Upcoming Events

Oct. 6th - 10th Principal Appreciation Week!

Oct. 8th - Coffee w/ the Principal @ 10am

October 8th Football, Track and Volleyball Photos afterschool

Oct. 9th - JV Theatre Production Halloween Show

Oct. 10th - No School

Oct. 13th - No School

Dear Covington Families,

Last week was another busy and productive one at Covington! I want to extend a sincere thank you to the parents who attended our CAC meeting on Wednesday. During the meeting, we reviewed both the Professional Development Plan and the Campus Improvement Plan. These plans are essential because they guide our instructional focus, professional growth, and overall campus goals, ensuring that every initiative we take moves us closer to improving outcomes for our students and strengthening our school community.

On Friday, our staff and community received news about the proposed consolidation and boundary change plans for the 2026–2027 school year. Change always brings questions, but I have full confidence that these proposed adjustments will ultimately make our Covington community bigger, stronger, and more united. Through every challenge, this community has continued to show resilience, commitment, and care for our students and each other.

If the proposed changes are approved, I have no doubt that the Covington spirit will rise to the occasion, welcoming new students and families with warmth, inclusivity, and the same sense of pride that defines who we are. Over the next few months, there will be opportunities for families and staff to provide input and help shape how we move forward. I strongly encourage you all to participate in these discussions so that you remain informed and continue to have a voice in the process.

Finally, I want to share a few important reminders about upcoming events at Covington.

Student Holidays:
There will be no school on Friday, October 10th, and Monday, October 13th. Please enjoy the long weekend!

Parent Conferences:
Parent conferences are scheduled for Monday, October 20th, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00–4:00 p.m. Teachers will send out information soon so parents can sign up for a conference time that works best for them.

End-of-Month Events:
On Friday, October 31st, we’ll celebrate with our Annual Life Skills Halloween Party and welcome our first Covington House Field Day.  Covington House Field Day is a school wide event that brings together our House system, a community-building structure where students and staff belong to one of several “Houses,” each with its own colors, symbols, and values. Throughout the year, Houses earn points through academic achievement, positive behavior, attendance, and participation in school activities.  This will be a fun and spirited way to celebrate teamwork, school pride, and healthy competition. Students compete in a variety of physical challenges, games, and team-building activities that encourage collaboration, sportsmanship, and House unity. We’ll share more details soon, including how parents can sign up to volunteer.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and dedication to making Covington a place where every student feels valued, encouraged, and inspired to succeed.

Your Proud Principal,

Cedric Maddox

Covington Counselors’ Corner Week of October 6, 2025

Gifted and Talented (GT) Referral Window - Ends October 7th

Families, teachers, or Covington staff may nominate students for the GT screening process. The referral window for the 2025-26 school year is August 19 - October 7, 2025. Contact Debra Austrum, GT Advocate, at (512) 414-3276 x59860 or debra.austrum@austinisd.org, if you have questions about the process.

At this time, the only way for a 6-12 student to be identified is to be referred. 

Austin ISD Gifted and Talented (GT) Referral Form 2025-26

GT Referral Flyer

GT Referral Flyer Spanish

Academic Advising

It is easy for student grades to fall below 70 this time of year as they get excited about being in school and spending time with their friends, and sometimes forget to turn in all their assignments or be thorough with their work. Remember, it is a student’s responsibility to ask teachers for retakes on tests/quizzes/assessments or redos on assignments. (Retake and redo policies depend on the individual teacher.)

Counselors (and case managers) will be checking in with students (with any grade below 70) around Week 6 to help support students who have missing assignments, need to retake or redo an assignment(s), or need added support in the form of tutoring. CMS Tutorials 2025

Counselors will be reaching out to students with 2 or more failing grades, or who have a failing grade in a high school credit class**. The process is as follows:

• Counselor meets with student

• Counselor calls or emails parent/guardian

• Counselor gives student a copy of Covington Middle School Tutorials 2025

** Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will meet with their case manager for Academic Advising.

Referral Process for Students to See a Counselor:

Students will have paper and electronic copies of the referral form to see their counselor. These forms can be found in an electronic version on the Covington Counselors’ BLEND course, as well as in paper copies in teachers’ classrooms. This form should be submitted during lunch, before school, or after school. A counselor will see them within one school day during COLT time (Advisory). 

Counselors will not be available during scheduled class times unless it is an emergency. Students are not allowed to come to the counseling office without a pass or without a counselor picking them up. If it is an emergency, teachers will message a counselor so that a counselor can pick up the student without a referral being required. 

Parents - You are able to refer your child to see the counselor if you feel they could benefit from speaking with one. Here is the link to do so (for emergencies, please call 9-1-1):Covington Middle School Parent Referral Form for Counselor

Coming in October! - Lunch Bunches and Small Groups

Important Dates

August 20 - October 7 - Gifted and Talented (GT) Referral window (see Mrs. Austrum, GT Advocate)

October 5-11 - Mental Illness Awareness Week

October 9 - Bullying Prevention Awareness Day

October 10 - World Mental Health Day

October 13 - Indigenous People’s Day

October 22 - Unity Day

October 27-31 - Red Ribbon Week

Bianca Wan, RN, BSN 512-414-5382 ext: 45382 bianca.wan@austinisd.org

This year, Austin ISD is launching a new way for students to report safety concerns called Safe Space. Safe Space gives you a way to share important information if you feel unsafe, if someone else needs help, or if something just doesn’t seem right.

You can always go to a trusted adult, that means someone like a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, or assistant principal, someone you feel comfortable going to when you need help or see something wrong.

If you’d rather share information online and/or anonymously, you can go to austinisd.org/safespace and submit a report.

Look around campus for the yellow Safe Space posters; they have the website link and can guide you where to go. Your voice matters and can help keep everyone safe.

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

Please email rachel.glassford@austinisd.org if you have any questions.

Covington Middle School Device Policies

Covington Políticas de dispositivos

New Ticketing System for all AISD Games

events.hometownticketing.com

Covington Middle School

#Colts Strong!

3700 Convict Hill Road, Austin, TX 78749

512-414-3276

https://covington.austinschools.org/