Titan eNews
Weekly Campus Update
Mission: To create a community of learners empowered to collaborate and compete in a rapidly changing world.
Congratulations to Titans in Science Fair!
The Academy was represented at the PISD District Science Fair by Divija Raja (Image Recognition Software), Maxim Hollingworth and Griffin Young (Bee Boxes), and Om Dodiya and Shaan Bhandari (New Turbine).
Maxim and Griffin were awarded 3rd place, and Om and Shaan were awarded Honorable Mention in Environmental Engineering.
All learners will compete at the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair on February 24th.
Congratulations, Titans!
Empower Update:
By logging in as the parent or alongside your child, you will find the progress report screen visible again. The way each course report is organized is around the major themes in the course. Each assessment of learning is tied both to a standard and to the theme.
In reviewing your child's information, you will see a red number by themes indicating the number of evidences of learning that have been entered. By drilling down into those themes, any included assignment is listed with a rubric score. You can see by reviewing those scores if there are any trends of concern. For example, are there several assignments with scores of 1 or 1.5 out of 3? You can dive further by clicking on each evidence piece to see your child's work if submitted electronically along with feedback from the facilitator.
If you haven't checked in for a few weeks, you may have missed that Empower now has a calendar feature with your child's assignments and due dates entered. While this doesn't replace the Task List feature learners were accustomed to having, it does help learners move to self-management of due dates by referencing their calendar.
The progress report feature will change from In Progress to On Pace, Below Pace, etc at the nine weeks progress reporting period.
As always, should you have any question about your child's progress, please contact the facilitator who will be happy to talk with you and provide more detailed information.
2nd Years
As Beneath the Surface wraps up, the Second Years are moving on to the fifth project of the year, Quantum Leap. In Quantum Leap, learners are challenged to creating a digital or analog game that fits within several parameters. The project is off to a fantastic start, as Learners spent Monday playing a multitude of board games. The learners were then asked to take what they had learned from their experiences the day prior, and make a board game in just a few hours. The learners rose to the challenge and in only a few hours developed somewhat unique, distinct, and impressive game products. The enthusiasm and energy for Quantum Leap is palpable, and after launching the project and seeing what the learners could do in only a few hours , Second Year facilitators are very excited to see what 8 weeks of game design will produce. Keep up the good work, Second Years!
3rd Years
4th Years
Learners spent time collecting data for not only their Capstone project, but they also had the opportunity to use the quadrant sampling method in SRD. Mrs. Paquette has set up a Remind account so students and parents can stay informed of upcoming deadline. Please join her list at
Counselors' Corner
UPCOMING ACADEMIC CONFERENCES
Throughout the month of February and March, counselors will be meeting individually with second and third year learners and their parents.
Junior conferences begin February with sophomores beginning in March.
For juniors, an invitation to your learner’s conference has been mailed to your home.
Sophomore invitations will go out shortly.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Check out the summer enrichment opportunities listed in Naviance.
Under the colleges tab, click on enrichment.
Many of those listed offer college credit.
10th ANNUAL PROM CLOSET 2018
February 27 & 28 (Tues.-Wed.) & March 1 & 3 (Thurs. & Sat.)
St. Andrew United Methodist Church
St. Andrew UMC invites financially challenged girls to prom shopping days. Only requirement: girls must be present to select their dresses and accessories.
WHAT: St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano invites all girls from ANYWHERE in need of a prom dress to come to the 10th Annual Prom Closet to select a dress and accessories, all at no cost. Dresses sized 0 to 28 are available to choose from, many of which have never been worn. Only requirement: girls must be present to select their dresses/accessories.
Community members, businesses, organizations, and local groups have donated dresses, shoes, wraps, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories for this annual event, organized and operated by The St. Andrew United Methodist Women. The Prom Closet was created to provide a unique shopping experience for young ladies who because of finances would be unable to attend prom. Prom Closet organizers and volunteers confirm that not only is the need great, but the impact the dress makes on the girl and her family is immeasurable.
Questions? Email standrewpromcloset@gmail.com.
If interested in donating to Prom Closet, please bring donations of dresses, shoes, and other accessories to St. Andrew UMC, and drop them off in Room 133.
FACEBOOK: Prom Closet: St.Andrew UMC
INSTAGRAM: promcloset.standrewumc
WHERE: St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 1401 Mira Vista Drive, Plano, TX, 75093, in Smith Worship Center. (East side of church, Mira Vista and Plano Parkway; park in parking lot off of Mira Vista)
WHEN: February 27 & 28 and March 1 (Tues.-Thurs.) 4 – 8 p.m. and March 3 (Sat.), 9 a.m. – noon.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
This year is the 10th year of the Prom Closet, organized by the St. Andrew United Methodist Women. The first year, the Prom Closet provided 35 dresses to local high school girls, and last year over 900 girls received dresses and accessories, all donated by community members, local groups, corporations, and businesses. Any girls from anywhere – even beyond the DFW area – may come to the Prom Closet.
AP EXAMS
AP Exams
If your learner is interested in taking an AP exam, we will administer the exam on our campus.
You must pay for the exam before March 26th.
Payment can be made through paypams or check. Instructions for payment are below.
Information about AP exams can be found on our website:
If you have questions, please reach out to Mrs. Conner
· Payment for AP exams can be made by check or through PayPAMS. PayPAMS is the preferred method.
