Powell Publisher
November 13, 2020
A Note From Mrs. Mathe
I find it hard to believe that next week is our last week of November together. Time flies when you are having fun!
Progress reports for the second grading period were sent electronically this week. If you missed that email, you may check PAC (Parent Access) for your child's most up to date grades.
Thank you to those of you that joined us for Jersey Mike's Spirit Night yesterday! I hope you had a great meal and thank you for supporting our PTO.
A couple weeks ago, after the Storybook Character Parade, we asked for your feedback. The results are shown in the photo above. We had some great feedback about the parade being held outdoors from not only our families but our staff as well. We will definitely consider this for the future, and hope we have wonderful weather in subsequent years as well! We appreciate you taking your time to give us this feedback. Although the parade happens only once a year, we will consider your feedback from this event for other events we may have later this year.
As a reminder: Powell Panthers are required to wear masks during the school day. We have starting noticing a greater number of students that are forgetting their masks on a regular basis. Although we do have some disposable masks at school for the occasional time that a student may forget their mask, we are are unable to supply them on a daily basis. Please make sure to send your child with a mask daily. We would appreciate it!
Upcoming Dates
November 13: Progress Reports Sent Home
November 16-20: Generation Texas Week
Tuesday, November 17th: Students wear clothing from their favorite college
November 18: 3rd grade reading benchmark
November 20: Kindergarten Plymouth Day (more information to come)
2nd Grade Turkey Trot Day (more information to come)
November 23-27: Enjoy your Fall Break- No School
December 4: Individual picture retake day
December 8: 4th grade reading benchmark
December 11: Kindergarten Grinch day
December 15-16: Jingle Jam during specials classes
December 16: 1st grade Holidays Around the World Activities
December 17: PTO sponsored Movie and a Treat Day
December 17-18: Classroom holiday parties (more information to come from your child's teacher)
December 18: Early Release 12:20 pm
December 21- January 5, 2021: Winter Break (no school)
January 6: Kids return to school
Substitute Teachers Needed in CISD
Miss being on campus? Want a way to be a part of your child's school? CISD is in need of substitute teachers! If you are interested, please visit the following website for more information. bit.ly/CISDSub
2021-2022 School Calendar Feedback
Gifted and Talented Newsletter
Attendance Updates
If your child is an in-person learner and is absent from school, the classroom teacher marks them absent. The school district has an automated phone call system to notify families of students that are absent from school. So on any day your child is absent from school, you will receive a phone call alerting you of their absence. If you have notified the school of their absence, and we excuse the absence, you will still receive the phone call, as we are unable to go in and mark the excuse until 24-28 hours after the missed day.
If your in-person learner is absent, but participated remotely, they will initially be marked absent from school. The next morning it will be changed to a remote present. This is due to the fact that the state allows students to participate remotely until 11:59 pm for attendance purposes. Teachers "check" remote attendance each morning for the previous day.
If your child is a remote learner, they are counted present if they participate remotely, by 11:59 pm daily. If your child does not engage in learning in a 24 hour period, they will be marked as absent. You will receive an automated phone call from the district the day following the absence to notify you that they did not participate. There is a lag in the calling system due to the fact that the state allows remote learners to work up until 11:59 pm to receive credit for that days attendance.
Whether remote or in-person, families are still held to the same standard for attendance. Compulsory attendance laws require students to be present for at least 90% of the school year to receive credit for any given year. Please refer to the Conroe ISD Student Handbook for more information regarding compulsory attendance laws (page 23).
The most up to date attendance information can be found on your child's Parent Access Account (PAC). If you do not already have one set up, please visit https://pac.conroeisd.net/ to create your child's account.
Instructional Setting Changes
It's time to start thinking about how you want your children to receive instruction for the 3rd grading period, which starts January 6, 2021. PLEASE ONLY COMPLETE THIS FORM IF you plan to make a change with their instructional setting. If you are happy with the current learning platform and do not want to make a change, please ignore this request. For those wanting to change, please let us know by December 1, 2020.
