GRAMMAR NEWS

Grammar School News

May 2, 2024

Announcements

Exam Scribing 

Exams are right around the corner and we need your help! Exams give our students a chance to process, reflect on, and communicate what they have learned. In the fall, First and Second Grade exams are scribed by an adult in the Carson Leslie Center. If you have a student in Explorers, First, or Second Grade, at least one parent is required to scribe. Parents of older students, we invite you to sign up too! 

We cannot stress enough the importance of parent volunteers to make scribing possible. This is a beautiful Covenant tradition, but it requires a lot of help on your part!  Scribing is an important way for you as a parent to be involved in your child’s education and get a small taste of what our young students are learning. Click HERE to claim your spot! 

Parents, when scribing, please plan to park at the Church in Dallas at 13093 Meandering Way.

**NOTE: Over the last few years, we have had some pretty significant issues with scribers canceling at the last minute. We know things happen, but when several volunteers cancel on a given scribing day, it really throws the whole thing off. With that said, you may try to plan ahead and coordinate with other volunteers so that if you find yourself in a bind, you can call someone to swap times or cover for you. Please do your best to commit to your time slot. Should a last minute emergency arise, please find a substitute to step in for you. 

Scribing Times:

Wednesday, May 15: 8:00-9:30 am AND 9:30-11:15 am

Friday, May 17: 8:00-9:30 am AND 9:30-11:15 am

Monday, May 20: 8:00-9:30 am AND 9:30-11:15 am

Tuesday, May 21: 8:00-9:30 am AND 9:30-11:15 am

Parent Information

Uniforms for 2024/2025

Parents, as you begin to consider purchasing uniforms for the 2024-2025 school year, please follow the below guidelines from our Parent/Student Handbook:
Uniforms are available exclusively through DENNIS Mills Uniform Company. They must be clean and not ripped, frayed, or excessively stained.

• Black, red, and white plaid skirt with sewn-down pleats, no shorter than 4 inches above the crease in the back of the knee and no longer than the top of the kneecap.
• Black, red and white plaid jumper for girls in E-2.
• Black shorts with built-in liner worn under skirt for PE (grades 3-5)
• Black shorts with built-in liner or modesty shorts worn under jumper (E-2)
• (Black shorts with white trim are also acceptable)
• White middy blouse with black tie (3-4) or Peter pan collar and jumper (E-2)
• White oxford button-down blouse (5th only). Tucked in and properly buttoned at all times.
• (white shirts should not be excessively dingy or gray)

**Items that are in bold are changes.

Dr. Cristina Sevadjian Blog

We invite you to read the latest blog entry by Dr. Cristina Sevadjian, who partners with Covenant through Sparrow House Counseling. We are excited that she has a blog that she is sharing with us to help encourage parents as we navigate the needs of our children.  Here is the link.

Parking Lot reminders

In an effort to ensure our students and families are safe, especially during the most busy times of morning arrival and afternoon dismissal, we ask that you be extra vigilant about closely monitoring your children and only crossing the street at the designated crosswalks. There are a large number of people coming and going on our small campus each day. In order to stay safe, it is important for everyone to do their part in ensuring that safety protocols are maintained.

Uniform Correction

It has come to our attention that the Parent-Student Handbook did not reflect the change from an option for first grade girls to wear the jumper/peter pan shirt or skirt/middy blouse to it being mandatory for all first grade girls to wear the jumper/peter pan collared shirt. Because of our error, first grade girls will have a choice between the jumper and the skirt this year as they did last year. Next year, we will move to jumpers only for Explorers and First Grade girls. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused. 

Tutoring Information

If you are looking for a math tutor please contact Haley Hiscocks. She has availability for this semester on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school for 3rd thru 8th grade students. She can be reached at TheResourcefulTurtle@gmail.com

Library News

Open Library

The Grammar library is open for students and parents to come check in and check out books Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7:45am-8:00am. Parents, please accompany Explorers-2nd graders if you come before students are dismissed to class. 3rd-5th graders may visit by themselves. A little known fact is that parents are allowed to check out up to 10 books at a time on their parent account. Come browse our good, true and beautiful books!
*Reminder - the Grammar library has moved! It is right next door to the Grammar Administration office on the Grammar West deck.

After School Care

Charlotte Mason Afternoons

Charlotte Mason Afternoons is underway! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Erin Howell at  [email protected]. We would love for every student to experience the peace, rest, and joy that this experience has to offer!

To catch a glimpse of what happens in Charlotte Mason Afternoons, click HERE to watch a short slideshow.

Extended Day - Sign up now!

