happy to lend a hand. They welcomed and chaperoned parents to the library for the event, helped explain how to enter contact information into a google form on iPads and shared their experiences about being a student at Covington. They were respectful, well spoken, warm and did a phenomenal job of representing our school and district. I really believe that our students are amazing. And thank you to the parents, teachers, staff and other adults that support them every day. Important Reminder: Don’t forget PTA is sponsoring a Family Science Night entitled “Engineer and Invent” tonight from 6-8pm in the Multi. Students will get hands-on opportunities to build bridges, wind turbines, hydraulics, and circuitry. This exciting event is presented by the Lawrence Hall of Science. Read further in the Howler for more details. Enjoy the week! Raquel Matteroli Interim Principal, Covington School

Principal’s Message

Dear Covington Families,

We have an amazing group of students at Covington. Can I say that again? We have AM-AZ-ING kids at Covington!!

Students love to share.

As I walk through classrooms and ask students to share what they are learning, I am impressed by their openness and willingness to take the time to explain their thinking. The fourth graders in the following picture were given a design challenge last week to construct a prototype for a tool that Karana, the main protagonist from the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins, might need. These students designed a spear that could help Karana catch the elusive “devil fish” or octopus, whose meat could feed her for months on the island she lives on. As the students described their spear and why it would be helpful for Karana to have, it was clear to me that they had formed a real connection to the character Karana (not much older than they are) and her experience surviving alone on her island.

Students look out for each other.

Last week a 6th grader helped comfort a 2nd grader in the nurse’s office. The younger student hurt his arm while out on the playground and the older boy (who was nursing a bump to the head) tried to offer comforting words while they both waited for their parents to arrive. It was the first time they had met but the older student really took the little one under his wing. I hear many similar stories to this everyday on our campus.

Students are happy to help out.

I asked a group of 6th grade students to help out at New Family and Kindergarten Information night in December and they were more than happy to lend a hand. They welcomed and chaperoned parents to the library for the event, helped explain how to enter contact information into a google form on iPads and shared their experiences about being a student at Covington. They were respectful, well spoken, warm and did a phenomenal job of representing our school and district.

I really believe that our students are amazing. And thank you to the parents, teachers, staff and other adults that support them every day.

Important Reminder: Don’t forget PTA is sponsoring a Family Science Night entitled “Engineer and Invent” tonight from 6-8pm in the Multi. Students will get hands-on opportunities to build bridges, wind turbines, hydraulics, and circuitry. This exciting event is presented by the Lawrence Hall of Science. Read further in the Howler for more details.

Enjoy the week!

Raquel Matteroli
Interim Principal, Covington School

Important Dates
Feb. 3 - PTA Science Night 6pm-8pm Feb. 16-20th - No School for Students, Winter Recess Mar. 10 & 13 - New Parent Tours @ Blach School Mar. 18 & 20 - New Parent Tours @ Egan Mar. 23-25 - Covington STEM Expo Mar. 28 - Covington Auction Bombay Dreams April. 25 - LASD Jr. Olympics

Important Dates

Feb. 3 - PTA Science Night 6pm-8pm

Feb. 16-20th - No School for Students, Winter Recess

Mar. 10 & 13 - New Parent Tours @ Blach School

Mar. 18 & 20 - New Parent Tours @ Egan

Mar. 23-25 - Covington STEM Expo

Mar. 28 - Covington Auction Bombay Dreams

April. 25 - LASD Jr. Olympics

Kindergarten Registration
Just a reminder that the open enrollment period for Kindergarten 2015 is now in progress until February 6th. If you have younger children who will be joining Covington in the Fall 2015, please stop by the office and pick up a registration packet this week.

Attendance Reporting
Covington Voice Mail, including the Attendance Line, is still out of order. To report a student’s absence please email: covingtonattendance@lasdschools.org Please include: Your name and relationship to the student Student’s First & Last Name Date of Absence Teacher Reason for the Absence Please remember that students need to be fever free for 24 hours without medication in order to return to school.

Attendance Reporting

Covington Voice Mail, including the Attendance Line, is still out of order.

To report a student’s absence please email:

covingtonattendance@lasdschools.org

Please include:

Your name and relationship to the student
Student’s First & Last Name
Date of Absence
Teacher
Reason for the Absence

Please remember that students need to be fever free for 24 hours without medication in order to return to school.

Sixth Grade Students Bridging to Blach & Egan
New Parent Information Sessions Blach Dates: March 10: 1:30 pm March 13: 9:30 am For more information about bridging to Blach, please check out the Blach School website here. Egan Dates: March 18: 9:30 am March 20: 1:00 pm For more information about bridging to Egan, please check out the Egan School website here.

