Latest Pflugerville ISD News
Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering Awards HHS Grad Preston Nguyen Scholarship
The Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) announced Preston Nguyen, a recent graduate from Hendrickson High, as the recipient of the 2009 Capital Area Alliance Rosendo Garcia Scholarship! His award will be for $1,500.00 and will be applied to his first year of school at the United States Air Force Academy. Preston participated in local Math and Science competitions, winning awards on the local and state levels the past two years while additionally volunteering with TAME to help children in outreach events.
This scholarship honors the memory of Rosendo Garcia, who passed away from cancer on July 23, 2008. Rosendo was a chemistry and science teacher at John B. Conally High and he was active in STATE, the Science Teachers Association of Texas, and the Science Olympiad. Even when his health was failing, Rosendo was dedicated to volunteering with TAME and supporting the students he cared for. The Rosendo Garcia scholarship was established to carry on Rosendo's memory and provide financial assistance in higher education for a deserving student in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
TAME is honored to share Rosendo's memory and the funds donated in his name with a student who has played such a big role in the Capital Area Alliance. Congratulations again to Preston Nguyen!
Westview Middle School Students Represent Texas at Project Citizen National Showcase
On May 22, 2009, Westview students showcased their Project Citizen project, “What Did You Have For Lunch” at the state showcase. Their project was chosen to progress to the Project Citizen National Showcase in Philadelphia. Project Citizen focuses on the role of local and state governments in the U.S. federal system. An entire class of students, working in four cooperative teams, learn to interact with their government through a five step process which includes
- identifying a problem in their community that requires a public policy solution
- gathering and evaluating information on the problem
- examining and evaluating alternative solutions
- developing a proposed public policy to address the problem
- creating an action plan to get their policy adopted by government.
Students’ work is displayed in a class portfolio containing a display section and a documentation section. Congratulations to Ms. Cannon, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, who has coordinated this study project for her students!
Second Annual Timmerman RoboFair
Timmerman Elementary held its second annual RoboFair on May 29. Robofair is an opportunity for fifth-graders to share their inventions and knowledge with Timmerman students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Some projects propose solutions to the environmental concerns of today, while others suggest improvements that would have made life easier long ago.
Projects included The Green Transporter that separates recyclables, the Pollution Pickup that gathers sold waste from waterways, the Cupatron that distributes limited supplies of plastic cups, and much more! Students conducted background research on their topics, conducted surveys to improve upon their products, and created presentations to educate others about their findings and demonstrate their robotic solutions.
Fifth grade students have been working throughout the year with LEGO Mindstorms building materials and software and explored math, science, and engineering concepts while designing, constructing, and programming robotic devices that solve real-world problems. The program entitled Mindstorms: Students Solving the Problems of Tomorrow The event was largely funded by the Pflugerville Foundation grant awarded in January 2008.
Visit http://crowe-robowiki.wikispaces.com/ to learn how students developed their projects.
Copperfield Counselor Receives Award
The Angels and Advocate Award was presented to Copperfield Elementary School Counselor Kathy Garza for her authoring the children's book, When Papi Was Sent to Jail. Mrs. Garza's book is a significant effort to provide support and shine light on the needs of children with incarcerated parents. The book will be available in Fall 2009 in English and Spanish. The Seedling Foundation, who presented the award, provides advocacy and mentoring in Central Texas for youth with incarcerated parents.
Kelly Lane Middle School Science Olympiad 2009 Texas State Champions
The Kelly Lane Middle School Science Olympiad team wrapped up another successful year by winning the 2009 Texas state championship, with a narrow two-point victory.
The win propelled them into the national competition in Augusta, Georgia, against the top 1% of Science Olympiad teams in the nation. The Robo Cross Team of Albert Felan and Logan Verbeke received a 6th place medal, while Carter Brown and Javid Aboii placed 1st in the Out and Back trial Event.
“This was an outstanding year for our team. To repeat as State Champions was a goal that this team wanted to accomplish,” said Head Coach Carolyn Garza. “The success of this team is because of the hard working students, parents, teachers and volunteers.”
The KLMS Science Olympiad team consists of 21 bright and talented 6th, 7th and 8th graders. This group of students practices before and after school for 23 Academic and Engineering events from October through May. Parents, teachers, high school students and community volunteers coach the team, and students put in anywhere from 5-10 hours a week working and studying for these events.
The team is lead by Garza and assistant coaches Rhonda Hejl and Ed Margaretich.
