Covington Connection

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful holiday break. Christmas break is always a welcome opportunity to recharge and reflect on what matters most. I was grateful to spend time with my wife and children, enjoying a brief pause from our busy sports schedules and fully embracing the holiday season. Time with family and friends provides perspective, gratitude, and renewed energy for the year ahead.

As we usher in a new year, many of us set resolutions, establish goals, and look ahead with purpose. Likewise, as a district, this is a time to reflect on the present and to thoughtfully plan for the future of Covington Exempted Village Schools. Our Board of Education and administration have been working intentionally and strategically to ensure our goals and vision align with today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities. A significant focus of this work has been long-range planning and continued progress on our Master Facilities Plan, ensuring our learning environments remain safe, modern, and supportive of student success for years to come. We remain committed to financial transparency and responsible stewardship, guided by community partnerships that inform budget planning and long-term projections.

With the new year also comes a new Board of Education. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newly elected board members, Graham Furrow and Angie Marion. I would also like to congratulate Kerry Murphy on being selected as Board President and Tammy Sprankle as Vice President by their fellow board members. I look forward to working collaboratively with our entire board as we continue the important work of strengthening our district and improving outcomes for all students.

I encourage families to stay connected with their children’s schools by visiting our website and following us on Facebook, where we regularly share updates and celebrate the many academic, music, art, and athletic accomplishments of our Covington students.

There is always a sense of energy and excitement that comes with new beginnings, and I am confident that 2026 will be another year of growth, progress, and pride for Covington Schools.

January is School Board Recognition Month, and Covington Exempted Village Schools proudly takes this time to recognize and thank our Board of Education members for their service and dedication to our students, staff, and community.

Our school board members play a vital role in guiding our district, setting policies, supporting educational excellence, and ensuring that Covington Schools continue to provide meaningful opportunities for every student.

We are also pleased to congratulate our newly elected Covington Exempted Village Schools Board of Education members, Graham Furrow and Angie Marion, as they officially begin their service to our district. We are grateful for their willingness to lead, serve, and support our students, staff, and community, and we look forward to the perspective, dedication, and leadership they will bring as we continue working together for the success of all Covington Buccs.

Please join us in recognizing and thanking our school board members for all they do:

• Kerry Murphy - Board President

• Tammy Sprankle - Board Vice President

• Graham Furrow

• Mike Maniaci Jr.

• Angie Marion
  
  

Your leadership helps shape a strong future for our students and our community.

During its meeting on Wednesday, January 14, the Covington School Board approved the academic calendar for the 2026–2027 school year. The calendar outlines key dates for the upcoming school year, including the first and last days of school, holidays, breaks, and important milestones for students, families, and staff.

Below, you will find the approved 2026–2027 school year calendar for Covington Exempted Village Schools.

COVINGTON EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT

2026–2027 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

2026

August 21 – Teacher Work Day/In-Service

August 24 – Staff Work Day/In-Service / Open House

August 25 – Teacher Work Day/In-Service

August 26 – First Day of School for Grades 1–12

Kindergarten Smart Start (August 26 – Girls; August 27 – Boys)

September 7 – Labor Day (No School)

October 12 – Teacher In-Service (No School)

October 30 – End of First Quarter (46 days)

November 12 – 2-Hour Early Dismissal

November 12 – Parent/Teacher Conferences 1:30–9:00 p.m.

November 13 – No School

November 25–27 – Thanksgiving Break (No School)

November 30 – School Resumes

December 23 – 2-Hour Early Dismissal

December 24 – January 1 – Winter Break (No School)

2027

January 4 – School Resumes

January 15 – End of Second Quarter (44 days) / First Semester (90 days)

January 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

February 11 – 2-Hour Early Dismissal

February 12 – Parent/Teacher Conferences 1:30–9:00 p.m.

February 12 – No School

February 15 – Presidents’ Day (No School)

March 19 – End of Third Quarter (42 days)

March 22 – Teacher In-Service (No School) / In-Lieu of Day

March 23–26 – Spring Break (No School)

March 29 – School Resumes

May 28 – Last Day of School for Students

May 28 – End of Fourth Quarter (45 days) / Second Semester (87 days)

May 28 – 2-Hour Early Dismissal

May 30 – Teacher Work Day/In-Service 1:00–9:00 p.m.

