Wildcat Weekly
February 18, 2020
Happy Birthday this Week
CARLSON, RACHEL
10-Feb
BARTON, JASON
11-Feb
KENNEY, LAURA
12-Feb
YOUNG, MARIE
13-Feb
Super Musicians!
We have many students travelling to the Texas Music Educators Association as all state musicians. They will have an extraordinary opportunity to participate in a clinic with some of the country's best conductors.
In addition, our own Brian Coatney will be inducted as the TMEA president for the coming year.
Also, Mark DeHertogh will begin serving as president-elect of the Texas Jazz Music Educators Association.
The magic of Building D continues . . .
Exemptions
February 17 Professional Learning Day
Reminder about February 17
As a reminder, discretionary use of state personal leave is not allowed on designated professional develop-ment days. Teachers are expected to be in attendance to participate in professional learning.
Plano ISD Board Policy DEC (LOCAL) states, “Discretionary use of leave shall not be allowed on the first day of school, the day before a school holiday, the day after a school holiday, days scheduled for end-of-semester or end-of-year examinations, days scheduled for state-mandated assessments or other District-approved tests, or professional development days. The principal may approve use of personal leave on these days after considering the effect of the employee’s absence on the educational program or District operations, as well as the availability of substitutes.”
Teachers who are absent on February 17, 2020 for any reason will need to submit their absence in TEAMS and make up the missed content of the required professional development, not necessarily the hours. This also applies to teachers who may be on approved leave during this time.
Each principal will determine the best way for absent teachers to make up the missed professional devel-opment. The “make up” will not be scheduled through the Academic Services department, however, con-tent area coordinators may be available to provide guidance on aligned experiences at the principal’s re-quest.
Summer Teacher Externship Program
Teachers and Principals, we are now accepting applications for the 2020 Summer Teacher Externship Program!
We have an ongoing mission to prepare students for the real world. Our goal is to prepare our students for experiences after they graduate from PISD. If we spend most of our time in schools, our knowledge of "real world" work might be limited. Never fear.
PISD has partnered with Capital One to create an opportunity for teachers like you to spend a few weeks of your summer immersed in a new environment as an extern in our community (and get compensated for your commitment). To learn more about the PISD Teacher Externship Program and how you can apply, visit the PL webpage.
Upcoming Events -- Please send corrections or other events to be added.
Feb 12 -- Calculus, the Musical
Feb 12-15 -- All State Musicians to TMEA, San Antonio
Feb 15 -- Mr. Plano Competition
Feb 17 -- District PD Day, Student Holiday
Feb 22 -- Planoettes host drill team competition, Gym
Feb 25-28 -- Various orchestras out for UIL Competition
Feb 27 -- STUCO Potato Luncheon for Staff
Feb 29 -- Jazz Invitational
Feb 29 -- Regional VASE (Visual Art Scholastic Event), Reedy HS, Frisco
Feb 29 -- State German Contest, San Marcos
Mar 2-6 -- Operation Beautiful
Mar 4 -- SAT for Juniors
Mar 4 -- Presidents Council, Lecture hall, 2 lunches
Mar 4-6 -- Choir UIL
Mar 5-9 -- Choir, Band and top strings to Orlando
Mar 6 -- Powderpuff Football Game
Mar 7-8 -- Robotics Competition, Gym
Mar 9-13 -- Spring Break
Mar 16 -- Pre-UIL One Act Play Performance, 7 p.m.
Mar 18-21 -- Theatre One Act Play District contest
Mar 20-21 -- Jazz P-Town
Mar 25 -- PISD Youth Art Month Reception @ Sockwell
Mar 30 -- Fashion Show
Apr 2 -- Orchestra Spring Concert
Apr 7 -- Dance Showcase
Apr 8 -- ROTC Awards Ceremony
Apr 9-12 -- Theatre Trip
Apr 10, 13 -- Student Teacher Holiday
Apr 16-18 -- Planoettes Spring Show
Apr 16-18 -- Orchestra Spring Trip
Apr 18 -- Plano ISD Teacher Job Fair, PWSH
Apr 20-24 -- Duck Week
Apr 23-24 -- Music Corp Performance, Sing, 7 p.m.
Apr 24 -- Stay Day
April 24 State VASE (Visual Art Scholastic Event) in San Marcos
Apr 25 -- Prom, Southfork
Apr 30 -- Last Pep Rally
April 30 PISD AP Studio Art Senior Show at Art Centre of Plano
May 1 -- Blood Drive
May 2 -- ASL Show, Clark HS
May 1-2 -- Percussion Concert Spettacolo!
