Williams Review

Dear Wrangler Families,

November is a busy and exciting month at our school! Here are some important updates and reminders:

• District Assessments: Students in grades 3–6 will take their first district assessments this month. Please help your child by ensuring they are present and on time on testing days. To maintain a focused environment, our campus will be closed to visitors during testing.

• Next Friday- We hope to see all of our dads and male role models for Donuts with Dudes from 7:00-7:30.

• Report Cards: Report cards will be sent home on November 11. This is a great opportunity to review your child’s progress and celebrate their hard work.

• Picture Day: Mark your calendars for November 18! Students should come dressed and ready for school pictures.

• Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon: Join us for one of our favorite traditions on November 20. This event is a big celebration for our school community, and we look forward to sharing it with you! Please note, lunch times will be different and you must RSVP to attend the event.

Thank you for your continued support in making this a successful month for our students. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Warm regards,

Chandler Garcia

Williams Elementary, Principal

If you are interested in going on field trips or volunteering in the school please fill out the AISD Volunteer Application. AISD policy requires anyone entering the instructional setting during school hours is required to have an approved application on file.

At a recent AISD board meeting, Isabella R., one of our amazing 6th graders at Williams, had the honor of leading the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meeting. Isabella truly shines as a Williams star! She was recognized as September’s Student of the Month for her kindness toward peers and continues to lead by example every day.

Isabella is an active member of our school community, participating in orchestra, choir, and Hope Squad. Beyond school, she’s expanding her talents by learning to play the piano. We are so proud of Isabella and the incredible person she is becoming!

When entering the building or checking out students you must have a government issued ID or Passport. Please have it ready to show the camera when you ring the bell. A picture of an ID will not be accepted. We do not permit any entry into the school from 3:00 - 3:50 daily. These procedures are put in place as safety measures for our students and staff. We appreciate your help in making Williams as safe as possible.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you who consistently follow our arrival and dismissal procedures. Your cooperation plays a vital role in keeping our students and staff safe, and it helps ensure that everyone gets in and out of the building efficiently each day.

We understand that these procedures may not always be the most convenient, especially during busy mornings and afternoons. However, they are designed with safety and efficiency in mind, and your commitment to following them makes a big difference.

As we continue to improve our processes, we ask for your help with a few areas where we’re still seeing challenges:

• 🚶 Walkers Should Walk Home: Students designated as walkers should be walking home—not walking to a parked car. This helps us maintain clear expectations and ensures student safety.
• 🐢 Drive Slowly: Please adhere to the 5 mph speed limit in our parking areas. Slower speeds protect everyone on campus.
• 🚸 Use the Crosswalk: Always use the designated crosswalks. This sets a great example for our students and keeps foot traffic safe and organized.
• 🚗 Be Ready at the Curb: Make sure your child is ready to exit the vehicle as soon as you pull up. This keeps the line moving smoothly.
• 🏷️ Display Your Car Tag: Keep your car tag visible until your child is safely in the vehicle. This helps staff quickly identify and match students with their rides.
• ⏰ Pick Up On Time: Timely pickup is essential. When students are picked up late, staff must stay behind, which impacts their ability to attend important meetings and plan engaging lessons for your children.

We appreciate your continued support and partnership in making our school a safe and welcoming place for all. Together, we can ensure a smooth and secure experience for every student.

If you have a last minute change to how your student will be going home, you will call the office and we will get the message to your student and their teacher. Please do not message the teacher during the day because they may not see your message in time for dismissal.

We cannot accept changes from students, we must hear from the parent or guardian.

Every day counts—especially during fall and winter when students are building essential skills. Missing even a few days can:

• Cause gaps in instruction.
• Lower academic growth.
• Move students into Tier 2 or Tier 3, which often requires extra interventions and puts grade-level success at risk.

🏡 How Parents Can Help

• Plan Ahead for Cold Mornings:
• Lay out clothes the night before.
• Warm up cars early or plan for bus pick-up ahead of time.
• Use school breakfast as an incentive for arriving on time.
• Avoid Scheduling Conflicts:
• Please do not schedule doctor or personal appointments during 9:45–10:15, a key instructional block.
• Limit Early Check-Outs:
• Frequent early dismissals interrupt learning and can move students into higher absence tiers.

Strong Attendance = Strong Success!

Our campus goal is 95% or higher attendance, and we are proud to share that Williams Elementary is meeting that goal! Thank you for partnering with us to make this happen.

