Hello, Powell Families!

 

Orchestra and Band Concert: The Powell Elementary Winter Orchestra/Band Concert is on

Tuesday, January 13, at 6:30 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room. All students must report to the Orchestra and Band Rooms by 5:45 PM! Students are responsible for bringing their instrument and music to the concert. Remember, concert attendance is expected and part of taking a performance based class. We are a team and depend on each member to sound our best!

Students should arrive to the performance in concert attire (unless discussed differently with Mrs. Ali and Ms. Sanders):

• Girls: We will dress in traditional black and white or all black. Girls should wear a white or black dress top, and a black skirt or pants. Black, white, or nude tights and black dress shoes. Black and white dresses are also permitted.
• Boys: We will dress in traditional black and white or all black. White or black dress shirt, black pants, black socks, black shoes. Tie optional.

With questions, please contact Mrs. Ali (Orchestra) and Ms. Sanders (Band)

January Magnet Updates! January is a big magnet month here at Powell, and we have several important updates to share with you!

• Magnet Application Deadline – January 22, 2026

Families with rising Kindergarteners and rising 6th graders: The WCPSS magnet application window closes on January 22, 2026. Please be sure to complete and submit your magnet application by this date. You can find more information and apply here: https://www.wcpss.net/enroll/magnet-schools

• End-of-Semester Domain Showcases – Friday, January 23, 2026

We are excited to invite families to join us for our End-of-Semester Domain Showcases! This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the hands-on learning, collaboration, and creativity your child has experienced during their first semester Domain. 

Showcase Schedule:

• 9:35–10:10 AM: Grades 3–5 Domain Classroom Visits
• 10:35–11:10 AM: Grades K–2 Domain Classroom Visits

We look forward to celebrating your child’s learning with you!

• Second Semester Domains & Electives: Please be on the lookout for new student schedules for second semester Domains and Electives. We are finalizing rosters and will send them home soon.  We are excited to begin these new classes on January 27, 2026.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to seeing you on campus soon! Contact: Cris Laurens, claurens@wcpss.net

Reminder about Arrival, Dismissal, and Street Parking Guidelines: The safety of our students is always our top priority, and we need everyone’s help to keep traffic on campus 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.
• 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.

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

Sick or not feeling well: When students are sick or not feeling well, the information below should be used by parent/guardian(s) when deciding if a student should attend school or if in attendance, used by school staff to notify parent/guardian(s) of the need for the student to be picked up from school.

Symptoms

• Fever of 100.4 or higher (Remain home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication)
• Diarrhea (Remain home until free of symptoms for 12 hours)
• Nausea and Vomiting (Remain home until free of symptoms for 12 hours)                                      
• Severe headache
• Red, watery eyes with yellow discharge
• Undiagnosed rash
• Inability to attend learning activities
• Change in a student’s typical medical status

 

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

 

Cultural Observances and Celebrations for January: 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20, 2025: The third Monday in January is observed as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States and celebrates the life and achievements of Dr. King as well as recognizing the Civil Rights Movement that he championed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is both a federal and a WCPSS holiday. 

 

National Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan. 27: January 27 is recognized as Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah in Hebrew) and is a day set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for reminding Americans of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred, and indifference reign. This specific date was selected as it also commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps. 

Have a great week!

Sierra Wooden, Principal

 

Upcoming Events (Subject to change):

1/12-1/16 Jump Rope for Heart

1/13 Orchestra and Band Concert, 6:30-7:30

1/19 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - No School

1/23 School Spelling Bee, 12:00-1:30

1/23 Domain Showcase

1/26 Teacher Workday - No School for Students 

1/27 Q3 Electives/2nd Semester Domains Begin

1/30 Report Cards 

Welcome Back & Happy New Year, Powell Families!

Happy New Year, and welcome back! We hope you and your family enjoyed a restful and joyful winter break. As we begin the new year, we are excited to continue partnering with you to support your child’s learning, growth, and success. Thank you for your continued support and trust in our school community. We look forward to a strong and productive second half of the school year together. Wishing your family a happy, healthy, and successful new year!

School Recognition: Pieces of Gold Performance: We are proud to share that Powell Elementary School has been selected to be featured in this year’s Pieces of Gold, a prestigious Wake County Public School System performance that showcases exceptional arts education across the district. This honor reflects the hard work, dedication, and talent of our students and the outstanding leadership of our dance teacher, Mrs. April Labadie. With more than 45 schools applying, selection was highly competitive, making this recognition especially meaningful. The Pieces of Gold performance will take place on March 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Schools from all nine regions of Wake County will be represented, celebrating the strength and excellence of arts education throughout our district. Tickets will go on sale in January. Please join us in congratulating our students and staff on this remarkable achievement!

 

Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) Family Information Session: Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) allows WCPSS students in grades K–8 to move ahead in either Math or English Language Arts (ELA). Students must be currently enrolled and attending a WCPSS school during the nomination and testing window to participate. Families are invited to join Mrs. Poisson for an online informational session on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00 pm to learn more about SSA.  Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fin-nuud-zao Contact: Ann Poisson, apoisson@wcpss.net

 

Reminder about Arrival, Dismissal, and Street Parking Guidelines: The safety of our students is always our top priority, and we need everyone’s help to keep traffic on campus 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.
• 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.

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

Sick or not feeling well: When students are sick or not feeling well, the information below should be used by parent/guardian(s) when deciding if a student should attend school or if in attendance, used by school staff to notify parent/guardian(s) of the need for the student to be picked up from school.

 

Symptoms

• Fever of 100.4 or higher (Remain home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication)
• Diarrhea (Remain home until free of symptoms for 12 hours)
• Nausea and Vomiting (Remain home until free of symptoms for 12 hours)                                      
• Severe headache
• Red, watery eyes with yellow discharge
• Undiagnosed rash
• Inability to attend learning activities
• Change in a student’s typical medical status

 

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

 

Cultural Observances and Celebrations for January: 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20, 2025: The third Monday in January is observed as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States and celebrates the life and achievements of Dr. King as well as recognizing the Civil Rights Movement that he championed. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is both a federal and a WCPSS holiday. 

 

National Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan. 27: January 27 is recognized as Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah in Hebrew) and is a day set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for reminding Americans of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred, and indifference reign. This specific date was selected as it also commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps. 

 

 

Have a great week!

Sierra Wooden, Principal

 

Upcoming Events (Subject to change):

1/12-1/16 Jump Rope for Heart

1/13 Orchestra and Band Concert, 6:30-7:30

1/23 School Spelling Bee, 12:00-1:30

1/23 Domain Showcase

1/26 Teacher Workday - No School for Students 

1/27 Q3 Electives/2nd Semester Domains Begin

1/30 Report Cards