FAQ

For the safety and security of your child, Katy ISD has implemented a visitor tracking system in all of its schools. The purpose of this system is to ensure that adult visitors on campus do not pose a threat to any students.

Upon entering you child's campus, you will be asked to present one of the following forms of identification in order to move beyond the front desk:

Valid Drivers License (any state)
State-Issued I.D. Card
Work Visa
Green Card

Your license or identification card will be scanned. Once cleared you will be issued a visitor's badge, which must be worn while you are on campus. Upon your departure the visitor's badge must be returned to the front office.

In addition to having all campus visitors scan their identification at the front desk when they visit, we are asking all parents to allow your child to walk to class in the morning on their own. For elementary students, there will be an exception during the first week of school so you can assist your child in learning their way to class.

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What is a Wednesday folder and why is it important?

Each child brings home a "JWE Communications Folder" on Wednesdays, and the folder contains all of the graded papers from the prior week, and many other important communications from JWE.

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How is the Wednesday folder different than the daily folder?

Depending on the grade level, daily folders are used for behavior charts, communication to and from school and reading logs.

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What does Campus Closed mean?

When the Campus is closed, school is in session but the campus is closed to visitors. This includes all volunteers! Campus may be closed for a variety of reasons inlcuding standardized testing or PLC Days.

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What is a PLC Day?

PLC stands for Professional Learning Community. This is our faculty's chance to come together as a group to do long-term planning, student assessment analysis and professional development, while the students are engaged in activities such as Fine Arts Assemblies, Author Visits and Junior Achievement.

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What happened to TAKS testing?

Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), the criterion-reference assessment program that has beeen in place since 2003, is being replaced by STARR.

History of the Texas Testing Program:

Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS)– First state-mandated test, in use from 1980-1985, administered to students in grades 3, 5 and 9 in reading, mathematics and writing.
Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) – In use from 1986-1990, tested reading, mathematics and writing in grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11; first state test students were required to pass to earn a diploma.
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) – In use from 1990-2002, tested reading, mathematics and writing, ultimately given to students in grades 3-8 and 10, additionally science and social studies tested at eighth grade, Spanish-language tests available for students in grades 3-6, four end-of-course exams provide optional method for meeting graduation requirements.
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) – In use from 2003 to present, assesses mathematics, reading, writing, English language arts, science and social studies, students tested in grades 3-11; promotion tied to test results for students in grades 3, 5 and 8; graduation requirements expanded to include English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

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What is STARR testing?

The STARR name, pronounced the same as star, will be used for the 12 end-of-course assessments mandated by SB 1031 in 2007 and the new grade 3-8 assessments mandated by HB 3 in the 2009 legislative session.

The new tests will be used beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. Students in the graduating Class of 2015, who are currently in seventh grade, will be the first students who must meet the end-of-course testing requirements, as well as pass their classes, in order to earn a diploma.

The new tests will be significantly more rigorous than previous tests and will measure a child's performance, as well as academic growth.

The grade 3-8 STAAR tests in reading and mathematics, by law, must be linked from grade to grade to performance expectations for the English III and Algebra II end-of-course assessments.

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What are Elementary meal prices for lunch?

The student breakfast is $1.00 and a student lunch is $1.80 (meal includes milk). Adult lunches are available starting at $2.75. Your student may purchase an assortment of healthy snacks using general account funds. Additional food items for sale include 12 oz. bottled water, baked chips, fresh fruit, baby carrots, yogurt and milk. A full price list can be found on the department webpage.

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How can I place funds into my student's meal account?

All KISD students have a cafeteria meal account. Parents may choose to place prepaid funds into either a Meal Only Account or General Account. The preferred method of fund depositing is www.mealpayplus.com. Funds placed in the Meal Only Account may be used for 1 meal per serving period only.

Funds placed in the general account may be used for meals as well as a la carte items such as extra fruit, yogurt, ice cream or second trays. For additional information visit the Nutrition and Food Service webpage at www.katyisd.org and click on Meal Accounts FAQ's.

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How can I apply for federal assistance for reduced price or free meals?

A Free and Reduced Meal application will be included in the first day packet. For faster processing parents should complete an application online at www.katyisd.org. Please refer to the income guidelines to determine if your family would benefit by completing an application. Benefits approved for the 2010-2011 school year will remain the same thru October 5, 2011. However these benefits will terminate unless a new 2011 – 2012 application is completed and approved prior to this date.

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What is the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy?

