The Cove Connection 

Sunday, October 10th, 2021

Issue #9

For Previous Issues Click Here

Principal's Message

LCMSD Equity Work

Data shows that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) students have different classroom experiences based on race, and our students are no exception. In our collective effort to create safe and equitable learning spaces in all classrooms, the district is currently examining our own understanding of racial bias, as well as best practices to improve student outcomes.

LCMSD’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) identifies equity - both in terms of access and achievement - as the first goal. Over the years, we have worked with various partners such as UCLA Center X and Momentum in Teaching to implement instructional strategies aimed to meet the various needs of all students. Additionally, in the past year we’ve partnered with Race Work and now our 40% Leader for Equity, Kristie Martinez, to examine our own understanding of race, our racial perspective, and how these can impact classroom practices.This year, LCMSD staff has been utilizing regular staff meetings and professional development opportunities to build on our work from the past few years.

The work that we are doing as a district isn’t about being perfect all the time; that is not authentic. Our goal is to raise our collective racial awareness by examining ideals and perspectives we hold, one conversation at a time. We will be expanding this work over the course of the year with staff meetings, parent coffee chats, as well as community outreach. We hope to support our community and engage all families to be a part of this essential work. 

Sincerely,

Michelle Walker and the LCMSD Admin Team

School News

Welcome back with our Fall Family Get Together! Please join us this Thursday, October 14th, 4:30pm to 6:00pm on the blacktop. A great way to connect with old friends, make new friends, and celebrate the changing of the season! There will be games, activities, music, and more! Halloween costumes are encouraged (kids and adults)! 

Cove Costume Swap Do you have gently used costumes your kids no longer fit into or no longer wear? Are you looking for more than one costume option for your kid(s) this year? We have a solution for you! Please bring your gently used costume(s) that you would like to donate to the Fall Family Get Together. There will be a table where you can drop off costumes and also take a costume in exchange! All costumes left over at the end of the event will be donated to children in need.

Lice update from Nurse Gail- We are seeing some cases of head lice. This is a friendly reminder that families should be doing regular lice checks at home, and encouraging children with longer hair to wear their hair pulled back in braids or ponytails.  Lice is most commonly spread with head to head contact, so teaching awareness to children is an important first step. Here are 2 resources: What Parents need to Know and How to prevent and control the spread of lice 

Planning ahead for Halloween - Costumes and Kindergarten and 1st grade Parade. Here are details about what is and is not allowed for Halloween costumes at Cove for our fun and safe Halloween celebration on Friday, October 29. Individual classrooms will recognize this fun holiday in a variety of ways. Kindergarten and 1st grade parents are invited to join us for our parade at 1:30pm. It is a very short parade on the blacktop, so please arrive between 1:20pm-1:25pm.

Día de los Muertos at the Cove Have you seen Coco? Día de los Muertos, a well-respected Latin American tradition, is a way to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed away. This year again, Cove coyotes are invited to engage by submitting pictures of decorative artwork and/or photos of their loved ones who have passed away. 

Three fabulous parent volunteers will print and hang your photos outside in front of the school to form an altar. We will share pictures of the altar and learn about the Day of the Dead holiday in our October 29 assembly. Submit art and pictures here now through October 18: Día de los Muertos Photos 2021

Questions? Email one of our parent coordinators: Monica + Jasmine + Glenda

We just kicked off the Kids Heart Challenge at Friday’s Assembly!

Our campaign runs through 10/22! Our students are learning about heart, brain and vascular health, and meeting kids with special hearts, like Finn and Alexa. Our goal is to have all students register online and take the challenge. The class with the most participation will earn bragging rights and the opportunity to slime Mrs. Walker on October 22!

• Register:  http://www2.heart.org/goto/thecoveschool 

• Take the challenge: Be Active or Be Kind  

• Share with friends and family through social media, text and/or email 

• Check out our Virtual Envelope: www.heart.org/khcenvelope 

Lunch Volunteers- Nov/ Dec Sign Ups Thank you to those who have already helped out with lunch supervision. Please sign up here (Google Sheet: Lunch Volunteer Schedule by Week) for a single day in October, November or December when your schedule permits. Those who previously signed up to be weekly volunteers are still listed through December 17th. Volunteers sign in at the office at 12:25 and sign out after lunch ends at 1:15pm. Volunteers must be vaccinated and must show proof in the front office before they may start their first shift. 

SPARK Updates

SPARK Drive-In October is 16 & 17th Tickets will not be sold at the event - you must purchase tickets in advance. Featuring Sing! on October 16th and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle on October 17th, this family-friendly event includes a complimentary snack pack per vehicle. To-go meals from World Wrapps are available for to pre-order through October 12th. Visit here for more event details.

Enter the Annual Giving Raffle Make your Annual Giving donation or pledge before October 15th and be entered to win a raffle featuring gift cards from Farmhouse Local, Pig & the Pickle, Nugget, Perry’s and other great items from our Biz Partner the Village at Corte Madera.

Left Bank x SPARK Monday Night Dinners Every Monday, Left Bank creates a delicious SPARK Family Meal for 4 for $50 and donates 20% back to our schools! This week’s menu: fried chicken, Caesar salad, mac-n-cheese and green beans. Order online today for pick up tomorrow. Select “SPARK Family Meal” when you order. Complete October menus here.

Become a Biz Partner Do you own a business? Increase your exposure to our school community through event sponsorships, social media promotions and signage all while supporting our schools!  Sign up today. Check out our 2021-2022 Biz partners and don’t forget to tell them SPARK sent you!

Follow SPARK on social media Follow us on instagram or like us on Facebook and stay up to date with SPARK!

District News

Superintendent Coffee Chats: Dress Code and Open Q&A

Coffee chats are a great way to engage with your principal, district leadership, and the superintendent on various topics. Next week there will be two coffee chats that will focus on the LCMSD dress code for the first half and an open conversation for the second half. One meeting will be held in person (welcome to all schools in the district) and one will be virtual.

• In Person Meeting: 8:30-9:30 AM on 10/13/21 in the Cove Gallery

  • Note, parents from all schools may attend and the location of the in person meetings will rotate between schools throughout the year

• Virtual Meeting: 12:00-1:00 PM on 10/15/21 (Zoom Link) 

Marin County Public Health Parent Meeting - Pediatric Vaccinations

Marin County Public Health is hosting regular meetings for parents to learn and engage on a variety of topics. This month, the focus of their meeting will be on the COVID vaccine for children. On October 13 and 20 at 6:00 PM meetings will be held virtually in English and Spanish. Here are the details.

Community News

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

• Corte Madera Parks and Rec

• Corte Madera Library Reopening

• Expanded Hours at Larkspur Library

• Coastal Camp Family Programs

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.