Pflugerville High School’s Karen Evans Places 2nd in UIL State Academic Meet
Pflugerville High School senior Karen Evans won second place in the 5A News Writing competition at the UIL State Academic Meet. Evans placed third last year as a junior, and is the third journalism state medalist at PHS in the last six years.
Junior Arlyn LaBelle made the state event in the Editoral Writing event in just her first year of competition. She was among only 12 contestants in the event from across the state.
Northwest Elementary Charity for Hair-ity Event a Success
Northwest Elementary collected food from May 11-22 as part of its “Charity for "Hair"-ity” food drive. The team that donated the most food won the honor of painting the hair of principal Criss Wakefield and assistant principal Dave Bauman.
The 22 boxes of food collected, over 1,000 cans, will be donated local church St Andrew's Presbyterian.
Total Cans Collected:
Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten - 199
1st - 114
2nd - 193
3rd - 301
4th - 112
5th - 99
Hendrickson Student Competes at National Tournament
Hendrickson High School student Gabe Chavez attended the National Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky on May 1-5. The National TOC is only open for students who have attended and placed at certain tournaments that, because of their difficulty, prestige and national makeup, are considered "Tournament of Champion" qualifiers. In order to qualify, Chavez was a semifinalist at the Harvard University TOC qualifying tournament, placed 6th at the St. Mark's TOC qualifying tournament and placed 4th at the University of Texas TOC qualifying tournament. In order to compete at the National TOC, competitors are required to have placed at three TOC qualifiers.
Only about 100 students from across the nation qualified to attend the National TOC in Student Congress. After three days of grueling competition with the best of the best, Gabe placed 27th in the nation in Student Congress Debate. This is an amazing accomplishment not only for Gabe, but also for the Hendrickson High School speech & debate program as a whole. Coach Kirsten Nash commented on Gabe’s success, “Gabe has only been competing in Student Congress for two years, so essentially he is only a sophomore in competition terms. To reach this level in year two of competition is an amazing feat and a testimony to Gabe's dedication and hard work.” Not only was Gabe the first individual from HHS to qualify for the National TOC, he is also the first individual from PISD in about 10 years to achieve this goal.
When describing his experience, Gabe states that “having the opportunity to compete at the national level has been a phenomenal culmination to a year which has marked a turning point for both myself and the Hendrickson speech and debate program.” He continues, “The skills I have attained during my short time in this activity have not only helped to shape my future but have also shaped who I am as an individual. I have met and competed with students from across the country, discovering new perspectives along the way and feel that I have really interacted with some of the brightest minds of my generation. It has been a remarkable experience.”
Chavez, a senior at Hendrickson, will be attending Southwestern University in Georgetown in the fall where he plans to pursue a double major in Economics and International Relations. He will continue to support the Hendrickson Speech & Debate team by holding a camp for new and continuing debaters this summer.
Connally SkillsUSA Students Successful
For the second year in a row, Connally High School has placed at the SkillsUSA State Level Competition. Andrew Tran won 3rd place for the entire state of Texas in the Culinary Arts skills test. With this award, he was also given $6,000 in Scholarship money by the Culinary Arts Institute located in New York.
Other trophies and ribbons awarded:
- Trevor Nunnellee and Jose Soto, State Superior Rating trophy and Blue Ribbon on their Electronics Project
- Muhammad Ali, State Superior Rating - Blue Ribbon, Electronics Project
- Garrett Lane and Joey Nguyen, Good Rating - White Ribbon on Computer
Maintenance Project.
Pflugerville High School Latin Students Qualify for Nationals
Six PHS Latin students have qualified to go on to Nationals Latin Competition in California later this year at the University of California Davis. Those students are:
- Jennifer Warren
- Troy Varney
- Quinn Neal
- Nathan Cortez
- Lily Neal
- Amy Holloway
Hendrickson High School FFA Students Place Fourth at State Competition
The Hendrickson High School Future Farmers of America competed in the state FFA Nursery/Landscape contest at Sam Houston State University, and placed fourth in state. The team consisted of:
- Michael Berding
- Shelby Kiggins
- Nicole Hayes
- Tori Molenaar
Michael Berding placed 2nd high point overall, and Shelby Kiggins placed 5th high-point overall.
Copperfield Teacher Nyssa Arcos Named “Great Books Great Teacher”
Copperfield fifth grade bilingual teacher, Nyssa Arcos has been named a “Great
Books Great Teacher” by the Great Books Foundation of Chicago. Nyssa is one of 16 teachers from around the country to receive this award and was recognized at an awards ceremony in Chicago on May 1.
