The Cove Connection 

 Sunday, August 25th, 2019

Issue #1

For Previous Issues Click Here

UPCOMING DATES

• Student Assessments Mon, August 26th- Fri, August 30th  

  • Kindergarten Dismissal: 12:20pm

  • 1st-5th Dismissal: 1:15pm

• Back to School Sub Workshop Wed, August 28th, 4:00pm-6:30pm

• No School, Labor Day Monday, September 2nd

• Cove in Motion Begins Tues, Sept 3, 8:14am, Cove Blacktop 

• Classroom Coordinator Meeting Wed, Sept 4th, at 8:30am, Cove Library

• Back to School Night Thursday, September 5th: 

  • Grades K-1 Teachers present in classrooms 5:45pm-6:25pm

  • All in Grades in Gallery 6:30pm-6:55pm   

  • Grades 2-3 Teachers present in classrooms 7:00pm-7:40pm

  • Grades 4-5 present in classroom 7:40pm-8:20pm

• Coffee w/Brett Tuesday, September 10th, 8:15am-9:15am, Cove Gallery

• Volunteer Orientation for New Volunteers Wed, Sept. 11th, 8:30am-9:45am Neil Cummins 

• PTO Board Meeting Wed, Sept. 11th, 8:30am-9:45am, Cove Library

• LCMSD Board Meeting, Hall Middle School Wed, Sept. 11th, 6:00pm

• Cove Picture Day Thursday, September 12th

• SPARK Fun Run Sun, Sept 15th from 9:30am-11:30am

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

• We are off to a great start! From 95 degree weather on Wednesday to a windy Friday, our students and staff team gave it their all this week! I had the opportunity to spend some time in every classroom. I saw teachers kicking off Week of Inspirational Math, launching Readers’ and Writers’ workshop, building common classroom agreements, teaching routines and engaging students in group challenges to build teamwork skills!  Counselor Scarlett Headley and I visited each room to meet new students and talk about our systems and expectations for the year ahead. 

• Back to School Night is on September 5th, 5:45pm-8:20pm (See full schedule here). Your child’s teacher will be talking about the grade level curriculum and instruction,  classroom procedures and volunteer opportunities.  You will have a special opportunity to hear from Superintendent Geithman as well as Cove’s inspiring architect Mark Quattrocchi and Principal Walker as they share the story of Cove’s beginning during our general session for all parents in the gallery at 6:30pm. 

A few key reminders to ensure the safety of all:

• Nut Free Classrooms Many classrooms at Cove (all but Rms 13-14) are Nut Free this year. These classrooms are NUT FREE due to severe student allergies. These food allergies can be life threatening, and it is important to take steps to reduce risk of exposure.  If your class is Nut Free and they are eating snack or lunch inside the classroom, any child who has a food item that could possibly contain nuts will be asked to go to a neighboring classroom to eat his/her snack/lunch. To keep students with allergies safe at school we will encourage hand washing and wiping down tables before and after meals and snacks.  Please help us by paying close attention to these guidelines to help us keep all of our students safe at school each day!

• Wheel-free campus (except wheelchairs!) before, during and after school until 5G Expanded Learning (our after school enrichment program) ends their recess time. I have seen scooters and bikes on the playground in the afternoons.  This year we are being really clear that these wheeled activities need to take place elsewhere while others are still using the playground. Thank you!

• No Dogs on School Campus! (or tied to fence near a walkway that students are accessing on perimeter of school campus!) Please know that we have some students who are frightened by dogs and some students who have allergies. We need families to leave their furry friends at home when they walk to school each day. Thank you!

• Student Personal Electronic Devices We understand that parents utilize technology (watches, cell phones, etc.) to communicate with their children and might view devices as a safety tool. During school hours, devices must remain off and stored in a backpack or other location. If your child needs to call you during school hours, they will use the school's landline. LCMSD is not responsible for lost or stolen devices.

SCHOOL NEWS

Ball Wall Update: Remember that Ball Wall that our students raised funds for during the Readathon?  Well---it’s almost here! We have made it through many, many hiccups and technicalities required by the Department of State Architects, and we have the materials on hand!  Our contractor team said that the wall will be installed by the end of September. Yahoo! 

LCMSD Board Updates From the August 14th Board Meeting: Daniel Norbutas, Paula Rigney, Erik vonBlankenburg, Tracy Lee, and Mark Tong were recognized for their hard work over the summer on our district-wide network upgrade; safety plans were approved; the 45-day budget revision was discussed; and the Grand Jury Response on School Resource Officers was approved. The next Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 11th. All agendas can be viewed here.

Hot Lunch This school year, Larkspur-Corte Madera School District and The LunchMaster are committed to reducing waste. New this year: a 3% credit card processing fee will be added to each order at checkout.  Please remember to order your students’ lunches before the beginning of the month! 

Important Bus Schedule Updates Please note the Bus Pick Up Schedule on Early Release Days:

• All Wednesdays, 1:05pm

• Aug 26, 27, 29, 30 (MTThF of assessment week), 1:25pm

• Sept 6 (Friday after Back to School night), 1:25pm

PTO UPDATES

Welcome to the 2018/19 school year! It was so nice connecting with our new and returning families during the Kinder Social, New Family Welcome, and Welcome Coffee. Thank you so much to the PTO Board members and parent volunteers that helped make these events a success. I encourage you email me with questions, coNcerns, ideas, or to volunteer with the PTO  to contact me at: president@covepto.org. I look forward to an exciting year ahead! Sincerely, Elena O’Brien, PTO President.

Classroom Coordinators Wanted! Interested in being a vital part of your child's classroom? For Classroom Coordinator FAQs, click here. To express an interest, please click here. There will be a mandatory Classroom Coordinator meeting on Wednesday, September 4th, at 8:30am in the Library. Questions, email info@covepto.org

SPARK UPDATES

Support SPARK: Did you know that Annual Giving makes up more than 75% of overall SPARK revenue? Help us reach our $1.5M goal this year with your 2019-2020 Annual Giving donation. You can donate online, set up automatic monthly installments, make a gift of stock and take advantage of Corporate Match. Learn more about SPARK here. 

Purchase Fun Run Tickets Join us Sunday September 15th from 9am-11:30am for an event that’s fun for the whole family. Enjoy Microsoft games, snacks, raffle and great tunes spun by our DJ. Purchase tickets by September 3rd to receive early bird discount savings here.

Got Volunteers? We have many jobs big and small for parents to help this year. We’re especially looking for classroom SPARK reps. Email info@SPARKschools.org if interested and learn more here. 

SPARK Savings at Sports Basement: Stock up on back to school gear at Sports Basement with this special coupon for SPARK families. Good from August 17-25th! Bring the coupon with you and SAVE!

Current Employment Opportunities in LCMSD

Back to School Substitute Workshop This is a free event held on Wednesday, August 28th, 4:00pm-5:30pm. Mandated Reporter Training 5:30pm-6:30pm. For more information and to register, click here. 

COMMUNITY NEWS

Please click link to view Community News that includes updates from: 

• Learn about the Cub Scouts

• Lice Happens… Call the Lice Lady

• Marin Girls Chorus 

• Broadway Training Classes

Follow Us! #CoveSchool  #WeAreLCMSD

ABOUT THE COVE CONNECTION The Cove Connection is a digital bulletin published by the CovePTO and distributed to The Cove School community each Sunday via email. To submit content to the Cove Connection, please email info@covepto.org. To receive a subscription to The Cove Connection, or to change your email address, send a note to  covesecretaries@lcmschools.org.