Dear Williams Elementary School Community,

Wow, we have already successfully completed our first nine weeks!   This school year has been so smooth thanks to our staff, students and parents.  I appreciate all of the parents who attended our PARENT INFORMATION night on October 1^st, as well as all the families who participated in the FALL FESTIVAL.   Both were huge successes!  Thanks so much for meeting with your child’s teachers for PARENT CONFERENCES.  It is so important for a positive partnership to develop between school and home.  If you have not scheduled a conference, please call your child’s teacher as soon as possible. 

Also, please continue to call or email us anytime you have a question or concern.  Communication and working together as a TEAM is so vital for our children’s success. 

We will take time to CELEBRATE our first nine weeks accomplishments at our AWARDS ASSEMBLIES Friday, November 2^nd and host our FALL COOK OUT on this same day.  We will recognize students on the HONOR ROLL, those who receive PRIDE awards as well as students with no tardies and perfect attendance.  Special surprise guests will join us.   We ensure that we schedule each grade level assembly around the lunch schedule at least one time this year so parents can attend both the assembly and stay for lunch.  Please join us for lunch!

We strive to continually motivate and recognize our students' academic progress and positive behaviors.  We regularly hand out PRIDE tickets to students.  Students may keep the tickets for rewards in the classroom or can deposit the tickets in a grade level container.  We draw five students from each grade level on Fridays to come to the office to be recognized and pick a treat.  One of our most popular “treats” is a free elevator ride!  We also recognize ON TIME – NO TARDY students as well as PERFECT ATTENDANCE students at each Awards Assembly. 

Academically, our students are working diligently.  They are routinely taking reading, math, science and writing assessments in order to check their progress as well as to provide insight to our staff of the type of instruction each child needs to progress at their grade level.  Please call your child’s teacher or the office anytime you have questions about these assessments. 

Our website: www.georgetownisd.org  (then click on SCHOOLS and choose WILLIAMS) as well as individual teachers’ websites are up and going.  Please sign up ONLINE to receive regular emails.  Also, just a reminder that each teacher has a HOMEWORK HELPLINE.  Just call 943-5000 and put in the teacher’s extension to hear updated homework and class information.  We hope through our school website, individual teacher websites, the homework helpline, the THURSDAY EAGLE folders, the parent newsletters and teacher newsletters, our email system, and notes, we keep you informed of the many activities and academic expectations.  Again, please call us anytime.

And lastly, great appreciation and recognition goes to our AWESOME Social Issues Coordinator (counselor), Terri Boccella.  She is our leader in assisting students in all areas of need (general assistance as well as evaluations for learning, social and/or emotional difficulties, Gifted and Talented, family conflict resolution and any and all counseling areas).  Also, she is the first to welcome and place new students.  She, as well as all of our staff,  cares about and loves each child at Williams and works diligently to help all children and families.  WE ARE SO VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER AT WILLIAMS. Please thank her next time you see her!

Thanks for sharing your child with us each day!

With PRIDE,

Cheryl Lang
Principal 

The major GISD Gifted and Talented Child Find Campaign will be from October 15 through November 20, 2007 for Grades K-5. During this time the counselors will receive referrals for student evaluation for Services for Gifted and Talented Students. Referrals may come from parents, teachers and other adults knowledgeable or student's ability. Parent and teacher packets for student referrals may be obtained from the counselor's office. Upon receipt of the completed parent and/ or teacher packet and the parent permission to evaluate, the evaluation process will begin. Services for students being evaluated for GT will begin the following year.

Terri Boccella
Social Issues Coordinator
Williams Elementary

512-943- 5162

 boccellat@georgetownisd.org

Dads, or other significant male role models, are needed to help out at school as Watchdogs.  Dads come for one day, help with security, play, listen to kids read, and act as a role model at recess and PE.  Please contact Mr. Dyer or Deb in the office for more information.

