THE SCOOP

The 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will open in December. All seniors must complete the FAFSA as part of their graduation requirements. Seniors have two options: opt-out of the FAFSA via their Skyward account or complete the FASFA and upload a screenshot of the confirmation to Xello. Completing the FAFSA is a crucial step in securing financial aid for college. It's important to note that all seniors who plan to attend college next year must complete the FAFSA to be considered for scholarship funds. Even if a student opts out of the FAFSA for graduation requirements, it does not prevent them from completing the form in December.

November 24th is the final day to capture your senior portraits, a crucial step for your graduation. Please call 409-225-9405 to book your portrait session. The photo shoot will take place at 309 Jupiter Road, Suite 110 in Allen. If you miss this deadline, your photo will not be displayed on the jumbotron screen during the graduation ceremony.

Have you checked out your student's Xello account? Xello is a college and career readiness tool that helps students explore and plan for the future. In 6th grade, Allen ISD students begin exploring and taking assessments in Xello. In 7th and 8th grade, students take interest and strength inventories to help them explore what careers they might eventually be interested in. In high school, our students begin researching colleges, majors, and post-graduation options. Our high school students set goals and build a resume. As seniors, our students use Xello to track their college applications, find scholarships, and request letters of recommendation. It is a great program that Allen provides for our students and one that you may enjoy checking out as a parent with your child.

Attention sophomores and juniors interested in taking Dual Credit classes, and seniors heading to college who have not met college readiness standards through the TSI, SAT, or ACT:

Allen High School has multiple dates available for students to take the TSI. Sign up now!

Additional dates will be added in the spring.

Texas' 90% attendance rule requires students in grades K–12 to attend school at least 90% of the time a class is offered to receive credit or a final grade. This rule applies to all absences, whether excused or unexcused. Students who must make up time to comply with the 90% law are notified (parents and students). Students can make up hours in the 90% room or academic tutoring outside school hours. See below for the remaining dates to make up time to avoid losing credit.

The deadline for students to makeup their attendance hours is Saturday, December 14th.

As we near the teacher-led quarter recovery deadline of Friday, November 1st, students have a limited opportunity to improve any failing grades from the first quarter, raising them up to a maximum of 70. It is essential for your student to speak with their teacher as soon as possible to discuss ways to improve their grades. Please note that quarterly grade recovery is only available during the first and third quarters.

Advanced and AP level down requests will be available again this year. The Google Doc for students to request level changes will open on November 13th and close on November 20th. Approved level changes will take effect at the beginning of the second semester. This only applies to changing levels from an Advanced or AP to a lower level of the same course, such as AP Physics to on-level Physics. No level-down requests will be accepted after the November 20th deadline.

• Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group.
• Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years old.
• The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.

Daylight Saving Time ends on November 3rd, so set your clocks BACK one hour!

The adjustment to the end of Daylight Saving Time change can lead to some experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) due to shorter days and less sunlight. Below are a few coping strategies to help you adjust:

1. **Give Yourself Time to Adjust**: Adapting to a new schedule can take days or weeks. Avoid making big decisions right after the change.

2. **Incorporate Vitamin D-Rich Foods**: Boost your vitamin D levels with supplements or foods like salmon, mushrooms, eggs, fortified cereal, and milk.

3. **Embrace Natural Light**: Maximize morning light exposure by opening curtains or spending time outside. Natural light helps reset your internal clock.

4. **Gradual Adjustment**: A few days before the time change, go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night to help your body adjust.

5. **Mindful Evening Routine**: Create a calming evening routine with activities like reading, listening to music, or practicing relaxation techniques to prepare for restful sleep.

Encourage your student to sign up for one of the many community service opportunities that will be happening on November 22nd. This is a great chance for our students to give back to our community.