Shepton eNews
February 12, 2021
eNews in Spanish
Para leer las E-News (Noticias Electrónicas en Español) Favor de seguir este enlace.
This Week @ Shepton
February 15 - 19
Monday 2/15 - Student/Staff Holiday - Presidents' Day
Tuesday 2/16 - Student Holiday
Wednesday 2/17 - Asynchronous Day for all students
Thursday 2/18 - Normal Cohort A Day
Friday 2/19 - Normal Cohort B day
***With the long weekend, we encourage students to get caught up on any missing assignments. The end of the 3rd 9 weeks is Friday, March 5th.
***As a reminder, please monitor the PISD website for updates on inclement weather.
***New Information***
4th 9-Week Changes to Instructional Environment
The instructional environment selection window for the final nine weeks of school is February 15-19.
Students will be scheduled in the selected instructional environment, face-to-face or PISD School@Home, beginning March 15, the first day of the 4th 9-week grading period. If no changes are made in Parent Portal, then the current instructional environment will remain in effect until the last day of school.
To view a breakdown of the environment selection at your campus for the current nine weeks visit School@Home Selection.
Parents Who DO NOT Want to Make a Change of Environment – NO ACTION REQUIRED
Historic 2021 Shepton Yearbook
While the yearbook purchase deadline was Friday 1-29, due to the nature of this year and a large number of students learning remotely from home, our publisher is allowing you one more opportunity to purchase the historic 2021 Shepton HS yearbook.
The absolute final day to purchase will be Friday 2-19 at midnight.
You can purchase online at jostensyearbook.com or by clicking on the below link:
http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A08506810
Yes! We are having a yearbook and it will be amazing!
Mayor’s Summer Internship
Application Process Now Open for Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program
2021 Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program for current tenth and eleventh graders:
Qualifying Plano ISD sophomores and juniors can apply now through March 1 for the eighth annual Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program. Presented by Capital One, the competitive “learn-and-earn” program connects Plano teens with some of the area’s top corporations and nonprofits. The eight-week paid internship program—offering remote and on-site placements, or a combination of both—runs June 7–July 30 (although some start dates are flexible). Students earn a minimum of $10 per hour working 20-40 hours per week.
Only the first 400 applications will be accepted, so students are encouraged to apply early to avoid being waitlisted. To qualify, students must complete an online application, which includes two short essays. Additionally, applicants must be a current Plano ISD sophomore or junior, have at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA and solid attendance record, be 16 years of age by June 7, 2021, be eligible to work in the United States and be able to work the entire eight weeks of the internship from June 7-July 30 (or dates determined by the employer).
For more information visit the Plano Mayor’s Internship website. For questions, please contact Mary Peltier at Mary.Peltier@vwaitgroup.com.
Shepton Attendance Reminders
Documentation for an absence is always required, whether it’s due to illness at home or a medical appointment. Please provide an excuse within three days of the date of return from an absence. Please make sure the medical note covers the days the student missed. If it does not, please include a parent note excusing the remaining days. You may send documentation via email to jo.woodland@pisd.edu or fax to 469-752-7601. Whether you are a face to face or an at-home learner, notes are always required.
You may also report an absence by calling 469-752-7800, listen to the prompts, and choose option #3. Leave the student’s name and ID# along with a reason for the absence. When an absence is called in to the aforementioned number, a note is still required for that absence as well.
Reminder - The school day begins at 9:00 a.m.!
Spring Testing Information
COVID-19 Reminder
Here is Nurse Jan’s email Jan.farmer@pisd.edu
If your student has been in quarantine, you must email Nurse Jan for clearance before they may return to school and/or athletics.
If your student is a close contact of someone who tests + for covid, please email Nurse Jan.
If your student or anyone in your home is tested for covid, please email Nurse Jan.
If your student has any of the below symptoms, please email Nurse Jan.
