IACS School News
School updates and notices. Our calendar is another source of useful information.
Board of Trustees April Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order Chair Consent Agenda March 2018 Meeting Minutes EL 2.4 Financial Condition and Activities GP 3.1 Governing Style GP 3.7 Board Committee Principals Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested) Chair 5 …
Biopharmaceutical Field Trip
10th grade Biology students ventured to AbbVie, a biopharmaceutical company in Worcester, for their Career Exploration event sponsered by MassBioEd. Throughout the day students toured labs and saw the numerous steps involved in creating a medicine to treat diseases such …
College Acceptances Update 4/13/18
The latest update of the colleges and universities that our seniors have been accepted to. Congratulations! American University Assumption College Austin College Bates College Bay Path University Bennington College Bentley University Bishop’s University Boston College Boston University Brandeis University Bridgewater …
African Community Center Presentation
Sophomore’s My My Tran and Teshi Waruingi were invited to present today at the African Community Center in Lowell while Nobel Peace Prize recipient Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Khalid Karman was visiting. The students will be giving a presentation on former UN …
Senior Project Success
For Courtney Willard’s senior project, she worked on replacing the Poland Springs water in the school’s vending machines with a more environmentally friendly product called JUST WATER. The bottle is made out of 54% paper and 32% plant based plastic. …
The Hawk: April 13, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending April 13, 2018 Dear IACS community: Thank you to the many volunteers, attendees, bakers, donors and high bidders for supporting IACA’s biggest fundraiser. It was wonderful to see so many supporters of …
Robotics Workshop Coming 5/19
Rize robotics will be hosting a hands-on robotics building and racing event on Saturday, May 19th from 9 am -1:30 pm. The program is open to students in grades 5-12. Enrollment will be capped at 40 participants and will be …
Board of Trustees Governance Training
IACS Board of Trustees Policy Governance Training w/ Susan Mogensen Tuesday, April 10, 2018 Room 145; 6:00-9:00 Agenda Item Point Person Time Allotted Call to Order; Introductions Chair 5-10 min Policy Governance Overview & Updates Brown Dog Consulting 45 min Review …
The Hawk: April 6, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending April 6, 2018 Dear IACS Community, Starting this school year, all public schools in the state of Massachusetts were mandated to conduct verbal drug use interviews, targeting students in two different grades. …
Board of Trustees Nominations Committee March Meeting (Postponed)
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Nominations Committee April 5, 2018 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Agenda Meeting Location – IACS, Main Building – Conference Room 224 Item Topic Lead Topic Minutes 1 PWB Call to Order. 1 …
The Hawk: March 29, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending March 30, 2018 Dear IACS Community, It’s time to turn in those raffle tickets, The big $10,000 drawing WILL be held on April 6th at Casino Night. If you are having a …
Scheduling Process for 2018-2019
2018-2019 High School Program of Studies Scheduling Timeline 3/20 Meet with Juniors about scheduling during advisory 3/22 Meet with Sophomores during advisory 3/26 Meet with Freshmen during advisory HS Teachers make course recommendations in X2 by 3/23 4/2 Juniors can …
The Hawk: March 23, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending March 23 2018 Dear IACS Community, On Thursday, March 1st IACS held its primary enrollment lottery for the 2018-2019 school year and set an all time record by collecting 540 applications, smashing …
Tyngsborough Public Library
April is a great month at the Tyngsborough Public Library…just check out these programs below. Except for Beauty & the Beast, all programs require registration. Click on the links to see the program flyer. Programs for Grades 6-12: 1. Boston Scene …
The Hawk: March 19, 2018
IACS Hawk Extra Important IACA Updates Mixed Bag Fundraiser Hello everyone! Just a reminder that the Mixed Bag paper order forms and payment are due tomorrow, March 20th. Forms and payments can be turned in to the Main Office. A …
Board of Trustees March Meeting
Per the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, public boards may allow time for public comment, as permitted by the chair. Those wishing to make public comment at an IACS Board Meeting should submit requests for comment to bot@innovationcharter.org at least 24 …
The Hawk: March 16, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending March 16, 2018 March 16, 2018 Dear IACS Families – The weather has certainly made the past couple of weeks very interesting. You know things are off when a Friday feels like …
The Hawk: March 12, 2018
IACS Hawk Extra Important Theatre Information Gilligan's Island is THIS WEEKEND! We are thrilled to bring the IACS production of GILLIGAN’S ISLAND, THE MUSICAL to you this weekend! March 15, 7pm March 16, 7pm March 17, 2pm and 7pm GET …
March BOT Nominations Committee Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Nominations Committee March 6, 2018 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Agenda Meeting Location – IACS, Main Building – Conference Room 224 Item Topic Lead Topic Minutes 1 PWB Call to Order. 1 2 …
The Hawk: March 2, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending March 2, 2018 Dear IACS Community, Last November, my letter for The Hawk provided a brief overview of the IACS 2025 conference that brought multiple stakeholder groups together to think about ways …
March Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to Kiersten Callery, Nate George, and Lexi Wright for being recognized as our Seniors of the Month for March. Kiersten Callery’s teachers have recognized her for excellent leadership in class. She has done a great job helping underclassmen in …
Lottery Today
Today at 4:00 pm, Innovation will hold the lottery for students applying for enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year. Today’s lottery results will be available online by 4:30 pm Families will need to use the ID number that was emailed …
Comprehensive Development Committee
March 5, 2018 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Agenda Meeting Location – IACS, Room 145 Murdoch Hall Per Open Meeting Law, public boards may allow time for public comment, as permitted the chair. A desire to comment at a board meeting …
A message shared with students
Since the most recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, I have been trying to think of how, or even if, I should address the matter with all of you. Sadly, these mass shootings have become too common of an occurrence …
Division 5 State Track Meet
Congratulations to all the track athletes that competed in the Division 5 Championships. Becky Reynolds placed 5th overall breaking her own school record in the 300, Phil Kustura broke the school’s freshman record in the 300. And both Xavier MacShane …
Model UN Team Competes at MIT
This past weekend, twelve of our high school students participated in MIT’s 10th Annual Model United Nations conference (MITMUNC) held at their campus in Cambridge, MA. Model UN is a truly unique opportunity that students from all over the world …
The Hawk: February 16, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending February 16, 2018 Dear IACS Students & Families – Got Blizzard Bag? IACS does. Schools in Massachusetts have been piloting this alternative structured learning day model for the past few years with …
The Hawk: February 14, 2018
IACS Hawk Extra Valentine's Day Edition Click Here for information about our $10,000 raffle tickets. Click Here for information about donating to help offset the cost of rehabilitating our front staircase. Innovation Academy Charter School Facebook @iacharterschool 72 Tyng Road, …
College Acceptances 2/14/18
Here is a list of the colleges and universities that our seniors have been accepted to as of 2/14/18…congratulations seniors! American University Assumption College Austin College Bay Path University Bennington College Bridgewater State University Bryant University Case Western Reserve University …
Board of Trustees February Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda February 12, 2018 at 6:30 PM Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order Chair Consent Agenda January 2018 Meeting Minutes EL 2.4 Financial Condition and Activities GP 3.2 Board Job …
The Hawk: February 10, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending February 8, 2018 Dear IACS Families: One of our annual school goals is for 100% of IACS advisories to participate in a community service project. This connects to the overarching objective of …
The Hawk: February 9, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending February 8, 2018 Dear IACS Families: One of our annual school goals is for 100% of IACS advisories to participate in a community service project. This connects to the overarching objective of …
The Hawk: February 2, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending February 2, 2018 Dear IACS Community, The well-known proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” has been widely quoted over the years. It speaks to the value of community support …
IACS Board Committee Meetings
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Nominations Committee February 4, 2018 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Agenda Meeting Location – IACS, Main Building – Second Floor Conference Room Item Topic Lead Topic Minutes 1 Chair Call to Order. 1 …
The Hawk: January 30, 2018
IACS Hawk Extra Important IACA Updates The Embrace Winter Family Social is Friday Night! Please join us on Friday, February 2nd from 7pm – 9pm for a fun family event, right here at IACS, where you can: Play Bingo Take …
Boston Arts Academy Visit
English teacher Lise Brody was able to arrange a visit by The Mirror Project on Thursday. Boston Arts Academy (BAA) teacher Dara Bayer brought a group of 6 students to lead a 2-hour workshop with some of our students. The …
The Hawk: January 26, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending January 26, 2018 Dear IACS Community, While I normally use this space to talk about our academic program, I wanted to provide you with a couple of updates related to the weather-related …
January Board of Trustees Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order Chair Consent Agenda December 2017 Meeting Minutes EL 2.6 Asset Protection EL 2.9 Ends Focus of Grants & Contracts GP 3.9 Governance Cost Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested) Chair 5 …
The Hawk: January 19, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending January 19, 2018 .January 19, 2018 Dear IACS Families – The first semester has come to a close and although it was delayed due to snow, semester two classes are underway. While …
The Hawk: January 12, 2018
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending January 12, 2018 Dear IACS Families: As we have headed back to school, students have busily been wrapping up their Semester 1 work. The high school closed Semester 1 today. At the …
The Hawk: January 9, 2018
IACS Hawk Extra Important IACA Updates Dinner Tonight, Basket Raffle and IACA Meeting Reminder Dinner Tonight Searching for what to do for Dinner Tonight? Want to run into some of your fellow IACS families? Join us at Flatbread in Bedford …
Winter Exhibition Night
Exhibition Night Thank you to all that were able to attend our Winter Exhibition Night on December 19th. Students and faculty from the Science, English, Art, and Music departments did a wonderful job showcasing some of what they have been …
The Hawk: December 22, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending December 22, 2017 Dear IACS Community, On behalf of the entire IACS staff, I’d like to wish you all happy holidays as we close out the year. In lieu of a more …
Parent Notification on Vaping
Dear IACS Families – While electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) have been around for a number of years, some recent versions of these products have caused a large increase in their use by teenagers. Schools across the country have seen them showing …
Massachusetts Day of Poetry
Students in Ms. DiCarlo’s Poetry Workshop traveled to UMASS Boston on December 14 to participate in the Massachusetts Student Day of Poetry Festival. After spending the morning working with professional poets, they attended performances by Regie Gibson, Jeffrey Harrison, and …
December Board of Trustees Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda December 18, 2017 at 6:30 PM Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order Chair Consent Agenda EL 2.5 Emergency HOS Succession – Greg Orpen BMD 4.1 Unity of Control – Lees …
The Hawk: December 15, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending December 15, 2017 December 15, 2017 Dear IACS Families – It looks like winter has arrived and what better way to spend a cold, dark, December night than by coming to the …
The Hawk: December 8, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending December 8, 2017 Dear IACS Families- Public presentations of learning are a hallmark of the IACS program. During the month of December, IACS will host several events for students to practice their …
December Seniors of the Month
December is a special month in that the following five students have been selected as “Seniors of the Month”: Devin Cook, Kevin De La Cruz, Chandler Dilworth, Emily Lyons, and Meghan Spence. Faculty and seniors nominate students and then I …
