Academy Parent Newsletter

May 16th: AHS Soccer Club Tournament at PESH

May 18th: Morning Open House for Prospective Students and Families

May 18th: Field Day (11:00 - 1:40)

May 19th: First Year Presentations - Parents Invited (see flyer below)

May 19th - May 22: Early Release with Dismissal at 1:05

May 20th: Senior Awards 6:00 - 7:30 and Senior Sunset After

May 30th 2PM: Graduation 2026!

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:

• 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

Google Doc Version

We are so excited to celebrate the Class of 2026! Please see the information below regarding graduation, diplomas, and final transcripts:

Graduation is Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

• Graduates will be at the Robinson Fine Arts Center by 1:00 pm, ready with caps & gowns on.

• Graduates, when entering the foyer go to the far left side and there will be a check-in table

• Doors to the Robinson Fine Arts Center will open to guests at 1:30 pm

• There will be no reserved seating so an early arrival is advised.

General Graduation Information: https://www.pisd.edu/graduation

• The AHS graduation ceremony will be live-streamed. The link to the live stream will be sent to learners the week of graduation.

• Guests are not permitted to bring balloons or signs into the building on the day of graduation.

• No outside food or drink is allowed.

Graduation Rehearsal:

• Friday, May 22 at 10:00am, at the Robinson Fine Arts Center

• We will walk through the whole ceremony. This is for learners only.

• Please review the linked conduct form that learners will fill out at the graduation rehearsal.

Graduation Tickets:

• Each graduate will be issued 10 tickets for family members and guests.

• Graduates receive their tickets at the end of the school day Friday, May 22.

• Graduates do not need a ticket to enter.

Dress Code and Personal Items:

• Graduates are not allowed to have purses/bags or cell phones/cameras in their possession. Please make arrangements ahead of time to keep these items in your car or with a family member.

• All learners should already have their cap & gown (including stole & tassel).

• If you are missing any of these items, please contact the school immediately.

• It is prohibited to decorate your cap and/or gown.

• We recommend writing your name on the inside of your cap so it can be returned to you after the cap toss at the end of the ceremony.

• If you need access to our professional closet before the day of graduation please let a 4th Year facilitator know.

• Dress for graduation is business/business casual.

• Keep in mind what type of shoes you will be wearing and the terrain you will be walking on: stairs & the stage floor, tiled (sometimes slippery) floor.

• We recommend that you steam your graduation gown and stoles to ensure they are wrinkle free.

• Students must be properly attired to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Diplomas:

• Actual diplomas will not be given during the ceremony. Diplomas will be available for pickup June 1st - 4th at AHS from 9:00 - 3:00.

• If a learner is not attending graduation, they need to make arrangements to pick up their diploma on campus no later than June 8th.

• Learners MUST make an appointment with the Office Manager BEFORE coming.

• Diplomas will not be mailed.

• For security and privacy reasons, diplomas will not be given to friends. Parents may pick them up if the learner is unable to do so.

Professional Photography:

• Flash Photography will photograph each graduate before and during the ceremony and mail proofs at no charge within a few days of the ceremony. If you did not fill out a Flash photography address card at rehearsal, we will have one for you when you check in. Contact Flash at www.FLASHphotography.com if you have questions.

Parking:

• Guest parking is available in front of the Robinson Fine Arts building off of Alma. (This will fill up quickly)

• Graduates will park on the side of the building and enter through the back door.

• Carpooling is highly encouraged.

After the Ceremony:

• Please talk with your graduate ahead of time to pick a place to meet after the ceremony, as well as to see what side of their row they are sitting closest to so you have the closest seat to your child.

• Graduates will learn this information at practice on Friday.

Final Transcripts:

• Final transcripts are sent to the college that they will attend in the fall, as well as to Collin College if the student plans to attend there in the summer and/or fall.

• If any changes are to be made to where the final transcript needs to be sent, please request one through our webpage links.

For Seniors: If you’ve earned your cords and stoles for graduation, your fee is now posted in Rycor. You’re all set to pick them up once you’ve made the payment during the last week of school! If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to chat about it, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Mrs. Addison—she’s more than happy to help you out!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to invite you to the Academy High School Senior Awards Ceremony on May 20th at 6:00 PM. This special evening celebrates the achievements and bright futures of our graduating seniors, and we would be honored to have you join us.

During the ceremony, we will recognize outstanding academic accomplishments, present special awards, and provide students with an opportunity to share their achievements and plans for the future.

Each senior will have a display table set up. These tables are meant to celebrate the learner’s journey and may include accomplishments, hobbies and interests, photos, future plans, and other meaningful items.--We invite parents and loved ones to arrive at 5:30 PM to help set up their senior’s display tables.

Suggested items for display tables include:

• Baby and childhood photos

• Awards and achievements earned outside of school

• College pennants or shirts

• Photos or items representing future plans

• Hobbies, activities, or personal interests

Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

We look forward to celebrating the incredible accomplishments of our graduating seniors with you and sharing this memorable evening together.

Thank you for all of your support this year!

Sincerely,

The Fourth-Year Team

SENIORS — we need YOU one more time!

As you get ready to graduate, please take a few minutes to complete our Alumni Form:
https://tinyurl.com/alumniahsform

This form helps us stay connected with you after graduation and learn about your plans, experiences, and successes. Your responses help us improve programs, support future students, and build a strong alumni network for Academy.

It only takes a few minutes, but it makes a lasting impact.

Thank you for everything you’ve contributed to Academy, we’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do next!

Parents please be aware that dismissal will be at 1:05 pm on Tuesday 5/19 - Friday 5/22. Thank you!

Use this Google Form to Vote: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjbHNI2a_a6bUtCD0HHcmKZ8m52NDDMTouaBI8_NmEbmgLQw/viewform

Our 2026 - 2027 (next school year) bell schedule is posted below. We will continue with the fundamental structure of our day including class time, project time, Titan time, and a 1-hour lunch for students. The start of the day will continue to be 9:05 and the end of the day will continue to be 4:35. The start and end time for classes is adjusting a bit. We will have 8 total periods instead of 7.

We are making these slight adjustments for two key reasons:

1) This schedule allows math, engineering, science, English, and social studies classes to meet every day. Only math and engineering courses met every day this year. Other class categories will continue to meet every other day on our A/B block schedule as they did this year.

2) This schedule will allow students to attend classes at the CTE center next door for cybersecurity and robotics/automation. Engineering classes will continue to take place at AHS.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

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.

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