Dear Covington Families,
I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day this past Friday and are enjoying the extended weekend with Presidents’ Day on Monday! It’s always nice to have a little extra time to relax and recharge. Just a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, February 17th.
Thank You for Your Support!
A huge thank you to all the parents who attended Coffee with the Principal and our CAC meeting this past week. Your involvement and support are what help make our school a better place for all students.
Also, a special shoutout to the parents who volunteered at both the daytime Valentine’s Dance for students and those who chaperoned the after-school Valentine’s Dance! The students had an absolute blast, and it’s moments like these that make middle school a time to remember! We truly appreciate your time and dedication.
Data Chats Begin This Week
Starting this week, students will be having data chats with their Math and ELA teachers to review their progress and set goals for STAAR 2025. Each student’s Data Chat Sheet has been placed in their Google Drive, and we encourage you to sit down with your child to discuss:
Their current performance levels
Their goals for the STAAR test
Their plan to improve and prepare
Your support and encouragement at home will help them stay motivated and focused as we approach testing season.
STAAR 2025 – The Final Countdown!
We are quickly approaching April 15th, the first day of STAAR testing. Now is the time when your child needs your support the most! Here are some ways you can help as we head into crunch time:
Encourage Daily Review – Have your child spend 15-30 minutes a day reviewing key skills in Math and Reading.
Practice STAAR-Style Questions – Use resources like TEA’s STAAR practice tests, Khan Academy, or IXL for extra practice.
Focus on Test-Taking Strategies – Teach your child how to eliminate wrong answers, pace themselves, and read questions carefully.
Keep a Positive Mindset – Remind them that hard work pays off, and they’ve got this!
Ensure Good Sleep & Nutrition – A well-rested, well-fed student performs better. Make sure they get 8+ hours of sleep and eat a good breakfast.
Minimize Stress & Build Confidence – Encourage breaks, movement, and relaxation techniques to help them stay calm and focused.
TELPAS Testing for Emergent Bilingual Students
Next week, our Emergent Bilingual students will be taking the TELPAS exam (Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System). This assessment measures their growth in English proficiency in Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
If your child is taking TELPAS, here are some last-minute things you can do to help them succeed:
Encourage Daily English Practice – Have them read aloud, watch English videos with subtitles, or practice conversations at home.
Help Them Speak in Complete Sentences – TELPAS assesses academic speaking, so encourage them to explain their thoughts fully rather than short responses.
Read and Discuss Texts Together – Ask them to summarize what they read in their own words.
Remind Them to Speak Clearly and Confidently – The speaking portion is recorded, so they should speak at a steady pace and avoid rushing.
Ensure They Get Plenty of Rest the Night Before – A well-rested brain performs much better on tests!
Thank you for your continued support in helping your child succeed. Let’s make these next few weeks count! If you have any questions or need resources to support your child, feel free to reach out.
We would love your help volunteering! See links below to do so.
Your proud principal,
Cedric Maddox
