The Bulldog Bulletin

Dear Bulldog Families,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! We hope you and your family have enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with opportunities to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories. As we prepare to welcome students back to Covert Public Schools, there is a tremendous sense of excitement throughout our buildings. We are looking forward to another year of academic growth, meaningful relationships, and celebrating the many successes of our Bulldog students.

This year, we are excited to welcome several new staff members to our Bulldog family. Their experience, passion, and dedication to students will strengthen our school community, and we look forward to introducing them to you in the weeks ahead.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our Open House & Backpack Giveaway on Tuesday, August 18, 5 -7 p.m. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to meet teachers and staff, receive important back-to-school information, and ensure every student is prepared for a successful first day. We hope to see all of our Bulldog families there!

At Covert Public Schools, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are the foundation of student success. Thank you for the trust you place in us each day. We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to working together to make the 2026–2027 school year one filled with learning, achievement, and Bulldog pride.

Have a wonderful remainder of your summer, and we'll see you soon!

Warm regards,

Dr. Christine Strayer Mrs. Rachel Symonds
Middle & High School Principal Elementary Principal

📋 A Few Quick Back-to-School Reminders

As we get ready for an amazing school year, please take a few minutes to complete any back-to-school forms we've sent home or electronically. Keeping your family's information up to date helps us communicate with you and ensures we can best support your student.

Please remember to:

✅ Review and update your student's contact and emergency information.

✅ Complete the Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application for your household—even if you think you may not qualify. Every application helps support programs and funding that benefit all Covert students.

✅ Submit any required immunization or vaccination documentation before the start of school.

Thank you for helping us start the year off strong! We appreciate your partnership and look forward to welcoming your family back soon.

The Transportation Department is excited to announce that Covert Public Schools now has a digital Transportation Application!

Parents and guardians, please complete one application for each student who will need transportation for the 2026-2027 school year. Even if your student rode the bus last year, we ask that you complete a new application to ensure we have the most current and accurate information on file.

Complete the Transportation Application here: 2026-2027 Transportation Application

If you have questions about the application or any transportation-related matters, please contact the Transportation Department at (269) 767-3756.

Thank you for helping us provide safe and efficient transportation services for all Covert students. We look forward to serving your family during the upcoming school year!

Thank you,

Emily Dluge

Provisional Manager

Dean Transportation

(517) 657-1905 Cell

(269) 764-3756 Office

Office Hours 6am-5pm

"We have all the time in the world to do the right thing!" - Mr. Fred

As we prepare for another school year, ensuring children’s safety and well-being is a top priority. Whether your child is heading to kindergarten or high school, here are some essential safety tips for parents to remember as the school gates swing open again. Feel free to share these tips on your website and social media.

• Open Communication: Encourage your child to share with you any concerns about safety, interactions with peers, or unusual incidents. When you know how they are feeling, you can address issues promptly. You may also want to research how your child can report safety concerns, particularly through anonymous reporting tools available by the school.
• Safe Routes: If your child walks or bikes to school, help them plan safe routes that minimize exposure to busy roads and dangerous intersections. Practice the route together until they are comfortable navigating it independently. Remind them to wait in well-lit areas, cross streets at designated crosswalks, and avoid distractions like headphones while walking near traffic. (www.saferoutesinfo.org)
• Personal Safety: Review personal safety with your child, regardless of age. Be careful using the popular term “Stranger Danger” as statistically; most child abductions are committed by someone they know. Provide your child with a list of trusted adults they can contact in an emergency. (www.missingkids.org/education/kidsmartz) (www.beaubidenfoundation.org)
• Internet Safety: For children with access to the internet, educate them about online safety. Teach them to protect their personal information, avoid sharing sensitive data, and recognize potential online threats. Consider installing parental control software. (www.dfinow.org)
• Emergency Contacts: Make sure your child knows their full name, your contact information, and an emergency contact’s details. Encourage them to memorize these details in the event they need help and cannot access their phone.
• Bullying Awareness: Discuss bullying with your child and emphasize treating others with kindness and respect. Encourage them to report any bullying incidents to a trusted adult, whether they are a victim or a witness. (www.centerforsafeschools.org/bullying-prevention/)
• Emergency Preparedness: The beginning of the school year will likely include a review of emergency procedures at your child’s school. Talk with your child about emergency preparedness to help ensure their safety. By discussing scenarios, creating a plan, and emphasizing the importance of staying calm, you empower your child to respond effectively in unexpected situations.

