PfISD Employee Express
Weekly Staff Update: Oct. 7, 2021
Upcoming Events & Holidays
- Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 — National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Oct. 7 – End of First Nine-Weeks Grading Period
- Oct. 7 — PEF Schoolhouse Scramble⛳️🏌️♀️🏌️
- Oct. 8 — STUDENT HOLIDAY, Staff Development & Conferences
- Oct. 11 — NO SCHOOL: Student & Staff Holiday
- Oct. 13 — National Stop Bullying Day
Greetings from Dr. Killian
Dear Friends,
Toiling in the summer heat when others are home resting, or rising with the morning sun for practice, our band programs include some of the hardest working students you’ll find anywhere. And the results have shown consistently, as our district has grown a reputation for some of the best band programs around.
Recently, the Hendrickson Band knocked it out of the park in Midland, where the band took part in the Bands of America Regional, competing against 24 bands in the dry West Texas heat. At the end of prelims, the Hawks were announced as Class 3A Regional Champions, also winning in Music and Visual categories.
But they didn’t stop there. The HHS Band finished third overall, with a score of 79.400.
Also, in mid-September the Weiss Band was setting South Texas on fire, during the Bands of America Regional in McAllen. In prelims, the Wolves captured second place in Class 4A, also taking home the prize for top visual performance. That was followed by a second place overall finish during finals, with a score of 74.850.
That same weekend, the PHS Pfightin’ Panther Band (love that name) captured first place at the Thunder in the Hills Drumline Invitational.
As for Connally, the Cougars took home third place overall last month at the Capital City Marching Festival. Also, the Connally fine arts building is named after former band director Chico Portillo, who went on to become district fine arts coordinator, and who set the standard for PfISD band programs during 25 years of service.
So, if you see any band staff member, or band student, feel free to let them know they’re appreciated, as is all the hard work they put in.
October brings fall colors and cooler weather (thank goodness), and also open enrollment for our staff benefits. Kudos go out to our Human Resources department and our District Benefits Committee for their work addressing health insurance for our staff. Not only did they look at data about what staff are currently using for their health care providers when they made recommendations, but they made sure they moved programs forward that would include the greatest majority of doctors staff used in-network.
But they weren’t done. They brought forth other options for health care. While other district benefits systems are reducing options, our folks worked and moved forward more options, both traditional and non-traditional. Thank you all for your very hard work.
Thanks to a partnership with Austin Public Health, we have been running shot clinics throughout the district. Those clinics change location weekly and they are now providing the Pfizer third shot for staff members who have had the six-month gap between the second shot and third shot. If you meet the eligibility requirements, please check out our clinic time and location schedule and take advantage of the opportunity! Thanks to the Health and Safety staff for arranging and helping make these happen.
Last but not least, our tennis programs deserve recognition, with each making the team tennis playoffs and Hendrickson taking the district championship. Great work by our students and coaches, especially at Hendrickson, where participation in tennis has risen tremendously the last two years. Participation in sports and other school activities helps students find their community of like-minded individuals, assisting in school connectivity and social-emotional health.
Have a wonderful rest of the week and a super weekend.
In the best interest of children,
Douglas Killian, Ph.D.
Proud Superintendent
Passionately Serving
Quote of the Week
Important News & Updates
PfISD Benefits Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2022
PfISD’s annual benefits open enrollment starts tomorrow. Open enrollment will run from October 1 to October 31, 2021 and will all be done online. The Benefits Department will be available to assist employees during enrollment by the following methods:
- Phone 512-594-0026
- Email benefits@pfisd.net
- At your campus during the HR Front Porch Initiative (Times, Dates, Locations linked below)
To enroll, simply follow these steps:
- Log in to www.tbx.benselect.com to enroll (site will open on October 1 and close at midnight on October 31)
- Click here to review “TBX How to Enroll Guide"
- Under User ID, 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 you will be taken to a “Review/Sign Forms” screen. Click “Sign Form” after you have reviewed all of the forms to confirm your elections.
Skyward Time Off
Effective Monday, Oct. 4, all employees must now use Skyward Time Off to request time off or to enter an absence. Employees who require a substitute will still need to utilize Frontline (AESOP) in addition to Skyward. Once you complete the time off request in Skyward, if your job requires a Sub, you will be redirected to Frontline (AESOP). NOTE: Frontline (AESOP) will now only be used to request a substitute.
Once an employee submits the absence into the Skyward Time-off system, the supervisor will review the request for possible approval. At the campus level, the request will go to the Sub Manager first and then to the Campus Principal for final approval. Employees will receive an email from Skyward when their request has been approved or denied. Be sure to submit your absence request as soon as possible per campus/district standards. The rules regarding absences for campus staff on a non-discretionary day will not change.
