COVINGTON PTAWelcome to Covington PTA. It’s going to be a great year!

F A L L N E W S L E T T E R

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S u s t a i n a b i l i t y I n i t i a t i v e

Ms. Nixon kicked off our school beautification efforts this year with Covington’s Fall & Winter Educational Gardens!

Mark Your Calendars

FALL & WINTER EDUCATIONAL GARDENS

ovington science teacher, Nancy Poage-Nixon,

invites parents and students to make an impact on our school and community by participating in an interactive educational gardens that will be a source of sustainable food! This month parents and students constructed and filled eight 4x8 garden beds with great soil from Natural Gardener and are planting a lovely array of fall veggies and herbs for the upcoming holiday meals.

To find out more about this teacher-student-driven sustainability initiative and how you can contribute to Covington's Fall & Winter Educational Gardens please contact Nancy Poage-Nixon at npoageni@austinisd.org.

The Covington PTA will be writing a grant proposal for other school beautification projects. It’s very competitive, so if anyone has experience writing grants, please email Nancy Poage-Nixon at npoageni@austinisd.org.

Fall Band ConcertOctober 227:00 pm in the Fine Arts Theatre

Homecoming DanceOctober 236:30 to 9:00 pm at CovingtonTickets to the dance are on sale in the cafeteria during lunchtime. Mums are also on sale for $8 to $15 until the 16th.

Homecoming GameOctober 265:30 pm at Burger StadiumCovington vs. Small

Book FairOctober 26 - 30Monday & Tuesday 8:00 - 4:00Wednesday & Thursday 8:00 - 5:00Friday 8:00 - 12:00 noonThe Book Fair offers quality books for our young readers at affordable prices.

Shadowing DayOctober 28 - 6th grade parentsOctober 29 - 7th grade parentsSee the following page for more info.

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Exciting News!

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Upcoming Events

Exciting News! (continued)

Shadowing Day You’re invited to Covington’s third annual parent’s Shadowing Day. Come celebrate the Month of the Young Adolescent by spending the day with your child at school.

Parents of 6th graders can attend the day, half a day, a class, or lunch on Wednesday, October the 28th.

Parents of 7th and 8th graders can attend on Thursday, October the 29th.

Sorry, siblings will not be able to attend so that instruction is not interrupted.

"This is a fun and VERY informative way to experience your child’s world for a day. I attended last year and it opened my eyes in so many ways. School has surely changed since I was in middle school. Be prepared to actively participate in all your child’s classes.

Yes, the teacher will call on you, but you can proudly say, “I’m not smarter than a 6th, 7th or 8th grader.” In my case, I made it through. But I did see a few parents leave early! I was excited to see our middle school children learning things that we were only exposed to in the later years of high school. It’s worth the time to go a full or half day to attend this rewarding day on campus with your child!" ~Charmaine Watson

Un Sabado Gigante in EngineeringThe University of Texas invites all Covington students to the Sabado Gigante Engineering Fair. Hands-on workshops, transportation, and lunch are provided to all Covington students who would like to attend! The event will be Saturday, November 14 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

In August the PTA welcomed Covington Faculty & Staff back from summer break

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Upcoming Events

Orchestra HauntcertOctober 297:00 in the Fine Arts TheatreEnjoy the haunting sights and sounds as the Covington Orchestra plays in costume.

Recognition Ceremony & Choir PerformanceNovember 3Students who made the Honor Roll the first 6-weeks will be recognized after a brief PTA update and special Covington Choir Performance.

Un Sabado GiganteNovember 149:00 to 3:00 pm University of TexasSee the article on this page and the Covington website for more info.

Checkout the New and Improved Covington Website!

hanks to Covington teacher, Mr. Arizola, the Covington website gives parents easy

access to GradeSpeed Parent Connection, tutoring times, bus stop information, bell schedules, map, Principal’s Corner, calendar of events, myLunchMoney.com, and other valuable parent resources!

GradeSpeed Parent Connection Would you like to know what your child’s grades are in every subject right now? Would you like to be notified immediately if your child’s grades fall within a certain range? Would you like to know how many tardies and absences your child has and if they are excused or unexcused? Would you like to know assignment due dates?

You can do all of these using GradeSpeed Parent Connection. The PTA will be sponsoring a workshop to parents teach parents how to sign up and use this valuable tool.