All Texas public schools participating in the federal Child Nutrition Programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, must comply with these policies. You can access policies for all grade levels at www.squaremeals.com.

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Can I bring lunch into school?

Parents may bring food and beverage items for their own child only.
Students should not share food with other students.
Birthday parties may be celebrated with food but not during the breakfast or lunch period.
Please check with your school for specific food guidelines.

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What do I do if my child forgets his lunch?

You may bring your child's lunch to the front office by 10:00 am. You will be required to raptor at the front desk before taking their lunch (labeled with their name) to the cafeteria where you'll place it on a lunch cart to the right of the door.

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What is the Katy ISD policy for borrowing funds for meals?

The cafeteria will allow an elementary student to "borrow" money for a meal in emergency situations. Students will not be able to use borrowed monies to charge items other than the reimbursable meal.
All negative accounts will receive a district automated call until the account is paid in full. It is the parents' responsibility to ensure their contact information is current with their school registrar if they wish to receive account notifications.
Parents may choose to take advantage of the online service www.mealpayplus.com and set up a Low Balance email notification free of charge. You are also able to make convenient deposits directly into your child's meal account using a credit or debit card. Please note that Meal Pay charges a 4.75% fee for each total transaction.
Parents may view a food purchase history free of charge when they sign up for this service using the ID number for their child.

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Where do I find a copy of the elementary lunch menu this school year?

The breakfast and lunch menu will be posted on the department website. Printed copies will not be sent home with students.

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How can I stay informed about what is happening in the KISD nutrition and food services department?

Look for the Food Service link located on our district supported website at http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1406111853310257. Many frequently asked questions are answered including: How does the Food Service Department handle food allergies? Can I limit what my child can purchase?

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It's my child's birthday. Can I bring a treat to school?

Yes! It is preferred that birthday treats be store-bought, healthy, peanut-free, individually packaged servings. Treats will be eaten during the recess period. Birthday treats may not be taken into the cafeteria. The classroom teacher will distribute birthday treats; therefore, treats should be easy to distribute.

Birthday treats should be dropped off to the front office no later than 10:00 am.

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What do I do if my child is ill and can't come to school?

Please click here to fill out an absentee form. If you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to do so. This is the registrar's preferred method of absentee reporting. Please submit your absentee as early as possible. If you don't have computer access, you may call 281-237-7205 and leave a message stating the child's name, the child's teacher's name and the reason for the absence.

Please Note: If your child misses more than 5 consecutive days, the district requires a doctor's excuse upon the student's return.

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If I submit an absentee form on the website or call in to the absentee line, do I need to send a note to school the day my child returns?

No, you do not. Submitting the absentee via this website (or calling in to the absentee line) is sufficient for reporting the absence. However, If your child misses more than 5 consecutive days, the district requires a doctor's excuse upon the student's return to school.

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What if my child needs to leave during the school day?

You may check your child out at the front office for appointments. Be sure to bring your photo ID and it may take a few minutes to locate your child from specials or the playground. If you take your child out prior to 10:00 am, please bring a note from the doctor and present it upon your return to school. This will prevent your child from having an absence.

If the student has an early appointment and comes to school afterward, bring a note from the doctor and the student will not be charged with a tardy for the day. Tardies and late check-ins, even with a doctor's note, will count against perfect attendance counts. Students may not be checked out after 3:15, as they will be moving to their dismissal locations at that time.

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What if my family wants to take a vacation during the school year?

Your child's education is important to us and some students may find it difficult if they miss multiple days of school. Therefore, we recommend that vacations be taken during the summer or holidays. Should an extended absence (vacation) need to occur during the school year, please complete the Pre-arranged Absence Form (available in the front office), and send it to Mr. Lee prior to the absence, indicating the dates your child will be absent and the nature of the absence. All absences for a family trip/vacation are unexcused.

An attendance letter is sent when a student has 3 or more unexcused absences in a 4-week period, or 6 or more unexcused absences in a 6-month period. Students will also receive an attendance letter when they have excessive absences for personal illnesses that EXCEED 5 consecutive days, or a total of 8 days within a six-month period. Attendance letters are generated and monitored by the District's Attendance Office, not the campus.

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Where can I find the Bus Schedule?

You may access the bus schedule here.

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If my child is a car rider, what time should I drop them off?

Drop off time is 7:55 am or after but students must be in their class by 8:20 am or they will be counted tardy.

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What is the dismissal procedure if my child is a car rider?

