Dear TCI Families,

Welcome to Tom Cox Intermediate, home of the Timberwolves! I am honored to serve in the Grand Oaks Feeder Community as the Principal of Tom Cox Intermediate. I began my journey at Cox as an Assistant Principal in 2008 when the school officially opened. This will be my eighth year to serve as Principal at Cox. Needless to say, TCI is my second home.

I am actually a product of CISD and graduated from McCullough High School (which is now a junior high). My husband and I are both educators in the school district and have seven children, who have all gone through CISD schools. Six have graduated and the last one at home will be a Senior at Oak Ridge High School this coming year. I love being around kids and find joy in watching them learn and discover the world around them. They are amazing! I find them to be smart, creative, curious, and make me laugh every day.

Our mission at Cox is to "Grow Learners to be Productive Global Citizens". We strive to make Cox Intermediate a place where every learner can reach their full potential, feel safe, and have fun. A place where students, staff, parents, and the community feel welcome and are visible in the school.

The Howl is our school newsletter and a great way to keep up with what is happening at Cox. It will go out to families the first Tuesday of each month. You can also find additional information on our school website, cox.conroeisd.net. For regular updates, follow us on social media.

Twitter- @CoxTimberwolves

Facebook- Cox Intermediate, Conroe ISD

See you in August!

Deborah Spoon

School Supplies –Below you will find the school supply list for 5th and 6th graders at Cox Intermediate. Students may drop off their school supplies at their home-base classroom on the night of "Meet the Teacher" or on the first day of school.

Binders and Backpacks- Students will travel between three classrooms and will carry their materials and lunch bag with them to each class. Most students choose to use a binder to organize and carry their items. Students are assigned a locker to house their backpack and other belongings, however they only visit it before and after school.

Band and Orchestra: If your child plans to select band or orchestra, please do not purchase or rent an instrument at this time. Fine Arts teachers will provide parents with information on purchasing and renting instruments during the first few days of school.

Parents are welcome to have lunch with their child in the cafeteria during their student's lunch-time. Due to limited space we ask parents and visitors to sign up for a date and time.

Making a school lunch reservation to eat with your child at school is easy! Beginning August 1, 2023 parents may visit the Tom Cox Website; cox.conroeisd.net, where they will find a button titled, "Lunch With My Child". One click on the button will lead you to a "sign-up genius". Please sign up for the appropriate date and time. The link will be updated approximately every 3 weeks. See below for guidelines:

Please follow these important guidelines:

• Please note, there is a limit of two adults per student.
• If plans have changed, please cancel your reservation.
• You will be able to wait for your child at the designated parent lunch tables in the Cafeteria.
• You must bring your Driver's License or ID in order to enter the building. No exceptions!

Lunch Schedules

A Lunch 11:20-11:50

B Lunch 11:40-12:10

C Lunch 12:00-12:30

D Lunch 12:21-12:51

• Bikers/Walkers- We have a large number of students who ride their bike or walk to and from school. If your child will be a biker or walker please encourage them to remain on the sidewalks as they travel, and watch for pedestrians and vehicles. Bikers will need to dismount from their bikes at the crosswalks and walk them to the other side. Bike racks are located in the front and the side of the school for students to rack their bike.

• Car Riders – Typically, we experience few problems as morning car riders arrive at school. We experience more challenges during afternoon dismissal. We ask for the parents' cooperation in this area. The safety of our students is our top priority. We do not allow car riders to be picked up at the street, along the curb, or to cross the street in the front of the building during dismissal time. We encourage parents to come through the car rider line. Please pick car riders up no later than 4:15 p.m.

• Bus Riders – The transportation department works hard to ensure that all students are picked-up and dropped off in a safe and timely manner. However, during the first weeks of school, buses often run late. Please be aware that as school gets under way bus schedules will be more accurate. Students are to ride the bus they are assigned. Transportation changes will need to be submitted prior to a student riding a different bus. The phone number for the Oak Ridge Transportation Center is 832-592-8850.

For transportation questions regarding how to register your child for the bus, or what bus your child may ride please go to the CISD website, conroeisd.net.

Dismissal will begin at 4:00 PM. Students will be dismissed in the following order:

• Bikers/Walkers
• First round of car-riders/first round of buses
• Remaining car-riders/remaining buses

All students need to be picked up no later than 4:15.

Student Cell Phone and Smartwatch Policy:

We recognize that parents provide their children with cell phones for safety reasons. Therefore, we understand that students will bring their cell phones to school. Students may call parents immediately upon arrival prior to entering the building and/or at dismissal once they leave the building. However, cell phones must remain turned off and stowed away in their locker during the school day.

See Guidelines below regarding cell phones and smartwatches:

• CELL PHONES are permitted at school but MUST be turned off and placed in the student’s locker during the school day.
• Cell phones may not be turned on or used during the day except for instruction and educational purposes with the explicit approval of the teacher.
• A student may be given permission by a teacher/administrator to use their own cell phone to contact a parent if they are a bus rider, and the bus is running late.
• Students are not to call, text, or message their family members during the school day. If students need to reach a member of their family, they may use one of the phones in the front office.
• If a parent needs to contact their child during the school day they may call the front office at (281)465-3200 and someone will have the student contact the parent.
• SMARTWATCHES may be worn but cannot be used to make or receive calls, text (parents or peers) or play games during the school day.
• Students may not photograph or take videos of any staff members or other students in and outside of the building.

Consequences regarding violation of the cell phone and smartwatches policy specific to Tom Cox Intermediate can be found in the Tom Cox Addendum. See link found in the next section.

Rainy/Cold Day Dismissal

If your student is a walker/biker they will be expected to walk or ride their bike on rainy days, unless you and your child have an alternate plan in place. If you choose for your child to be a car-rider on rainy days it is not necessary to complete a transportation change form.

In the case of severe weather (thunderstorms, lightening, blizzard) we may hold walkers/bikers until we feel it is safe for them to walk or ride home. If severe weather does occur we will contact the parent to inform them of the delay. Bus transportation will run as scheduled.