Requests to Change Learning Environment for 2nd Nine Weeks-Deadline is October 2

All primary guardians have received notification that the window to request a learning environment change for the 2nd nine weeks opened on September 28 and will close on October 2.  Plano West families also received communication from principal Janis Williams.

Changing a student's learning environment requires these important steps:

• If you wish to KEEP your student's learning environment the same for the 2nd nine weeks, no action is necessary.   
• If you wish to CHANGE your student's learning environment,  you must log-in to Parent Portal to select a change for the 2nd nine weeks. Then contact your student's Plano West counselor via email to discuss schedule change implications including teacher and period changes.  This step is required for a learning environment change to be completed.
• The deadline to make a learning environment change is 11:59 p.m. on October 2, 2020.  Learning environment changes go into effect the first day of the 2nd nine weeks, October 13, 2020.
• F2F learners will continue to come to campus two days a week based on their assigned cohort (Cohort A last names A-L on Tuesday & Thursday; cohort B last names M-Z on Wednesday-Friday) during the 2nd nine weeks.

Please consult the Plano ISD website for all information related to changing a student's learning environment.

Plano Families First Event - Oct. 17

Tercer Evento Anual Familias de Plano Primero - 17 de octubre (en Español)

Presented by United Healthcare, the third-annual Plano Families First Event provides a number of free health and human resources services in an effort, this year, to alleviate the hardships thousands of Plano families have experienced during the pandemic. The event will be held Saturday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Plano Event Center located at 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway.

Services: Free services will include flu shots (available on a first-come, first-served basis), blood pressure screenings, dental screenings and fluoride varnishes (for children only) along with community and educational information and resources. Plano ISD students will receive free school supply packets (available on a first-come, first-served basis). In addition, the Plano Public Library will be offering free books. Supplies and flu shots are limited.

Job Fair and Free LinkedIn Photo: The job fair, presented by the Plano Chamber of Commerce, is virtual this year and features a multitude of jobs including several open positions with Plano ISD. View the online listings at Plano Families First job fair webpage from October 17 through December 15, 2020. Event attendees can get a free LinkedIn photo by a professional photographer.

Event Details:

Photo ID and proof of residency are required to attend. Plano residents and Plano ISD families are welcome.

• A completed school supply form is required to receive supplies. The form is available in English and Spanish.
• Social distancing and masks are required for ages 3 and up.
• Some items and services will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sponsors: In addition to presenting sponsor United Healthcare, other sponsors are Bank of America; Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano; City of Plano; FedEx Office; Liberty Mutual; North Texas Food Bank; NTT Data; Plano Chamber of Commerce; Plano ISD; Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano; and TXU.

For more information, go to planofamiliesfirst.com.

New Hybrid Cohort Calendar Adjustment

In order to ensure that both cohorts A and B participate in the same number of synchronous learning days during the current grading period, Monday, October 5, has been designated a synchronous day for cohort A students (last names beginning with A-L). This change applies to both face-to-face and PISD School@Home learning environments. Cohort B students will participate in asynchronous activities on October 5. 

PSAT/NMSQT Information

Free Meals for All Plano ISD Students

Due to a USDA waiver, all Plano ISD students (face-to-face & School@Home) will receive free breakfast & lunch meals through Dec. 31 or while USDA funds last. For curbside pickup locations, schedules & docs you should bring if student is not present, visit http://pisd.edu/grabandgo.

Athletic Event Ticket Information

Please visit the PWSH Athletics page for more information about tickets for PWSH athletic events during the 2019-2020 school year.

Hybrid Cohort Split for Students Returning to Campus and for Students@Home 

Beginning September 9, students who have selected to attend face-to-face return to campuses, and students who have selected PISD School@Home environment at all high schools and senior high schools will implement the hybrid schedule. Students will be divided into two cohorts based on the student’s last name. Information and further explanation of the cohort divisions and schedules for each week are included in the following linked document: Hybrid Cohort Split Communication 

Important Details About PWSH Hybrid Schedule Beginning Sept. 9, 2020

Student Daily Screening for Return to Campus September 9

 Families are requested to begin proactively screening their students for symptoms of COVID-19 and report any symptoms, exposures and quarantines using the COVID-19 Student Reporting Form. A campus nurse will follow up with information on return to campus instruction and timelines. 

Curbside Checkout from the PWSH Library

• Curbside Checkout of library books is now available for Plano West students and staff from the PWSH Library.
• Click HERE for instructions for checkout

Curbside Checkout Days and Times:

Tuesdays 1-3 pm

Fridays 9-11 am

Free and Reduced Meal Applications

Free and reduced meal applications are now available at www.schoolcafe.com/pisd. If you have never filled out a meal application, just click on “Create a New Account.” Student eligibility status from the 2019-2020 school year will roll over only for the first 30 operating days of school or until a new application has been processed. It is important that households complete an application for the 2020-2021 school year as soon as possible. Households should allow 10 business days for application processing.

Back-to-School Resources

For a one-stop shop of back-to-school resources and information, visit www.pisd.edu/backtoschool. Find the following information (and more):

• Annual registration for existing and newly enrolled students

• School supplies for grades K-5

  (school supplies for secondary schools are available from the campuses)

• Plano ISD back-to-school fairs

• Student technology equipment checkout guidelines

Please click on the link below for Special Education updates.

Updates in Special Education

Actualizaciones en Educación Especial

UPDATED AP EXAM SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

New AP exam backup email submission guidelines.  Beginning Monday, May 18 and continuing through the makeup window, there will be a backup email submission process for browser-based exams.  Please click here for more information: 

https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students/taking-ap-exams/exam-day-experience/submission-guidelines/back-up-email

SAT Information

www.collegeboard.org
Go to the College Board link for information on test dates and registration deadlines. Free online practice tests and personalized learning tools are available for students on the College Board website. 

(Updated 4/7) The College Board is encouraging students to prepare for future SAT testing opportunities through the online platform at Khan Academy

(Updated 4/6) The College Board has announced that they will be unable to provide additional opportunities for students to take the SAT during the school day for the current school year.  The College Board is working to provide additional opportunities for students to take the SAT at school or outside of the school day when the situation allows.

ACT Information

www.act.org
Go to the ACT.org link above for information on test dates and registration deadlines. A free practice test is available on the website as well as free online test prep through the ACT Academy

Dual Credit Information

Dual credit deadlines previously announced have been suspended.  Students and parents should contact their campus counselor for information about registering for courses for the 20-21 school year.  

Fall 2020 class registration is now open for students that have applied to Collin and completed permission forms with their counselor.  Students may be exempted from the requirement to take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSI-A). This exemption would be noted on the ‘Collin Permission Form’ that students received from their counselors.

TSI-A

For students taking a dual credit course for the first time in 2020-21, see Dual Credit update above.

For graduating seniors: We are hopeful that an online testing format for the TSIA will be available for our students through Examity, a remote proctoring service.  We will know the status of this service sometime in early May. (Updated 4/22)