Cough Shortness of breath
Difficulty Breathing Fever
Fatigue Muscle or body aches
Headache Loss of taste or smell
Sore throat Congestion
Diarrhea Nausea or vomiting
Recordatorios acerca del Covid.
Este es el correo electrónico de la enfermera Jan, Jan.farmer@pisd.edu
Si su hijo(a) ha estado en cuarentena, usted DEBE de enviarle un correo electrónico a la enfermera Jan, ella les debe de autorizar antes de que puedan regresar a la escuela o a las prácticas de deportes.
Si su hijo(a) esta en contacto cercano con alguien que sale positivo para el covid, envíe un correo electrónico a la enfermera Jan.
Si su hijo(a) o alguien en su hogar se somete a la prueba de covid, envíe un correo electrónico a la enfermera Jan.
Si su hijo(a) tiene alguno de los síntomas que se describen aquí abajo, favor de enviar un correo electrónico a la enfermera Jan.
Tos Dificultad para respirar
Fatiga Dolores musculares o corporales
Dolor de cabeza Pérdida del gusto u olfato
Diarrea Congestión nasal o de dolor de garganta
Fiebre Náuseas o vómitos
· A parent or guardian will be required to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending them to school. Parents should also take their child’s temperature daily. Additional screening may be conducted during the school day.
· Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms (as listed in this document) or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and instead should opt to receive remote instruction until the below conditions for re-entry are met.
· Staff and students should not enter campuses or district buildings if any of the following apply. The individual is:
· Sick with symptoms that could be COVID-19. Symptoms to watch for: fever (100°F or higher), cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, fatigue, congestion/running nose, nausea/diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell.
· Has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19. These individuals must follow all isolation and quarantine guidelines from the local health authority or their physician.
· Has a household member who is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or who is awaiting their own test results.
If any of the above conditions apply, the COVID-19 Student Reporting Form should be completed. Thank you for your assistance in helping to keep our students healthy and safe.
Counselor's Corner
Attention 10 Graders
Plano ISD is pleased to announce we are offering two new social studies elective courses for the 2021-2022 school year. Contact your Shepton counselor to add one of these courses to your 11th grade course selections.
Be sure and schedule your academic conference with your counselor. Counselor links to schedule an appointment are listed below. (Only for Current 10th Graders)
Angie Novak A-Col
Dennis Phillips Com-He https://calendly.com/dennis-phillips/10th-grade-academic-conference
Amber Gist Hf-Mol
https://calendly.com/amber-gist/10th-grade-academic-conferences
Elizabeth Negoslawski Mom-Sc https://calendly.com/elizabeth-negoslaws/2021-10th-grade-academic-conference?month=2021-01
Kristin Decker Sd-Z
https://calendly.com/kristin-decker/10th-grade-academic-conference-clone
TSIA Registration Form https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ve0MQNgtEf4F9aAn8hcMxcu-pD4YsM3RXTvoOlWjBq0/edit?usp=sharing
Attention 10th graders who are interested in taking a dual credit course next year in 11th grade through Collin College, you are required to show that you are ready for college-level work. Your readiness can be demonstrated by your SAT or ACT scores or by taking the TSIA (Texas Success Initiative Assessment). The TSIA determines whether a student knows key prerequisite skills for college-level coursework. All students enrolling in Texas colleges and universities take the TSI assessment unless they are exempt through their SAT/ACT scores.
The TSIA is an untimed, multiple-choice test and essay that is taken online. The test is aligned to the Texas College and Career Readiness standards for math, reading, and writing. The test has three sections and most students finish within three to five hours. The test is $25 and your results are available to you immediately upon completion. Test results are valid for five years.
Shepton TSIA Saturday Test Dates: Students must arrive at 8:00 a.m.
