Hello, Powell Families! 

 

Staff Update
We are excited to welcome Mr. Aiden Tepfer as our new Instructional Assistant! He is eager to join the Powell community and support our students and staff.

At the same time, we wish Mr. Michael Roberson all the best in his new role as Youth Director at the YMCA. This opportunity allows him to return to a place he calls “home” and continue serving the community he loves. We are grateful for his contributions at Powell and wish him great success in this next chapter. He will be missed but has promised to continue to visit and support his Powell family whenever he can!

 

Carpool Safety Reminder
The safety of our students is always our top priority, and we need everyone’s help to keep carpool running smoothly and safely. Please remember:

• All students should be dropped off and picked up through the designated carpool line. Do not let children exit vehicles in the parking lot or cross through traffic without an adult escort.
  
  
• Do not bypass the carpool line or stop mid-lot to drop off children. This creates unsafe conditions for students and disrupts the flow of traffic.
  
  
• Follow staff directions and established procedures. Our shared patience and cooperation ensure carpool remains safe and efficient for everyone.
  
  

We appreciate your partnership in keeping every child safe during arrival and dismissal. Thank you for modeling safe practices and following carpool expectations each day.

 

1st Semester Magnet Schedules (Domains/Q1 Electives):

Great news! Students who filled out their Magnet Choice Surveys on time received one of their top 3 picks for Domains and/or Electives! 🎉

A few notes:

• We place students carefully based on availability, preferences, and course records—helping them try new opportunities and ensuring as many as possible enjoy stage time if they wish.
• Nutcracker Dance filled quickly at the upper grades again this year. (For example, the K/1 Dance the Story class filled with 1st graders, since they have priority in that grade span.)

Schedules:

• Students should have brought home a yellow class schedule strip for 1st Semester classes on Friday afternoon. (Rest assured if they did not, teachers will help students know where to go for their new classes Monday.)
• Starting Monday, students should report to the classes listed on their schedule. Any changes will be reviewed individually.

Questions?

If you have any questions about your child’s schedule, please email me directly: claurens@wcpss.net —I’m happy to help!

AIG Parent Information Session

Are you interested in learning more about the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program at Powell? Join us for a virtual parent information meeting on Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 PM via Google Meet. During this session, our AIG teacher, Mrs. Poisson, will share details about how the program works at Powell and ways we support advanced learners. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about the AIG identification process.

AIG Informational Meeting:

Thursday, September 18 · 7:00 – 8:00pm

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wip-zvzw-noj

With questions, please contact Ann Poisson, apoisson@wcpss.net

 

Fall Pictures - Thursday, September 25th

Students will take their fall/yearbook pictures on Thursday, September 25th. 

https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/powell-magnet-elementary-school/fall-pictures-9-25-2025-83/optIn 

This link will allow you to sign up to receive email updates about your child's school portraits after picture day. These emails are sent to announce important things like when images are ready for viewing online, when novelty items are available for purchase and when new deals and promotions are being offered. When entering student information, be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

Additional information can be found below:

Flyer

QR Code

Package Options

 

Powell Family Picnic & Curriculum Night RSVP 9/25/25

Save the date! We will be hosting our Powell Family Picnic & Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 25th, from 5:00-7:30 PM. To assist in preparing for our family picnic, please provide the number of family members attending. Only one response per family, please. Don’t forget to bring your own picnic blankets! Link to RSVP

Here is the tentative schedule for the event:

5:00 - 5:30 PM Picnic on Campus (please note: meal option is TBD)

5:40 - 6:00 PM Title 1 Presentation in the Powell Cafe

6:10 - 6:30 PM Classroom Session #1

6:40 - 7:00 PM Domain/Elective Session

7:10 - 7:30 PM Classroom Session #2

See you then!

 

Attendance

To help us keep accurate attendance records and ensure student safety, we kindly ask that all absences be reported promptly each day your child will not be in school as scheduled. After 3 days, the absence will be considered unexcused.

Please email attendance536@wcpss.net with the following information:

• Your child’s full name and grade
• Date(s) of the absence
• Reason for the absence (illness, doctor notes, appointments, travel, etc.)

If your child will be out for multiple days, please include the expected dates whenever possible. If plans change, just send us an update. Timely communication is important, not only for record-keeping, but also for student safety. If we do not receive notification, the school will need to follow up with families to verify a student’s whereabouts.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in making sure our attendance records are accurate and up to date! Contact: Paula Bodette, pbodette@wcpss.net

 

PTA Website: Families can explore the PTA website to stay up to date on PTA events and happenings. Visit www.powellpta.org

 

Have a great week!

