MINIMUM DAYS WEDNESDAY …….12:30 – 12:45 PICK-UP.
*****PLEASE NOTE THAT PICK-UP TIME FOR AFTERCARE IS 5:00PM OR EARLIER ON FRIDAYS.
CHARTER RENEWAL UPDATE: I was just notified that our public hearing at OUSD is scheduled for February 8th. We do not have a time, and will probably be taken in order after 6:30pm. We are trying to think if we would like to have a few students do a little singing performance before the board convenes about 5pm, but will be letting you know. Parents are welcome to attend, but not all will be able to speak, but your attendance at the meeting says more than words to the board, so all who can attend, please do!
NEW CALENDER UPDATE: We sent home an updated calendar two weeks ago. Please make sure you put it up where you can reference it. If you did not receive one, please contact the office. The last day of school is June 13th. Graduation (grade 8)/promotion (grades K and 5) will be that day. This is a change from the previous calendar.
***CONCERT UNIFORMS: I have only received back a couple of the defective vests. I will be returning them next week. If the vests aren’t returned, they will be the ones your child wears at the next concert. We do not have substitutes for them. Please check and return the vest by next Thursday.
HAWAIIAN HISTORY/PERFORMANCE TOUR: Due to the Oakland Board meeting which I must attend. The parent meeting for the Hawaii trip has been moved to Wednesday Feb. 1st from 6:00 – 7:00pm. If you have signed your child up to attend, please come for the meeting.
UNIFORMS: Daily Uniform: COVA Jacket or Sweatshirt, COVA Dennis Pants (navy or khaki – no shorts or skorts until weather begins to warm up), COVA Dennis Shirt (short sleeve light blue or long sleeve dark blue, skirts or jumper only if it touches the middle of the knee, all navy or black shoes (including navy or black shoelaces). Students not in uniform are subject to discipline actions. Please ensure your child is in proper uniform every day.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FORMS: The Solo and Ensemble is coming up March 3rd. The list of your child’s rehearsal times was sent home. Please make sure that your child is at school for their rehearsals. Most are between 4- 5, some are on Wednesdays. You will receive exact performance times toward the end of February.
CLASSROOM CHANGE: Ms. VanBurkleo has left COVA, and is being replaced by Mr. Kahn. Mr. Kahn has experience teaching grades 4 – 8, and comes to us with a fascinating background in performance magic. We are looking forward to some new rotations in juggling, magic, or circus arts.
WE WANT YOUR PHOTOS: Please email good quality photos you have taken at COVA events to covaparentvolunteers@yahoo.com. We will use these photos for event advertisement, concert tickets and the year book.
PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF: Friday morning at drop-off, two parents got into an argument over the drop-off procedures. In the process, one parent got out of the car to engage the other parent. At that point, the other car hit the parent who had gotten out of the car. The police, ambulance, and fire truck responded to the 911 call. The parent who was hit decided that he was not in need of ambulance assistance and traveled to the hospital on his own. The police are following up on the incident. Since this happened after 8am, the majority of the children were in class or the auditorium, with only late arrivals witnessing the incident. However this does bring up the importance to all parents and other drivers that it is absolutely necessary for everyone to follow the proper process for drop-off or pick-up. When parents decide that they want to stop at inappropriate spots or that they feel they should be entitled to drop students without following the procedures, or yell or swear at the staff, not only are our parents and staff at risk, but the children will be also. This is a reminder to all parents/drivers that they must follow all rules for drop-off and pick-up. They must also follow any and all instructions of staff and parents who are assisting with drop-off or pick-up. The staff is often ignored or sworn at in the parking lot. This will no longer be tolerated. Parents/drivers who do not follow the process or abuse staff will be assigned a special pick-up time or routine. Please see the back of this notice for the proper pick-up procedures. These rules are in place to keep everyone safe and keep things moving smoothly.
Key Dates:
Feb. 1 - Hawaii Orientation for parents 6pm
Feb. 3 – Mini Concert – Lawrence Beaman, singer from America’s Got Talent to sing and talk with students.
Feb. 8 – OUSD Public Hearing – For Charter Renewal
Feb. 11 – Band Auditions for America’s Got Talent. – San Francisco – More info to come
Feb. 14 – COVA Talent Show – Internal show for the students, parents are welcome – 2pm – 4pm.
Feb. 17 & 20 – President’s Holiday – No School
March 3 – Solo and Ensemble Festival – Performance times and directions to come.
March 9 – Report Card 2
March 16 – Teacher Work Day – No Students
April 21 – COVA Auction
It is the parents’ responsibility to make sure that all drivers who pick up their children are aware of the pick-up/drop-off rules, so please copy and share these.
Parking Lot Rules:
1. All cars need to come around the top cone and pull as far forward (to the lowest cone) before stopping to allow their child to exit or enter the car.
2. Cars may only pass on the right side of the cones (to the left of the line of cars) after loading.
3. Drivers must follow all instructions from the staff and parents who are directing traffic whether they believe it is necessary or not.
4. Parents may not park in the spaces next to the cyclone fence to let their students out. If the parent is coming into the school, they must walk their student/s along the cyclone fence until they are passed the gate to the lower field, then cross them safely above the U-turn cone.
5. If not coming into the office or attending a conference with the teacher, parents must stay in their cars and come around to the pick-up. Please do not walk over to pick up your child then walk them to the car and cut across the traffic and cones to go down the hill. Traffic in the parking lot is one-way up and one-way down. All cars must follow the right side of the cones, make a U-turn at the top cone, and go back down the hill.
6. Cars are not allowed to drive up the road past the parking lot in the morning. Children are walking on or crossing the road and it is unsafe for a late parent to try to drive up the road.
7. Upper grade parents who arrive early for pick-up must go down to the lower playground to wait, or park in one of the designated spaces by the cyclone fence.
8. Cars are not to back in to the parking spaces. All cars must face in to the fence, and when pulling out must follow the one-way traffic. Pulling out and cutting across traffic and cones can be dangerous and create other traffic issues.
9. No students are to cross through traffic, even with an adult. If an adult is walking their child to the office from the right side of the cones, they must walk them passed the lower gate and cross them above the traffic.
10. If a child is being dropped off late, the parents must park and come into the office to sign their child in.
11. Students may not be dropped off at the bottom of the hill to walk up, or walk down the hill to be picked up.
12. Parents may drop their child off as early at 7:35 in the morning, only after being given directions to unload by the staff. There is no supervision before 7:35.
If all parents observe the pick-up procedures and follow the instructions of the staff and parents who are assisting with traffic, then we can ensure that students, staff, and parents are safe and secure. When parents do not follow the procedures, it makes it difficult for staff. We do not want the next accident to be a student. Please give your fullest cooperation for the processes, even if you are late to work or are upset about traffic.
Thanks,
Dr. Valerie Abad