Employees that have already entered an absence into the Frontline AESOP system after Oct. 1, will need to request the absence through the new Skyward Time Off system. Also, new for this school year, all employees will be required to enter any out of the office professional development that is ½ day or more.
Please click the links below to review the instructions to request/enter a leave day into Skyward Time Off. If you have any questions, please email leave@pfisd.net.
New COVID Vaccine Clinics & Booster Shots
We have partnered with Austin Public Health to set up additional COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for our students and staff and their families. We have upcoming clinic dates at each high school and middle school. While dates and sites have been established, we are still working to find the best location on the campuses to hold these clinics. We will provide those details when they are available.
We have also received word from APH that educators are included in the recent CDC approval for Pfizer’s third booster shot. Staff members who are at least six months past receiving their second Pfizer dose may also sign up for one of these clinics using the link below to receive the Pfizer booster.
If you would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, please mark your calendar for one of these days that fits your schedule. These clinics are open to all staff and age-eligible students (12 and up) and their families regardless of site. You do not have to attend the campus you receive the vaccination at.
The APH Pedi Mobile Vaccine Program will provide COVID-19 Vaccinations using Pfizer vaccine for our staff, students and their families. A legal guardian MUST be present for all minors receiving the vaccination. Persons receiving vaccination will be required to wait at least 15 minutes post-vaccination.
Parents and staff are requested to complete this survey to sign up to ensure we have enough vaccinations available at each location. Dates and times for these clinics are posted below. All locations are open to all PfISD staff and students age 12 and up and their families.
All High School times are 4-5:30 p.m.
October 12 @ PHS
October 13 @ HHS
All Middle School times are 3:45-5:30 p.m.
October 7 @ PMS
October 12 @ KLMS
October 13 @ DMS
October 14 @ WVMS
Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15, and we have seen some great photos from a number of our campuses celebrating the culture of where many in our community have come from. You can see the influence these cultures have had on our area and our everyday lives as these members of our community carry a little of their heritage with them through the generations.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, PfISD will be highlighting some of the achievements of Hispanic Americans who have made an impact in their community and our country. You can learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month and other months that honor diversity on our Diversity page at https://www.pfisd.net/domain/101.
Please continue to find ways to celebrate this month on your campuses and share photos for our community to see!
Additional COVID Leave for Employees
I would like to thank our Board of Trustees for approving an additional eight (8) COVID leave days for staff members who are diagnosed with a lab-confirmed positive case of COVID-19. Our administration thought it was necessary to ask for these extra days out of concern that a staff member would have to use all 10 days of their annual local and state leave for the required quarantine time based on CDC and APH guidelines.
We also asked the Board make this extended COVID leave retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1. Any staff members who were required to quarantine and take sick leave due to themselves being COVID positive will have those days used returned to their leave bank. Employees will see their leave updated by the October payroll.
The extended COVID leave is for positive staff members only. These days cannot be used for a family member that is positive.
Pflugerville Education Foundation Updates
The Pflugerville Education Foundation has been planning all summer and we are ready to give you some opportunities for cash and ways to help support our students and teachers as they begin this new school year. Check out our brochure to learn more about our grants and awards. Below are some updates and deadlines coming up soon.
Get Cash!
- PEF Mini-grant applications are now open for the fall. We will give four grants of $1,000 each in September, October and December. Applications will be open on the first Friday of each month. They will be due on the following dates: September 23, October 22, and December 3.
- Are you a teacher new to the District? Could you use $100 to help with classroom supplies? You should sign up to be one of the $100 for 100 New Teachers Award. Simply fill out this short form to sign up before October 31, 2021. We will choose one new teacher per campus and draw the rest from the remaining contestant pool.
Events
- Take 2021…Action Employee Giving Campaign launches this month!
Enjoy the feeling of giving back to support our District students and teachers in an easy and convenient way. The District offers monthly payroll deduction so you can choose a gift amount that will come to PEF through payroll donations. EVERY dollar counts, from $5.00 a month to $100 a month.
Bonuses: YOUR monthly gift helps YOUR department. Half of the total amount given through your participation in Employee Giving goes back to your department! We’ve given “half-back” checks from $200 to $2,000! Second, you’ll receive thank you gifts from PEF (even gala tickets!). Finally, the campus with the highest participation rate this year, will receive an additional 10% bonus added to their half-back check! - The Annual Gala is February 26, 2022, so mark your calendars now. This year’s talent show is going to be the best ever. By popular demand, schools will enter video performances of songs matching this year’s Hollywood Theme. Win $5,000, $3,000 or $1,000! Also back this year are campus-sponsored gala baskets. The school whose basket rakes in the most cash at the silent auction will win $500! Watch for more information and deadlines to submit your creative videos, like this one.
Athletics Update
For the second consecutive year Pflugerville ISD’s high school tennis teams have dominated the competition claiming all four playoff spots available to UIL District 18-5A. With a victory over Pflugerville on Monday night, Hendrickson won the regular season title and grabbed the No. 1 spot.
