Academy Parent Newsletter

Dear Parents,

We had an exciting homecoming week with a wonderful pep rally today, and great participation for our mum competition. We are looking forward to the homecoming dance tomorrow evening. The school spirit was amazing and I am proud of our students for their engagement and participation.

The PSAT is coming up on October 1st for all 9th and 10th graders. The 11th graders who registered will also be taking the PSAT. This is a great opportunity for our students. Please encourage your child to get a good night's rest and bring their very best effort for the PSAT on 10/1. Take care and have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Josh Howard

September 27th: Homecoming Dance

October 1st: PSAT

October 7th: ASVAB

October 31st: Deadline to register and pay for AP exams.

We are excited to offer the PSAT test once again to all 1st- and 2nd-year learners on October 1st; 3rd-year students who have elected to take the exam are also included in the exam on October 1. The PSAT is an important test that can help open doors to opportunities for college, scholarships, and recognition.

On Wednesday, October 1st, participating learners will be taking the PSAT 9 or the PSAT/NMSQT. For 1st- and 2nd-year learners, these are college readiness assessments provided to your child at no cost. All 3rd-year learners, who have paid to take the exam, will take the PSAT/NMSQT. By taking the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior, students may meet the requirements to enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. Additionally, the PSAT/NMSQT, connects students to another $300 million in college scholarships for students across major demographics.

All learners may access free test prep materials at Khan Academy and Edgenuity.

On the day of the exam, please make sure learners get an energizing breakfast and arrive before 9:00 AM. Students arriving after the instructions are read in their room will have to take the makeup on Oct. 3.

Please email edna.phythian@pisd.edu with any questions.

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: topachieversplano.org/programs/steam-program

Students need to complete this Google form to select their approved clubs and activities for Titan Time. Parents need to complete this form for each club their child wants to participate in. Students are not allowed to participate in a club until parent consent is received. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Parents: Please note that you must submit an approval form for each club you approve your child to participate in.

⚡️🎶 Grease Lightning Homecoming Dance 🎶⚡️
📅 Saturday, September 27
🕖 7:00 PM

Get ready to hand-jive the night away!
✨ Dance to the beats of our person DJ!!
✨ Strike a pose at the 1950s Car Photo Op — come early for the best shots!

Put on your poodle skirts, leather jackets, and dancing shoes — it’s going to be a night to remember!

Purchase tickets at the link below.

https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/planoisd/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzcyMjI=

We Need Volunteers!
Students and parents — help make this night unforgettable! We need food and we need chaperones. Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4AAFAC2BABF9C70-58765205-hoco#/

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We look forward to partnering with you to support your child’s success this school year. Our fall Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 4, and we invite you to schedule a time to meet with your student’s teachers.

Conferences may be scheduled as in-person or virtual, depending on what works best for your family.

Conferences are a valuable opportunity to:

• Discuss your student’s academic progress

• Learn more about classroom expectations

• Collaborate on strategies to support continued growth

We encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity. If you are unable to attend on November 4, please reach out directly to your student’s teachers to explore alternative arrangements.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Dr. Howard

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

📚 Plano ISD Donation Drive ❤️

Help support students and families in our community!

What we’re collecting:

• Non-perishable canned and dry box food items

• School supplies

• backpacks

Drop-off Locations:

There is a giant pink box in the school's lobby to put items in.

Academy High School, 1701 Alma drive, Plano, TX

Dates:

September 1 - 30

Who benefits:

All donations go directly to Plano ISD students and families who need assistance.

How you can help:

1. Bring items to the drop-off location.

2. Spread the word with family, friends, and neighbors.

Together, we can make a difference for Plano ISD families!

📧 Contact: shannon.carroll@pisd.edu

Calling all parents and learners: the 1st Years need your help! Please fill out the surveys on the Farm to Table project consumable products to give learners feedback on their product ideas.

Farm to Table Survey Links

We also need panelists for our presentation day! Do you (or someone you know) have experience in marketing, the food or beverage industry, or consumable products? If so, we'd love to have you as a panelist on 10/10 from 11:00-12:40. If you are interested, please fill out the following linked form.

Farm to Table Parent Letter

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

Plan X’s final project presentations will take place from Monday, October 6, to Thursday, October 9, at Academy High School, between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. We are looking for 8 to 12 judges each day to watch presentations from two different groups, each lasting about 20 minutes, and then share their thoughts and feedback with the students.

If you are interested and available, please sign up with this Google Form. A confirmation email will be sent to you once you express interest in being a panelist. We will meet you in the reception area at 10:45 on the day(s) you choose to participate. The commitment is approximately 1.5 hours each day.

We are very proud of our learners and their hard work and we look forward to sharing their final products with you.

4th year math information here (updated weekly): https://tinyurl.com/4thyearMathNews