The Austin Gazette

We had a great first week of school! Our new PK and Kinder students are learning routines and did a great job listening for their names in the car rider line. All of our students are working hard to learn the rules and routines for the year. More about that below.

We want to thank all of our families for your incredible patience and support the first two days of school! We know the car rider line on the first day of school is long and frustrating, but we felt your support and we appreciate it. Road closures and traffic on the second morning of school showed us what a great group of students we have. They followed directions well as we waited for late students and staff.

Siblings, like the one pictured, have been helping their younger siblings to class and helping them learn the school. This will continue to be allowed next week and then we will transition to independently walking to class.

• Don't block the driveways when you are lining up in the center lane. If nobody can get out, nobody can get in! Also, our teachers and buses need to enter the back drive. Please leave space.
• When exiting, there are two lanes (see above). We apologize, construction removed our arrows and that is making it confusing.
• Be considerate. Don't cut in line.

• In an effort to reduce volume on the morning car rider line and to support parents needing earlier drop off, limited staff will be available to receive students starting at 7AM on Monday, August 19th.
• Students will sit in the cafeteria and wait until regular arrival time at 7:25. They will then be released to eat breakfast or go to class.
• Please unload your student as we will have limited staff at the door.
• Students with behavior struggles or needing high levels of supervision should not be dropped off at 7AM and should wait until normal drop off at 7:25AM.

• After the first week of school, students must arrive before 7:55AM to be on time to class.
• Students arriving after 7:55AM must be checked in by a parent or guardian in the front office.
• Students eating breakfast at school should arrive no later than 7:45AM

To increase our accuracy and keep our students safe, we are changing how we take dismissal changes. Starting September 3rd, all dismissal changes must be made through email to our Austin@conroeisd.net account. Here's how:

• Email austin@conroeisd.net
• Include your child's name and grade level
• Attach a picture of your driver's license or ID to verify your identity
• Changes must be made before 2PM on the day of the change

Get in the habit now! We will accept email, notes, and phoned in changes until August 30th. Starting September 3rd, all changes must be emailed to austin@conroeisd.net.

You can receive notifications about your child's bus, including departure and bus stop arrival times? Sign up for the SMART tag Parent Portal!

No parent visitors at breakfast and lunch until August 26th. Our students are busy learning breakfast and lunch routines. We have limited space available for parents at lunchtimes. A Lunch Visitor sign up link will be available before August 26th in order for you to schedule lunch with your students. We ask that you limit your visits to no more than twice a week so other parents have the opportunity to schedule times with their students.

Did you know there's an app for that? The MealViewer app allows parents and students to see the lunch menu for the day, week, or month. It includes pictures, nutrition information, and even information on allergens all from your computer, tablet, or phone. You can also find more information about school meals at Austin by visiting the Conroe ISD Child Nutrition Website.

Don't forget! You must complete an application every year if your child receives Free or Reduced meals.

Eating breakfast at school? Students must be in the cafeteria by 7:45AM.

Child Nutrition offers meal service for breakfast and lunch to the children of Conroe ISD from EC-12th grade on a daily basis during the school year. Per CISD Board of Trustees Policy CO (Local), students are allowed 15 days (breakfast and lunch) to charge their meals. Once the 15-day charges have expired, the student is no longer allowed to charge.

What does this mean for you? Students will recieve an alternate meal after 15 days of charging. Breakfast is cereal and milk. Lunch is a sandwich and milk. Please complete the online application for free or reduced lunches if you think you will have difficulty paying for meals.

• Store bought treats only.
• When bringing birthday treats, please remember they must be left in the front office. The classroom teacher will distribute them at the end of class.
• If you have questions about what is allowed, please call the front office 936-709-8400.
  

All medications must be kept in the clinic. If your child needs medication during the school day, you must check it in with the school nurse. Medications cannot be transported on the school bus.

Accidents happen. Please make sure your child has a change of clothes daily.

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