Week Four - Community

We are off to a fantastic start to the school year, and I’m excited to share that our first progress report will be released this week. While it’s still early in the year, this is a great opportunity to have a conversation with your child about how they’re doing, what they’re enjoying at school, and any challenges they might be facing.

As we continue with Oiler Hour, I encourage you to remind your student to take advantage of this time by signing up for sessions where they might need extra support. This is an invaluable resource to help them stay on track and succeed.

Thank you for your ongoing support in making this school year a great one!

The PHS PTA is looking for volunteers to help with concessions during our next home varsity football game at the Rig on Friday, September 6th. We will meet at the concession stand on the home side at 5:00pm.

It is a night of fun and an opportunity to meet other people. We need 7 volunteers and 15 alternates. If you are chosen as an alternate, you will be notified 24 hours before the game if you are needed.

Students who need volunteer hours are welcome and encouraged to sign up!

Please see the link below to view available slots and sign up.

https://signup.com/go/SpSuAZT

Thank you for supporting the Pearland High School PTA!

If you have not yet joined the PTA you can do so by visiting this site.

Joining the PTA is an excellent way for parents to actively participate in their child's education and school community. By being involved in the PTA, parents can stay informed about school events, advocate for important issues, and collaborate with teachers and staff to enhance the educational experience for all students. The PTA provides a platform for parents to contribute to positive changes, and help create a supportive environment that fosters student growth and success. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other parents and build a strong network within the school community.

As we continue with Oiler Hour, I want to inform you about our upcoming Priority Days, where teachers will be "drafting" small groups of students who need targeted support. On these days, sessions will be closed for general student enrollment. Instead, teachers will select and enroll students based on their specific needs, ensuring that they receive the focused help necessary for their success.

Please note the Priority Days Schedule below:

• Monday: Electives/Clubs
• Tuesday: Math & LOTE (Languages Other Than English)
• Wednesday: ELA (English Language Arts)
• Thursday: Social Studies
• Friday: Science

On October 23rd, we will be holding an SAT School Day at Pearland High School. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to take the PSAT or opt to take the SAT during the school day, without the need for weekend scheduling conflicts.

• Important: Students wishing to take the SAT on this day must register and pay the required fee by September 10th at 3:00 PM. Please use this link for more information and to register for the SAT.

Additionally, on the same day, all sophomores and juniors will be taking the PSAT. There is no need to register for this exam, as it is automatically arranged for these students. The PSAT is a valuable tool in assessing college readiness and taking meaningful steps toward meeting College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) indicators.

As I mentioned last week, this is one of the many ways we’re helping your student prepare for life after high school. We encourage all students to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Last weekend, the Lady Oiler Volleyball team competed in the Dickinson Gator Classic volleyball tournament. The girls went 6-0 and finished first place out of 32 teams. Great job Lady Oilers!!!

Last Thursday, our Oilers kicked off the football season with a hard-fought game. While we just missed securing the win, our team played with great heart and determination. We're excited to see them back in action this week as they take on Memorial High School.

A special shoutout to our incredible band, who debuted their new halftime show. They both looked and sounded fantastic, adding to the excitement of the night.

We can't wait to see everyone at The Rig this Friday for another exciting game!

Our Homecoming Dance is fast approaching and we are excited to share with you that this year's theme is “Tangled in Our Memories”. The dance will be held on Saturday, September 21st from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Tickets are $30 and will be sold in the following order:

• Wednesday, 08.28.24 – Ticket sales will be open to Seniors ONLY
• Tuesday, 09.03.24 – Ticket sales will be open to both Juniors and Seniors ONLY
• Monday, 09.09.24 – Ticket sales will be open to All grade levels

Important: We have a limited capacity of 1,500 students for the dance, so tickets are expected to sell quickly. To avoid disappointment, please do not wait until the last minute to purchase your ticket.

How to Purchase Tickets:

• Tickets are priced at $30 each and can be purchased online by clicking here.
• Tickets are available for ONLINE purchase ONLY. No tickets will be sold at school or at the door on the night of the dance.
• Once all tickets have been sold, no more will be available.

The College Board has found that students who commit early to taking their AP exams are more likely to score a 3 or higher. In response, the College Board has implemented earlier deadlines for ordering AP exams. Consequently, we have updated our campus timelines for AP exam orders.

Taking the AP exam offers students a valuable opportunity to challenge themselves academically and gain a deeper understanding of the subjects they are passionate about. Successfully scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam not only demonstrates mastery of college-level material but can also earn students college credit, saving both time and money in their higher education journey. Additionally, the experience of preparing for and taking the AP exam helps students develop critical thinking skills, time management, and the ability to tackle rigorous coursework—skills that are essential for success in college and beyond. Participating in the AP program signals to colleges and universities that a student is ready for the demands of higher education, making them more competitive in the admissions process.

AP Exam Fees:

• The cost for each AP exam this school year is $99.
• PISD will provide a $20 subsidy per exam for students enrolled in the corresponding AP course, reducing the cost to $79 per exam.
• Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch should speak with the campus AP Coordinator, Mr. Hines, regarding the reduced exam fee.

Refund Policy:
Please note that refunds will not be issued if a student does not show up for their AP exam or decides to drop the course after the drop deadline.

Course Drop Deadlines:

• Fall drop deadline (full-year and fall semester courses): September 25, 2024
• Spring drop deadline (second semester courses): Tentatively February 14, 2025

AP Capstone Seminar and Research Fees:

• The fee for the AP Capstone Seminar and Research exams is $147, which will be paid by the district.
• If a student fails to complete any section of the AP Capstone Seminar or Research exam tasks, they will be charged the exam fee of $147.

College Board Account Assistance:
If your student is having trouble logging into their College Board account, they can contact the Student and Parent Portal at 888-225-5427.

Fall Semester Only Courses Include:

• AP Macroeconomics
• AP US Government and Politics
• AP Physics C: Mechanics

Students enrolled in fall semester and year-long AP courses will be registered for their AP exams as follows:

• By Friday, September 20, 2024:
  AP exam fees will be added to the student’s Skyward Fee Management account.

• Wednesday, September 25, 2024:
  Deadline for AP students to drop to a regular level course without incurring an AP exam fee penalty.

• Friday, November 1, 2024:
  AP exam fees are due. Paying the AP exam fee in Skyward Fee Management confirms the student’s registration to take the AP Exam in May 2025.

  Students who register for an AP exam after the due date will incur an additional $40 late fee, which will be applied to their Skyward Fee Management account.

Spring Semester Only Courses Include:

• AP Physics C: E&M
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP US Government and Politics

Students enrolled in spring semester AP courses will be registered for their AP exams as follows:

• By Friday, February 21, 2025:
  AP exam fees will be added to the student’s Skyward Fee Management account.

• Tentatively Friday, February 14, 2025:
  Deadline for AP students to drop to a regular level course without incurring an AP exam fee penalty.

• Friday, March 7, 2025:
  AP exam fees are due. Paying the AP exam fee in Skyward Fee Management confirms the student’s registration to take the AP Exam in May 2025.

  Students who register for an AP exam after the due date will incur an additional $40 late fee, which will be applied to their Skyward Fee Management account.