Nyssa stated that the Great Books program has been a valuable resource in her
reading instruction. She is grateful to her Principal, Dr. Sandra Bell, for having the
vision to incorporate it at Copperfield, and to her Instructional Coach, Nancy Newell, for her continued guidance and support.
Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees Approves Principal Appointments for Dessau, Timmerman Elementary schools
The Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees approved the appointment of principals at Dessau and Timmerman elementary schools. Caldwell Elementary Assistant Principal Araceli Soliz was named principal at Dessau Elementary and Timmerman Elementary Assistant Principal Christy Chandler was appointed principal at Timmerman.
“It is a priority for us to develop strong leaders within our organization, and both Araceli and Christy have demonstrated the skills needed to successfully lead students and staff alike,” Superintendent of Schools Charles Dupre said. “We are confident in their ability to move into the role of principal at their respective campuses and know the schools will continue to thrive under their leadership.”
Soliz is in her second year as assistant principal at Caldwell and her seventh year as an assistant principal overall. She was an assistant principal in Austin from 2002-2007. Soliz began her teaching career in 1993 in San Antonio. She has a bachelor’s degree from Incarnate Word University and a master’s degree from Texas State University.
Chandler has been the assistant principal at Timmerman for the last four years and was a teacher at the school from 2002-2005. She was a teacher in the Austin school district from 1994-2002. Chandler has a bachelor’s degree from St. Edward’s University and a master’s degree from Texas State University.
Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees Swears in Members, Elects Officers
The Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees incumbents Elva Gladney (Place 1) and Dr. Cynthia Graves (Place 2) were sworn in at the Board’s regular monthly meeting May 21. Both Gladney and Graves were unopposed in the election, marking the third consecutive year incumbents were unopposed in Board elections.
Dr. Carol Fletcher will remain Board President for another term, and Gladney will continue to serve as Board Vice President. Longtime Board member Paul King was elected Board Secretary.
Timmerman Elementary Collects Books and Crayons for Charity
Earlier this year, Timmerman Elementary paired up with the Pflugerville High School Ready, Set, Teach students to hold a crayon and book drive for Dell Children’s Hospital. The event was set up in honor of Timmerman student Zach Rodriguez, who is currently battling ALL Leukemia.
The generosity displayed by both campuses was amazing. Students from both schools actively took part in the donation process. The students from Timmerman Elementary collected 375 boxes of crayons over a period of several days. PHS students collected 370 boxes of crayons, and $929.00 which was put toward purchasing 442 books. All PHS donations were collected within only four days.
Ready, Set, Teach student Vanessa Gonzales stated, “It was really surprising how much everyone came together. Everyone was so generous.”
Books collected by PHS students will be donated to the Half-Pint Library, which is an organization within Dell Children’s Hospital that provides patients with books during their stay. The hospital provides crayons for the children as well. Due to infection control, many items such as these cannot be shared, and must be given away to the patients. Therefore, the hospital goes through many books and boxes of crayons each year.
Lisa Perez, the Stewardship Coordinator for the Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas, said, “Donations of things like books and crayons help assure that more hospital funds can go to the quality care of patients.”
Mrs. Seaton, Zach’s former kindergarten teacher said, “This was something that was important that we could do for our friend, Zach. The kids were very excited about it, and felt this was something we could do to help.”
CHS Students Win Top Two Spots in Essay Writing Contest
CHS Juniors, Courtney Brindle and Max Peterson, won first and second place in the Austin American-Statesman, 3M, AMD's annual "Excellence in Writing Scholarship" Contest, the premier writing competition in the Austin-Metro area. Over 1,000 students entered the contest and scholarships were given in the large, mid-size, and small school divisions; CHS competed in the large school division. This year's topic addressed the issue of technology in public schools.
Courtney was awarded 1500.00, and Max received 1,000.00 This was only CHS's second year of competing in this contest, having also won first place in last year's competition.
PISD Students to Participate in State Track Meet
The following athletes will represent the PISD in the State Track Meet on June 5-6.
Hendrickson High School:
Girls 4 x 200 Relay:
Karissa Gravesmill
Erica Greene
Kiana Burgess
Jasmine Tezino
Alternate - Kaneisha Jones
Girls Pole Vault:
Natasha Masterson
Pflugerville High School:
Girls High Jump:
LaTrece Moorer
Connally High School:
Girls Shot Put:
Brittany Roberts
Boys High Jump:
Keith Benford
Park Crest Middle School Choir Students Make Honor Choir
Three Park Crest Middle School choir students were selected for the Texas Choral Director's Associations Middle School/Jr. High Honor Choir.
