Academy Parent Newsletter

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that we only have 7 weeks of school left. Please remember that there is no school for students or staff on Friday 4/3.

Sincerely,

Dr. Josh Howard

April 3rd: Student and staff holiday

April 7th: STAAR EOC English I and English II

April 9th: Blood Drive at Academy (Sign Up Below)

April 11th: Prom

April 14th: STAAR EOC Biology

April 15th: Food Truck Stay Day - DonutNV

April 16th: STAAR EOC US History

April 16th: Career Expo 5pm - 7pm

April 21st: 10th/11th/12th Grade Field Trip to Dallas Zoo

April 23rd: STAAR EOC Algebra I

April 29th: Food Truck Stay Day - Tikiz Shaved Ice & Ice Cream

May 4th - 15th: AP Testing (See schedule below for details)

May 13th: Food Truck Stay Day - Tropical Smoothie Cafe

May 20th: Senior Recognition and Senior Sunset

May 30th 2PM: Graduation 2026!

The 1st Year Team is looking for parents involved in sustainability, engineering, construction, agriculture, or community engagement. Our 1st years are coming up with individual solutions to sustainability issues in assigned cities. We need panelists to hear their ideas and give them feedback. Please reach out to Ms. Richie at summer.richie@pisd.edu if you are interested and can join us on Friday, 4/10 from 10:45am- 12:00.

We are proud to celebrate two major recognitions for our robotics program as we head toward the post-season!

Chloe Hatfield has been named a Semi-Finalist for the FIRST Leadership Award. On the team, she serves as a bridge between strategy and execution, managing our scouting and data analysis efforts to translate complex match data into actionable strategy. As the class Salutatorian, Yearbook Editor, and a School Ambassador, Chloe is a standout leader who balances academic excellence with a commitment to service through her own nonprofit. Chloe has officially advanced to the next round of competition and will be interviewed for the Finalist designation at the District Championships in Houston in two weeks.

Additionally, Head Coach Julia Goodwin has been named the team’s Woodie Flowers Award nominee. This prestigious honor is uniquely student-led; the students on the team nominated Coach Goodwin for her ability to inspire students through clear communication of engineering concepts, her encouragement of creative problem-solving, and her dedication to fostering a collaborative team environment. This nomination recognizes her as an elite mentor who leads with integrity and passion.

What’s Next: Chloe will represent our community in Houston for her Leadership Award interviews, while Coach Goodwin will be recognized for her impact as a mentor. We are also eagerly awaiting final rankings; Teams 5431 and 5790 will know if they officially move on to the District Championships by the beginning of next week.

Our students are currently developing comprehensive business plans for their upcoming ventures, and we are looking for parent volunteers to provide "real-world" feedback on two critical dates. Whether you have a background in finance, marketing, or simply a consumer's perspective, we need your expertise!

Role 1: Guest Loan Officers

Date: April 14, 11 - 12:40

Goal: Students will present the financial section of their business plans. You will act as a loan officer to review their mathematical models, including:

• Cost Functions: Reviewing the linear cost expressions for their product lines.
• Break-Even Analysis: Evaluating their "Break-Even" points and Desmos graphs to see if their profit margins are realistic.
• Inventory Budgets: Checking the fixed and variable costs for products like weighted blankets, sensory items, and apparel.

Role 2: Marketing Consultants

Date: April 23, 11 - 12:40

Goal: In this session, you will review the creative and strategic sides of the students' plans. Feedback will focus on:

• Brand Identity: Reviewing "Brand Boards" and the "Unifying Principle" of their companies.
• Targeting: Assessing if their "Buyer Personas" and market research align with their proposed products.
• Competitive Edge: Critiquing their "S.W.O.T. Analysis" and how they plan to stand out from the competition.

Interested in helping?

No formal banking or advertising experience is required—just a willingness to ask questions and help students refine their thinking!

Please contact Julia Goodwin (julia.goodwin@pisd.edu) or sign up via the link below: https://bit.ly/KChingBusinessMeetings26

Hey there, amazing Academy Titans! 🎉 We've got some super exciting new merch just for you, plus all your favorite original goodies in case you missed out before! Don't wait too long—grab your awesome swag now before prices go up this Fall. The sale wraps up on April 6th at 11:59 pm, so make sure to shop before it's too late. All sales are final, but no worries—your fantastic merch will be shipped to you about two weeks after the sale ends. Just click this link to check everything out: https://gogandy.com/academy-hssspisd26. And if you have any questions or need a hand, our friendly Office Manager is only a message away and happy to help! Happy shopping! 😊

Click flyer below or go here for more information.

