Powell Elementary Handbook

Our mission is to foster resilient learners who demonstrate integrity by consistently modeling the importance of doing the right thing, even when faced with challenges. We support students by balancing accountability with positive reinforcement to encourage their growth and success.

The Panther Pact is a description about what it means to be a Powell Panther. Everyday our students will recite the pact and we will strive, as a community, to meet these expectations daily.

Front Office 936-709-1700

Principal: Erin Anderson- 936-709-1707 eanderson@conroeisd.net

Secretary to the Principal: Ana Rivera- 936-709-1707 adrivera@conroeisd.net

Assistant Principal: Diana Ivy- 936-709-1706 divy@conroeisd.net

Assistant Principal: Monica Hock - 936-709-1791 mdhock@conroeisd.net

Counselor: Reeshimah Davis- 936-709-1708 rsdavis@conroeisd.net

Campus Math Instructional Coach: Andree Falast afalast@conroeisd.net

Campus Behavior Coach: Brent Kirbo bkirbo@conroeisd.net

Campus ELA Instructional Coach: Kellye Robinson kprobinson@conroeisd.net

Nurse: Melissa Wiles- 936-709-1710 mawiles@conroeisd.net

Registrar/Attendance: Michelle Lutes- 936-709-1711 mlutes@conroeisd.net

Speech Pathologist: Meghan Goebel mgoebel@conroeisd.net

Diagnostician: Emily Reyes jreyes1@conroeisd.net

Librarian: Elizabeth Collins - 936-709-1716 ekcollins@conroeisd.net

Transportation: 832-592-8800

Powell Cafe: 936-709-1773

Powell Website: http://powell.conroeisd.net/

Transportation Website: http://www.conroeisd.net/department/transportation/

Child Nutrition Website: http://www.conroeisd.net/department/child-nutrition/

Parent Access Center: http://www.conroeisd.net/parents/

CISD Calendar: http://tiny.conroeisd.net/tK9FN

School Supply Lists: http://tiny.conroeisd.net/XFqGr

Volunteer in CISD: http://www.conroeisd.net/parents/get-involved/

Join the PTO: http://powellpto.com/index.html

The beginning of a year is always an exciting time, and we are looking forward to another successful year. We are excited, ready, and anticipating the arrival of your child!

At Colin L. Powell Elementary, we believe that, in collaboration with parents and community members our students will be successful. Powell Elementary will provide a safe, caring, and positive learning environment that celebrates diversity and instills a desire for learning while meeting the individual needs of all students. Our goal is to build relationships that empower students, and develop responsible, patriotic citizens, and confident leaders.

The 2024-2025 Conroe Independent School District Student/Parent Handbook is available to you online HERE. The purpose of the Powell Student handbook addendum is to inform you of important information regarding day to day life at Powell; however, at times it may be necessary to make a few changes during the school year. In this event, the addendum will be updated, as well as you will be notified via letter, email, or website. I want to encourage you to visit our school website at http://powell.conroeisd.net as important information and events will be posted there frequently. In fact, you may want to bookmark this address for easy access.

Please be sure to give us every available phone number and contact we might need in case of an emergency. If your phone number changes throughout the year, please update our records by sending in a note with your child or emailing our registrar, Michelle Lutes, at mlutes@conroeisd.net. I am looking forward to working together with you, and I feel certain that you will enjoy being a part of the Powell Panther family! If we haven't had the opportunity to meet in person yet, please come by and introduce yourself. I look forward to working alongside all of you this year!

Erin Anderson

Principal

The Powell staff is committed to keeping our students and parents informed. Follow us on Facebook for reminders and updates. Every Friday, we send the Powell Publisher, a school newsletter with an overview of upcoming events, via email. We also encourage you to familiarize yourself with the Powell Website. Powell’s website provides up-to-date school information. Various items can be viewed and printed including our calendar of school events and daily lunch menu. Our website also provides links to all teacher email accounts. Powell Website

Communication is vital to our student’s success. Your child’s teacher will further explain their methods of communication at Parent Information Night.

All parents, visitors, and volunteers must:

• Enter through the front/main entrance only, all other exterior doors will remain locked.
• Anyone permitted to visit the campus will sign in & out at the front office.
• Present a valid, state issued ID to be scanned into the Raptor System.
• Wear your visitor badge at all times.
• Adhere to school dismissal procedures.
• Pick up students who need to leave early before 2:30pm.