Bobbie Lile, 8th grade, Soprano
Tyler Painter, 7th grade, Tenor
Rodrigo Morales, 8th grade, Bass
The students will learn music over the summer and sing in a 200-voice choir conducted by Dr. Judy Bowers from Florida State University. The group will rehearse beginning July 29 and will perform for the members of the Texas Choral Director's Association on Friday, July 31.
Connally Cornerstone Academy Receives Donation
Charles Eiben of Farmers Insurance Group of Companies presents a check to Connally High School's Cornerstone Academy Lead, Kristina Carssow.
In the Cornerstone Academy, each freshman student gains the skills necessary to be successful academically and personally. Mrs. Carssow is just one of CHS's twenty-four freshman teachers who work in academic teams to create personalized learning environments for all first-year high school students. Mr. Eiben's generous donation will be used to further support freshman.
Brian Ernest Named Principal at Murchison Elementary
Brian Ernest has been named principal at Murchison Elementary. He is currently principal at Timmerman Elementary, a position he has held since 2004, and will assume the role of principal at MES during the summer.
“Brian has demonstrated his skill as a leader and possesses the ability to ensure every student reaches their potential,” Superintendent of Schools Charles Dupre said. “We know the students at Murchison will continue to flourish under his direction, and we are confident the District will find a strong principal to lead Timmerman.”
Timmerman Elementary has received an accountability rating of exemplary or recognized from the Texas Education Agency in each year Ernest has been principal. Murchison has been a recognized campus the last four years.
Ernest came to Pflugerville as a teacher at Pflugerville Middle School in 1994. In 2002 he accepted an assistant principal position in Hutto, but rejoined PISD the next year as an assistant principal at Dessau Middle School. He was named Timmerman principal in 2004 after one year at DMS.
“I leave Timmerman with mixed emotions. We have a tremendous staff, wonderful students and great community support, and it is certainly difficult to leave such a fantastic school,” Ernest said. “At the same time, I am looking forward to a new challenge, and eager to begin building relationships with the Murchison community.”
Ernest earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University. He replaces Cindy Wright, who joined the student services department in the District’s central administration.
Velocity Prep Summer School Opportunity
Pflugerville ISD, in cooperation with the City of Pflugerville and Skill Point Alliance, is offering summer school credit for an elective independent study class where students work on a real need to benefit our community. Students will apply their skills to help reach the residents of Pflugerville through a “Green by Design” hands on project.
Softball/Baseball Playoffs
Updated 5/18/09
PHS and CHS were eliminated this past weekend.
Softball Regional Quarter-Finals:
HHS vs Dripping Springs
Monday, May 18th @ 7:00 @ Texas State in San Marcos
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
Baseball Area Playoffs:
HHS vs Kerrville Tivy
Tuesday, May 19th @ Marble Falls @ 7:30
Ticket prices for HHS and Kerrville baseball $4 and $2
****other specific arrangements will be made later today****
HHS Plant Sale, May 8-9
Hendrickson High School is holding its annual plant sale Friday (8 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m.-noon) at the HHS greenhouse. Contact Jeremy Bonds for more information at 594-1175 or jeremy.bonds@pflugervilleisd.net.
State-Bound Hendrickson High School Theatre Department Performance Scheduled
The State-Bound Hendrickson High School Theatre Department is presenting a performance of “Over the River and Through the Woods" on May 12 in the Gerrell Moore Performing Arts Center. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $3 at the door.
All District Activities to Resume as Scheduled, Flu-Related Restrictions Lifted
Effectively immediately all Pflugerville ISD field trips and extracurricular activities will resume. Timmerman Elementary School , as planned, will start classes on schedule Thursday, and buses will resume regular routes.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday said that the H1N1 flu was similar to seasonal flu and relaxed its guidance for school closures and restrictions of activities. The Texas Education Agency and Texas Department of State Health Services also recommended that school activities resume. On Wednesday, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) lifted its suspension of interscholastic competitions, which were originally slated to resume May 11.
Even as activities resume, the District will continue to work closely with parents, students, and staff to monitor the health of everyone on campus, including visitors, and will follow Texas Department of State Health Service guidance for illness prevent.
