Williams Elementary Parent Newsletter
September 2015
Dear Parents,
This year has gotten off to a wonderfully smooth start. It was wonderful to see returning students as well as the many new students we got to welcome into the fold.
We have a fabulous staffat Williams Elementary School! I am proud to say we share the philosophy to “Do Whatever it Takes” to ensure the success of every student. We are all dedicated to ensuring each child leaves Williams prepared for a positive future. What other way would you want your child treated?
Please call us anytime you have a question or concern. Our office number is 512-943-5160.
With PRIDE,
Natasha Drumgoole
Principal
FREE UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST
Did you know that students learn better when they eat a nutritious breakfast each day? Studies have shown that test scores go up and behavior problems go down when students eat a nutritious breakfast. GISD Nutrition Services and Williams Elementary have teamed up together again this year to bring Universal Free Breakfast to Williams Elementary for all students, regardless if you qualify for free and reduced meals or not.
Students should proceed to the cafeteria during normal breakfast times, 7:25-7:50 am. Each child will be entitled to ONE free breakfast. A complete meal must be taken.If your child does not take all the required components for a complete meal, then ala carte prices will be charged and you will be responsible for any of those costs. The federal government will only reimburse us for one complete breakfast meal per child.
Breakfast at school could be one of the best academic boosts you can give your child.
PLEASE NOTE!
Our school day this year begins at 7:55 am. The tardy bell rings at 8:00 am.
JOIN US THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER24th AT 6:00 p.m. for our PARENT NIGHT in the Auditorium. Parents will proceed to the classrooms at 6:30 p.m. Please plan on attending as the principals and teachers will share valuable information about each grade level’s curriculum, instruction, and assessments as well as this school year’s events
Car Lane: You can ONLY drop off and pick up in the car lane coming from the NORTH on COLLEGE Street. Please do NOT drop off students at any other location, as it is not safe.
Please keep in mind, if you are coming from east University Ave, you can utilize Pine and Maple Streets instead of WALNUT Street to access College Street.
Please drive carefully and slowly in the neighborhoods, as there are many walkers and the streets are very narrow.
PLEASE DO NOT USE 9th or 10th streets from Walnut to get to Collegeas these are very narrow streets.
ALSO, please do not park across the street and walk across to pick up your child. IF YOU ARE PICKING YOUR CHILD UP AT 3:00 we need you to do soin the car lane or through the office as different teachers bring students out of thebuilding and do not know (or cannot identify you) as a parent. NO picking up students BETWEEN the buildings as we are not able to check identification at these locations.
* All parents and visitors MUST report to the office to sign in through our RAPTOR computer system with your driver’s license and receive a visitor’s badge. This is a SAFETY ISSUE. WeMUST know who is on our campus at all times.
* RESTRICTED FOODS: Staff, parents, and students may not serve or provide to elementary students any food or drinks that are considered by the TX Department of Agriculture as FMNV (Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value) during the school day. This includes carbonated drinks, all gumand all candy. Some foods are acceptable asnoted on the blue handout that went home the first day of school. Please be aware that we have several students with severe nut allergies. Outside food must be approved through the nurse. Lunch tables have been set aside for nut products and outside lunches. Please talk with your student about safe hand washing procedures.
* Each day the U.S. and Texas Pledges are recited as well asa moment of silence due to the Texas regulation. All studentsmustparticipate unless a parent requests nonparticipation through a written note to the principal.
Counselor’s Corner
WEL CO M E B A CK!!
PARENTS, WE NEED YOU!
You are a very important part of your child’s educational team. We invite parents to:
- Join us for Open Houses and other parent after hour events
- Check for homework every night and review information sent home in Thursday folders
- Sign up for PTA
- Keep the lines of communication open between school and home
We look forward to working with you and your child in our exciting new school year!
Terri Boccella
Social Issues Coordinator
512-943-5162
Nurse’s Nook
Parents and Students, welcome to the new school year. I hope everyone had a safe and fun summer vacation.
The first week of school you should have received green paper work from the nurse.
In order to provide the best possible care for your child it is important I have current information regarding health status. Please return your child’s health checks as soon as possible (green).It is important that I have knowledge of any allergies or medical conditions. If your child needs an inhaler or epinephrine pen, please ask your Doctor for a second one, for the nurses office, so I can help your child be successful in school.
Here at Williams we are committed to meeting all the students’ needs. We are a nut safe school and request you do notsend any foods containing nut products, as we have several students at Williams with nut allergies. Due to the increase in students with allergies, the policy allows only storebought products on campus for classroom birthday parties.
