Ram Nation News – October 8, 2024

Be part of something special at Jazz on 34th, the Waltrip PTO’s fundraiser featuring the Ram Band Jazz Bands! Happening Thursday, November 7th, from 6 – 9pm at Trees for Houston, this event offers an exclusive opportunity to support Waltrip students through a variety of sponsorship levels.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Join Mr. St. Mary TONIGHT at 5 PM in Room 1102 for an exciting informational meeting about the 2026 tour of South Korea and Japan! Learn all about the trip and how you can save with a $200 early enrollment discount.

The PTO Grant Committee received mini grant applications from 35 teachers this fall—quite an increase from last year. On Friday September 28th we notified 22 of those teachers that we were able to support their requests, either partially or in full. 

Our fall grants will provide nearly $6,000 worth of materials to support our teachers and classrooms, and enrich the educational experience and well-being of their students. Committee members began distributing items this week! 

The PTO also intends to support those teachers whose grants were not approved or only partially approved, so be on the lookout for links to wishlists we are creating to allow you to support them directly.

Help support the Waltrip Ram Band Band every Wednesday in October from 4-9 PM by dining at BB’s Tex-Orleans on 34th Street! Whether you dine in or take out, 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Waltrip Roaring Red Ram Band. Don’t forget to mention Waltrip High School Band when you order. Let’s keep the music playing, Ram Nation!

Join us next Tuesday for the October Waltrip PTO Meeting, followed by Coffee with Principal Cortez.

Date: Oct 15th
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Waltrip High School Library

In honor of Día de los Muertos, join us for a free outdoor showing of Disney’s Coco on Saturday, November 2nd at 7pm in the Waltrip cafeteria courtyard. It’s a perfect way to celebrate this special holiday with family and friends! Concessions will be available for purchase.

Clubs and groups interested in selling concessions, please sign up here.

Parents of the Class of 2025, it’s time to start planning for some key senior events!

Prom is set for Friday, April 25, 2025, at the beautiful Hyatt Regency – Galleria (2626 Sage Road, Houston, TX 77056). It’s sure to be a night to remember, so mark your calendars! Additionally, the Graduation Ceremony will take place on Friday, June 6, 2025, at 3 PM at Delmar Fieldhouse. Ticket information for both prom and graduation will be available soon. Be sure to pay all senior dues online via School Pay, as no prom tickets or merchandise will be sold without full payment.

Cap and Gown portrait sessions are scheduled for November 4, 5, and 6, during school hours.

There is also a Mandatory Senior Class Student Meeting on October 16, at 9 AM in the auditorium.

At this meeting, Herff Jones will provide important information about ordering graduation caps, gowns, class rings, and announcements.

They’ll be back during both lunches the following week to take orders and assist seniors. Stay tuned for Herff Jones website links coming soon! Additionally, keep an eye out for TSI testing dates if your student is still working to meet CCMR (College, Career, and Military Readiness) requirements. Attendance is crucial—remind your students they must attend at least 90% of their classes to avoid NGs (No Grade) on their report cards.  Please reach out to our registrar, Darcy Ruffino, with questions about attendance or graduation requirements.

For any senior activities questions or concerns, please reach out to Senior Class Coordinator Jennifer Gatica.

Be on the lookout on the Waltrip Senior webpage, or on on the Class of 2025 Facebook page for more info.

Freshman Class Officer packets are now available for pick-up! Students that are interested in running for office and helping to shape the future of their class should make sure to grab a packet soon. The deadline to return completed packets to Ms. Fox in room 3227 is October 14th.

Get your Waltrip Gear online here! The Waltrip High School PTO store is also open on campus during lunch for students and staff, offering a variety of snacks as well as Waltrip shirts and apparel. If you’re VIPS approved, please support us by signing up for a slot to help staff the store in our new and improved central location!

If you’re unable to volunteer, please consider donating to the school store using our online donation form. Make sure to indicate it’s for the school store in the Notes field.

The Waltrip High School PTO is now part of Kroger’s Community Rewards program! By linking your Kroger account to Waltrip PTO (organization number SR089), a portion of your grocery purchases will support our students and classrooms at no extra cost to you. Sign up at kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards, and thank you for helping our school!