May 30 – Graduation Ceremony – Class of 2027

Covington Exempted Village Schools is proud to recognize our outstanding Students of the Month for January. These students exemplify Bucc Pride through their hard work, positive attitudes, and commitment to excellence both in and out of the classroom.

January Students of the Month

• Elementary: Aria Canan

• Middle School: Elora Deaton

• High School: AJ Reyes
  
  

Each of these students has demonstrated exceptional character, leadership, and dedication to learning. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful for the positive impact they make within our schools.

Aiden Adams is pictured above with a representative from the American Legion Post 80, along with his past and present Covington history, social studies, and government teachers, whose instruction and encouragement supported his success.

Covington Exempted Village Schools is proud to recognize sophomore Aiden Adams for his exceptional achievement on the Ohio American Legion Americanism & Government Test, administered on November 4 and sponsored by American Legion Post 80 of Covington.

Aiden earned the highest score among all sophomores in Covington Schools, the surrounding region, and the entire state of Ohio—an outstanding accomplishment that places him among the top-performing students statewide.

As a result of his achievement, Aiden will be formally recognized in Columbus and has earned a five-day, all-expense-paid educational trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Each year, more than 65,000 students participate in the program, with only 18 students statewide selected for this honor.

Aiden is pictured with his past and present Covington history, social studies, and government teachers, whose instruction and mentorship helped prepare him with the knowledge and skills reflected in his performance.

The Americanism & Government Test Program, established in 1936 by the Ohio American Legion in partnership with the Ohio American Legion Auxiliary, is one of the organization’s longest-running youth programs. Open to students in grades 10–12 (with grade 9 eligible for practice only), the test assesses students’ understanding of the United States Flag, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and federal, state, local, and school district government.

The program’s mission is to inspire students to develop a deeper understanding of government, civic responsibility, and the freedoms enjoyed by citizens of the United States.

Congratulations to Aiden Adams on this remarkable accomplishment. Covington Schools are proud of his dedication to academic excellence and civic learning.

As temperatures drop, delays or school closings may become necessary. Covington Schools will notify families as soon as a decision is made. When weather conditions are clear enough the night before, a decision may be announced early. Otherwise, updates will be shared as soon as possible the following morning.

To stay informed:

• Check the homepage of the district website
• Watch for updates on Covington’s Facebook page
• Look for notifications through our system via email, phone call, text message, and push notification (for those using the Remind app)
• Local TV and radio stations will also be notified
  

Please make sure your contact information is updated in FinalForms so you don’t miss important alerts.

As of January 22, Covington Schools have used four of our five allotted snow days for the 2025–26 school year. Looking ahead, if additional weather-related closures occur beyond our remaining day, students will be required to complete their first Blizzard Bag to make up for missed instructional time. We’re hopeful that Mother Nature will cooperate--but this is Ohio, and as of today, another winter storm appears to be headed our way (only 149 days until summer! ☀️❄️). Should Blizzard Bags be needed, the information below will help families prepare and know what to expect.

The Covington Exempted Village School District Board of Education has adopted an alternative make-up of calamity days in the form of Blizzard Bags and e-Days. Blizzard bags / e-Days provide the schoolwork your child missed as a result of a calamity day, and this day will NOT need to be made up at a later time. This school work needs to be completed by your child and submitted back to your child’s teacher(s). This option can be used for days missed up to a maximum of three days and will be used if Covington Schools closes for more than five days during the school year for weather or other calamity.

Students in Grades K-4

Blizzard Bag packets were sent home by teachers during the last week of January for students in grades K-4. In those Blizzard Bags, there are three separate packets for students to complete. Typically, each packet is labeled as Day #1, #2, and #3, and each packet would only be completed if school is cancelled for calamity day #6 (packet #1), #7 (packet #2), or #8 (packet #3). Each student will be expected to return the packet back in to his or her teacher within 2 weeks following the school closure. If a student fails to complete the assignments, then the assignment will be marked incomplete in the gradebook. It is strongly encouraged that your child completes the work at home during the calamity day(s). Class time will not be used to complete Blizzard Bag work. If you have any questions regarding the contents of the packet, please reach out to your student's teacher via Remind or email. They will be available to respond during normal school hours.