Sixth Grade Students Bridging to Blach & Egan

New Parent Information Sessions

Blach Dates:
March 10: 1:30 pm
March 13: 9:30 am

For more information about bridging to Blach, please check out the Blach School website here.

Egan Dates:

March 18: 9:30 am

March 20: 1:00 pm

For more information about bridging to Egan, please check out the Egan School website here.

Sixth Grade Immunization Requirement
Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6 Students currently in 6th grade 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 7th grade in August of 2015. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office by March 13, 2015.

Sixth Grade Immunization Requirement

Pertussis Booster for Students in grade 6

Students currently in 6th grade 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 7th grade in August of 2015. Please provide a copy of your child’s immunization record to your school office by March 13, 2015.

PTA Family Science Night
Tonight! Tuesday (Feb 3), Lawrence Hall of Science will be presenting a hands-on festival entitled “Engineer and Invent” in the Covington Multi from 6-8 pm. For those of you new to Covington, this free annual Covington PTA sponsored event always promises to be an evening of hands-on science fun! This year’s festival will give the children an opportunity to step into the shoes of an engineer as they investigate, experiment, and develop solutions to real-world problems. Tweak the blades on a wind turbine to efficiently harness the power of the wind. Construct a working hydraulic arm to explore the strength of water-powered machines. Flip the switch on the world of electricity, as you explore circuits and bring your motorized creations to life. Build bridges, towers, or whatever you can imagine with metal, paper, or wood. There will be several stations to explore including hydraulics, wind turbines, circuitry, wobble bots, bridges, Keva planks, and Bionicblox. Please feel free to stop by any time between 6-8 pm to enjoy the festival. Please send questions to Ingrid Choong: ichoong2@gmail.com

PTA Family Science Night

Tonight! Tuesday (Feb 3), Lawrence Hall of Science will be presenting a hands-on festival entitled “Engineer and Invent” in the Covington Multi from 6-8 pm. For those of you new to Covington, this free annual Covington PTA sponsored event always promises to be an evening of hands-on science fun! This year’s festival will give the children an opportunity to step into the shoes of an engineer as they investigate, experiment, and develop solutions to real-world problems. Tweak the blades on a wind turbine to efficiently harness the power of the wind. Construct a working hydraulic arm to explore the strength of water-powered machines. Flip the switch on the world of electricity, as you explore circuits and bring your motorized creations to life. Build bridges, towers, or whatever you can imagine with metal, paper, or wood.

There will be several stations to explore including hydraulics, wind turbines, circuitry, wobble bots, bridges, Keva planks, and Bionicblox.

Please feel free to stop by any time between 6-8 pm to enjoy the festival. Please send questions to Ingrid Choong: ichoong2@gmail.com

LAEF
Did you Know?...Our school has library staff thanks to LAEF donations! LAEF (www.laefonline.org) funds the library staff at every LASD school site. Our library is dedicated to fostering a love of reading and teaching 21st century information skills. It provides access to a rich collection of library materials and exposure to literature, personalized book selection assistance, and the lessons students need to be able to locate, evaluate and use the information for school projects and beyond. The virtual district library (https://sites.google.com/site/lasdlibraries) is also filled with online resources by grade level, and allows students to check out up to 7 eBooks, so they can read any time, any place on their Kindle, iPad, phone or other device. Library staff also collaborate with classroom teachers to make sure students have access to the materials they need to support the curriculum. The LAEF grant benefits EVERY student in EVERY grade evenly. We still have $1 million to go to pay for programs that are in place in our classrooms THIS YEAR so we need your support! Make your tax-deductible LAEF donation today at www.laefonline.org (or bring a check to the school office) LAEF Questions? Web: www.laefonline.org … Phone: 650.559.0445 ... Email: admin@laefonline.org Thanks in advance for your support of LAEF.

LAEF

Did you Know?...Our school has library staff thanks to LAEF donations!

LAEF (www.laefonline.org) funds the library staff at every LASD school site. Our library is dedicated to fostering a love of reading and teaching 21st century information skills. It provides access to a rich collection of library materials and exposure to literature, personalized book selection assistance, and the lessons students need to be able to locate, evaluate and use the information for school projects and beyond.

The virtual district library (https://sites.google.com/site/lasdlibraries) is also filled with online resources by grade level, and allows students to check out up to 7 eBooks, so they can read any time, any place on their Kindle, iPad, phone or other device. Library staff also collaborate with classroom teachers to make sure students have access to the materials they need to support the curriculum.

The LAEF grant benefits EVERY student in EVERY grade evenly.

We still have $1 million to go to pay for programs that are in place in our classrooms THIS YEAR so we need your support! Make your tax-deductible LAEF donation today at www.laefonline.org (or bring a check to the school office)

LAEF Questions?

Web: www.laefonline.org … Phone: 650.559.0445 ... Email: admin@laefonline.org

Thanks in advance for your support of LAEF.

