PfISD Family Newsletter

National Bullying Prevention Month

National School Principal Month

Disabilities Awareness Month

Oct. 23-31: Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 27: High School Schedule Task Force Public Hearing

Nov. 2: Board Grievance Committee Meeting, Board Workshop & Supt Formative Evaluation

Nov. 10: State of the District

Nov. 12: Special Board Meeting to Canvass Votes , Regular Board Meeting

Who can refer a student?

• Anyone can refer a learner for GT screening.

How do I submit a referral?

• Use the official PfISD GT Referral Form.
• Access the GT Referral Form - English, Spanish, Vietnamese

What are the annual deadlines for the GT Referral Process?

• Community GT Referral Window: October 5th to October 31st
• Universal Screening: All PfISD 2nd-grade students & GT 3rd-grade students will be screened between October 5th & October 31st.
• New Referral Screening Window: All community-referred students will be screened November 15th to January 15th.

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, Texas has a new graduation requirement related to My Texas Future and Direct Admissions.

What is My Texas Future?

My Texas Future is a Texas resource that helps students explore college, career, and postsecondary opportunities. Through the Direct Admissions Program, students can see Texas colleges and universities where they may qualify for admission based on their student information.

What does my student need to do?

To meet this graduation requirement, students must complete ONE of the following:

Option 1: Participate in Direct Admissions

• Students create or update their My Texas Future profile and choose to participate in the Direct Admissions Program.
• Student Directions Graphic
• Step-by-Step Student Guide

OR

Option 2: Opt Out of Direct Admissions
Students may decline participation by completing the official Direct Admissions Opt-Out Form.

• Direct Admissions Opt-Out Form

For students under 18, a parent/guardian must complete the appropriate authorization. Students who are 18 or older may complete the form themselves. A school counselor may also authorize a student to opt out in writing.

Important!

Students must complete one of these options to satisfy this graduation requirement.

Choosing to participate in Direct Admissions does not mean your student has applied to college or must attend a college that contacts them. It is simply a way for students to learn about colleges where they may qualify for admission.

Questions?

If you have questions about this requirement or need assistance completing the process, please contact your student's school counselor.

Thank you for supporting your student's college and career planning and helping them complete this important graduation requirement.

Protecting our families and community online is a shared responsibility, and Pflugerville ISD takes cybersecurity very seriously. As digital tools play an increasingly central role in our students learning and daily lives, keeping our school community safe online remains a top priority.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it a great time to strengthen cybersecurity habits both at school and at home. To support our families, we are sharing a free cybersecurity tool to help check password security and protect against online threats:

KnowBe4 Free Cybersecurity Tools CAPY

This resource is 100% free to use with no account or registration required.

We encourage parents, guardians, and community members to explore these tools as we work together to maintain a safe, secure digital environment for all of our students!

PfISD has announced public hearing dates for each of its five District Optimization Task Forces. These hearings give parents, staff and community members an opportunity to share feedback directly before recommendations move forward.

PUBLIC HEARING DATES

High School Schedule Task Force

October 27 | 5:30 p.m. |LTC, 1601 W Pecan St, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Each hearing is open to the public and will focus on the specific issues assigned to that Task Force.

We encourage our PfISD community to attend, learn more and share your thoughts. Meeting notes and recordings will also be made available on the district website.

Your feedback is an important part of helping shape the future of PfISD.

For more information: https://www.pfisd.net/about-us/district-optimization

Once Pfamily, always Pfamily!

Did you graduate from Pflugerville ISD? We want to hear from you!

Through the PfISD Community Mosaic, we’re gathering stories about the people and moments that helped shape who you are.

Whether you’re in college, building a career, serving in the military, raising a family right here in Pflugerville, or even working for PfISD now, your story can inspire the students walking our halls today.

Your story could be featured in future PfISD publications and on our social media channels.

Know a PfISD grad? Forward this along and help us reconnect with our alumni!

Click Here to Share Your Alumni Story!

PfISD’s top priority is the safety of students and staff. The district follows the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which provides clear actions during emergencies. It’s important for families to understand the differences between terms like Hold, Secure, and Lockdown, since students may use them interchangeably.

Recognizing these distinctions helps everyone respond appropriately and reduces confusion during drills or incidents. PfISD works closely with law enforcement to ensure coordinated responses, and families are kept informed through calls, texts, and emails.

Each week, we’ll highlight one action from the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to help families understand the terminology used during different situations.

Used to safely move people away from danger to a secure location.

Join us for Special Education Parent Connection Night, an evening designed to connect families with helpful resources and organizations that support individuals with disabilities.

Enjoy free pizza and childcare, hear from a guest speaker and visit with local agencies and organizations to learn more about the services and support they provide.

📍 Park Crest Middle School | 1500 N. Railroad Ave., Pflugerville
🍕 Dinner: 5:15–5:45 p.m.
👧 Childcare Opens: 5:30 p.m.
🎤 Guest Speaker: 5:35 p.m.
🤝 Agency Fair: 6–7:15 p.m.

For more information, contact Julie Schwarz, Family Engagement Specialist, at Julie.Schwarz@pfisd.net or 512-594-9254.

Featured shoutout

⭐ Cory Gunter – Hidden Lake ES

“Mr. Gunter has built such fun and meaningful relationships with the choir students. Our child comes home after every rehearsal talking about how engaging and enjoyable choir has been.” -via Kristen Kessel, parent)

✨ Have you experienced a staff member who went above and beyond?

✨ Did someone’s kindness or commitment leave a lasting impression?

✨ Do you want to celebrate an educator, coach, or support staff member for the difference they’ve made?

If so, we invite you to take a moment to submit a Shoutout. Your words of appreciation will not only brighten someone’s day, but also strengthen the culture of gratitude and support that makes PfISD such a special place. These shoutouts will be featured in our Monthly PfISD Magazine: The Pflyer.

A Few Helpful Reminders When Submitting a Shoutout:

• Keep your message short and meaningful.
• Be specific: Share what the staff member did that stood out to you.
• Keep it positive and encouraging—Shoutouts are meant to celebrate!
• Anyone can send a Shoutout: parents, students, or community members.
• Submissions may be shared publicly to highlight our amazing staff, so please keep your message professional and kind.