Panther Blog
Home of the Panthers 5/23/2025
PHS Panther Blog 8.21.26
Greetings PHS Team & Pfamily:
We had a productive second week, and we want to share gratitude by saying THANK YOU for your support as we continue to ensure a strong start to the school year!
PfISD Strong Start Classroom Observation Trends:
As we conducted classroom observations this week using, we noticed several positive trends were evident across our classrooms:
- Teacher presence is highly visible: Teachers are consistently utilizing the power zone to engage and monitor all students.
- Attention-getters and classroom expectations: Effective attention-getter strategies and consistent classroom expectations are being implemented.
- Students are ready to learn: Students are seated, engaged, and actively participating in learning.
- Board displays are evident: “We Will,” “I Will,” and Essential Questions (E.Q.) are clearly displayed and aligned to exit tickets.
Student ownership strategies are in place, and a high level of teaching and learning is taking place across our classrooms. We are excited about the academic gains our students are making and look forward to continuing this momentum throughout the school year!
HUGE Thank You to our Staff, Students, and Panther Community for making this growth possible! #Teamwork
Let's Go Panthers! #PantherPRIDE
ECHS 2026-2027 Kick-Off Ceremony
Pflugerville High School is proud to continue growing PfISD’s Early College High School program in partnership with Austin Community College!
Cohort I and Cohort II students and families explored the pathways and resources that will support students as they work toward earning both a high school diploma and an associate degree.
We are Panther PROUD and excited for their high school and college journey!
Panther Varsity Tennis
Players of the Match: Ojashwi Tiwari, Sophia Chavez, Joe Vu, and Liam Sabillon.
Up next: Cedar Ridge on Tuesday and Lampasas on Friday. Let’s Go Panthers!
UNICEF Club
Look at this great turn out for the first UNICEF Club meeting of the year! UNICEF Clubs partner with UNICEF USA to advocate for children's rights, fundraise for children around the globe, and educate and volunteer in their communities.
Helpful Parent Resources:
PHS Website
PHS Staff Directory
https://phs.pfisd.net/about-us/staff-directory
PHS School Profile
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Z_0ek4K2jwm7p8QvJR33-AtMYfmWqwR/view?usp=sharingPHS Parent Compact 26-27
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U6qWszUwQ15qtLccbvljAcpJw3dWwzES/view?usp=sharing
PHS Parent Compact 26-27 Spanish
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oMiU8TbN1NaIao2WbgrI_GTJTe4Efa5N/view?usp=sharing
PHS Parent Compact 26-27 Vietnamese
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FWzRFEDnt-uvPqxMqmSMlBNuFG2IiFf8/view?usp=sharing
Upcoming Calendar Events
- 8/24 Senior Class Meeting PHS PAC (ACE)
- 8/25 Junior Class Meeting PHS PAC (ACE)
- 8/26 Sophomore Meeting PHS PAC (ACE)
- 8/27 Freshmen Meeting PHS PAC (ACE)
- 8/28 Pep Rally 9am Large Gym
- Athletic Schedules: Rank One
Community Eligibility Provision Forms (CEP)
On Wednesday, August 26th, your student will be bringing home an important form from their 2nd period class, the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Form. This form helps our campus qualify for free or reduced price meals for every student and plays a key role in securing important funding that benefits our entire school community.
The campus will be reaching out DAILY to families who haven’t yet returned their forms, so please be sure to complete and sign the form on the back to avoid any follow up calls.
To add a little extra fun, the first TEN classes to return 100% of their forms will earn a pizza party.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Main Office for additional assistance.
Go Panthers!
Free & Reduced Meal Applications & More!!!
The free meals program provided by the USDA and Texas Department of Agriculture for all PfISD students during the pandemic has ended. Students must complete the necessary form to receive free or reduced meals during the 2026-2027 school year.
*** Benefits Included - more than just meals!
- Breakfast entrées with up to two fruit sides and milk
- Lunch entrées, with up to two fruit sides, two vegetable sides and milk
- Two waivers for SAT fees
- Four additional SAT score reports
- SAT online course, discount $40.00
- Two waivers for ACT fees
- Four college application waivers
Please note that the link is not currently active to submit your application Click here for instructions on applying for free and reduced meals (English).
