PHS 2026-2027 Welcome Back

Dear Pella High School Families & Students,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! Our team at Pella High School is excited to welcome our students back to campus and to partner with you for what is going to be an incredible year.

To our families sending a student to high school for the very first time, welcome to the PHS family! Please know that our top priority is creating an environment where every single student feels safe, seen, valued, and heard. We are fully committed to supporting them as they learn, lead, and achieve academically, socially, and personally.

There is a unique brilliance that high school students bring to our halls, and our staff truly loves being a part of their journey. Thank you for your continued partnership; we are looking forward to an action-packed year ahead at Pella High School!

Here’s to an amazing year ahead. Go Dutch!

Respectfully,

Josh Manning

Principal

Derek Schulte

Assistant Principal

Nick Fynaardt

Activities Director

August 2026 Calendar

19th Freshmen/New to Pella Orientation and Open House for grades 10-12 (details below)

24th First day of school

25th Picture day

26th 90 Minute Early Dismissal

* Go to www.pellaschools.org and click on the calendar tab to see all events/activities. You may also access the calendar by going to https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/pella

High School Picture Day - Tuesday, August 25th!

Picture Day is coming on Tuesday, August 25!

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using the Picture Day ID: EVT73QTBV.

Your student can also bring their completed flyer (available in the main office) with cash or check on Picture Day. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping! Orders after Picture Day must be placed online only on mylifetouch.com.

Staff Updates

New to the Pella High School staff:

Apryl Knox: Special Education Teacher
Captain Paul Haase: Criminal Justice
Terry DeKoning: Welding

Familiar Faces in New Roles at Pella High School:

Nick Fynaardt: Activities Director

Back to School Night Open House Event - August 19

The high school will be hosting an open house for all high school students on August 19th, which will be held in two sessions. 9th grade and all new students to the district will begin at 5:00, and 10-12th grade will begin at 6:30.

Schedule Changes will not be addressed this evening. If a student wants to request a schedule change, they can see our school counselors on the first day of school.

9th grade and New Students to the District:

Parents are invited to orientation but are not required to attend.

5:00 – 5:15 HS Principal's & Counselor's message (Auditorium)

5:15 – 6:30 Open House

Find your locker, check your combo, and drop off school items
Walk your schedule and meet teachers
Pick up Student ID at the activities office
Computer Checkout - IT Office across from the Library

5:30 New Students to the District Computer Training (Library)

10th -12th Grades

6:30 - 8:00

Check locker and combo, drop off any items in locker
Walk schedule and meet teachers
Pick up Student ID from activities office
Purchase parking tag from main office - $5 - you must know your car's make, model and license plate number. All outstanding fees, including lunch balances, must be paid off in order to purchase a parking pass.
Computer Checkout - IT Office across from the Library

Chromebook Rollout & Training Sessions

Returning Students - may stop by the high school between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm August 18-20 and from 8:00-12:00 on August 21 to check out a laptop from the Student Help Center (HS Room 1217). Please enter from the activities entrance or the building main entrance.

New Students to the District & Parent/Guardian - You will need to watch a Chromebook Training Session and sign our Acceptable Use Policy prior to being issued a Chromebook during the checkout window of August 18th to the 21st. We will also have hard copies available. If you are unable to complete these at home, a training session will be held in the library at 5:30 pm during orientation night on 8/19.

Student ID and Activity Cards

High School ID Cards/Activity passes can be picked up in the activity office on:

August 17-21st from 8:00-4:00 PM
August 19 from 5:00-8:00 during open house.

Pella HS Activities Information

Personal Device Policy

New this school year: Meta Glasses are not permitted during any assessments.

Parking and Parent Drop Off/Pick Up

Parking Expectations/Guidelines:

10-12 Grade Parking Permits - $5

Students in grades 10–12 are allowed to park in designated student areas on campus, including the tennis court lot.
A new parking pass is required each school year and can be purchased for $5 in the main office or on Infinite Campus.
Students who have outstanding parking tickets, fees, or lunch balances will not be allowed to purchase or obtain a parking pass for the current school year until those fees are paid off.
Students can pick up their passes in the main office beginning 8/10, M-F, 8:00-3:30.
Students must know the make, model, and license plate for their car.
A parking permit grants a student access to campus parking but does NOT guarantee a parking space, as parking is limited on campus.
All students who are not issued a parking permit must park off of school grounds. Off campus parking is available at Caldwell Park and legal street parking.
The school IS NOT responsible for lost items, stolen items, or vandalism to vehicles in the parking areas.