MS Quality Night approaches
Students soon will be working on their Quality Night presentation. During Quality Night prep time, students will make any revisions, if necessary, prepare their presentation, and create a display. Students should come prepared with note cards, a trifold or poster …
Progress Reports were published to our x2 Aspen student and family portal this week. These are final progress reports before the close of the semester in January when report cards will be issued. Please be sure to review them with …
The Hawk: December 1, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending December 1, 2017 Dear Families, One of the initiatives of the health office this year is to implement a substance use screening program. In March 2016, the Massachusetts Legislature passed bill House, …
The Hawk: November 28, 2017
IACS Hawk Giving Tuesday Edition A Day of Giving Back What is Giving Tuesday? Today, the tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a day of giving back, a chance to join people around the world and support a cause close to your …
The Hawk: November 22, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending November 24, 2017 Dear IACS Community, As we enter Thanksgiving, I’d like to extend my thanks for choosing IACS. We are a community united not by a zip code, but rather a …
Instrumental Ensemble & Garage Band
Here are some Video clips from Tuesday’s Instrumental Ensemble and Garage Band Show…It was awesome! Congratulations to Mr. Sciolla and his students on a great performance. The students of Instrumental Ensemble are: Micah Descoteaux, Tyler Donkoh-Halm, Hunter Fagan, Leticia Freire, …
November Board of Trustees Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda November 20, 2017 at 6:30 PM Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order Chair Consent Agenda GP 3.0 Global Statement BMD 4.0 Global Statement Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if …
The Hawk: November 17, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending November 17, 2017 Dear IACS Community, Last weekend we held our 2-day strategic planning conference titled: IACS 2025. The event brought together students, staff, parents, board members, alumni, and community members to …
The Hawk: November 14, 2017
IACS Hawk Extra What's for Dinner Edition November 14, 2017 Busy day + Fundraiser = Win, Win #savethecookingfornextweek Dine in or Take out tonight at Owen and Ollie's in Dracut. Tonight TUESDAY (November 14th)we will be holding our "Dining for …
Summer Opportunities Fair
2018 Summer Opportunities Fair Sunday, January 21, 2018 – Noon to 3 PM PHILLIPS ACADEMY ANDOVER — SMITH CENTER Programs for Middle & High School Students FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The Hawk: November 9, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending November 10, 2017 Dear IACS Families: One key part of our school mission is making learning relevant for its students through practical, hands-on application. Walk into a sixth grade Social Studies classroom …
HS Student Activity Update
The next couple months are going to be busy for our students and here is a list of some of those events… 11/16-11/18 School of Rock Musical Performances 11/21 Garage Band/Instrumental Ensemble Concert during Advisory 11/22 Grades close for 2nd round …
IACS 2025 Strategic Planning Conference
The IACS 2025 conference will follow a “Futures Search” protocol will explore the past, present, and future. To get a better sense of what this protocol looks like, you can click here. If you have any questions about the IACS …
The Hawk: November 7, 2017
IACS Hawk Extra Terrific Tuesday Edition Per Diem School Nurse Wanted The IACS Health Office is looking for an RN to join their team as a per diem school nurse. The per diem nurse would join two other RN’s in …
Lecture Hall Live Recap
LHL, hosted by Emily Lyons & Isaac Richman, featured a number of great acts on Halloween. It began with a performance of “The Raven” by Nathan Smith, Alexandra Pace, and Eva Richards on piano. Also featured were Improv Choice Block, …
November Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to seniors Alyx Dunn and Sarah Yoken for being recognized as Seniors of the Month for November. Alyx was recognized for her kind and understanding demeanor, for being a great math tutor, and for her dedication to extracurriculars and …
The Hawk: November 3, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending November 3, 2017 It is an exciting time for the IACS Wellness Department as we continue to deepen our focus, enhance our programming and strengthen our impact. As part of our mission …
The Hawk: October 27, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 27, 2017 Dear IACS Community, In the coming weeks you will be receiving an invitation to participate in this year’s Annual Giving Campaign (AGC). IACS has hired an architectural firm to …
Adams Scholarship 2018
This year 30 seniors, representing 32% of the Class of 2018, at Innovation Academy Charter School (IACS) earned the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. This award marks high achievement on the Math, English Language Arts, and Science MCAS exams. Recipients …
Fall Fest
The weather was absolutely perfect last Friday for the 2nd Annual Fall Fest. This is the only day of the year when you will see all 800 students in grades 5-12 participating together in fun events around the campus in …
The Hawk: October 24, 2017
IACS Hawk Extra Spooky Surprises Edition PUMPKIN RUN is this Thursday! Important Info : Thursday is our first annual Pumpkin Run event and we are so excited! We have lots of runners/walkers signed up to participate, a few cornhole teams …
The Hawk: October 20, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 20, 2017 Dear IACS Families – The weather was absolutely perfect today for our 2nd Annual Fall Fest. This is the only day of the year when you will see all …
Musician Field Trip
From Mr. Sciolla: High School Instrumental students were treated to a great performance by the Charlie Hunter Trio. Charlie Hunter plays a 7 and 8 string guitar, enabling him to play bass lines and chords and melodies simultaneously. According to several students …
The Hawk: October 13, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 13, 2017 Dear IACS Families: Advisory is an important component of our school program. This year we have designated 5-12 priorities in order to provide a consistent and meaningful advisory experience …
Board of Trustees October Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Consent Agenda 9/18/17 Board Meeting Minutes EL 2.4 Financial Condition and Activities GP 3.1 Governing Style Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested) Chair 5 Presentation: Facilities HOS 30 Head of School’s Report …
The Hawk: October 10, 2017
IACS Hawk Extra What's for Dinner Edition Oct 10, 2017 Hot Day + Fundraiser = Win, Win #nocooking Dine in or Take out! Tonight TUESDAY (OCT 10)at Tavern on the Square in Lowell (Crosspoint) IACA is having a Dining For …
The Hawk: October 6, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 6, 2017 Dear IACS Community, Hardly a day goes by that we are not reminded, unfortunately, of the reality of our times and how difficult it can be as young adult …
October Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to seniors Madison Lima and Araceli Schmalz for being nominated by their classmates and teachers for October Senior of the Month. Madison is active in the IACS community and is always looking to help others. She is described as …
The Hawk: September 29, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending September 29, 2017 Dear IACS Community, It’s hard to believe that we’ve wrapped up our first full month of school and I’m grateful that our students, staff, and families have …
Plum Island
Students from Ms. Hinkle’s Geology & Astronomy class conducted field research at Plum Island on Thursday. The students took measurements of the beach profile and then they will return in the spring to measure how any winter storms may have …
MIAA Sportsmanship Essay Contest
The Hawk: September 22, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending September 22, 2017 Dear IACS Community, On Thursday, October 26th you are encouraged to participate in our first ever “Pumpkin Run” to be held here at IACS. The race will start at …
x2 Aspen accounts
X2 Aspen is our online database & open gradebook. Passwords for new middle school students were mailed home this week. Passwords have not changed for returning students and families. Students will be learning how to log on during advisory to …
Pumpkin Run
Our first annual Pumpkin Run is happening on Thursday October 26th. Not a runner? No problem! Check out our Pumpkin Run page to learn all of the fun activities going on that day, Hope to see you there!
The Hawk: September 15, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending September 15, 2017 Dear IACS Community, Since our doors first opened in 1996, Innovation Academy Charter School has been a leader in progressive education, serving families in the Merrimack Valley and attracting …
Board of Trustees September Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda September 18, 2017 at 6:30 PM Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Consent Agenda 6/19/17 Board Meeting Minutes 8/29/17 Board Meeting Minutes GP 3.3 Agenda Planning GP 3.8 Board Committee …
ILP Conferences
Individual Learning Plan conferences are being held on 9/20 and 10/4 this year. Please do not arrive before 12:55pm in order to allow cars and busses to smoothly exit from the school and to free-up parking spaces for you. Here …
Penny Wars
Students are encouraged to bring in their spare change to help animal victims of Harvey and Irma. The pets that have been abandoned by their owners need to be housed in shelters, and to do so, shelters need funds to …
Helping those impacted by Hurricanes
In an effort to help those impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, IACS students Madison Lima & Mary O’Flaherty made awareness ribbons that they are selling for $2 each. The storm has left behind destroyed homes, historic flooding, homeless animals and …
The Hawk: September 8, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending September 8, 2017 Dear IACS Community, As we head into another weekend of fall activities, I hope we’re all taking time to think about the people directly impacted by wildfires ravaging California …
Remembering September 11, 2001
Seth Moulton, a Congressman from the 6th District in MA, recently sent a letter to schools with the following message: On September 11th, we will come together to remember one of the most tragic days in the history of …
The Hawk: October 6, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 6, 2017 Dear IACS Community, Hardly a day goes by that we are not reminded, unfortunately, of the reality of our times and how difficult it can be as young adult …
The Hawk: October 2, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending September 29, 2017 Dear IACS Community, It’s hard to believe that we’ve wrapped up our first full month of school and I’m grateful that our students, staff, and families have brought so …
The Hawk: October 6, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 6, 2017 Dear IACS Community, Hardly a day goes by that we are not reminded, unfortunately, of the reality of our times and how difficult it can be as young adult …
The Hawk: October 6, 2017
IACS Hawk IACS Newsletter for the week ending October 6, 2017 Dear IACS Community, Hardly a day goes by that we are not reminded, unfortunately, of the reality of our times and how difficult it can be as young adult …
Green Chemistry
Ms. Derival is a member of the green chemistry education organization, beyondbenign, and she has an article featured on their website this month…please check it out. Nice work Ms. Derival! How can I engage my high school chemistry students at …
September Seniors of the Month
Nate Roy was recognized by the staff and students for his effective communication and self-direction while arranging an internship this year, as well as for his work ethic and good heart towards others. Vincent LaRosa was recognized by the staff …
Basic Rights in Special Education
Innovation Academy will host a workshop covering Basic Rights in Special Education on Tuesday September 19th from 6:30-8:30 pm in room 106. This workshop will be led by a representative from the Federation for Children with Special Needs and will provide an overview of special education laws and procedures with time for questions as well. RSVP at http://fcsn.org/ptic/workshops/schedule …
Create a PSA Contest
A contest from the State Department of Transportation: Lead the way in promoting safe walking, bicycling, and driving behaviors across Massachusetts. Write and produce a one minute public service announcement video that focuses on safe behaviors across all modes with …
The Hawk: August 31, 2017
IACS Hawk “What’s well begun is half done.” – Horace Dear IACS Community, Welcome back! While we only had three days with students, we… Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Unsubscribe from emails by Greg …
Board of Trustees August Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Consent Agenda 6/19/17 Board Meeting GP 3.3 Agenda Planning GP 3.8 Board Committee Structure Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested) Chair 5 Presentation: IACS Mission & Key Design Elements HOS 30 Head of …
Enrollment Paperwork Reminder
Emergency contact forms for the 2017-2018 school year can be found here and downloaded. Please send them to our front office by email (mainoffice@innovationcharter.org), fax (978-649-6337), or mail.
