Important Info

 O’Dell Information

Please refer to the O’Dell Elementary information by visiting our website.

Arrival and Dismissal

Student drop-off begins at 7:25; school starts at 7:45

Walking your child to class will only be allowed the first day of school (August 12). After the first day of school, all the students will be following the drop off procedures in place. We know this can make parents a bit nervous in the beginning, but we will have staff available to guide and help your child. Drop off will be at the back side of the school just like dismissal pick up.

If a child is tardy, parents will need to come to the office to sign their child in and show a valid ID.

Dismissal is at 2:55; Parents must complete the change of transportation submitted to the teacher BY 2:00 PM if any changes take place in your child’s regular pick up routine. Changes MUST be made through the teacher by EMAIL to ensure they are seen. 

Anyone picking up your child from the school must have their driver's license with them to verify they are on the pick-up list. 

When picking up in the car line/walking please make sure the car tag is viewable by staff working the car/walking line to expedite the process. If you do not have your car tag you will need to go to the front office and show your ID to pick up. Car will be dismissed from the back of the school. Walkers will be picked up at the front with all other grade level walkers. 

Documentation After Absence

When a student is absent from school, the student-upon return to school-must bring a doctor’s note with the name of the child, date of absence, and reason for absence, or note from parent. You may also send this as an email.

Breakfast and Lunch and Eating Lunch with your Child

We WILL NOT have lunch visits for the several weeks of school; this will help us establish our cafeteria routines and procedures with students. Beginning in September, you will be able to eat lunch with your child. You are only allowed to come once a week. Your child’s lunch time is 10:10-10:40am. You can bring food for your child, but this food CAN NOT be shared with other children. Please try to notify the teacher in advance if you plan on coming for lunch, especially if you are bringing your child lunch on that day. You can add money to your child’s account through SchoolCafe.

Free and Reduced Lunch applications can be found on SchoolCafe, information on the criteria can be found on the CISD website. Students may purchase breakfast in the cafeteria, however your child will not be allowed to bring breakfast from home to eat here. 

Snacks and Birthday Treats

We will have snack time daily from 2:35-2:55pm. Please send a healthy snack and water for your child. Your child will be very active while at school, so it is important for them to have a snack to eat. Please pack snack separate from your child’s lunch or have it labeled “snack” so that it is not eaten for lunch instead. 

Food/treats for birthdays must be store bought and will be shared at the end of the day. If sending special treats they need to be pre-packaged and easy to distribute (no cakes that require slicing). If purchased from a bakery, the ingredients list must be on the package.  Please let me know if you will be sending a special snack. We are an ALLERGY AWARE grade level, please avoid sending items containing ANY NUTS with your child. For special treats please avoid sending items containing eggs, dairy, or nuts if possible; let the teacher know in advance when sending treats so that they can contact parents of students with allergies. 

Conferences

Parent conferences will be held on October 13; however, I will contact you anytime throughout the year that I see a need. You may also request as needed by emailing me. My conference time is 11:15-12:00 PM.

Daily Folders & Thursday Folders

The daily folder will travel back and forth from school to home each day. Please check your child’s folder each night for notes, school work, behavior, etc. Please initial each night to acknowledge that you have checked the folder. 

There will be a special folder on Thursday with additional important communication from Celina ISD, O’Dell, and your child’s work from the week. We do most of our learning through hands-on activities and experiences as well as journals, so there may not be a lot of paper “work”.

Volunteering & PTA

Background checks also need to be completed if you would like to volunteer on campus. We will also be looking for mystery readers and you will need to make sure to fill out the background check if this is an opportunity you would like to be a part of. Background checks can be found online using the link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckz5n92BewM_G1ah4XYgXiZloHY52IIqr4wVC-ayfVTnsEOw/viewform. 

You are also encouraged to join our O’Dell PTA; they are always looking for families to get involved and help provide some fantastic experiences for our kids. 

Recess & Specials

Your child will go to recess each day. Your child needs to wear appropriate shoes each day. Girls: please have shorts underneath skirts or dresses. Students will go to specials every day, your teacher will let you know which day of the week your child will be going to the gym so that you can make sure your child is wearing tennis shoes on those days.

Change of Clothes and Labeling

Please keep at least 3 extra sets of clothes in your child’s backpack at all times. The teacher may take them out of their backpack and store them in their room if space is available.This is helpful if your child has an accident, gets sick or has a spill. I have provided a bag for you to place an extra set of clothes in. I will let you know if dirty clothes are coming home so that you can take them out of the backpack. Make sure the changes of clothes you pack are clothing that your child is able to put on/take off independently! Also make sure you have one additional pair of shoes in with the change of clothes!

Make sure you label your child’s extra clothes, jackets, backpack, water bottle, and lunch boxes. 

Also when weather changes (gets cooler or warmer) you will want to change out those clothes.

DO NOT SEND TOYS FROM HOME TO SCHOOL unless the teacher asks for a specific item from home. Tell your child that we will not allow them to take the toy out of their backpack.

Nap Mats

Send a nap mat with your child's name on it. This will stay at school Monday thru Friday and will be sent home Friday so they can be washed. The red and blue mats will stay at school and their mat/blanket will go home. DO NOT send a large blanket because we don't have enough space to store it in the room. If your child has an accident the mat may go home sooner to be cleaned and needs to be returned the next day.

Communication

Smore Newsletters will be used to communicate important news to you this year from the school. Skyward will also be used to communicate important information from the school/district. Teachers may use Skyward to send emails as well so please be sure to check regularly for messages. Class Dojo is the app we will also use to communicate with you most frequently. The best way to get a hold of your teacher is to email them. Please allow 24 hours for responses.

Teachers will also send group emails. Please make sure to check your email regularly!

House System & Spirit Wear

At O’Dell we have a house system. Students will be in the same house/color as their teacher. The teacher will let you know what color that is. On Thursday students wear house color/house shirts which will be provided. On Friday’s, students are encouraged to wear orange & white/bobcat spirit wear. There will be dress up days throughout the year, the teacher will let you know of these days in advance as well as what to wear on those days. These events will also be in all newsletters. 

Houses

Aldridge: Green House

Beechey: Red House

Estremo: Green House

Schroeter: Blue House