Important Dates:

• Aug. 17 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

• Aug 19 - PTA Coffee & Volunteer Sign Ups 8:30am

• Aug 19 - 6th grade Ice Cream Sale/Fundraiser. 2:20pm-2:50pm

• Sept. 1 - Back to School Night

• Sept. 2 - Minimum Day

  • Kinder Dismissal 12:00pm

  • 1st-6th Dismissal 12:15pm

  • “Grab N Go Lunches Only, if pre-ordered. No Hot Lunch on Campus.

• Sept. 8 - PTA Meeting 8:30am

• Sept. 12 - First Day of Extended Kinder.

• Sept 23 - Staff Development Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Covington Families & Community Members,

I’ll confess.  I don’t sleep very well the night before the first day of school.  It’s been my pattern since I was a first year teacher in this district (which was 22 years ago!).   Some of my insomnia is the, usually irrational, fear that I have forgotten something to do to ensure a great first day.  Most of my sleeplessness is caused by the genuine excitement of starting a new school year.   I love the first day of school; the energy and enthusiasm of students, teachers, and parents.  Needless to say, I don’t anticipate a sound night sleep tonight as tomorrow will be my first official day at Covington with all the students.

As a reminder, we will start the day, as a school community, on the blacktop at 8:30am with our first daily flag assembly.  There will be signage for each line to indicate teacher/room number.  Kindergartners will meet their classes in the Kinder yard. 

Welcome back to the school year!  Can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow.

Wade Spenader

Covington Principal

KINDER INFORMATION

REMINDER:

AUG. 17-SEPT. 9TH: KINDER DISMISSAL AT 12:OO NOON. There is a snack time in the morning, but lunch is not eaten at school.

SEPT. 12TH STARTS EXTENDED DAY FOR KINDER, DISMISSAL AT 2:15PM.

SAFETY FIRST: IMPORTANT TRAFFIC & PARKING REMINDERS

Remember: 15 MPH speed limit in front of the school.

Protocol for parking, pick-up and drop-off.

When driving through the pick up lane, pull as far forward as possible and please stay in your car (never leave your car unattended to go and pick up your child).

• You are welcome to park your car in a parking space and walk over to meet your children.

• Please drop your children off at the curb; the middle of the parking lot is not a safe place to drop children.

• Once you drop off your children, please proceed out of the parking lot. Traffic needs to continue to flow to avoid back-ups on neighboring streets.

• Thank you for not using your cell phone while driving in the school parking lot.

• If the Covington parking lot is full, you may use the back portion of the St. William’s Parking lot (adjacent to the kinder playground) or the public lot at Rosita Park.

*  The church is generously sharing their parking lot and we respect their wish to keep the front lot available for their functions.  Thank you so much for helping to keep all of our students be safe!

Annual 6th Grade Fundraiser

ICE CREAM SOCIAL

I scream you scream we all scream for ICE CREAM!  Please join us for an Ice Cream Social Friday after school.  Covington's 6th graders will collect a $2 donation and serve cream and toppings to help raise money for their end of the year gift.  Siblings and families are welcome to join the fun on the blacktop.  THIS IS NOT A STAY AND PLAY.  It is a grab and go event so please plan to pick up your student at the regular dismissal times.  Thank you for supporting Covington's 6th Graders!

Attendance Information: What to do if your child is absent or late

Attendance

Absences and late arrivals are to be reported to the school by a parent or guardian by calling the Covington Attendance Line at (650) 947-1101 by 9:00am, or sending a electronic form via our website http://covingtonschool.org/covingtones/8208-Untitled.html

Children who arrive after the school day begins must sign in at the office to receive a late arrival (blue slip) pass. For an appointment during school hours, please go to the office to sign out your child. Your child will be sent to the office to meet you.

Observed religious holidays are considered excused absences as long as the absence has been requested in advance in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or designee (E.C. 48205, B.P. 5113).

PTA NEWS

Back to School Purchases & Donations: http://covingtonpta.3dcartstores.com/Back-to-School-Essentials_c_11.html

Raffle Extended! Make all your Back-to-School purchases by Friday 8/19 and you will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a brand new iPad mini with a case! (These purchases must include all of the following: PTA Membership, Classroom Fund Donations, Field Trip Donations and School Supply Donations.)

