PfISD Employee Express

• Upcoming Events & Holidays
• Election 2022 Information
  
• Be Aware of Fentanyl Risk
  
• Open Enrollment Now Available
• PfISD Partners with UT Austin for UTeach
• Campus Safety Protocols
• PfISD Professional Learning Needs Assessment SY 22-23
  
• 2023-2024 Instructional Calendar Survey
• $50 Gift Card Winners - PfISD Insider App
• Digital Citizenship Contest
• Staff Shout Outs
• CTE Corner
• Fine Arts Update
• Athletics Update

October

* National Principals Month

* National Bullying Prevention Month

Oct. 24 - Early Voting Begins

Nov. 3 - Board of Trustees Workshop

Nov. 4 - Final day of Early Voting

Nov. 8 - Election Day

Nov. 8 - Virtual Parent Workshop - Demystifying & Navigating School Programs

Nov. 17 - Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Nov. 21-25 - Thanksgiving Break

Early voting began on Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 4. In the first 3 days of early voting, a total of 8,295 people in our district have voted in one or more propositions on the ballot. Of that total, 490 voters were parents and 169 were staff members. Regardless of how you vote, please let your voice be heard.

The polls are open Monday-Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The PACE Gym is also serving as an early voting location. Please visit the districts election website to view polling locations near you!

For more information about the 3 Elections held by PfISD in November (ACE, VATRE, and Bond), please visit www.pfisd.net/election2022.

Wondering what your child's campus will receive from the proposed Bond Package? Visit the Bond webpage for a breakdown of Bond projects by campus.

State law prevents school districts from using public funds or resources to advocate for or against school district elections. District resources include an employee’s paid time, a Board member’s time in their official capacity, as well as district facilities, equipment, and supplies.

Please view the document below for a few helpful tips on what you can and can’t say, and can and can’t do, during a PfISD election.

There is a growing threat to the health and safety of our youth that we want to bring to your attention. Fentanyl is a man-made, Schedule II narcotic that has reached a growing number of communities of all sizes across Texas and has impacted so many lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), within the last two years, teen overdose deaths related to Fentanyl have tripled. Over half of all overdose deaths are related to Fentanyl use. Death from Fentanyl overdose happens when the respiratory system slows, or not enough oxygen gets to the brain.

Fentanyl is a manufactured opiate drug that is generally used in the medical field to treat severe pain. It is often used in emergency situations and given by paramedics and in emergency rooms. Sadly, an underground market has developed for this drug, and it is often marketed to youth. Fentanyl can come in many forms and even the smallest amount can be lethal. It is often mixed with other drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Prescription medications can also be laced with it. There have been some cases where the Fentanyl pills were made to look like candy. Oftentimes, the teen has no idea that what they are taking has Fentanyl in it.

What can you do as a parent to prevent your teen from falling prey to this deadly trend?

1. Talk to your teen. Talk about the dangers that they may face at parties and social events. Let them know that they can talk to you about things that are concerning them.
2. Monitor their social media and app usage. This is a common way that teens get access to this drug.
3. Encourage your teen to get involved with extra-curricular activities, church, service projects, community, and school organizations. Keeping your teen involved can help battle loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness.
4. Know how to access the district’s anonymous reporting tool. It can be found on the district’s website. Report any suspicion that Fentanyl use may be occurring in the schools or that someone may be abusing it. Encourage your child to do the same. You could save a life.
5. Monitor your child’s behavior. Has their behavior changed lately? Do they have a new set of “friends”? Are they keeping to themselves more often than usual?
6. Seek help if your child is facing a mental health challenge or if you suspect they are using any substance.

The Open Enrollment site is now open through October 31, 2022. After October 31 the site will close and you will NO LONGER be able to enroll for 2023 benefits.

Open enrollment is your opportunity to add, drop or make changes to your benefits. Changes will be effective January 1, 2023. Visit www.pfisdbenefits.com for more information on the benefit offerings. You can enroll online or by calling 877-282-0808 and a representative will enroll for you. The PfISD Benefits Department is available to answer questions during enrollment by the following methods:

• Phone 512-594-0026
• Email benefits@pfisd.net
• At your campus during the HR Front Porch initiative in October

HOW TO ENROLL

Employees will self-enroll online or by phone (877-282-0808).

