Covington Howler

October 6,  2015

Message from the Principals

Dear Covington Families,                  

Here at Covington we are gearing up for this Saturday’s Walkathon. Since we are

also celebrating curiosity through the month of October, we wondered how and when walkathons started. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a walkathon is defined as, “A long-distance or protracted walk, esp. one undertaken competitively or (now frequently) in order to raise money for charity.”  An article in the Wall St. Journal in 2011,  reported that the first U.S. walkathon occurred in 1969 in Bismarck, N.D. to raise money for food programs.  This inaugural Hunger Walk raised $25,000 but its greatest influence was the spread of the idea of walkathons.   Since then, walkathons have become fundraisers for many different causes and participation has brought like-minded individuals together to share in a common experience as they work to achieve a common goal. It’s become as much about community as fundraising.

Our ColorWalk on Saturday is an opportunity for students to share in that community spirit. It’s a wonderful way for our students to experience a fundraising event that matters to them. We appreciate the time and energy that our organizers have spent getting ready for Saturday and we look forward to walking with you as we work to improve and celebrate our community here at Covington. Let’s get our color on!

Hope to see you Saturday,

Erin S. Green

Kami Thordarson

Haiku: If you are having trouble using the Haiku Portal, here are two great resources that may help.

How to Use the Parent Portal Video

Haiku Learning How-to’s for Parents

Walk-A-Thon

WALKATHON NEWS

Friday is Crazy Color Day.  It’s time for your child to dress in their wildest color combination! Mismatched and crazy is the look for the day.

Sponsor Cards Are Due.  If you haven’t turned in a sponsor card, please drop it off at the school office in the Walkathon cubbie. If you have lost the card, there are extras at the office. Remember, every student needs a signed sponsor card in order to participate at the Walkathon.

The Walkathon Is Saturday!  The Walkathon is happening on Saturday, October 10. With so many students and families participating, we are sure to have a fun-filled, exciting day.

Here are a few things to remember:

  -  Registration opens at 9:30 AM.  First lap is at 10 AM.  Walking stops at 3 PM.

  -  Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes.

  -  We are asking students to bring a gently used book to donate to the East Palo Alto Charter School

  -  Bring cash and a checkbook for food, the Pocket Ladies, and the Priceless Parties.

  -  Wear the Walkathon t-shirt. Shirts go home with the students on Thursday.

Volunteer at the Walkathon!  We still need more people to volunteer. Remember, we can’t do this without you! Please sign up at: http://tinyurl.com/o9n5soo

PTA NEWS

Please join us for our next PTA General Meeting on October 9, 2015 at 8:30am in the Staff Room.  

Sponsor Cards Are Due.  If you haven’t turned in a sponsor card, please drop it off at the school office in the Walkathon cubbie. If you have lost the card, there are extras at in the cubbie. Remember, every student needs a signed sponsor card in order to participate at the Walkathon.

Back to School Combined Payment! Keep those donations coming to help pay for field trips, school supplies, class parties etc.  We depend on your generosity to make our school great. You can find the form online and pay by echeck: http://covingtonschool.org/covingtones/4770-Back-to-School-Purchases.html

Paper forms are also available in the school office, in the Combined Payment cubbie.

LAEF

1,000,000 in donations & counting

Our board of 29 parent volunteers would like to thank the 767 families so far - who have already made their annual donation to LAEF. We just reached the $1M mark on our way to funding our 2015-16 grant, which benefits every child, in every grade, in every school in LASD. Please show your spirit by placing your LAEF Window Cling in your car today and inspire others to join you.

If you haven’t had a chance to give, give today at LAEFonline.org and save us a call! Our annual phonathon is the week of October 19th and our parent volunteers will be calling families who have not yet given, to help us reach our goal of $3.5M. The best news is that all NEW gifts and any dollar you give OVER your contribution amount last year will be matched by LAEF’s Board of Directors, up to $100,000.  Thank you!

STEM STUFF NEEDED

Calling Wonderful Covington Parents!

We will be designing and creating many new products this year in the STEM Lab and could use all of the recyclable materials we can get our hands on!  If you have materials/scraps around your home that you’d like to get rid of, feel free to donate them any time throughout the school year.  Some examples of materials that are wonderful are: paper towel tubes, tissue paper, buttons, wooden rods, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, blocks, small wheels, tops of water bottles, etc.Please send in some S.T.U.F.F.  (Scraps That are Used For Fun!)  Thank you in advance for your help in our new discoveries!       

-Mrs. Katie Farley , STEM Teacher

LASD & Community Announcements

School & Community News now found via Peachjar: https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?a=28&b=138&region=54001

How to Submit an Article to the Covington Howler

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