2017-2018 IACS Calendar
We will be posting events to our online calendar, however you can download a PDF of our calendar for vacations, early release dates, etc. Also, You can access the 2017-2018 HS Academic Calendar HERE. Changes do happen periodically so …
The Hawk: June 18, 2017
June 16, 2017 Dear IACS Community, As the final hours of this 2016-2017 school year approach, I’d like to extend my sincere thanks for the number of ways you’ve helped IACS. The pace of the spring …
Board of Trustees June Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Approval of Consent Agenda 5/15/17 Board Meeting Minutes IACS Concussion Protocol IACS Wellness Policy ENDS 1.0: Global Ends Statement EL 2.8 Communication & Support to Board GP 3.4 CGO Role GP 3.5 Secretary’s …
Invitation to Bid: Janitorial Services
Innovation Academy Charter School invites sealed bids for the following serves: Janitorial Services. Bid packages are available electronically by emailing cgraves@innovationcharter.org. Site visits are required prior to submitting a sealed bid. Sites visits can be scheduled for June 20 through June 24 with …
Board of Trustees: Nominations Committee Meeting
Meeting Location – IACS, Main Building – Second Floor Conference Room Item Topic Lead Topic Minutes 1 AN-S Call to Order. 1 2 AN-S Public Comment Time (only if requested) [1] 5 3 AN-S Approve Previous Meeting Minutes 10 4 …
Work Permits for Students
Its almost summer vacation which means many students will be getting a summer job!! All teenagers under 18 years of age must complete a work permit application and obtain a permit before starting a new job. Complete information about …
Museum of Public Health
Outbreak! 2017 – A weeklong summer program at the Museum of Public Health in Tewksbury is now accepting applications from rising Seniors and Juniors. This program offers high school students the opportunity to learn the history and impact of public …
The Hawk: June 10, 2017
June 9, 2017 Dear IACS Community, From May 30 – June 1, students and staff completed another successful Endersession week. This intensive weeklong experience is one of several ways that we try to build strong relationships for …
Internship Meeting
A message from Tina Lindberg, Director of Community Outreach – On Monday, we will be holding a meeting for all rising juniors and seniors in order to introduce and provide next steps for the internship program for the …
TPL Summer Programs
The Hawk: June 2, 2017
Dear IACS Community, With this time of the year being so chock-full of school related activities, I wanted to draw your attention to a few important news and notes: Congratulations to the Class of 2017! …
Fall Musical Auditions
School of Rock Auditions June 7, 12:30-2:30: Grades 5 and 6 audition June 8, 3:00-5:30: Grades 7 through 11 audition For more information about School of Rock CLICK HERE Questions? Email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org
The Hawk: May 26, 2017
“The Hawk” May 26, 2017 Dear IACS Families: It’s hard to imagine that the end of the school year is less than a month away. Between now and then, there are many celebratory events that showcase the culmination …
Letters to Staff from Seniors
This year, student government members Bianca Trujillo and Jacob Barnes organized to have a letter of thanks written to each member of staff in the high school. This included teachers, coaches, office staff, and administration. The letters were all written …
MCC Summer Math Booster Program
FREE High School Math Booster 2017 (for rising HS 9th-11th grade students) This is a FREE accelerated developmental math program that provides first, second, and third year High School students the opportunity to develop math skills. Participating students are provided …
IACS Envirothon Team
The IACS Envirothon team competed at the state competition last Thursday, May 18th. They had a fun day out of doors competing in a variety of environmental challenges and the Water Team, which was composed of Tess Gordon and Lexy …
Senior wins Piano Competition!
Congratulations to senior Elisa Alexander for winning first prize in the piano competition at the 3rd edition of the New York International Music Concours! Elisa can now compete for the grand prize at Weill recital hall at Carnegie Hall on July …
Board of Trustees: Nominations Committee Meetings
The IACS Board of Trustees Nominations Committee will be holding a total of four meetings, occurring on two different dates. All meetings will be held in the second floor conference (Room 224) in Murdoch Hall. The meeting times are as …
The Hawk: May 19, 2017
“The Hawk” May 19, 2017 This past year IACS was invited to participate on a national project based out of the Harvard Graduate School of Education called "Making Caring Common." As stated in their website, MCC's mission is to “use …
The Hawk: May 12, 2017
“The Hawk” May 12, 2017 Dear IACS Community, This week exemplified many of our school core beliefs, as 5th and 7th grade students presented at Quality Night, 6th and 8th graders continued preparations for their Jury Presentations, and our high …
Gr 10 Math MCAS Exam
The Math MCAS exam is scheduled for May 16-17 for all sophomores. Yeah! Please come to school well-rested and ready to go for this graduation requirement and important measure of student learning. Students will need calculators on the 17th. The school …
POL/Senior Project Week
Congratulations to everyone for a great Senior Project/POL week. The feedback on presentations from parents, students, teachers and administrators has been overwhelmingly positive. People were impressed with how prepared students were and with the professional manner in which they conducted their …
MS Art Show
Join us on Friday, June 9 from 7 – 9 for an exhibition of student work from semester 2. We’re excited to feature drawings, paintings & prints by 5th graders, stop motion animation by 7th graders, and design projects by …
Volunteers needed for MS Art Show Preparation
We are looking for some help preparing and hanging work for the June 9th middle school art show. Volunteers are needed during the following times: Monday 6/5, Wednesday 6/7 and Thursday 6/8 from 3:00 – 4:30 Friday 6/9 from 1:00 …
May Board of Trustees Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Approval of Consent Agenda 4/10/17 Board Meeting Minutes EL 2.4 Financial Condition and Activities GP 3.7 Board Committee Principles EL 2.1 Treatment of Parents & Students EL 2.2 Treatment of Faculty/Staff/Volunteers GP 3.5 …
Virtual College Fair
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is holding a Virtual College Fair on May 25 from 2-10pm. It is open to all parents and students. Click HERE to REGISTER.
The Hawk: May 5, 2017
“The Hawk” May 5, 2017 Our largest senior class to date celebrated National College Decision Day on May 1st by wearing clothing that represented their post-graduation plans. Students either wore college gear, red for unsure, or blue if …
National College Decision Day
While our students were accepted to a great many different colleges, they have decided to attend the following 46 schools that are listed below. The number in the right column indicates the number of IACS students that will be attending …
NHS Induction Ceremony
Last night, 25 new students were inducted into the IACS Chapter of the National Honor Society. Congratulations to the following students on this accomplishment: Ms. Carolyn Brooks Ms. Katelynn Brown Mr. Sebastian Chavez Mr. Jonathan Doliver Ms. Kaylin Donoghue Mr. …
Women in STEM Workshop for Students
Students at UMASS Lowell are offering a 1 day workshop for girls in grades 7-12 that are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This is not a school trip, but one that individual students would need to sign-up for on …
Senior Project: Crisis in Syria
Dear IACS Community, Every generation faces a humanitarian crisis. It was Bosnia and Rwanda in the 90’s, Darfur in the 2000’s, and this decade it is Syria. Though the events themselves change, one thing remains the same with all …
Senior Project Applied Piece
It seems like more this year, than previous years, we have been treated to multiple presentations by our seniors for the applied piece of their senior project. Some of you may have seen examples of senior project applied pieces at …
Softball Clinic
As part of Rebecca Kearns’ Senior Project, she is hosting a softball clinic at the school on Wednesday, May 3rd, and she would like to invite any and all middle school and high school girls who are interested to come …
The Hawk: April 14, 2017
“The Hawk” April 14, 2017 Dear IACS Community, In my Hawk letter last year at this time, I made the analogy of the school year being a marathon and I must say that the stretch between February and April vacation …
Senior Project Fundraiser for Rosie’s Place April 15
Josie Lopez’s Senior Project has been featured in the Lowell Sun. Make sure to purchase your ticket for the fundraiser and congratulate Josie! http://www.lowellsun.com/lifestyles/ci_30916466/innovation-student-plans-an-innovative-fundraiser-rosies-place
IACS Students Accepted to Art All-State 2017
Congratulations to Emily Lyons and Holly Lee for being accepted to Art All-State 2017! They will participate in a weekend of art making with 143 other juniors selected from across the state. We are sure they will do a great …
National Honor Society E-Waste Fundraiser
Come to IACS on Saturday, April 29th from 10am to 4pm and pay a small fee to send your useless electronics off, and support our chapter of NHS at the same time! We can take anything electronic, big or small. …
The Hawk: April 10, 2017
“The Hawk” April 7, 2017 Dear IACS Community- This is an exciting, busy, and sometime stressful time of the year for all us at the high school. Seniors are down to their last 30 days of classes and many are …
High School Update
This is an exciting, busy, and sometime stressful time of the year for all us at the high school. Seniors are down to their last 30 days of classes and many are still trying to decide on their plans for …
“The Hawk” April 7, 2017 Dear IACS Community- This is an exciting, busy, and sometime stressful time of the year for all us at the high school. Seniors are down to their last 30 days of classes and many are …
Jury Volunteers Needed
Sixth and eighth grade students will be making their jury portfolio presentations this spring and we are looking for community members to sit in on the presentations. Staff members act as assessors for the presentations; we have found that it …
5th/7th grade Quality Night- May 11th
Quality Night for Grades 5 and 7 is scheduled for May 11th from 6:00-7:15 PM. Attendance is mandatory for all fifth and seventh graders as a promotion requirement as students get important practice in formal presentation as well as feedback, …
April Board of Trustees Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Approval of Consent Agenda 3/20/17 Board Meeting Minutes 3/23/17 Board Spring Retreat Meeting Minutes EL 2.4 Financial Condition and Activities GP 3.7 Board Committee Principles GP 3.1 Governing Style Chair 5 Public Comment …
Senior Project: Health Professions Panel
Are you a high school student and looking to go into a medical profession but don’t know what job you want? Well come to my panel of medical professionals, they will provide information on what they do, what they most …
The Hawk: March 31, 2017
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Due to the current weather predictions, we have decided to cancel school for tomorrow, Saturday April 1st. What is NOT canceled is tonight’s Casino Night. According to weather.gov, the snow is not going to …
Spring Exhibition Night!
