Principal's Blog
Date Range
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Greetings Panthers and Panther Pfamilies,
To all of our Panther Mom's out there, I want to say "Happy Mother's Day" and I hope you have had a great Mother's Day weekend. Thank you for everything you do each and everyday!
As we close out the year, we have some awesome celebratory events on the calendar. I am so proud of our students, teachers and staff for the hard work and effort put in to this school year.
Each year we have more and more parents helping with our Teacher Appreciation and the partnership is becoming more special each year. Thank you to everyone who gave their time to support our panther teachers and staff last week. Great job to our PTO team for the planning and delivery!
The Pet Clinic last week allowed for community members to get reduced prices for pet medical care and our Science Department made just over $1,000.00 which will go back in to supplies and materials for students. Thanks to all of you who participated in this event!
Our students finished the week on Friday with a great pep rally allowing for many of our programs to be recognized.
Our Kick Start Karate team is currently the #2 ranked program in the state and this is one place higher than last year's 3rd place ranking. It's so cool to see the students having success and the program thriving. The state championship results are below as well.
Friday - Pajama Day: The students have done a great job this year adhering to our dress code in regards to pajamas. This coming Friday, May 16th, students will be allowed to wear pajamas to school.
Check out the events below, there is something almost every night on campus this week:
Come out for the PMS Student Showcase - May 13th 5:30-7:00 pm (Come and Go Event):
We are excited to display some incredible student work created this school year. We will have projects and work displayed in the cafeteria from 5:30-7:00 pm this coming Tuesday and would love for students, parents and community members to come check it out at any time during this timeframe. The Kickstart Belt ceremony is right after this event.
Yearbooks Still on Sale - $40:
We have plenty of yearbooks left for sale and will be selling these in the cafeteria throughout the week. Students who have purchased these, will get them tomorrow during lunches. Here is the info for purchase below:
If you haven’t ordered a 2024-2025 yearbook please click the link below to order to get it at the low price of $40 until the end of the month so act fast!
https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A08500700
KickStart Belt Ceremony this Tuesday, May 13th in the PMS Gym from 7-8 pm:
Come by and check out our student projects in the cafeteria and then head to the gym for the belt ceremony. Students earning a new belt will be presented on this night, as well as some awesome demonstrations. Come out and support our Kickstart program and student achievements.
6th and 7th Grade Academic Awards - May 14th and May 21st:
Students who have earned A and AB Honor Roll this year will be recognized at our Academic Awards in May. Teachers will also be selecting students for our "Panther Award" as well. Invites went out Friday for 6th graders and 7th grade should be going out in the next day or so.
6th Grade - May 14th @ 6:30 pm in PMS cafeteria
7th Grade - May 21st @ 6:30 pm in PMS cafeteria
First Spring Book Fair - May 13th-May 16th:
Panther Choir Pop Show - May 15th from 6:00-7:30 pm:
Our students have been practicing very hard each day and are excited to showcase their vocal talents at the upcoming Pop Show. This is a free event and we welcome all students and parents!!
8th Grade End-of-Year Trip - Friday, May 16th:
8th Grade Advancement/Graduation Ceremony - May 20th @ 6 pm:
Parents, mark your calendar for the 8th Grade Advancement Ceremony at the Pflugerville HS FAC. We will have 730 seats total and are trying to limit seating to 4 seats per family. Each year it is a tight fit, so please try to help us if you can. Students should arrive no later than 5:40 pm. Thanks.
Summer Reading from Mrs. Hornstein:
Kick Start State Championship Results from Mr. Fillmore:
The Kickstart Karate team competed in the Kickstart state Championships in Missouri City Texas this past weekend. It was the largest state tournament ever with over 768 competitors, listed are the panthers who ranked top in the state:
Laila Slater State Champion in traditional forms
Antonio Renteria State Champion Traditional Forms
Jamierah Dove State Champion Traditional Forms
Jozie Holmes 2nd in state Orange belt girls Sparring
Madelyn Blackburn 2nd in gold belt State Team Forms
Kiara Burton 2nd in state gold belt Team Forms
Joshua Vences 2nd in state gold belt team forms
An Le 3rd in state Orange belt team forms
Canhphuc Le 3rd in state orange belt team forms
Henry Dinh 3rd in State orange belt team forms
All the hard work this year paid off as we have improved over last year's efforts. Congratulations to the whole team for making this year another success.