February 27
March 20
March 27
April 17
College Board Virtual College Fairs
Applying to college is a complicated process, so we’ve got an event you simply cannot miss. College Board is hosting four virtual college fairs that are designed for students to have real conversations with hundreds of colleges, admission reps, and current college students. Your student can sign up to attend any event (and more than one) to explore colleges in each region across the nation. Learn more at cb.org/bigfuturedays and sign up for the College Board BigFuture Days A-S-A-P!
SEL at Shepton
Topic of the Week – Academic Self-Advocacy
This year Shepton is continuing our commitment to growing our students through SEL which stands for Social Emotional Learning. Through our homeroom each Monday, we will cover various topics with our students that pertain to their self-awareness and management or social interaction skills. We also promote these topics in the classroom in the form of collaborative approaches such as Community Building Circles, Relate Breaks, and Two Minute Connections.
This week our lesson will focus on academic self-advocacy. Students will learn how to successfully advocate for themselves via different virtual platforms. You can continue this conversation at home by asking your student if they feel confident sending professional emails to teachers.
CIS - Communities in Schools
Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region is a nonprofit organization contracted with schools around DFW. We meet students where they are, and assist them with their individual needs, such as:
Tutoring
Mentorship
College and career exploration
Leadership groups and much more
If you are interested in getting your student involved, check out the CIS Site - It is a quick way to learn about CIS and what we do.
https://sites.google.com/pisd.edu/cis-shepton/home
You may also reach out to the CIS Site Coordinator Ms. Victoria Bergez at (469) 752-7658 or Victoria.bergez@pisd.edu
***Ongoing Reminders***
Morning Arrival
As a reminder, we will open our doors at 8:30 am for students. This allows us to have staff in place to adequately supervise students each day.
In the case of bad weather (heavy precipitation or temperatures below 40 degrees), we will allow students to enter at 8:15 am.
Mondays
In an effort to streamline our availability to support students, we have created the following schedule for Mondays. This will allow our Stallions to have access to each of their teachers throughout the day for any academic support they may need. Specific directions for how to meet will be shared by your teacher.
Clinic Health & Safety Protocols
Diabetes, seizures, severe allergies, and asthma
PISD policy requires that students with a history of seizures, asthma, anaphylaxis and diabetes have completed action plans in the clinic. If your student has been in PISD, they were given one last spring. If you need a plan you may print one from the PISD parent page, or come by the Shepton clinic to pick one up. These plans should be completed by you AND your physician. They should be turned in to the school nurse on or before the first day of school. These plans are very important as they include directions for your child in case of emergency.
Medication procedure
There are times that your student may need medication at school. The PISD procedure for medication at school follows:
- Students may not carry medication with them or have medication in their lockers or backpacks.
- There are a few exceptions to this rule, and the nurse must approve all exceptions.
In order for medications to be given at school:
- Parent must complete a Medication Request form.
- There must be a separate form for each medication.
- The form must name the medication; the strength, how much should be given, how often and for what reason.
- All medication must be in the original container.
- Medication must not be expired.
- Bottles should be no larger than 3“ tall, as the clinic has minimal storage space.
- All prescription meds and open containers must be brought in by the parent, or an adult listed on the student’s emergency form.
A doctor’s prescription is needed for over-the-counter medications:
- Containing aspirin
- To be taken daily for more than 10 days
- To be taken in a larger dose or increased frequency than what is recommended on the bottle.
Sick Students need to stay home. Please notify Nurse Farmer if your child has any symptoms of Covid 19 or has had a known exposure to Covid 19.
PISD policy requires a student with any of the following symptoms be excluded from school until the student is free of symptoms, has been satisfactorily treated or submits a signed physician’s statement that he/she is not contagious:
- Temperature of 100 degrees or more. Student must be fever free
for 24 hours, without medication, before re-entry - Pain and/or swelling at angle of jaw
- Undetermined rash over any part of the body accompanied by fever
- Undiagnosed scaly patches on the body or scalp
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Student must be symptom free for 24 hours without medication before re-entry
- Red, draining eyes
- Intense itching with signs and symptoms of secondary infection
- Open, draining lesions
- Jaundice
Any student who is sent home by Nurse Farmer for symptoms of COVID 19, must be picked up by their guardian as soon as possible (less than 60 minutes after contacting guardian). Only those who are on a student's emergency contact list are able to pick up a student from school. No student can be sent home using Uber or Lyft services.
