The Wildkat Word: Back-to-School
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!
This year is especially meaningful as Willis ISD celebrates 120 years of serving this incredible community. For generations, families have trusted us with what matters most, their children. That legacy inspires us as we begin another year of learning and growth.
Our theme, Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow, reflects our commitment to honoring the values that have shaped Willis ISD while preparing every student for the future. We want every child to feel seen, valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential because every student is someone's whole world.
Together with our families and community, we will continue helping students communicate with confidence, think with purpose, and act with ownership. When we work together as One Team. One Purpose., there is no limit to what our students can achieve.
Thank you for your trust and partnership. Here's to a wonderful school year and to celebrating 120 years of excellence in Willis ISD.
Welcome back, Wildkat Nation!
August 7 (7 PM) - Meet the Kats @ Yates Stadium
August 11 (4-5 PM) - Castleschouldt Ribbon Cutting @ Castleschouldt Elementary
August 12 - First Day of School
August 19 (5:30 PM) - August Board Meeting @ SHJ Admin
September 2 (10 AM) - Silver Kats Kick-Off Meeting
September 7 - Labor Day (Staff/Student Holiday)
September 9 (5:30 PM) - September Board Meeting @ SHJ Admin
September 28 (4:30-6 PM) - Willis ISD's 120th Birthday Celebration @ Wildkat Resource Center & SHJ Admin
September 28 (6 PM) - Homecoming Parade
October 9 - Early Release
October 12-16 - Student Fall Break
October 14-16 - Staff Fall Break
October 21 (5:30 PM) - October Board Meeting @ SHJ Admin
October 29 (6-8 PM) - Fall Safety Fair
**Meet the Teacher and Orientation dates can be found in the "Meet the Teacher & Orientation" section below.
Did you know that you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Nextdoor, and LinkedIn?
We love sharing all the incredible things happening across Willis ISD, and we want to make sure you’re seeing it all!
If you’ve noticed fewer of our posts showing up in your feed, here are a few quick ways to stay connected:
Like, comment, or share a few of our posts. This tells the platform you want to see more from us.
On Facebook, select “Favorites” under the “Following” tab to prioritize our updates.
On Instagram, tap the bell icon 🔔 on our profile and turn on Post and Story notifications.
Your engagement helps our stories reach more families and celebrates all the wonderful things happening in Wildkat Nation!
NEW STUDENTS
We are glad you have decided to register your child for school in Willis ISD!
To get started, create a Family Portal account using the provided registration link. Each household should have only one account.
Please click the button on the left to begin the registration process, or click here.
(IMPORTANT: Students must be fully registered by August 5. Students who are not registered by August 5 will not have a teacher assigned.)
RETURNING STUDENTS
Please complete Returning Student Registration by Wednesday, August 5.
Check your inbox as well as your junk/spam folders for a July 9 email with the following information:
From: PowerSchool Enrollment
Subject: Willis Independent School District Returning Student Registration for [Your Child's Name]
If you cannot locate the email, please contact your child's campus or Lucy Alexander at lalexander@willisisd.org for assistance.
Failure to complete Returning Student Registration by Wednesday, August 5:
- will result in your child not having bus service on the first day of school.
- may result in your student's schedule being withheld until registration is complete.
- student will not have an assigned teacher to meet on August 6 (Elementary).
Click here or on the button on the right to learn more about the registration process.
We are excited to welcome our students and families back for another great year in Willis ISD!
To help ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year, we will be hosting Meet the Teacher on August 6 (elementary campuses) and August 7 (Roark EEC). This event gives students and families the opportunity to meet their teachers and become familiar with their new classroom environment before the first day.
We strongly encourage families to attend Meet the Teacher to help reduce campus crowding on the first day of school.
For parents planning to drop off students on the first day, please see the information below to help you plan your morning.
First Day of School Information:
- 7:15 AM
- Elementary campuses open for first day drop-off.
- 7:15 AM – 8:00 AM
- Parents who choose to do so may escort their students to their classrooms.
- 8:00 AM
- Parents give last hugs and leave for the start of the school day.
- Normal daily sign-in procedures begin with everyone needing a badge or Raptor sticker for building entry.
Parents registering new students after the start of the school day will sign in through Raptor.
As students across the country prepare to head back to school, the White House has also shared a Back-to-School message for students, families, and educators. You can read the message here.
We appreciate your support in creating a welcoming, organized, and safe start to the school year for everyone! If you have any questions, please get in touch with your campus.
Willis ISD will provide high school students with devices for digital learning for the 2026-27 school year. Students will be able to take the assigned device home, as needed, to complete required instructional assignments. Regardless of whether the device is taken home or not, each student will be assigned a device and will be fully responsible for it during the duration of the school day and school year.
To help protect against the cost of accidental damage, loss or theft, families are strongly encouraged to purchase the optional device insurance.
Click here or on the button below to visit the Chromebook Information website. For our full terms and policies, please see the Student Acceptable Use Policy and the Student Device Handbook.
Immunizations
Immunization Requirements:
2026-27 Minimum Requirements for Childcare & Pre-K, click here for English & Spanish forms.
Immunization Clinics & Phone Numbers:
Montgomery County Public Health (936-523-5020)
Lonestar Family Health Center (936-539-4004)
Community Wellness Clinic (936-760-2784)
Express Family Clinic (936-463-8104)
Exemption from Immunizations for Reasons of Conscience:
To learn more, please visit the DSHS website.
7th Grade Immunizations:
To review the mandatory 7th-grade immunization guidelines, click here.
TRANSPORTATION APP
My Ride K-12 gives you access to your child’s bus route, pickup location, and schedule. It also enables the district to send real-time notifications about delays, changes, or other important updates. If your student rides the bus, this app is ESSENTIAL; it’s the primary way our transportation team communicates with families.
To download the new app: Visit the App Store or Google Play Store, type in "My Ride K-12" and select "Install/Download/Get," or click the links below.
Education is a team effort. When students, parents, teachers, and staff work together, we create the foundation for a successful school year.
We encourage all students and families to review the Willis ISD Student Handbook. It is designed to align with the law, Board-adopted policies, and the Student Code of Conduct, helping everyone understand the expectations, procedures, and resources that support a safe and successful school year.
Click here to review both documents or view the student handbook preview.
Please create an account on Schoolcafe.com, where you can manage your child’s lunch account and fill out the National School Lunch Program application. Once you log in to Schoolcafe, click on the “Apply for Benefits” button. Please submit only one application per family. You can also print out a copy in English or Spanish.
Completing the application provides a variety of benefits:
- Additional funding for your campus
- Reduced or waived fees for academic testing such as the ACT or SAT
- Reduced or waived fees for college applications
- Continued benefits through the first 30 days of the next school year
For more information about Willis ISD Child Nutrition, please visit https://www.willisisd.org/about/departments/childnutrition.
If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact Mandy Chance:
Email: mchance@willisisd.org
Office Phone Number: 936-890-7730
FLYER APPROVAL & DISTRIBUTION
If you're a community organization seeking to have your flyer distributed to Willis ISD students and families via Peachjar, please follow these six steps:
- Visit www.peachjar.com.
- Hover over the tab titled Community Organizations.
- Click on Why Peachjar?
- Select "Get Started Now."
- Register your organization.
- Follow the steps to upload your flyer for approval.
If your event is FREE and benefits school-aged children, you may be eligible for the Peachjar Community Free Flyer Program.