All students that are car riders will be dismissed through the gym as soon as the buses roll out of the way. Parents should display their student's car rider identification number from the rearview mirror. Those numbers will radioed back to the gym and students will be lined up according to these numbers.

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If my child is a walker/biker how do I find out if dismissal has changed to the rainy day plan?

We are working on getting a Text Messaging feature through the website, but in the meantime the only way to find out about Rainy Day Plans are by calling the front office after 3:15 pm. If it is a Rainy Day Plan, you'll hear "It's a rainy day at Williams" when they answer the phone. Simply thank the front office ladies and hang up. They can be reached at 281-237-7200.

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What do I do if I need to change my child's transportation plan?

All changes in normal transportation routine must be submitted in writing to the student's teacher. Please give the student's name, teacher's name and if the change is for a specific time frame or permanent. If you forget to send the note, you may fax the note along with a copy of your photo ID to 281-644-1545. Please call the front office at 281-237-7200 to confirm the fax has been received.

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How do I access my child's grades?

Through the Parent Information Center (PIC) at the Katy ISD website.

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What is the PIC?

Whether you are a parent with a child enrolled in Katy ISD or a community member interested in keeping up with district activities, the Katy ISD Parent Information Center is your gateway to the latest news and information from Katy ISD.

Services available through the Parent Information Center include:

Student Dashboard: Access to your student's grades, schedule and attendance.
Campus eNews: Have news and information from your child's campus delivered directly to your inbox.
Mealpay: Web-based service allows you to access your child's meal account and make meal payments online.
Katy ISD Update: Receive district-wide news and updates via e-mail.
Stranger Danger: Receive e-mail alerts regarding suspicious activity in our community.

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Where can I find JWE's School Supply list?

The 2011-2012 School Supply list can be found here.

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Where can I find these School Supplies?

As a service to parents, JWE PTA has a school supply coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) that takes orders in May for the following school year and purchases the supplies in bulk through EPI. The school supplies are packaged and delivered to your child's class before the start of school. This is not a fundraiser for the PTA. Prices for the packs range from $40-60, depending on supplies requested by grade levels.

If you are new to Williams, and didn't get a chance to order through the PTA, Kroger will often have pre-packaged supplies labeled by school/grade available for purchase. If you prefer to puchase individually, most of the supplies can be found in the school supply aisles of stores. There are a few items (such as the writing tablets) that can be found at Mind Builder's Teaching Supply on Mason Road.

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How do I order a yearbook?

Please see our Yearbook information page in the Resources Menu.

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What do I do if my child lost his/her library book?

Answer

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What is Family Fun Breakfast?

The Family Fun Breakfast takes place before school and allows you to have breakfast with your child and other Williams families. You may purchase breakfast items from the cafeteria or bring in outside food. Because of limited space, the Family Fun Breakfast is usually broken up over two days by last name: A-L and M-Z. If you cannot make your designated breakfast, feel free to attend the one you can!

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What is Field Day?

Field Day is an opportunity for grade levels to compete by homeroom in a variety of indoor and outdoor physical activities. Field Day is coordinated by our PE Teachers and supported by numerous PTA volunteers.

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What is Celebration of Learning?

Each grade level will have an end of school presentation called "Celebration of Learning". This event is your opportunity to see progress your child has made in the form of reading their original writing, singing songs and sharing their artwork. Celebrations of Learning take place in your child's homeroom, with the exception of 5th grade.

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What is the WRC?

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.

For more information on the WRC, visit the Library's Katy ISD Website.

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What is Core Essentials?

Core Essentials is a values education program, designed for grades K-5, that provides affordable, simple, and downloadable tools allowing schools to quickly incorporate values education into their curriculum.

The program provides a "value of the month" curriculum that encourages individual classrooms, the entire school, and every family to emphasize the same aspects of each value. We believe it takes an INWARD attitude to influence OUTWARD behavior. That's what we mean by values. A value is an inward belief or attitude that affects someone's outward behavior. The values that Core Essentials emphasizes are common attitudes that every parent and teacher wants children to learn and demonstrate.

For more information on the Core Essentials program, visit their website.

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What is F.I.S.H.?

F.I.S.H., formerly known as the Fishing Club, stands for Fourth/Fifth Investigating Science Horizons.

All 4th and 5th Graders are invited to join this exciting new hands-on club that will focus on fishing, studying the environment (especially that of Katy), responsible stewardship and recycling, studying our solar system using technology (telescopes and iPad applications), geology with geography and physical sciences with a dash of chemistry.