*Parent/teacher conferences, ARDS, 504 meetings etc. may be held virtually or in person.

• We regularly conduct campus safety drills and will be teaching your child procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. These drills include fire drills, shelter in place, lock out, lock down and a medical response drill.
• All classroom volunteers must complete the CISD Volunteer Application

7:55 am-3:10 pm

School begins promptly at 7:55 am and dismisses at 3:10 pm. Plan to arrive at school between 7:25 am and 7:55 am. Supervision is not available before 7:25 am.

• 7:25 am- Students are welcomed into the building and go directly to their homeroom or breakfast.
• 7:55 am- Students are tardy if they are not in the school doors. Front office staff will scan student ID tags as they arrive after 7:55 am and will be counted tardy.
  
• 8:00 am- Students arriving to school after 8:00 am must be signed in by an adult at the front desk.

School attendance is a major factor in student success. The best instruction is the initial instruction teachers provide on a daily basis. When a student misses school, they are missing an opportunity to work with peers, to be instructed in a small group at their level, and receive any necessary interventions.

Healthy students are expected to be in attendance every day from 7:55 am-3:10 pm. Attendance is officially recorded at 9:00 am. Students arriving after 9:00 am will be counted as absent for the day unless a doctor's note is provided for a morning appointment.

If your child will not be at school for any reason, please notify our school registrar, Michelle Lutes, at mlutes@conroeisd.net. Upon returning from an absence, always send a note explaining the reason for the absence. Notifications may be sent via email. Please try to schedule routine medical appointments outside of school hours. Likewise, please schedule vacations during school holidays/long weekends. It is extremely important to maximize our instruction time.

All students are issued a 6 digit ID number upon registration. This number is used in the cafeteria line, library check out, online log ins, bus registration and Parent Access.

You can find the Student ID on their previous report card from CISD or on your child's transportation tag located on their backpack.

If you are a new student to Powell or have any questions, please contact the front office at 936-709-1700.

Your mode of transportation should be chosen based on the ability to arrive on time, consistency, and convenience. If you choose to physically bring your child to school, please say your "good-byes" at the end of the sidewalk. This reinforces independence for our students and it helps keep our front porch clear of crowds for safety. Staff will be on duty daily to help assist unsure students to their classrooms.

Thank you for sharing our concern about safety and for helping us follow procedures allowing all children to arrive home safely. All students will receive a bar code tag that will be scanned before leaving the building. Please be sure this tag remains on your child’s backpack all year.

Choose dismissal transportation from the following:

• Bus
• Daycare
  
• YMCA
• Car rider
• Cochran’s Crossing walker/biker/blader (or any other non-motorized rolling device)
• Capstone walker/biker/blader (or any other non-motorized rolling device)
  

Bus Riders-

Buses in CISD are available to every student living more than one mile from school. The Transportation Department website contains bus arrival and departure times and valuable safety information which will help you teach your children about bus safety. Please note that bus route adjustments may be made during the first few weeks of class due to changes in student and neighborhood populations. Kindergarten students will not be dropped off at a stop unless a parent is present. http://www.conroeisd.net/department/transportation/

After 4:00 pm, any concerns regarding bus transportation should be directed to The Woodlands Transportation Center at 832.592.8800.

Daycare Pickup- If your child typically attends daycare and will be absent for any reason, please notify the daycare.

YMCA- Students are dismissed to the gym and remain in the care of YMCA employees until they are picked up by parents.

Car Riders – We ask that parents do not park or leave their car. For safety reasons, we do not allow parents on the front porch at dismissal. Signs will be issued to put in car windshields; this will help speed up the car rider line and identify adults/guardians that are eligible to pick up a student at the end of a school day. If you have multiple children, please display all signs upon arrival in line. If you have lost your sign, you will be asked to show your ID to verify you are permitted to pick up a student.

Capstone and Cochran’s Crossing Bikers/Walkers/Bladers - Please do not come on campus during dismissal time if meeting your child to walk them home. A teacher will walk students across the street. Kindergarten and 1st grade students must be met by an adult or accompanied by an older sibling. These procedures are put in place to ensure the safety of our students. DO NOT park in the Capstone or Cochran’s Green subdivisions at dismissal. Only students who walk to their homes should be walkers.

Extreme Weather Dismissal- This only affects WALKERS/BIKERS.

