Mustang Message
August 1, 2025
Ready to do some school supply shopping? School supply lists can be found here:
https://www.pfisd.net/our-schools/campus-resources/school-supply-lists
If you ordered from Sprout, their supplies will be delivered directly to the classroom.
When you do your school supply shopping, please look for spill-proof water bottles. We have found that some of the cups, even if they have a lid, get knocked over and spill on papers and computers in classrooms.
For safety reasons, classroom doors remain locked at all times. If you pick your child up early, there is a good chance that any items left in the classroom will need to be retrieved the next day when they return. The front office staff does not have keys to the classrooms.
Please remember to communicate any early pickups with your child's teacher. Additionally, let your child's teacher know about any changes in going home.
Dear PfISD Families,
We want to inform you that MySchoolBucks will increase its credit/debit card transaction fee to $3.50 per payment starting August 1, 2025. This fee is set by MySchoolBucks, not Pflugerville ISD. Meal prices will remain the same for next year; PfISD has not increased school meal prices since the 2018–2019 school year.
To help families plan ahead, MySchoolBucks is NOW OPEN for the 2025–2026 school year. You may add funds before August 1 to take advantage of the current $3.25 credit/debit card fee. The e-check fee will remain at $2.75 per transaction.
This year, we are also pleased to offer MySchoolBucks OnePay, a cost-saving membership option for families who make frequent online payments. With OnePay, you can make unlimited payments using a checking account all year without per-transaction fees.
OnePay Membership Options:
- $12.95 per student OR
- $26.95 per family
How to Enroll in OnePay:
- Log in at MySchoolBucks.com
- Click your name and select My User Profile
- In the My Memberships box, select Update Membership
- Choose a Membership Plan and enter your checking account information
No-Fee Payment Options for Student Meals:
Cash or check payments are always accepted directly at any PfISD cafeteria WITHOUT service fees. Make checks payable to Pflugerville ISD Food Service and include:
- Driver’s license number
- Phone number
- Student’s name
- Student’s school ID number
Please note: Creating and managing a MySchoolBucks account is free. Features include low balance notifications, student meal history, and management of multiple student accounts.
For questions, contact MySchoolBucks support at parentsupport@myschoolbucks.com or (855) 832-5226.
Thank you for your attention to this update and for supporting our students and schools.
Pflugerville ISD Food & Child Nutrition Services
Dear PfISD Families,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the final days of summer with your students. As we gear up for the start of a new school year, I want to share an important update about a new state law that will impact all Texas schools, including Pflugerville ISD.
Beginning this school year, a new law, House Bill 1481, requires that students not use personal devices during school hours. This means that from the first bell to the last, students must keep items like cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, tablets, and gaming devices put away and out of sight. The law applies to any personal wireless device that can send or receive data, unless it's been issued by the school for instructional purposes.
Here’s what this means in everyday terms:
- Personal cell phones, tablets, gaming devices, smartwatches, Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, and even fitness trackers that can send or receive messages must stay stored away during the school day.
- There are exceptions for students with documented medical needs or special education accommodations.
This law aims to help students stay focused, reduce distractions, and create a safer and more respectful learning environment for everyone.
We understand this is a big adjustment for many students, so we’ve developed a phased-in approach to help students and families adjust:
Phase 1: Transition Period (August 13 – September 18)
During the first nine weeks of school, we’ll focus on education and grace. Students will receive reminders, and staff will take time to explain the new expectations. Each campus will have a designated point person to help guide this transition, and families will receive information through school emails, newsletters, websites, and social media.
During this transition phase, the consequences for cell phone use will be progressive:
- First offense: Verbal reminder
- Second offense: Device confiscated and returned at the end of the day
- Third offense: Device returned only to a parent or guardian
- Chronic violations: Parent meeting and progressive discipline
In the case of emergencies, students can always contact home through the front office or school clinic.
Phase 2: Full Implementation (Starting Week of September 18–25)
Once we’ve given students time to learn the expectations, enforcement will shift to immediate and progressive consequences without verbal warnings. The consequences will include:
- First offense: Device confiscated and returned only to a parent/guardian
- Second offense: Confiscation plus lunch detention; documented in Skyward
- Third offense: Confiscation plus half-day of in-school suspension (ISS) and a parent meeting
- Fourth offense or chronic issues: Full-day ISS, behavior plan, or temporary ban of the device on campus
Students who refuse to turn in their devices when asked will face disciplinary action in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct.
We know change can be tough, and that’s why we’re working hard to help students and staff get used to this new law. But we also need your help. Please take a few minutes to talk with your student about the importance of following this new law. When parents and schools work together, we can ensure our teachers spend more time teaching and less time managing device distractions.