If you are waiving medical coverage, you are still required to log on and decline coverage

To enroll, simply follow these steps:

• Follow this link: ENROLL IN BENEFITS 2023 To review PfISD’s benefits, click on www.pfisdbenefits.com.
• Under Employee ID or SSN, enter your employee ID with three zeros before the number – example 000801001 or Social Security Number with no dashes. Do not use an e in front of your ID number.
• Under Personal ID Number (PIN), enter the last 4 digits of you Social Security Number and the last 2 digits of your birth year.
• Follow the steps displayed on the site and click “Next” to move on to the next section.
• Once you have completed all your elections on your benefits, you will be taken to a “Review/Sign Forms” screen. Click “Sign Form” after you have reviewed all of the forms to confirm all of your elections.
  
  

Please review your options and costs carefully. You can go back in to the enrollment system as many times as you like to view or make changes until the end of the enrollment period. Once the enrollment period has ended, your choices will be final until the next enrollment period (with the exception of a qualifying life event). Contact the Benefits Department if you have questions.

Hello educational associates, guest educators, and others! Do you have a degree in science, mathematics, or computer science? Are you ready to become a teacher. Consider a university-based program like UTeach facilitated by the University of Texas at Austin. Find out more information and register to attend an October 2022 virtual information session by clicking HERE.

Participants in the January 2023 Central Texas cohort will have program costs of $8,000 waived.

Pflugerville ISD utilizes the Standard Response Protocols created by the I Love You Guys Foundation. The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety.

The benefits of SRP become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.

For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For communities, it leverages the growing adoption of the protocols from residents of all ages. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident.

Over the next few weeks we will share the 5 Standard Response Protocols utilized by PfISD.

EVACUATE

Evacuate is called when there is a need to move students from one location to another. The most common use of this action is a fire drill, in which students are evacuated to predetermined staging areas.

Public Address
The public address for Evacuate is: “Evacuate! Type/Location” and is repeated twice each time the public address is performed. Type is added when special actions need to be taken during evacuation. For instance “Evacuate! To the Flag Pole. Evacuate! To the Flag Pole.”

Red Card /Green Card (Assembly card)
After taking roll at the assembly area, the Red/Green Card system is employed for administration or first responders to quickly, visually identify the status of the teachers’ classes by folding the card to show either green or red.

• Green Card
  (OK) - All students accounted for, No immediate help is necessary

• Red Card
  (Help) - Extra or missing students, or vital information must be exchanged

Evacuation drills should be performed during any month that has ten or more school days. Fire drills constitute a valid evacuation drill.

Preparation
Evacuation preparation involves the identification and marking of facility Evacuation Points and campus maps.

Contingencies
Students are trained that if they are separated from their class during a tactical evacuation, then joining an evacuation line is acceptable. Students should be instructed to identify themselves to the teacher in their group after arriving at the Evacuation site.

Special needs evacuation plans should be developed and drilled, including medication and pharmaceutical evacuation and chain of trust.

Evacuation Assembly
The Evacuation Assembly refers to gathering at the Evacuation Assembly Point. Teachers are instructed to take roll after arrival at the Evacuation Assembly Point and to use their green/red signs to indicate their status.

Our PfISD District Academic Advisory Council (DAAC) is soliciting your feedback as part of their calendar development process. The Pflugerville ISD instructional calendar is the result of a framework developed through collaboration between community, staff, and district leadership. The framework is intended to balance the needs of all stakeholders, especially our students and teachers.

Our DAAC is committed to maintaining the following commitments and values as we collaboratively develop our 2023-2024 Pflugerville ISD instructional calendar:

• Support the academic needs of our students.
• Balance the instructional needs of our teachers and staff at all levels.
• Align with our mission and best practices.
• Address the needs of all students equitably.

We thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this survey and to make sure your voice is considered.

Congratulations on your $50 Gift Card!!

There is still time—you have through October 31st to download and register for the PfISD Insider App to have your name added to a weekly drawing for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Use the QR code below or check your inbox for an email from iNGAGED? with instructions to register.

Look out for an onboarding email from ingaged-no-reply@pfisd.net

For any questions on how to download the app – contact app_support@ingaged.me

The winners will receive their gift card in the mail after the drawing concludes on October 31.

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires schools to teach students appropriate online behavior and to educate students on cyberbullying awareness and response. Join us in giving PfISD students a fun, gamified way to learn the foundational skills to navigate the internet safely and responsibly.

Top schools will win a banner to show off their commitment to digital citizenship! All schools that achieve >80% CIPA Compliance on the district E-Rate report will also earn a digital citizenship badge! See below for flyer.

