Titan eNews
Weekly Campus Update
Mission: To create a community of learners empowered to collaborate and compete in a rapidly changing world.
Calling all Volunteers! Our PTSA is helping to coordinate volunteers for these opportunities:
Greetings from Plano ISD Academy HS!
We are looking for panelists with two important projects that are coming up in the next month and hope you can join us.
Our 3rd years are developing a business plans to support the loan requests they will be making in order to start their fictional small businesses. We are looking for panelists who can support us in the role of a loan officer.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d45a8a82eaaf85-loan
We are looking for panelists connected to the marketing / advertising, beverage industry, etc. to come in as a panel of judges to evaluate 1st year team presentations for Farm to Table. You will be presented with a business plan to evaluate on the launch of a new product.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d45a8a82eaaf85-1styears
Please support us in signing up for any possible time slots that works with your schedule.
Thanks in advance!
Titans at Toyota Headquarters Today!
Today's Learning Objectives Included:
MAKE - Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia:
Learn how Toyota West Virginia team members use algebra to program a collaborative robot.
MOVE - Toyota Logistics Services:
Learn how Toyota team members use algebra in its perfect mile calculations
TEST - Quality Lab:
Go see, go learn about the equipment Toyota engineers use to test the quality of vehicles and parts.
REPAIR - T-TEN (Toyota’s Technician Training & Education Network):
Learn how retail automotive technicians use technology to diagnose and repair Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
From 5431 Titan Robotics:
Counselors' Corner:
PSAT Testing October 10
On Wednesday, October 10, 2nd and 3rd years will be taking the PSAT.
Two weeks ago, each of them received an information booklet containing practice questions and general information about the test.
Each learner is required to bring their own pencils and calculator.
CogAT Testing October 10
First years will be taking the CogAT test on Wednesday the 10th.
Plano ISD gives the CogAT in 3th, 5th, 7th, and 9th grade.
Each learner should bring their own pencils.
The FAFSA & Financial Aid
During Open House, Bill Mack from UTD financial aid, addressed senior parents concerning the FAFSA and financial aid for college.
The FAFSA opened October 1st and can be accessed here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
A video walkthrough of the FAFSA can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1GmaBMD-oY
The CSS profile, which is used by many private schools to determine eligibility for financial aid and need based scholarships, can be accessed here: https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/
Scholarship money available from universities is first come first serve, so be sure and turn in any necessary forms in a timely manner.
New in the Counseling Office!
Did you know we have some great books you can check out?
Our newest addition is entitled College Admission 101 from Princeton Review.
Other titles that might interest you include Colleges That Change Lives, Is There an Engineer Inside You?, How Children Succeed, 10 Things You Gotta Know about Choosing a College
If you or your learner are interested in borrowing any of these books, or any of the others we have, stop by the Counseling office!
Colleges on Campus
October 11 Baylor University
October 12 University of Connecticut
October 24 Concordia University
October 29 University of Texas @ Arlington
October 30 University of Nebraska
Recently Tulane University admissions posted a great article on their blog about college visits to high schools. I encourage you and your learner to check it out here: https://tinyurl.com/yd4rmazt
Reminder for Seniors & Their Parents
Our College Boot Camp Presentation is posted on our webpage at https://www.pisd.edu/Page/19107
Here you can find links to FAFSA, videos on using NAVIANCE, information about requesting a transcript and letters or recommendation, links to ApplyTexas, CommonApp, SAT, and ACT
The Counselor Letter or Recommendation Packet, or Blue Packet, can also be found on our webpage or printed copies are available in the counseling office.
Remember: Facilitators and counselors need two weeks lead, at minimum, for those letters or recommendation.
Advice from a parent who has weathered the College Application Season
The college application season can be stressful for both learners and their parents.
It also provides a wonderful opportunity for seniors to show they are ready to take the next steps in their learning and development and a chance for parents to appreciate their growth.