As such, students or staff with flu-like illness (fever with a cough or sore throat) will be asked to stay home and not attend school or report to work for at least seven days even if they feel better sooner. Students and staff who are still sick seven days after they become ill should stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms and fever are gone.
Schools will continue to encourage students to practice good hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if hand washing with soap and water is not possible.
The Pflugerville ISD will continue its strong partnership with local health departments to monitor the health of students and staff to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment for our students.
Additional information is available at:
Center for Disease Control –
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/K12_dismissal.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
Texas Department of State Health Services --
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu/stay-home-safe-v4-5-5.shtm
Texas Education Agency –
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/swineflu/faq.html
University Interscholastic League (UIL)
http://www.uil.utexas.edu/
05/07/09
Timmerman Elementary Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Due to a Possible Case of North American H1N1 Influenza
Timmerman Elementary will be closed Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 in response to a possible case of North American H1N1 influenza (also known as swine flu). The District is taking this precautionary measure to ensure the health and well being of Timmerman students and staff members. Classes will resume Thursday, May 7.
By closing the school for two days, the District will have the opportunity to thoroughly clean the campus and receive additional guidance from Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services.
The Pflugerville ISD Web site, Timmerman listserv and campus marquee will be updated with additional information as it becomes available. At this time, Timmerman is the only PISD campus that has been closed, and all other campuses are operating as usual.
Connally High School German Students Honored
Connally High School German students Hannah Banks, Max Peterson and Aquiel Warner placed in the top 90th percentile of the National German Exam administered in January, 2009.
Of the over 23,000 students who participated in the National German Exam, these three students were among several local German High School students honored at the annual American Association of Teachers of German Awards Banquet on April 26 at the Tres Amigos Restaurant in Austin.
For questions about the CHS German program, please contact Sandra Biles at sandra.biles@pflugervilleisd.net.
Softball Bi-District Playoff Information
PHS vs SA Churchill (2 out of 3)
Game 1- May 15 @ PHS, 7 p.m.
Game 2 - May 16 @ North East ISD softball complex, noon
Game 3 - if necessary to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2
Ticket prices - $4 for adults, $2 for students
HHS vs Crockett (1 game)
May 15 @ Noack Sports Complex, 7 p.m.
HHS is the home team
Ticket prices are $3 for adults, $2 for students
Updated Swine Flu Information
Student safety and health is a top priority for Pflugerville ISD and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect our students. There has been an enormous amount of media coverage regarding the swine flu and the potential for it to spread rapidly. Currently, there are no reported cases of swine flu in Pflugerville ISD. The District continues to work with state and county officials to ensure the health and safety of our staff and students.
States and schools throughout the United States are taking measures to decrease the risk of spreading swine flu. Yesterday, on the recommendation of Dr. David Lakey, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, and in consultation with Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott, the University Interscholastic League altered its schedule of events due to the outbreak of the swine flu in Texas. Yesterday, all UIL competitions were suspended until May 11.
As a precaution, Pflugerville ISD has also canceled all extra-curricular events effective immediately until May 11. As of Friday, May 1, the following cancellations and postponements apply:
- All facility rentals
- Field trips and other student travel
- Non-District use of any facility except church service rentals
- PTO meetings, campus programs/presentations where the public is invited
- Field Days unless totally operated by campus staff
As an extra precaution, guests to campuses, including parents, visitors and volunteers, will be asked to sanitize their hands upon arrival at the campus and will be restricted to public areas of campus – cafeteria, office, foyer, and luncheon areas.
Due to our population density, school district communities are susceptible to the spread of illness. We ask you to be more conscious of your health habits and those of your family members in the coming weeks. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating, and cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze. Utilize a waterless hand washing product if and when you are unable to access hand washing facilities. Keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes and nose. If you cough or sneeze into a tissue, deposit it in a trash can; do not place it on any surface that others might touch. Do not come to work or class if you have any of the following symptoms: a sudden fever, body aches and pains, coughing and/or fatigue.
People who have swine flu may also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and/or a runny nose and sore throat. The majority of the patients with this flu have reported that the symptoms are mild and they have recovered fully. If students, family members, faculty and/or staff experience any of the symptoms of swine flu they should call their personal healthcare providers for guidance regarding evaluation and treatment. PISD is working with city, county and state health authorities on this matter. We will continue to monitor the situation here in the United States and in Mexico. If you would like more information about swine flu, please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.
posted 04/30/09
La seguridad de nuestros alumnos es una prioridad para el distrito escolar de Pflugerville y estamos encomendados a tomar las decisiones necesarias para proteger a nuestros alumnos. Ha habido una enorme cobertura de los medios de comunicación con respecto a la gripe porcina y el potencial de propagar el contagio rápidamente. Actualmente, no se ha reportado ningún caso de gripe porcina en el distrito escolar de Pflugerville. El distrito continúa trabajando con el gobierno local y estatal para asegurar el bienestar en nuestra población estudiantil y el personal docente.