Nurse’s Nook

As the weather turns cooler and children and adults spend more time indoors together, illnesses become more prevalent.  Many people wonder:  is it the flu or is it the common cold?  Signs and symptoms that distinguish between the two include:

Flu:  Rapid onset of (frequently high) fever, achiness, headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Common Cold:  Low grade or no fever, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, scratchy throat and tiredness.

The best way to prevent both is frequent and thorough handwashing.  For prevention of the flu, inoculation with the vaccine or flumist is very effective.  Also, ensuring that your child gets plenty of sleep each night and adequate nutrition can help his or her body fight off infection.  Lastly, please remember that if your child is running a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher, he or she may not come to school and must stay fever-free for 24 hours before returning.

STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, January 3rd, 2008

Please do not take your child out early or return late!

TARDY POLICY:  If your child is tardy, arriving after 8:00 a.m., please PARK and come to the office with him/her to sign in and receive a pass to class.  Excessive tardies will result in disciplinary consequences.  Please work hard to get your child to school on time – THANKS!!!

ABSENCES:  Thanks for calling the office and sending a note when you child is absent.  This helps us TREMENDOUSLY!  Also, remember, if you take your child to the dentist or doctor and bring us the doctor’s note, we can count your child present! 

PICKING UP:   Thanks for using the car lane or coming to the office when picking up your child. Deadline for calling in to change the way a student goes home is 2:30pm.  Our afternoon procedures have been very smooth thanks to parent cooperation in following our afternoon procedures. 

GISD COMMUNITY FORUM 

November 1^st and December 6th at the NINTH Grade Center, 6:45-8:15.
Pizza and drinks are available from 6:15-6:30 as well as supervised childcare. Sessions in Spanish and English covering Academic Information, Support Services and Networking and Student Events. 

MOTIVATING YOUR CHILD TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL:

·         Show interest in your child’s learning.  Ask about what is happening in school.  Ask to see the EAGLE TAKE HOME FOLDER each Thursday!

·         Work with your child on setting daily goals that are attainable.  Write the goals in a prominent place.

·         Help your child envision and formulate long-range goals.

·         Instill in your child the idea that achievements are usually the result of persistence and hard work, not luck or ability.

·         Show caring and love if our child makes a mistake or fails and help him or her see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

·         Use words and actions to demonstrate faith in your child’s ability to learn and achieve.

·         Look for successes in your child’s efforts and acknowledge them.

·         Recognize, praise, and celebrate your child’s successful completion of a goal.

·         Model for your child language that conveys positive expectations, such as I can, I will, I want to, I understand, my goal is, and so on.

·         Frequently stress to your child the importance of learning and education. 

IMPORTANT DATES

OCTOBER

26-NO SCHOOL, Parent Conference Day
29-Nov 1^st-RED RIBBON WEEK
31-8:15 HALLOWEEN PARADE w/costumes

1 – REPORT CARDS GO HOME
2 – FALL COOKOUT and AWARDS ASSEMBLIES 8:30-4^TH, 10:00-3^RD, 11:30-5^TH
5-6:30 PTA Board Meeting
9-8:30 Veteran’s Day Program at the FLAG POLE
13-Fundraiser products DELIVERED parent pick up 3:00-6:30
14-4^th Grade FIELD TRIP to the Bob Bullock State Museum
19 – THANKSGIVING Dinner at Lunch 11:00-1:10
21 –23 NO SCHOOL
29-CHIK FILA Night

3 – 6:30 PTA BOARD MEETING 
6 – GISD Community Forum at the Ninth Grade Center, 6:15-8:45
10 – CHOIR Concert
13-5^TH GRADE MUSICAL, 6:30
19-WINTER BREAK PARTIES (3^rd-12:30, 4^th and 5^th-2:00)

 **December 20– January 2^nd** WINTER BREAK HOLIDAYS

3-Students RETURN
11-END OF THE 2^ND NINE WEEKS