9th Grade Parking

Freshman drivers may park for free (no pass needed) at Caldwell Park or find legal street parking that avoids blocking mailboxes.
Faith Church has a limited amount of parking passes available for freshman to purchase from the church office for $20. These passes must be purchased at the Faith Church office M-F from 8:00-12:00 beginning on 8/10. Freshman must purchase one of their passes if they want to park in their lot.
Freshman may not park in any high school lot or the tennis court lot during the school day, Freshman may park in the school lot for before school practice/events, evening activities, weekends, and no school days. If freshman park in the main lot for before school practice/events, they must move their vehicle before the school day begins.

Students who park in school lots (including the tennis court lot) without a permit or park in “no parking” or “reserved parking” areas may have their permits revoked, be fined, and/or towed at their expense.

Fines for illegal parking are $15 for each offense.
If a student consistently parks illegally or does not pay their parking fines, they may lose additional privileges (open campus privileges, work release, parking privileges etc.)
Students who drive in an unsafe manner may have their permits revoked, be fined, or receive other disciplinary action(s).

Parent Drop off and Pick up

Parents may drop off and pick up students on the East/Athletics' Entrance side of the building at the activities entrance. Parents should not use the front entrance on University Ave. for drop off and pick up. This area is for busses only.

Parking map Drop off link

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications

Free and Reduced applications are now available on our website. If you need a printed copy please call or email Jodi Houtz, 641-628-1748 or jodi.houtz@pellaschools.org

High School Supply List

2026-2027 High school supply list.

Student Schedules

Students received their schedules in May but will need to look at them again on Infinite Campus before school starts. Some schedules have changed in an effort to balance class sizes. If a student desires to make a schedule change, they can speak to the counselors on the first day of school.

Student Lockers

To find your student’s locker and combination, please refer to Infinite Campus in the Parent Portal, and find it under MORE then LOCKERS. Lockers and their combinations are also found on the student’s printed schedule found under DOCUMENTS.

Activities Attendance and Eligibility

Board Policy 501.9

In order for a student to participate in an interscholastic event, the student must attend all classes and study halls on a normal school day of the event. A school- approved absence the day of an event must be submitted to the office by 9:00am of the day of the absence. If an absence occurs and there is no communication and approval prior to 9:00 am, documentation of an excused appointment is required in order for that student to be eligible to participate in an event that day. Failure to comply with this regulation will result in being ineligible for participation in any extracurricular event/performance on the day they were absent.
Any student serving an in-school OR out-of-school suspension will be ineligible to practice or perform in an event for the day(s) they are suspended. A student serving an out-of-school suspension is not allowed on school property or allowed to attend school events, home and away until reinstated by administration.

Academic/Activity Eligibility

A Pella High School student must be a full time student to participate in interscholastic school-sponsored activities. A full time student is defined as one who is enrolled in seven (7) courses in grades 9-10 and six (6) course in grades 11-12. The exception to this rule is 8th grade students are eligible to participate in High School softball and baseball.

*A full credit course is considered to be a class that meets on a daily basis with the exception of post secondary correspondence unless an online course is approved by an SAT Team.

*Good Conduct Policy can be found in our handbook.

Student/Parent Handbook

2026-2027 Student Handbook.

All students and parents are responsible for being familiar with the policies and procedures in the student handbook.

Student Meal Codes

Students primarily use their student ID to purchase meals, but they may also use a PIN number to buy breakfast or lunch.To find this code, log onto your parent portal, click the student’s name, then click MORE then STUDENT CREDENTIALS and see the code next to STUDENT PIN NUMBER.

SMART Lunch - Students Maximizing Achievement with Resources and Time

SMART Lunch is a scheduled time during the instructional day for students to access the necessary resources to maximize the opportunity for success, and to learn the responsibility necessary to navigate their lives. This time will be scheduled between period 4 and 5, and will be split between A and B, and balanced with a lunch period.