Sierra Wooden, Principal

 

Upcoming Events (Subject to change):

9/15 1st Semester Domains and Electives Begin

9/18 AIG Information Meeting, Virtual

9/23 Teacher Workday - No School for Students

9/25 Fall Yearbook Pictures

9/25 Family Picnic/Curriculum Night ( + Title 1 Annual Family Meeting), 5:00-7:30

9/29-10/3 Race for Ed Spirit Week

9/30 Race for Ed Ends

Hello, Powell Families! 

 

3rd Grade Beginning of Grade (BOG) Assessment

Parents of 3rd grade students, your student will participate in the Beginning of Grade Reading Test this Wednesday, September 10th. This test is part of Read to Achieve legislation and is approximately 120 minutes-180 minutes. Please make sure your student gets plenty of rest and has a good breakfast. If you have questions regarding Beginning of Grade Testing for Third Grade students, please email Mrs. Hart at mhart@wcpss.net. 

 

AIG Parent Information Session

Are you interested in learning more about the Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program at Powell? Join us for a virtual parent information meeting on Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 PM via Google Meet. During this session, our AIG teacher, Mrs. Poisson, will share details about how the program works at Powell and ways we support advanced learners. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about the AIG identification process.

AIG Informational Meeting:

Thursday, September 18 · 7:00 – 8:00pm

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wip-zvzw-noj

With questions, please contact Ann Poisson, apoisson@wcpss.net

 

Fall Pictures - Thursday, September 25th

Students will take their Fall Yearbook pictures on Thursday, September 25th.

https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/powell-magnet-elementary-school/fall-pictures-9-25-2025-83/optIn 

This link will allow you to sign up to receive email updates about your child's school portraits after picture day. These emails are sent to announce important things like when images are ready for viewing online, when novelty items are available for purchase and when new deals and promotions are being offered. When entering student information, be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

Additional information can be found below:

Flyer

QR Code

Package Options

 

Powell Family Picnic & Curriculum Night RSVP 9/25/25

Save the date! We will be hosting our Powell Family Picnic & Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 25th, from 5:00-7:30 PM. To assist in preparing for our family picnic, please provide the number of family members attending. Only one response per family, please. Don’t forget to bring your own picnic blankets! Link to RSVP

Here is the tentative schedule for the event:

5:00 - 5:30 PM Picnic on Campus (please note: meal option is TBD)

5:40 - 6:00 PM Title 1 Presentation in the Powell Cafe

6:10 - 6:30 PM Classroom Session #1

6:40 - 7:00 PM Domain/Elective Session

7:10 - 7:30 PM Classroom Session #2

See you then!

 

Attendance

To help us keep accurate attendance records and ensure student safety, we kindly ask that all absences be reported promptly each day your child will not be in school as scheduled. After 3 days, the absence will be considered unexcused.

Please email attendance536@wcpss.net with the following information:

• Your child’s full name and grade
• Date(s) of the absence
• Reason for the absence (illness, doctor notes, appointments, travel, etc.)

If your child will be out for multiple days, please include the expected dates whenever possible. If plans change, just send us an update. Timely communication is important, not only for record-keeping, but also for student safety. If we do not receive notification, the school will need to follow up with families to verify a student’s whereabouts.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in making sure our attendance records are accurate and up to date! Contact: Paula Bodette, pbodette@wcpss.net

 

Partners Read Program - Parent Volunteers

“Partners Read” is a program that builds reading confidence and skills in first grade students. It trains volunteers to read with our students and provides books for our students to take home with them.The program runs 1st semester and 2nd semester for 10 consecutive Friday mornings. To learn more, please refer to the flyer below or contact Susan Elinki at Partners Read (selnicki@wakeed.org) and tell her you want to be a volunteer for Powell! We are looking for at least 5 volunteers this year. Thanks so much for your consideration! Link: Partners Read Flyer 24-25.pdf

Contact: Megan Hill mhill4@wcpss.net

 

PTA Website: Families can explore the PTA website to stay up to date on PTA events and happenings. Visit www.powellpta.org

 

Have a great week!

Sierra Wooden, Principal

 

Upcoming Events (Subject to change):

9/8  Race for Ed Kick Off

9/10 3rd Grade BOG Testing

9/11 3rd Grade BOG Testing Makeups

9/12 AIG Parent Meeting, Rm. 301

9/15 1st Semester Domains and Electives Begin

9/18* (UPDATED) AIG Information Meeting, Virtual

9/23 Teacher Workday - No School for Students

9/25 Fall Yearbook Pictures

9/25 Family Picnic/Curriculum Night ( + Title 1 Annual Family Meeting), 5:00-7:30

9/29-10/3 Race for Ed Spirit Week

9/30 Race for Ed Ends