Volunteer Sign-ups and Coffee Social

Friday August 19th starting at 8:10am outside the multi.  This is your chance to see all the volunteer opportunities and to get involved in our school community.  Please stop by and have a coffee, pastry, and a grab a pen!  

Covington Family Pancake Breakfast on Sunday August 21 from 9:00-11:30 am.  There are still spaces available for this fun family breakfast on the first weekend after school starts!  Bring the whole family to the multi-purpose room as Covington dads will be flipping up buttermilk, blueberry, and chocolate chip pancakes as well as serving coffee and juice!  Pancake toss fun included!  To sign up, click the following link.  This event is a great PTA fundraiser and is $20 per person.  We hope to see you there!

http://covingtonpta.3dcartstores.com/Auction-Parties_c_1.html

BACK TO SCHOOL AMAZON SHOPPERS – Make Your Back to School Shopping Count for Covington! Earn referral fees for Covington on purchases of books, electronics, school supplies, and more.  It’s EASY and DOESN’T COST YOU ANYTHING! Please use this link (bookmark it!) or go towww.covingtonschool.org, click the Amazon logo on the lower right side, then select and purchase your items as you normally would. 

Covington will automatically receive a referral fee from Amazon.  No sign-up required. Questions? Contact Jennie Ebbitt at jtebbitt@gmail.com.

HOT LUNCH

Hot Lunch Ordering and Volunteer Sign-ups

We are gearing up to serve hot lunch on the first day of school. We're once again using Pasta Market as our hot lunch provider.    For instructions on how to order hot lunches please follow this link http://covingtonschool.org/covingtones/7030-Untitled.html.  Lunches must be ordered before midnight on Sunday for the following week.  

We need a minimum of FIVE volunteers per day, with one designated crew lead on each day. As a reminder, hot lunch set up and distribution runs from about 11:40-12:10pm. 

Hot lunch is a great way to lend a hand at school, quickly peek in on your kids, and see what they are eating! 

Use the signup sheet is below: 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oTXfmG8Uo6luPJ1qnCZNOYgYLk0n9S6M_UJh2fcXPc0/edit?usp=sharing

PTA SPONSORED AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLASSES

Classes start in August and September. Vendors will be at Back to School picnic with class information.

Mon: Speech/Debate (gr 1-2), Coach Ken Soccer (Gr K-5), Young Rembrandts Drawing (gr 1-6), Flag Football (gr 4-6, Sept - Nov), Mathletes (gr 4-6), Mathletes in Training (gr 3) might be Mon or Wed.

Tues:  Chess Club (gr 1-6), Tech Kids (gr 2-6),

Wed: Lego (gr 1-2), CSMA Art (gr K-3), Pilates (gr 1-6)

Thurs: Public Speaking/Debate (gr 3-6), Lego (gr 3-6), Run for Fun (gr K-6), Mad Science (gr K-2)

Fri: Spanish (gr K-6), Basketball (gr K-6), Flag Football (gr 4-6), Middle School Mathletes (offered at Loyola Elementary but to all LASD 6th graders)

Register early to ensure you get a spot. More details and registration (not all classes are listed yet): http://covingtonschool.org/covingtones/4757-After-School-Programs.html

DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

NURSE NEEDED:  The Los Altos School District needs Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) substitute(s). Must be available on short notice. Approximate times needed are minimum of three hours, 9:30am-12:30pm. Job will entail covering snack & lunch time to supervise students with type 1 diabetic's blood sugar levels and insulin administration; both injection and insulin pump.  Monday-Friday. To apply, call Marlene Revelo 650-947-1153.

LAEF

LAEF welcomes you to the 2016-17 School Year!

The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) is a non-profit organization led by parent volunteers that raise funds to provide enrichment programs and smaller class sizes for LASD students. This year's teachers and staff for STEM, PE, libraries, art, music, computer science, and smaller class sizes in grades K-3, are all supported by your 2016-17 tax-deductible LAEF donation.  

New this year, LAEF is also funding an Instructional Support Teacher (IST), who is dedicated to supporting our amazing teachers by improving instruction, collaboration, and learning across disciplines, with an initial focus on 6th-8th grade math.

The suggested annual donation is $1,200 per student. Our goal is $3.7 million and 100% participation from all of our LASD families, so every gift in any amount is appreciated. Learn More & Make Your Tax-Deductible Donation Today atwww.LAEFOnline.org

LASD & Community Announcements

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

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.