This alert will be sent if we are experiencing sideways rain, thunder/lightening or tornado warnings. Extreme weather dismissal notifications will be sent via School Messenger at 2:50 pm. (Please opt-in for text message alerts!) If your child walks to Cochran’s Green, you may still pick up your child at the front of the school at the far-right doors. If your child walks to Capstone, you may still pick up your child at the outside doors by the structured play area, across from the art room. We will not allow students to walk in extreme weather unless an adult meets them at the school doors.

For everyone's safety, we ask when the weather is this extreme that you come through the car line to pick up your child. Walker/Biker students who are not picked up at the school doors will be placed in the car rider line.

Please note that our weather changes drastically in a matter of minutes. Principals use their judgment in favor of student safety...be patient when the weather changes.

A note must be sent to the teacher each and every time your child deviates from his/her “usual” way home. If the teacher does not receive a note, your child will be sent home the “usual” way. This transportation change note should always include the date, grade level, classroom teacher, your child’s full name, and how the child is going home (and with whom, if applicable). If plans change during the day and you haven't sent a note, you can email your request to contactpowell@conroeisd.net or drop off a note in person to the school by 2:00 pm. The e-mail must include a copy of your driver’s license or identification. For safety reasons, phone calls and emails without identification will not be accepted for a transportation change. In the event of an emergency or unforeseeable circumstances, call us.

Bus riders: Only under extreme last minute emergencies can we approve a change of transportation to another bus route. It is impossible to efficiently utilize our buses when taking into account each and every child’s outside school activity needs. Transportation is a privilege provided for each child from home to school and school to home or daycare. If you will be out of town and know in advance or if your child needs to go to another child’s home after school for any reason, parents should work out transportation issues together ahead of time. A parent will be required to pick up these students. If permission is granted for your child to ride another bus and all of the students assigned to that bus ride and there is no room left for extra passengers, only those students assigned to that bus will be given transportation service. Even with permission for your child to ride another bus, you still may receive a call from the school requesting a parent to come and pick up a child due to the lack of seat availability. Permission will be granted only to the parent requesting a change in their child’s transportation service. We cannot grant permission to the receiving parent for a change in another child’s transportation service. Students must have a signed Transportation Emergency Request form signed by a campus administrator before the child will be allowed to ride the alternate bus to another student’s home. Please contact the school to request this approval.

Above all, if you have a problem and need our help, please call us. The safety of our students is our top priority!

Conroe ISD has scheduled two early dismissal days this year to accommodate for parent conferences and extended grade level planning. Powell Elementary students will be dismissed at 11:25 a.m. on December 20, 2024 and May 23, 2025. Regular dismissal procedures will be followed on these days.

All students will be fed lunch on our early release days; however, lunch will be at a different scheduled time. Parents will not be invited to lunch on early release days due to the altered schedule.

Anything that deviates from regular arrival/dismissal time

• Only persons listed on your child's information will be permitted to check out your child.
• Parents must come into the front office to check students in and out. A valid, state issued identification must be presented.
• Parents are not permitted to walk directly to the classroom to pick up a student. To maximize instructional time and to minimize interruptions, teachers will be notified and students will proceed to the office.
• For safety reasons, we do not allow students to be checked out after 2:30 pm.
  

The school year is divided into four grading periods. Report cards will be sent home via the P.A.W.S. Folder/Binder (Prepared and Wonderful Students) the Friday following the end of each grading period. Progress reports for students in grades 2-4 will be sent home at the 4 ½ week period electronically.

For students in grades 3-4 to be promoted from one grade level to the next, the students must attain an overall average of 70% for all subject areas and a grade of 70 or above in three of the following areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, and either Science or Social Studies. Students must be in attendance 90% of the total instructional days enrolled per year. Grading Guidelines will be provided by each teacher at Parent Information Night.

Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade students are scored on a Standards Based Report card. More information regarding standards based reporting will be shared at Parent Information Night.

Powell teachers will have systems in place to help students remember to turn in completed work. If a student has not turned in an assignment by the due date, the teacher will indicate this with a Z in the grade book. A Z is averaged as a score of a zero. Students will be able to turn in the work late without penalty. If a student consistently turns in late work, it may be noted under conduct.

Students who score below a 70 on a graded assignment will have an opportunity to redo that assignment. After the second attempt, a 70 will be the highest score recorded in the gradebook for those assignments. If your child scored a 30 the first time they completed an assignment, then was retaught and reassessed, and scored an 80, the gradebook will show a 70.30 as their grade. This will be an indicator to you as a parent that your child failed the assignment their first attempt with a 30, had an opportunity to redo their work, then passed the assignment, so a 70 is recorded in the gradebook.

