We are so excited about the progress of our renovation, and we are taking a big step forward as students return from Spring Break. In order to have our new cafeteria and kitchen completed by the start of school in August, that work began on Friday, March 14.

Tuesday, March 25, we began serving a modified lunch menu through our small gym. The modified menus will be available through School Cafe, and Pizza Hut pizza will be available every Friday. (https://www.schoolcafe.com/pisd)

Seating will be available in the small gym and the Warrior Center, and the 3 student microwaves are now located in the Warrior Center as well.

As we start this new process, we will monitor closely and make adjustments as needed to ensure a safe and orderly process that maximizes the amount of time students have for lunch.

Thank you so much,

Jill Engelking, Principal

Intent to Return Form: Campus Communication Needed (Action Required)

In order to effectively plan for the 2025-26 school year, families need to complete the requested Intent to Return Form. Please include this request (provided below) in your campus communication this week (by no later than Friday, April 4.)

Families of Currently Enrolled Students Are Asked to Complete Intent to Return Form

In order to help campus staff appropriately schedule classes for the upcoming 2025-26 school year, families are asked to complete an Intent to Return form for currently enrolled students.

The form was made available on Skyward Family Access to the primary guardian on March 24. Please complete the form as soon as possible since planning for the upcoming school year is already underway.

If your family does not plan to return, families are still asked to complete the Intent to Return form since this information also helps with planning.

Thank you for your assistance in helping schools with planning for the upcoming school year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Se solicita a las familias de los estudiantes actualmente inscritos que completen el formulario de intención de regresar

Para ayudar al personal del campus a programar adecuadamente las clases para el próximo año escolar 2025-2026, se solicita a las familias que completen un formulario de intención de regresar para los estudiantes actualmente inscritos.

El formulario estará disponible en Skyward Family Access para el tutor principal el 24 de marzo. Complete el formulario lo antes posible, ya que la planificación para el próximo año escolar ya está en marcha.

Si su familia no planea regresar, de todas maneras se les pide que completen el formulario de Intención de Regresar, ya que esta información también ayuda con la planificación.

Gracias por su ayuda para ayudar a las escuelas con la planificación para el próximo año escolar.

Mar 31, Mon - Apr 4, Fri 4:30 PM - Starlette Officer Tryouts - Auditorium

Apr 5, Fri - HSA 9th Grade Field Trip

Apr 8/9, Tue/Wed - English 1 & 2 EOC Exams

Apr 10/11, Thu/Fri, 7:00 PM - TH Pop Show - Auditorium

Apr 15/16, Tue/Wed - Biology EOC Exams

Apr 16/17, Wed/Thu 6:30 PM -Theater Spring Show - Auditorium

Apr 17 - WHS PANTHER SPIRIT DAY

Apr 24/25, Thu/Fri - Algebra EOC Exams

May 2/3, Fri/Sat 7:00 PM/2:00 PM - Starlette Spring Show - Auditorium

May 6, Tue 5:30 PM - Williams High School Awards Ceremony - Gym

May 7, Wed 6:30 PM - Band Spring Concert

May 15, Thu 6:30 PM - Orchestra Spring Show

May 20-23, Tue-Fri - Spring Semester Finals

May 23, Fri - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Wednesday, March 26, the ESL department was fortunate enough to take a field trip to Meow Wolf at Grapevine Mills. With a generous grant from our PTSA, we were able to take 24 Newcomers. The students ALL had a great time creating new memories and being able to experience so many things for the first time in their lives. Some had never been on a school bus, some had never been to a museum, some had never been on a school field trip. After the trip, the students were assigned to write a "Reflection" essay. I have NEVER seen so many students WILLING to share their experiences and emotions IN WRITING. Hands-on, real-world, you-had-to-be-there experiences are the core of getting students to be active learners and participants. I cannot put into words how much joy the students showed on their faces throughout the day.

However, I have attached a picture to show you just a snippet of happiness we all enjoyed that day. Trust me, you can't tell from the picture, but the boys also had a great time! We were waiting at the Rainforest Cafe before Meow Wolf let us in at 10:40.

Special thanks to our chaperones Priscilla, Melissa, and Alicia for "keeping our groups together" (even though it lasted all of 5 minutes once we entered the exhibits! *inside joke)

SPARK! Dallas and Meow Wolf Grapevine Partner with High School Students to Create PRISMATIC: Fantastical Realms for Public to Experience May 31-September 7

Third Annual Event is Part of SPARK! Dallas’ 10th Anniversary Celebration

DALLAS, Texas (March 27, 2025) — SPARK! Dallas, the innovative educational facility fostering creativity in youth, has partnered with arts and entertainment company Meow Wolf for a second year to host SPARK! PRISMATIC: Fantastical Realms Art Pop-up Experience featuring six area high school artists’ creations. Themed Fantastical Realms to stretch imaginations into fantasy lands, the colorful exhibition is an immersive experience showcasing the students’ creativity through an area imagined, designed and built in a single color and theme. The community is invited to see the PRISMATIC Art Pop-up Experience May 31 to September 7 at SPARK!, located at Southside on Lamar (1409 Botham Jean Blvd., Suite #004, Dallas, TX 75215).