PTA Auction Information
Covington Auction tickets now on sale! Early Bird pricing available until Friday, February 13th! Act today to secure your discounted tickets - $150 per couple, $75 per individual. For more information and ticket purchase, https://covington.schoolauction.net/auction2015/tickets/ticket_sales Donate to Covington Auction! In addition to the continued support of local businesses, we are counting on the generosity and creativity of our Covington families to make this year’s event a success. Now is the time to share your favorite vacation getaways, your VIP access, your talents, and all of the unique experiences, goods and services you treasure! Donations are due no later than Friday, February 6th. Please direct any questions to our Donations Chair, Lara Sullivan, at lara.sullivan06@gmail.com. Online donations may be submitted here: https://covington.schoolauction.net/auction2015/donate_items/new Computer skills needed! Do you know your way around Adobe InDesign? Do you, perhaps, possess a particular talent with Pages for Mac? Could you even be, or know someone who is, a graphic designer? Are you, or your friend, willing to volunteer your time, or donate a bit of it, to the Auction Committee in the next few weeks? If so, the gratitude of literally the entire school, especially all the programs funded by the PTA, is yours. As well as a tax write-off, if applicable. Please email Sumaira Nabeel sumaira.nabeel@gmail.com with any leads. Thank you! Adult Auction Parties: We are looking for hosts for Adult Auction Parties - these parties are hosted by Covington parents for Covington Parents. The host decides the theme, location, date, and number of participants. These fun and creative parties raised $35,000+ for Covington last year. Any idea that shares your enthusiasm for something is a great one! Think about what you and your friends would enjoy, or perhaps special skills you may have to offer.he list is limited only by your imagination and the parties do not need to be expensive or lavish to be a great time! Please email or call Christine Sellers at cyberchristine@hotmail.com / 650-867-7187 if you have questions or are willing to host.

PTA Auction Information

Covington Auction tickets now on sale! Early Bird pricing available until Friday, February 13th! Act today to secure your discounted tickets - $150 per couple, $75 per individual. For more information and ticket purchase, https://covington.schoolauction.net/auction2015/tickets/ticket_sales

Donate to Covington Auction! In addition to the continued support of local businesses, we are counting on the generosity and creativity of our Covington families to make this year’s event a success. Now is the time to share your favorite vacation getaways, your VIP access, your talents, and all of the unique experiences, goods and services you treasure! Donations are due no later than Friday, February 6th. Please direct any questions to our Donations Chair, Lara Sullivan, at lara.sullivan06@gmail.com. Online donations may be submitted here: https://covington.schoolauction.net/auction2015/donate_items/new

Computer skills needed! Do you know your way around Adobe InDesign? Do you, perhaps, possess a particular talent with Pages for Mac? Could you even be, or know someone who is, a graphic designer? Are you, or your friend, willing to volunteer your time, or donate a bit of it, to the Auction Committee in the next few weeks? If so, the gratitude of literally the entire school, especially all the programs funded by the PTA, is yours. As well as a tax write-off, if applicable. Please email Sumaira Nabeel sumaira.nabeel@gmail.com with any leads. Thank you!

Adult Auction Parties: We are looking for hosts for Adult Auction Parties - these parties are hosted by Covington parents for Covington Parents. The host decides the theme, location, date, and number of participants. These fun and creative parties raised $35,000+ for Covington last year. Any idea that shares your enthusiasm for something is a great one! Think about what you and your friends would enjoy, or perhaps special skills you may have to offer.he list is limited only by your imagination and the parties do not need to be expensive or lavish to be a great time! Please email or call Christine Sellers at cyberchristine@hotmail.com / 650-867-7187 if you have questions or are willing to host.

