Hello, Powell Families!

 

Friday, September 20, 2024

Friday is a Teacher Workday, no school for students.

 

2nd Grade, Ms. Benoit’s Class

Monday Ms. Benoit will officially join our school family! Mr. Roberson and Mrs. Boling will continue to support while she transitions in. They will slowly transition out of the classroom once Ms. Benoit has had a chance to acclimate to the school and classroom. Stay tuned for information about a special “Meet the Teacher” event for the families in this class!

 

3rd Grade Beginning of Grade (BOG) Reading Assessment

Our 3rd Graders took the Beginning of Grade Reading Test this past Friday, September 13, 2024. Make ups for students absent on September 13th will take place on Monday, September 16th.

 

Family Picnic and Curriculum Night, September 19, 2024

You’re invited! Please join us for our Powell Family Picnic, Walk Through PTA Meeting, and learn more about what is happening this quarter. Do not forget to bring your picnic blankets! RSVP here: https://forms.gle/xsBDhoZCs3r67qKNA 

(Please note: Protecting the privacy of our students and their families is a high priority. If you photograph or record images of students other than your own, please respect their privacy if posting to social media. Not all families wish to have images of their children online.)

 

Domains and Electives

1st Semester Domains and Quarter 1 Electives begin September 16th. Students will come home Monday with information regarding their domains and electives. If you have any questions, please contact Cris Laurens, Magnet Program Coordinator, claurens@wcpss.net.

 

Fall Pictures

Strawbridge Studios will be at Powell September 26th to photograph fall pictures. This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/powell-magnet-elementary-school/fall-pictures-9-26-2024-69/optIn 

 

Behavior Intervention Monitoring Assessment System (BIMAS-2™) 

In our continuing efforts to support the well-being of all our students, the district will once again be administering a universal screener of social, emotional & behavioral health. Additional information regarding this process and an Opt-Out Form will be sent home soon.

 

Powell PTA Spirit Night: Kilwins

When: Sep 24, 2024 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Where: Kilwins Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop 200 Park at N Hills St Suite 110

Mark your calendars! We're hosting a spirit night at Kilwins! Kilwins Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop is located in the North Hills part of Raleigh. There is a large grassy area for kids to be able to run around and play after eating ice cream.

 

Carpool Dismissal

A minor adjustment will be made to our afternoon dismissal process for carpool riders. Families will follow the same routine as morning arrival where students are dropped off at the stairs; they will now pick up at the stairs in the afternoon beginning September 23rd. With this adjustment, our walkers who exit campus near the cafeteria will have more space to travel safely utilizing the sidewalk. We will use cones (near the dumpsters) to elongate the walker's route to assist with the transition between the break in the sidewalk. With this being a high traffic area, please be mindful of our goal to be as safe and efficient as possible. We ask that everyone be considerate of our students and staff to help eliminate as much disruption to this process and procedure.

Hello, Powell Families!

 

Meet the Teacher Feedback

Thank you for attending our Meet the Teacher events. Please consider sharing feedback regarding your experience by completing this survey: https://bit.ly/PMESfeedback 

 

3rd Grade Beginning of Grade (BOG) Reading Assessment, September 13, 2024

Our 3rd Graders will take the Beginning of Grade Reading Test on Friday, September 13, 2024. Make ups for students absent on September 13th will take place on Monday, September 16th.

 

Family Picnic and Curriculum Night, September 19, 2024

You’re invited! Please join us for our Powell Family Picnic, Walk Through PTA Meeting, and learn more about what is happening this quarter. Do not forget to bring your picnic blankets! RSVP here: https://forms.gle/xsBDhoZCs3r67qKNA 

(Please note: Protecting the privacy of our students and their families is a high priority. If you photograph or record images of students other than your own, please respect their privacy if posting to social media. Not all families wish to have images of their children online.)

 

Domains and Electives

1st Semester Domains and Quarter 1 Electives begin September 16th. If you have any questions, please contact Cris Laurens, Magnet Program Coordinator, claurens@wcpss.net.

