Titan eNews
Weekly Campus Update
Mission: To create a community of learners empowered to collaborate and compete in a rapidly changing world.
4th Years
3rd Years
The 3rd-year learners have pressed hard into phase two of Turning Points over the last week. Each learner participated in at least one thirty minute consultation with a research mentor over the course of this week, some requested and received a second. These professionals were present in the building to support our learners' research work and paper writing. Last week wrapped up with a reflection on the drafting exercises that had been completed and the state of their research/paper. Everyone crafted three questions to guide their progress and these meetings forward. Next week we will continue on with some revision exercises and be wrapping up the paper. The final draft will be submitted 2/8.
In technology and art this week, the learners have been working with Adobe Flash and with the Procreate app for iPad to develop characters that tell a story related to their individual research topic. These animated narratives ultimately will become part of their the museum exhibits they are designing.
Speaking of museum exhibits, on Monday (2/5), learner teams will each meet with representatives from local museums to get receive feedback on three exhibit concepts that they have spent this week brainstorming. Ideally, over the course of these half-hour meetings, the experts will help the teams whittle down their brainstorming to their single best and most implementable idea. Then, the week of 2/20, these local museum experts will return to see the progress that has been made towards exhibit and interactive designs and to provide further feedback.
Turning Points may be entering its 5th week, but the project is really starting to ramp up.
2nd Years
This was a busy week for 2nd year learners. Every aspect of content learning in Beneath the Surface found its way into the limelight. Learners began the week with storyboards and scripts in hand as they finished filming segments of their propaganda videos inspired by themes from the book 1984. Teams then camped out in the Mac Lab to edit their footage, create sequences, and add sound and credits using Final Cut Pro. Meanwhile, the Fab Lab was getting its share of activity as learners completed building and testing their submersible designs. Project time found the UN committees researching their voted-on resolutions to strengthen arguments for the upcoming General Assembly.
The project deliverables were evidenced over two days at the week’s end. The submersible challenge occurred on Thursday at Williams Natatorium. Wires, motors, soldering irons and pvc filled bags and boxes as learners and their engineered subs boarded the buses to the pool. Timed heats challenged teams to retrieve information and parts of a downed “satellite” that had splashed down in the South Pacific. Though there were several valiant attempts, the satellite and its information remained at the bottom of the “ocean”. Friday opened with the presentation of every team’s unique propaganda video. The afternoon brought all of the countries together for the 2nd UN General Assembly. The formal discussion format afforded the countries a platform to practice parliamentary procedure as a means for civil, organized discussions.
1st Years
Thank you so much for all your support on League Game Day! The first years had so much fun battling their projectile machines! The day would not have been possible without all the parents that helped with transporting machines and setting up refreshments. We sincerely thank you for helping us make this a special day for our first years. We are now two weeks into our new project: Lights, Camera, Action! In this project, learners will create a short film that represents the rich culture and human spirit of a world region. Set to premiere in April, the Titan Film Festival categories are documentary, narrative, or animation. We will send out more information soon!
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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
Save the Date
2/7: Progress Report 3
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)