Maddox's Message

Dear Covington Middle School Families,

As we navigate through the upcoming days of inclement weather, we want to remind everyone to stay safe and warm. Due to the weather conditions, there will be no school tomorrow. The district is actively monitoring the situation, and we will provide updates as needed. If we return to school on Wednesday, we will follow the A, B, C schedule this week. Should we return on Thursday, we will implement the A/B schedule for the week instead.

At this time, the Passport to Culture community event is still scheduled for Thursday afternoon. However, if we need to reschedule due to weather, you will receive further correspondence.

Thank you for your understanding, and stay safe and warm!

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. 20th - NO SCHOOL - MLK Student and Staff Holiday
Jan. 21st - NO SCHOOL - Due to weather.
Jan. 23rd - Boys Basketball 7th A & B Vs Burnet @ Burnet - 7A - 6pm & 7B - 7pm
Jan. 23rd - Boys Basketball 8th A & B Vs Burnet @ Covington - 8A -6pm - 8B - 7pm
Jan. 23rd - Passport to Culture! 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Jan. 25th - Girls Soccer Vs. Burnet @ Covington - 9 am & 10:30 am

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!

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

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!

Click Here to Vote for Student 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.

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

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

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).

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.

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

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.

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 :)

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

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.

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

Covington Counselors Corner for the

Week of January 20th, 2025

During the month of January, students will be completing 2025-26 choice sheets for the coming year. Please remember that it is important for students to rank their elective choices appropriately as classes are formed and teachers hired based on these rankings. Once students make their selections, counselors will do their best for students to have at least one or more of their top elective choices.

Eighth grade students met with Crockett Middle School on January 15-16th during Science classes to complete choice sheets. Both Akins and Bowie high schools will be coming to Covington Middle School the week of January 27th to present course selections and choice sheets.

Seventh grade students completed choice sheets during social studies classes on January 16-17th. Any students who were absent can meet with Ms. Austrum to pick up their choice sheet and review options with her.

Sixth grade students will complete choice sheets during social studies classes on January 27-28th.

Seventh grade choice sheets are due by Thursday, January 30th. Sixth grade choice sheets are due by Thursday, February 6th.

Please note that parent and student signatures are required to turn in choice sheets to social studies teachers. Please contact Debra Austrum at (512) 414-3276 x59860 or email at debra.austrum@austinisd.org with any 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

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 22-23 - Ms. Austrum visiting elementary feeder schools for 2025-26 choice sheet presentations for current 5th grade students

January 24 - Deadline for 7th/8th grade students to drop Algebra I

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 27-28 - 6th grade students completing 2025-26 7th grade choice

sheets (in World Cultures’ classes)

January 30 - Deadline for Covington Middle School FAA choice sheets to

be turned in for 5th and 7th grade students (with required student and parent signatures).

February 6 - Deadline for Covington Middle School FAA choice sheets to

be turned in for 6th grade students (with required

student and parent signatures)

Crockett Early College High School Choice Selection:

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

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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

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

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

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)

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

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

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!

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