We love our PfISD staff members and we know our parents do too! We want to provide an opportunity for our parents to publicly recognize and thank our staff members who serve our students, staff and the community. We have created a Google Form to provide information directly to us to share with our staff as a whole and let you see the difference you are making in a student's life every single day. Please click here for the Google Form.

These Shout Outs will be included in upcoming issues of the Parent and Staff Newsletters. If a Shout Out directly references a student, we will not include the parent name to protect the child's anonymity. If you are recognized in an anonymous Shout Out and want to learn the parent's name, please contact Tamra Spence at tamra.spence@pfisd.net.

THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING PFISD STAFF MEMBERS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY!

Sara Tinnon of Windermere ES (via Cassie T.): Nurse Sara is so incredibly helpful with our daughter and we can't thank her enough! She always has a smile on her face and is great with the students. We're so thankful for her!

Haley Shillow of Riojas ES (via Anonymous): Ms. Shillow is such an amazing teacher. I know she works hard to reinforce that the class is a family and I feel that my daughter really feels that way. She has high expectations for the kids and helps them know what they are capable of. My daughter is loving 2nd grade and has the best things to share about school. Plus Ms. Shillow's communication with parents is excellent. We get pictures, weekly emails, relevant chats, etc. I always feel in the loop. Thank you Ms. Shillow for all that you do. You are exactly the kind of teacher we need for our kids and we are grateful.

Alyson Fuller of Mott ES (via Amy C.): Mrs. Fuller has been such a blessing this year. She proactively communicates with us on our daughter's progress and needs. It's a true partnership.

Jonathan Gartmann of Park Crest MS (via Michele R.): Mr. Gartmann is an incredible role model for my daughters. He expects them to be respectful, disciplined, & hardworking in all aspects of life & school. He is also so supportive of them, providing counsel to them & going above & beyond for them & our family when we have experienced hardships. He is exactly who we need in our schools & in the world. He makes this world a better place & guides the next generation with integrity, accountability & positivity.

Mrs Malone of Pflugerville ES (via Kathy G.): Mrs Malone is a fantastic teacher with a heart for her students! My granddaughter is in her 3rd grade class, we are new to Texas, and my granddaughter was behind in a few skills. Mrs Malone reached out and she worked on getting the resources together to get my granddaughter caught up! We are seeing great improvements!!! Thank you Ms Malone!! You are so appreciated and the students are lucky to have you. Thank you for everything

Ms Towery of Kelly Lane MS (via Alisia L.): Her frequent, positive, and thorough communication via email is so appreciated. And, the time and effort put into those emails does not go unnoticed. From her fun hashtags, to her graphics, calendars, and topics for the week. I feel her love of teaching and her content when she sends her weekly emails. I know how busy she is, and I appreciate her time and effort!

Ms. Krasnonosenkikh (via Haleigh): This is the first time my nine year-old son likes his teacher and is actually not minding school!! (Since he was probably one year-old!) It's the first time frustration isn't getting the best of him, and that his confidence in school is snowballing bc of positive reinforcement! It's the first time he is actually going the extra mile to show his teacher he did it. Can't ask for anything more honestly.... These confidence milestones set the foundation for how he sees himself and his potential. There are no words to convey my gratitude and love for this incredible teacher.

So, we moved a bit over a year ago to Pflugerville from Austin, where he technically had attended a "highly ranked public school," and he did not enjoy one single iota of this experience; in fact, he dreaded it! I won't lie; his teachers did not exactly impress me. Sure, they had decades of experience, but seemed to have lost the love of the job, and instead seemed to be highly stressed out, under immense pressure and transferring it directly to the kids re-standardized tests. Basically it was a nightmare and I felt guilty sending him to school!

He always tells me: "Mom, kids don't actually like going to school. Ms. K, though, really cares about us, and she's a good teacher! I also think she spends too much money on us, bc she's always getting us candy or treats to reward us." 😍

Ms. K, I know ES teachers have WAY too much bureaucratic test related stress to deal with, and I am incredibly sorry for this. Despite it all, there are no words adequate to convey my gratitude and relief that my son has you as his teacher.