 

Fall Pictures

Strawbridge Studios will be at Powell September 26th to photograph fall pictures. This link will allow you to sign up to receive updates via email regarding your child's portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.

https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/powell-magnet-elementary-school/fall-pictures-9-26-2024-69/optIn 

 

Carpool Procedures for Driving to and from Campus

As we begin another school year, we want to remind everyone of the importance of following our carpool and parking procedures. These guidelines are designed with your children's safety in mind and to ensure a smooth and efficient pick-up and drop-off process. 

Carpool Line: All vehicles must follow the designated path of the carpool line and exit the campus by turning left onto the main road. Right turns are not permitted. This helps to maintain a steady flow of traffic and prevents backups that can create hazardous conditions.

Alternate Routes: If you need to head back to King Charles Road, please use the alternate path provided to avoid re-entering the carpool line and causing congestion.

Neighborhood Streets: Remember that the streets around our school are residential, with a speed limit of 25 MPH. Please drive cautiously and be mindful of our neighbors and other children who may be present.

Street Parking Guidelines:

No Parking Zones: Please be aware of the No Parking signs posted along Marlborough Road during pick-up and drop-off hours (8:45 - 9:30 AM and 3:30 - 4:15 PM). These areas are restricted to ensure clear visibility and access for all vehicles.

Street Parking Availability: If you must park on side streets, make sure to do so in designated areas only. Parking in no-parking zones, even briefly, can cause delays and potential safety issues for students and families.

Why These Procedures Are Important:

Safety First: Our top priority is the safety of all students, families, and staff. By adhering to these procedures, you help prevent accidents and ensure that our children can safely enter and exit the school grounds.

Efficiency: Following the designated routes and parking rules allows for a smoother and faster carpool process, reducing wait times and traffic congestion.

Respect for Our Community: We are part of a larger neighborhood community. Respecting parking rules and driving carefully on residential streets helps maintain a positive relationship with our neighbors and ensures that we are good stewards of the area around our school.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines. Working together, we can ensure that the drop-off and pick-up experience is safe, smooth, and efficient for everyone.

(Please note: As a reminder, we are currently reviewing our carpool structures as we are encountering challenges with our walker families not having adequate safe walking routes while departing from campus. As we identify a safer solution for our walker families, we anticipate that there could be minor adjustments made to PM carpool. This is currently a work in progress, so no changes have been made at this time.)

 

Hello, Powell Families!

 

Online Magnet Registration now Open 8/30/24-9/4/24

Welcome to the 2024-25 Magnet Implementation & 1st Semester Online Registration Process! Everything is now available on our Powell Website under the "Magnet" tab AND Talking Point Messages were sent Friday, 8/30/24 at 4PM with Grade Level Specific Magnet Choice Survey Links. Please complete your surveys by 9/4/24.

If you have any questions, please contact: Cris Laurens, Magnet Program Coordinator, claurens@wcpss.net

Labor Day, No School for Students or Staff: We hope you enjoy your three day weekend. No school tomorrow, Monday, 09/02/24.

Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week: This week, we recognize our amazing substitute teachers. We express our heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable contributions to our school community. Their dedication and support ensure the continuity of learning in our staff absences. We thank each of them for being an essential part of our team. We are always in need of substitute teachers. Check out this site if you are interested in becoming a WCPSS substitute teacher. We need you!

Tea & Tissues for Kindergarten Parents: Tuesday, September 3rd, Kindergarten families, after your little one heads off to their first day of school, stop by the tables by the breezeway for Tea & Tissues with other families and an opportunity to meet our PTA Executive Board.

Visiting Campus & Checking your student out early: When visiting any campus, arriving tardy, or picking your student up early, please be prepared to show your government issued ID.  Click here to learn more about the Verkada Visitor Management System.

Arrival & Dismissal: For the safety of our students and staff, it is important for all families to follow our arrival and dismissal procedures. We open our school doors and welcome our students at 8:45 AM. Students should not arrive on campus before that time. Walkers should leave their home to arrive at school no earlier than 8:45 AM. Dismissal begins at 3:45 PM. All students should be picked up from campus by 4:00 PM.