May 5 PSHS AP Studio Art Show @ PSHS Cafeteria
May 9 -- PSHS Car Show, 10-2
May 9 -- Pops by the Pond
May 14 -- Teacher of the Year Gala
May 15 -- Band Prism Concert
Key Academic Dates
Feb 3 -- Have grades up to date to print progress reports
Feb 14 -- Eligibility Check
Mar 2-5 -- TELPAS testing
Mar 6 -- End of 3rd 9 weeks
Apr 3 -- Eligibility check
Apr 6 -- ASVAB Test
Apr 7-8 -- Eng I, II EOC Retests
Apr 14 -- Have grades up to date to print progress reports
Apr 15 -- National Merit Banquet
Apr 27 -- Eligibility Check
May 4-15 -- AP Testing
May 6 -- US History EOC
May 19-22 -- Finals
June 6 -- Graduation
New from Professional Learning
Check out these learning opportunities in PowerSchool for Learning. Go to your Webdesk and open that app BEFORE you click on one of the links below.
For Teachers:
- Goal Groups: Learning Environment Cycle 3
- Feb. 1- March 31
Self-paced, online learning - Goal Group: Instruction Cycle 3
Feb. 1 - March 30
Self-paced, online learning
For All:
- Meet-N-Learn about Future-Ready Skills: Did I Really Make Future Ready Learners?
- Feb. 7, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Location: RSM US LLP
For Paraprofessionals:
- TExEs Exam Prep Cohort for Paraprofessionals: This is a great opportunity for paraprofessionals! The PL Team is offering a cohort-style course for any PISD paraprofessional who is planning to take at least one TExES Certification in or before July 2020 in order to complete their teacher certification. Applicants must be enrolled in an alternative certification program in order to participate in this cohort. PISD will purchase one test prep program for each participant. Click here to register once in PowerSchool Develop, or contact Edna Phythian at 28255 or edna.phythian@pisd.edu for additional information.
Professional Learning for '19-'20 Semester II
Happy Spring Semester! I want to check in with everyone about the PL plan and remind you that you need 7.5 trade hours for the spring semester. Click here to find an updated PL plan for this year. We have only two people signed up for the “How Children Succeed” book study. If we don’t hit 5, we’ll postpone that study until the summer. Please sign up by January 27th if you’re interested by clicking the link in the PL Plan.
A note about the yoga sessions: The style will be "Yin Yoga w/Meditation" so it will NOT be a muscular "workout" but rather experiencing a practice of postures/breathing for "working internally."
Online PD
BASKETBALL
WILDCATS vs. Plano West, Tues. Feb. 18th @ PSHS. JV plays @ 6:00pm and Varsity plays @ 7:30pm.
SOCCER
LADY WILDCATS vs. Highland Park, Fri. Feb 14th @ Highland Park. Time TBD.
LADY WILDCATS vs. Allen, Tue. Feb 18th @ Clark East. JV plays @ 5:45pm and Varsity plays @ 7:30pm.
WILDCATS vs. Allen, Tue. Feb 18th @ Allen High School. JV plays @ 5:45pm and Varsity plays @ 7:30pm.
LADY WILDCATS vs. Plano West, Fri. Feb 21st @ Clark East. JV plays @ 5:45pm and Varsity plays @ 7:30pm.
WILDCATS vs. Plano West, Fri. Feb 21st @ Clark Stadium. JV plays @ 5:45pm and Varsity plays @ 7:30pm.
SOFTBALL
JV WILDCATS vs.Rockwall and Allen , Sat. Feb. 15th @ Rockwall. Time TBD.
VARSITY WILDCATS vs.Rockwall and Frisco , Sat. Feb. 15th @ PSHS. Time TBD.
WILDCATS vs.Forney , Mon. Feb. 17th @ PSHS. JV plays @ 5:00pm and Varsity plays @ 7:00pm.
VARSITY WILDCATS @ Bryan Tournament , Thu. Feb. 20th - Sat. Feb. 22nd @ Bryan. Time TBD.
BASEBALL
JV WILDCATS vs. Heath, Fri. Feb. 14th @ PSHS at 5:00pm.
WILDCATS vs. McKinney North, Tue. Feb. 18th @ PSHS at 5:00pm.
JV WILDCATS vs. McKinney North, Tue. Feb. 18th @ McKinney North at 5:00pm.
WILDCATS vs. Rowlett, Fri. Feb. 21st @ Rowlett at 5:00pm.
JV WILDCATS vs. Rowlett, Fri. Feb. 21st @ PSHS at 5:00pm.
TRACK & FIELD
WILDCATS @ Jaguar Relays, Sat. Feb. 22nd @ Jaguar Stadium in Flower Mound.