Titan eNews
Weekly Campus Update
Mission: To create a community of learners empowered to collaborate and compete in a rapidly changing world.
Jerry Ackerman presents "Parenting the Snapchat Generation"
From Our PTSA: Online Auction!
PTSA Freebirds Event Tuesday, February 20 at 11 AM - 9 PM
8240 Preston Rd, Ste 115, Plano, Texas 75024
Empower: Did you know?
This short video for parents provides additional information you may find helpful. The infographic below is a quick view for icons used in Empower Learning.
2nd Years
Quantum Leap is shifting gears! Learners formed teams, began collaborating and drafting project proposals this past week. Mr. Stone, a first year facilitator, and one of the Academy game gurus paid a visit to the Second Years this week, and held a fantastic seminar about game mechanics. Learners saw several different examples of both good and bad aspects and characteristics of various games, as well as how common mechanics were iterated through the different mediums. As learners finish up their game proposals, the facilitators anticipate some especially creative, fresh game ideas this year. Learners also had the opportunity to create their own seals, based off what they had learned about the Indus Valley Civilization. Using rubber molds, the kids designed, and carved their own seals to represent themselves. It’s been a good week at the Academy, and we are looking forward to seeing how these games play out. Please check out the attached parent letter for more information and important dates during Quantum Leap.
Quantum Leap 2nd Year Parent Letter
Dear Second Year Parent,
We are extremely excited to bring the Quantum Leap project to the school. During the course of Quantum Leap, learners are taking on the role of game designers. Attached below, you will find the anchor document for the project. In Geometry, learners will be tackling polygons and the properties that define them. Biology is going to be focusing on feedback loops in the human body and making comparisons to the feedback systems that games provide their players. World Studies will be surveying historical periods of rapid, significant change and those effects. The engineering course is going to be focusing on project management, allowing the learners to define the scope of their deliverable and developing strategies to handle project obstacles. English and Debate will be focusing on the small negotiations that take place all the time in the group process and looking at them through the lens of small persuasive instances. Art has learners looking at spatial relationships through sculpture. Technology will give them experience in using online game design programs. In LOTE, learners are considering cause and effect via cultural and personal stories in order to answer the Driving Question: How do our encounters and confrontations shape our unique character?
Quantum Leap Important Dates:
2/13 - Scope Document Deadline
2/16 - Rules/Mechanics Drafting Deadline
3/07 - Pitch to Industry Professionals
3/19 - Formal Playtesting and Revisions Begin
4/12 - EOC English II
4/17 - Booth Development
4/17 - Acadacon (6:00-7:30pm)
How can you help?
Are you in the game development industry? Do you have a friend who is? We are looking for industry professionals for two different opportunities. The first opportunity is March 7th: we need volunteers to give feedback to teams regarding their game idea. The second is an open call for mentorships and speakers. Please contact Ms. Cooke (kati.cooke@pisd.edu) if you are interested.
Attend Acadacon and bring your friends, the space will be open from 6-7:30 pm on Tuesday, April 17th. Learner teams will have booths set up for you to demo the games they have created.
Questions for the dinner table:
What is an example of feedback that you received today and how did you respond to that feedback?
Share in French/Spanish a cause-effect example that happened today?
What games do you like playing and why do you like them? What keeps you playing them?
How are you and your team adhering to the project you originally defined in your scope document?
How did you demonstrate leadership (craftsmanship, purposefulness, agency, punctuality, time management, accountability, collaboration)?
How did your learning today help you move closer to answering the Driving Question for this Quantum Leap project?
Sincerely,
The 2nd Year Facilitator Team
Quantum Leap Anchor Document:
______________________________________________________________________________________
Attention Gamers
ACADACON IS COMING SOON!
Your task is to design a game that addresses the question, “How do our encounters and confrontations shape our unique character?” By playing your game, a gamer should be able to understand and communicate how the interactions of different cultures define a sense of humanity.
When making your game you should be thinking about:
Who is the target audience?
Well-defined game mechanics and balance
Artistic style of the game
Expandability/Expansions
Ease/Difficulty of play
Once games are created, each group will be allotted a space for an exhibition booth in order to debut the game at the third annual Acadacon. Your booth will need to promote and market your game and allow convention visitors to interact with the game experience.
To showcase these awesome things in addition to the games themselves, Academy High School is hosting the third annual Acadacon on Tuesday, April 17th from 6:00-7:30pm.
Your convention experience needs to highlight your learning and game itself through various means such as:
Interactive experiences
Marketing and promotional materials
Visual spectacles
More information about the size of your booth and technology needs will be addressed soon.
3rd Years
4th Years: by Purvi Contractor
Counselors' Corner
UT Arlington Architecture Camp
The School of Architecture in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs at UT Arlington is hosting a week-long design summer camp. More information can be found at Summer@CAPPA 2018 . If you are interested in applying, stop by the counseling office for an application. This is a competitive program that requires an application and recommendation from your counselor.
Camp RYLA
Each year Rotary International holds a summer leadership training camp for rising seniors. This year the North Texas camp runs from July 31 through August 5. There is an application to complete and an interview with a member of our sponsoring Plano Rotary. The application deadline is March 21st with interviews being held the following week after school on our campus. If you are interested in applying, applications are available in the counseling office.
NAVIANCE
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.
3. Click Naviance .
4. Naviance will launch and automatically log you into your family connection account.
Login from Family Connection
1. Go to your campus family connection home page. https://connection.naviance.com/Academyhs
2. Enter your PISD network username and network password.
3. Click the button Log In with Clever .
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.
PAYING FOR COLLEGE WORKSHOP
Hosted by Rep. Sam Johnson and the Collin College Office of Financial Aid
Saturday, February 3rd, 10:00-11:30am
Collin College Spring Creek Campus Lecture Hall C104
2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy
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.
From Film and Music Clubs:
Plano Mayor's Summer Internship Program
Please follow the link for more information and to access an application!
PTSA Clothing Donation
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
4/5: College Fair during lunch
4/28: Prom (3rd and 4th Years)