PfISD encourages families who feel they may qualify for the free/reduced meal program to complete the forms this year as it will give their students coverage for the first 30 days of next school year. Then, they must complete an application at the beginning of next school year to receive benefits all year long.
Please take note: the free meals that have been available to all students, regardless of their application status, are ending. Students who have previously been part of the free/reduced meal plan or newer students who enrolled in PfISD may be eligible for the traditional program and need to apply to continue receiving free or reduced meals at school next school year.
MySchool Bucks Account
PHS Counselor Updates: Student Schedules
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year from your PHS Counselors! We are working hard to prepare for a great year. Schedules for the 2026-2027 school year are currently viewable in Skyward.
Schedule Changes
The window for schedule request changes will open Friday morning, August 14th via a QR code posted in the cafeteria or this link and will close Tuesday, August 18th at 4:30pm. Requests will be evaluated based on need and space availability. Students taking advanced or AP courses must remain in the course 4 weeks per district policy before requesting to level down. The level change timeline is below.
August 17 – September 4 Three-week mandatory commitment period; all students remain in assigned courses.
September 11: (Hard Deadline) Request to Withdraw from Advanced Academic Course forms due to counselor with signatures from all applicable parties.
September 14–September 18: Campus processes approved schedule changes.
Schedule Changes for AP and Advanced Level Courses
Following PfISD guidance, students should remain in AP and Advanced level courses to acclimate to the expectations and provide adequate time for staff and students to determine appropriateness of the course. Students requesting a move out of an AP or advanced level course are able to begin that request process with their course teacher Wednesday, September 2nd through Wednesday, September 9th.
Students can view their schedules through their Skyward account. Parents can view the schedules through Skyward Family Access.
How to access the Skyward Family Access:
- English: Family Access Instructions
- Español: Guía de Acceso para Padres y Tutores a Skyward
- Việt: Gia Đình Thuộc Học Khu Pflugerville Truy Cập Skyward
Need your Skyward Family Access User Name?
Send an Email to: parentportal@pfisd.net
Subject Line = Skyward Family Access Account
Additional information can also be obtained by contacting us at parentportal@pfisd.net
PHS Staff Directory:
Per the Texas Education Code 25.092, also known as the “90 percent rule”, a student may not be given credit or a final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered.
Note: Both unexcused and excused absences count towards the 90 percent rule.
Attendance records can be viewed in the Skyward parent portal.
Teachers take attendance for students.
If you or your student have questions regarding your student's absences, please email the teacher(s) directly.
The Fall semester has 82 required school days (41 A days and 41 B days) and the Spring semester has 94 days (47 A days and 47 B days). To calculate the 90/10 split, you must take into account whether the days missed are A or B days; and, if there are continuous class period absences within the semester to affect the make-up hours calculations (see below footnote*).
If a student is denied credit, he/she will receive notification from the Front Office with instructions to see the Front Office staff to make arrangements to make up class hours.
There are opportunities for a student to make up their hours. Listed below are some examples of how to make-up hours:
- After school in our D-Hall room A113 4:30pm-5:30pm Monday—Thursday
- Tutoring before school and after school
Make-up hours will be required on the student’s 5th absence/per class (including excused absences with a parent/medical note) for the Fall semester and on the student's 6th absence/per class (including excused absence with a parent/medical note) for the Spring semester.
Students will have a hold placed on their credit at the end of each semester unless they have completed the make-up hours that are owed. If you have any questions about make-up hours, please email:
Students with last name A - L: Email Lisa.Acedo@pfisd.net or call 512-594-0523
Students with last name M-Z: Email melissa.harris@pfisd.net or call 512-594-051
If your student owes make-up hours they are ineligible to request VOE’s (VOE Order Form For Texas Dept of Public Safety), attend Prom and Homecoming.
If you have any questions please email: Claudia Torres at claudia.torres@pfisd.net
To submit documentation for an absence us the link below:
PfISD SKYWARD RESOURCES
Parents, if your student is returning to PHS for the 2026-2027 school year. Please submit your online Renewal Forms using your Skyward Parent Portal.