3rd and 4th grade students will take the STAAR math and reading tests. STAAR Reading will be administered sometime between April 8-18. STAAR Math will be administered sometime between April 22 - May 2. Exact dates for the assessment will be released during the spring semester.

All Emergent Bilingual (EB) students are required to participate in the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS). This assessment includes a variety of subjects tested throughout several testing windows during the spring semester. More information will be sent home to students involved in this assessment closer to the time of the assessment.

The CISD Child Nutrition website contains lunch and breakfast menus and prices as well as information on applying for Free and Reduced Meal Programs. Each student is provided with a lunch card that includes his/her lunch PIN number (student ID). This card will stay at school. If you have questions regarding your child’s account, please contact our cafeteria manager at 936-709-1773 http://www.conroeisd.net/department/child-nutrition/

For the 24-25 school year, school meal prices are as follows:

Breakfast

• Breakfast Meal Prices

  o Student Breakfast $2.00

  o Student Reduced Breakfast $0.30

  o Non-student Breakfast/2nd Student Breakfast $3.40

  
  

Students who are car riders in the morning and plan to eat breakfast at school should arrive with enough time to eat before the tardy bell rings at 7:55.

Lunch

• Lunch Meal Prices

  o Student Lunch $3.20

  o Student Reduced Lunch $0.40

  o Non-student Lunch/2nd Student Lunch $5.00 (Teachers, Parents, Siblings)
  
  

Lunch visitors will be permitted beginning Monday, August 26, 2024. This will allow our staff and students to learn our lunch processes and procedures.

• In order to come to lunch, parents should sign up using the Sign Up Genius.
• LUNCH SIGN-UP
• No more than two guests will be allowed per student.
• While visiting your child at lunch, you will be asked to sit at a separate table from other students with only your child.
• Taking pictures of or engaging with other students is not appropriate.
• Deliveries to students including lunches will be limited and on an emergency basis only. Students forgetting lunches will be allowed to charge a meal in the cafeteria.
  

Recess

Students attend recess daily. For the safety of our students, only Powell staff and students will be allowed on the playground. Also, pictures may not be taken on the playground due to confidentiality. Students will participate in indoor activities when the weather outside is too hot/cold or if there is precipitation falling.

“Specials” is the term used to describe the rotations students take through Art, Music, Physical Education, Library and Technology/Enrichment. During specials, students rotate through the classes. Each class will follow a specific schedule. Teachers will explain the rotation at Parent Information Night.

• P.E.- Allister Burney and Pam Owens
• Music- Ashley Yarbrough
• Art- Shelly VanBenthuysen
• Library- Elizabeth Collins
• Technology- Jackie Dugas

Physical education is an important part of a child’s educational experience and is required by State law. A written excuse is required in the event a child needs to be excused from participation in physical education. If he or she cannot participate for a period of more than five days, a doctor’s statement must be presented to the school. A note from the physician releasing the student to return to regular participation in physical education will also be required.

Parents are welcome to request a parent/teacher conference, if so desired. To request a conference, you may contact your child’s teacher by phone or email. Teachers are available to conference during their scheduled conference time. Teachers may hold a virtual or in-person parent conference based on parent preference.

Conference Times

Kindergarten - 10:00 - 10:55

1st Grade- 1:10 - 2:05

2nd Grade- 2:05 - 3:00

3rd Grade- 9:05 - 10:00

4th Grade- 8:10 - 9:05

If your child gets sick at school, he/she will be sent to the school clinic. Parents will be contacted if necessary. If we are unable to reach you, emergency contacts will be called. Please visit with our school nurse if your child has any health concerns.

Illness/Absence

• If your child is running a fever of 100 degrees or more, they will not be permitted to attend school until fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
• It is recommended that children should remain at home until fever / vomiting has ceased for 24 hours.

• If your child will be absent due to illness, email the school registrar, Michelle Lutes, at mlutes@conroeisd.net
  
  

Medications

• Students are never allowed to bring or transport medication to school. Do not send it with your child in the backpack
  
• Adults must bring any medications to the school clinic and give specific information before medication can be dispensed at school

• For students who will have allergy or asthma medications at school, please obtain an allergy and asthma action plan from your child's doctor prior to dropping off the medication.