Go to https://paypams.com/HomePage.aspx
-On the main menu, look for: AP Test – Plano Academy High School
You will choose either “high school” for 1st & 2nd years
“senior high school” for 3rd years & 4th years
-Once selected you will be prompted to go to the following option to continue the
payment process and make your payment:
-A $3.00 fee has been added to each test in order to use PayPAMS.
To make a purchase, mark the item in the ‘Buy’ column and then click the ‘Add to Cart’ button.
o Payment by check :
-Checks should be made out to Plano Academy High School.
-Each AP exam is $94.
-In the memo line, please write your students name and ID number.
Mrs. Madding in the Counseling office will accept your payment.
NAVIANCE: An important announcement from our Titan Counselors
Learners, the login for Naviance has changed.
Please see information below regarding new login procedures.
A printed instruction sheet is available in the counseling office.
This information will also be posted on our website.
Naviance Student Login Instructions
Student logins for Naviance have been updated. You will not use your network username and student ID to
login. Please see below for login options.
Login Using Webdesk
1. Go to http://webdesk.pisd.edu
2. Sign in using your PISD Network Login .
a. Optional, Click Sign in with Google if you have connected your Google account to Webdesk.
3. Click the Naviance tile on your webdesk home screen.
4. If the Clever login screen appears, click Log in with Active Directory .
a. Click Login with Google if you’re on a Chromebook or logged into Chrome on the desktop.
5. Naviance will launch and automatically log you into your family connection account.
Login Using Clever
1. Go to http://clever.pisd.edu
2. Click Log in with Active Directory .
a. Click Login with Google if you’re on a Chromebook or logged into Chrome on the desktop.
From our PTSA! On-Line Auction
Auction is Coming Soon - We Need Your Help
Attention Academy Parents:
The Silent Auction is approaching and the PTSA needs your help:
Did you receive something for the holidays that just isn't quite you? RE-GIFT it!!
How about that gift card you probably won't use? RE-GIFT it!!
Work for or own a company? DONATE AN ITEM OR SERVICE!
The Silent Auction committee is looking for donations. We accept all NEW items. (Please send in the original packaging if possible, and give us your estimate of the retail cost.) RE-GIFT it to us!!
Looking for a winter project for you and a buddy? as a group of friends? representing a club?
How about making a basket for the auction?
We are looking for these kinds of auction baskets:
(Here are a few ideas for the baskets)
Tea-teapot, teas, sugar, honey, tea diffuser, cup
- Margarita-glasses, chips, salt, mix and tequila.
- Bourbon or any other spirits- liquor, glasses, drink stones or interesting ice trays
- University - pick your favorite college and fill it with alumni goodies
- Spa-bath infusers, gift cards, lotions, scrubbies, scented candles
- Child's basket- books, games, crafts, stuffed animals
- Movie night- DVDs, popcorn, large bowl, butter flavors, candy
- BBQ-grilling tools, sauces and rubs, fire gloves, apron
- Animal care kit, bowls, blanket, grooming certificate, treats, toys
- Sports basket-(Cowboy, Mavs, Stars, Rangers). Flags, t-shirts, hats, foam finger,
- Gardening-gloves, tools, watering can, pots, seeds
- Coffee- mugs, Keurig cups, napkins, coffee syrups
- Glamor/Beauty- gift cards for haircuts, eyebrows, make-up
The possibilities are endless!!
Items can be left at the front desk with Sharon, just tell her it's for the auction.
Any questions? Please feel free to contact Gobriel Rusthoven, auction chair.
Email: auction@planoacademyptsa.org
or Text: 214-909-7835
Thank you for your support!!!
Women Leadership in Space! UTD Jonsson School is hosting an amazing panel in March!
The Jonsson School is going to host 4 amazing women engineering leaders on a women in engineering panel on March 29, 2018
“Women Leadership in Space”:
Tracy Drain - NASA – she will give her story for 20 minutes, then joins the panel of leading women in space or supporting space technology
Tamara Crawford - Lockheed – Mechanical Engineer and Leader, will give her story - 10-15 min
Betsy Wilson - Ericsson – Computer Scientist and Leader, her story – 10-15 min
Lisa Atherton – Textron Systems – President and CEO, her story – 10-15 min
The panel will be:
Date: March 29
Time: 6 to 7:30
Place: ATEC Auditorium, UT Dallas
Open for Q&A from the audience – 25 to 40 minutes
The university has reserved 50 complimentary seats for Plano ISD Academy students and their parents. To receive your tickets, please fill out this form. We only have 50 tickets, so please sign up now!
Reservations: https://goo.gl/forms/KJTRtJD5XxZCcRqE2
Plano Mayor's Summer Internship Program
Please follow the link for more information and to access an application!
From Film and Theatre Clubs:
From Team 5431 Titan Robotics: by Molly McKienzie
Save the Date
2/16: PTSA Student and Parent Programs: Jerry Ackerman on the topic of different challenges of social media, with specific attention to building a positive social media presence
2/19: Presidents' Day - Learner Holiday
2/23: Titan Talk: 4th Years Southwest Airlines Internship
2/26: New Titan Night
3/9: Titan Talk 3rd/4th Yrs Prom Fashion Show
3/1-3: FRC First Robotics Dallas Regional
3/10-18: Spring Break
3/22: Internship Job Fair
3/23: Titan Talk: Peter Balyta - Texas Instruments
4/28: Prom (3rd and 4th Years)