Meg Bittner, Executive Director of SPARK! said, “As SPARK! Dallas celebrates its 10th anniversary, we are committed to showcasing the most creative programs, and that includes PRISMATIC: Fantastical Realms. These talented students will create an immersive art experience for all to see—from young children to adults—so don’t miss its limited showing.”

Daniel Bornhorst, Lead Exhibition Technical Engineer at Meow Wolf, said, “Meow Wolf’s expertise lies in seamlessly fusing traditional art with state-of-the-art technology to craft immersive experiences. From intricate sound processing and lighting techniques to captivating scent design, we blend the visual, tactile, aural, and olfactory elements to create something wholly unique. Bringing this expertise to our work with the students has been incredibly rewarding. Watching them explore new creative realms and seeing my team mentor the next generation of immersive artists has been a highlight of this collaboration.”

SPARK! Dallas received 26 submissions. The following four public high schools and two private schools were selected to participate based on their creativity, design elements and proposal submission:

· Emmett J. Conrad High School (Dallas ISD) – Alice & The Wonderland (red)

· Greenhill School – Atlantis (white)

· Hillcrest High School (Dallas ISD) – Ethereal Sky (pink)

· Parish Episcopal School – Underwater Origami Forest (blue)

· Richardson High School (RISD) - Purple Quartz Cavern (purple)

· Williams High School (Plano ISD) –Whispers Along the Hollow (green)

The winning students are mentored by Meow Wolf team members, receive behind-the-scenes tours at Meow Wolf Grapevine as well as funding for materials to help build these immersive rooms.

Christy Howell, Exhibition Manager at Meow Wolf Grapevine, added, “Mentoring SPARK! students again this year has been an incredible experience. PRISMATIC gives these young creators a platform to unleash their imagination and innovation. This partnership truly highlights the intersection of art, technology, and engineering, offering students hands-on experience with immersive design concepts that can shape their creative futures.”

Prismatic is open to the public May 31-Sept. 7 on weekends:
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sundays: 1:00-6:00 p.m.

Ticket prices:
Adults and children (ages 2 and up): $25
Teachers (with Teacher ID): $20
All tickets include the PRISMATIC exhibit and admission to the play sculpture areas.

Advanced tickets are encouraged; limited tickets will be available for walk-ups.

Ticket link: https://sparkdallas.ticketspice.com/prismatic-fantastical-realms

SPARK! After Dark (Adults only ages 21+):

Fridays starting June 6-Sept. 5, 7:00-10:00 p.m.

$40, includes one drink ticket (additional tickets available for purchase)
Ticket link: https://sparkdallas.ticketspice.com/prismatic-fantastical-realms

Learn more: https://sparkdallas.org/prismatic/ or 214.421.7727.

About SPARK! Dallas:

A nonprofit founded in 2010, SPARK! Dallas provides children from second grade to high school with a fully immersive creative environment with hands-on learning that develops their self-definition as creative individuals. Through an endless roster of workshops and pop-up activities, students exercise their creativity and learn from creative experts, innovators and artists. The organization’s vision is to help students acquire creative skills to excel in school and compete in the work force. SPARK! also hosts interactive camps, field trips and birthday parties. SPARK! is located in the historic South Side of Lamar building at 1409 Botham Jean Blvd, Ste 004, Dallas, Texas 75215. For more information, visit https://sparkdallas.org/.

Williams High School (Plano ISD) – Whispers Along the Hollow (green)

Advisor: Emily Garner

Creators: Ana, Ashley, Daisy, Nelsy, Zuly

In a dark forest that is supposed to be the fairy´s home in which Flynn is lost after going out of his tent, he finds himself in a magical forest. He is trying to get out while exploring his new surroundings. In this room, there are hidden fairy worlds where children and adults can interact with by finding small rooms. There will be a small creek to the left side of the room. On a corner, there will be a tree that would be bending towards the right, creating an arch. The arch represents the room's exit, and for the entrance, there will be a kind of flysheet representing the tent. Around the front, there will be small green vines, and the room would be filled with lights to make it shine.