Estados y escuelas a través de los Estados Unidos están tomando medidas para disminuir el riesgo de propagar el contagio de la gripe porcina. El Dr. David Lakey, comisionado del Departamento de Servicios de Salud del estado de Texas y en consulta con Robert Scott, comisionado de la Agencia de la Educación en Texas, recomendaron alterar la agenda de eventos programados de la Liga Inter escolar (UIL) debido al brote de la gripe porcina en el estado de Texas. Asi es como desde ayer fueron suspendidos todos los eventos de la UIL hasta el dia 11 de mayo.
Como una precaución, PISD también ha cancelado todas las actividades extracurriculares, entrando en vigor en este momento y hasta el 11 de mayo. Para el viernes 1 de mayo la cancelación y postergación de los siguientes eventos aplica:
- El alquiler de nuestras instalaciones
- Todos los paseos y viajes de estudio de los alumnos
- El alquiler de otras instalaciones fuera del distrito excepto iglesias
- Juntas de la asociación padres-maestros (PTO), eventos y presentaciones de las escuelas en donde el público es invitado
- Días de campo y carreras, al menos que sea dirigido por el personal docente
Además se les pedira a todos los visitantes a las escuelas, incluyendo padres de familia, voluntarios y visitantes, que se laven o desinfecten las manos al llegar a las scuelas. Tambien visitantes estarán limitados en el uso de las áreas públicas de la escuela, cafetería, oficina, recibidor, y áreas de comedor.
Debido a la densidad de nuestra población, las comunidades en distritos escolares están más propensas a propagar la enfermedad. Le pedimos que esté consciente y practique junto con su familia buenos hábitos de la salud en las semanas próximas. Lávese sus manos constantemente con agua y jabón, principalmente antes de comer, cubra su boca cuando estornuda o tose. Utilice un desinfectante de manos de los que no requieren enjuagarse cuando no haya cerca un lavamanos. No mantenga sus manos cerca de su boca, ojos o nariz. Si tose o estornuda, utilice un pañuelo facial deposítelo en la basura después de su uso, no lo ponga en una superficie en donde alguien mas lo pueda tocar. No vaya a trabajar o a la escuela si presenta alguno de los siguientes síntomas:
una fiebre repentina, dolores musculares, tos, fatiga o cansancio.
La gente que se ha infectado con la gripe porcina, también puede presentar síntomas como: náusea, vómito, diarrea, dolor de garganta y goteo nasal. La mayoría de los pacientes que han contraído este tipo de gripe han reportado que los síntomas han sido leves y que se han recuperado del todo. Si alumnos, familiares o personal docente experimentan los síntomas de la gripe porcina; deben de acudir a su clínica o contactar a su médico para que la hagan una prueba y le den tratamiento médico. PISD está trabajando en este asunto en conjunto con la ciudad, el condado y las autoridades de salud estatales. Continuaremos monitoreando la situación aquí en los Estados Unidos y en México. Si le gustaría saber más acerca de la gripe porcina, por favor visite el sitio en Internet de la CDC http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.
04/30/09
PISD Proactive Against Swine Flu
Pflugerville ISD is part of the regional health and emergency management team that is closely monitoring the swine flu outbreak. There are no reports of Swine Flu or suspected Swine Flu in the Austin-Travis-Williamson-Hays areas.
We are reminding all our campuses to help students practice basic good health procedures, including washing hands often, and are placing additional bottles of hand sanitizer and boxes of tissues at key locations.
Students and staff are asked to stay home if they are sick. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
The Austin-Travis County Health and Human Services Department Web site is the best resource for local information, or the department may be reached by telephone at
512-972-5000. Additional information is also available on the Department of State Health Services Web site or by phone at 512-458-7111.
04/27/09
PHS Journalism Students State-Bound
Pflugerville High School junior Arlyn Labelle and senior Karen Evans are among 12 students across Texas to advance to the state journalism competition in editorial writing and news writing. The competition is scheduled for May 7 at the University of Texas.
Labelle and Evans both finished second in their respective events, editorial writing and news writing, at the regional level. Evans placed third in the state news writing event last year.
