Greetings Panthers,

 

Happy Friday! We are officially in the final 9 weeks of the school year.

 

That means grades, attendance, make-up hours, credit recovery, and so many more things become critical components of success, and for our seniors' graduation!

 

Parents, PLEEEEEASE be checking your child’s skyward. If you notice anything that seems strange (random absences or tardies, low grades, etc.) please call us so we can help determine what is going on… we are finding more and more cases of situations where students are… bending the truth… about what is happening and reflecting in skyward. 

 

Speaking of reaching out, we will be starting a new software program called “SCHOOL STATUS” very soon. The program has many features, but the one we are most excited about is the texting feature. Similar to when we were virtual and could text using Google Voice we will once again be able to call, text, and email!

Stay tuned for more info!

 

Upcoming Important Dates:

• 4/07 Student/Staff Holiday/Bad Weather Day

• 4/19 STAAR EOC - Eng I

• 4/20 STAAR EOC - Eng II

• 4/26 STAAR EOC - Bio

• 4/27 STAAR EOC - US Hist

• 4/27 College Night

• 5/1 AP Testing - US Gov (am), Chemistry (pm), Span Lit (pm)

• 5/2 AP Testing - Environmental Sci (am), Psychology (pm)

• 5/3 AP Testing - Eng Lit (am) Comp Science A (pm)

• 5/4 AP Testing - Human Geo (am), Macro Eco (am), Statistics (pm) AP Seminar (pm)

• 5/5 AP Testing - Euro Hist (am), US Hist (am), Art History (pm) Micro Eco (pm)

• 5/8 AP Testing - Cal AB (am), Cal BC (am), Comp Sic Prin (pm)

• 5/9 AP Testing - Eng Lan (am), Physics C: Mech (pm), Physis C:Elec ( 2pm)

• 5/10 AP Testing - Span Lang (am), Bio (pm)

• 5/11 AP Testing - French Lang (am), World Hist Mod (am), Physics 1: Alg (pm)

• 5/11 STAAR EOC - Alg I

• 5/12 AP Testing - Music Theory (am), Physics 2: Alg (pm)

• 5/20 Senior Prom - Miami Night

• 5/24 (seniors) 1st Graduation Practice

• 5/25 (seniors) 2nd Graduation Practice

• 5/25 Last Day of School (Early Release)

• 5/31 Graduation at the Pfield

Action Item: Class of 2023 - Important Information

It’s hard to believe that in just a little over 2 months, your student will be walking the stage at graduation!!  Here are a few “checkboxes” that need to be taken care of in order to make that journey to the stage.

 

April 13:  Cap, Gown & Tassel distribution

Pre-ordered graduation cap/gown distribution is scheduled for Thursday, April 13^th during all 3 lunches.

 

May 6:  Senior Contract submission deadline

All seniors must submit a Senior Contract to participate in the graduation ceremonies.  You and your senior can click HERE to view the contract.  The contract can be submitted electronically using the Google Form in the above link OR you can turn in a printed/signed copy to the front office.   STUDENTS:  YOU MUST USE YOUR PFISD EMAIL ADDRESS/ACCOUNT TO ACCESS THE ELECTRONIC CONTRACT.



Upcoming:  Book fines/Fees/Hours

You or your student should receive notification from the bookkeeper and/or librarian if your student has outstanding fees/fines.  As a reminder, all obligations will need to be fulfilled prior to the senior receiving their diploma and final transcript.  Notification emails are currently being sent out by the attendance office for any student who may owe hours. 

 

Please continue to watch the website for additional news/updates/information regarding your senior.  There will be many updates and announcements that I would hate for you all to miss!  Click HERE for the link to the Class of 2023 page for updates and reminders.

 

Action Item - Write a “Shout Out” to a PHS Staff Member (please):

We love our PfISD staff members and we know our parents do too! We want to provide an opportunity for our parents to publicly recognize and thank our staff members who serve our students, staff, and the community. We have created a Google Form to provide information directly to us to share with our staff as a whole and let you see the difference you are making in a student's life every single day. Please click here for the Google Form.

 

These Shout Outs will be included in upcoming issues of the Parent and Staff Newsletters. If a Shout Out directly references a student, we will not include the guardian name to protect the child's anonymity. If you are recognized in an anonymous Shout Out and want to learn the parent's name, please contact Tamra Spence at tamra.spence@pfisd.net.