Students in Grades 5-12

Students in grades 5 through 12 are expected to use their school-issued Chromebook to access e-day assignments for the closure via Google Classroom. Teachers will have those assignments posted to their class's Google Classroom by 10:00 am on the day of the closure. Teachers will be available via email and Remind to answer questions about the assignments and to provide support through normal school hours. Students should complete the e-day assignments promptly per the teacher's deadlines. Students with access or connectivity issues should notify their teacher as soon as they are able; they will be granted 2 weeks from the first day back to school to complete and submit the work for credit.

If you have any questions about Blizzard Bags or the process, please contact the Building Principal.

We’re excited to introduce Xander, our newest (and furriest!) staff member at Covington! Xander is a four-year-old mini Goldendoodle and, as of the end of November, a certified therapy dog through DOGTORS University.

Xander loves being part of the pack and is happiest when he’s around people. His very first appearance at Covington was during the final days of fifth-grade winter MAP testing, where he quickly made friends and brought some extra calm and smiles to the day.

Trained to love everyone, Xander has a special way of noticing those who may need a little extra love and comfort. He’s the middle “child” in his family and takes his role as a school comfort companion very seriously.

Since Xander and his handler are a certified therapy team, he will stay with Rachel Kramer, Fifth Grade Language Arts teacher, but everyone is welcome to stop and give him some love when they see him around the building.

Welcome to Covington, Xander. We’re so glad you’re part of our Buccs family!

As the weather starts changing, we want all our students to stay warm and comfortable throughout the day, especially during morning drop-off and recess! To help our students enjoy without feeling cold, here’s a simple guide for dressing appropriately for the weather:

Base Layer – “The Comfy First Step.”

This soft layer goes directly against the skin. Consider long-sleeve shirts, cozy thermals, or leggings. We want something warm and comfortable, something they’ll want to wear all day.

Mid Layer – “The Snuggly Warmth.”

A hoodie, sweater, or fleece provides the extra warmth kids need when moving between classrooms or playing outside with friends.

Outer Layer – “The Winter Shield.”

This is the crucial layer! Make sure to include a good winter coat, gloves, a hat, and sometimes a scarf. These items help protect little ears, hands, and noses from the cold and wind.

Layering helps kids stay warm and allows them to adjust easily as they move through their school day. If you need assistance obtaining winter clothing, please contact your child's school—we are happy to help. Thank you for helping us keep our Covington students bundled up, healthy, and ready to learn and play—even on the chilliest days!

The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us. To prevent widespread flu in our schools, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
• Headache
• Stomachache
  
  

Keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (greater than 100 degrees)
• Vomiting (even once)
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness, or muscle aches
• Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
  
  

To help prevent the flu and other colds, teach your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently
• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away, and then wash hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  
  

Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until "fever-free" for a minimum of 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication. Often, when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin), it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding to bring them to school. Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.

As a district, we have our custodians clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. We are also ensuring that there is soap and hand sanitizer in all dispensers and encouraging everyone to remind students about the importance of hand washing. Please also take the time to click on the links below for flu guides for parents from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• The Flu: A Guide for Parents
• Talking to Children About Flu
  
  

Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.

Reporting an Absence Is Easy!

We offer several convenient ways to let us know if your child will be absent:

📞 Call the attendance line
📝 Send a note to school with your child
📧 Email the school

Check out the infographic below for more details and make reporting absences quick and simple!

What has become a cherished tradition in our district, Covington Middle School proudly hosted Covington Science Day on January 7. Students showcased their projects to a panel of judges, along with family members, community guests, and staff. Throughout the event, students delivered brief presentations, answered questions, and received valuable feedback on their work.

Our students confidently explained their research and shared their findings, engaging in thoughtful, meaningful conversations with judges. Their professionalism, preparation, and strong communication skills were on full display and reflected the high level of learning taking place in our classrooms each day.

This year’s Science Day featured 44 student experiments and engineering projects, all of which left our judges highly impressed by the creativity, effort, and depth of understanding demonstrated. We are proud to recognize the students who earned a Superior rating, qualifying them to advance to the Miami County Science Day competition next month, as well as our Best in Show honorees from each grade.