Hendrickson One Act Play Advances to State
The Hendrickson High School One Act Play production of "Over the River and through the Woods" advanced to the state finals to be held in Austin on May 15th. With over 250 4A high schools starting in Zone and District contests at the beginning of the contest season, the students will compete against seven other high schools for the State Championship.
Austin Monthly Names Parmer Lane, Timmerman “Best of Austin Schools”
In its April 2009 edition, Austin Monthly recognized Parmer Lane and Timmerman elementary schools as two of the best campuses in the Austin area. The magazine used the list of top public schools compiled by the National Center for Educational Achievement. Each year, the NCEA compiles a list of top-performing schools across the country. Elementary schools are chosen based on two measures – performance and college/career readiness.
Performance includes schools whose students perform better than predicted for schools with similar demographics, while college and career readiness focuses on benchmarks for math, reading and science and the state’s recommended standard for social studies and writing.
Please visit http://www.austinmonthly.com/ for information about how to purchase the magazine.
TAKS Test Date Change for Exit Level and Grade 10
Due to a scheduling conflict between testing days and the regional track meet, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has approved the following changes to the TAKS schedule:
April 27 (Previously scheduled for May 1)
Grade 10 TAKS Social Studies
Exit Level TAKS Social Studies
Exit Retest Social Studies
In addition, any student who qualifies for the regional track meet and is scheduled to take the Grade 10 TAKS LAT Science test will complete the exam on April 30. All other students will take the test on the originally scheduled date of May 1. No other TAKS tests are impacted by this change.
Notice for Credit by Examination Grades 1-12 Administration
2009 Spring Registration Deadline:
April 24, 2009
To Apply:
Please contact your campus counselor for information and registration forms. All registrations must come from PISD campuses to ensure that correct exams are requested.
Testing Dates:
The spring testing window is the last two weeks of May. Please check with your child’s campus counselor for specific dates.
Location:
Students will test at their current PISD campus.
Purpose:
Credit by Exam for acceleration is for students who have had no prior instruction in the course for which the tests are requested. Students must meet the 90% standard on each assessment in order to be considered for promotion or credit. These are rigorous assessments that thoroughly test the student’s knowledge of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills of the course or grade level.
Pflugerville Middle School Student Wins Design Contest
The Pflugerville ISD Food Services Department held a Breakfast Superhero Design contest, open to all middle school and high school students. Pflugerville Middle School student Felax Ogbonna won the contest with his B-Bot and Breakfast Boy drawing.
Felax wins a $50 Best Buy gift card, a first place certificate, and has been entered into the national design contest representing Pflugerville ISD.
District-Wide Spring Student Registration
In an effort to support District planning for the 2009-10 school year and ensure that we have the most current information available for each student, we are conducting a District-wide spring student registration. During the week of April 20 your child will receive a letter outlining the registration process along with a pre-populated Student Information Verification form. By verifying your child’s data in April, we can make sure that all emergency contact information is accurately reflected in the District’s data system at the start of next school year.
In addition, we are asking for parents to provide proof of residency for each child. This will ensure that only students who live within the PISD boundaries attend PISD campuses.
Student Information Verification forms along with a copy of proof of residency must be returned to the home campus by May 15. By returning all required information by May 15, you will not be required to participate in summer registration.
Students who do not return the Student Information Verification form and a copy of proof of residency will not be assigned to classes for the 2009-10 school year.
If you have any questions about student information verification or residency verification, please contact your campus principal.
Pflugerville Coach Nancy Walling Honored
Pflugerville High School basketball coach Nancy Walling earned 2009 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) District Coach of the Year honors - one of only nine coaches in the nation, across all divisions of play, so honored - and finished third nationally in National Coach of the Year voting.
As a top-four vote-getter for National Coach of the Year honors, she will serve as a coach at the 2009 WBCA High School All-America Game which takes place during the NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis.
Walling will be honored by the WBCA at a luncheon during the Women's Final Four.
MES Hot Shots Get Their "Jump On" for Children's Health
Fifth grade members of Murchison Elementary School's Hot Shots Jump Rope Demo Team performed during a recent news conference at the Capitol. The Hot Shots appearance helped advocate for the passage of bills directly related to the health of Texas' children. The American Heart Association, the Hot Shots' sponsor, announced its support of House Bill 3741 and Senate Bill 891, designed to bolster physical education in Texas schools.
Together, these bills will establish a definition of physical education in the Texas Education Code, and ensure PE courses are taught by a certified physical education instructor.
