Area School News

Be a part in knowing about and supporting your neighborhood schools. Even if you don’t have a student you can be a PTA community member. By joining the PTA you are helping support the school, teachers, and students. PTA membership is $8.00 at Cowan and Covington, $16.00 at Bowie.
Other easy ways of supporting you neighborhood schools is shopping.
• Office Depot – ask the cashier to donate 5% of you purchases.
• Randalls – sign up to have 1% of your purchases donated.
• Target – with your Target card 1% of your purchases is donated.

Cowan elementary

Cowan School Day ………………… 7:45-2:45
May 28………….Staff and Student Holiday
May 30 …………………… Last Day of Classes

Covington middle School

School Day……………………………. 8:15-3:30
May 28………….Staff and Student Holiday
May 30 …………………… Last Day of Classes

There are a few Life Scouts working on their Eagle Scout Projects at Covington Middle School. Their projects will go a long way to improve the school grounds for the enjoyment of the staff and students. Many KUDOS to these young men for their hard work and community service.

Bowie High School

School Day……………………………. 8:50-4:15
May 28………….Staff and Student Holiday
May 30 …………………… Last Day of Classes

Final Exam Schedule – Spring 2012
Thursday, May 24th
1st pd. final………………….8:50 to 10:50 5th pd. final………………….11:00 to 1:00
Friday, May 25th
2nd pd. final………………..8:50 to 10:50 6th pd. final…………………..11:00 to 1:00
Tuesday, May 29th
3rd pd. final…………………8:50 to 10:50 7th pd. final…………………..11:00 to 1:00
Wednesday, May 30th
4th pd. final…………………8:50 to 10:50 8th pd. final……………………11:00 to 1:00

9606 Kangaroo Lane

Our May 2012 Yard-of-the-Month winners are Mary and Mike Seberger of 9606 Kangaroo Lane. Sitting on their front porch is like stepping back in time. Their yard abuts undeveloped land south of the neighborhood and provides a touch of frontier living. A resident turkey is a frequent and bold visitor. Road runners, hawks, and cardinals are accompanied by larger mammals such as rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and fox. One of the more unexpected sights off their front porch was a couple of horses being chased down by a couple of errant cowboys. The horses still visit across the fence, but haven’t been seen in the yard since the last round up.
Mary used to have a vegetable garden along the fence, but the various critters pushed them out. That garden is now a flower plot replete with colorful poppies, blue bonnets, cosmos, irises, and lantana. The vegetables have now moved to the flower garden in the front of the house. Mingled in the colorful blooms you will find “hidden” pockets of acorn squash and tomatoes. What drew us to the yard initially was the early Spring blooms of bountiful blue bonnets accompanied by bold irises and amaryllis. A second look indicated that the color was going to go on all season long. Clusters of bold black-foot daisy, orange and gold cosmos, blue plumbago, red Mexican poinsettias, and native lantana will continue the riot of color all summer long.
Although mature trees shade the back yard there were no trees in the front yard, so about six years ago they adopted a 2-foot tall bur oak sapling donated by the City of Austin and it is now a beautiful, full 15-foot tall tree. While interviewing Mary and Mike, I enjoyed one of their favorite aspects of their yard…a peaceful sunset with abundant wildlife flitting about.
Mike and Mary purchased their home in 2001 and have put a lot of time and love into their gardens. This is their second YOM honor, though the first time they were October YOM due to the bountiful fall colors and late season blooms. Thanks to all the happy gardeners who bring color and wildlife to our suburban landscape.

32 dozen eggs

Dear Neighbors

We had a great time at the Easter Egg Hunt and want to say thank you to everyone who helped. The children were all so adorable and they loved hunting for eggs and hugging our wonderful Easter Bunny, Romie, who made her 2nd appearance at this annual event. Luckily for us all, the weather cooperated and it did not rain on us ! It was cool, breezy and sunny. We had a bumper crop of little ones this year and were so happy to see all the new neighbors who attended for the first time.

Special thanks to the folks who stuffed and hid the 32 dozen eggs, including Carla Trautwein, Carmen Martin, Bonny Edwards and Erica Taylor. It was a great idea to include little toys and stickers so the children got to find more than candy! Be sure to check the newsletter website at Peel, Inc. to see the wonderful color photos commemorating the fun !

Another event we look forward to each year (which also can assist us all with our spring cleaning) is the Neighborhood Yard Sale. This is scheduled for Saturday, May 5th. Hope as many of you as possible will be able to participate. We will put out signs a few days before to help draw in some shoppers !

We want to also thank the members of the Landscaping Committee whose Work Day has made such a beautiful and instantly recognizable difference at the entrance to our subdivision. The knock-out roses are blooming in all their glory and the additions of new flowers and shrubs over the years has made a huge difference in the overall curb appeal of Cherry Creek on Brodie. For those of you who expressed interest in this committee via the forms you returned with your dues checks, we will be in contact with you this month to find out how you wish to participate and get you in the loop. The more the merrier !

Thank you again to all the neighbors who have paid their dues this year and hope to see more folks get involved with the Board and Committees. The greater number of participants, the more projects we can bring to completion. The next meeting of the Board will be on Thursday, May 3rd. As always, any suggestions or visitors are welcome. Just drop us an email or catch us when we’re out walking our dogs or changing the marquee! We will be installing some new Board Members at that time.

Sincerely, Barbara Statum

Spring has sprung

Yards are coming alive with color, landscaping is looking good, and what better time with this wonderful weather?It is also a good time to do your spring cleaning. Anyone have those odds and ends you meant to get rid of? Well, here’s a great time for that. Our annual neighborhood Garage Sale will be on Saturday, May 5th so start collecting to make this profitable for you. As they say, One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Your HOA provides the signs and marketing for you to make easy money. Thank you for paying your dues.