Connally defeated Weiss on Monday, then bested PHS on Tuesday night to finish second in the standings. The Panthers hold the third playoff spot for District 18, and Weiss finished fourth.
The PfISD sweep of the playoff spots continues a streak of success for the district’s athletics teams. PfISD’s high schools combined to grab all four playoff spots last year in team tennis, volleyball and girls basketball.
District 18-5A is paired up with District 17 in the UIL Team Tennis State Championship bracket and will await results and certification later this week to find out who their opponents will be. Playoff action gets underway next week with the first round of competition scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Dates, times and locations of the matches for all four PfISD tennis teams will be announced later this week.
Our football teams went 3-1 last week with Hendrickson getting an impressive win on the road over Cedar Park. This was a big rebound for the Hawks after losing their district opener the week before to then defeat a Cedar Park team that played in the state championship game last year. Weiss moved to 2-0 in district play with a win over Anderson, and Pflugerville dominated Leander to the tune of 74-28 for a Homecoming win. Connally fell on the road to Rouse and is now 1-1 in district play.
This week, Connally and Hendrickson return home to play at The Pfield on Thursday and Friday, respectively. CHS takes on Glenn and HHS hosts Georgetown. PHS travels to Manor and WHS heads to Leander.
In volleyball, Hendrickson remains undefeated in district play through the first round of matches. With lots of action yet to come, all four of our teams are in contention to make the playoffs. Here’s hoping for a repeat of last year when we swept all four playoff spots in volleyball, too!
Kudos
Each week I like to recognize some of our staff members who have made a positive impact. If you know someone who deserves to be recognized for the passionate service they provide to their coworkers, students or any other member of our community, you may nominate them.
Our previous form to submit Kudos expired, so please be sure to use the new updated link below and bookmark it for future use if you happen to know lots of worthy Pfamily members and plan to submit Kudos every week.
Now on to this week's Kudos!
Northwest Elementary Intervention team (via Jennifer Schaffer): “NWES interventionists have been pushing in to classrooms to help with our beginning of the year testing, providing support to teachers, helping with lunch duty, and just being available to help out wherever and whenever needed. Thank you for all your hard work!”
Lisa Samuels of Cele Middle (via Raghida Hasbani): “Ms. Samuels is an exemplary inclusion teacher. She is meticulous, patient, loving and goes above and beyond not only for her students but also for other teachers who seek assistance. I am very fortunate to have her as a mentor.”
Anna Moreno and Trudy Brandenburg of PfISD Multilingual Department (via Andrea Vela of Westview Middle): “The Pflugerville Multilingual Department has been absolutely amazing since I came to this district and this year is no different. Anna and Trudy have been so helpful with every and any question that I have. They have a lot on their plate yet they're still able to help me out when I need them. Thank you ladies so much for all that you do!”
Abigail Luna, Natalie Vanschyndle and Whitney Carter of Timmerman Elementary (via anonymous): “This year we were able to start right up in person, and these ladies were so ready to welcome their students, meet the challenges as a team and work to get the students what they needed from the start. The kindergarten students are so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of teachers that helped students get their routines in place, set clear expectations in the classroom and around campus, and helped them build a school family. They are always kind and considerate while meeting challenging situations. Way to go Kinder Team!”
Corey Soto of Weiss High School (via anonymous): “I just witnessed Assistant Principal Mrs. Corey Soto deal with some of the most difficult parents I have ever seen. I felt horrible for her. Mrs. Soto was obviously shaken up by them, but she handled herself extremely well and bounced back. Well done, Mrs. Soto!”
Tammy Burleigh of River Oaks Elementary (via Makenzie Sanders): “Mrs. Burleigh is always going the extra mile to help others in any way she can. She is there when someone needs her regardless of the amount of work on her plate. She is awesome and deserves to be celebrated!”
Makenzie Sanders of River Oaks Elementary (via Lissa Rodriguez): “Ms. Sanders has been a great addition to our River Oaks family! She is very knowledgeable and is always willing to lend a helping hand. I could not do my job without her assistance! She is amazing with her students and is a great team player. We love you Ms. Sanders!”
Please continue to socially distance as much as possible, wash your hands and wear a mask. This school year, we will continue to find learning opportunities and activities to prepare our students for success in and out of the classroom.
Together this Pfamily can do anything, and through the challenges, we are #MovingPforward.
In the best interest of children,
Dr. Douglas Killian
PfISD Superintendent of Schools
Pflugerville ISD
Email: communications@pfisd.net
Website: www.pfisd.net
Location: 1401 West Pecan Street, Pflugerville, TX, USA
Phone: 512-594-0000
Facebook: facebook.com/pfisd
Twitter: @pfisd