Hello Titan Families,

We’ve reached that time of year again—STAAR End-of-Course testing is just around the corner. We kindly ask that learners make every effort to be present on their scheduled testing days. It’s important to note that students tend to feel more relaxed and perform better when testing alongside their peers.

STAAR Testing Dates:

• Tuesday, April 7: 1st years take English 1 EOC

• Tuesday, April 7: 2nd years take English 2 EOC

• Tuesday, April 14: 2nd years take Biology EOC

• Tuesday, April 16: 3rd years take US EOC

• Thursday, April 23: 1st years take Algebra I

Learners can email edna.phythian@pisd.edu if they are unable to test on the assigned date and are in need of doing so on the assigned makeup date.

We ask all learners to arrive before 9:00 AM and report to their designated testing area. We’ll transition to lunch at 1:10 PM, providing all learners with 30 minutes to eat before returning to class. Learners who are still testing at 1 will get their lunch, then return to the testing room for a monitored lunch; testing will resume at 1:30.

How can parents support learners in preparing for a calm and successful day of testing?

• Encourage your learner to go to bed at a reasonable time the night before the test and to eat breakfast on the day of the test.

• Ensure your learner leaves the house with a fully charged Chromebook, arrives at school on time, and brings their Chromebook charger, water, and a quiet snack.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting our learners during this testing period. They’ve worked hard this year, and these assessments are an additional measure of their knowledge in these specific areas. If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to Edna Phythian at edna.phythian@pisd.edu. We appreciate your trust and support.

Thank you!

Hey there, awesome folks! 🎉 Our fantastic 10th, 11th, and 12th graders are all set to have an amazing time at the zoo on April 21st! 🦁🐵 Everyone’s invited to join the adventure. To make sure your students are all set for the fun, please go to StudentQuickPay.com/PISD to cover their $23.00 for admission and bus fees. 🚍💳 If you have any questions or just want to chat, don’t hesitate to reach out — we’re here to help make this a zoo-per day! 🐯😊

Please make sure payment is completed in Rycor by April 20 in order for your student to attend the trip. Any student who does not submit payment by the deadline will remain on campus and complete an alternative assignment during the field trip.

Financial assistance available. Please reach out to Assistant Principal Phythian with questions about financial assistance.

Parents - Please complete the parent consent form for all activities your child will participate in during Titan Time. You only need to do this once per year so no action is needed if you already submitted your consent form during fall. You only need to submit a new one if your child will be participating in a new activity this spring.

Students - Please complete the Titan Time Selection Form for March 25- May 22.

Please use this link for instructions on setting up Skyward Family Access

The Family Access portal will allow parents/guardians to monitor and participate in your child’s education, including the ability to:

• Review grades
• Check schedules
• View upcoming assignments
• Keep track of attendance
• Manage fees and payments
• Access other important information

Dear Parents,

We are moving away from a standards based grading system and the use of Empower as our platform. We will be fully transitioning to a traditional grading system with all grades entered in Skyward with the start of the 26/27 school year. Our math team has been using Skyward and a traditional grading system this fall semester. Some teachers in other content areas will begin using Skyward and a traditional grading system for the upcoming Spring 2026 semester. All Academy teachers will use Skyward and a traditional grading system starting with the 26/27 school year. This transition plan is designed to help us continue to move toward clear and consistent college preparatory grading practices at AHS. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Dr. Howard

Please review our practice for incidents involving academic dishonesty:

Teachers enter all academic dishonesty incidents in 360 as admin-managed. Administration council with students and assign the consequences below.

• 1st time- redo max 70

• 2nd time- redo, max 50

• 3rd time and beyond- zero and 1 day ISS

PSAT/SAT Resources: https://www.pisd.edu/departments-66/advanced-academics/psat-and-sat

Resources include general information about each test, test preparation resources, and how to interpret score reports.

