The Howl
September 5, 2023
Tom Cox Timberwolves
Principal: Deborah Spoon
5th Grade Asst. Principal: Valentina Majeski
6th Grade Asst. Principal: Raymond Conley
5th Grade Counselor: Jessica Kowis
6th Grade Counselor: Tara Bodin
Mission: Growing Learners to be Productive Global Citizens
Guidelines for Success: Timberwolves. . . Heart to L.E.A.D.!
Learners: Engaged in learning, problem solvers, innovators
Empathize: Awareness and understanding of each other's thoughts and feelings
Appreciate: We are all unique! We respect and celebrate our differences and similarities
Dedicated: Committed to achieving ones goals even when it is hard!
Inspire others to achieve their goals
WECOME BACK STUDENTS!
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Timberwolves...Heart to L.E.A.D.
Dear TCI Families,
We have had a great start to our school year! Teachers and students have settled in and the business of learning is in full swing. I had a proud Mama moment this year as I spent time with two of my daughters at CISD's Professional Development Day. My daughters Samantha and Keeley are both teachers in CISD. My daughter Morgan is also a teacher and lives in San Antonio. They are amazing!
We have started off our year with a little over 1000 students. Our students are the reason why we are here and I am excited to get to know all of them. Students at Cox Intermediate are encouraged to follow our Guidelines for Success and have a “Heart to L.E.A.D”. Each month we will emphasize what it means to be a Learner, to Empathize, Appreciate, and be Dedicated to all we do.
Parents you are always welcome on our campus and we appreciate those of you who volunteer and support our staff and school. Our PTO is amazing and we are fortunate they give their time to help make Cox a great place for students, staff and parents.
On September 20, 2023 we will have our first Academic Night and celebrate “Read for a Better Life”. The night will include activities for families and snacks. Our Book Fair will also be open that evening and families may browse or purchase items.
Thank you for your continued support. Please feel free to contact me at dspoon@conroeisd.net or call at 281-465-3210 if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Deborah Spoon
Principal, Cox Intermediate
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SEPTEMBER
5th Grade Open House, 5:30 Information Meeting, 6:00 Visit Classrooms
September 6
Progress Reports go Home
September 7
6th Grade Open House, 5:30 Information Meeting, 6:00 Visit Classrooms
September 12
Boosterthon Challenge Course
GT Parent Information Meeting, 5:30 in the cafeteria (for current GT students)
September 18
Blue Out for GOHS
Kick-off Homecoming Week (students wear blue)
September 20
Family Reading Night 5:30
September 18-22
Book Fair
September 22
First Pep Rally of the Year
September 25-29
BIKE SAFETY WEEK!
TCI School Hours and Daily Schedule
School Hours - School announcements begin at 8:45 a.m. and the school day ends at 4:00 p.m.
Arrival- Our doors open at 7:45 for students who arrive early. Students will report to the cafeteria and sit at their assigned table. They will be dismissed at 8:30 to go to their locker and report to their classroom at 8:45.
See Daily schedule below:
TCI BOOSTERTHON
Cox Families! We’re on our way to reaching our goal of $20,000 for Field Trips, New Technology, and Recess Equipment. Thanks for your support so far!
Please help our school TODAY by sharing your donation link with others, or giving to our school if you are able.
BOOSTERTHON VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP!
Boosterthon Challenge Course is right around the corner, and PTO is needing your help! This year we have decided to go with a water themed Fun Run to help keep the kids cool in this crazy Texas heat. The event will take place on September 12th during your child's scheduled PE class. We are needing 10 volunteers for each PE class, so please sign up for your child's PE time.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4FACA929A13-boosterthon
TCI PTO
BIKE SAFETY WEEK
DONATIONS: We are accepting donations for bike helmets on our Amazon Cox Intermediate Counselor Wishlist for Bike Safety Week. Click on the link below to donate a new bike helmet. Please deliver to the school by Friday, September22nd.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PUHCKZJ72UXM?ref_=wl_shareXZ8AVDYCSX?ref_=wl_share
We are also looking for a bike expert willing to share information about bike safety to our students. Please contact either Jessica Kowis, jkowis@conroeisd.net or Tara Bodin, tbodin@conroeisd.net, or call 281.465.3200, for information.
Lunch With Your Child!
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! 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
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
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.
- 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 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 during morning drop off. 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.
School Nurse News
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school nurse at 281-465-3200.
Margaret Saxe RN
WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR OUR FIRST BOOK FAIR? READ THE LIBRARY SECTION TO FIND OUT HOW!
MAKER SPACE for Students!
Maker Space is a collaborative learning environment found in the TCI library. It provides opportunities for students to create, learn, and explore. The different stations include high tech to no tech tools, and promotes interactive, hands-on learning.
Below is a glimpse of our maker space activities.
Field Trip to HMS Victory
Treasure Map Coding
Cork Pirate Ship
Interactive Word Puzzle
Origami Boat
Code a Pirate Ship
Students watch a video on how to aim the ship. Use block coding or script coding to plot their course.
DESTINATION IMAGINATION!
How can we get kids excited about learning? Destination Imagination (DI) is a program that encourages the application of creative problem-solving techniques and tools while developing creative and critical thinking skills in the students who are involved.
Destination Imagination is a competition in which students form teams of two to seven students. They then choose from among the seven challenges which are developed each year to encourage students to think about the challenge topic, to learn how to research, and to apply what they have learned. DI offers the following types of Team Challenges: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Engineering, or Service-Learning. Teams meet at least once a week after school for about five months to solve their challenge. Then they present their Team Challenge and Instant Challenge solutions to appraisers February 18th at the Woodlands High School.