Panther Staff Members of the Week - Front Office Staff:
Our front office does a tremendous job in providing positive customer service, coordinating guest educators/substitutes, managing our campus budget, accounting for attendance and ensuring student enrollment and grades are taken care of each 6 weeks. These ladies deserve a huge thanks to the work they do on a daily basis. Thank you to Ms. Towle, Mrs. Flores, Mrs. Moten and Mrs. Mercado Montalvo for taking care of our panther staff and students!!
6th Grade Immunizations/Shot Records Needed by August 1st:
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
We are looking forward to next year for all of our students who will be entering 7th Grade! One of the ways we can make to transition smoother is to make sure that we have all of their immunization records up to date. All children attending 7th Grade in Texas must be in compliance with the state’s current immunization requirements.
We realize that many of your children may have already received the immunizations. If so, please submit an updated record to the Nurse’s office as soon as possible, also if you have a doctor’s visit before the end of the school year you can send the record as well.
The following vaccinations are required for all 7th Grade students:
~Meningococcal (MCV4) – 1 dose is required
~Tdap – A booster dose given within the last 5 years.
Thank you for assisting us to keep all of your child’s health records up-to-date so that they can have a great start to next year!!
*Remember if your child has already received these vaccines; please submit an updated record to the school nurse as soon as possible. Also, if your child receives the shots before the end of the school year please update us.
* After the last day of classes you may send all shot records to shots@pfisd.net
If you have any questions please contact the Nurse’s office at 512-594-2035
Also, If your student has a hot/cold pack or ear ease that belongs to the clinic, please have the\m return it.
Thank you, ~Nurse Jean
Panther Band Updates from Robison and Hynes:
Congratulations to all band students for a great Spring Concert! The directors are very proud of all the work you have done this year!
Don’t forget, if you are checking out an instrument from the school, all those instruments must be brought to school Monday, May 12 and must stay on campus this week due to the mandatory district inventory audit. Thank you for your help making sure all our instruments are on campus and accounted for by Monday!
Athletics Updates:
Boys & Girls Annual Sports Physical due by May 22nd!
**Next Level Urgent Care is an optional. Feel free to choose your own doctor to complete sports physical.
Volleyball Tryout Date Change:
Panther Cheerleading Updates:
Support our 2025-2026 cheerleaders by donating to our Snap Raise fundraiser (Just click the Flyer) and treating yourself to some delicious chocolates! Every dollar helps us get closer to sending the team to camp and ordering brand-new uniforms. Let’s cheer them on together—your support means everything!
PTO Updates and Teacher Appreciation Highlights:
Thank you all very much for all the help during the Teacher Appreciation Week. It was successful because of all the amazing helping hands, volunteer parents, sponsors, donations, and contributions with sharing your time. All teachers and staff members are a very important part of our children's lives and PTO members are very grateful to have been able to show teachers how much they are appreciated.
Muchas gracias a todos por toda la ayuda durante la Semana de Agradecimiento al Maestro. Fue exitoso por todas las manos maravillosas que ayudaron, padres voluntarios, patrocinadores, donaciones, y contribuciones de su tiempo. Todos los maestros y miembros del personal son una parte muy importante de la vida de nuestros hijos y los miembros de PTO están muy agradecidos de haber podido mostrar a los maestros cuánto se les aprecia.
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Our very last event of the year will be a popsicle treat for the students during lunch periods. We have 2 parent volunteers but if there's a couple more parents that would like to help with this please reach out on our PTO BandApp: https://band.us/band/95596968/post/120
Thanks again for all the support.
PMS PTO meeting of the year!
5/19/2025 5:45 PM Room A103. We look forward to your participation.
Have a great week ahead and please reach out with any needs.
Regards,
Philip Clayton
Principal
Pflugerville MS
Greetings Panther Pfamilies,
We are closing in on the end of school quickly and May 22nd will be here before you know it. Our last day of school (May 22nd) is a half day with dismissal at 12:45 and students will not be allowed backpacks.
I have been so impressed with the work of our teachers this year and it's going to be great showing our gratitude for teacher appreciation week the next 5 days. Check out our PTO schedule for teacher appreciation and if there are any additional volunteers that would like to help support our teachers, we would love to have you on campus.
I want to commend our 8th grade students for their incredibly positive behavior last night at the formal dance. Students looked great in their formal attire and I'll post some pictures below. Way to have fun the right way by being safe, using appropriate language and showing kindness to one another!
Our Lady Panther Soccer team was victorious over Park Crest 3-0 and played as a team with great effort! Great job to our coaches and players for your effort this year!!