Mrs. Robertson, Ms. Kelley, Ms. Torres, Mr. Diaz, Ms. Horta, Ms. Bañales, Ms. Graves, Ms. Ruiz, Our Lunchroom Staff and Custodial Staff of Highland Park ES (via WooPf): Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for being a beating heart for our school! Taking time above and beyond all the classroom magic you pour into our Bulldogs and serving the students (and families) for a movie night makes you all epic. I am grateful that my kids have such a caring campus of educators, leaders and community.

Ibet Jaimes of Mott ES Cafeteria (via Anonymous): She’s extremely nice when I called with questions about my child's account, she answered all the questions I had. She has an outstanding attitude. She needs to be recognized for the hard work & selfless person she is.

Last Wednesday evening, over 200 student volunteers, business/postsecondary partners and community members joined at Hendrickson High School for the first ever “Pfuture Ready: Learn.Play.Plan” event, hosted by the PfISD Career & Technical Education Department. Guests were welcomed with over a dozen hands-on activities, highlighting the 22 Programs of Study that PfISD CTE offers students; many enjoyed making their own ice cream (Culinary Arts), learned the basics of CPR (Healthcare Therapeutics), built a birdhouse (Carpentry), learned coding (Programming & Software Development)…and more! Break-out sessions were offered with topics ranging from financial literacy to preparing for college, and there were even booths representing local businesses & postsecondary programs, encouraging students to learn more about their next-steps after high school. It was a total success & we appreciate everyone who helped contribute to making it a night to remember! To learn more about PfISD CTE programs, please visit https://www.pfisd.net/Page/7408.

On Friday, October 21st, seven girls enrolled in CTE programs attended the “Women in STEM – Ignite Worldwide” Event held at Universal Technical Institute. The event aimed to raise awareness, change perceptions and advance opportunities for women in STEM career pathways. During the event, students listened to guest speakers, enjoyed lunch on campus, and were treated to a tour of UTI’s new state-of-the-art facilities; hands-on activities were highlighted in the new Welding Training School as well as the Diesel Mechanic School, and along the way, students heard first-hand from women currently in the field. UTI and Ignite Worldwide are dedicated to cultivating a diverse pipeline of talent and supporting a sustainable future for girls and their families, right here in our back yard. To learn more about PfISD CTE Programs, please visit https://www.pfisd.net/Page/7408.

Competing against the top 22 5A high school marching bands in our area this past Saturday, Hendrickson High School was named the 2022 UIL Area D Champions! This is the first time in Pflugerville ISD history that a band program has won a UIL area marching contest. Congratulations to the HHS band and color guard students, staff, and supporters on this huge accomplishment! Thank you to our maintenance, custodial, transportation, police, nurse, athletics, grounds, and WHS band boosters who helped make the 5A area contest a success at The Pfield.

Congrats to our middle school choir students who auditioned and made it into the TMEA All-Region Choir! Out of 580 auditionees, Pflugerville ISD will be sending 59 students to sing with the best in our region at a concert on November 5th at Georgetown High School. Congrats to each of them and their teachers on this great accomplishment!

• Bohls: 8

• Cele: 20

• Dessau: 1

• Kelly Lane: 15

• Park Crest: 2

• Pflugerville: 7

• Westview: 6

Friday, October 28th is the final show for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at Connally High School. Congrats to the cast and crew on a great show!

(All schedules can be found on rankonesports.com)

Volleyball: District Play Standings

5A Hendrickson HS: DISTRICT CHAMPIONS!!!

6A Weiss HS: 9-2 District Runner Up!!!

5A Pflugerville HS: 5-7 (Currently 4th Place)

5A Connally HS: 5-7 (Currently 5th Place)

Football: WHS is making preparations for their next BIG game versus Midway. HHS defeated Leander last week for their 1st district win on Homecoming Night. CHS is set to play this week versus Waco University!!!

Fun Fact: TABC Girls Basketball Preseason State rankings are out and HHS is #11 while PHS is #18. LET’S GO!!!

Cross Country: Is headed to REGIONALS!!! WHS Mora-Ortiz Jitzell & Luke Janovec, HHS Grace Perez & Cassie Rivera, PHS Javier Mora-Ortiz & Marcus Flores. PHS Boys Team and HHS Girls Team both qualified as well. PHS had a team (Boys) advance to Regionals for the first time since 1998!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

Swim: The PHS swim team competed in their first meet this past Saturday in Killeen at the Monster Mash Splash. The boys placed 2nd overall, and combined the boys and girls team placed 7th with 154 points!!!

Coach Langman of PHS recorded his 400th career WIN and solidified a PLAYOFF spot! CONGRATS!!!