As always, we appreciate your partnership and support.
Here’s to a great year ahead!
Yours in Education,
Dr. Quintin Shepherd
Superintendent
Pflugerville ISD
Mustang Families,
Welcome back for the 2025-2026 school year! I hope you have had a great summer. We are gearing up to get ready for the next school year and have missed your children terribly! Please show them this quick video from me: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1STSVmExtMT_oZwnbbF3n_nf55CCI78sB/view?usp=sharing
Save the Date! Meet the Teacher Night is on August 11 from 4:30-6:30. It is a come-and-go event where you can see your child's classroom, meet their teacher, and drop off their school supplies. Your child's teacher will call you to introduce themselves the week of August 4-8. There will be food trucks outside that night as well!
Thank you for sharing your children with us!
Carrie Quinney
Principal
Murchison Elementary
Throughout the year we will have games and prize opportunities for our staff and teachers. If you would like to donate a $10 gift card (to anywhere!) for a staff prize, feel free to drop it off in the front office.
Hi!
My name is Lila Khanal RN, I am going to be the school nurse at Murchison Elementary for the 2025-26 school year.
I was working as an RN at St. David Medical Center Orthopedics unit for four years before this position. I received my Master's in English Education from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, and I was an elementary teacher 10 years ago. I have been living in the States since 2015 with my husband and kids. I have 2 daughters, ages 2 and 9.
I am loving this position as a school nurse and am really very happy to be a part of a great team. Thank you!
My name is Susan Vandeloock, and I am excited to be your new Murchison Elementary School Counselor. My experience with children before counseling was as a middle school classroom teacher for nine years. I earned my Masters of Education degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Texas at Austin, and began my career as a school counselor in 2000. I have worked as an elementary school counselor in Pflugerville ISD since 2004. My job at Murchison Elementary is to help children have a successful and positive school experience. If I can ever be of assistance to you or your family, please feel free to contact me anytime via phone or email. susan.vandeloock@pfisd.net; 512-594-6026
The PfISD calendar has been published. Please make sure you review the dates when we have no school so that you can plan your vacations around school breaks.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JZSF6_kC7UNH9j6M44JTuo1PN3gjnAL0/view?usp=sharing
The importance of good school attendance cannot be stressed enough. Studies have shown that students who make the most academic gains are the ones who attend school regularly. Additionally, students who attend school regularly develop good habits that they will carry with them throughout their school career. This article gives great information about why attendance is important: https://www.attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/the-problem/10-facts-about-school-attendance/
This year, all parents are asked to complete the Socioeconomic Form as part of this year’s PfISD student enrollment process, regardless of socioeconomic need. State and federal funds are allocated to school districts based on this information.
All families are asked to complete this form regardless of income since the completion of this form impacts the district’s programming and funding.
Completing or not completing this form will not impact free meals for any student, as that is a separate process. However, an additional form may be required to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
For more information, please refer to the Pflugerville ISD Food & Child Nutrition Services webpage: https://www.pfisd.net/programs/food-and-child-nutrition-services/free-and-reduced-meals- application-and-socioeconomic-information-form
To ensure we are ready to return to school in August, please complete your PfISD Annual Forms as soon as possible. These forms are required for every student each year.
You can complete the forms through your Skyward Parent Portal. To access the portal, click “here” at the link below.
Click to complete Annual Forms: www.pfisd.net/skyward
If you have not completed the forms but don’t see them in Skyward, please check with your student's other parents/guardians to see if they have them waiting in their account. If you have additional questions, email Skyward support at parentportal@pfisd.net.
Students who took TELPAS or STAAR last year will have results released to the Family Portal via Skyward Family Access. Please let me know if you have trouble accessing your child's results.
Next year's STAAR dates are as follows:
April 14th- 5th Grade RLA
April 15th- 3rd & 4th Grade RLA
April 16th-17th- RLA Make Ups
April 21st- 5th Grade Science
April 22nd- April 24th- Science Make Ups
April 28th- 5th Grade Math
April 29th- 3rd & 4th Grade Math
April 30th-May 1st- Math Make Ups
August 13 -- First Day of School!
September 1 -- No School
September 23 -- Open House from 5:30-6:30, more information coming soon!
View the full PfISD calendar here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JZSF6_kC7UNH9j6M44JTuo1PN3gjnAL0/view?usp=sharing
Stay connected
Website: https://mes.pfisd.net/
Location: 2215 Kelly Lane, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512-594-6000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/murchisones/