The Wildkat Word: September 2024

What an exciting time to be a Wildkat! It has been an absolute joy to spend time in our schools and classrooms and attend extracurricular activities and sporting events, witnessing our talented Wildkats in action. As I visit our campuses, I see students who are engaged, challenged, and eager to learn. I see our dedicated teachers and administrators working tirelessly to provide the best possible educational experience. I also see our transportation and child nutrition teams ensuring students arrive safely and receive nutritious meals each day. Our custodial staff diligently keep our schools clean and inviting, while our maintenance crew and groundskeepers take care of both the inside and outside of our buildings, ensuring everything runs smoothly and looks its best.

As we kick off the first full month of school, I want you to know that my commitment to the future of Willis ISD has never been stronger. It is a true honor and privilege to serve the Willis community, and I am looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth and success!

On August 14, students once again filled the hallways of Willis ISD campuses, ready to learn and excited about the possibilities that the new year holds. District administrators joined campus staff in welcoming these students back to school and assisted them with reading their schedules and finding their classrooms.

We are so excited to welcome our Wildkats back and are ready to see all the great things they will do over this next year!

In August, Willis ISD staff debuted this year's sponsor shirt, which features the phrase "Great on their Behalf." The phrase comes from AJ Crabill's book of the same name, which also served as the theme for this year's district convocation.

To be "Great on their Behalf" means dedicating every action to improving a student's outcome. This message doesn't replace "One Team—One Purpose" but instead emphasizes the district's focus on student success, which has always been our "purpose."

When introducing the phrase, Dr. James stated, 'We must allow ourselves to move beyond prior expectations, build new ones that better serve our students, and strive to be "Great on THEIR Behalf."'

She also emphasized, "These former expectations we had for ourselves were good, but as we grow, these expectations need to grow with us. We need to re-evaluate our methods based on current students and data. As AJ Crabill expressed, student improvement requires change, and it's clear that our student outcomes will not change until OUR behaviors change."

We are excited to kick off this new year with a renewed purpose!

On Monday, August 26, students flocked to the Willis High School CTE to meet with representatives from various institutions and career fields during the district's college and career fair, "Wildkats Are Going Places!". The event provided a great opportunity for students to learn more about four-year universities, vocational or technical schools, the military, and community colleges.

Students had a fantastic time exploring their options and speaking with this amazing group. A big thank you to everyone who attended and spent time with our Wildkats!

The student ambassadors at A. R. Turner Elementary went above and beyond during the first week of school to welcome their fellow students with warm smiles and helpful gestures. These dedicated individuals assisted the administration by holding car doors and guiding new students to their classes.

This group consists of 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students who submit applications and are selected based on their character. They greet students in the morning, organize car drives, and help make decisions around campus throughout the year. Recently, they even got involved in the process of choosing new playground equipment.

These students embody the Turner Core Values of excellence, relationships, perseverance, character, and accountability.

The Wildkats kicked off the new year with a WIN! In their first home game of the year, Willis High School's Varsity Football team took on Davis High School in an exciting matchup. The Wildkats pulled through with a 30-23 win.

We can't wait to see what they accomplish over the season!

The Willis community came together on August 21 at Yates Stadium to enthusiastically cheer on the Wildkats who will proudly represent us this year. The event brought together various organizations and created a wonderful opportunity to showcase and support each program, building excitement for their upcoming seasons.

Take a peak into the classroom and see what Lynn Lucas students have been doing for the

past few weeks!

Last month, the Willis ISD Board of Trustees met in a public meeting concerning the Proposed 2024-2025 Budget and 2024-2025 Tax Rate and a regular board meeting at the Sharon Hill Jennette Administration Building in the Willis ISD Boardroom.

The following Willis High School students were recognized:

Carly Paugh; Pledge

Tori Greeney; Invocation

Drue Walker; Outstanding Performer at the 2024 Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest

Highlights from this month’s meeting include the approval of the Final General Fund Budget Amendments for 2023-2024, the PASA Demographic Study with Attendance Zone Plan, and the adoption of a school building bond election.

