The Hoot Owl

It was so great to see everyone at Meet the Teacher for all students. We hope that you are ready for a great start to the year. Here are a few reminders:

Day 1 - Doors will open at 7:15 a.m. tomorrow for students being dropped off. We will open the building to parent starting at 7:25 a.m. to walk their children into the building to class. We do ask that you walk them directly to class, drop them off quickly and head out. Parking is limited in our parking lot so the quicker you can get in and out, the better for traffic flow.

Day 2 - Parents are strongly encouraged to drop students off in the car rider line or put them on the bus. If you must, you can walk your child in and directly to class. Again, we ask that it be a quick in and out to drop them off.

Day 3 - Parents who choose to walk their children into the building will be required to sign in through the front office using a picture identification - drivers license, passport, etc... If you do not have a picture ID, you will not be allowed in the building.

We will have plenty of adult staff in the front office on Friday to ensure students get to their class.

As a reminder, after Day 3, parents may NOT park and walk students to the front doors in the morning, nor may parents park and walk up in the afternoon to pick up students. This is for the safety of everyone since you have to cross the car rider line to get to the front doors.

As always, if you have a specific concern with your child's teacher, please go directly to the teacher for support.

This year, car rider signs have a scannable code that our staff will scan as you enter the car rider line. This will automatically add your child to our dismissal system so we can have them ready for pick-up.

During the first three days of school, we will have a process in place to assist families who do not yet have a car rider sign.

Beginning Monday, August 17, you must have your car rider sign to pick up your child through the car rider line.

If you do not have your sign, you will be asked to park and wait until the car rider line has ended. At that time, you may walk up to the school to pick up your child.

Thank you for helping us make dismissal safe, smooth, and efficient for everyone!

ALL transportation runs slow on the first few weeks of school while everyone is learning the processes and buses learn the routes. Please be patient.

Buses typically run up to 30 minutes behind expected schedule, but be on time for both morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off. If the bus isn't there at the exact time, be patient and wait. It will get there.

Car rider morning and afternoon run slow the first week. We will be opening the doors at 7:15 a.m. again this year so feel free to drop off your child/children starting at 7:15 a.m. The closer to 7:55 you get, the longer the line becomes. After the first week, students will be tardy at 7:56 so please plan accordingly. There is always traffic so keep that in mind when planning your leave time.

Our campus mans the telephones until all buses are cleared through the SMART tag system. If you get concerned or have questions, please feel free to contact us.

Family engagement is a target goal for our school this year. We are asking that you join us in making school events, parent conferences, etc...a priority this school year.

To help with engagement, we will be sending The Hoot Owl newsletter twice a month. This will keep you informed of all events and happenings at our school as well as a link to a grade level newsletter that will update you on specific grade level happenings in and out of the classroom.

Each month we will have a question for feedback or input. It will be a short questionnaire and it is an easy way for you to give us input immediately. Please make it a priority to answer that question each month.

Our Parent Liaison, Mrs. DeAlencar, will be available to assist families as needed. We are excited to have her full time in this roll this coming year.

We look forward to a great school year and building a partnership of learning with you and your family. Together we will make it the best year ever!

Please note that our school hours are 7:55 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Doors will open this year at 7:15 a.m. We ask that you do not drop students off prior to 7:15 a.m. Students who arrive between 7:15 - 7:30 will be sent to the cafeteria and then dismissed to class at 7:30 a.m. Please plan travel according to traffic patterns for your area keeping in mind that during the school year, the traffic is much thicker than summer.

Students are tardy at 7:56 a.m.

Dismissal will begin at 3:11 p.m.

Students should be picked up by 3:35 p.m.

The first week and a half, we will start dismissal a few minutes early so that we can ensure students learn the dismissal procedures and how to stay safe during dismissal. On August 26, we will move to our normal dismissal time which will be 3:11 p.m.

Visitors on campus:

Things to know about visiting our campus.

*Arrive at the front door and ring the doorbell (facing the doors to your right).

*Let the front office staff know what you need.

*Once you have communicated with front office staff, you will be buzzed into the front vestibule.

*An ID will be required to enter the main part of the building or check a child out. Please make sure you have it with you as you will be sent to get it.

Volunteering on campus:

Please remember that in order to volunteer on campus (reading to a class, going on a field trip, helping with PTO, attending class parties, etc...), parents must have completed the Volunteer Background check for the district. This must be completed each year for every school where you will volunteer so if you have students at 3 different schools, you must complete it for all 3 schools.

Volunteer Background Check

Before school starts, it is highly recommended that you register your child to ride the school bus whether you plan on using transportation or not. There may be times when you need your child to ride the bus because of an emergency. If they are not registered, they cannot ride. Register for bus here.

BUSES -

The first couple of weeks buses will run 20-30 minutes behind the projected schedule. Drivers are working hard to make sure students are delivered to the right location safely so please be patient. Things to know about bus riders:

• PK, Kinder and 1st grade students will receive a "PK," "K," or "1st" sign added to their backpack. Please leave it on there.
• Parents will receive a bus rider sign where you will add your child's name. A person over the age of 18 must be present at the stop with the sign, in order to get the child off the bus. If no one is there, the child will be returned to school and the parent will have to come pick them up at school.
• Good behavior is expected on the bus. For the safety of all, please review expectations with your child.
• Talk to your seat mate or the students across the aisle.
• Remain seated at all times.
• Use an "inside" voice when talking to friends on the bus, refrain from yelling or screaming.
• Keep your hands to yourself.