Join us for a wonderful celebration of student work from the Art, Music, Science, and English Departments on April 5th from 6-8pm. Students in Chorale & Chorus are busily preparing for Exhibition Night. The Chorale will be premiering a piece of …
IACS Staff Presents at NELMS conference
Mike Edwards and Erin Jones represented Innovation Academy at the New England League of Middle Schools Annual Conference today, hosting a workshop session on project-based learning. Congratulations Mike and Erin!
Save the Date- Events for 8th graders
The 8th Grade Moving Up Assembly will be held in our school auditorium from 8:15-9:15 am on Monday, June 19th. Eighth grade students have a ceremony including a retrospective account of middle school written by students and recognition of students’ …
Measuring Beach Erosion
On Thursday, Katharine Hinkle took her Dual Enrollment Geology and Astronomy students to Plum Island to conduct follow-up measurements on the amount of beach erosion from this winter. The class was fortunate to have a beautiful day to conduct the …
Sixth and Eighth Grade Jury Presentations
Sixth and eighth grade students will soon begin preparing for their spring gateway jury presentation. During this time, sixth and eighth graders present their portfolios to a team of assessors in a jury presentation. Sixth grade juries participate in a …
IACS Student Wins Literary Award
Congratulations to Katie Therrien for being awarded the Regional Silver Key from the 2016-17 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Katie received the award for her flash fiction story Sylar. This is her second year being recognized by the Boston Globe …
The Hawk: March 24, 2017
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Families: Over the past few years, we have worked to develop students’ community membership by involving all students in at least one advisory community service project each year. As we have grown our efforts, it has …
Middle School MCAS Testing Approaches
The MCAS schedule is as follows: 4/3-4/4 Grades 5 and 6 English/Language Arts 4/5 Grade 5 English/Language Arts 4/6-4/7 Grades 7 and 8 English/Language Arts 4/10-4/11 Grades 5 and 6 Mathematics 4/12-4/13 Grades 7 and 8 Mathematics 4/25 & 4/27 …
Transitional Resources Fair
This is a great opportunity for IEP/504 students and their families to learn about resources available to them as they prepare for life after high school. It will be held at Lowell High School on March 28th from 6-8pm.
March Board of Trustees Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 1/9/17 Board Meeting 2/13/17 Board Meeting Cancelled for Weather Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair 5 Presentation: Charter School Finance HOS 30 Head of School’s Report: …
MS Progress Reports Published to Aspen Portal
The first progress report of Semester 2 was published to our x2 Aspen student and family portal today for all middle school students. Please log on to the portal with your child and review their academic progress thus far in …
Hygiene Kits for the Homeless: Seeking Donations
Greetings from the Kyles advisory! For our community service project this year we have decided to create hygiene kits for the homeless. The kits will be donated to the Lowell Transitional Center. Instead of asking for money donations, we are …
Got Newspapers?
Please send newspapers (no circulars, please) to be used in upcoming 7th grade projects. Thank you!!!
ELA MCAS Exam
Just a reminder to all grade 10 students that they will be taking the ELA MCAS exam March 21-23.
Handicap Parking
Reminder for parents picking up students: Unless you are eligible, please do not pull into the handicap parking spaces at the circle in front of the school to pickup your child. Thank you.
IACS Teacher Presents at Physics Conference
Congratulations to High school science teacher, Chris DiCarlo, who has been selected to present his paper titled, “Modeling Behavior of Solar Ovens.” Mr. DiCarlo will be presenting on March 18th at Quinsigamond Community College. Below is a description from Mr. DiCarlo …
The Hawk: March 3, 2017
“The Hawk” March 3, 2017 Even though it is only March, the teachers of Innovation Academy have already begun thinking about new courses for next year and ways to improve existing courses and curriculum. One recent example of this …
IACS Student Recognized at Boston Model UN
A big congratulations to sophomore Carter Morgan for being one of a select number of students to receive the Honorable Mention Award at the Model UN convention last month. Carter was on the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee as a …
1st in Shot Put
Congratulations to track athlete Aiden Felty. On the Friday before vacation he placed first in shot put at the Division 5 indoor track meet with a throw of 51’ 1 ¼”. This not only broke our school record but also …
March Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to Spencer Royston and Jeffrey Taylor for being recognized as Seniors of the Month for March. Both students were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the drama program and to Chorale. Their enthusiasm is infectious and they …
IACA Scholarship Announcement
The Innovation Academy Community Association (IACA) is offering two $1000 scholarships to graduating IACS seniors. The IACA Scholarship Application (2017) has been emailed to seniors, their families, advisors and will be posted in the Hawk in the coming weeks. All application …
College Acceptance Update 2/17/17
72 seniors (83% of the Class of 2017) have been accepted to the following 78 colleges/universities Assumption College Becker College University of Bridgeport Bridgewater State University Bryant University Champlain College Clark University Colby-Sawyer College University of Colorado at Boulder …
The Hawk: February 17, 2017
“The Hawk” This month's Wellness letter is an opportunity highlight our school lunch and breakfast program and the many ways the Food Services team and a group of parent volunteers, consistently goes above and beyond. From providing foods …
Paying for College Presentation
A representative from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority MEFA is scheduled to come to speak with junior parents/guardians on March 29th at 6:30 in the Tyngsborough High School auditorium. Parents & guardians of Innovation Academy students are invited to attend as …
College Fair This Thursday!
Innovation Academy and Tyngsborough High School will once again be partnering together to host a College Fair that will be held at Tyngsborough High School. Students and parents should make every effort to take advantage of this opportunity. Below you …
Upcoming Programs at the Tyngsborough Public Library
A message from the Tyngsborough Public Library… Hi, everyone – We have some great programs coming up at the Tyngsborough Public Library during the vacation week and into March. We have attached the following program flyers to this email: 1. …
The Hawk: February 10, 2017
Thanks to everyone in the IACS community (staff, students, and families) for getting through a choppy week of weather. Have a great weekend… “The Hawk” February 10, 2017 Through our course offerings, clubs and activities, Endersession, and Choice Block, IACS …
Board of Trustees February Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 1/9/17 Board Meeting Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair 5 Presentation: Charter School Finance HOS 30 Strategic Plan Discussion Review and discuss homework. HOS Vision Statement Chair …
1st Place for HS Cheer Team!
Congratulations to the HS Varsity cheer team, Coach Kyles & Coach Tupaj, as they came in 1st place at this weekends competition at Lowell HS- beating Bradford Christian Academy and Swampscott HS. Their next competition will be on February 19th …
Earth & Space Science Class
IACS students were able to tour MIT’s Haystack Observatory in Westford. Mrs. Hinkle’s students had a great tour of the radio telescope. The students also conducted a night-time lab at IACS this past Thursday night to use telescopes.
February Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to Sarah Mayotte and Maria Frey for being selected as the seniors of the month for February. Sarah has been a standout on National Honor Society and has gone above and beyond with her volunteering and community service efforts. …
MS After School Art Upcoming Session
Our next 8 week session will be starting at the beginning of March. This session’s classes will be on Monday and Thursday from 3:00 – 4:30. Please send in registration form and fee by 2/17/17 to secure your student’s space …
MS Advisory Service Projects
All middle school advisories will be participating in community service projects. Our school day has some extended advisory time incorporated on February 14th and March 22nd to develop and participate in projects. Some advisories will be off campus, visiting residents …
MS Essay Writing Practice
Middle school students will utilize some time in school on February 10th and March 10th for practice essay writing. While students frequently are working on their writing skills in English/Language Arts and across the curriculum, they typically are not working …
The Hawk: February 3, 2017
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Growing up in a household with parents who held different political perspectives, I often found humor in their occasional bickering and joking. Laughter aside, when I would speak to my parents about current events it …
Transition to New Science Standards/Structural Change for MS for 2017-2018 School Year
Last spring, the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education released new standards for Science and Technology/Engineering. Standards are learning goals that delineate the content and skills students should learn at each grade level. Since the standards have been released, …
All-State Chorus
Congratulations to Zach Hoyt and Abbie King for being accepted into the Massachusetts All-State Chorus! All-State will take place March 9-11 in Boston. They will rehearse for 3 days and then perform a concert at Symphony Hall at 1:00pm on …
Middle School Semester 1 Assessments- Published to x2 Student and Family Portal
The Middle School Semester 1 Assessment (report card) has been published to our Follett Aspen family portal. Listed below are the steps for accessing the document: Step 1: Log into X2 Follett Aspen from the link at https://www.innovationcharter.org/ Step …
Lowell Sun All-Stars
Congratulations to Isabela and Araceli Schmalz for being recognized as Second Team Lowell Sun All-Stars for Girls Soccer! Nick Passarelli was also recognized as a Second Team All-Star for Cross Country and Calvin Lee, Joe Jarvis, and Josh Sweetland (not …
The Hawk: January 27, 2017
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Families: Last spring, the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education released new standards for Science and Technology/Engineering. Standards are learning goals that delineate the content and skills students should learn at each grade level. Since …
Board of Trustees: Ownership Linkage Meeting
Meeting Location – Innovation Academy Murdoch Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room Item Topic Lead Topic Minutes 1 CG Call to Order 1 2 CG Public Comment Time (only if requested) 5 3 CG Approval of Minutes from 10/12/2016 5 …
The Hawk: January 20, 2017
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Greetings from the Middle School Wellness Department! This year, the health curriculum for grades 5-8 primarily focuses on empathy, communication among friendships, bullying, tobacco, and other drugs, and mindfulness. With a successful first semester, …
Feb. 16th College Fair!