ABOUT MEOW WOLF:

Meow Wolf is much more than your typical arts and entertainment company; they’re the creators of extraordinary, mind-bending experiences that transport millions of adventurers of all ages into breathtaking realms of imagination and wonder. As the proud recipients of numerous accolades, including Time Out's #1 Immersive Experience in the US (2023), Fast Company's World's 50 Most Innovative Companies (2024, 2022 and 2020), and USA Today's Top 10 Best Immersive Art Experiences (2022), Meow Wolf is committed to engaging curious seekers through the magic of discovery and play. They are distinct in their collaboration with hundreds of visionary artists who infuse creativity into every Meow Wolf experience. The journey began with the THEA Award-winning House Of Eternal Return in Santa Fe (2016), a mystery house with hidden passages and mesmerizing art exhibits. In Las Vegas, Omega Mart (2021) presented a surreal grocery store experience. Denver's Convergence Station (2021) appeared as a maximalist architectural marvel linking four alien worlds. Meow Wolf unveiledWebby Award-winning The Real Unreal (2023) in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Meow Wolf’s fifth and newest location Radio Tave, a community radio station that spans dimensions, opened on Halloween of 2024 in Houston. Meow Wolf’s next exhibition opens in Los Angeles in 2026 followed by its seventh location in New York City. As a certified B-Corporation, Meow Wolf leads in themed entertainment, innovating and celebrating human imagination. All are invited to join a journey that defies convention, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to our band students, who earned Division 1 - Superior Ratings and a "Sweepstakes" at UIL Concert & Sight Reading Wednesday, April 2.

Both of our bands that went to the contest received "Division 1 - Superior" ratings on both the concert stage and in sight reading. This is the first time in several years that both bands have received Division 1 ratings at UIL!

(If you are wondering what a "Sweepstakes" is, that is when you earn Division 1 ratings at both concert and marching UIL.)

Thank you to all of the parents & guardians, teachers and staff for your support of our fine arts and band students throughout this year. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this Williams family!

Jeremy Figlewicz,

Director of Bands

Williams High School

As we begin the final 9 weeks of the school year, we want to remind parents/guardians to please take care of any outstanding charges your student may have incurred over the course of the school year.

Students with outstanding charges for ID replacements, as well as fees for Chromebooks, Charges, Library fees, etc. MUST PAY ALL BALANCES DUE PRIOR TO THE END OF SCHOOL!

Please check Rycor for any balance due. You may pay online through Rycor or send cash or check to the front office.

If you have any questions please feel free to email Pam Hearne at Pam.Hearne@pisd.edu.

Please congratulate these young athletes as they are our selection of athletes of the month!

These amazing athletes have caught the eyes of their coaches and teachers and need to be recognized for their leadership, consistency, hard work, and resilience. They have excelled in the classroom, on the field/court, and in the community! Let's award them with some high fives, fist pumps, verbal hallway shout outs, and any other ways of congratulating student athletes of this magnitude!

Please click here to check on bus delays!

This page will provide bus information for any of our Route buses running 30 minutes or more late. The late Buses will still go by their designated Bus Stops. We apologize for the inconvenience as safety is our number one priority.

You may also contact our Dispatch Call Center at 469.752.0792.

School districts statewide and nationwide are dealing with a critical shortage of bus drivers. Please check back often in the morning and the afternoon for the most up-to-date information.

Apply Now & Come Drive with Us!

We’re always looking for new bus drivers and assistants to join our team! For more information and instructions on how to apply, please call (469) 752-0789 or visit Auxiliary Job Postings.

A - Eh - Christina Ballinger, ext. 28316, christina.ballinger@pisd.edu

Ei - Loq - Lisa Delacruz, ext. 28314, lisa.delacruz@pisd.edu

Lor - Ra - Don Stevens, ext. 28312, don.stevens@pisd.edu

Re - Z - Inge Dismuke-Stovall, ext. 28313, inge.dismukestovall@pisd.edu

Principal, Jill Engelking 469-752-8310 or jill.engelking@pisd.edu

A - Ga - Melissa Lyons, ext. 28317 Melissa.Lyons@pisd.edu

Ge - O - Sholonda Miller, ext. 28319 Sholonda.Miller@pisd.edu

P - Z - Chadwick Caraway, ext. 28318 Chadwick.Caraway@pisd.edu

HSA - Monica Trevino, Lead Counselor, ext. 28320 Monica.Trevino@pisd.edu

Secretary - Alicia Kamien, ext. 28315

Registrar - Carola Garrison, ext. 28323

Support Williams High School by joining or renewing your membership in the Williams HS Parent Teacher Student Association. This is an easy way to support the students, staff, and families of the WHS community. Membership funds help pay for teacher grants, student programs and events throughout the year. We can all work together to make Williams High School the best that it can be!

Visit www.williamsptsa.org to find out how to join.