I will be screening vision and hearing the first 2 months of school, please ensure if your child needs glasses or hearing aids that they bring them to school, so they can be successful. I have some resources available for students who do not have vision insurance and need glasses.
Flu season will be upon us very soon, the best prevention is flu vaccination, keeping your student home if they are sick, and frequent hand washing.
I look forward to meeting with all of you, if you have questions or concerns you can contact me @ or 512- 9435161.
Christine Johns RN
**Please use the GISD website: as there is a wealth of information as well as access to the Williams website under “schools”.
***Join PTA! Membership forms will go home soon. Your involvement is greatly needed in this area. Meetings occur once a month in the library. Please look for meeting information soon from PTA President, Melissa Craven.
We are currently recruiting homeroom parents for each classroom as well.
THE LIBRARY IS COLLECTING BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION AND PE IS COLLECTING LABELS FOR EDUCATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF RECESS AND PE EQUIPMENT. DONATIONS OF BOX TOPS AND LABELS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
****All teacher’s HOMEWORK HELPLINES are up and going.
Call 512-943-5000 then select the teacher’s phone extension to hear the homework assignment.
Please look for Gifted and Talented Open Enrollment information to come home soon.
Please check with your child’s teacher prior to sending birthday treats or snacks to school that will be sharedwith other students. We arerequired to follow these regulations.
* MORNING TUTORING coming soon. Please check your child’s THURSDAY TAKE HOME FOLDER each week for important information.
*ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER CHANGES: It is so very important that we have current address and phone numbers for each child in case of an emergency. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE RETURNED YOUR CHILD’S CORRECTED REGISTRATION FORM THAT WE SENT HOME ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. Always let us know of changes so we have up-to-date information.
*MOVING DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR – One of the most difficult things for a child is to change schools during the school year. We find that this hinders the learning process. Please try to keep your child in the same school all year long! If you must move, please share this information with us immediately.
Please follow the quick and easy steps to complete a background check. A background check must be completed each new school year in order to volunteer in any capacity at Georgetown ISD campuses.
- Go to the GISD website (
- Click on Careers and Volunteers
- Click Volunteers and Mentors
- Click Fast Track Online Application
- Click Current Job Openings
- Click Volunteers 2014-2015 Volunteers (a few lines down)
- Click on View Details of the Highlighted Position (on the far right)
- Fill out application and Submit to HR
Attention in regards to after school activities:
Information will be coming home soon regarding UIL and other fun after school activities.
A Williams Elementary Music Clubs parent meeting is scheduled for September 8th at 6:00 pm.
Look for more details on these programs soon. We would love for as many students as possible to take advantage of these fantastic programs here at Williams!
Families can receive regular emails from Williams Elementary School by signing up on the Williams Parents email address book. . Please include a legible email address on your student’s registration form if you wish to receive Williams Elementary email updates.
Parents may check their child’s lunch account through our web site. You need your child’s six digit ID number to create the account-more information on the GISD website. We cannot give this number to you over the phone. You must come in a show ID if your student doesn’t know his number.
Student lunches are $2.35 and a second lunch is $2.00. We will begin serving ice cream on September 4th for .75 cents.Students may only purchase ice cream if they have the exact change. No charges for ice cream or second lunches are allowed.
Please return the FREE/REDUCED application if this applies to you.
It is very hot during this time of year, so students are encouraged to bring a bottle of water to school as well as a mid-morning, healthy snack
IMPORTANT DATES:
SEPTEMBER
1-UIL Parent Meeting-6:00 pm
4-Ice Cream Sales begin in cafeteria
7-SCHOOL HOLIDAY
8-Music Clubs parent meeting-4:00 pm
10-PTA Fundraiser kickoff
11-FALL COOKOUT
11-Boy Scout Recruiting-7:00 p.m.
17-Fall Pictures
23-EARLY RELEASE-11:30 am
24-Academic Open House-6:00-7:30 pm
24-Progress Reports go home
25-Fundraiser Orders due
28-UIL Begins
29-Watchdog Meeting-5:30 pm
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
OCTOBER
12-STUDENT HOLIDAY/Parent Conferences
20-4th grade Music Program-7:00 pm
22-Tacos with Dad
23-PTA Movie Night
31-Fall Parade/FMNV Day
Important Phone Numbers:
Main: 512- 943-5160
Principal 512- 943-5165
Assistant Principal 512-943-5167
Counselor 512-943-5162
Librarian 512-943-5163
Transportation 512-943-5126