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Dear Cardinal Students and Parents:
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. This year we will welcome over 500 freshmen to POB. For many of you, it is a welcome back and a continuation of all the exciting things that POB has to offer. For others, this year will be a new journey filled with excitement and questions. We look forward to pulling all our different communities together to explore the endless possibilities. Our school team looks forward to partnering with you to assist you and your student(s) in a successful year. This year POB is a Title I school. More information will be shared during Curriculum Night and grade-level parent meetings in September.
The Evolve Body Scanners will continue to be used this school year. Safety is our top priority, and this is one of several actions CMS has taken to create a secure learning environment for our students. Removing the potential for concealed weapons entering school buildings will increase the security of our campuses and the confidence of our students that they are in a safe place. There are only three entrances in which students will be able to enter the building (the front entrance, bus lot entrance, and student driver’s lot).
Students will report to homeroom on Monday, August 26th. Classes will begin promptly at 7:15 a.m. with dismissal at 2:15 p.m. Students may be dropped off as early as 6:45 am. Make sure you check your home address, phone numbers, and email addresses as you may receive communication in all these ways. We want to make sure you are receiving all the information, as communication is critical. Parent Square is our main communication tool from school to home. Be sure we have the correct phone numbers and email addresses in PowerSchool, as this is what connects to ParentSquare.
Open House will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20th from 9:00 am -10:30 am for juniors and seniors and 12:00 pm -2:00 pm for freshmen and sophomores. Students and parents will be able to meet their teachers for the year. Teachers will have available a supply list at that time. Please note that 3-ring binders of any size are no longer permitted for students to carry on any CMS campus.
Schedules:
We are still working to complete and finalize schedules. Students will follow the schedule in Power School during open house. We do not make changes to classes that students selected in the spring and have since decided they no longer want the class. Our schedule was built based on the requests made last spring. Schedule change requests will only be approved and processed for the following reasons:
- Incomplete schedule (less than eight courses for underclassmen)
- Course(s) listed that have previously been completed (credit recovery or error)
- Course requires a prerequisite that has not been completed
- Course needed to complete Course of Study, Endorsement and/or pathway requirements for graduation
- Same course listed more than once on the schedule
- Requesting to take an AP course
Beginning on Aug. 12th, students can visit the STUDENT SERVICE LINK on the POB website to complete a schedule change request. All requests will be submitted electronically to the assigned counselor through the online form.
Student Services:
Counselors are assigned based on the student’s last name except for athletes. The assignments are as follows:
Ms. Traci Marsh Counselor (A-Ch)
Ms. Tanya Fuentes Counselor (Ci-G)
Ms. Dawn Slaughter Counselor (H-Mc)
Ms. Kaitlyn Blankenship Counselor (MD-R)
Ms. Lynette Horton Counselor (S-Z)
Ms. Kim Paige Counselor (All Athletes)
Online Payment Services:
Any fees and dues are paid through an online service. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Online School Payments (OSP) portal is a service provided to parents to facilitate payment for school fees for a variety of products and services. This includes various club dues, class dues, course participation fees, and financial obligations.
After School:
Students who stay after school must be with a teacher or coach and will be given a pass as they leave tutoring or a club meeting. Students are expected to be outside the building within five minutes of being released and must be picked up within 30 minutes of dismissal from school or a supervised activity. Students are not to be on the bus lot if they do not ride a bus.
Dress Code – “Parents – Please Note”:
Students shall maintain personal attire while at school that promotes safety, health, and acceptable standards of social engagement. Student dress or grooming that is substantially and materially disruptive to the learning environment, student health, or safety is prohibited. We want POB students to dress for learning as well as dress for success. This means pajamas, slippers, headgear (hoodies, scarves, do-rags, headbands, bonnets, shower caps, sunglasses, bandannas, and any other head garment that is not for religious reasons) will not be worn. Jeans should not have holes above fingertip length. No chains or spike jewelry. Students may not wear items that promote drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or violence. Students who do not follow the dress code will be asked to call their parents and sent to ISS until proper clothing is available.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices:
To protect the instructional time and in alignment with CMS district policy, when students enter the classroom, cell phones will be turned off and may be collected. Violation of the cell phone policy will require a parent to pick the child’s phone. Students must use a CMS technology device to take all assessments and exams. Chromebooks will be issued to all students during the first week of school. POB is not responsible for any damaged or lost electronic devices.
Universal Breakfast & Lunch:
POB will participate in CMS CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) in which students will receive breakfast and lunch each day at no charge for all students. Outside fast food will not be allowed into the building and this includes deliveries. These items will be confiscated, and students will be able to pick up items from the front office at the end of the day. Parents, please note that students are not permitted to leave campus for lunch.
Student Parking:
To park on campus, a student's vehicle(s) must be registered for on-campus parking. Under NO circumstances should students park in a space not assigned to them. If you arrive on campus and someone has parked in your assigned space, you should temporarily park in the spaces along the curb in the front and immediately report to the front office for assistance. The car parked in your space will be booted until a $25.00 fine is paid. Cars in unauthorized spaces and locations will be ticketed and booted. Parking tags are non-transferable. Students caught using another student’s parking tag will result in the loss of driving privileges for both students for the remainder of the school year. Juniors and seniors can purchase their parking tag online via the online payment system. All required documentation will need to be turned in to room 826 before receiving the car tag. Student parking passes will be on sale Monday-Wednesday from 11 am - 2 pm starting Aug. 12th and all day Aug. 20th during open house. If there are any questions, contact Col. Simon @eugene1.simon@cms.k12.nc.us.
Transportation:
If your child is a bus rider, enclosed is the bus information for your student’s express stop. Parents that transport students to and from school will use one of two entrances (main entrance and bus lot entrance) for the carpool line. When entering the bus lot entrance, make the first left into the parking lot and pull around to the corner. Please know that with well over 1600 students, traffic will be extremely heavy, and parents and students need to expect delays in the morning. Traffic will not be a valid excuse for students being late to class. For the safety of all students, do not pick up/drop off your child on Alleghany St. If everyone follows the traffic pattern for pick up, this will reduce the traffic congestion on Alleghany St.
Additional Information:
The “Student Code of Conduct” & the “POB Student and Parent Handbook” present guidelines on behavior and citizenship for students based on approved policies by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. This handbook can be found online and will be reviewed in-depth during homeroom assemblies. Please review the contents of these handbooks with your student as they contain very important information.
Additional school information can be found on the POB website. We are looking for parents to be part of the School Improvement Team and PTSA. If you are interested, please contact the school at 980-343-5992. I hope you are excited to begin a successful new school year. The faculty and staff at POB are looking forward to working with each of you this school year.
Sincerely,
Tanya Branham, Principal