Stay up-to-date with board happenings by attending meetings in person or reviewing the monthly board briefs. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 11, at 5:30 pm at the Sharon Hill Jennette Administration building.

The bond package consists of three separate propositions designed to address educational and extracurricular opportunities and facilities while focusing on needs associated with population growth and student programs.

The bond election will present voters with three separate propositions:

Proposition A: Construction of a comprehensive Student Activity Center to be located at Willis High School. The multipurpose building would provide additional classrooms, boys and girls locker rooms, a weight room, a media room, and an indoor field for all student groups to utilize.

Proposition B: Construction of an Athletic Complex and Stadium to accommodate large home and visitor crowds, plus replace the nearly 50-year-old structure requiring increasingly costly repairs. The facility will be located on property already owned by the district at the corner of Highway 75 and FM 830, across from Willis High School.

Proposition C: Addition of an Aquatic Center with a 50-meter USA-sanctioned swimming pool and dive well. The pool would be used by the swim and dive team, and the district will develop a water safety program for elementary-aged students.

This bond referendum comes after Willis ISD voters approved Proposition A of the May 2024 bond, which provides funds for a Willis High School 9th grade expansion to add capacity for 1,200 students, Willis HS parking lot upgrades, a new transportation center, and general infrastructure improvements.

Last spring, the district received the results of a demographic study conducted by Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), a respected research firm that partners with school districts across Texas. PASA’s projections show that Willis ISD has entered a moderate to fast growth rate and is predicted to add an additional 10,000 students by 2033, effectively doubling current enrollment.

If voters approve all three propositions on the ballot this November, the potential increase is 1 cent to the I&S tax rate. The Willis ISD Board of Trustees has managed to maintain a fiscally conservative tax rate, lowering the overall tax rate by more than 31 cents over the last six years.

According to Board President Kyle Hoegemeyer, “Willis ISD is obviously experiencing significant growth in infrastructure and homes. Along with that growth we see evolving needs in our students, families and staff. The projects proposed in this bond election are a reflection of what our board, administration and Long-Range Planning Committee members have identified as needs that focus on improving the overall academic experience for students in Willis ISD.”

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Early voting will run from October 21 through November 1. Any new Willis ISD residents not already registered to vote must register by October 7 in order to vote in this election.

The following staff members were hired between June 1 and August 19 for the 2024-25 school year. We will highlight additional new hires in next month's newsletter.

Did you know that, according to National Today, more than eight million students are missing school so much that their academic records have been affected? During the month of September, we remind the community that every day a student is in school is an opportunity to learn, build relationships, and access support.

Please take a moment to review the attachments from Attendance Works that outline the importance of consistent attendance.

We understand that family vacations are important - that's why we've made the planning easy! Use our vacation planning document to help plan out your vacations for the year

This newsletter provides valuable information, resources, and tips to help you navigate mental health and wellness topics. The goal is to create a supportive community where everyone feels empowered to prioritize mental health.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, so this issue includes information on Willis ISD's Suicide Prevention Program, "R U OK?" and a variety of resources.

At no cost to you, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

• 24/7/365 Multilingual Support - A multilingual team is available 24/7/365 to help you understand options, call providers on your behalf and schedule an appointment.
  
• Care Regardless of Insurance - Connect to care with any coverage including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.
  
• Easy Access to Care - Use Care Match, the self-serve website, to find a provider on your own.
  

For more information, visit caresolace.com/willisisd

Purchase your Willis Football tickets on the Hometown Fan App. Tickets are available for home games through the app! Use the instructions below to download the app or follow the link to save the website as a bookmark on your desktop.

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A R Turner Elementary

Brabham Middle School

Cannan Elementary

C C Hardy Elementary

Lagway Elementary

Lynn Lucas Middle School

Meador Elementary

Parmley Elementary

Roark Early Education Center

Stubblefield Academy

Willis High School