James Williams Elementary

Williams Elementary, with its western theme, opened in August, 2000. The school was named in honor of Dr. James Williams, who served on the Katy Board of Trustees for nearly three decades. Inside its doors, the school’s western flair is fitting for a school situated on the historic Cinco Ranch where its children have always attended Katy ISD schools, the common thread binding the community.

Parents’ smiling faces and supportive attitudes are commonplace, as parents volunteer in various activities, events, and instructional programs in order to help our little Wranglers. Partnerships are invaluable to our success and continue to grow in participation each year. Our partners include the YMCA, Junior Achievement, McDonald’s, and Kroger. The school has an ExxonMobil ambassador and has received generous grants related to high volunteer participation from ExxonMobil employees who are also Williams parents. BP Corporation generously donated $10,000 in grant funds to provide an after school energy science club for Williams Elementary students. Because of the generous support of the Williams PTA, the school has purchased a myriad of teaching materials, technology hardware, equipment and furniture. The PTA has also sponsored multiple opportunities for the professional teaching staff to attend workshops all over the state of Texas.

The building has 103,875 square feet with 57 classrooms, computer center, a large music room that can be subdivided into two classrooms, two art rooms, a resource room and 48 netbooks teachers can check-out for classroom use. A technology center in every classroom includes computers and two-way video transmission capabilities. The school also has a 25 unit mobile laptop computer lab and several SMART boards that can be used in the classrooms. Williams was built to house approximately 1,030 students.

Students stay actively involved as they leave their own brand on many featured programs. The PTA and School work hand-in-hand to offer challenging activities such as the LASSO enrichment program, Reflections, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Exhibit, Library Reading Incentive Program, Junior Achievement, Destination Imagination, Energy Science Club, Math 24 Club, reading and math parent volunteer programs, Eureka Science Program for K-5th grades, 5th grade W.I.S.E. Aerospace afterschool program, JWE Book Club, choir, safety patrol, student council, and 4th grade fishing club.

The 2011-2012 school theme is “JWE - Leading the Next Generation.”

24 Math Tournament

5th Grade students practice a fast paced math game called 24 in Extended Learning classes throughout the school year in order to compete in the tournament in mid-May. The game tests the student’s order of operation skills. Higher level thinking occurs when students find various ways to create a product, quotient, addend or difference that equals 24.

D.I.

Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is an extraordinary non-profit organization that provides educational programs for students to learn and experience creativity, teamwork and problem solving. Every year, this program reaches more than 100,000 students across the U.S. and in more than 30 countries. Destination ImagiNation is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. Teams are tested to think on their feet, work together and devise original solutions that satisfy the requirements of the challenges. Participants gain more than just basic knowledge and skills—they learn to unleash their imaginations and take unique approaches to problem solving. Destination ImagiNation is open to ALL students at Williams Elementary. If your child is interested in participating in this program, please email Ajaya Sonde for more information at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

F.I.S.H.

F.I.S.H. – Fourth/Fifth Investigating Science Horizons

During each six weeks of the 2011-2012 school year, Fourth and Fifth Grade F.I.S.H. club members will immerse themselves in a particular unit of scientific study and will contribute to the Williams Green School Initiative:

First Six Weeks: Environmental conservation, recycling, and the basics of fishing. Investigating different types of fish, water tables & testing (examining pollution using such devices as water scopes), and responsible stewardship will be a priorities.
Second Six Weeks: Astronomy including Moon Phases and eclipses. In addition to investigating astronomy during weekly meetings, members will have an opportunity to observe the night sky on Friday evenings using telescopes & smartphone/tablet astronomy apps.
Third Six weeks: Renewable energy and green energy design. Examining solar panels, rain collectors, and sustainable energy sources.
Fourth Six weeks: The Sun and its role in the life of our planet and its larger role in our solar system.
Fifth Six Weeks: Insects, plants, wildflowers. Creation of a butterfly garden will be a focal point.
Sixth Six Weeks: Geography and Geology. Activities will include the “adoption” of a local playground for soil samples, rock examination, and investigating weathering, erosion, and deposition. The fishing tournament will also occur toward the end of May.

The P.T.A. has offered to support F.I.S.H. and we’ll have access to Hands On Science materials as resources to support the club.

