Covington Middle School

Covington Connection

Newsletter for the week of Jan. 13th - Jan. 18th, 2025

Maddox's Message

Mr. Maddox

Hello Covington Families,

Last week, we were thrilled to welcome students back to campus after the winter break, and this week we are diving into the full swing of the 2nd semester. As part of our efforts to set a strong foundation, we will be holding student expectations assemblies throughout the week. These assemblies will serve as a refresher for all students about the expectations we have for them at Covington.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 23rd for our Passports to Culture Community Event! This is a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate the diversity within the Covington community. We really need parent involvement to make this a successful event. If you’d like to participate, please see the flyer below for details and sign-up information.

Looking ahead, the week of January 27th, we will begin the STAAR Interim Assessment. This is a crucial time for students and staff to simulate the testing environment of the official STAAR Assessment in April and address any challenges ahead of time.

I am also thrilled to share some exciting news! The MAP MOY results are in, and Covington students performed exceptionally well:

  • We ranked 5th among all middle schools in AISD in Math growth.

  • We ranked 3rd among all middle schools in AISD in ELA growth.

This is a huge accomplishment and a testament to the hard work of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the support of our parents who encouraged and motivated their children. Thank you for being such an integral part of this success—I couldn’t be prouder of our Covington Colts!

 Countdown to the STAAR Assessment: 14 Weeks

STAAR Assessment begins on April 15th, 2025. We are counting down and continuing to work hard to ensure every student is prepared and confident.  Below are some things you can do at home to support your child:

  • Create a Study Schedule: Help your child develop a consistent routine for reviewing material, completing practice questions, and focusing on weak areas. Break study time into manageable chunks to avoid burnout.

  • Familiarize Them with the Test Format: Review sample STAAR questions and practice tests together. Knowing what to expect can reduce anxiety and build confidence.

  • Read Regularly: Encourage daily reading to improve comprehension skills. Discuss what they’ve read to strengthen critical thinking and interpretation abilities.

  • Celebrate Progress: Recognize your child’s efforts and improvements, no matter how small. Rewards like a favorite meal, extra playtime, or a simple "Great job!" go a long way.

  • Encourage a Growth Mindset: Remind your child that challenges are opportunities to grow. Teach them to focus on learning rather than just the score.

  • Make It Fun: Use educational games, flashcards, or quizzes to reinforce key concepts in a more engaging way.

  • Provide a Quiet Study Space: Set up a distraction-free area for studying where your child feels comfortable and focused.

  • Communicate with Teacher: Stay in touch with your child’s teachers to monitor progress and understand specific areas that may need attention

  • Ask Questions: “What are you feeling confident about? What do you feel like you need more practice with?”

  • Show Support: “I believe in you and all the hard work you’re putting in. Let’s tackle this together!”

  • Reassure: “This test is important, but it doesn’t define who you are. You’ve got this!”

 Thank you for your continued support, and let’s make this semester a great one at Covington!

Finally, parental involvement continues to play a key role in our school’s success. Whether it’s volunteering for events, helping in the front office, or simply being a visible presence on campus, your support matters! If you’re interested in volunteering, click the links below to sign up.

Front Office Support

Afternoon Pick Up Monitor

Drop Off Monitor

Lunch Room Monitor

Friday Lunch Room Monitor

Thank you for being such an important part of our Covington community!

Your proud principal,

Cedric Maddox

Important Upcoming Dates!

  • Jan. 15th - 8th Grade Boys B Team Basketball Game Vs. Garcia @ Gus Garcia 6:00 pm

  • Jan. 16th - 7th A & B Teams Boys B-Ball Game Vs. Marshall @ Covington Times: A - 6pm, B - 7pm

  • Jan. 16th - Colts Theatre Spirit Night @ Raising Cane's on Brodie from 5 - 9 pm. Come out and support our Theatre!

  • Jan. 18th - Girls Soccer Games Vs. Means @ Covington 7th at 9 am - 8th at 10:30 am

  • Jan. 20th - NO SCHOOL - MLK Student and Staff Holiday

  • Jan. 23rd - Passport to Culture! See flyer below!

Passport to Culture - Eng

Please Fill Out this Google Form if you would like to participate in our Passport to Culture. We are in need of countries to be represented and students or family members to perform a song or dance that represents your culture. Or bring a dish to share!

This is a community event, all are welcome. Click Here to Sign Up for Passport to Culture!

Passport to Culture - Esp

Tutoring Schedule for Students:

Click Here for Tutoring Schedule

Important Emails:

Principal: Cedric Maddox

cedric.maddox@austinisd.org

Assistant Principal: Rachel Gregory & Jason Summerville

rachel.gregory@austinisd.org

jason.summerville@austinisd.org

Counselors: Debra Austrum & Rabecca Mc Donald

debra.austrum@austinisd.org

rabecca.mcdonald@austinisd.org

Parent Support Specialist: Esther Garcia

esther.garcia@austinisd.org

FORWARD

Click HERE to learn about our F.O.W.A.R.D. - Restorative Practices here at Covington

Haga clic AQUÍ para aprender sobre nuestro F.O.W.A.R.D. - Prácticas Restaurativas Aquí en Covington

Students! Nominate a student of the month and staff member of the month!

