Covington Connection

Good morning Covington Community:

I hope that you have had a wonderful summer vacation. The weather was pretty great and hopefully you found time to relax and enjoy time with your family. Summer is a much needed break for our children and I hope they are ready and excited to come back.

I am looking forward to welcoming all of you for our first day of school for Grades 1-5 on Wednesday, August 17th. This is a half day of school, so students will not eat lunch on that day. Students will be in attendance from 8:30 A.M. until 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 17th. (The typical hours on a school day are 8:30 A.M.-3:20 P.M.). The first day can sometimes be stressful for the students as well as their parents. To help alleviate some of the stress, we will have all staff outside the building that day. Non-classroom teachers will have an alphabetical list to assist you in finding your line-up spot on our campus.

Enjoy the few remaining days of summer and we look forward to welcoming you back to school!

Sincerely,

Mr. John Wawczak

Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, August 16th: Meet and Greet and Supply Drop-Off @ 12:30 P.M. or 6:00 P.M.
• Wednesday, August 17th: First day of school for Grade 1 - Grade 5 students (Dismissal at 11:30 A.M.
• Thursday, August 18th: First full day of school for Grade 1 - Grade 5 students
• Friday, August 19th: First day of school for Kindergarten students
• Tuesday, August 30th: Covington PTO Meeting @ 6:00 P.M.
• Monday, September 5th: No School - Labor Day
• Tuesday, September 6th: Covington Open House @ 6:30 P.M.

Homeroom assignments and schedules will be posted in Skyward Family Access on Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 at 12:00 P.M.

A reminder that will be providing an opportunity for you and your student(s) to visit the school and drop off supplies in the classroom before our first day. Students and family members are welcome to come to Covington on Tuesday, August 16th from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. to drop off supplies and meet staff.

If you cannot make it during the day, we also will have the option of coming to the building that evening from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. to drop off supplies in the classrooms. Please note though that not all staff will be in the building for the evening option.

Check out the Covington School Supply List for all grade levels. Included in this link is also our District 123 school year calendar.

Please mark your calendars. Covington Elementary School's Open House will be held on Tuesday, September 6th from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

There are specific requirements for students entering preschool, kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade, as well as for all new students. Visit our Health Forms & Guidelines page for more information. Please note that these vaccinations and/or health examinations are required by state law.

We want to see our students in school as much as possible. However, there are going to be times when a student is absent. If your student is going to be absent from school, please let us know.

When reporting an absence, our phone number is 708-423-1530. When doing so, please share the following information:

• Name of the person leaving the message
• Relationship to the child
• Child's name
• Teacher's name
• Reason for the absence

The student device insurance policy provides full replacement cost coverage and protects the item worldwide (on and off school grounds) for only $25/year. The policy will be transferred to any replacement device that your child may be issued. Without insurance D123 families are fully responsible for the costs associated with the repair/replacement of their student's device. Insurance coverage is for the device only and does not extend to the case or the charger.

Families of students in all grade levels can sign up for this insurance program by adding the optional “Student Device Insurance” fee through Skyward Family Access. You have until September 30 to purchase device insurance every year. Additional information about the student device insurance program and deductibles can be found at: https://d123.org/about/technology/student-device-insurance/

Please view either the written or video tutorial on how to add Chromebook / iPad insurance to your student's account.

Beginning with the 2022-23 school year on August 17, families who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will have to pay for school meals. Students whose families are eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast or lunch will be able to access meals next school year at no cost or a discounted rate. The cost for a lunch (including milk) is $3.05. The cost for an a la carte milk is 60 cents.

At this time, the federal government has not extended the waivers for next school year to allow free meals for all students. As a result, schools across the nation will be reverting back to free and reduced-price meals based on income eligibility guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If you would like to apply for free or reduced priced meals, please click here.

Click here for the August lunch menu.

• Students walking to and from school should utilize crossing guards.

• Staff members monitoring student drop off at the designated grade level doorways enter the building at 8:25 a.m. Students arriving after 8:30a.m. must enter through the Main Office.

• Students being dropped off by car at Door 2 will enter Door 2 and walk to their designated grade level door.

• Students walking to school will line up by their designated grade level door

• Traveling east on 92nd St past 52nd Ct is not permitted during drop-off times.

• 52nd Ct. is one way north from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m

• There are groups of lines that are painted on the blacktop and sidewalk areas for each classroom around the perimeter of the building. There is one set of lines per class.

• During a morning with weather that cooperates:

• Students arrive between 8:10 A.M. and 8:25 A.M. and should go to their assigned line in their classroom grouping

• Grade 2 and Grade 3 students line up on the blacktop near Door 5

• Grade 4 students line up on the north blacktop nearest Door 6

• Grade 1 and Grade 5 students line up on the south blacktop

• Grade Kindergarten and PTP students will line up along an assigned sidewalk in front of either Door 6, Door 7 or Door 8

• At 8:25 A.M., classroom teachers will walk their classes to their entry doors

• Teachers will then take the student’s temperature when entering the building

• During a morning with inclement weather:

• Students will go directly to their entry door

• Grade Kindergarten - Door 7

• Grade 1 - Door 9

• Grade 2 and Grade 3 - Door 5

• Grade 4 - Door 6

• Grade 5 - Door 8

• Students that are dropped off at Door 2 will follow the same procedure of having their temperature taken as they enter Door 2; after this, they should line up with their class at either their outdoor or indoor assigned area (weather dependent)

• When a parent or guardian arrives to pick up the student, the teacher will dismiss him or her
  

• Students that will be walking home on their own will let their classroom teacher know, once they are on their line

• At 3:30 P.M., students not picked up, are taken in the building

• Our first lunch block is 11:00 A.M. - 11:50 A.M. for Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5; our second lunch block is 11:55 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. for our Kindergarten, and Grade 1 students.

• We will try to utilize our outdoor space for both lunch and recess when weather permits.

• When having Lunch and Recess outdoors, students can bring a blanket or towel to sit on.

• Children will always wash their hands prior to eating their lunch.
  

• Cleaning will occur in between each Lunchtime rotation.
  

If your child is in the D123 Preschool program, please click HERE for an informational newsletter.

Website: d123.org/covington
Location: 9130 S 52nd Ave, Oak Lawn, IL, USA
Phone: 708-423-1530
Twitter: @d123covington

Email: jwawczak@d123.org
Website: d123.org/covington
Phone: 708-423-1530
Twitter: @MrWawczak