Smart Lunch Schedule

i-Lead - Every Wednesday

Students will meet with their iLead teacher every Wednesday to develop skills in leading their lives, and to build plans for when they graduate from high school. During this time students will experience Leader in Me lessons, enrichment activities with representatives from local businesses, begin career awareness, and begin to plan for their lives after high school. This experience will be tailored for each grade level as they build their post-secondary plans. To meet graduation requirements at Pella High School, all students must successfully complete their designated SchooLinks activities, either during iLead or in an approved alternative setting, to fulfill their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) obligations.

i-Learn - Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Q: What is an iLearn session and how do iLearn sessions work?

A: An iLearn session is structured time each week for teachers to offer various learning activities in addition to what happens during your regular class. This is targeted time to allow students to maximize their learning. Students can voluntarily attend an iLearn session with a teacher OR can be assigned to attend a session by a teacher or counselor. If a student attends an iLearn during A lunch, they will eat B lunch that day or vice versa.

Q: What happens if a student doesn’t attend the iLearn check-in period?

A: Students who do not attend the check-in period will be considered skipping. Attendance will be taken daily and is recorded in Infinite Campus. We will have a monthly session on Wednesday’s after school from 1:45-3:15 pm for students that have not attended their scheduled iLearn or make-up time.

If you have any questions regarding i-Learns please contact Mr. Derek Schulte, Assistant Principal at derek.schulte@pellaschools.org or 641-628-3870.

Entering and Exiting the Building

All students are to use either the east entrance OR main entrance to exit or enter the building during school hours. Juniors and senior students may sign in/out from the west tennis court doors for open lunch only. Students may use other doors when arriving at school and leaving the school at the end of the school day. All school doors will lock at 8:05 a.m. All students entering after 8:05 a.m. will need to use the east entrance or the main entrance and pass through the office(s).

Distinguished Service Program

Pella High School Distinguished Service Program is a program that encourages all students to volunteer in our community and school; all hours must be served in Pella. Participation is not required. Those who choose to partake and who serve 100 hours or more throughout their four years at Pella High School will receive a Distinguished Service Award and a special cord to wear at the graduation ceremony. Students must submit their hours for the current school year by the end of May to have them logged. Please log your hours on this form.

Student Support Services

The Pella High School Student Support Services team is available to assist students and families in many life circumstances that could affect students’ schooling. The services include academic assistance and planning, career and college planning, and personal or social counseling. Students and parents are also encouraged to contact the counselors to assist with situations that arise. It is beneficial to the students when the staff and families work together as a team. There are also many community resources the guidance staff can suggest for any further assistance needed. The Pella High School counselors are Mrs. Manning and Mrs. VanZante.

Follow Pella Schools!

Twitter - @pellaschools

Facebook - Pella Schools

Instagram - @pellaschools

Website

www.pellaschools.org

Preparing Everyone to Learn Lead and Achieve

August 2026 Calendar August 2026 Calendar

High School Picture Day - Tuesday, August 25th! High School Picture Day - Tuesday, August 25th!

Staff Updates Staff Updates

Back to School Night Open House Event - August 19 Back to School Night Open House Event - August 19

Chromebook Rollout & Training Sessions Chromebook Rollout & Training Sessions

Student ID and Activity Cards Student ID and Activity Cards

Personal Device Policy Personal Device Policy

Parking and Parent Drop Off/Pick Up Parking and Parent Drop Off/Pick Up

Free and Reduced Lunch Applications Free and Reduced Lunch Applications

High School Supply List High School Supply List

Student Schedules Student Schedules

Student Lockers Student Lockers

Activities Attendance and Eligibility Activities Attendance and Eligibility

Academic/Activity Eligibility Academic/Activity Eligibility

Student/Parent Handbook Student/Parent Handbook

Student Meal Codes Student Meal Codes

SMART Lunch - Students Maximizing Achievement with Resources and Time SMART Lunch - Students Maximizing Achievement with Resources and Time

Entering and Exiting the Building Entering and Exiting the Building

Distinguished Service Program Distinguished Service Program

Student Support Services Student Support Services