Dear Covington Families,

Regardless of whether your team wins this Sunday, I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the Super Bowl—spending time with family and friends, catching some funny commercials, and, of course, indulging in some delicious food!

STAAR Interim & Countdown to STAAR 2025

Last week, we completed the STAAR Interim Assessment, and our team is now analyzing the data to make any last-minute adjustments to instruction. Our goal is to ensure we are aligned with the support students need to be fully prepared for the STAAR exam in April.

Speaking of STAAR, our official countdown at Covington began weeks ago, and here’s where we stand:
📅 2 Months
📆 9 Weeks
📅 63 Days
⏳ 1,584 Hours
⏱ 95,040 Minutes

As we move closer to the exam, I continue to ask that parents set aside time daily to support their child’s preparation. Here are some strategies you can use at home:

Ways to Support Your Child for STAAR:

✔ Encourage Daily Reading & Problem-Solving: Help your child build comprehension and critical thinking skills by discussing what they read and practicing math problems.
✔ Practice STAAR-Style Questions: Use online resources or review past assessments to familiarize them with the format.
✔ Create a Study Routine: Set aside 30 minutes a day for review to reinforce key concepts.
✔ Focus on Test-Taking Strategies: Teach your child how to eliminate incorrect answers, pace themselves, and reread questions carefully.
✔ Ensure Rest & Nutrition: A well-rested and well-fed student performs better. Make sure they are getting 8+ hours of sleep and eating a balanced breakfast.
✔ Stay Positive & Encourage Confidence: Remind them that hard work pays off and celebrate their progress!

Valentine’s Day Reminder

Love is in the air, and Valentine’s Day is this Friday! Middle school is always an exciting place during this time—lots of smiles and maybe even a few broken hearts. While we want students to enjoy the day, please do not send students to school with balloons, large stuffed animals, or other oversized gifts. Our priority is to maintain a safe and distraction-free learning environment while still allowing students to celebrate.

Coffee with the Principal & CAC Meeting – Wednesday

We invite all parents to join us for Coffee with the Principal and our Campus Advisory Council (CAC) meeting this Wednesday. Details and times are listed below. This is a great opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and engage with our school community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education and continued support!

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

Tutoring Schedule for Students:

Click Here for Tutoring Schedule

https://covington.austinschools.org/sites/covington.austinschools.org/files/inline-files/Covington-MS-Tutoring_2024-25.pdf

Valentine's Dance Volunteers and Donations

Please click the link below to help!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FA9AD23ABFCC16-54844507-valentines#/

"Attention families! ACE is currently accepting 10 more students in for the spring semester, if you are interested email Ms. Katie directly at Katelyn.fontenot@austinisd.org

¡Atención familias! ACE está aceptando actualmente 10 estudiantes más para el semestre de primavera, si está interesado, envíe un correo electrónico a la Sra. Katie directamente a Katelyn.fontenot@austinisd.org" 

Congratulations to the boys Basketball 7th grade A Team! They beat Mendez 70-15! Let's keep it going boys! - Coach Silva

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 Feb. 10th 2025

In February, guidance lessons will focus on Healthy Relationships - showing the importance of loving ourselves and loving others. We will discuss affirmations, as well as green and red flags in relationships with others.

Let's Talk - Healthy Relationships

SEL/Character Strong lessons for the week of February 10-14 are:

6th Grade - Naming Emotions

7th Grade - Choosing to Care

8th Grade - Practicing Self-Regulation

Due Dates for 2025-26 Covington Middle School Fine Arts Academy Choice Sheets:

6th Grade - February 6, 2025

7th Grade - January 30, 2025

Change of Mind Deadline - March 1, 2025

Please note that parent and student signatures are required to turn in choice sheets to social studies teachers (or counselors, if past the deadline). Please contact Debra Austrum at (512) 414-3276 x59860 or email at debra.austrum@austinisd.org with any questions for incoming 5th grade and current 6th grade students (6th and 7th grade choice sheets). Please contact Rabecca McDonald at (512) 414-3276 or email rabecca.mcdonald@austinisd.org with any questions for current 7th grade students (8th grade choice sheets).

Due Dates for 2025-26 Covington Middle School Fine Arts Academy Choice Sheets:

6th Grade - February 6, 2025

7th Grade - January 30, 2025

Change of Mind Deadline - March 1, 2025

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.

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

2025 Austin ISD GT Virtual Showcase Flyer

This Is Our Story - Austin ISD GT Virtual Showcase Details

Submission Form opens February 7, 2025

Spring 2025 Theme: This is Our Story

*This year’s theme is the This is Our Story. Click on the link for ways to connect this year's theme to showcase submissions.