Tom Cox will only have parent-led teams. All team managers must complete the volunteer application (
https://www.conroeisd.net/parents/get-involved/) and be approved as a CISD volunteer. If you are interested in forming a team and being a team manager, please contact Tara Bodin, tbodin@conroeisd.net/281-465-3206.If your child is interested in making the commitment to participate in Destination Imagination, and you are willing to make the commitment to be a team manager or to support your child’s team, please attend a Zoom Parent Information Meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 6:00-7:00pm
The link to join the Zoom Meeting is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85079757275?pwd=NWZncUxpZWxPUFB3VWRKZTJJVTU1dz09
Student applications will be available the week of September 25th.
Information from the Counselors
We are so happy to see our Timberwolves and have enjoyed getting to know them. This year, we have two counselors, Jessica Kowis, 5th grade counselor, and Tara Bodin, 6th grade counselor. As school counselors we provide the following services:
- Small group counseling sessions, with parent permission, for students focusing on: study skills, friendship/social skills, grief, and anger management. If you feel that your child needs assistance in any of these areas, please let us know.
- Individual meetings to help students adjust to school or help with personal issues will be provided on an as needed basis.
- Classroom guidance lessons with emphasis on personal/social skills, academic development (study skills), being responsible, conflict resolution, and career awareness.
We also assist with food, clothing and school supplies. If you need any of these items, please feel free to contact us at 281.465.3200 or email; Jessica Kowis–5th grade counselor, jkowis@conroeisd.net or Tara Bodin-6th grade counselor, tbodin@conroeisd.net. We are looking forward to a great school year.
Help! We need donations for our Teacher Appreciation Cart. Items donated will be given to teachers to help support their classroom. If you would like to purchase items for the Teacher Appreciation Cart, please click on the following link:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1ZYO3FE5YGY0A?ref_=wl_share
The Conroe ISD Guidance and Counseling is having a parent presentation titled, Talk Saves Lives: A Brief Introduction to Suicide Prevention on Tuesday, September 12th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at The Jett Center at Woodforest Bank Stadium. Click here for more information.
Snyder Elementary will be hosting several parent information nights on various topics. Click here for dates, times, and topics.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uB9wOEOjhoDCJ3_w6rIypW_yA47Bn0t3/view
Snyder Elementary will be hosting several parent information nights on various topics. Click link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em0BD6MNQU4gCEjnf0lXRDkvnQKL9Ag-/view
5th Grade English Language Arts
We have officially kicked off our fiction reading unit! Students have done an amazing job picking out a book and having insightful discussions about what they read. One skill focus we have been working on is thinking analytically, and growing big ideas about our reading. At the end of August, we had a "book tasting" to kick off our fiction unit. Students will be placed in book clubs in accordance with their interest and book selection. Book clubs will continue through the month of September.
Now that we have kickstarted our writing workshop, we will move on to personal narrative for the month of September. Students will choose a "small moment" to flash draft. They will build on their writing by adding details, looking at sentence structure, and creating a good hook or lead.
5th Grade Math
Advanced math is moving right along! We have completed two units: Whole Number and Decimal Place Value and Multiplying Whole Numbers and Decimals. This month we begin our Division unit.
Our next skill will be dividing decimals by 1- and 2-digit divisors. We will be adding in a sixth-grade skill to divide whole numbers and decimals by decimals. We will continue to estimate solutions and represent and solve equations using a variety of strategies.
In general education math our 5th grade students will be multiplying and dividing both whole numbers and decimals. Students will learn how to multiply 3-digit by 2-digit whole numbers and decimals using the standard algorithm and models.
For division, students will build on what they learned last year by increasing the dividends and using a 2-digit divisor.
Students will use the standard algorithm as well as models to solve division problems using whole numbers and decimals.
5th Grade Science and Social Studies
Science:
Our students are still focusing on how to be scientists! We have been doing many different labs dealing with different physical properties and learning how to record data in our notebooks. Our next focus will be mixtures and solutions, energy, and reflection/refraction of light. We will be taking our first CFA on September 13th.
Social Studies:
In social studies, students will be focusing on early colonies and colonial regions, along with the American Revolution. Our first CFA will be on September 18th.
6th Grade English Language Arts
Our 6th grade ELA classrooms are off to a fantastic start! We have worked hard on procedures and routines both in our classroom and schoolwide. Our 6th graders are leading the way and making us very proud.
In Reading we have started work on our fist unit, Deep Study of Character. We began with an amazing book tasting. We are now working on analyzing our characters; looking at their actions, thoughts, and behaviors to make powerful inferences. In this unit we will also take a deep look at plot elements and theme. We are excited about these challenging lessons and how we will grow as readers.
In Writing we have started work on our Personal Narrative. We have been brainstorming ideas and flash drafting. We have formed writing partnerships that are built on respect and an intention to help each other grow as authors. Soon we will choose a story to take to the publication stage that will show our new skills and how far we have come in our writing.
6th Grade Math
In 6th Grade Math, we will be studying Rational Number Operations including Fractions, Decimals, and Integers. We will be using our new skills to solve real world problems.
6th Grade Science and Social Studies
In 6th grade science we are finishing our unit on metals, nonmetals and metalloids. We will transition into learning about chemical changes.
In Social Studies we are differentiating between limited and unlimited governments.
NEWS FROM GOHS GRIZZLIES!
Rainy Day/Inclement Weather Dismissal Procedures
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 that does occur we will contact the parent to inform them of the delay. Bus transportation will run as scheduled.
Tom Cox Intermediate
Email: contactcox@conroeisd.net
Website: http://cox.conroeisd.net
Location: 333 Waterbend Cove, Spring, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 465-3200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoxCISD
Twitter: @coxTimberwolves