You are invited to attend the third annual Innovation Academy and Tyngsborough High School COLLEGE FAIR Thursday February 16th 2017 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Host School Tyngsborough High School 36 Norris Road Tyngsborough, MA 01879 There are currently over 60 …
COLLEGE COUNSELING NEWS AND NOTES: JANUARY 2017
COLLEGE COUNSELING NEWS AND NOTES: JANUARY 2017 Student Questionnaire, Naviance Self-Assessment Tools and Parent Questionnaire Reminders are below and refer to the College Counseling Handbook for further info on completing the following steps: Naviance: http://connection.naviance.com/iacs Students should be using …
Northeastern Senior District Chorus
Congratulations to the following Chorale students who were accepted and participated in the Northeastern Senior District Chorus this past Saturday at UMass Lowell. The 200 member Chorus was comprised of students selected from 58 towns. Students rehearsed Wednesday & Friday from …
Re-enrollment forms Due 1/27
Re-enrollment Forms have been mailed to current families. They need to be returned to the main office by January 27th. Please remember if you have a sibling that would like to enroll at IACS for the 2017-2018 school year you …
5th/6th Grade Movie Night- 1/20
IACA is hosting a winter movie night for 5th and 6th graders on January 20th at 6:30 pm in the auditorium. Cost is $5.00 and includes popcorn and a drink. Other snacks will be available for $1.00. Students are casting …
Mid-January College Counseling Update
Congratulations to the 61 seniors (69% of the Class of 2017) who have been accepted to the following 58 colleges/universities: Assumption College Becker College University of Bridgeport Bridgewater State University Champlain College Clark University Colby-Sawyer College University of Colorado, …
Second Semester!
It’s hard to believe but another semester has come and gone. Second semester will begin on Wednesday, January 18. Students will begin the day meeting with their advisor for 5 minutes to get a hard copy of their 2nd semester …
The Hawk: January 13, 2017
Have a great long weekend everyone… “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, As we close out the first semester, I’d like to extend congratulations to our students and staff their hard work. To the parents, I also extend my …
The Hawk: January 7, 2017
“The Hawk” January 6, 2017 One of the high school graduation requirements is that all students take a class called “Senior Project”. Senior Project is an opportunity for students to learn about a topic of their choosing. They begin thinking …
MS Close of Semester 1
Semester 1 closes on Friday, January 13th. Semester 1 Middle School Report Cards will be issued on Friday, January 27th. Semester 2 will begin when students return from the long weekend on Wednesday, January 18th. Students that began the year …
Snowcoming – Winter Semi-Formal Dance
A message from Student Government: This semi-formal dance is meant to bring students together in a fun and safe environment. Now, is a great opportunity to donate to and take part in the IACS community. Student Government is looking for …
IACS Student Organizes Fundraiser for Rosie’s Place
Senior Josie Lopez has organized a dinner on April 15th to benefit Rosie’s Place, which is an all women’s shelter in Boston. Thanks for planning the event Josie and we are very proud of your efforts to help others …
January Board of Trustees Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 12/19/16 Board Meeting Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair 5 Presentation: Student Health & Wellness Overview HOS 30 Strategic Plan Discussion Reviewing Ends Statement for HOS Strategic …
Seniors of the Month for January
Congratulations to Melanie Thomas and Jamie Thibeault for being our seniors of the month for January. Melanie was recognized for her community membership during her Outdoor Adventure Wellness class. Melanie has been an excellent role model to the underclassmen in …
Endersession
The Endersession Packet has been emailed to all students and families, but in case you missed it, here is a link to the packet. Students should return their forms between January 3 and January 20…there is no advantage to returning …
Ballot Question 4 & Schools
With the passage of Ballot Question 4, the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana, some may wonder how this impacts schools? The short answer is, not at all…nothing in our policies or procedures is impacted by this change. To …
College Acceptance Update for December
Congratulations to the 56 seniors (64% of the Class of 2017) who have already been accepted to the following 49 colleges/universities: Assumption College Becker College University of Bridgeport Clark University Colby-Sawyer College University of Colorado at Boulder Curry College …
Calling all Middle School Singers!
Calling all Middle School Singers! The Middle School Chorus will resume on Wednesday January 4th. Middle School Chorus will meet on Wednesdays after school from 12:25-1:30 in the Middle School Music Room. We welcome all Middle School students …
Commonwealth Commitment
Bonus…if a student takes Dual Enrollment classes in high school they will save even more!
December Board of Trustees Meeting
Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 11/21/16 Board Meeting Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair 5 Presentation: Special Education & Federal Programs HOS 30 Head of School’s Report MCAS Analysis and Recommendations Strategic Plan Guiding Document …
PSAT Score Report Information
Juniors and Sophomores: PSAT scores will be released throughout the day on Monday (12/12) through each student’s College Board account. College Board has sent an email with instructions to parents/students on how to access these score reports as well as how to …
MS Progress Reports Published
MS Progress Report #2 of Semester 1 was published this week to our x2 Aspen family portal. Please review it with your child to help them celebrate areas of accomplishment and consider ways in which they can improve their performance. …
The Hawk: September 23, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Families: The year is off to a terrific start at the middle school. Fifth and sixth graders are getting settled into the routine of their new schedules and building connections with peers and classmates. Our …
The Hawk: September 16, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, The Innovation Academy Wellness Program is thrilled to introduce a new, interactive digital magazine: Student Health 101, to students and parents. Student Health 101 is an online magazine that targets high school students with a …
The Hawk: September 12, 2016
Hi All, I know that you're all avid readers of The Hawk (not to mention staff memos), but for lunch packing purposes I wanted to send a reminder about Wednesday afternoon. Please make a prompt 1 pm arrival to …
The Hawk: September 10, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Being a public school of choice makes our community unique. While each of you has a unique story that led you to attend IACS, we are all connected by the core principles of the school: …
The Hawk: September 2, 2016
Have a great weekend everyone. Here's the first edition of The Hawk…. “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, It was wonderful to see our school filled with students this week. Watching students and staff reconnect reminds me of how …
The Hawk: June 12, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Yesterday we celebrated the Class of 2016 with a ceremony that recognized every senior’s contribution to our school. Not even some light rain towards the end could put a damper on the laughter and …
The Hawk: June 3, 2016
“The Hawk” Charter Renewal: Yesterday, IACS was one of fourteen charter schools in Massachusetts to receive its renewal certificate from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The event symbolized all of the amazing work that our students, families, …
The Hawk: May 28, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Families: The other day I walked from my office in the corner of Landberg Hall to the main office a short way across the patio to drop off a piece of mail. What I encountered along …
The Hawk: May 20, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, In this month’s letter, Donna Harrington, one of our high school Wellness teachers, shares her thoughts about the benefits of yoga practice with high school students. Her teaching philosophy highlights how IACS Wellness classes …
The Hawk: May 6, 2016
Here is this week's edition of The Hawk. Have a great weekend. Pat “The Hawk” May 6, 2016 One of the great events for our high school students this spring was the art exhibition that was on display this …
The Hawk: April 30, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Last year, our Community Association organized an all-school raffle that enabled us to purchase a 15-passenger van. This vehicle has been used to bring advisories off campus for community service events, academic classes on field …
The Hawk: April 19, 2016
“The Hawk” Good morning everyone, Before you read the rest of the Hawk, I wanted to take a moment to extend a huge THANK YOU to the officers of the IACA and extended IACS community who did an amazing job …
The Hawk: April 9, 2016
“The Hawk” All School News Dear IACS Community, This week I participated in a webinar hosted by Ken Kay, CEO of EdLeader21; Kay has vast experience interacting among schools, government organizations, and the private sector. His most notable …
The Hawk: April 6, 2016
Hi All, I'm just making one final call for Casino Night so I can tell the IACA organizers how many staff tables to reserve. Thanks. On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 10:04 AM, Greg Orpen <gorpen@innovationcharter.org> wrote: Hi All, As …
The Hawk: April 1, 2016
———- Forwarded message ———- “The Hawk” All School News Dear IACS Community: I would like to take the opportunity this week to congratulate two of our high school seniors for completing their Eagle Scout Projects. Lukas Harrington …
The Hawk: March 29, 2016
Hi All, As you're probably aware from careful readings of the Hawk, the IACA will be holding Casino Night on Friday, April 15th at Lenzi's in Dracut. The school will be reserving three tables (10 people/table) for staff who …
The Hawk: March 24, 2016
“The Hawk” All School News Dear IACS Community: After 19 years of dedicated service to the IACS Community, Middle School Dean of Students Charlene LaRoche will be retiring this summer. Charlene’s daughter, Kristin, was a sixth …
The Hawk: March 12, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Yesterday I joined a team of six staff and twenty students from IACS who participated at “DynamiqueST”, a celebration of student work that uses Systems Thinking to deepen understanding of curricular topics. We …
The Hawk: March 5, 2016
“The Hawk” March 4, 2016 Many of you may have heard about the dual enrollment program, but I am excited to tell you about a new piece to dual enrollment that we are currently seeking approval for from Middlesex Community …
The Hawk: February 26, 2016
“The Hawk” All School News Dear IACS Community: One of the best parts of my day consistently is time with my advisory. I don’t think I’m unique in this; I think the majority of advisors and students would say this …
The Hawk: February 6, 2016
“The Hawk” Just when it looked like spring had arrived in early February, winter decides to make an appearance with our first snow day. Our Community Association and school administration are exploring possible make up dates for last night's …
The Hawk: February 4, 2016
Good Evening IACS Community, If you haven’t been tracking weather over the course of the day, forecasts indicate that we’ll have some accumulation of snow tonight and throughout much of the day. Total snowfall and road conditions are obviously harder …
The Hawk: January 29, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community: Making arrangements for your child on our early release Wednesdays is not an easy task for most families. We appreciate your efforts to manage these logistics as it enables our faculty to have regular, in-depth …