Austin ISD will accept GT student project submissions from February 7- April 11, 2025.

This will be a virtual showcase so all GT student projects will be submitted in a digital format.

• GT Students may only submit ONE project each school year.

• Only high quality student projects that are related to the theme will be considered for showcase in May. 

• Project expectations can be found here. 

Categories and Topics

GT student projects will focus on one or more of the following categories: HUMANITIES, STEM, and/or CREATIVITY. Student projects should reflect the Spring 2025 Theme: This is Our Story. 

This list provides some topic suggestions, but students may pick other project topics that fit one or more of the categories listed above. Remember, these are only suggestions.

HUMANITIES

• Language Arts: creative writing, short stories, poetry, speeches, memoirs, children's book, world language studies

• Social Studies: history, geography, economics, biographical studies, current events, global events

• Community Service: school or community projects, helping others

STEM

• Science: environment, animals, ecology, chemistry, physics, biotechnology, brain research, space, weather

• Math: numbers in the real world, math studies, math in history, data collection and analysis

• Technology: robotics, video game design, app design, website design

• Engineering: building with legos or other objects, planning cities or neighborhoods, study of buildings or bridges in Austin

CREATIVITY

• Art: drawing or illustrations, painting, sculpture, graphic design, creating an art piece to represent an idea or emotion

• Music: writing music, writing lyrics to accompany an art piece or picture, creating a rap, music theory, music in history, connecting music and math

• Theatre/Drama: play or script writing, costume or prop design, short movies

• Miscellaneous: cooking, creating logic puzzles, creating a game, artistic representations using household items, pantomime

NOTE: Students should not use copyrighted material without citing the original source in their work.

Project Submissions

GT students may work on a project independently, with a partner, or in a small group. 

Students can have the support of a teacher or adult to select the topic, student grouping, and/or resources but students should work on the project with minimal adult support. 

Reminder: GT Students may only submit ONE project each school year. If a student submits an independent project, they cannot also be part of a partner or small group project submission.

Review the submissions guidelines prior to submitting.

All student projects will be submitted through this Austin ISD GT Student Showcase Google Form (link coming February 2025). Each project should include a title and a brief description. 

Only ONE link can be accepted for each project submission. We will accept links to videos, pictures, websites, video games, audio files, etc. Be sure the file share settings within your project are set to "anyone with the link can open" before submitting the link.

For example, students can create a Google Slide Deck to post ALL the pictures, videos, etc. and submit the ONE link for the Google Slide Deck as the project submission.

NOTE: Students should cite any copyrighted material used in their submission.

Questions?

Contact us if you have questions or need additional support:

Stefanie Torres, TEAMS, stefanie.torres@austinisd.org or 512-414-1700 ext. 57414

Dr. Elizabeth Severance, elizabeth.severance@austinisd.org or 512-414-9607

Newly Identified GT Parent Meeting Recordings

• English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lVIhR5W6huzuLo4zBCpUSUXYVBzTcc7N/view?usp=sharing

• Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EqjP2s_zkdCIPYzpQYdCc3eySI1GubvR/view?usp=sharing 

Applications are now open for TAGT

Scholarships and are due by February 28

Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented Scholarships

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

February 7 - Submission form opens Feb. 7 for 2025 Austin ISD GT    Virtual Showcase

February 18-19 - 2025-26 Self-Serve Course Selection for 6th and 7th grade students (Science classes)

February 27 - 8th Grade Visit to Crockett High School

February 28 - TAGT  (Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented)   scholarships are due

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

Ever wondered what the Mexican Consulate General in Austin can do for you? 🇲🇽✨

Join us for this info-packed session where we break it all down—services, support, and answers to your questions! Don’t miss out! 

🗓️February 12th

⏰9 a.m. (English session: https://bit.ly/TFSFeb12S1)

⏰1 p.m. (Spanish session: https://bit.ly/TFSFeb12S2)

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¿Te has preguntado qué puede hacer por ti el Consulado General de México en Austin? 🇲🇽✨ 

Acompáñanos en esta sesión donde te contaremos todo—servicios, apoyo y respuestas a todas tus preguntas. ¡No te lo pierdas! 

🗓️12 de febrero

⏰9 a.m. (Sesión en inglés: https://bit.ly/TFSFeb12S1)

⏰1 p.m. (Sesión en español: https://bit.ly/TFSFeb12S2)

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

Special Education & 504 Information for Parents

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

Covington Middle School

#Colts Strong!

3700 Convict Hill Road, Austin, TX 78749

512-414-3276

https://covington.austinschools.org/