Sunday, January 13th, 2019

Issue #18

For Previous Issues Click Here

UPCOMING DATES

• Cove School Tour for Incoming Families (Sign Up Required)Wednesday, January 16th 9:00am

• Hot Cocoa and Game Night Thursday, January 17th, 6:30pm-8:00pm,Cove Gallery

• Readathon Kickoff Friday, January 18th

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School Monday January 21st

• LCMSD Board Meeting Wednesday, January 23rd, 6:00pm-9:00pm Hall Library

• Cove Site Council Meeting Thursday, January 24th 3:30pm-5:00pm

• DELAC Meeting Tuesday,January 29th, 8:30am, Hall Room 406

• Progress Reports-Emailed Home Friday, February 1st

• Parent Ed Event: Attention and Focus Matter for Learning and Well-Being Tuesday, February 5th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm Cove Gallery

• LCMSD Special Board Meeting - Budget Study Session February 6th, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Hall Library 

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

Standards-Based Grading at Hall Middle School Next Year 

As we are part of a K-8 district, we want to share with you an exciting change on the horizon at Hall Middle School - a shift to Standards-Based Grading! Why this change? There is growing evidence that the age-old grading practice of letter grades and points aren’t the best practice anymore. Neighboring middle schools, many high schools (both public and private)- even colleges- are making this shift. Here is a recent article from NY Times that shares some of the short-fallings of a letter-based grading system: What Straight A Students Get Wrong.

Eric Saibel, Hall Principal, has been working closely with Hall teachers, the parent community and local middle schools to build a common understanding of what Standards-Based Grading looks like. At a recent parent coffee chat, participants brainstormed the purpose of education: Independence; Working with others/collaboration; Knowledge; Create informed citizens; Well rounded people; Preparation for career/post-secondary education; Grow knowledge, skills, and habits; Preparation for the future; Learning how to have purposeful discourse; Opportunity for students to overcome obstacles; Learn how to follow rules; Development of personalities; Participate in a diverse community/society; Working within a construct that is not your own; Identifying your areas of strength and weaknesses; Learning to fail; Introduce new ideas and be inspired by others.

These attributes, along with deep knowledge of content, define exactly why Hall is moving away from points and percentages. Report cards will tell a much deeper, nuanced story of a student's learning and growth in both academic material and life skills. Here is Hall’s FAQ on this important change. Hall will host more morning and evening events to share examples of what this will look like as well as invite input from our parent partners.

Progressive work is underway at Hall Middle School!

Sincerely,

Michelle Walker, Principal

School News

Zero Waste Lunch with LunchMaster = Happy Children! This week's change to our hot lunch program was very positively received.  Students were eating more, they reported the food looking and tasting better, and the waste was significantly reduced.  

Parent Ed- Kelly Kent of adaptED Discusses modern technology’s demands on our attention and its effects on the whole, intelligent, and happy development in our youth. This is the third event in a three-part series featuring adaptEd, an organization that provides programs that apply to real-world situations. To learn more about Dr. Kent and adaptED, click here. You do not need to have attended the previous workshops to attend this event. Tuesday, February 5th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Cove Gallery  Click here to RSVP.

Park and Walk- A message from our Safe Routes Team- According to theEPA, children’s developing lungs and brains make them most vulnerable to air toxins emitted from vehicles. Slow moving cars lining up to arrive or depart campus add to the problem: a single vehicle dropping off and picking up students emits three pounds of pollution per month (AirwatchNW).There’s a solution! Reducing cars on campus by parking and walking (or allowing older children to walk on their own) a few blocks.  Parents avoid traffic congestion, and kids get some exercise while avoiding carbon monoxide- it's win-win!

PTO UPDATES

The 2019 Cove Readathon Returns! On Friday, January 18th the 3rd Annual Cove Readathon will begin! This annual 3-week event combines the Cove’s passion for reading with support for our school. The Readathon is the primary fundraiser for the Cove PTO which helps fund: instructional materials and classroom supplies, professional development for teachers, PE / playground equipment, campus events/improvements, school gardens, and much, much more! All Cove families will receive a personalized link to their child's fundraising page on Friday, January 18th. New This Year: Reading minutes will be entered by students via an online form! More detailed information will be sent home on Friday, or visit the Readathon website for more information. Direct contributions may also be made by clicking here.

Hot Cocoa and Game Night! Come in pajamas, bring your favorite board games, and join us for a cup of hot cocoa. This is the first event of its kind at the Cove and we’re hoping for cozy night of games and community! Thursday, January 17th, 6:30pm-8:00pm in the Cove Gallery. Contact Beth Sherry with questions.

Wear your Cove Pride! Our online Cove Spirit Wear store has launched! Choose from a wide selection of swag for everyone. To check it out or to order, click here.

Find us online! Keep up with PTO, Readathon, Variety Show, support our membership, and so much more on our PTO website.

SPARK NEWS

Bundt Cakes for Everyone! Thanks to the families who donated in our #GivingTuesday Participation Challenge and helped us reach 50%, we all get cake! Look in your child’s backpack this week for a coupon for a free Bundtini! Special thanks to Nothing Bundt Cakes for supporting our schools.

Volunteers Needed for upcoming events

• Auction Solicitations: Join the team and help with donations from businesses for our online auction in March. We'll provide you with the forms, email script and contact information.

• Parent-Hosted Parties: Got an idea for a sign up party? We’d love to hear from you! These parties are always popular and a great way to raise money for our schools. Learn more here.

Spring Spotlight Event Co-Chairs (for 2020): We’re looking for parents to shadow our Spring Spotlight Event Chairs this year who will be retiring after an incredible three years coordinating the gala.

Contact info@SPARKschools.org  if interested in helping with any positions.

Save the Date SPARK Spring Events

Spring Online Auction: March 12-18

• Spring Spotlight Gala: May 4

• SPARK Giants Night: May 14

Auction Donations: Do you own a local business, vacation home or are willing to make a wine donation? It’s parents like you in our community who can really help! Fill out an online auction donation form here. 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Click here for information from:

• Marin Girls Chorus

• Art with Harry, 1st-5th Grade

• MAGIKIDS Ages 7-10yrs

• Chess for kids, Grades K-5th

• Amazing Science Grades 1st-3rd

• TinkerTech Inventors

• Tidalwaves Swim Team

• Marissa Joy Ganz NY Broadway Training Classes

• Dance with E.N.A!

• Classical Ballet with Lisa Moore Shields at Stapleton Ballet

• Clay with Kiki

• BandWorks Summer Camp

• Galileo Summer Camps Innovative Camps for Kids

• Larkspur-Corte Madera School District Annual Accounting of Capital Facilities Fees

Follow Us! #CoveSchool  #WeAreLCMSD