Student of the Month

Click Here to Vote for Student of the Month!

staff of the Month

Click Here to Vote for Staff of the Month!

We will post the results here on the newsletter!

Thank you for participating.

Attendance Matters

R.E.A.L

  • Routines: Daily attendance routines can reduce stress, increase your child’s self-confidence and lay a foundation for good attendance in later grades. 

  • Engagement:  Participation in school helps your child connect with other children and adults and get excited about learning. 

  • Access to Resources:  Schools can give you access to meals, physical and mental health care and other supports, and fun enrichment activities (sports, clubs, music, afterschool and summer programs, etc.). 

  • Learning:  Children learn best from hand-on activities and through meaningful interactions with their teacher and other students.   

Students of the month for November 2024

Geoffrey Hernandez

6th Grade: Geoffrey Hernandez: He’s a student who interacts well with his peers and is nice to others.

Mia Stirlen

7th Grade: Mia Stirlen: She is new to our school but already has made many friends and she is doing things out of her comfort zone with great success (basketball).

Juliet Brewer

8th Grade: Juliet Brewer: She is always trying to help others in need, she always gets the best grades, and she is just a really kind.

Ms. Mangabin

Staff of the Month for November 2024

Ms. Mangibin: She has built great relationships with her students. She engages them with rigorous lessons and shares her enthusiasm of history with her students. She's doing 4 preps and is rocking it. Couldn't ask for a better team member!

Students of the month for December 2024

Lincoln Fennell

6th Grade: Lincoln Fennell: Lincoln always gives 100% in his student work. He always sets a high bar for himself academically. He is an A student all the time.

Enya Barney

7th Grade: Enya Barney: Because they are a good friend to all and is a really nice student. She is an amazing friend and student to all :)

Sydney Phillips

8th Grade: Sydney Phillips: Always does all her work, friendly and nice.

Esther Garcia

Staff of the month of December

Ms. E. Garcia: She helps with everything! She supports our campus in so many ways and always has a smile.

Raising Canes
Chromebook Info

Hello Covington Colts! We have outlined campus consequences for student devices / Chromebooks. Here is a one-page document that describes the process of device replacement for parents.

Please email jenigh.burrus@austinisd.org if you have any questions.

Covington Políticas de dispositivos

Covington Middle School Device Policies

CMS Logo

Covington Counselors Corner Week of January 13th, 2025

December Classroom Guidance Lessons - Transition from Middle School to Highschool

Enroll Austin

Welcome to the second semester of the 2024-25 school year! January will be a busy month with counselors supporting students in choosing courses and completing choice sheets for the 2025-26 school year.

Counselors will be in class guidance lessons during January reviewing core and elective choices for next year, supporting students both with paper choice sheets and electronic self-serve (for current 6th and 7th grade students). Students will initially complete the paper choice sheet (with required student and parent signatures) and then, in late January/early February, current 6th and 7th grade students will enter elective choices into the computer (electronic self-serve) with counselor guidance. Core classes for students will rely heavily on teacher input from the 2024-25 school year.

2025-26 choice sheets will be in different colors depending on student grade level: 6th grade - green; 7th grade - yellow; and 8th grade - blue. These paper choice sheets will serve as the baseline for students’ choice of courses for the 2025-26 school year with copies being stored in the counselors’ offices.

Deadline for signed choice sheets for the 2025-26 school year is Thursday, January 30, 2025.Please contact Mrs. Austrum with any choice sheet or course questions.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGZewFGT7Y/L3N14BxP2WbtBPgFOs8RVw/view?utm_content=DAGZewFGT7Y&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer


Enroll Austin - Opens November 6th

Family Support Manual - English

Manual de Apoyo a las Familias Para el Proceso de Matriculación 

Fine Arts Application Timeline for the 2025-26 School Year:

January 28, 2025- Deadline for submitting applications for 2025-2026 school year Completed applications include: essay, teacher recommendations, report cards, and standardized test results.

Week of February 3, 2025 – CMSFAA will notify qualified applicants their advancement letter indicating advancement to Audition Phase. Students will be contacted with an assigned audition time.

February 8, 2025 – FAA Auditions/Interviews at Covington 9am-3pm. 

March 1, 2025– CMSFAA Decisions Emailed

March 14, 2025 – Enroll Austin Round One results

March 25, 2025 – Deadline for Students to Accept Seat at CMSFAA

Advanced Opportunities AISD 24-25

MSTTHS

AISD counselors administer lessons that support secondary outcomes in December, 2024. In these lessons, we will ensure that students understand high school requirements, 4 year plans, endorsements, and programs of study. These lessons will be provided for 7th and 8th grade students.

One-on-One Mini Meetings

Counselors are working diligently to meet with each individual student one-on-one during Mini Meetings.  These meetings are designed to create a relationship with the student and his/her counselor, as well as to see if there are any needs/supports counselors can provide or help facilitate to help students be more successful in their school and home lives.