This article from Jessica Lahey, author and speaker, is a great reflection of her journey as the parent of a senior applying to college-enjoy!
https://grownandflown.com/jessica-lahey-gift-of-failure/
Brown University Information Meeting
Tuesday, October 23rd, 6:30pm
Nimitz High School
100 W Oakdale Road
Irving, Texas
Visit www.brown.edu/go/visit to register
1st Years
First year learners Chris Amalan, Kasey Cross, Reiley Taitel and Cole Zlomke were all recognized as Titan Team of the Week on Friday, September 28th.
Dat Nguyen was recognized as Titan of the Week on Friday, September 28th.
2nd Years
Today, 2nd Years attended a Titan Talk with Larry Howe, member of Plano Solar Advocates, who spoke about clean energy. After completion of the methods section, the next step in the 2nd Years research paper is the results section. The second year team is strategically facilitating learner groups as they take on this challenge. This week, each team met with facilitators to get specific feedback and support in writing their results section.Thankfully, the Academy schedule allows for occasional flexibility to insure that learners gain a deep understanding of the content and get timely support to insure success. With the Titan Thinker research paper running in the background, coursework included the study of cell characteristics in the six taxonomic kingdoms along with scientific drawings in biology, developing observational and media skills in art and looking forward to future careers during their engineering mods. Exponential equations were the topic in math, partner debates were the focus in English and the Indus Valley civilization was studied in world history. The 2nd Year learners are gaining skills that they will be able to use as they grow academically.
3rd Years
Today, 3rd-year learners took part in a Titan Talk presented by Paul Nichols, Assistant Director of Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UTD. Mr. Nichols led the learners through a brainstorming activity and then covered topics mostly focused on starting a business and developing a business plan. It was a highly engaging talk that really launched the learners into their learning on a Friday.
Throughout this week, learners have worked across all classes towards getting their small businesses off the ground. They started to develop visual and written marketing strategies and materials. They started analyzing the materials and tools they will need to procure to create their products. They began earning money and budgeting in order to determine the amount of money it will take to bring their ideas to reality. It's an exciting process and we are still only at the beginning. Now, the long weekend arrives at a good time for all to rest and recharge their batteries before diving headfirst into the PSAT and more K'Ching next Wednesday.
4th Years
This week 4th- year learners continued work on their project to be presented to Southwest Airlines on the 26th of October. Learners were imputing background and summary information about the project, their problem statement from Southwest, as well as their proposed solution. Over the coming weeks, learners will continue to work on their solution in hopes of being the best when presentation day comes. In government, learners continued their study of the structure and function of the U.S. government. In English, learners worked to identify the stylistic and rhetorical techniques an author uses to make an argument. In calculus and pre-calculus learners studied additional techniques to find the derivative, product, and quotient in calculus and in precalculus they learned to solve polynomials. In SRD, learners were introduced to the Information Cycle and the different types of sources that make up the Information Cycle. Learners identified the three types of information sources: primary, secondary and tertiary. Learners used the C.R.A.A.P. model to evaluate sources for credibility. Learners applied the content knowledge to locate four primaries, one secondary and one tertiary source for their upcoming Literature Review section for the Capstone Proposal. Calculus learners took derivatives of functions involving products and quotients, Precalculus learners are solving polynomial function and using them to model the world around us. In computer science, learners began to explore the concept of repetition structures, one of the fundamental mechanics of computer programming.
Homecoming Weekend: Save the Date!
Friday, Oct. 26th Homecoming Game @ Hackberry Park 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Saturday, Oct. 27th Homecoming Dance @ PAHS 7:30-10:30
More information coming soon about ticket sales for the dance!
Save the Date!
10/8 Learner/Facilitator Holiday
10/9 Parent/Teacher Conference Day Learner Holiday
10/10 CoGAT Testing 1st Years
10/10 PSAT 2nd and 3rd Years
10/12 End of the 1st 9 Weeks
10/18 Jostens Senior Ring Orders for 3rd and 4th Years
10/12 Titan Talk 3rd Years Jostens Senior Rings presentation
10/25 Project Runway Presentation Day
10/26 Homecoming Game
10/27 Homecoming Dance
11/2 Seniors Cap and Gown presentation by Jostens
11/9 Senior Cap and Gown orders
11/15 Senior Capstone Proposals Due
12/17-19 Senior Capstone TED Talks