✅ Celebrating Our Wins

• Campus Attendance Rates:

• 1st Six Weeks: 95.2%
• 2nd Six Weeks: 94.4%
  We were above goal in the first six weeks and just shy in the second—let’s push to meet or exceed 95% every grading period!

• Grade Levels Leading the Way:

• 2nd Grade: 96.7%
• 3rd Grade: 95.8%
• 4th Grade: 96.0%
• 5th Grade: 95.3%

• 6th Grade: 96.9%

  
  

⚠️ Areas for Growth

• Lower Grades Below Goal:

• EE: 93.1%
• PK: 93.2%

• KG: 94.2%

• 1st Grade: 94.7%

  These early years are the foundation for your child’s academic success. Missing school during these grades can lead to gaps in reading and math that are hard to close later. Consistent attendance now sets the stage for strong performance in later grades.

• Tier Movement:

• Tier 1 (5–9.9% absences): 18.8% → 23.1%
• Tier 2 (10–19.9% absences): 12.1% → 14.1%
  This shift can impact learning and progress, so let’s keep students in the Foundational Tier.

We group students based on how often they’re absent. These tiers help us identify who may need additional support:

📘 Attendance Tier Levels Explained

Tier

Absence Rate

What It Means

Why It Matters

Foundational

<5% absent

Excellent attendance

Students are consistently present, building strong academic and social foundations.

Tier 1

5–10% absent

Good attendance

Students may begin to fall behind; early support can help.

Tier 2

10–20% absent

Moderate concern

Learning gaps may form; intervention is needed.

Tier 3

>20% absent

High concern

Chronic absenteeism can lead to serious academic and social challenges.

📌 Current Tier Data:

• Foundational: 65.9% (above goal!)
• Tier 1: 18% (below goal – great job!)
• Tier 2: 12% (slightly above goal)
• Tier 3: 3% (well below goal – excellent progress)

When your student is absent please call the front office. We will ask why the student is absent because we are required to by the State of Texas. Any time a student is absent we are required to code the reason for the absence. We do not need details and are not trying to get in your business but we need reasons such as family emergency, sick, doctors appointment, etc.

Students who are not in the building at 8:10, you are tardy. If your student is tardy, the person dropping them off is required to come into the building to sign their student in. DO NOT just drop your child off to walk in alone.

What is Teamwork?

Teamwork is the ability to work in unity with others towards a common goal. For us to learn how to become team players, it is important that we learn to listen, encourage our peers, and allow and invite others to contribute their talents and skills.

Why focus on Teamwork?

• Teamwork improves communication: Teamwork helps us improve our verbal and non-verbal communication skills, conveying that we care and a relevant message.
• Teamwork builds interpersonal awareness: Growing a great team requires us to first build strong relationships through a better understanding of ourselves and others.
• Teamwork celebrates diversity. Teamwork thrives from diverse ideas that come from a mixture of different genders, cultures, expertise, experience, and problem-solving approaches.

Teamwork in Action:

• Call them a team, not a class or group. A group consists of many different people. A team, however, has a common purpose and a shared responsibility for success.
• Require teams to set expectations for and manage their own behavior. Do not tell teams what type of behavior is expected—let them decide for themselves with a Social Contract.
• Teach and encourage affirmations. Giving affirmations helps connect the team, builds trust, promotes engagement, and boosts a positive culture.

Teachers use the four questions with students when they need to be redirected/reminded to get back on task or follow a direction. These questions give students the opportunity to reflect on what they are doing, what they should be doing and then self-direct themselves and get back on track. It also takes the argument and power struggle out of addressing off task behaviors. Try them at home and let us know how it goes.

We want all parents to feel welcome at lunch and enjoy time with their students. As a mom, I know my child loves when I come visit him for lunch. Lunch is a social time for students. They get to grow their friendships and get to know each other on another level. Keep this in mind when you decide how often you visit for lunch.

• All visitors must Raptor their state issued ID and wear a visitor sticker on the torso.
• Parents will sit on the stage with their student.
• You cannot have other students sit with you, nor bring them food.
• Visitors should remain in the cafeteria and not visit other parts of the building.
• When leaving, give your visitor sticker to the front office.
• Adult restrooms are located in front of the office.

This is our main tool for communication to you. On Class Dojo, you can receive and send message to your student's teacher. Also, administration posts to the school story often about upcoming events and changes. Ask your students teacher for the code if you do not have it.

Email: cgarci12@aisd.net
Website: https://www.aisd.net/williams-elementary/
Location: 4915 Red Birch Dr, Arlington, TX 76018, USA
Phone: (682) 867-5900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/williamswranglers?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Twitter: @TBWilliams_ES