The Hawk: January 22, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Often this letter is used to provide updates regarding school events, however this week I’d like to share a broader picture about our work here at IACS. This week, articles in the …
The Hawk: September 25, 2015
———- Forwarded message ———- “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community: It’s been a busy and exciting September. Classes are in full swing, extracurriculars have begun, and students are settling into this year’s routine. Often, at this time …
The Hawk: September 13, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, We are proud to launch this school year by celebrating our 20th birthday! I’m guessing this milestone might come as a surprise to you, as even members of our own staff found it hard to …
The Hawk: September 6, 2015
gorpen@innovationcharter.org has sent a message regarding the following document: The Hawk Hi All, I hope you've had an enjoyable first three days of the weekend and have more rest/fun in store for tomorrow. This is our first weekly community newsletter …
The Hawk: September 30, 2014
All School News IACS Communication Updates: This year our school will be working to streamline communications and been “greener” in how we disseminate information to our families. Every week we’ll be sending an all community email (“The Dispatch”) with current …
The Hawk: September 30, 2014
All School News IACS Communication Updates: This year our school will be working to streamline communications and been “greener” in how we disseminate information to our families. Every week we’ll be sending an all community email (“The Dispatch”) with current …
The Hawk: March 2, 2014
Hi Everyone, In addition to the March Edition of The Hawk, this week's edition of the IACS Dispatch is in this email. All School News The Valentine’s Day Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser was canceled due to snow delay. If you have …
The Hawk: June 2, 2013
Attached is the June Edition of The Hawk. Please see a few additional news and notes below. All School News Music Concert: Tomorrow (Monday, June 3rd @ 7 pm) our Middle School Chorus and Band plus High School Chorus will …
The Hawk: May 24, 2013
All School News <div style="color:rgb(102,0,204); generosity of your community spirit and giving. With the Expansion Initiative's events this school year — the Fall Relay, The Leadership Donor Club, the Hawk Walk bricks and the most recent 5K and Fun Walk, …
The Hawk: May 3, 2013
Have a great weekend everyone. Attached is the May version of The Hawk along with additional information in this email. IACS News Robotics Tournament @ UMass Lowell this weekend: <span style="font-size:12.800000190734863px; club this Saturday, May 4th, <span style="font-size:12.800000190734863px; Fun! Email Donna …
The Hawk: April 26, 2013
Hi All, The May Edition of The Hawk will be sent home mid-next week, but here's this week's edition of the Dispatch. IACS News Building Update: A big thanks to the entire IACS community for all of your support and flexibility …
The Hawk: April 5, 2013
Good Afternoon Everyone, Attached is the April Edition of The Hawk along with some additional notes shown below. Have a wonderful weekend. All School News Next week is Spirit Week. Each day of the week has a different theme (see …
The Hawk: March 1, 2013
Hi Everyone, We hope you have a great weekend. Please see take some time to read the March edition of The Hawk as well as the important news listed in this email. IACS News Family Survey: Please take part in our …
The Hawk: February 1, 2013
Good afternoon everyone, There is a LOT of activity going on at IACS, so please take some time to digest it all. Attached is the February edition of The Hawk. Additionally, please read the following news and notes in …
The Hawk: January 22, 2013
<div style="color:rgb(102,0,204);font-size:10pt; KEY DETAILS: <div style="color:rgb(102,0,204);font-size:10pt;s Peak <div style="color:rgb(102,0,204);font-size:10pt;font-size:13.63636302947998px;ll get an email confirming pickup details, which is expected to be an Innovation table in the main lodge at Pat's Peak on Sunday, 1/27 <div style="color:rgb(102,0,204);font-size:10pt;font-size:10pt;font-size:10pt;s Peak – it's just under …
The Hawk: January 20, 2013
IACS News Quality Night for Grades 5 and 7 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 3/12 from 5:45- 7 pm. Attendance is mandatory for all 5th and 7th graders as a promotion requirement as students get important practice in formal presentation as …
The Hawk: January 12, 2013
IACS News <span style="text-align:start;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-size:13px; an electronic version is attached to this email. Attention all skiers in the IACS Community! Please see the attached flyer for a great IACS family event at Pat's Peek ski resort on Sunday, January 27th. Proceeds …
The Hawk: September 28, 2012
Good afternoon everyone, Well we couldn't have perfect weather forever, so what better activity to do inside than read up on the latest and greatest at IACS? Please take some time to review the notes below as well as October's …
The Hawk: September 21, 2012
Here is this week's edition of the Dispatch. Have a great weekend… IACS News Back to School Nights: A reminder that next week, both the High School (Monday the 24th) and Middle School (Thursday the 27th) will be holding it's …
The Hawk: September 10, 2012
Greetings IACS Community, We're officially full steam ahead with classes and extra curricular events and the energy level has been amazing. For new families, this email serves as an important means of staying updated on news and events related …
The Hawk: June 3, 2012
IACS News Thank You Innovation Families! I hope everyone has seen the Thank You sign on the front lawn. Our families have contributed over $50,000 this year toward the 100% Expansion Initiative. What a milestone! Keep up with the latest …
The Hawk: June 3, 2012
Good morning everyone. This year's final edition of The Hawk has been posted on line for your viewing and contains many important dates as well as interesting updates on what's going on at school during this busy time of year. …
The Hawk: April 28, 2012
Good Afternoon IACS Community, This spring is packed with IACS related activities. Please take a few minutes to review the May Edition of The Hawk (attached) as well as information about next Saturday's IACS Athletics Family Day. Enjoy the rest …
The Hawk: March 30, 2012
Good Afternoon Everyone, Attached is the April Edition of The Hawk which was sent home today with students. Please see the additions news and notes regarding activities in the IACS community. Have a great weekend. Community News IACS Community Service …
The Hawk: March 6, 2012
Good afternoon IACS Community, Here are couple of mid-week announcements, plus the March Edition of the The Hawk. This Friday, March 9th the Student Government Association is sponsoring a High School Semi Formal Dance from 7pm – 10pm at IACS. …
The Hawk: February 17, 2012
Good Afternoon IACS Community, Here's hoping that you have a safe and relaxing vacation. Please note that the March edition of The Hawk will be distributed on Friday, March 2nd. Here's this week's edition of the Dispatch. Have a …
The Hawk: February 3, 2012
Good Afternoon Everyone, This week's edition of the Dispatch has lots of fun and important information. Thanks for taking a few minutes to review and have a wonderful weekend. Go Pats! Community Announcements Our high school girls JV and Varsity …
The Hawk: January 27, 2012
Good Afternoon Everyone, Have great weekend. Community Information Innovation Academy Middle and High School Performing Arts Program Proudly Presents The Hilarious Gilbert and Sullivan Musical Pirates of Penzance Friday, March 16 7:00pm Saturday, March 17 2:00pm and 7:00pm Tickets $12 …
The Hawk: December 10, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Families- We’d like to bring two health related items to your attention. First, IACS is thrilled to be participating in the “Making Caring Common” project sponsored by of Harvard University. Part of this project includes a …
The Hawk: December 2, 2016
“The Hawk” December 2, 2016 Dear IACS Families- Public presentations of learning are a hallmark of the IACS program. During the month of December, IACS will host several events for students to practice their presentation skills and celebrate …
The Hawk: November 23, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Last Wednesday Jay W. Forrester, Professor Emeritus at MIT and founder of System Dynamics, passed away at the age of 98. While you might not be familiar with him by name, Jay’s extraordinary …
The Hawk: November 18, 2016
“The Hawk” This month’s Wellness Hawk letter comes to you from Kyle Thornton, High School Wellness Educator. Learn how he is using Student Health 101, our online wellness magazine, in his classes. I’m sure by now most of our …
The Hawk: November 11, 2016
“The Hawk” Good afternoon IACS Community, Today we wrap up an election week that triggered a wave of emotions across the country. These events provide “teachable moments” to all educators- parents and teachers. Conversations in my advisory this week ranged …
The Hawk: November 4, 2016
Subject: November 4th Edition of The Hawk “The Hawk” November 4, 2016 Dear IACS Community November is a great time to spend a few minutes to recognize the many activities and accomplishments of our student body. Under the …
The Hawk: October 28, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community: This year represents the first year of our newest 5-year “charter term” (2016-2021). With each charter renewal, we create school goals as part of our school’s accountability plan to align our academic program with …
The Hawk: October 21, 2016
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Next week, IACS will be participating in Say Something Week, a national initiative sponsored by the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation. The Say Something program provides a framework to create a newly empowered student body …
The Hawk: October 15, 2016
“The Hawk” Good morning IACS Community, My back and hands are still sore from the tug-of-war and my core body temperature has returned to normal after plunging in the dunk tank. It’s a small (and yes, fun) price to pay …
The Hawk: October 7, 2016
“The Hawk” October 7, 2016 Dear IACS Community, Last year I informed the IACS community of the plans to have our own teachers teach Dual Enrollment classes at IACS this year. Dual Enrollment is a state supported early college …
The Hawk: October 1, 2016
Stay dry everyone… “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, In my role as Head of School, one of the most exciting parts of my day involves watching students and staff applying our Outcomes inside and outside of the classroom. On Friday …
The Hawk: December 22, 2016
Have a great vacation all! “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, As we look ahead to January, our enrollment office gets busy with events in preparation for our March 1st lottery. On Saturday January 7th, the middle school will host the …
The Hawk: December 23, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, As we close out 2015, I hope everyone has a chance to catch up with friends and family during this vacation. It’s often a time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and think about …
The Hawk: December 18, 2015
“The Hawk” All School News Dear IACS Community, This month’s Wellness letter comes from Nancy Tripp, one of our Clinical Social Workers. What perfect timing for her to reflect on her own recent personal accomplishment and to remind …
The Hawk: December 14, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, 20 years ago, IACS was founded as a school that served 150 students, primarily from a single town. Housed in 20,000 square feet of rented office space, it did not yet have the capacity …
The Hawk: November 20, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Our Wellness Program unites staff as well as our parent community in reaching a common goal: educating and empowering our students to take ownership of their health and develop lifelong wellness skills and habits. With …