Rep. Mark Strama visited with the Hot Shots prior to the news conference.
Connally Newspaper Awarded Gold Crown
The Connally High School newspaper, The Connection, won a Gold Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Members of the newspaper staff traveled to New York City to receive the national award. Only 44 high school papers from across the nation were selected for the award, 21 of them receiving gold. The award is for the 2007-08 issues of The Connection. This is the fourth year in a row the Connally paper has been named a Crown finalist and the second year in a row to win gold.
Hendrickson Silver Dancers Earn High Honors
The Hendrickson High School Silver Dancers earned top marks from judges at both the Westwood Dance Classic Competition and the Lone Star State Championship. The Silver Dancers perform under the direction of Bethany Dudley.
Westwood Dance
Classic Competition
Team Jazz- 1st Place
Team Lyrical- 1st Place
Team Open- 1st Place
Officer Lyrical- 1st Place
Officer Open- 1st Place
Classic Award- Officers
High Class Award- Team
Overall Team Precision Award- Team
Choreography Award- Team Open
Silver Dancer Newbies Team Jazz- 1st Place
Gold Award- Silver Dancer Newbies
Lone Star State Championship
Soloists:
Britney Lee- Winner State Champion
Raquel Rodriguez-Bohannan- 5th runner up
Duet:
Britney Lee and Jessica Rodriguez- Winner State Champion
Silver Dancer Newbies:
Division 1 Junior Varsity
Officers:
Sweepstakes and Gussie Nell Davis Award of Excellence
Officer Jazz- Winner State Champion
Officer Lyrical- Winner State Champion
Officer Open- Winner State Champion
Best Overall Technique
Best Overall Presentation
Best Overall Precision
Best Overall Choreography
Silver Dancer Officers- Winner Overall State Champions
Team:
Sweepstakes and Gussie Nell Davis Award of Excellence
Team Jazz- 1st runner up
Team Lyrical- Winner State Champion
Team Open- Winner State Champion
Best Overall Technique
Best Overall Precision
Silver Dancer Team- 1st Runner Up Overall State Champions
Jose Riojas Elementary School Opening Delayed until 2010-11 School Year
Citing declining enrollment projections and a lack of adequate and equitable funding from the state, Pflugerville ISD is delaying the opening of Jose Riojas Elementary School until the 2010-11 school year. Students previously zoned to attend Riojas in 2009-10 will remain at their current campuses.
“Like hundreds of school districts across the state, Pflugerville ISD is facing difficult financial decisions as a result of our country’s economic troubles and a downturn in the housing market,” Superintendent of Schools Charles Dupre said. “Those factors, along with insufficient funding from the state, are forcing PISD to make cuts to its budget while still maintaining the high level of educational programs our community expects from the District.”
As District leaders explored options to cut costs, the foremost focus was impacting classroom instruction as little as possible.
“Although we know some people will be disappointed with the decision to delay the opening of Riojas Elementary for a year, the Board of Trustees supports the administration’s efforts to cut the District’s budget in a way that honors our commitment to offering top-rate instructional programs,” Board of Trustees President Dr. Carol Fletcher said. “There are no easy decisions when confronted with our declining economy, but we believe this choice will impact students and teachers less than the other possible options, while providing the District with much-needed savings.”
By delaying the opening of Riojas Elementary, the District will save almost $1 million in operating and staffing costs. Over $800,000 in savings will be realized by not filling jobs necessary to operate a school, such as new teacher and administrator positions. Nearly $200,000 will be saved on utilities and custodial services.
In its most recent demographic projections, the District expects to gain less than 600 new students in 2009-10. As recently as 2007, when the decision to move ahead with construction of Riojas Elementary was made, enrollment projections were nearly three times as high at 1,700 new students. In 2008, demographers projected 1,200 new students for the 2009-10 school year.
“Under the current formula used by the state, the primary way districts receive increased funding is through increased enrollment,” Dupre said. “Even an increase in property values doesn’t benefit schools, because those additional funds go to the state instead of to local districts.”
District demographers expect economic conditions will most likely impact enrollment growth at least through the next school year. Although there are several active housing developments, growth has slowed and will continue to be slow.
“When we looked at enrollment projections and took into consideration transfer requests from students slated to attend Riojas Elementary, it became apparent the school would open with less than 400 students,” Dupre said. “That number is significantly lower than originally anticipated, and we believe the enrollment at the schools planned to lose students to Riojas will be manageable for one more year.”