We have a fast finish to the end of the year with many events that are posted below.
Panther Science Department Annual Pet Clinic-- May 6th (5-7pm):
Our Science department does a great job partnering with Dr. Tarleton and their staff each year. It's always great seeing everyone's pets up on campus for this event each year. Sign up today to bring your pet by the campus on May 9th for vaccination needs. This will be held at the front entrance of the school!
National Junior Honors Society - Poll Sent Out:
A poll has been emailed to each 25/26 member through their PFISD email. Please make sure you respond by May 16th so that we might reveal our service project for next year.
Panther Staff Member of the Week - Panther Cafeteria Staff:
Ms. Gass passed the award to our cafeteria staff who make sure our students are fed each day starting early with breakfast and finishing with lunch. Feeding 800 students each day is no easy task and they make it look easy.
Here are some words from Mrs. Gass:
Maria Rodriguez, Gabby Estrada, Jacelyn Porra-Lazo, Maddelayn Gonsalez, Maria Ramirez
The amazing ladies, who work in the cafeteria, are always there for us with a smile. We thank you for your graciousness and accommodations for staff and students.
We appreciate you all so much for what you do for Pflugerville Middle School.
Library Updates - Mrs. Hornstein:
Here are our Golden Shovel winners and some important dates for book returns as well.
Nursing Information/6th Grade Immunizations and Ice Packs - Ms. Nations:
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
We are looking forward to next year for all of our students who will be entering 7th Grade! One of the ways we can make to transition smoother is to make sure that we have all of their immunization records up to date. All children attending 7th Grade in Texas must be in compliance with the state’s current immunization requirements.
We realize that many of your children may have already received the immunizations. If so, please submit an updated record to the Nurse’s office as soon as possible, also if you have a doctor’s visit before the end of the school year you can send the record as well.
The following vaccinations are required for all 7th Grade students:
~Meningococcal (MCV4) – 1 dose is required
~Tdap – A booster dose given within the last 5 years.
Thank you for assisting us to keep all of your child’s health records up-to-date so that they can have a great start to next year!!
*Remember if your child has already received these vaccines; please submit an updated record to the school nurse as soon as possible. Also, if your child receives the shots before the end of the school year please update us.
* After the last day of classes you may send all shot records to shots@pfisd.net
If you have any questions please contact the Nurse’s office at 512-594-2035
Also, If your student has a hot/cold pack or ear ease that belongs to the clinic, please have the\m return it.
Thank you, ~Nurse Jean
Cheerleading Updates and Fundraiser:
Support our 2025-2026 cheerleaders by donating to our Snap Raise fundraiser and treating yourself to some delicious chocolates! Every dollar helps us get closer to sending the team to camp and ordering brand-new uniforms. Let’s cheer them on together—your support means everything!
Panther Athletics Updates:
Annual Sports Physical Due by May 22nd
* Next Level Urgent Care is not required, annual sports physical can be acquired with the doctor of your choice.
7th & 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Tryouts July 28th & 29th
Contact Coach Howard with Questions!
8th Grade Formal Pictures:
I want to thank our teachers, staff, parent volunteers and sponsors for supporting our 8th grade formal last night. Special thanks to Carlos Morales for taking pictures. Thank you all so much for donating your time, energy and funds to make it a memorable night for the students.
Panther PTO Updates:
PMS Panther Pfamilies, thank you so much for your support and for helping us honor and celebrate all teachers and staff this Teacher Appreciation Week! Teachers and staff, thank you for your continued dedication for our students and community.
PMS Pfamilias Panthers, muchas gracias por su apoyo y por ayudarnos a honrar y celebrar todas(os) maestras(os) y personal esta Semana de Aprecio a Maestras(os)! Maestras(os) y personal, gracias por su dedicación continua para nuestros estudiantes y comunidad.
PTO Summer Spirit Wear Update
The Pflugerville Middle School Summer Spirit Wear Sale starts on Monday 5/5/2025! Choose from hundreds of designs and garments that are delivered to your home in days! You'll save 20% off the entire site, including new product lines from Under Armor! Shop at https://1stplace.sale/91530
8th Grade End-of-Year Trip - Friday, May 16th:
8th Grade Advancement/Graduation Ceremony - May 20th @ 6 pm:
Parents, mark your calendar for the 8th Grade Advancement Ceremony at the Pflugerville HS FAC. We will have 730 seats total and are trying to limit seating to 4 seats per family. Each year it is a tight fit, so please try to help us if you can. Students should arrive no later than 5:40 pm. Thanks.