Our Powell Panthers do a great job with the Conroe ISD Dress Code. To highlight questions we receive on occasion, here is a basic checklist:

• All hair color should be a natural hair color or color that does not cause a distraction for other students in the classroom
• Shorts should be mid-thigh or longer
• No tank tops/spaghetti straps
• No cosmetics
• No flip flops (students may wear sandals with a back strap)
• Shorts should be worn under dresses/skirts
• We encourage students to wear tennis shoes/closed toed shoes on days they will be attending P.E.
• Students should make sure their shirts are not offensive or violent

Students who violate dress code will be sent to the clinic to call home for a change of clothes.

Wednesdays are designated as "Kindness Day". Teachers and students are encouraged to wear a kindness shirt and show kindness!

Thursdays are designated as “Powell Patriotic Day”. Teachers and students are encouraged to wear red, white, and blue, or patriotic clothing.

Fridays are “Spirit Day”. Teachers and students are encouraged to wear a Powell Panther shirt or school colors (purple and white).

Powell spirit wear will be sold by the PTO throughout the year and will be delivered to the school. Please visit the PTO website for more information.

When students celebrate a birthday at Powell, his/her name appears on the morning announcements. He/she also receives a birthday ribbon to celebrate. Parents may bring store bought cookies (no cupcakes or cookies with icing, please) to be distributed, by the teacher, at the end of the day. For the safety of our students, parents will not be allowed to pass out food items to the class in the lunchroom. Please contact your child’s teacher prior to the special occasion to make arrangements.

We ask that parents refrain from bringing other items such as balloons, flowers, and candles. We will be unable to deliver any of these items to your child.

Students often request to pass out birthday invitations in their classrooms. Invitations may be passed out only if all students are invited or if all boys or all girls are invited. If there are not enough invitations, they will be sent back home with your child. This year our PTO will ask parents if you would like to share your email address for a directory of classmates for social events outside of school.

The Powell PTO is sponsoring student field trips this year! Information will be sent home prior to the grade level’s scheduled event. Parents that are approved volunteers may be asked to chaperone field trips. Chaperones are selected to adequately supervise the number of children attending. All chaperones may be required to ride CISD school buses with the children to and from Powell or drive themselves following charter buses. Students must also ride the bus to and from Powell. To register as a volunteer please visit the CISD Volunteer Website.

The Texas legislature passed a new law clarifying the Texas Family Code provision that sets out the rights and duties of parents when there is a court order affecting the parent-child relationship. The legislature clarified that “school activities”, as that term is used in the Family Code, includes, “school lunches, performances, and field trips.” Prior to the passing of this law, each Texas school district determined what activities were considered “school activities.” In compliance with the new law, effective at the beginning of this school year, when lunch is open to visitors, either parent may attend school lunch with his or her child, regardless of their period of possession, unless attending lunch is specifically prohibited by a court order. All parents are welcome to attend school performances. Field trips are limited to parents selected to serve as chaperones.

If your child leaves something important at home, please deliver to the front office, labeled with your child’s name and teacher’s name. Articles will then be delivered to the classroom. However, please work with your child to develop good habits of responsibility, helping them to be prepared every day.

Please write your child’s name on all sweaters, coats, backpacks, water bottles, and lunch kits. All students are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles to school. Water bottles need to have a sport top to prevent spills. Only water is allowed.

iPods, electronic games, laser lights, toy guns, electronic devices, fidget spinners, and other toys should not be brought on the school campus unless they are used as part of a classroom project, or requested by the teacher. Students may bring cell phones to school, but they must be turned off or on silent mode and in their backpacks during school hours. Knives or other dangerous objects are never allowed.

The District is not responsible for any item brought to school by a student. A student bringing any electronic device including cell phones, smart phones, smart watches, laptops iPods, MP3 players, video/audio recorders, DVD players, electronic readers, cameras, Google Glass, etc. does so at his or her own risk.

Powell Electronic Device Expectations

We understand that some students may bring these items for use after school, however during school hours, electronic devices are expected to be turned off or on silent mode and in a backpack during school hours. Students should not be receiving phone calls or text messages from any person during school hours, 7:25 am- 3:30 pm, as it interrupts the learning environment. If a child answers a call on their watch/phone during school hours, they will be given a warning and the staff member will explain the expectation for electronic devices. If there are repeated offenses, the device may be taken up and consequences will be handled as a student misbehavior. Cell phones and smartwatches should not be used to capture video, audio, or images at school or on the bus.

The Conroe ISD Student Handbook provides additional information regarding district policies about electronic devices.