As a new school year begins, your child’s safety is our top priority. These back-to-school safety tips are designed to help create a secure and supportive environment where every student can thrive. By working together, through communication, education, and preparation, we can make this school year both safe and successful.

Thanks to the Center for Safe Schools for this excellent information. For more information, please go to: https://www.centerforsafeschools.org/7-back-to-school-safety-tips-every-parent-should-know/

We will be continuing to use PBIS Rewards with Navigate 360, a comprehensive positive behavior support system, designed to promote a positive and supportive learning environment for all students. In the middle and high school, this program will help us effectively teach and reinforce expected behaviors and social skills, building a strong foundation for academic success and positive social interactions.

We will be handing out information about the Family Link app as well as your students' unique QR code at our Open House and Backpack Giveaway event. If you are unable to attend, please call our main office, and we will mail you further information. In the meantime, we have linked several informational videos here for you to learn more about the program. We are very excited about the potential that this PBIS system offers to our students and their long-term success!

• Introducing PBIS Rewards to Students in Grades 6-12
• PBIS Rewards - Video educativo para padres

• Breakfast K-12 -- 7:25 - 7:45 am

• High School Lunch A – 11:17 - 11:47 am
• Middle School Lunch B - 12:13 - 12:43 pm
• Early Elementary Lunch - K-2 - 11:45 - 12:15 pm
• Upper Elementary Lunch - 3-5 - 12:40 - 1:10 pm

If your child needs to take any medication during the day, over-the-counter or prescription, forms are available in the Main Office. Each medication must be registered and kept in the Main Office. If you have any questions, please contact our Main Office staff : (269) 764-3700.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act ensures the educational rights and protections of homeless children and youth so that they may enroll in school, attend regularly, and be successful. The legislation requires a local homeless education liaison in every school district to assist children and unaccompanied youth in their efforts to attend school.

This Act guarantees homeless children and youth the following:

• The right to immediate enrollment in school, even if lacking paperwork normally required for enrollment

• The right to attend school in his/her school of origin or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing

• The right to receive transportation to his/her school of origin

• The right to services comparable to those received by housed schoolmates, including transportation and supplemental educational services

• The right to an “equal playing field” and the removal of all barriers to receiving educational services

• The right to attend school along with children not experiencing homelessness. Segregation based on a student's status as homeless is strictly prohibited.

• The posting of homeless students’ rights in all schools and other places around the community.

McKinney-Vento protections are for Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

• Shelters/Transitional Housing -Domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, youth shelters, trailers provided by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), housing paid for by programs such as transitional housing, etc.
• Hotels/Motels -Staying in motels/hotels due to lack of adequate alternatives, regardless of who pays for the motel/hotel room.
• Staying with other people - Staying with other people or “doubling-up” in a house due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.
• Unsheltered - Staying in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

To enroll your child or for more information, Covert Public Schools McKinney-Vento liaison is Valerie Owen, and she can be reached at owenv@covertps.org or 269-764-3711.

We will regularly be sharing all of the great things going on in our schools and community. You can stay informed by following our social media accounts.

• Facebook
• Instagram (coming soon)

Student Attendance Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 2:40 p.m.

Main Office Hours: 7:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Phone: (269) 764-3700

Attendance hotline: (269) 764- 3789

Website: https://www.covertps.org/

Address: 35323 M 140 Highway, Covert, MI 49043