ECS Parents and Families,
Beginning Monday, the pickup and drop-off times for the Blue Route will change until further notice. Please review the updated times below and plan accordingly.
We want to be transparent about why this adjustment is necessary. Bus drivers are currently in high demand, and like many schools and districts, we are working to make the best use of the drivers available to us. To continue providing transportation to our students, we will temporarily need to double some routes, which will result in changes to pickup and drop-off times.
As we make these adjustments, we also need your partnership regarding student behavior on the bus. Our bus drivers and aides have an important responsibility: getting every student to and from school safely. Students must follow the directions of the driver and bus aide, remain seated when required, keep their hands and feet to themselves, use appropriate language, and treat others with respect.
Please remind your child that riding the school bus is a privilege, and behavior that creates an unsafe environment for other students or the driver cannot be tolerated. Continued or serious behavior concerns may result in the loss of bus-riding privileges in accordance with our transportation expectations.
We value our bus drivers and aides and want to maintain a safe and respectful environment where they can focus on transporting our students safely. We need everyone’s help to make that happen.
Please see the updated Blue Route pickup and drop-off times below.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we work through these transportation challenges. Most importantly, thank you for reinforcing with your child that safe transportation is everyone’s responsibility!
Beginning Monday, the pickup and drop-off times for the Blue Route will change until further notice. Please review the updated times below and plan accordingly.
We want to be transparent about why this adjustment is necessary. Bus drivers are currently in high demand, and like many schools and districts, we are working to make the best use of the drivers available to us. To continue providing transportation to our students, we will temporarily need to double some routes, which will result in changes to pickup and drop-off times.
As we make these adjustments, we also need your partnership regarding student behavior on the bus. Our bus drivers and aides have an important responsibility: getting every student to and from school safely. Students must follow the directions of the driver and bus aide, remain seated when required, keep their hands and feet to themselves, use appropriate language, and treat others with respect.
Please remind your child that riding the school bus is a privilege, and behavior that creates an unsafe environment for other students or the driver cannot be tolerated. Continued or serious behavior concerns may result in the loss of bus-riding privileges in accordance with our transportation expectations.
We value our bus drivers and aides and want to maintain a safe and respectful environment where they can focus on transporting our students safely. We need everyone’s help to make that happen.
Please see the updated Blue Route pickup and drop-off times below.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we work through these transportation challenges. Most importantly, thank you for reinforcing with your child that safe transportation is everyone’s responsibility!
🚌 Bus Behavior & Afternoon Drop-Off Reminder
Empower Families, please take a few minutes to speak with your student about appropriate behavior while riding the school bus. The safety of every student and our transportation staff is our priority.
Please remind your student that food is not allowed on the bus. Students are expected to follow the directions of the bus driver and bus aide at all times, remain seated, keep their hands and feet to themselves, and avoid any behavior that may distract the driver.
Parents and guardians are also responsible for ensuring that someone is present at the bus stop to receive their student during afternoon drop-off. Our bus drivers cannot wait longer than five (5) minutes at a stop. Repeated failure to have someone available to receive your student may result in the loss of bus transportation privileges.
Riding the bus is a privilege. Thank you for partnering with us to make sure every scholar gets to and from school safely. 🚌
🍎🐊 What’s on the menu, Gators? We’ve got another delicious week ahead with pancakes, chicken teriyaki, pizza, baked ziti, crispitos, and more! 😋🍕🥞
🥛 Lactose-free white and chocolate milk is available daily upon request. Be sure to check out this week’s full breakfast and lunch menu!
💜💛 Good Food. Bright Minds. Brighter Futures. #EmpowerGators #SchoolLunch #FuelYourFuture #TogetherRelentlessEmpowered
🥛 Lactose-free white and chocolate milk is available daily upon request. Be sure to check out this week’s full breakfast and lunch menu!
💜💛 Good Food. Bright Minds. Brighter Futures. #EmpowerGators #SchoolLunch #FuelYourFuture #TogetherRelentlessEmpowered
Good afternoon Empower Parents:
As part of Alabama’s RAISE Act (Act No. 2025-257), we are seeking feedback to help identify opportunities to reduce administrative burden, improve efficiency, and better support schools and students.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Friday, September 25. Your feedback is important and will help inform this work. Responses are confidential.
Parent Survey – Advocates & Families - https://bit.ly/4yNyQQL
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for your assistance in helping us get this survey in front of our parents and families.
I sincerely appreciate your help.
Dr. M. Davis
As part of Alabama’s RAISE Act (Act No. 2025-257), we are seeking feedback to help identify opportunities to reduce administrative burden, improve efficiency, and better support schools and students.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Friday, September 25. Your feedback is important and will help inform this work. Responses are confidential.