Science Fair/Elective Showcase - May 13th 5:30-7:00 pm (Come and Go Event)
Come out and see the amazing work from our students this year. Displays of student science fair projects, ASCEND projects and Art work will be displayed in our cafeteria.
KickStart Belt Ceremony (May 13th) in the PMS Gym from 7-8 pm:
Come by and check out our student projects in the cafeteria and then head to the gym for the belt ceremony. Students earning a new belt will be presented on this night, as well as some awesome demonstrations. Come out and support our Kickstart program and student achievements.
6th and 7th Grade Academic Awards - May 14th and May 21st:
Students who have earned A and AB Honor Roll this year will be recognized at our Academic Awards in May. Teachers will also be selecting students for our "Panther Award" as well. Invites went out Friday for 6th graders and 7th grade should be going out in the next day or so.
6th Grade - May 14th @ 6:30 pm in PMS cafeteria
7th Grade - May 21st @ 6:30 pm in PMS cafeteria
Parents, please contact us if you need anything this week or have any questions about upcoming dates/events. Thanks!
Mr. Clayton
Greetings Panther Pfamilies,
The school year is closing fast and we have many events and activities planned over the next month. Although we are planning for next year and finishing out the next few weeks concurrently, this is always one of my favorite times of the year. It is exciting to know we will be celebrating students with our academic awards and 8th grade advancement ceremony in the next few weeks.
I would like to give a shout-out to our panther teachers, who have worked all year to plan for instruction, engage students in the content and build relationships while stressed with state accountability expectations and at times challenging behaviors. Teaching remains one of the most challenging professions and it doesn't seem to get any easier each year. Thank you Panther Teachers!
District Partner of the Year - Elvia Hernandez:
PfISD held their Partner of the Year ceremony this past week and named Mrs. Hernandez the Secondary Partner of the Year. She has helped build our PTO and parent support in a great way the last two years. Congratulations and well deserved!! She will be moving on to the HS with her current 8th grader and will be missed!
PTO Information and Bus Driver Appreciation Day:
Congratulations to our new elected PTO officers!
President - Nathan Gutierrez
Vice-President - Rosanna Gutierrez
Secretary - Amanda Perez
Treasurer - Yvette Casillas
PTO Spirit Wear Store! Please share with family and friends, link: https://1stplace.sale/91530 or QR code below.
PTO gave a warm thanks to our Bus Drivers last week and provided breakfast tacos and a juice to each driver. Thank you to Ms. Rocha for supporting the PTO facilitate this awesome act of kindness.
Don’t forget to get your shirts to proudly represent PMS Panthers 🐾 Ask our awesome front offices ladies🤩
No te olvides de conseguir tu playera para representar con orgullo a los PMS Panteras 🐾 Pregúntale a nuestras increíbles secretarias🤩
National Junior Honors Society Meeting - Tomorrow, May 28th:
When: April 28
Where: cafeteria
Time: during advisory
Topics: award ceremony volunteers, 6th grade camp volunteers, closing out the year, reflecting on the year to make things better
Pflugerville HS - Band Parent Meeting Tomorrow (4/28) @ 6:30 pm:
Band incoming 9th grade parents! While the students are participating in spring camp please join the band parent meeting Monday April 28th 6:30 PM.
STAAR Math This Tuesday, May 29th:
I have been encouraging students to start getting a good night's sleep this weekend to prepare them mentally for the Math STAAR this coming Tuesday. That means turning off cell phones at a reasonable time before bed. When I talk to students about being tired and not getting enough rest over the weekend, the cell phone is usually the main distractor and culprit.
Please encourage your child to take their time and aim for growth on this assessment from last year to this year. Snacks and water will be provided and students may not wear pajamas, bring pillows and blankets. I will be allowing a pajama day or two in May for students and staff.
Panther Soccer Updates:
5/1 Soccer Games
Boys @ Park Crest
Girls vs Park Crest @ PHS
B Team 530pm
A Team 645pm
PMS Athletics Recommendation Forms due by May 2nd!
Annual Sports Physicals due by May 22nd!
Panther BAND Updates:
*Solo & Ensemble Contest for Symphonic Band, Honor Band, and Wind Ensemble has been moved and rescheduled for Monday, May 5th at PMS from 4-6 p.m.