English: Family Access Instructions
Español: Guía de Acceso para Padres y Tutores a Skyward
Việt: Gia Đình Thuộc Học Khu Pflugerville Truy Cập Skyward
Click here: https://www.pfisd.net/about-us/departments/technology/skyward
Need your Skyward Family Access User Name?
Send an Email to: parentportal@pfisd.net
Subject Line = Skyward Family Access Account
Additional information can also be obtained by contacting us at parentportal@pfisd.net
High School Bell Schedule
Unlike middle school, high school is on a “block schedule”. A block schedule means we have “A Day” and “B Day”, which divides their 8 classes into two days (A day = 1st thru 4th period, B day = 5th thru 8th period).
The first day of school is an A day, then a B day, then the next week starts A, B,… you get the pattern. Any time we have a holiday or a weekend the pattern is just paused and continued again when we return. Meaning if a week ends with an A day, Monday is a B day. If a week ends with a B day, Monday is an A day. NOTE: The only exception is at the end of the semester (December). We start the 2nd semester in January on an A Day.
Below is a copy of our 2026-2027 ACE Bell Schedule and you can use the link below: https://phs.pfisd.net/about-us/campus-calendar-bell-schedule
What is ACE?
ACE is a specific class assigned to every student. Every 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade student will have an ACE. This class meets EVERY DAY Monday thru Friday (with the exception of the first day of school, pep rally days, testing days, and other “special” days). It is exempt from the A/B day rotation.
At the start of school, this class will serve as a homeroom/advisory where we share important school expectations, traditions, celebrations, and more. It is also a great place for students to ask questions and get help with campus logistics and expectations.
Eventually, it will transition (in task, not location/logistics) into a daily class period that supports students with intervention, enrichment, social emotional, study hall, and important announcements.
Bus Transportation
Bus Service
Pflugerville ISD provides free bus service for students who live more than two miles from their assigned school and for students who live within two miles but along a route defined as “hazardous” to walkers or bike riders. Use the School & Bus Route Locator to find bus routes. Simply type in your home address to see the closest stops, pick-up and delivery times, and bus numbers.
Stopfinder – Parent App
Know in real-time where your child’s bus is and have the most accurate information about your child’s bus schedule in the palm of your hand. In order to use the software, you, as a parent or guardian, will need to have submitted a valid e-mail to your child’s campus.
In order to use the Stopfinder App, you will receive an invitation from the PfISD Transportation department. Invitations are sent out periodically to parents or guardians of students, whose Stopfinder accounts have not yet been activated. Before contactinag the transportation department, check your email box for an invitation email with the follow details:
From: No-reply@stopfinder.com
Subject: PfISD – Welcome to Stopfinder
With Stopfinder, you will:
- Know the schedule of your child’s bus
- Receive push notifications related to your child’s bus schedule and any changes
- Get real-time information on the location of your child’s bus by creating your own alert zones with the upgrade to GeoAlerts
- Notice bus substitutions because they are clearly indicated – reducing misinformation and confusion
- Track multiple buses, a great feature if your children don’t ride the same bus
- Know exactly when your children arrive at school or at home
- Provide parents and caregivers with multilingual options in the app
If you have not received an invitation to Stopfinder, please email the Transportation Department at transportation@pfisd.net
Morning Procedures & Parking Lot Info.
What time do the doors open to students each day?
As previously mentioned, our doors open at 8:10am each morning. Staff arrive at 8:00 am thus allowing for proper supervision.
Students are asked to go to the cafeteria or tutorials until the 8:50 am bell rings to release all students to class.
If I ride the bus, where does it pick me up and at what time?
Get the NEW Bus Finder App: StopFinder PfISD Bus App
If I walk, where do I enter the building?
Morning Drop off Procedures-Students will enter through door 42.pdf
If I am a car rider, where should I get dropped off?
NEW: we have reconfigured our drop off loops to help with traffic flow. Parents, we have moved our special education buses to the side of the school by the PAC. SPED Bus Pick up/Drop off
If I drive, where do I park? Do I need a parking pass on the first day?