Parent Survey – Advocates & Families - https://bit.ly/4yNyQQL
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and for your assistance in helping us get this survey in front of our parents and families.
I sincerely appreciate your help.
Dr. M. Davis
Join us in supporting the health and wellness of our school community! We invite all stakeholders to be part of our Wellness Committee and help support our school’s Local School Wellness Policy. 🌱💚
📧 For more information, contact:
CNP Director
drodgers@empoweral.org
¡Únase a nosotros para apoyar la salud y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad escolar! Invitamos a todos los interesados a formar parte de nuestro Comité de Bienestar y apoyar la Política de Bienestar Escolar Local. 🌱💚
📧 Para más información, comuníquese con:
Director de CNP
drodgers@empoweral.org
Your voice matters, and we want you at the table! Join us for our Empower District Advisory Council Meeting as we bring together families, students, and our school community to share ideas, provide input, and continue building a stronger Empower—together.
📅 Choose the meeting time that works best for you:
Thursday, September 17 at 9:30 AM
OR
Tuesday, September 22 at 5:30 PM
📍 Upper Campus Lunchroom
751 Academy Drive | Bessemer, AL
We believe our schools are stronger when our families and community have a voice. Come share yours!
Students. Families. Community. Stronger Together!
#EmpowerSchoolsAL #YourVoiceMatters #FamilyEngagement #EmpowerFamilies #StrongerTogether #OneEmpower
📅 Choose the meeting time that works best for you:
Thursday, September 17 at 9:30 AM
OR
Tuesday, September 22 at 5:30 PM
📍 Upper Campus Lunchroom
751 Academy Drive | Bessemer, AL
We believe our schools are stronger when our families and community have a voice. Come share yours!
Students. Families. Community. Stronger Together!
#EmpowerSchoolsAL #YourVoiceMatters #FamilyEngagement #EmpowerFamilies #StrongerTogether #OneEmpower
Dear Empower Community School Families,
We want to share an important update regarding Progress Reports and Report Cards.
Moving forward, Progress Reports and Report Cards will be sent to families through PowerSchool instead of ParentSquare. You should receive an email with your student’s document using the email address currently on file in PowerSchool.
* Progress Reports will be sent home tomorrow, Wednesday, September 16, 2026.*
In addition, Spring 2026 ACAP Scores will be sent home with students. Please check your student’s backpack for their ACAP score report.
We encourage all families to take a few minutes to review the ACAP scores with your student. These scores provide important information about your student’s academic progress and can help you understand areas of strength and areas where additional support may be needed.
Please remember to:
-Check the email address you have on file in PowerSchool.
-Check your student’s backpack for their ACAP Score Report.
-Review the ACAP results with your student.
If you have questions or need assistance accessing your student’s information. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students!
What’s cooking next week, Gators? Check out our breakfast and lunch menu for September 14–18!
🥛 Lactose-free white and chocolate milk is available daily upon request.
💜💛 Good Food. Bright Minds. Brighter Futures. #EmpowerGators #FuelYourFuture
🎮🐊 GAME ON, EMPOWER! UPPER CAMPUS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT! 💜🤍
Our Empower Upper Campus is hosting a FUNraiser at Dave & Buster’s, and we want the entire Empower family to come out and support our Gators! Get ready to PAINT DAVE & BUSTER’S PURPLE & WHITE for an evening of fun, food, games, and GATOR PRIDE! 🎉🕹️
📅 Wednesday, September 23, 2026
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
💳 Support the Upper Campus by pre-purchasing an Empower FUNraising Game Power Card! We are selling $10 and $20 Power Cards. Every purchase helps support our Upper Campus while giving you more reasons to PLAY, WIN, and have some fun!
💰 All Power Card money is due to Mrs. Oliver-Curry (Upper Campus) by September 18.
🍕 FREE food and soda while supplies last!
We’re calling on our scholars, families, staff, friends, and community partners to show up and show out! Wear your PURPLE & WHITE, bring the family, and help us make this fundraiser a success! 💜🤍
🐊 LET’S INVADE DAVE & BUSTER’S, GATORS!
PLAY. WIN. SUPPORT UPPER CAMPUS.
#EmpowerSchoolsAL #EmpowerUpperCampus #GatorInvasion #SupportOurGators #FUNraising #PurpleAndWhite #GatorPride #TwoCampusesOneEmpower
Our Empower Upper Campus is hosting a FUNraiser at Dave & Buster’s, and we want the entire Empower family to come out and support our Gators! Get ready to PAINT DAVE & BUSTER’S PURPLE & WHITE for an evening of fun, food, games, and GATOR PRIDE! 🎉🕹️
📅 Wednesday, September 23, 2026
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
💳 Support the Upper Campus by pre-purchasing an Empower FUNraising Game Power Card! We are selling $10 and $20 Power Cards. Every purchase helps support our Upper Campus while giving you more reasons to PLAY, WIN, and have some fun!
💰 All Power Card money is due to Mrs. Oliver-Curry (Upper Campus) by September 18.
🍕 FREE food and soda while supplies last!
We’re calling on our scholars, families, staff, friends, and community partners to show up and show out! Wear your PURPLE & WHITE, bring the family, and help us make this fundraiser a success! 💜🤍
🐊 LET’S INVADE DAVE & BUSTER’S, GATORS!
PLAY. WIN. SUPPORT UPPER CAMPUS.
#EmpowerSchoolsAL #EmpowerUpperCampus #GatorInvasion #SupportOurGators #FUNraising #PurpleAndWhite #GatorPride #TwoCampusesOneEmpower
Gator families, check out what’s on the menu this week! Delicious breakfast and lunch options are ready to fuel our scholars for learning!
🥛 Remember, lactose-free white and chocolate milk is available daily upon request.
💜💛 Good Food. Bright Minds. Brighter Futures. #EmpowerGators #FuelYourFuture
🥛 Remember, lactose-free white and chocolate milk is available daily upon request.
💜💛 Good Food. Bright Minds. Brighter Futures. #EmpowerGators #FuelYourFuture
Dear Parents:
Please review the attached 2026–2027 Vacation Planner to help you plan family vacations around scheduled school breaks. Planning ahead helps reduce absences and ensures that students stay on track with their learning.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s success!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Estimadas familias:
Por favor, revisen el Planificador de Vacaciones 2026–2027 adjunto para ayudarles a planificar sus vacaciones familiares durante los recesos escolares programados. Planificar con anticipación ayuda a reducir las ausencias y garantiza que los estudiantes se mantengan al día con su aprendizaje.
¡Gracias por trabajar junto a nosotros para apoyar el éxito de sus hijos!
Please review the attached 2026–2027 Vacation Planner to help you plan family vacations around scheduled school breaks. Planning ahead helps reduce absences and ensures that students stay on track with their learning.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s success!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Estimadas familias:
Por favor, revisen el Planificador de Vacaciones 2026–2027 adjunto para ayudarles a planificar sus vacaciones familiares durante los recesos escolares programados. Planificar con anticipación ayuda a reducir las ausencias y garantiza que los estudiantes se mantengan al día con su aprendizaje.
¡Gracias por trabajar junto a nosotros para apoyar el éxito de sus hijos!
Empower Schools of Alabama will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day.
There will be no school for students or staff on this day. Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing Labor Day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Empower Schools of Alabama permanecerá cerrado el lunes 7 de septiembre de 2026, en conmemoración del Día del Trabajo.
No habrá clases para los estudiantes ni labores para el personal ese día. Los estudiantes y el personal regresarán a la escuela el martes 8 de septiembre de 2026.
¡Esperamos que todos disfruten de un Día seguro y agradable!
There will be no school for students or staff on this day. Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing Labor Day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Empower Schools of Alabama permanecerá cerrado el lunes 7 de septiembre de 2026, en conmemoración del Día del Trabajo.
No habrá clases para los estudiantes ni labores para el personal ese día. Los estudiantes y el personal regresarán a la escuela el martes 8 de septiembre de 2026.
¡Esperamos que todos disfruten de un Día seguro y agradable!
What’s on the menu this week, Gators?
Fueling our scholars for a great day of learning, growing, and achieving starts with a nutritious meal! Check out our Breakfast & Lunch Menu for August 31–September 4 and see what’s cooking at Empower!
Menu items are subject to change based on availability.
Healthy meals. Happy students. Stronger together!
Fueling our scholars for a great day of learning, growing, and achieving starts with a nutritious meal! Check out our Breakfast & Lunch Menu for August 31–September 4 and see what’s cooking at Empower!
Menu items are subject to change based on availability.
Healthy meals. Happy students. Stronger together!
ECS Parents,
Please see the transportation pick up and drop off times for this week. Please be sure to be at your students' pickup/dropoff locations at least 5 minutes early and remember to download the Bus Compass app to track your students' bus in real time.
-Transportation Team
Please see the transportation pick up and drop off times for this week. Please be sure to be at your students' pickup/dropoff locations at least 5 minutes early and remember to download the Bus Compass app to track your students' bus in real time.
-Transportation Team
Empower Gators VS Corner-Stone Eagles
Time: 5:00pm
Location: 751 Academy Dr. Bessemer, AL 35022
Hora: 5:00 p. m.
Lugar: 751 Academy Dr., Bessemer, AL 35022
¡Ven a apoyar a los Empower Gators!
ECS Parents,
All buses are preparing to start their routes for our early dismissal Fridays. Please see estimated drop-off times for each stop. We strongly encourage parents to download Bus Compass to track their students' bus in real time.