Current In-Person Learners click here to complete the survey
Dreambox Information for at Home Use
You may have noticed last week on the Powell PTO Facebook that PTO funds purchase DreamBox Learning for all Powell students. This is a K-8 digital, rigorous, and highly adaptive math curriculum that students access to supplement school math instruction. DreamBox adjusts and creates a "just right" lesson for each student.
It is recommended that students should complete 5 lessons each week. Most of the students complete enough lessons at school to meet this recommendation. While DreamBox can be used at home, please keep in mind these tips.
Be okay with mistakes. As long as students complete lessons, DreamBox will be able to assess their comprehension and adapt.
Work independently. Helping a student through a lesson can progress them beyond their current abilities and lead to frustration.
Only use the virtual manipulatives. DreamBox lessons are designed for students to think through problems without the use of pencil and paper.
Use the help/hint button when needed.
Use headphones with the volume on.
Monitor time. 30 minutes a session is adequate. Students should not work longer than 30 minute sessions at home.
We hope you find the tips helpful! We love to see so many students excited about practicing their math skills!
FROM MRS. NIXON
Generation Texas Week- November 16-20
CISD will be celebrating "Generation Texas" throughout the school district November 16 - 20. "Generation Texas" is about the belief that all students belong on the path to education beyond high school! During this week we emphasize the wonderful possibilities for your child's future. We encourage all students to wear a college shirt to school on Tuesday, November 17.
Powell Elementary Counselor Form- Request for Assistance
Another part of the counseling program is coordinating resources for students throughout the year. In order to meet the needs of our students I will need a little information from parents. This form will help guide me in providing families with the needed resources.
Positivity Project Focus- Gratitude
PTO News
Powell PTO Membership Drive
Your Powell PTO is excited to tell you about our Membership Drive for the 2020-2021 school year!
Our only fundraiser in the fall is our Membership Drive. This year we will use your membership dues ($25 per family) to help with technology needs around the building to aid our teachers in their online and in person teaching of our students.
Please visit the Powell PTO website below to not only help your child's school, but get a cool Powell mask while supplies last!
PTO Website
2020-2021 Powell Yearbook Sale
Looking for an easy way to support our school?
Link your Amazon Smile account and Kroger account to Powell.
FOR YOUR REFERENCE
Nominations for Gifted and Talented Testing
Nominations are now open for Conroe Independent School District Gifted and Talented program. Although the testing will not take place until late January for both remote and in-person platforms, referral requests are accepted at this time. Referral requests can be made by the parents and/or teachers.
All 2nd grade students will take the CogAT assessment in December. It is recommended that parents of 2nd grade students wait until CogAT scores have arrived before nominating their child. The CogAT scores are part of the GT assessment.
If you are interested in referring your child, you may want to discuss this with your child’s teacher at conferences. Referrals will be accepted through December 18. The referral form is attached and will need to be completed and emailed to Sarah Radford at sradford@conroeisd.net. Your child may also return a printed copy to their teacher that can be turned into the front office.
Teacher's Achieving Excellence
- Log in to Parent Access.
- Click on communication.
- Choose Staff/Teacher excellence from the drop down menu.
- Select the employee to receive recognition from the drop down menu.
- Click create TAE.
- Click any of the pre-populated choices that apply.
- Type any additional comments in the Additional Comment box.
- Click the box labeled Create Teachers Achieving Excellence button.
- Done!
Student COVID Screening
Please review the information and be sure to keep your child at home if he/she is exhibiting any of the following symptoms.
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Chills or shaking with chills
- Congestion or runny nose
- Significant muscle pain or body aches
- Have a new uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing or for individuals with a chronic allergic/asthmatic, cough, a change in your cough from baseline
- Diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- New onset or severe headache
- Known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19
- Or if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results due to symptoms that began less than 10 days ago
Our Mission
Powell Elementary School is committed to creating an environment that promotes academic excellence, and a love for learning. Our goal is to build relationships that empower students, and develop responsible, patriotic citizens, and confident leaders.
Email: emathe@conroeisd.net
Website: powell.conroeisd.net
Location: 7332 Cochrans Crossing Drive, Spring, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-1700
Twitter: @PowellCISD
CISD Non-Discrimination statement
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.