Superior Rating

Zella Nickol & Dallas Skaggs

Colton Foutz & Gaved Stringfield

Ella Collins & Kennedy Shively

Annabella Aselage & Caitlin Vaughan

Haven Moore

Gabriel Hargrave & Trevor Jones

Kendall Peters

Eden Pellman & Rylynn Palser

Kyle Hart & Khloe Yowler

Kaylee Barnett & Kenzie Beeman

Carter McQuinn & Mason Ouellette

Best in Show

Seventh Grade - Kendall Peters

Eighth Grade - Ella Collins & Kennedy Shively

Thank you to all our judges and volunteers, especially those volunteers who joined us today from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base!

Covington Exempted Village Schools is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Montgomery County Educational Service Center to offer DriveSmart Ohio, a high-quality driver education program designed to help students become safe, confident, and responsible drivers.

DriveSmart Ohio provides a comprehensive driver education experience that includes a 24-hour online, self-paced classroom course paired with behind-the-wheel training led by certified instructors. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a certificate that can be used to take their driving test at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Through this partnership, Covington students will have expanded access to a trusted, local driver education program that helps them:

• Build essential driving skills and safe driving habits

• Prepare for the road with flexible, accessible instruction

• Earn a driver education completion certificate through a no-wait program
  
  

Registration is now open. Families can learn more and register by visiting DriveSmartOhio.com.

We were proud to celebrate the 43rd Annual Covington High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, December 20, 2025, honoring outstanding alumni and contributors who have made a lasting impact on Buccaneer athletics.

This year’s class included three remarkable former student-athletes and one honorary inductee whose achievements reflect skill, dedication, and community spirit:

Samantha Whiteman — Class of 2019
Sammi established herself as one of the most exceptional basketball players in Covington history. During her high school career, she set multiple scoring and game records, earned numerous awards including 2018–19 Division IV All-State Player of the Year, and helped lead the Lady Buccs to a district championship and deep postseason runs. She continued her success in college, including winning a national championship with Thomas More University before graduating with a degree in Business Administration.

Anna Dunn-Sturgis — Class of 2017
Anna was a standout in both cross country and track. A four-time state qualifier in cross country, she helped the Buccs achieve their highest state finish in program history and set school records in the 1600-meter and 4×800 relay. Anna continued running at Wright State University while earning her degree in Marketing.

Nathan Dunn — Class of 2015
Nathan excelled in cross country and track, qualifying for state and earning league championships during his high school career. He went on to compete at Wright State University, where he became an All-Horizon League performer and set a school record in cross country. In 2024, Nathan achieved a milestone for Covington athletics by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, a first for a Buccaneer athlete.

Honorary Inductee: Michael Schaffer — Class of 1966
Michael Schaffer’s connection to Covington athletics spans decades, beginning with his own time as a Buccaneer student-athlete. Mike played football at Covington from 1962 through 1965. He earned All-League honors in 1964 and 1965 and was recognized with All-Area honors in 1965, highlighting his impact on the field during his high school career.

Beyond his years as a player, Mike has devoted countless hours to supporting Buccaneer athletics in a variety of roles. From scouting and training support to filming games and assisting with coaching at multiple levels, his behind-the-scenes dedication helped teams prepare, grow, and succeed. His long-standing commitment has played a key role in league titles, tournament runs, and state-level appearances, leaving a legacy for generations of Covington athletes.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding individuals for their achievements and lasting contributions to Covington’s athletic legacy!

Running through the end of March 2026, the Covington school building is open for walking hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:15 to 7:15 a.m. District residents are invited to use the hallways and gymnasiums to walk during these times. Door 28, the main entrance to CHS, will be unlocked at 6:15 a.m. and will remain open for the entire hour.

If the schools are closed or delayed due to weather, winter walking hours will also be canceled for that morning. Closures are posted on the district website.

Winter walking hours will not be available on holidays when all school offices are closed, including Monday, February 16.

It’s never too early to plan ahead! The 2025–2026 Calendar Snapshot calendar includes all the major milestones for this school year.