-ECS Transportation Team
All buses are preparing to start their routes for our early dismissal Fridays. Please see estimated drop-off times for each stop. We strongly encourage parents to download Bus Compass to track their students' bus in real time.
-ECS Transportation Team
Stay Connected With The Empower Community School App!
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
🚌📍 EMPOWER BUS RIDERS — STAY ON TRACK WITH BUS COMPASS! 💜💛
If your student rides an Empower school bus, we strongly encourage you to download and sign up for Bus Compass!
Bus Compass gives parents another way to stay informed about their student's transportation and helps take some of the guesswork out of waiting for the bus. Through the app, parents can:
🚌 Track the bus in real time
⏰ View estimated arrival times
🔔 Receive important transportation alerts and updates
📍 Stay informed about your student's bus route
💜 Have greater peace of mind during morning and afternoon transportation
📲 Getting started is easy!
Search for "Bus Compass" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or scan the QR code on the flyer to download the app.
If your student rides the bus, please download the app and get connected!
🛑 Need assistance signing up or accessing your student's route?
Contact Mr. Payne at:
📧 mpayne@empoweral.org
📞 205-830-8769
Please share this information with anyone responsible for getting your student to or from the bus stop.
💜💛 Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay on track!
We are Empower. We Respect. We Lead. We Succeed.
If your student rides an Empower school bus, we strongly encourage you to download and sign up for Bus Compass!
Bus Compass gives parents another way to stay informed about their student's transportation and helps take some of the guesswork out of waiting for the bus. Through the app, parents can:
🚌 Track the bus in real time
⏰ View estimated arrival times
🔔 Receive important transportation alerts and updates
📍 Stay informed about your student's bus route
💜 Have greater peace of mind during morning and afternoon transportation
📲 Getting started is easy!
Search for "Bus Compass" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or scan the QR code on the flyer to download the app.
If your student rides the bus, please download the app and get connected!
🛑 Need assistance signing up or accessing your student's route?
Contact Mr. Payne at:
📧 mpayne@empoweral.org
📞 205-830-8769
Please share this information with anyone responsible for getting your student to or from the bus stop.
💜💛 Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay on track!
We are Empower. We Respect. We Lead. We Succeed.
🚌 ALL BUS ROUTES ARE RUNNING TODAY! 🐊💜
Empower families, the Red Route, Blue Route, and Green Route are all running as scheduled today!
📍 Please review the bus schedule for your scholar’s AM pick-up and PM drop-off times.
⏰ IMPORTANT: We ask that parents and scholars arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes BEFORE the scheduled time. This helps keep our buses on schedule and ensures scholars do not miss their bus.
📱 Need access to the bus app?
Contact Mr. Payne at mpayne@empoweral.org to have your account activated. The bus app allows families to stay connected and receive real-time information regarding their scholar’s bus.
Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and partnership as we work to keep our Gators safe, on time, and ready to learn! 💜🐊🚌
We Are Empower. We Respect. We Lead. We Succeed.
#EmpowerGators #GatorStrong #EmpowerSchools #BusTransportation
Empower families, the Red Route, Blue Route, and Green Route are all running as scheduled today!
📍 Please review the bus schedule for your scholar’s AM pick-up and PM drop-off times.
⏰ IMPORTANT: We ask that parents and scholars arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes BEFORE the scheduled time. This helps keep our buses on schedule and ensures scholars do not miss their bus.
📱 Need access to the bus app?
Contact Mr. Payne at mpayne@empoweral.org to have your account activated. The bus app allows families to stay connected and receive real-time information regarding their scholar’s bus.
Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and partnership as we work to keep our Gators safe, on time, and ready to learn! 💜🐊🚌
We Are Empower. We Respect. We Lead. We Succeed.
#EmpowerGators #GatorStrong #EmpowerSchools #BusTransportation
ECS Parents,
Please see gator routes attached for the week of August 17-21, 2026. We are pleased to announce the launch of "Bus Compass" app that allows parents to track their students' bus in real time. We're also launching our third bus (13-75) this week which will be driven by our newest gator - Ms. Tonya Burns. Let's welcome her to the gator family and transportation team. She brings over 20 years of experience within and around Jefferson county! Also, please note that the Marathon stop has moved to Blue Route and that all pickup & drop off times have been adjusted.
Please see gator routes attached for the week of August 17-21, 2026. We are pleased to announce the launch of "Bus Compass" app that allows parents to track their students' bus in real time. We're also launching our third bus (13-75) this week which will be driven by our newest gator - Ms. Tonya Burns. Let's welcome her to the gator family and transportation team. She brings over 20 years of experience within and around Jefferson county! Also, please note that the Marathon stop has moved to Blue Route and that all pickup & drop off times have been adjusted.
