The Cove Connection 

 Sunday, September 20th, 2020

Issue #5

For Previous Issues Click Here

UPCOMING DATES

• September 23 AM/PM cohort assignments emailed to families by 5pm

• September 25 Spiritwear pickup 8am-4pm, if purchased. *See below

• September 28 No School for Students (Teacher Work Day)

• October 5 Anticipated Return to School (See below. Detailed information on this webpage)

• October 7 Informational Meeting on “Becoming a Trustee”, via Zoom, 6:00pm 

• October 8 – October 19 Application Window for LCMSD Board 

• October 26 LCMSD LCMSD Special Appointee Board Meeting via Zoom, 6:00pm

Weekly Dates

• All Mondays LunchMaster Pickup 12:15 - 1:00 p.m.

• All Fridays All School Assembly 1:00pm via Zoom

• All Fridays Library Book Pick Up and Return 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• All Fridays Classroom Materials Pickup 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (as notified by your classroom teacher)

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Families,

This week, Marin County moved into the Tier 2 Red Status. We are allowed to re-open schools after 14 days of this status. As you can imagine, doing so in a safe, thoughtful way is essential and will take teamwork across the board.

At Cove, we are working on the details of reopening including (but not limited to):

• Tents on site ready to be set up for outdoor learning spaces when air quality permits. 

• MERV 13 air filters being installed in every classroom to run from 6am-6pm daily. 

• PPE boxes for every staff member including a Humanity Shield with a fitted neck drape that allows students to see teacher’s faces.

• Plexiglass has been ordered and will be arriving by the end of the month. This will be a simple, clear divider placed on a shared table between a student and teacher or between 2 students.

• QR codes for health screening and contact tracing are posted around campus.

• A map of classroom meeting points as well as defined separation areas where parents are not allowed past

• Placing first aid kits in every classroom for minor needs to reduce traffic flow on campus and in the office

• Installing designated isolation tents for symptomatic persons

• Forming AM/PM cohort groups

The week of October 5 is planned to be a Yellow Status hybrid week (Schedule here).

The week of October 12 is planned to begin our Green Status AM/PM Schedule:

• 8:10-11:00- AM Cohort on-site; PM Cohort 70+ min of Independent Distance Learning (10+ min for TK/Kindergarten)

• 11:00-12:30- Classroom Cleaning

• 12:30-3:20- PM Cohort on-site; AM Cohort 70+ min of Independent Distance Learning  (10+ min for TK/Kindergarten)

Additionally, the teachers and staff are working out the details of teaching and learning in this new environment. When we reopen, the school experience will look different than what we are all used to. The teachers and I will be sharing more information soon so students know what to expect. We will use the week of October 5 (Hybrid week) to orient students to new in-person learning routines.

In the meantime, here’s how you can help:

• Foster Independence- Now is more important than ever to be sure you are fostering independence in your child. When a parent/caretaker hovers over a child's shoulder and completes tasks for them, the message they are sending is "You can't do this task without me." Instead of building trusting learning relationships with their teacher, students become dependent on parents or caretakers. Please allow your children to go into the virtual classroom alone, just as you will need to allow them to enter their classroom on their own when they return to school. Trust the teachers, and trust your child. Let them develop independence and a growth mindset by learning how to take risks and make mistakes, and how to persevere and grow. It's a slow, messy business at first, but the payoffs are huge!

• No AM/PM Requests- These cohorts will be built based on factors including students who are remaining distance learning, students who receive special services in EL or special ed, siblings, and other variables. We cannot take requests for specific cohorts from parents. We do plan to notify you this coming week so that you have time to adjust your family’s schedule and childcare plans accordingly. 

• Familiarize yourself with our LCMSD COVID Response Website. There is a lot of helpful information there!

Sincerely,

Michelle Walker, Principal

LCMSD NEWS

Trustee Seat Available on LCMSD Governing Board Are you interested in working with a high functioning governance team dedicated to serving all students in LCMSD? If so, then we encourage you to learn more about the vacancy on LCMSD’s Board of Trustees. The term for this opening is four years. We thank Sasha Morozoff for his service to the District since June of 2019 through the November 18, 2020 board meeting. Please join us in wishing him the best with family and future endeavors.   

• October 7, 2020 Informational Meeting on “Becoming a Trustee” at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Visit www.lcmschools.org for log-on information the morning of October 7th.

• October 8 – October 19 Application Window. The application is attached for reference, (by noon) and a fillable form will be posted on the home page of  www.lcmschools.org on October 8th. Applications may be dropped off at the District Office or emailed to mokeeffe@lcmschools.org by noon on October 19.

• October 26 Board Meeting to interview and appoint a new Trustee.This Special Board Meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom.

SCHOOL NEWS

Safe Routes classes return this week for Grades 2-4 with Covid-19 safety and a green way to travel to school in mind! Click here for our Cove Elementary – School Safe Routes Curriculum. Safe Routes To School Workshops 2020 schedule And our Curriculum Descriptions: On-line Live Instruction & Remote Learning

Free lunch to ALL students! Please see the LCMSD Covid-19 Plan website for Lunch Information. All you need to do is order online but don't miss the deadline of Tuesday at 10am prior to the Monday pickup.

We Want to See You---Send Us Your Snaps! What masks are you wearing? Add pictures in from remote learning! Cove in Motion at home, your pod, specialist activities and more here. Photos to be used for the 2020-2021 Yearbook, future Cove Connection issues, and more! 

PTO UPDATES

The Cove Spiritwear Shop is Open! Need some new Cove swag? Shop our inventory here! Contact-free pickup will be at the Cove loop Friday, September 25th, 8am-4pm. 

The Cove PTO Membership! Thank you to those who have already contributed toward your Cove PTO Membership! Please consider making your contribution today as our PTO helps with site-specific funds and needs your help in doing so! Please check your Cove Actionaly account to make your membership contribution.

SPARK UPDATES

Support SPARK with your Annual Giving Donation! Nearly 80% of the $1.5M we raise each year comes from Annual Giving. In addition to maintaining access to Music, Art, Science, Technology and Wellness programs, SPARK is also funding distance learning tools and safe return to schools. This includes intervention services from specialists for direct student support, as well as stipends to teachers and additional funding for materials and supplies needed for our new learning environment. Your support has never been more crucial. You can set up automatic monthly payments or pledge now pay later. Corporate Match can help boost your donation - check here to see if your employer participates.

Volunteers wanted Get involved and help our schools by joining the Annual Giving or Biz Outreach Teams or become a classroom rep. Learn more here or contact us with questions.

Want to become a Biz Partner? Get your business in front of our growing community of nearly 1,000 local families and support SPARK at the same time! We offer a wide variety of sponsorship options to help you find the perfect level of exposure for your business. Learn more here. 

COMMUNITY NEWS

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

• Free Intro to Google Classroom Sessions: TK-12

• Corte Madera Parks and Rec Outdoor & New Classes!

• Outdoor Spooktacular Musical Magic! 

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.