F.I.S.H. will meet each Monday afternoon following school with fishing on Saturdays. The club will last the entire school year and there will be checkpoints and goals along the way. It is run by Mr. Ferrara. Details on how to join the club will be coming home with your 4th or 5th grade student.

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What is the Sun Trackers Program?

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.

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What is Read, Deed and Run?

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.

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What is the 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!

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What is LASSO?

LASSO stands for Linking Adults and Students in Self-Discovery Opportunities. It is an annual one-day event for each grade level where volunteers "teach" fun hands-on-learning experiences to students. The subject matter is based on grade-level curriculum. Please see our Volunteer Sign-Up page to become a LASSO Volunteer!

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What is Eureka Science?

Eureka Science is a PTA funded, parent/teacher run science program that gives each student (Kindergarten through 5th grade), hands-on science experience. This specially written program for Katy ISD is supplementary to the science lessons that are taught and reinforces the classroom curriculum.

Each Grade has two experiments per year beginning in September, each a 50-minute session of hands-on fun and practical science experimentation. Each session has a different theme, and the students study topics specific to their age level such as: Worms And Dirt, Spiders, Sound, The Rock Cycle, Building Volcanoes, Magnetism and many more. Students are encouraged to use the scientific method: Question, Record, Predict and Conclude. Students ARE the scientists during Eureka.

We encourage you to become involved in Eureka Science. Volunteer for at least one hour or more of your own child's sessions throughout the year. Please see our Volunteer Sign-Up page to become a Eureka Volunteer! For more information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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What is Challenge?

This is the Katy ISD program for qualified elementary Gifted and Talented Students. Challenge students meet once a week for instruction.

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What is the Kindergarten Good Manners Tea?

After spending the week learning and practicing good manners, the kindergarteners "dress up" in their finest and demonstate what they have learned at their Good Manners Tea Party. Lots of "pleases" and "thank you's" are heard here!

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What is the Kindergarten Mom's Makeover?

Kindergarten moms come to school for a relaxing time at the Kindergarten Day Spa! The kindergarteners pamper their moms with a beautiful hairstyle, lovely nail polish and an elegant makeup application!

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What is Kindergarten Marriage of Q & U?

During their study of the letters Q and U, kindergarteners learn that you can "never write q without u". This is emphasized by uniting the two in marriage. Kindergarteners don their veils and bow ties (made at school) for the special event!

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What is Kindergarten Rodeo Day?

As a culmination of their study of Texas and cowboys, kindergarteners dress up in their best western duds and spend the day "rodeoing" through different activities. Parents are also invited to attend a special hoedown dance performance in the gym!

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What is 1st Grade Reading Restaurant?

Reading Restaurant is where the students are able to show their parents how far they've come in reading over the course of first grade. The students choose a variety of self selected, just right books and read them to their parents. Reading restaurant is a milestone marker in the students reading development in first grade by being able to show independence in their literacy learning.

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What is the 2nd Grade Sweetheart Tea?

Answer

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What is the 3rd Grade Biography Parade?

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What is 3rd Grade Bronco Busters?

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What is 4th Grade Camp Write Along?

Camp write along is a week-long event in which classrooms are turned into cabins, and students are able to refine their writing skills within the "camp" environment. Campers may meet up with Sneaky Snake or be stuck in their cabin on a rainy day. These experiences and more give students a common theme to use in their writing, as well as an experience that they will never forget!

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What is 5th Grade 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.

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What's the best way for me to get involved at JWE?

Think about your skills and talents and what you enjoy spending your time doing. Familiarize yourself with the variety of volunteer opportunites that are available to you at JWE by reading the volunteer event descriptions on the Volunteer Sign-Up Page.

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What is a Workbasket?

Each classroom at JWE has a green laundry basket outside of the classroom. Each Homeroom Parent keeps a rotation of volunteers who will assist teachers by cutting out items, stapling together items, doing projects - various at-school and at-home items to help the teacher.

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What is the Executive Board?

The Executive Board is composed of the Elected Board and the Standing Committee Chairs of our PTA. They meet once a month to make recommendations for items to be voted on by the General Membership. To view a contact list of the Executive Board, please click here.

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What are General PTA Meetings?

General PTA Meetings are the process by which we approve items of business and disseminate important information. We have six General Membership Meetings a year: October, November, December, February, March and May.

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What is VIPS?

VIPS stands for Volunteers in Public Schools. It is Katy ISD's volunteer program which is in place at each school.

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Should I register as a member on this website?

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How do I sign-up to volunteer online?

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