Important Dates

January 13 - 5:30-7:00 pm Bowie High School 2025 Showcase

January 15 - 6:00-7:00 pm Crockett ECHS Course Selection Parent

 Night

January 15-16 - Crockett ECHS Visit to Covington - Choice Sheets

 for incoming 9th grade students during Science classes

 (currently 8th grade students)

January 21-23 - Ms. Austrum visiting elementary feeder schools for 

  2025-26 choice sheet presentations

January 21 - 5:30-7:00 pm Akins High School Open Advising Night

January 24 - Algebra I Opt-Out Deadline

January 27 - Bowie High School Visit to Covington - Choice Sheets for 

 incoming 9th grade students who are zoned to Bowie High

 School (current 8th grade students)

January 27 - Akins High School Visit to Covington - Choice Sheets 

 for incoming 9th grade students who are zoned to Akins 

 High School (current 8th grade students)

January 29 - 6:00-7:00 pm Newly-Identified GT Student Family Info

Session (Virtual)

https://bit.ly/AISDGTSession

January 29 - 12:00-1:00 pm Newly-Identified GT Student Family Info

Session (Virtual)

https://bit.ly/AISDGTSession

January 30 - Priority deadline for Covington Middle School Choice Sheets

to be turned in (with required student and parent

signatures).

February 4 - Priority Deadline Enroll Austin

C C S N
C C S N Esp
Crockett

Crockett Early College High School Choice Selection:

https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/crockettcourses/home

Akins

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGZewFGT7Y/L3N14BxP2WbtBPgFOs8RVw/view?utm_content=DAGZewFGT7Y&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer

Mrs. Debra Austrum

7th Grade & 7th Grade A-L

debra.austrum@austinisd.org

Ms. Rabecca McDonald

7th Grade M-Z & 8th

rabecca.mcdonald@austinisd.org

ps

Tools for Success is a great series of Zooms that are informative sessions for parents of AISD. They have sessions in English and Spanish. Please join them if you have time@ If you would like more information, or have a watch party of the sessions you are interested in, please contact Esther Garcia, your parent support specialist. I would be glad to host one in my room here on campus. (512)414-3276 ext: 54748 or esther.garcia@austinisd.org

TFS Jan 15 Eng
TFS Jan 15 Esp
TFS Jan Flier Eng
TFS Flier Jan 25 Esp
Esther

Find resources you may need:

Your Parent Support Specialist can help find assistance when needed. Learn new things about school and how to help your child succeed. Look for parent workshops throughout the year!

Esther Garcia, Parent Support Specialist 512-414-3276 ext:54748

esther.garcia@austinisd.org

Submit your request here: https://forms.gle/H3WXDRyYz7rCckYw5

Heart Hands

Become leaders in our school!

Your input and participation in the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA)

joinpta.org and other school committees such as Campus Advisory Council (CAC)

We Need You

Become a Parent Volunteer!

Volunteers are welcomed and needed! We could use parent volunteers in our West office, Mon-Tues-Thurs-Friday's.

Everyone who volunteers will need to attend a volunteer orientation:

https://austinisd.voly.org/

Click the link below to find great resources for Special Education and 504!

Special Education & 504 Information for Parents

We are looking for VOLUNTEERS! One per week on Wednesday night's from 5:15 - 7:30 pm.

Help our English Language Learner parents. They are investing in their future and need help with childcare. We have a wonderful CIS intern and need one more volunteer per week. If you are able to just take one Wednesday, that would help immensely. Please click the link below to volunteer:

Click here to Volunteer with Maestro En Casa

Maestro En Casa Eng
MEC Esp

Want to take part in FREE CLASSES? Open to Parents and Staff through Integral Care. See Flyer below for more information.

Parent Interest Form - English

Parent Interest Form - Spanish

Staff Interest Form

YMHFA

Hello Covington Families, 

 My name is Fatima Lozano and I am a Program Coordinator for Con Mi MADRE. Con Mi MADRE is a non-profit organization serving both AISD and DVISD campuses where we work to deliver a social-emotional learning and college readiness curriculum to students from 6th grade through their undergraduate college years. We implement a dual-generational program that includes the parents; meaning out-of-school events like college trips, conferences, and fairs. We currently have open enrollment for our cohorts at Covington Middle School for our 6th-8th grade students. We have attached our link for our application. 

Please feel free to contact me at fatima@conmimadre.org or (512) 222-6645 for any questions! 

 

CMM Eng
coffee cart

Volunteer for the COLT Cart!

We’re looking for help with the COLT Cart, a weekly pick-me-up for our staff! The cart is filled with snacks, coffee, tea, and small treats to brighten their day and show our appreciation. Volunteers will help take the cart around to staff while checking in on their well-being. Thank you for supporting our Covington staff!

Click Here to Volunteer for Our Colt Cart

Help Starts Here - Eng
Help Starts Here - Esp
pta
pta
covington

Covington Middle School

#Colts Strong!

3700 Convict Hill Road, Austin, TX 78749

512-414-3276

https://covington.austinschools.org/