Plano ISD senior high school graduations will be celebrated across three evenings. The graduation dates, times and locations for the senior high schools and Academy High School are as follows:

• Plano Senior High School | WED | MAY 27 | 7 PM | Ford Center at the Star in Frisco

• Plano East Senior High School | THU | MAY 28 | 7 PM | Ford Center at the Star in Frisco

• Plano West Senior High School | FRI | MAY 29 | 7 PM | Ford Center at the Star in Frisco

• Academy High School | SAT | MAY 30 | 2 PM | Plano ISD Robinson Fine Arts Center

Graduation details are available for students and families at www.pisd.edu/graduation

About the scholarship:

The Plano Retired Teachers Association (PRTA) is the local unit of the Texas Retired Teachers Association. The Plano unit, comprising nearly 500 retired educators and school employees, helps its members stay informed about local, state, and national issues of interest. The organization encourages networking and advocates for laws and legislation that benefit educators and students. This organization’s goal is to advance causes related to education and community volunteerism. The Plano Retired Teachers Association offers three scholarships, one at each of the three senior high schools, each valued at $ 1,000, to graduating seniors planning to pursue a career in education.

Eligibility: Graduating Senior at Plano Senior High School, Plano East Senior High School, Plano West Senior High School, and Plano ISD Academy High School. (Academy HS seniors will apply through the senior high attendance zone where they reside.)

Criteria: Applicant plans to pursue a career in education

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeyWLNZTm7zdZpw5el1C2ZL804B7Ro2DF8D7prY65Pb-Xe1Bw/viewform

The application with documents is due April 8th, 2026.

The committee will meet soon after the application deadline to review if necessary.

Recipients will be notified by April 15, 2026.

Guinn Special Programs Center, in partnership with Top Achievers and IntelliChoice, offers free math tutoring every Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Guinn Special Programs Center, 2221 Legacy Dr, Plano, TX.

• Open to all PISD students

• Approximately 3:1 student-to-tutor ratio

• Individualized support, including help with homework

• Light breakfast provided

• All materials included

Register at: https://topachieversfoundation.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/106/responses/new

Use this link to add many to your student's lunch account: https://www.schoolcafe.com/make-payment

Driving Question: “How do we live responsibly within a modern community?”

Dear First Year Parent or Guardian,

Project Sustain is our last project of the year and will provide your learner with the opportunity to work as a developer with the goal of creating a solution for a sustainability issue. Assigned to a real city with multiple sustainability issues, teams will identify a specific issue, research solutions, identify a solution, and build a 3-D model representing a specific solution. Solutions will take into consideration the city’s unique needs and existing infrastructure. Teams will create a documentary video of the process reflecting their researched and designed sustainability solutions. Teams will present their solutions and models to environmental professionals for a final evaluation. In addition, parents and friends will be invited to hear the professional panel respond to each team’s solution and view their documentary and city models.

Content Overview:

Art - Learners will explore how to effectively communicate messages visually through their artwork and consider how to design products with users in mind.

CADD - Understand concepts behind 3D construction tools, create technical drawings for house designs, and use more complex techniques to create moving parts in a 3D Design software.

English- Learners will practice research skills by citing, paraphrasing, and synthesizing information for the project. They will examine argumentative and informative texts to develop their critical response thinking and writing skills.

Math- Algebra 1 will explore quadratic functions as we prepare for our STARR exam.

Geometry students will learn about trigonometry, circles and their properties, as well as two- and three-dimensional shapes.

Spanish- Learners will explore how to use phrases and vocabulary using the simple and continuous tense to communicate everyday situations and problems solutions, through a comic book, and storytelling.

World Geography - Learners will explore how humans interact with and change their environment and how the evolution of technology has changed our civilization through time.

Questions for the dinner table:

• Why do we use our current energy provider versus another?

• What is the source of the water we drink?

• What did you look for when you decided that Plano would be a great place to raise a family?

• If you could fix anything about the infrastructure where we live, what would it be?

• If you could build a house from the ground up, what energy saving measures would you want to include & why?

Thank you for all your support! Please let any of us know if you have questions about or ideas for this project.

Sincerely,

The 1st Year Facilitators

Please review the third year website here (updated weekly): https://sites.google.com/pisd.edu/3rd-year-team/home

Please review Ms. Jain's 4th Year Math Newsletter (updated weekly): https://tinyurl.com/4thyearMathNews