The Cove Connection 

 Sunday, February 28th, 2021

Issue #24

For Previous Issues Click Here

UPCOMING DATES

• March 5- Variety Show Intent to Perform due *see below

• March 8- No School (Teacher Development Day)

• March 11- Make Up Picture Day

• March 25- Cove Virtual Variety Show *see below for more information

All Fridays 

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

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

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

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Reading Assessments By now, you should have received the assessment results from your child’s recent 1:1 reading assessment from your child’s teacher. Teachers use these assessments to guide their instruction using the Readers’ Workshop approach.

The Readers’ Workshop Approach LCMSD uses the Workshop Approach for teaching reading (and writing!). We view reading as a multi-faceted continuum, and our goal is to guide each child through this progression.  

Readers’ Workshop is a specific way of structuring our literacy instruction. Students receive explicit whole group instruction (in a 10-minute mini-lesson) and then are given independent/small group practice time to read while the teachers provide focused, specific instruction to individuals and small groups of students. 

Through this small group instruction, advanced learners are learning exactly what they need to be learning at their skill level, while students who need extra time and reinforcement have the opportunity for that as well.

In a typical workshop model, students learn to select “Good Fit Books” (books at their independent reading level) that they understand and are interested in. Each classroom has a library of leveled books to give students lots of high-interest books at many levels. In COVID times, there are more restrictions around “book shopping” in class, however we are finding workarounds with online books and teachers selecting books for students with their level and interests in mind. 

Students spend most of their time actually reading books at their level, which research supports as the number one way to improve reading. Motivation and enjoyment of reading increase when students have choice as well as extended practice and specific reading instruction at their level.

How do we know Reading Workshop works?  Years of research!  Want to learn more? You can read the Research Base Underlying the Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop’s Approach to Literacy Instruction here.  

As a district, we are committed to best practice in literacy and doing whatever it takes to challenge, support, and know each student!

Sincerely,

Michelle Walker, Principal

SCHOOL & PTO NEWS

Safe Routes to Schools- ChalkNWalk!

Have you seen our awesome chalk trail and art?

Thanks to Safe Routes Marin and Julie Griffiths!

Take the green way when you can!

Virtual Variety Show 2021

Our beloved Variety Show is moving to our virtual stage this year. But we need your help! If you are a parent who can help with clip editing, iMovie, and graphics, please email: varietyshow@covepto.org. 

Intent to Perform To gauge virtual interest and beginning plan for our virtual show, please fill out this form by Friday, March 5th.

Uploads will be due by March 8th. Upload information to follow.

Important Virtual Variety Show Information 

• When: Thursday, March 25th 6pm, via zoom

• Where: Virtual hosted presentation

• What: A 60 second (one-minute) maximum presentation

• How: With respect to covid safety rules, film your talented Coyotes. 

• Due Date: All submissions must be uploaded by March 8th. 

• Upload instructions to follow

Get those acts together -- we can’t wait to see our talented Coyotes in action!

The Cove Yearbook needs your photos! Send in your snaps of: 

• Kids doing school from home

• Remote learners

• Participating in Specialty Zooms

• Joining in on Cove-in-Motion

• In their favorite mask

• Sharing their projects, etc!  

In particular, we need photos of our amazing 5th graders. We plan to honor them with a special yearbook dedication! You can add your pictures to the Google album here. Please label pictures like this: Student Name_Grade_Teacher. Or email photos to: coveyearbook@gmail.com

LCMSD Lunch Program

• All students are eligible for a free lunch through June 10, 2021. Please take advantage of this offer from the California Dept of Education. To order, click here: www.thelunchmaster.com

• Lunch pickup is Mondays, 11am-12:45pm at the Cove.

• It is important to pick up your lunch if you order one. When a lunch is ordered but not picked up the District is not reimbursed by the state and loses $17.50 per box. This adds up!

• Lunch Order Deadline Please place orders for Monday pickup by the Thursday prior at 10am. LunchMaster will open a month of ordering at a time to help alleviate missing the deadline. If you have trouble ordering or have additional students in your home that are not signed up on LunchMaster, please contact nurrea@lcmschools.org to place an order.

Updated lunch info can be found on our Covid-19 website. March menu is available for order.

SPARK UPDATES

Biz Partner Spotlight: We are so grateful to Nexus Energy for supporting our schools. Go solar with home battery backup and receive $1000 cash back! 

Spring Online Auction is April 27-May 2nd and will feature lots of exciting items to bid on, including parent parties and grade level themed baskets. 

Spring Fundraising Event is May 1st We’re combining the Online Auction and the Spring Event (formerly known as Gala) together!  While current county health and safety guidelines do not permit us to gather in person this year, we are working hard to make this a memorable virtual event. 

We need volunteers! There are a number of opportunities to help out with:

• Auction Solicitations Team: We provide an email script and contact lists, you reach out to businesses and secure donations. 

• Catalog Editors: Help with copyediting online auction catalog and writing item descriptions. 

• Online Event Production: Looking for a district parent with experience in virtual event production to assist with the upcoming Spring Event. 

Contact info@SPARKschools.org if you can help!

COMMUNITY NEWS

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

• CM Park and Rec Offerings 

• Free Math Tutors 

• Steve and Kate’s Camp

• The Culinary Dude

• Corte Madera Library Events 

• Annual International Mental Maths Olympiad (iMMO)

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.