The Austin Gazette

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISMISSAL REMINDERS

We are so excited to have our Austin Cubs back! As we prepare for dismissal this afternoon, please remember:

🚗 Car Riders

• Expect longer lines during the first few days.
• Have your car rider sign visible and ready. Signs are available in the front office before dismissal.
• After 2:30 p.m., students will not be checked out through the front office. Please join the car rider line.
• Bring your photo ID. If you do not have a car rider sign, we must verify your ID.
• Drop-off and pickup use one single line. Please see the image for the traffic flow.

🚌 Bus Riders

• Buses may run late as students learn routines and routes are adjusted.
• PK and kindergarten parents must show a bus pickup card to the driver all year. Cards are available in the front office.

Please be patient with one another and our staff as we safely get every Cub home. Thank you for helping us transition to our new numbered car rider system!

Austin Elementary is moving to a number system for afternoon car rider dismissal. Each family has been assigned one car rider number. The large number on the front of your sign is all our staff needs—any car rider sign displaying your family’s number may be used. We printed one for each student to aid in distribution. The number is the same.

Signs that are not picked up will be sent home with students on the first day of school; however, not having your sign during dismissal may delay the line. Signs may also be picked up from the front office.

If the students assigned to your family’s number are incorrect, please call the front office at 936-709-8400 so we can update our records.

The car rider line will likely move slowly during the first few days as students and staff learn the new system. You can help by reminding your child—especially our PK and kindergarten students—to raise a hand and stand when their name is called.

Our goal is to keep students safe and cool inside the building while moving cars off the highway as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience as we get everyone home safely!

Important: Students will not be dismissed through the front office after 2:30 p.m. Parents arriving after that time must use the regular dismissal line.

• Staff will be available to unload cars each day at 7:25AM.
• To keep our students and staff safe, please make sure your student can be unloaded on the passenger side of the car.
• Follow the directions of the staff on duty and wait until a staff member opens the car door before releasing your student.

Early drop off starting August 17th

• 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 17th.
• 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

• Car rider dismissal typically runs late the first days of school due to higher than usual numbers of car riders, and younger students slowing the process as they learn the procedures.
• School dismisses at 3:10PM. We will begin dismissal a few minutes early the first week of school. If you arrive before 3:10PM you should expect to wait in long lines.
• All cars are expected to display this year's car rider sign in the windshield. Children's hangers work well to hang the tag from the rearview mirror. Please hang the tag so staff can read them.
• You can pick up as many car rider signs as you need. Drop by and get them from the front office before school starts or from your child's teacher at Meet the Teacher.
• Cars without car rider signs will be expected to show identification and may be asked to park and enter the front office to confirm authorization to pick up the student. Expect to wait in lines if this is the case.

• Pre-K and Kindergarten parents must show the PK/K Bus Sign to the bus driver to confirm they are authorized to pick up the student. Bus signs can be picked up from the front office (including the days before school starts), and from Meet the Teacher. You may pick up as many signs as you need.
• Bus transportation typically runs late the first few days of school as students and drivers learn the routes and procedures.
• Make sure your student is registered to ride the bus. It takes 3-7 days to route a student for the bus. Register early even if your child has ridden the bus before.
• See the Conroe ISD Transportation website for information on bus routes, stop times and locations, and Frequently Asked Questions.

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 24th. 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 24th 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.
  

• Breakfast is free for all students at Austin Elementary.

• Student Lunch $3.20
  
• Student Reduced Lunch $.0
• Non-student Lunch/ 2nd Student Lunch $5.25
• Lunch Entrée $3.35
• Fruit/Vegetable/Bread $1.75
• Milk $1.15

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

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