CAR RIDER LINE

Once we get the hang of car rider line, we will be finished no later than 3:30 most days. The first few weeks of school will be much longer, but it will get better.

Things to know about car rider line:

• Parents are not allowed to park and walk up to the porch for drop off in the morning or the afternoon.
• Students may not be dropped off in the parking lot nor near the playground fence.
• Students may not be dropped off or picked up on the outside of the covered drive-through.
• Car rider signs must be displayed in window when picking up students.
• Parents may not enter car rider line from our driveway entrance. See map below.
• Parents coming north on I-45 feeder must join the line using Oak Ridge School Road, between the hotel and Saltgrass.
• Please allow merging at that stop sign.

How does the car rider line work:

• Your child's name will be entered into a car rider spreadsheet when the staff member comes by your car. (This is from your car rider sign so please have it displayed for easy access).
• Your child will come to the front of the school to a specified location.
• Your child will then be brought to the outside of the building to one of 6 red benches.
• Please pull all the way forward, even if you do not see your child.

WALKERS/BIKERS

Students can be walkers ONLY IF they live in the no bus zone. All students who live on the south side of Woodson are eligible for bus service. Thus the only students who can be walkers must live in the Oak Ten area. We do monitor this and will notify parents if your child cannot be a walker.

Walkers are delivered to parents in the cul de sac. We expect parents to be present to get their children from this area. If is best if you, the parent, walk to the area to collect your child. Howeve, if you choose to drive, please stay parked until all students are out of the street for the safety of everyone. If there is not an adult at this location, your child will be brought back to school and you will need to walk over and get them from the front office.

If weather dictates that children cannot be walkers, parents will receive notification via text message through the district notification system. At that time, parents will be able to join the car rider line or walk to the art room door to retrieve your child. This decision is based upon lighting, heavy rain, or other hazardous weather situations.

TRANSPORTATION CHANGES

If you find that you need to change your child's method of transportation, we will ask that you email contactore@conroeisd.net. If possible, please add a picture of your drivers license so that we can ensure who is asking for the change. Otherwise, someone will contact you to ensure you requested the change. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL TEACHERS CHANGE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR A ONE TIME CHANGE.

For a once a year emergency, you may call the front office and let them know the change of transportation.

ALL CHANGES MUST BE MADE BY 2:30 P.M.

Each year parents who need breakfast/lunch assistance are asked to renew their application. Breakfast and lunch are not free this year. For students to receive free or reduced lunch, parents need to complete the online application and be approved. If you need assistance with the online application, please call the school and ask for Mrs. DeAlencar. She can assist you with this application.

We do encourage families to apply for free/reduced lunch even if you think you won't qualify or think your child will not eat in the cafeteria. The larger our percentage helps our school as well as there might be an emergency one day when your child needs a lunch. Better to be proactive.

As offers come in from different organizations to assist students with back to school clothes/supplies, Christmas gifts, food, etc...only those families who are on free/reduced lunch will be eligible to receive these services. Please use the link below to update your application:

https://www.myschoolapps.com/

Breakfast and lunch menus can be found at the link below:

Menus

Any and all medications that need to be administered during school hours must be delivered to the nurse by an adult. Parents will need to sign in the medication, and it must be in the original container. Students may not transport medication to and from school.

• Co-President - Heather Smoot and Christina Williams
• Vice-President - Jodie Fuller
• Treasurer - Stephanie Lindsey
  
• Secretary - Adrienne Baskins
• Parliamentarian- Maryam Norouz
• Members at Large - Brittany Forge
• Volunteer Coordinator -
• Social Media - Cait Lewis

Summary from 25-26 School year of PTO involvement.

• Trash cans on the front and back playground
• Field trips for all students
• Teacher appreciation gifts

With all that they do, they are looking to increase members for the 26-27 school year and will be hosting a membership drive during the first month of school. Please consider joining and being a part of the meetings and activities hosted by PTO.

If you wish to help in an area, please contact them at contactore@conroeisd.net and we will forward your information to the right person.

AUGUST

6 - Teddy Bear Tea 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

10 - Meet the Teacher (1st - 4th) 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

12 - First day of school

SEPTEMBER

7 - School holiday

11 - Goodies with Grands 7:00 - 7:45 a.m.

17 - Popping into Learning - (Meet the teacher) 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

24- Fall Pictures

25- Moving with Moms 7:00 - 7:45 a.m.

OCTOBER

9 - Student holiday

12 - School holiday

13 - PTO Fall Fundraiser Kick Off

23- Class Pictures

29 - Fall Festival Trunk or Treat

26-30 - Red Ribbon Week

27 - PTO Fall Fundraiser ends

30 - Storybook Character Parade

NOVEMBER

2 - School holiday

3 - Student holiday

11 - Veterans Day Program - 3rd grade @ 2:00 p.m.

23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Holidays

DECEMBER

10 - Holiday Program - 2nd grade @ 2:00 p.m.

15 - 17 - PTO hosted Holiday shop

17 - Holiday parties

18 - Early dismissal at 12:00 p.m.