Feminine supplies
Please have your daughter keep a minimum of one day’s feminine supplies in her backpack. She should also have a change of underwear in her backpack for accidents.
Bell / Student Schedule
Student VOE Requests
Student Parking Permit
Food and Nutritional Services
Technology Corner
Why do we want students to use PISD Chromebooks?
This might help answer your questions about why students need to use a PISD Chromebook:
https://www.pisd.edu/Page/23887
Student Email:
Based on our virtual experience in the spring, every secondary student now has a student email through the district. For details click here: https://www.pisd.edu/studentemail
Tech issues / Difficulty logging in / No internet?
Contact our CTA (Campus Technology Assistant):
Karen Hosein
469-752-7606
Still need a Chromebook or textbooks?
If you were unable to get your supplies and/or had a change and need a different textbook, please contact Athanasios Icossipentarhos (athanasios.icossipe@pisd.edu).
Shepton Library Info
Reserving Library Books:
Please view this video on how to place a library book on hold at Shepton by clicking on the link below. Then, join the Book Pick-Up Remind by texting 81010 and entering @a2c7c9e to communicate a time on Thursdays between 8:30-11:30 when you would like to pick-up the book curbside.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15kZz8Ip-Zz3srtLID4otxtZEK51W5hFu/view?usp=sharing
***Shepton CLUBS / PTSA / BOOSTER*** Announcements
Stallionettes Virtual Auditions
Calling all students interested in Drill Team – the Shepton Stallionettes will be conducting virtual auditions soon. Please see the flyer (below) for tryout workshops, the Google Classroom code, and additional helpful information. If you have any questions, please contact Director Kaleigh Kelley: Kaleigh.kelley@pisd.edu
Shepton Athletics
Calling all 8th Graders interested in being a future Shepton Cheerleader!
Please visit our website (below) for additional information and be sure to pay attention to all details and deadlines!
Freshmen Boys Track
Any 9th grader interested in Boys Track will need to speak with their counselor and also reach out to Coach Ostertag here at Shepton charles.ostertag@pisd.edu or Coach Sean Fairchild at Plano West sean.fairchild@pisd.edu. In order to try out or compete for Plano West Track, each student must be in an athletic period and must have all required paperwork completed (recent physical, all sections of RankOne). Practices are held during 7th period and after school (approx. 4:45pm).
Shepton Page Turners
Are you passionate about reading books and discussing them? Then, the Shepton Page Turners' Book Club is the perfect fit. We meet virtually every other Monday from 4:20-5:00pm. Please see the attached slide show if you are interested in joining. Please join the Google Classroom page to get messages and calendar updates.
Invite Link: https://classroom.google.com/c/NDI3NTgyMTQ3NjJa?cjc=h2sig2b
Classroom Code: h2sig2b
Shepton Theatre
PTSA
Join the Shepton Parent Teacher Association
Support Shepton High School by joining or renewing your membership in the Shepton Parent Teacher Student Association. This is an easy way to support the students, staff, and families of the SHS community. Membership funds help pay for teacher grants, student programs, and events throughout the year. If you haven't already, please join our PTSA & sign up for the PTSA newsletter here Shepton PTSA.
World Wear Project
Get Plugged In!
For additional information about all the activities we have going on, follow us on:
- Instagram - follow us @SheptonStallion
- Twitter - follow us @SheptonStallion
- Shepton HS website - www.pisd.edu/shepton
- Shepton PTSA website - www.sheptonptsa.org
- Shepton eNews - http://elist.pisd.edu/
- Shepton Athletic Boosters - www.SheptonStallionClub.com