MyLunchMoney.comClick on “Lunch” to connect to myLunchMoney.com where you can prepay your child’s lunch online. myLunchMoney.com allows parents to view what food their child buys for lunch.

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Many improvements were made to our school’s website thanks to Covington teacher, Mr. Arizola!

PTA Membership Form

It’s not too late to sign up! Fill out this form and turn it in with $8.00 to the West Office, attention: Covington PTA. Thanks!

Member Name(s) __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address (City, State, Zip Code) ______________________________________________________________________________

Phone ____________________________ Email _____________________________________________________________

Student’s Name and Grade _________________________________________________________________________________

Check all that apply _______ Parent _______ Faculty/Staff _______ Community Member _______ Business

_______ I would like to be contacted about volunteering or donating items.

Kleenex Drive Cold, allergy, and Flu seasons are here! Parents and students can help by donating Kleenex, hand sanitizers, Clorox wipes, and Band-aids at the upcoming Recognition Ceremony OR drop them off in the West Office.

Donate Your Halloween Costumes and Props to the Theatre Department!The Theatre Department is in need of costumes and props. Cleaning out your closets? Drop costumes and props off in the West Office labeled, “Mr. Sharp Theatre Department.”

Fred & Sherri MaagCelina MunizShannon MurphySarah NiarkosSusan NordstromDavid & Cindy NottinghamCathy PerrinYvonne PlackeLupe RochaGary & Felecha ReeceSara RegaladoNorma RiveraDonis Rhoden & Sally BaulchRhonda SageserGary & Paula SaundersBrett SchwabStephen ShackelfordKevin & Donna SmithErin SnyderPhil & Margaret StarkDavid & Rebecca StidolphWendy StuckerBrandy TerrellBobby & Olive TorresKari TitusCarla TrautweinServanda VarelaJesus VasquezRichard VigilCindy WalkerKaty WoodburyDonise WrightBrian & Charmaine Watson

Faculty & Staff MembersVirginia Andrus Annessa BairdMary CampbellShirley & Edward CollinsCathy FrankeIsa GouldRita HansonShirley HartmannLaMar HudsonCandace HughsCathy HumphreyDawn PiperNancy Poage-NixonConnie RamirezCynthia RodriquezMaria ShawZaidee TuckerShannan VaughnCarol WallaceKathy Wittig

It Takes a VillageThank you for volunteering your time, energy, and helping hands at Covington!

Parent VolunteersCharmaine WatsonBarbara GotliebFelecha ReeceLynn StylesMichael BejaranoTammy HendersonKim MenzelIsela Diharce Moses & Kimberly AlcalaBeckey ArredondoElaine DiazSuzanna KaatzDottie CallahanAutumn EliasDavid Telso

Teachers & Staff VolunteersJose ArizolaCathy HumphreyShirley HartmannCandace HughsAmy IsheeDon IversonDawn PiperNancy Poage-NixonConnie Ramirez Brent Scott

Community VolunteersCarla TrautweinWendy TaylorGabby WatsonJenna GotliebPresly BejaranoLeslie & St. Edward’s University

Local Business DonorsA Frame of MindEPI and Tammy SrubarHEB at W.Cannon & BrodieHome DepotKC DonutsNatural GardenerLowesRandall’s on Brodie LnSalon PreslyStarbuck’s on WestgateSustainable Food CenterTaco Cabana on MopacTexenzaUniversity of Texas at Austin

Student VolunteersSeth BejaranoAliesha Blakely Bradie Ann GottliebCaliste McPhersonCovington Band StudentsCovington Garden Club MembersSamantha HunterHan LeTempra Reece

2009 -2010

PTA Members

Thank you for becoming a Covington PTA Member! By becoming a member, you are providing valuable support and materials to the children, parents, and staff of Covington!

Parent MembersJuan & Margie AguilarAlexandra Almodovar & Jonathan MudgeRebecca ArredondoAnita AustinNancy BassettMichael Bejarano & Marg SmallwoodRenee BerigBecky & Marc BrileyElisco & Debbie CamposMichelle ChristianeCarrie CummingLaurie DeLongRonanne DrakerShelia FaulkMerissa GarciaRick & Angela GarzaDarcy GomezKenny & Tammy HendersonJeff & Laurie HunterMary JaurezDavid & Fredrika JesusPataricie JonesSommer KaglorTessa KatulaAmanda KuhlEdwin LaorenoBenigna LozanoLaura LumsdenLiz Lewis