Mandatory meetings will occur each Thursday, immediately following school. Fishing outings will take place each Saturday morning throughout the school year, though attendance at each will not be mandatory.

Library

Developing a love of reading is the key goal of our Library Ladies. Bridgett Spier, Kim Cary, and Prithi Datt inspire our children to read what they love and love what they read. The Library Ladies encourage our students to read through the Wrangler Reading Challenge (WRC). Children make choices about the books they want to read in a given genre, and then respond to their reading with a fun writing experience. Also, the Library Ladies host several author visits throughout the year. Our budding writers will be inspired and encouraged to further develop their talents as our next generation of professional authors. Finally, make sure your child participates in the Breakfast Book Club. Your child will read the latest and hottest "off-the-press" children's books, and he or she will share a breakfast and book club discussion with their beloved Library Ladies. New books are added each year with both Williams PTA and Katy ISD funding.

For information about the Library or Library Programs, such as the Wrangler Reading Challenge (WRC), please visit the JWE Library Website.

RDR

Read, Deed and Run is an exciting, all-encompassing program for the WHOLE child. Courtney Calfee, a 5th grade teacher at Williams Elementary, developed this program and was a finalist for Texas Region 4 Teacher of the Year for her work in encouraging children's growth in body, mind, and spirit. Fourth and fifth grade students who participate in this program commit to reading 26 books, performing 26 hours of deeds in the community, and running a total of 26.2 miles. Each week, the RDR participants will meet to discuss books, deeds, stretching, and nutrition. They will also run one mile per week under the supervision of JWE Faculty and Administrators. The program will culminate in May with students running their final 1.2 miles in a "race" to earn their Finisher's t-shirt and medal.

Safety Patrol

Safety patrol is a great opportunity for 5th graders to show responsibility. Duties for the safety patrol consist of running car dismissal, providing a safe environment and helping the younger students. Students have to maintain a passing grade and practice good behavior in and out of the classroom at school. Students will arrive to school early and stay to assist with the car rider lines.

Sun Trackers

Williams Elementary is committed to Environmental Education. Teaching our children to be good citizens of the earth ensures a healthy planet for future generations.

Sun Trackers is an after school, teacher-led club that provides opportunities for children to discover the effects of the sun on our planet. Students learn ways to harness the sun's energy, use other renewable energy forms and conserve natural resources.

Interested 4th grade students need to complete an application explaining why they want to learn more about the sun and solar energy. Students who qualify are then chosen at random for this enrichment program. Sun Tracker members meet for approximately two hours, once a week for six weeks.

Mrs. Youssef will be co-sponsoring the club this year with Mrs. Carmichael and Mrs. Birk.

Talent Showcase

The 5th Grade Talent Show is a great way to show off Williams's talent. The talent show will debut on May 30^th (the last day of school). Students' selected talent or act will be approved by both teachers and parents and be performed within the allotted time period. Showcase is a great way to celebrate our talents as fellow Wranglers and friends.

W.I.S.E.

wise The WISE (Williams Interplanetary Space Exploration) program was created to provide an opportunity for students to learn and apply mathematics, science, computer technology, and problem solving skills. Students accomplish this throughout the completion of a twenty-four hour space mission aboard a student designed and built spacecraft. Each session consists of twenty-four students (12 boys & 12 Girls) meeting after school once a week for eight weeks. There are two sessions per school year. Students assume the role of an astronaut performing many simulated tasks that NASA astronauts complete.

During the mission, students work together as a team to explore and overcome challenges presented to them as they travel to and from their destination of Mars.

Wrangler Chorale

The Wrangler Chorale is a Fifth-Grade, non-auditioned choir which meets before school twice a week. Students are encouraged to develop their musical talents and enjoyment of music as we sing a variety of musical styles, from classical to light show-choir, sacred to folk tunes, holiday to patriotic. Students grow in their musicianship as they learn to sing beautifully in unison, two-part, and partner songs, becoming confident in their stage presence and representing our school. The choir, under the direction of Lynne Sears since the school opened in 2000, was invited to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association State Convention in 2005, and at the Arts Day at the Capitol in 2010-11. We perform around the district/Houston-Katy area, as well as for our favorite audience, our parents and JWE family! We are very proud to contribute to the music programs our children attend after JWE—Beck Jr High and Cinco Ranch High School.

For news on the Wrangler Chorale, visit their Katy ISD Website!