The Hawk: November 13, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Driving to work today I was thinking about a topic that would be most fitting for my community letter. On Beacon Hill, there is spirited debate about the charter school expansion. In Malden, …
The Hawk: November 6, 2015
“The Hawk” This week IACS received some exciting news from The Boston Foundation. Innovation Academy has been nominated for the Pozen Prize which was established in 2013 to recognize charter schools that are achieving excellent academic results with …
The Hawk: October 30, 2015
———- Forwarded message ———- “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community: Thank you for your recent support of the ILP (Individual Learning Plan) conference process. At each student’s ILP conference, we consider past strengths and obstacles to create goals …
The Hawk: October 23, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, As Innovation Academy celebrates its twentieth year, I wanted to share some personal and professional memories dating back to our earliest years. I can remember when the charter school was only an idea …
The Hawk: October 16, 2015
Have a great weekend everyone… “The Hawk” Say Something Dear IACS Community, In my first letter a few weeks ago, I encouraged parents to reach out to me with ideas or thoughts regarding issues of …
The Hawk: October 14, 2015
Hi All, Some of you might have already received this through X2. Wanted to bring attention to #2 since the test will go to staff home/cell numbers as well. Of course, if you'd like to chaperone the 7/8 dance, …
The Hawk: October 10, 2015
“The Hawk” Dear IACS Community, Last week we received 2015 MCAS reports from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) so that we can in turn mail home to all IACS families. As you may remember, …
The Hawk: October 5, 2015
There were a few changes to the "All School News, Dates at a Glance". Please refer to this edition for the correct information. Thank you “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community: The high school has had a great start to …
The Hawk: October 2, 2015
———- Forwarded message ———- “The Hawk” Dear IACS Community: The high school has had a great start to the 2015-2016 school year. With a full month of school under our belts and ILP conferences set to begin next …
The Hawk: December 9, 2012
To accompany your Sunday morning paper… IACS News CHECK YOUR MAILBOXES! <div style="font-size:12pt;s mail! With holiday season upon us, consider giving a dual-gift. You can help leave a special legacy AND support IACS' Expansion Initiative with Hawk Walk Commemorative Brick …
The Hawk: November 30, 2012
Good evening everyone, Today your student should have received the December edition of The Hawk, but an electronic version is attached. Please take some time to read and see information provided in the body of this email. The Hawk Walk …
The Hawk: November 21, 2012
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from the entire faculty and staff at Innovation Academy! All School News The Hawk Walk is in! <span style="font-size:10pt;ve begun installing the first batch of commemorative bricks. A www.bricksrus.com/order/iacsbricks Questions? Email Annie Accettullo: candystp@yahoo.com see the attached …
The Hawk: November 2, 2012
Hello IACS Community, Today we distributed the November edition of The Hawk and it is also attached to this email. There are a couple of great (even historic!) IACS events that we hope you put on your calender. Please take …
IACS School Closings & Delays
Because IACS serves a large region and does not have it’s own public works department to assess wintery road conditions, we make our decisions to delay, close, or hold normal hours based on reports we receive from surrounding districts. This …
Instrumental Ensemble at Festival of Trees
(L to R) Hannah Goldthwait, Hannah George, Nathan George, Isaiah Krehbiel, Zachary Palmer and Ms. Destramp
Summer Opportunities Fair 1/22/17
December Breakfast and Lunch Menu
The December Breakfast & Lunch Menu is posted here. Contact Karen Drake kdrake@innovationcharter.org if you have any questions about the School Nutrition Program.
Picture Re-takes
Picture re-take day for both MS and HS is Thursday, December 8th for students that were absent or would like to have their photo re-taken. Please bring the original photos that were taken and give to the photographer.
Upcoming Musical Events at IACS
The schedule at IACS between now and winter break is jam-packed with musical events! – On Friday, 12/2, a small group of student musicians will be playing at Tyngsboro’s Festival of Trees. Come hear them from 5:30-6:30 at the Tyngsboro …
December Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to Rebecca Kearns, Kayleigh Sorrentino, and Antonio Nogales for being recognized by the faculty as our outstanding seniors for the month of December. All three students are great examples of what we value about community membership. Rebecca is known …
ACTFL Convention
Last week, IACS Spanish teachers Ofelin Tortorelli, Jose Lopez, Gale Stafford, and Carrie Tawadros presented at the 2016 ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) convention. Their presentation was titled “Learning by Doing: Project Based learning in a …
Tyngsborough Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees is happening this weekend at the Historic Town Hall in Tyngsborough and students from IACS will be participating. Tonight (12/2) at around 5:30pm students from our Instrumental Ensemble will be performing and the choir will be …
Merrimack Valley: A Regional History
Students from Ms. Hinkle’s and Ms. Ayala’s interdisciplinary Merrimack Valley class enjoyed a site visit to Lowell today.
College Acceptance Update 12/1/16
Congratulations to Carla Tenaglia and the 16 other seniors listed below that have already learned of their acceptance to college. December is a busy month for students that applied for Early Action or Early Decision so there will be a …
Switch to Biology MCAS Exam
It is a little known fact that while there is only one English and Math MCAS exam that all grade 10 students take state-wide, high schools can choose one of four Science and Technology exams for their students to take …
Senior District Chorus
Congratulations to IACS chorus students and their teacher, Erin Lane! After auditioning last weekend, nine of our students were accepted to the Senior District Chorus and seven received an All-State Recommendation (* denotes All-State Rec). The students listed below will be attending …
Middle School Quality Night
December 6th and 7th mark our first Quality Night Prep Days in advance of Quality Night. Students will be selecting one of their projects to present at Quality Night. During Quality Night prep time, students will make any revisions, if …
IACS Envirothon Team
Under the leadership of science teacher Katharine Hinkle and some Green Team members, IACS has formed a team to participate in Envirothon this year. According to the Envirothon Website: “The Envirothon is Massachusetts’ leading natural resource education program for high …
NHS November Update
Camp Sunshine The IACS National Honor Society would like to thank our Middle School students, and their parents, who generously supported our Camp Sunshine donation drive. We proudly filled Ms. Pratt’s SUV with supplies that she delivered to Maine last …
November Board of Trustees Meeting
Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 10/17/16 Board Meeting Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair 5 Presentation: High School Academics and Curriculum HOS 30 Head of School’s Report HOS 15 Review Monitoring Reports …
School Health Screenings for 7th and 10th graders
Each school year IACS conducts school health screenings for all current 7th and 10th grade students. The screenings include a vision screen, hearing screen and a height/weight screen (BMI). All screenings are done privately and all results are kept in …
Please be certain to mark your calendars. All middle school students are required to present at Quality Night. Self-Direction and Effective Communication Teams Tuesday, 12/13 ~ 6-7:15 pm Community Membership and Problem-Solving Teams Thursday, 12/15 ~ 6-7:15 pm
Financial Aid TV
Click the following link for a series of short videos on college financial aide. The videos were produced by Framingham State University. FINANCIAL AID TV
Makerspace – Tyngsborough Public Library
11th Grade College Night Program
WHAT: 11TH GRADE COLLEGE NIGHT KICK-OFF 2016 WHEN: TUESDAY DECEMBER 20TH 2016 @ 6:00 PM-7:30 PM WHO: ALL 11TH GRADERS AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS WHERE: IACS AUDITORIUM ALL students and parents should plan on attending this event. The evening …
College Counseling Update for November
COLLEGE COUNSELING NEWS AND NOTES: November 2016 I: Class of 2017 Early Action Application Update II: FAFSA Day, CSS Profile and Financial Aid Forms III: Application Materials Sent to College and Application Status Updates IV: Who Sends What? Applying to …
Community Service at IACS
At IACS, we know that teaching goes beyond the classroom walls. We have seen the results first hand when students participate in community service. It fosters team work, encourages critical thinking, problem solving and generates self-esteem, not to mention the …
There IS school on Election Day
Just a reminder that IACS will operate on normal hours on Election Day, Tuesday November 8th. A special note to Tyngsboro families that Dee Bus will run their “two bus plan” (same system as our early release Wednesdays) since Tyngsboro …
Attendance Messages
A friendly reminder that all attendance messages (notes, voicemails, emails, etc.) should go to the main office (mainoffice@innovationcharter.org) and not teachers, advisors, or other staff. Having attendance streamlined in this manner improves our internal communication systems. Thank you.
November Breakfast and Lunch Menu
The November Breakfast & Lunch Menu is posted here. Contact Karen Drake kdrake@innovationcharter.org if you have any questions about the School Nutrition Program.
Happy Period Project
Student Josivett Lopez has organized a collection drive to benefit women at a local shelter. The collection bin will be located near Dr. Arnold’s office. Feminine hygiene products such as pads, tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups and intimate cleansing & …
For 8th graders Applying to Technical or Independent Schools
Please be aware that deadlines can be quite early. Please provide 2 weeks or more notice for letter of recommendations in order to give staff adequate time. Any requests for other documents (transcripts, attendance/conduct record, etc.) can be made to …
SAT Prep
Correction in the IACS SAT Prep Schedule for Juniors and Sophomores: The classes will end at 3 PM to help students with after school transportation. The SAT Prep Class will run from 1:40-3:00 pm (Choice Block on Fridays). See registration …
MS Progress Reports Published
Middle school progress reports were published to the X2 Aspen portal on Thursday, 10/27. Families and students should have received an email when the progress report was published to the portal. Please log on to view the progress report on …
Prom Dress Collection
The IACS Prom Committee is starting a new project called the Chic Boutique. It will be a fun safe space for people who would like to wear dresses to prom for free…YES FREE! Here is how it works: If you …
Say Something Week
Next week, IACS will be participating in Say Something Week, a national initiative sponsored by the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation. The Say Something program provides a framework to create a newly empowered student body that looks out for each other, …
Health and Wellness Update
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe, healthy and supportive environment for our students, IACS has updated the Substance Use Prevention and Education Policy. You may find it here, on the IACS website under the Health Office …
Lost and Found Bins
Our lost and found bins are overflowing. We’ll be cleaning them out and donating the items to local charities on 10/31. Please ask your student to look through them or come by school if you are missing items.
