November 30th, 2020

Welcome to the December edition of the PL Lighthouse! 
This monthly email blast and webpage has been designed to serve much like a lighthouse, to serve as a way forward and help in navigating through the busy school year. Nothing else speaks of safety in the face of adversity and challenge quite like the lighthouse. ​

1:1 Quarterback December Check Ins
During this month's check in, we'll chat about your leadership goal and prep for the upcoming design studio in January.

Action Items
1. Sign up for a 30 minute time-slot with your PL coach by clicking their name:

• Nicolette
• Mike
• Lily
• Kristen
• Vanessa

2.  Before your check-in, please reflect on your leadership goal in your learner profile in the Fall column (pictured below).

Google Cloud Conference | Tuesday, December 1st
Join us after school for live webinars on Google tools to help engage students Choice-Based Learning with Docs & Slides + Google Drawings. These webinars will be presented by FriEDTechnology and supported by the PDL and PL departments. Sessions will happen after school from 5:00-6:00 pm. participants will be able to choose between the two sessions. This opportunity is open to the first 800 participants in Dallas ISD who register.
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To learn more + register visit: http://bit.ly/dgcc121

Google Cloud Conference | Tuesday, December 8th
Join us after school for live webinars to learn ways to Create and Accommodate with Google Extensions + Playground of Learning for Littles. These webinars will be presented by FriEDTechnology and supported by the PDL and PL departments. Sessions will happen after school from 5:00-6:00 pm. participants will be able to choose between the two sessions. This opportunity is open to the first 800 participants in Dallas ISD who register.

To learn more + register visit: http://bit.ly/dgcc128

PL Transformation Recruitment Opportunities 
Elementary QBs, Please connect with your 5th grade teachers to sign up for an IGNITE Informational Session for 5th grade students. Each session will be for both in-person and at-home 5th grade students and will be geared towards learning more about IGNITE Middle School.

Sessions will be held from 10:30-11:30 AM on Tuesday, December 8th and Tuesday, December 15th. Please register your classes by Thursday, December 3rd by completing the spreadsheet here (there is a tab for each date- please add your campus information).

Please consider helping our PL Transformation Schools advertise by sharing their upcoming open houses in your campus newsletters and/or via Social Media. 

• IDEA HS- coming soon!
• IGNITE- coming soon!
• PL Prep- image below (click for registration)

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MAP Goal Setting + COVID Learning Loss 

The video linked above provides an overview of reports to use for goal setting as well as a data file that generates COVID learning loss.  Quarterbacks, this is the same presentation from flex time at the November huddle! Slides are accessible at bit.ly/huddleMAP.

Potential SEL Pilot
GiveThx is a digital program that strengthens student wellbeing and social-emotional skills using gratitude science. Students and staff use digital thank you notes to recognize and reinforce positive behaviors that nurture relationships and build self-esteem. GiveThx is a powerful social-emotional learning system that K-12 schools can use on a daily basis, leveraging technology to create safe and inclusive communities.

• In response to COVID GiveThx is free through June 2021 (normally $3/student/yr)
• Open, editable curricular resources support in-person and distance learning
• ESSA tier 2 evidence impact on wellbeing & social-emotional skill development
• Interested schools and districts can learn more in this 2-pager & at www.givethx.org.

If you're interested in piloting GiveThx on your campus in the spring, email Kristen Watkins at [email protected] to express interest and share which grade(s) you'd like to participate in.

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Spring Personalized Learning Google Summit 
​Calling all Googlers! This Spring the Personalized Learning Department will be hosting a virtual Google Summit with help from teachers + administrators from our PL Cohort. Our goal is for participants to gain tools + insights to add to their toolbox by showcasing the exemplary work from leaders across the PL Cohort. Be on the lookout for further details in the weeks to come!