Transportation: Every student at Powell will be issued a transportation tag for their backpack, which should be used for the entire year.  Please do not remove the tags from the backpack. Should the tag get removed or lost, please contact our assistant principal, Melissa Hart, mhart@wpcss.net. 

Carpool: Families using carpool should follow the one way carpool route, which begins on N King Charles Rd, turns Right on Valiant Street, then turns Right into the school parking lot. In the AM, students should exit the vehicle onto the sidewalk at the bottom of the steps. Students arriving in carpool should remain in the vehicle until the bell rings at 8:45 AM. In the PM, every car must display the child’s carpool number.  If you do not have your carpool tag, you will be asked to report to the office to sign out your student.  Students will load the vehicle by the cafeteria sidewalk. Six students are loaded at one time, using our carpool number and color system. Cars should remain in the line until all six students are loaded. Under no circumstances should a car pull around the other remaining vehicles. All students riding to and from school in a car are considered a carpool student. Students should never be dropped off or picked up on Marlborough Road. To assist with congestion and safety, Raleigh City Council has mandated No Parking on School Days from 8:45-9:30 AM and 3:30-4:15 PM on Marlborough Road. During this time, Raleigh PD may enforce this No Parking Zone by issuing citations as needed. As a staff, we are currently reviewing these structures as we are encountering challenges with our walker families not having adequate safe walking routes while departing from campus. As we identify a safer solution for our walker families, we anticipate that there could be minor adjustments made to PM carpool. This is currently a work in progress, so no changes have been made at this time.

Here Comes the Bus APP: WCPSS Transportation provides bus rider families with a FREE bus tracking system called Here Comes the Bus, which translates GPS data into an easy to use customizable map that works on a computer, tablet or smartphone. The app allows you to see where the bus is and how close it is to your stop. For more information and to sign up, click here.

Walkers: Students walking to school should not arrive on campus before 8:45 AM. At dismissal, students exit campus through the exterior Multi-Purpose room door. Families picking up their child should wait on the sidewalk near this door. Walking students and families should exit campus promptly. Students should not be permitted to run or play in the natural areas, around the planted azaleas or near the road and parking lot.  Students considered walkers should be walking to or from school. If a parent chooses to drive a walker to school, please follow carpool procedures. Walkers should not be exiting through the walker door and then entering a vehicle. Please refer to the No Parking information stated above in the carpool section.

Hello, Powell Families!

 

Welcome to the First Week of School for the 2024-2025 School Year!

 

Overview of Staggered Entry for Families:

At Powell, we start Kindergarten with a “staggered entry” process. This gradual transition from home to school ensures your child’s first day is calm and positive. It also gives our teachers important one-on-one time with each child to provide reassurance and understand them as learners.

Arrival for Staggered Entry: Families will walk their students into the building. Staff will have a table set up to greet you.  On that table, staff will have a sign-in sheet to get an emergency contact for the day, allergy information, and how students are getting home for that particular day. Staff will also have Walker Applications, Before/After School Applications, and Carpool information to ensure that everyone is ready for afternoon dismissal. 

Afternoon Dismissal: Students will dismiss at the same time as the rest of the school. Staff will walk students to carpool to ensure that they get there safely, same with bus riders and walkers.  

 

WCPSS Transportation Information:

If your student rides any WCPSS issued transportation, please read this letter from our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Hart.

 

Important Dates:

 

• Monday, 8/26: Meet the Teacher for our 1st-5th grade students from 4:00-6:00 pm! We’d love to hear about your experience. Please share your feedback by filling out this survey.

• Tuesday, 8/27: First day of school for 1st-5th grades and staggered entry begins for Kindergarten students with last names beginning with (A-D).

• Wednesday, 8/28: Staggered entry day for Kindergarten students with last names beginning with (E-K).

• Thursday, 8/29: Staggered entry day for Kindergarten students with last names beginning with (L-W).

• Friday, 8/30: Meet the Teacher for our Kindergarten families from 3:00-5:00 pm.

 

We look forward to welcoming you and your children to an exciting new school year at Powell!