7th/8th grade Halloween Social
Get ready for some spooky fun! Our 7/8th grade social is Friday, October 28 from 7-9pm. Thank you to everyone who volunteered for this event! Costumes are optional, but we will have a prize for the best boy and girl …
MS After School Art
The second session of after school art classes are starting soon! Classes begin the week of November 8, and students can sign up for either the Tuesday or Thursday session. Like previous sessions, this 8 week open studio class allows …
Middle School Art Needs Your Recyclables
We are in need of clean cereal boxes or other similar cardboard packaging for an upcoming 6th grade project. Please have students bring materials to the art room. Please no packaging from foods containing nuts. Thank you!!!
MS Winter Athletics Registration
Winter sports packets were handed out to all middle school students. All paperwork is due back to the Athletic Department by Tuesday, November 1st. Please read through the packet information to see if your child is interested in any of …
IACS Teacher Goes National!
IACS High school science teacher, Katharine Hinkle, has been selected by NPR’s Science Friday show to be part of their Educator Collaborative. She will be interviewed on the radio today from 2:40-3:00. If you miss it live the audio should …
IACS Attends WPI Math Meet
On Tuesday, Ms. Pratt took a team of four IACS students to compete in the 29th Annual WPI Math Meet. These students competed against other teams from over 80 different schools. It it was a great experience for all involved. Great …
Instrumental Ensemble Visits the BSO
The new IACS Instrumental Ensemble, led by music teacher Julian Sciolla, was able to visit a live rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Thursday. This was a special opportunity because the world-famous cellist, Yo Yo Ma, was performing with the …
PSAT Calculator Policy
Bring One of These Calculators Graphing calculator (most models permitted; (see page 24 for specific information https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/official-student-guide-psat-nmsqt-2016.pdf) Scientific calculator Four-function calculator (not recommended) Leave These Devices at Home Anything that can connect to the Internet Anything that makes noise or “talks” …
Special Education Workshop
Innovation Academy will host a workshop covering Basic Rights in Special Education on November 3rd from 6:30 to 8:30. This workshop will be led by a representative from the Federation for Children with Special Needs and will provide an overview …
Intern Mentors Sought
As part of our mission at IACS, we offer our upperclassman an opportunity to take advantage in an Internship program on Wednesday afternoons (1-5pm). The program gives students the opportunity to obtain some first hand exposure and experience in the …
Spanish Immersion Trip for Students in Grades 8 & 9
This immersion trip is open to 8th and 9th graders who have been in the Spanish program for at least two years. If you are interested and were not able to go to the meeting, please contact Stel Schmalz: sschmalz@innovationcharter.org …
Middle School Picture Day
October Board of Trustees Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda October 17, 2016 at 6:30 PM Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 9/19/16 Board Meeting 10/3/16 Board Retreat Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair …
College Info for Junior Parents
Juniors and Parents/Guardians, Before we officially begin the college process on the evening of Tuesday December 20th (6:00 pm-7:30 pm) with the ’11th Grade College Kick-Off Night’, I wanted to share with you three upcoming opportunities to get things started …
High School Spirit Week!
Spirit Week is next week!!! October 11-14 Monday: No school! Tuesday: pajama day Wednesday: twin day Thursday: favorite sport/sports team day Friday: class colors for the Fall Festival. You should plan for active-wear for the day due to the nature …
October Seniors of the Month
Congratulations to our October Seniors of the Month, Katie Shapiro and Alex Girouard! Both students were recognized for their outstanding displays of community membership. Katie is known to help other students in class by leading study group sessions and for helping …
Camp Sunshine – Charitable Giving Drive
This Fall, and instead of a Thanksgiving Food Drive, NHS and the Middle School have joined forces to support Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine. Camp Sunshine operates year-round and “provides retreats combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope …
October BOT Ownership Linkage Meeting
Please click here to see the agenda. Per Open Meeting Law, public boards may allow time for public comment, as permitted the chair. A desire to comment at a board meeting should be submitted 24 hours in advance to bot@innovationcharter.org …
October Breakfast & Lunch Menu Posted
The OctoberBreakfast & Lunch Menu is posted here. To better serve IACS families, an innovative point of sale (POS) system, specifically designed for school nutrition programs, is being implemented this year. This eliminates the need to pre-order meals. More information …
Collection for Camp Sunshine
IACS National Honor Society and Middle School are proud to join forces to support Camp Sunshine, a retreat, located in Casco, Maine, that caters to the needs of children dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Camp Sunshine was brought to our attention …
Yankee Candle Fundraiser
Please support our school! Our annual Yankee Candle Fundraiser is kicking off this Friday, September 23 and running until October 7. The packets were issued to all students this week. You can order two ways: Fill out the order …
MS Parent Principal Advisory Council Forming
The MS Parent/Principal Advisory Council will meet five Fridays a year from 7:45-8:30 am. This year the council will be meeting on 10/21, 12/2, 2/3 , 3/17, and 5/19. Parents that join the group are asked to commit to the …
MS Parent Night: Grading System and x2 Aspen Follett 10/12
Recently middle school families received x2 parent and student portal passwords and a written overview of our middle school grading system. Do you have follow-up questions about our middle school grading system? Would you like a tutorial on how to …
HS Back to School Night
I hope to see everyone at the High School Back to School this Thursday from 6-8pm. Here is the schedule for the evening: 6:00 – 6:10 Parents pick up student schedule outside of the auditorium 6:10 – …
PSAT Commended Students
Congratulations to Spencer Royston and Keegan Lennon for being recognized as “Commended Students” by the College Board. They are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.6 million student …
Board of Trustees October Nominations Meeting
Nominations Committee Agenda 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Meeting Location – IACS, Murdoch Hall Room 145 Item Topic Lead Topic Minutes 1 AN-S Call to Order. 1 2 AN-S Public Comment Time (only if requested) [1] 5 3 AN-S …
FAFSA Day
Save the Date for FAFSA Day The main date will beSunday, November 6th at 1pm at UMass-Lowell. Registration and information on what is required to bring with you is listed below. Address: UMass Lowell O’ Leary Library Rooms 222, 200a, and …
Paying for College
Dear 12th and 11th Grade Parents/Students: In collaboration with Tyngsboro High School, Innovation Academy is once again offering parents and students the opportunity to attend a presentation on COLLEGE FINANCING. The one-hour seminar will be held on THURSDAY October 27th at 6:30 PM hosted by TYNGSBORO …
Murdoch Hall Dedication
Innovation Academy’s roots date back to 1995 when we were chartered as the “Chelmsford Public Charter School.” Linn Murdoch was a founding parent and Board Member who helped create the vision captured in our charter, making her a true “Founding …
Field Work
Students in Mrs. Hinkle’s Earth and Space Science Dual Enrollment class are seen here measuring stream flow at Mine Fells in Nashua this week. Mrs. Hinkle normally takes her students to conduct this study at a park in Westford, but …
Tardies
We all appreciate that getting teenagers out the door in the morning to get them to school on-time can be a real challenge, but I just wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of our tardy to school policy. …
Student Government
Congratulations to Alex and Mary for their selection as student government co-presidents. Thank you for your willingness to take on the challenge.
x2 Follett Aspen is our online gradebook and database. Families and students can use it to view student schedules, view attendance records, get a sense of current progress based on grades, and note any missing assignments. Passwords for new middle …
At Middle School Back to School Night, we shared some homework tips to help with making the transition to middle school. They are shared by clicking this link.
September Board of Trustees Meeting
Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda September 19, 2016 at 6:30 PM Topic Lead Minutes Call to Order; Review and Approve Minutes 6/13/16 Board Meeting 8/29/16 Board Meeting Chair 5 Public Comment Time (if requested)* Chair …
Messages During the School Day
The school has observed a significant increase in requests to pass along messages during the school day. Because we do not want to interrupt the learning process in classes, we ask families to limit such request for urgent information. Of …
Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Conferences
At the outset of the year, each student meets with their advisor and a parent/guardian to set goals as part of an Individual Learning Plan for the year. This year, we have set aside the afternoons of Wednesday, 9/21 and …
Substitute Teacher Training
If you are interested in substitute teaching at IACS this year, we are holding trainings on Tuesday, 9/13 and Thursday, 9/22 at 8:15 am. Come to either training to learn more about substitute teacher training and to complete paperwork to …
7th/8th Grade Sargent Center Trip
Seventh and eighth grade students were given an information packet and paperwork to complete for the upcoming Sargent Center trip in advisory. There will be an information session for students during the school day on 9/13. Later that evening, families …
New Music Classroom and Courses
This summer room 146 was totally renovated to make it more conducive as an instrumental music classroom. Our facilities crew, including Mike and Colin, did a great job preparing the space. New acoustic guitars and keyboards were purchased so that …
October Lottery
IACS will be holding an October Lottery for the 2016-2017 school year on Thursday, October 13th at 4 pm. All applications are due by 12 noon on Wednesday, October 12th. Our lotteries are public events, so families are welcome to …
College Counseling News for 9/9/16
1) PSAT Registration Reminder: PSAT Registration and Payment is due by September 15th for the Saturday October 15thtest date. All 11th grade students are expected to take the practice test and 10th grade students are highly encouraged. Students were provided …
Free Parent Workshops on the Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The A.M.S.I. Foundation in collaboration with Jack Wang, Financial Coach, hosts a three workshop series for parents and students on the FAFSA, filling out the form, and how to read financial aid award letters. These workshops are designed to provide …
Middle School Back to School Night
Middle School Back to School Night is Thursday, September 15th from 6-8 pm. Mark your calendars! Come meet your child’s teachers and follow a modified version of their day to hear more about the curriculum.
Seniors of the Month for September!
Congratulations to Kaitlyn Willgohs and Melanie Carignan for being our first “Seniors of the Month” award recipients. This is a new recognition initiative that was developed by last years Student-Principal Advisory Council. Winners will be able to enjoy the reserved parking …
HS Opening Information
School begins tomorrow and we are all excited to welcome everyone to the high school. A lot of preparation has been going on since teachers returned last week to make sure students have a great beginning to the year and …
IACS Board of Trustees August Meeting
The IACS Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, August 29th at 6:30 pm in Room 145. Meeting is public and the agenda can be read here. Preceding this meeting (5 pm), there will be a public presentation by Aramark …
August 11th Lottery
IACS will be holding its third lottery for the 2016-2017 school year on Thursday, August 11th at 4 pm. Applications can be found on our website or picked up in our main lobby. Please send questions to Kathleen Feeney by …
2016-17 School Year Calendar
We have confirmed our school calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. You can download a PDF copy here.