Welcome to Covenant's Extended Day Program for Explorers through 2nd Graders! We are so excited to see our previous students again and to meet our new families. Extended Day allows Explorers, 1st and 2nd Graders the opportunity to stay the entire school day on Mondays and Fridays. A snack will be provided for all students. Mondays provide a time for 2nd graders to complete their homework. Registration is required by filling out the SignUp Genius linked HERE! The cost is now $30/day/child. You may choose as few or as many days as you wish. Just like last year, you will only be able to sign up for Extended Day a month at a time. Should you have any questions, please email Deedra Pace at [email protected]. We look forward to another great year of Extended Day with your children! 

Please see the following changes:

• After many years of no increases, we are increasing the price of Extended Day to be $30/day.
• The first penalty for not signing up for Extended Day and leaving your student in the program is $40.
• The second penalty for not signing up for Extended Day and leaving your student in the program is $80.
• The third penalty for not signing up for Extended Day and leaving your student in the program is not being allowed to use Extended Day for the rest of the semester. Without cooperation, the family is subject to a continued increasing financial penalty.

Updated Extended Day FAQ linked HERE!

Friendly Reminder - Early morning drop off

Please drop off your students no earlier than 7:30am. Prior to that, there is no supervision in Covenant Hall, and it poses a safety risk to have children waiting outside without an adult present. Thank you for your cooperation!

It’s You I Like

Click HERE to view a blog by Laura Mountjoy, lovingly titled, “It’s You I Like”. This will be a landing spot for inspiring and winsome words, now in a way that will allow you to refer back to previous posts.

Absentee Request Form

The Absentee Request Form is a form that must be filled out for any planned absence.  If you know that your student will be absent from school for a special event, family trip, etc., we ask that you complete the form for each student at least 2 weeks in advance. This allows our teachers to better prepare to help your student catch up on makeup work. The form can be found in the Parent Portal under “Resource Documents” and is also linked  HERE for your convenience. If you print the form and want to deliver a hard copy, please return the signed and filled out form to your student’s homeroom teacher. If you wish to scan it electronically, signed forms can be emailed directly to Allison Wedeberg at [email protected].

Class Lists 

Click the links below to see the classes for Grades E-5.

Explorers 
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade

Carpool Safety

Although carpool is running smoothly and efficiently, we want to make you aware of some rules to ensure the utmost safety for our students. 

• If you must pick up your student early, you must retreive them from the office by 2:30 pm at the absolute latest. Please don't loiter under the pavilion to pick up your stduent. 
• Absolutely NO talking or texting on your cell phone while in the carpool line.
• Do not drive too close to the curb as you pull up to your cone.
• Students MUST enter the vehicle on the driver’s side. If you need to fix seating arrangements, you will need to exit the west gate before doing so. Simply drive through the west gate, park by the pond, rearrange, and you’ll be on your way! We cannot have students entering on the passenger side during such a high traffic time. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Grammar School Pick Up Reminders

Grammar Early Pick Up: Please email the date and time of the early pickup, making sure to include your child’s teacher and Debbie Paul ([email protected]) in the email.

Grammar Carpool Changes: Please email Debbie Paul, all parents in the carpool & the teacher. Keep it simple and to the point. Example: Caylin Brown (5th) carpooling with Melanie Mittel (4th)

Note: If you have a multi-carpool change, please include all parents involved along with Debbie Paul. 

Example #1: 2nd grade soccer pick up, Melanie Mittel, Caylin Brown, Laura Mountjoy going with Erin Howell. 
Example #2: Birthday party, Caylin Brown (2nd), Melanie Mittel (3rd), Erin Howell (2nd) are going with Laura Mountjoy (3rd).

Grammar School Carpool Pick Up Times 

Monday
12:40 pm - E-2
2:50 pm - 3-5

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
12:40 pm - E
2:50 pm - E-5

Friday
12:40 pm - E-2
2:50 pm - 3-5

FAQs

Click HERE to view our Frequently Asked Questions. We will continue to add to this as the year goes on!

Rain Gear

If you haven’t already learned, you’ll find that we take our rain gear VERY seriously here at Covenant. On rainy days, we recommend durable, hooded rain jackets for your students. Especially for our little ones, it can be much easier to manage than a clunky umbrella. If you choose to send your student to school with rain boots, please be sure to pack sneakers so they are prepared for PE. 

PE Attire For boys and Girls

Both boys and girls in grades E-2 will keep their entire standard uniform on during PE.  For Grades 3-5, please send your girls to school with modest, loose fitting black shorts underneath their skirts. If students wear spandex shorts, they will be required to keep their skirts on during PE. Thank you for your cooperation!

If You Need to Reach Grammar School

 Contact Allison Wedeberg, Grammar School Coordinator, at: [email protected]

Follow Grammar School happenings on our private Instagram account: @covenant_grammar

Join the Covenant Parent Facebook page.

COVENANT PHOTOS

It's easy to share your photos with the community and the yearbook staff. Click this link and to unlock, use Classical24.