The Cove Connection 

 Sunday, December 13th, 2020

Issue #16

For Previous Issues Click Here

UPCOMING DATES

• December 14 LunchMaster pickup, 11:00am - 12:30pm

• December 14 LCMSD Board Meeting, 6pm 

• December 16 Staff Gift Secret Snowflake Orders Due

• December 16 PTO Board meeting, 7pm via Zoom

• December 18 11:30- Sing Along Assembly! via Zoom

• December 18 Pajama Day

• December 18 Last Day to Vote for the 2020-2021 Yearbook Cover

• December 21-January 1 Winter Break

• January 4 School Resumes

Weekly Dates

• All Fridays 

  • All School Assembly 11:30-12pm via Zoom

  • Library Book Pick Up and Return 8:00am - 4:00pm

  • Spiritwear Order Pick Up (if ordered) 8:00am - 4:00pm

  • Classroom Materials Pickup 8:00am- 4:00pm (*as notified by your classroom teacher)

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Despite our current Shelter-In-Place, the spirit of celebration is alive at Cove! The energy is palpable this time of year- students are making crafts in place of our traditional Holiday Store, outdoor lights adorn houses, and there is a crispness in the air that signals winter.  

No matter which holidays your family celebrates (or even if you don’t celebrate a holiday this time of year), we are all navigating a period with a range of emotions for our students and ourselves. There is a range of emotion- anticipation, energy, and excitement along with potential frustration or disappointment that it won’t look the same as always.  Let's work as a team to set our children up for success. Please remember the importance of rest, nutrition and routine. This busy time also presents an opportunity to practice the mindfulness and regulation techniques our children are learning in school.  They work well for adults and children alike! 

I feel truly blessed to have such dedicated educators and staff members who care deeply about our school.  Their contributions in each of their unique roles are what keep our school going. They are talented, passionate and will truly do whatever it takes to help each child succeed. I also feel tremendous gratitude for our community at large. It is so apparent that from our superintendent to each student, it takes a whole village working together to thrive through this current pandemic. There is no community I’d rather be a part of. Thank you, Cove Community! It is an honor to work with you all.

Here’s to a different kind of festive week ahead!

~Michelle Walker, Principal

DISTRICT NEWS

Winter Break Re-Entry Plan

Please read Dr. Geithman’s email regarding the Winter Break Re-Entry Plan and note the following:

1. 1. In-person instruction will resume on January 4th

   2. Students will not be permitted to attend in person if they traveled outside the Bay Area or gathered with persons outside their household

      • They must quarantine for 10 days or may enter on day 7 with a negative test performed after day 5 (diagnostic molecular rt-pcr tests only)

   3. Sign the pledge

   4. Watch the video for more information

Board Updates

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 14 at 5:00pm (no closed session, open session begins at 5:00). Thank you Trustee, Sasha Morozoff for your leadership, vision, and dedication to the LCMSD community throughout one of the most challenging times in our district’s history. Leadership is challenging enough, but leading through a pandemic is monumental. We appreciate your service and commitment to student and staff safety and wellness. Sasha will be celebrated during the meeting and Trustee Annie Sherman will be sworn in. Additionally, Trustees Jill Sellers and Sarah Mueller will be sworn in for another term. Welcome Annie and thank you Jill and Sarah for continuing your service and leadership in LCMSD. The Board will also elect officers and make committee appointments. Trustees will be presented with a COVID update and LCMSD curriculum team updates. A pension resolution, the first interim budget, and the LCFF budget overview for parents will be voted on. The Board will also hold a workshop at 8:30am on December 17 where they will conduct a self-evaluation. The Board meeting will be held in-person and a Zoom link will be provided one hour before the meeting for the public.

SCHOOL & PTO NEWS

Cove Yearbook Cover Art Contest Please click here and fill out the form to vote for your favorite Cove Yearbook Cover Art Entry! The entries submitted are all very beautiful and created by our very own 5th graders! Please make sure you scroll through all of the choices. Each Cove student and staff member are allowed one vote each. Voting ends this Friday, December 18th. 

Staff Sweatshirt Secret Snowflake - Show Our Staff You Care! Last year, we gifted each of our beloved staff a cozy spirit wear hoodie--iIt was so well received we are going to do it again this year! Secret Snowflakes may remain anonymous or may include a “from” note. Sign up here by Wednesday, December 16th as a class, a group, or an individual to purchase a hoodie for someone special to Cove! Sweatshirts are $35 each. Payment may be submitted by check (payable to Cove PTO) via this link  by December 16th. 

LCMSD Lunch Update There will be no lunch service on Monday, December 21st or 28th. Lunch distribution will resume Monday, January 4th. Please set a reminder to order lunch for January before Thursday, December 31st.  

Safe Routes December Recess Challenge Have fun doing as many activities as you can for a chance to win a $25.00 Sport Basement gift card! Click here for more information as well as the form. Parents, please include your contact information on the card.  Entries and questions may be sent to SafeRoutes@marinbike.org. Winners announced in January.  

From the Cove PTO

• Join us at our December Board meeting this coming Wednesday (12/16) via Zoom at 7pm. We ask that general questions will be held until the end of the meeting.

• We wish everyone a bright, healthy, and fun Holiday. Enjoy Winter Break and we can’t wait to see you all in the New Year! 

SPARK UPDATES

Year end Donation Deadlines Only 18 more days to donate in 2020. In order for your SPARK Annual Giving donation to qualify as a charitable contribution in your 2020 taxes, please note these key dates:  

• December 21st: Initiate stock transfer 

• December 31st: Checks must be postmarked on or before this date 

• December 31st; Credit card payments must be processed online by by 9pm PST 

Corporate Match Can Increase Your Donation Taking advantage of your company’s corporate match program is a great way to increase – and in many cases double – your donation to SPARK. We encourage any parent who is employed by an organization that provides this invaluable program to contact your Human Resources department to learn how to set it up. You can also use our company search tool here. 

Shop Locally ’Tis the Season to support Biz Partners and local businesses that support our schools! Make sure you tell them SPARK sent you. Check out the specials we are showcasing just in time for the Holidays which feature these Biz partners: 

• Sage Educators

• Left Bank

• Amy’s Drive Thru

• F45 Training Corte Madera

• Law offices of Joseph M. Barton

• Ashley Morgan Designs

• Camp K-9

• Farmhouse Labs 

• Electric Joy

COMMUNITY NEWS

Please click link to view Community News that includes updates from

• Resources for Families

  • Legal Aid of Marin, Housing Protection

    • Tahirah Dean 415-492-0230

  • Multicultural Center of Marin

    • Toy Drive

      • Sign up this Saturday 8am – 10:30am

      • Toy distribution 12/19

    • Food Bank - Every Saturday at 8am

    • Free masks and children’s books

  • Marin Community Clinics

    • COVID Testing – Saturdays, 12/12, 12/19 at Novato office

  • Marin County Free Library

    • Wide range of books, other languages

    • Live tutoring services

• Corte Madera Parks and Recreation Department

  • FireSide Storytime 

  • Gingerbread House Building Contest

  • The Giving Tree

  • Letters to Santa

  • Holiday Home and Business Decorating Contest

• TC Girls Softball

• Broadway Training Programs

• San Francisco Girls Chorus

• Ms. Gallagher’s Homeschool Curriculum for Children Ages 3-5 

• Viva el Español Spanish Language Classes

• Twin Cities Community Preschool

• Pure Edge Social & Emotional Virtual Wellness Series 

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.