Hazel Owens Elementary

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!

It's an understatement to say that I'm excited to get this school year underway. We've got a great plan in place to make this a very special year for all of our Eagles. This newsletter is a very robust, one-stop-shop of information with all-things first week of school.

As many of you know, we're excited to be adding two additional sections of an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) class to our school and an additional PreK class. That means we're adding ~40 students under 5 years of age to our campus enrollment. The additional students will have implications on our dismissal process--so please be mindful of some arrival and dismissal changes that have occurred going into the 23-24 school year.

As always, if you have a question that is not answered in this email you can always reach out to me

or one of our assistant principals at:

Principal: Weldon.Davis@Tylerisd.org

AP: Nicole.Cates@Tylerisd.org

Dean: Anna.Murray@Tylerisd.org

Counselor: Kristin.Wrenn@Tylerisd.org

• August 8 - Teacher Letters are Mailed Out
• August 12 - Playground Meet & Greet - 9 AM
• August 14 - Back to School Bash & Meet the Teacher - 5:30-7 PM
• August 16-18 - Cheers & Tears (PreK-K)
• August 16 - First Day of School
• September 7 - Kindergarten Open House
• September 21st - Leader in Me Night (Open House)

• 7:15 AM - Drop-Off Begins

• 7:15-7:45 AM - Breakfast

• 7:15-7:30 AM - Students congregate in the gym

• 7:30 AM - Students are dismissed to classrooms from gym

• 7:45 AM - School Day Begins

• 7:50 AM - Tardy Bell

• 3:10 PM - Dismissal

As many of you know, the first week of elementary school dismissal can be frustrating. We know it. You know it. All we ask is that you expect some delays in the first couple of weeks and to be understanding of our new families who are learning our procedures for the first time.

Consult the maps for an idea of your students drop off and pick up times/locations.

7:15 AM: Cafe Entrance Only for 1-5 (PreK & Kinder in the Back)

7:30 AM: All Entrances Open

*Kindergarten may drop off in the back of the school in the mornings but will be picked-up from the front flag pole drive at dismissal time.

Please complete the following form for each of your students at Owens.

• This year we will be using a car tag that hangs from the rear view mirror of your car. On the car tag, your teacher will write your youngest student's last name and their dismissal code. There will be a unique code for each student--the number is the initials of your youngest child's teacher with a roster number based on their last name. As you can see, the following example is a student with the last name Davis in Tiffany Norris' class, and is alphabetically the first student on the roster.

• CARS MUST HAVE A CAR TAG TO PICK UP THEIR STUDENT.

• All families will receive two car tags.
  

• Families will only use their youngest siblings Name and Dismissal code on their car tag. Older siblings will move to their youngest siblings classroom before being dismissed.

• You will receive your car tag from your child's teacher at Meet the Teacher night.

• If your car tag is lost or damaged you may pick up an additional car tag from the front office at no additional charge.

• The back side of the car tag provides instructions for notifying your child's teacher that they are ready for dismissal.

• This year, students will be dismissed directly from their classroom rather than congregating in hallways and large meeting spaces.

• When you arrive on campus you will scan the QR code on the back of the car tag and type in your child's dismissal code. Once submitted, your child will be notified of your arrival through a dismissal board in their classroom. The student will then leave the classroom and head toward the car line.

• It may be convenient to bookmark the dismissal form on the homepage of your phone for easy access.

• There will be two staff at each car line to assist with this process if you have forgotten your phone, are having internet issues, or have asked family member to pick up your child and they are not familiar with the system. Simply flag down an Owens teacher for help.

• There will be a brief training at the opening meeting of Meet the Teacher on this process and an opportunity for you to ask questions about the system.

Families are welcome to park and walk their student to their classroom during the first week of school. Please be mindful that we have a limited number of parking spots and ask that you do not park in driveways, entrances, or fire lanes. August 21st will be the official Owens Independence Day. Parents who need to enter the building on or after the 21st will need to sign in at the front office as a guest.

This school year, we will be engaging in two (non-PTA affiliated) fundraisers. These fundraisers are our school's primary way of supporting students with incentives for our Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS) and providing supports for our teachers throughout the school year.

For your convenience we're providing a discounted pre-pay option that will give your students full access to all fund-raiser activities: four picture sessions with Ashley Fisher Photography throughout the school year and a popsicle every Friday at Recess--all for $25. If you choose to pay throughout the school year then each photo session will be $5 (4 occurrences) and popsicles will be $1 every Friday (36 total occurrences). If prepaying, families with 2 or more children will be responsible for a maximum of $50 to have all students participate fully in each activity.

Fundraiser Pictures

First Day of School Pictures - August 24

Christmas Pictures - November 30

Easter Pictures - March 7

End of Year Pictures - May 16

Dollar Pop Fridays

Students will receive a popsicle during their recess time. Pre-paid students will receive a popsicle each Friday without notice. Pay-as-you go students will need to bring $1 to school every Friday.

Payment Link

Owens PTA Spirit Wear - Link coming next newsletter

Tyler Legacy Spirit Wear

Tyler Legacy Jersey

All students will receive free breakfast and lunch at Owens in the 23-24 school year.

ALL parents/guardians should complete the “Confidential Socioeconomic Form” that is a part of their student's enrollment packet. This form alone, ensures that our campus is the recipient of significant funding that supports all students here at Owens. If you’ve already completed the enrollment packet and are unable to edit this document you can complete the paper form and return it to your child’s teacher or the front office.

Click here for the Lunch Money Now and Free & Reduced Lunch programs.

Click here to apply for Free & Reduced Lunch program before September 27th. (ALL parents should complete this form whether your family qualifies or not).

PreK & Kindergarten is an amazing time in the life of the student and their families. It’s bittersweet as our babies are growing up, but so exciting to see the world open up to them. Your child will not only grow in intellect but in independence over the coming school year. I highly encourage you to practice some basic skills over the next week before the first day of school. It sounds silly, but making sure students can get in and out of the car with their backpack, buckle up, carry a tray of food while walking, and open ketchup packets will help your student adapt to their new surroundings much faster.

If your student will be taking medication while at school, please contact our school nurse (Brittany Smith) at 903 262 2179 or brittany.smith@tylerisd.org, to arrange drop off and to complete the necessary medical forms.

Opportunity 1

Location: CTC

Date: August 8

Time: 10 AM - 6 PM

Opportunity 2 (Meet the Teacher)

Location: Owens

Date: August 14

5:30-7:00

Students who purchased school supplies through PTA will receive their supplies on their first day of class. Families who need to purchase items before the start of school can consult the lists located on our school website.