Solo & Ensemble Contest for Beginning Band students is still scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th from 4-6 p.m. Parents please read your email from skyward with details and check with your child for their individual performance time and room location.
The Spring Band Trip is Friday, May 2, 2025! Trip packets have been emailed and sent home with details. All permission forms and medical forms must be turned in by Wednesday, April 30th. It is going to be a great trip!
Final Band Concert is Wednesday, May 7 at the PHS Performing Arts Center. Beginning Band will perform at 6 p.m. and will need to report at 5:30 p.m.
Symphonic Band, Honor Band, & Wind Ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. and need to report at 6:30 p.m.
Mrs. Hynes Honor Band had a great time practicing with Mr. Wagner’s Honor Band from PHS on April 17th! Great rehearsal Band! Go vertical teaming!
8th Grade Formal Dance - This Saturday, May 3rd 6:00-8:00 pm:
Thanks to a very gracious parent donor, all tickets and food items for the 8th grade formal will be free of charge. The 8th grade committee is working on a nacho bar and drinks for students.
8th Grade End-of-Year Trip - Friday, May 16th:
8th Grade Advancement/Graduation Ceremony - May 20th @ 6 pm:
Parents, mark your calendar for the 8th Grade Advancement Ceremony at the Pflugerville HS FAC. We will have 730 seats total and are trying to limit seating to 4 seats per family. Each year it is a tight fit, so please try to help us if you can. Students should arrive no later than 5:40 pm. Thanks.
Library Updates - Golden Shovel Poetry Contest - Win a Giant Squishmallow!!:
Cheerleading Update and Fundraisers:
Family, Friends, and Fans
Thank you so much for taking the time to view our fundraiser page. Your support will help us offer a higher quality experience for all cheerleaders. Raising dollars for extra curricular activities is very difficult to do but is vital as we re-establish our program. If you could please spread the word about our fundraiser by sharing it with your friends via Email, Facebook, as well as other social media platforms, we'd greatly appreciate it!
Fundraiser Dates 4/25/2025 - 5/23/2025
https://raise.snap.app/donate/pflugerville-middle-school-cheer-2025
Jewish American Heritage Month takes place each May as an annual recognition and celebration of the history, achievements, contributions, and culture of Jewish people in the United States.
In recognition of this month, ADL is excited to share a new collection of lesson plans and tools to support student and family learning.
This collection includes:
- Lessons to explore notable Jewish Americans and their impact on history and culture
- Poetry-based reflections on the Jewish experience
- Insights into Jewish holidays, traditions, and immigration history
- Short videos on how to teach these lessons
- Sutori direct-to-student learning experiences
- An educator Q+A guide, Table Talk parent/family discussion guide, and more
CLICK HERE FOR ADL'S RESOURCES
Jewish American Heritage Month also offers a timely opportunity to address the ongoing challenges of antisemitism in schools. According to the latest findings from ADL’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, antisemitism remains a pressing issue in K-12 education, significantly impacting students and the broader school environment.
Panther Staff Member of the Week - Mrs. Gass:
Ms. Arguello would like to recognize Ms. Gass as our Panther of the Week! Her hard work, dedication, and positive energy have made a lasting impact on our essentials team/students. Ms. Gass has gone above and beyond to support both students and staff, and her commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed. Thank you, Ms. Gass, for being such a valuable asset to our campus and team—your efforts truly make a difference!
Last Pep Rally - May 9th:
We will be celebrating our Panther organizations and teams, the winning "Pride" and allowing students to demonstrate their skills learned this year from Band all the way to KickStart during our last pep rally on May 9th. We will have a different schedule on this day which will alter lunch times a bit.
6th and 7th Grade Academic Awards - May 14th and May 21st:
Students who have earned A and AB Honor Roll this year will be recognized at our Academic Awards in May. Teachers will also be selecting students for our "Panther Award" as well. Invites will be going out this week to parents and students!
6th Grade - May 14th @ 6:30 pm in PMS cafeteria
7th Grade - May 21st @ 6:30 pm in PMS cafeteria
Have a great week ahead and please reach out with any questions or needs!
Sincerely,
Mr. Clayton
Summer School Process:
Summer school is now limited to only a few students in each grade that can be placed for acceleration and should attend based on STAAR scores. We are compiling a list of 10-15 students in each grade who will be assigned Summer school acceleration and we will be reaching out to families soon with specifics.
Have a great week ahead and please reach out to us on campus with any questions or needs about upcoming events, etc.
Regards,
Mr. Clayton