Congratulations - Angelina Cao - Silent Service Award:

Senior Angelina Cao was recognized this week for her outstanding commitment to leadership and community service. She plays a vital role in countless clubs and organizations on our campus and in our community. 

This award includes a beautiful plaque inscribed with her name and award along with an unrestricted $500 check, all provided by the Jim Marsh Foundation.

Congratulations - Partnership with Dell Professionals:

The following PHS students applied and were hired for the Dell IGNITE high school internship program. 

• Tirtha Gautam

• Jenna Pham

• Nicolas Rodriguez

• Bethany Tran

Students will work alongside Dell professionals during a paid internship from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until May. They must provide their own transportation to the Dell Parmer Lane campus. The students participated in orientation yesterday and begin the internship experience today.

Congratulations - Lone Star Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Electrical: 

Last week, Autumn Hendrickson (At-Risk Facilitator at Pflugerville High School) took six PFISD seniors (PHS & WHS), Angel Apodaca, Rolando Tijerina, Miguel Villanueva, Jabari Moore, Brandon Albert, and Kyler Heath to complete the Lonestar Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship Electrical training over spring break. 

Students learned basic electrical theory and participated in hands-on training including wiring switches, GFCI receptacles, 3-way switches, and much more. Students applied the skills they learned by assembling and wiring a lamp with a light switch, outlets, and USB receptacles. Ms. Hendrickson graciously gave up her entire spring break for the 5-day program so that our students could learn more about what it means to be an electrician and help our students take the first step to becoming a Journeyman electrician.

The students will also complete their OSHA 10 certification.

Ms. Hendrickson worked tirelessly before the event to bring this opportunity to our students. Since the beginning of the year, she worked with Haley Honey (WHS College & Career Advisor), Local Union 520, Lone Star Construction Trades Program, Goodwill Central Texas, and others to secure funding for our students. This allowed every student to receive the $2,200 training completely free.

Congratulations - Powerlifting Team:

This past weekend the Women’s Powerlifting Team competed in the State Powerlifting meet held in Frisco, TX.

Congratulations to Ava Roberts for placing 4^th in her weight class and bringing home a medal. Thank you for representing Pflugerville High School! We are proud of you and look forward to next season!

Congratulations - PHS Choir:

Right before spring break, PHS Choir competed in the UIL Concert and Sight Reading evaluation.  Our Tenor Bass Choir was awarded Sweepstakes for superior (best) ratings in both their concert and sight reading performances, and our Varsity mixed choir Panther Chorale was also awarded superior ratings for their sight reading performance. Recordings of all of our choir concert performances can be found here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18BLd8vBAIEbuG6lzZ3qJz0E8nGhEGtVg?usp=sharing

 

 

Mark Your Calendar - Greater Pflugerville Job Fair:

Proposed changes to Texas A-F Accountability Ratings:

 

The Texas Education Agency has announced expected significant changes to the A–F accountability process that will begin to impact students, schools, and districts in 2023. We anticipate these changes to the Accountability system will cause a decrease in ratings for schools and districts across the state. While the changes are still preliminary, districts across the state are preparing staff and the community for the changes, which are expected to be finalized in the summer 2023.

 

Changes to the system center around:

• STAAR testing

• College, Career and Military Readiness Evaluation

• Closing the Gap

• District Ratings

 

Click here to learn more about the Accountability System in Texas and what changes will go into effect.

 

A Word from the Library:

St. Jude’s Read-a-thon  St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital is doing a Facebook Charity drive during April.  You pledge to read 30 minutes a day, and people donate to St. Jude’s (through a post you put on your FB page).  If your family would like to participate, find out more here. St. Jude’s Read-a-thon

A Word from No Place for Hate:

March is Women’s History Month.  No Place 4 Hate is celebrating the empowering ability of language and actions to lift women up.  All organizations are encouraged to also spread Serena Williams’ message: “We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” 

 

April is Diversity Month.  We are bringing back Tie-Dye to Unify.  Until March 31, we will be selling White cotton NP4H PHS tshirts for $10.  In  April (exact date TBD), students and staff can visit the courtyard during all lunches to tie-dye their shirt.  (You can have it done for you for a donation).  Volunteers from other organizations are invited to help.  See Mrs. Owen in the library for more information.  NP4H Webstore and cash/check options.

 

PfISD Parent and Family Engagement Opportunity:

PHS Staff Plaque Recent Recipients:

Check out and help me congratulate our recent recipients:

 

Most sincerely,

 

Zack Kleypas
Principal
Pflugerville High School

“Keep improving, always, in all ways.”