PTA News
Traffic Duty and Your Child's Safety: Have you been noticing longer than normal lines of cars at drop off and pick up? Has your child almost gotten hit by a car while crossing on the crosswalk? Do you know what helps to ensure this does not happen? Did you say Traffic Duty? Well, you were right! Another correct answer involves driving around the Covington driveway and parking lot like it was your own driveway and it were your own children in front of you. As you have read in the room parent email that went out yesterday, we have noticed that parents are either not signing up for traffic duty or not showing up and this is just unacceptable when you think what could happen to your child, or your child's BFF without the safety that the Traffic Duty volunteers help provide. We realize that everyone's schedules are busy and that it can be difficult to take time out of your day to fill one of the slots during the week(s) your class has traffic duty. With this in mind, we have attempted to minimize the time needed and spread out the assignments throughout the year. Please help during your assigned weeks, sign up and remember to come to your time slot. If you work, a morning slot is the best way to go (it is an 8:10am to 8:40am slot). If you are a stay at home parent, perhaps an afternoon slot is best for you as you will already be there to pick up your little one (starts at 2:10pm). When you sign up, please remember to put it your calendar as as reminder. We are sending this out as it would be horrible if something happened to one of our children at school because there was no one on traffic duty. We can all work together to keep them safe by driving slowly and carefully during drop-off and pick-up AND by everyone taking Traffic Duty as a serious responsibility to the community. - Thank you, Jessica Speiser, PTA President (jessica@speiser.net) Friday 2/27 (5:00 - 7:15pm) - Kinder Movie Night in Covington Library Come watch a movie and eat popcorn with the fabulous kinder teachers! If you are interested in signing your child up please contact Tracey Leong: tsakumoto67gmail.com YEARBOOKS. Covington will be using TreeRing again this year to produce our yearbooks. If you aren’t familiar with TreeRing and how to use the website or need a refresher - here is a link that gives you everything you need to know. http://www.treering.com/Watch-the-TreeRing-Personalized-Yearbook-Demo#.VMbuUnacybM. To register for your yearbook go here: www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1013595707721745 and enter passcode: 1013595707721745 Should you have any more questions, please feel free to contact, Christine Wedner, cwedner@mac.com CALLING ALL PARENTS! I have decided to try to take a different approach to the yearbook this year. I would like it to be more of a community and collaborative effort. I am asking that one parent from each class be a representative and put together a one page photo collage for their class. In addition, I also need a couple of parents to put together a 2 page spread of the Walkathon and the Junior Olympics. The task involves, collecting photos and dragging and dropping into a template. No design experience required. If you are interested, please contact Christine Wedner, cwedner@mac.com. Thank you.

PTA News

Traffic Duty and Your Child's Safety: Have you been noticing longer than normal lines of cars at drop off and pick up? Has your child almost gotten hit by a car while crossing on the crosswalk? Do you know what helps to ensure this does not happen? Did you say Traffic Duty? Well, you were right! Another correct answer involves driving around the Covington driveway and parking lot like it was your own driveway and it were your own children in front of you. As you have read in the room parent email that went out yesterday, we have noticed that parents are either not signing up for traffic duty or not showing up and this is just unacceptable when you think what could happen to your child, or your child's BFF without the safety that the Traffic Duty volunteers help provide.

We realize that everyone's schedules are busy and that it can be difficult to take time out of your day to fill one of the slots during the week(s) your class has traffic duty. With this in mind, we have attempted to minimize the time needed and spread out the assignments throughout the year.

Please help during your assigned weeks, sign up and remember to come to your time slot. If you work, a morning slot is the best way to go (it is an 8:10am to 8:40am slot). If you are a stay at home parent, perhaps an afternoon slot is best for you as you will already be there to pick up your little one (starts at 2:10pm). When you sign up, please remember to put it your calendar as as reminder.

We are sending this out as it would be horrible if something happened to one of our children at school because there was no one on traffic duty. We can all work together to keep them safe by driving slowly and carefully during drop-off and pick-up AND by everyone taking Traffic Duty as a serious responsibility to the community. - Thank you, Jessica Speiser, PTA President (jessica@speiser.net)

Friday 2/27 (5:00 - 7:15pm) - Kinder Movie Night in Covington Library

Come watch a movie and eat popcorn with the fabulous kinder teachers! If you are interested in signing your child up please contact Tracey Leong: tsakumoto67gmail.com

YEARBOOKS. Covington will be using TreeRing again this year to produce our yearbooks. If you aren’t familiar with TreeRing and how to use the website or need a refresher - here is a link that gives you everything you need to know.

http://www.treering.com/Watch-the-TreeRing-Personalized-Yearbook-Demo#.VMbuUnacybM. To register for your yearbook go here:

www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1013595707721745

and enter passcode:

1013595707721745

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

CALLING ALL PARENTS! I have decided to try to take a different approach to the yearbook this year. I would like it to be more of a community and collaborative effort. I am asking that one parent from each class be a representative and put together a one page photo collage for their class. In addition, I also need a couple of parents to put together a 2 page spread of the Walkathon and the Junior Olympics. The task involves, collecting photos and dragging and dropping into a template. No design experience required. If you are interested, please contact Christine Wedner, cwedner@mac.com. Thank you.

Girl Scout Announcement
It's Girl Scout Cookie Time! Covington 4th grade Girl Scouts will kick off the 2015 cookie season with a cookie booth in front of the Multi Thursday, Feb. 5 from 2:20-3:30pm All of your old favorites will be there waiting for you as well as some new flavors too. Cookies are $5 per box; cash and check are accepted. Thank you for supporting Girl Scouts at Covington!

School & Community News
School & Community News now found via Peachjar: https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=54001

How to Submit an Article to the Covington Howler
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News » Covington Howler - 03 Feb