Here is a map to indicate student parking Parking Map
You do NOT need a parking pass for the first week of school. We will share parking pass information and when they will be required during the back-to-school ACE presentations.
Visitor, Student, & Staff Parking
Front Parking Lot Traffic Flow Video
*** Please view the video link below to ensure you know the traffic flow for the front parking lot.
Student Safety-Bikes, Scooters and Skateboards
For the safety of all students; bikes, scooters, and skateboards must be walked—not ridden—once on campus grounds. This will help prevent accidents and promote a safe environment for everyone. Students will proceed directly to the designated storage areas near door 44 upon arrival.
Texas House Bill 1481 (Cell Phone Policy)
Student Personal Device Guidelines
During the state’s 2025 legislative session, lawmakers passed and Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that prohibits students from using personal devices during school hours.
House Bill 1481 took effect the 2025-2026 school year and requires all Texas school districts to prohibit students from using "personal wireless communication devices," which the law defines as “any wireless electronic communication device, other than a device provided to students by a school for instructional purposes, capable of transmitting and/or receiving data.
Please visit the link below for additional details and FAQ:
Student IDs
For safety purposes, students are expected to wear their Student ID on a lanyard whenever they are on campus or attending a school sponsored event, in accordance with PFISD and campus policy.
Students had the opportunity to receive a new Student ID free of charge during the first week of school. Returning students are encouraged to continue using their Student ID from last school year if they have it.
As of August 18th, students are now charged $5 for a permanent ID or $1 for a temporary ID. As of August 19th, additional administrative consequences may apply to students who continue to receive temporary IDs or do not comply with the Student ID requirement.
Thank you for helping us keep Panther Nation safe!
PfISD Dress Code
For Dress Code questions use the link below:
PfISD Dress Code refer to District Website
Note: The dress code is adopted by the PfISD School Board and enforced by campuses. Please take a close look at the policy above as we will be working to enforce it this school year.
Chromebooks
Chromebook Distribution
- Incoming 9th-grade students received their Chromebooks through their English classes in the Library on Tuesday, August 18th, and Wednesday, August 19th.
- English classes for grades 10-12 visited the Library on Friday, August 14th, or Monday, August 17th.
- All students were required to have a completed Chromebook Responsibility Agreement Form before receiving a device. The form must be completed on a computer and must include a capital “S” followed by the student number in order to be recognized.
Please do not send students out of class for Chromebook issues unless they are part of the English Department distribution process.
After Initial Distribution
As of August 20th, students who still need to check out a Chromebook or have a device issue addressed should visit the Library during 1st or 5th period ONLY.
- New students: It can take up to 48 hours for enrollment information to transfer to Technology. Please do not send a newly registered student to the Library for a Chromebook until 48 hours after registration.
- OC students: Students returning from OC may not be able to log in for up to 48 hours after returning to campus.
- All students: The Technology Acknowledgement must be completed and signed before a student can receive a device.
Support & Contact Information
Lost or Stolen Chromebooks
If a student reports a Chromebook as lost, or stolen, direct them to: IT Help desk (512.594.4357).
For all Chromebook-related questions or issues, please contact:
Conwell Spears (Associate Principal)
Alisha Almeida (Librarian)
District Calendar 2026-2027
2026-2027 PHS Block Schedule
Pfusion Dance
Support Pfusion Dance & JV and show your team spirit all season long! Our Spirit Store is now LIVE!! All orders are due Friday, August 28th.
Order Link: https://www.successfund.com/23wry
Didn’t make it to Meet the Teacher? You can still order your shirts here using the link below:
Senior Recognition Tributes
Click here: https://www.jostens.com/.../students-and.../yearbook-ads
Pricing through Christmas:
$350 for whole page
$215 for ½ page
$140 for a ¼
$85 for an 1/8
Follow us on Social Media!!!
Pflugerville High School
Principal: Jon Bailey
Website: https://www.pfisd.net/Page/11
Location: 1301 W Pecan St Pflugerville, TX 78660 USA
Phone: 512 594 0500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PflugervilleHS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pflugervillehighschool_?igsh=MTN6NHhxN3kxcjFrbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr