IACS Hawk
IACS Newsletter for the week ending April 5, 2019
Dear IACS Community,
It’s hard to believe that we’re just one week away from April vacation, yet we know that time feels like it’s going faster during the final stretch of the year. In addition to academic dates (MCAS, Middle School Juries, High School Presentations of Learning, etc.), you’ll notice an increase in extracurricular and social events that occur every spring. Please take extra time as a family to talk about upcoming events and be sure to reference our website and editions of The Hawk to make sure you haven’t missed anything.
As you’ll see from this week’s edition there’s a ton buzzing on our campus, not to mention students doing amazing work off campus. Thank you as always for supporting the school and your students to help make sure that they’re having fun and managing their time well.
In partnership,
Greg Orpen
Head of School

Congratulations to our $10,000 raffle winner Matt Frazier!
Important Dates

All School News

Lost and Found
Our lost and found bins are starting to overflow. We’ll be cleaning them out on Friday, 4/12. Please encourage your child to check them before then.
On Wednesday after school, 50 voices from the Middle School & High School Choruses joined their voices together to rehearse for the Spring Arts NIght!
Mark your calendars for the:
IACS Spring Arts Night – Wednesday, May 29th. The Spring Arts Night will be a showcase of Middle School Art, Middle School Bands and Chorus, High School Chorus, Chorale & Instrumental Ensemble.
Middle School Art will be on display starting at 5:00 pm. Performances by the musical groups will be starting at 6:00 pm and will take place in the auditorium and library. Join us for a great evening of art and music!
The Tyngsborough Health and Safety Fair
April 6th from 9am – 1pm at the Tyngsborough Elementary School.
This is a free community event that will offer something for everyone. There will be free health screenings, free Child ID kits, health and wellness education and many fun activities for all ages. Additionally, The Lions Club International will be in attendance and are bringing a state of the art vision screener designed to catch eye problems in very young children ages 2-10. This technology was developed by a pediatric opthamologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. Early diagnosis and early treatment, improves the vision outcomes for children.
Check out the Tyngsborough Health and Safety Fair Facebook page for even more information: https://www.facebook.com/Tyngsborough-Health-and-Safety-Fair-273978056328200/
Theater News
Have you ever dreamed of performing on a famous New York stage in front of Broadway producers and others who are celebrating this show?
JOIN US! Email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org

Join us for Performing Arts Camps this summer, for students finishing grades 4 through 12! Camp has a free, public performance on Friday night. Don’t miss your chance to shine on stage! Find information here.
Scholarships are available and are based on need. Please email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org with any questions!
Middle School News
Curiosity Cube Visit
Sixth and seventh grade science students enjoyed their visit to the Curiosity Cube last Friday. Special thanks to Millipore Sigma for making this event possible and Millipore Sigma employees and IACS parents, Jaivin Patel and Brian Hillier, who helped run stations for our student scientists.
Middle School Visual Arts Camp
We’re excited to be offering 2 weeks of Visual Arts Camp for students entering grades 5 – 8!
There will be morning and afternoon sessions available, each with a different focus. Sign up for one or all four sessions. Visual Arts Camp will run the weeks of 7/8 – 7/12 & 7/15 – 7/19. Look for more information, including how to register very soon! For more information, email jshaby@innovationcharter.org
Scribbler Submissions
Last call for submissions! If you are interested in having writing or artwork published in this year’s copy of The Scribbler, it needs to be emailed to thescribbler@innovationcharter.org BEFORE April break. If you have something you are proud of and want to share, send it over!
This year’s theme is “Sky,” but it is NOT required that writing or artwork fit this theme to be in the magazine, unless you want your artwork to be considered for this year’s front or back cover.
If you cannot email your artwork, Mr. Pisco has a color scanner in room 408. He can scan it and return it to you. Just make sure your name is on it.
Kent/Leonard Advisories Coin Drive
The Kent Advisory and the Leonard Advisory are teaming up in their efforts to collect coins for two very impactful organizations, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and The Jared Box Project. The mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Your contributions will support research efforts to rid the world of blood cancers. The goal of the Jared Box Project is to lift the spirits of children in the hospital. Your contributions will go toward the creation of boxes filled with well wishes, hope, and love, and packed with toys, games, and fun activities, symbolizing the importance of play.
So search your couch cushions and save the change made from purchasing your morning coffee, and consider donating your coins to help us reach our combined goal of raising $500 toward these two very special organizations! Collection bins will be in each of the Self-Direction Advisory locations, Room 410 (Mr. Leonard’s Room), in the cafeteria, and in the 7th/8th grade math classrooms. Thank you for your donations!
MCAS Testing Update
The MCAS schedule is as follows:
April 1-2- 5th/6th grade MCAS ELA testing
April 8-9- 7th/8th grade MCAS ELA testing
April 26 & 29- 5th/6th grade MCAS Math testing
April 30 & May 2- 7th/8th grade MCAS Math testing
May 6-7- Science MCAS testing for grades 5 and 8 only
Families often ask us what they can do at home to help their child be prepared and do their best on the day of the exam. Please be sure your child is well rested and eats a healthy breakfast on testing days. Remind your child that the tests are not timed and s/he is well prepared for the exams. We want our students to remember to go back into the passages as they work through the tests and to check all of their work prior to finishing. Be certain to arrive to school on time. Once a testing session has begun, students who are tardy are not permitted to enter the testing room. If you have any questions about MCAS testing, please do not hesitate to contact me at mkapeckas@innovationcharter.org or 978-649-0432 x 2229. If you’d like to see the TestNav tutorial and/or review computer-based or paper-based practice tests, they are available at this website: http://mcas.pearsonsupport.com/tutorial/
Middle School Yearbook
Eighth Grade Childhood Pictures
Here is your chance to show your friends what you looked like as a wee one. Share a picture from your childhood in the 2018-2019 MS Yearbook. Did you look like you? Did your personality come through? Were you adorable, goofy, serious, funny, sloppy, stylish or mischievous?
Submit a digital photo to pstephensnorth@innovationcharter.org or Submit a hard copy to Main Office or Peggy Stephens-North
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Write your name and advisory on back of picture, so we can return it.
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Put your picture in an envelope and label it: MS Yearbook Childhood PICTURE. (Print Name and Advisory)
DEADLINE: Friday April 26, 2019, NO Exceptions!
Submit 8th Grade Personal Page to the Middle School Yearbook by Friday, April 26th
Create a personal page, by yourself or with friends, and be immortalized in the 2018-2019 IACS Yearbook!
Represent yourself with drawings, images and words and submit with this form:
Eighth Grade Personal Pages 2018-2019
Peggy Stephens-North
Email digital files to pstephensnorth@innovationcharter.org
Deadline: Friday April 26, 2019, NO Exceptions!
2018-2019 IACS Middle School Yearbook now available to order
Early Bird Order Form $20 until Sunday, April 21st, 2019
NEW THIS YEAR! You can now order and pay Onlinebit.ly/MS-Yearbook
Price is $27 after April Vacation
Our 7th and 8th grade science teachers and HS Biology teachers are participating in professional development with Mass Bio Teach and Science from Scientists, whose mission is to help schools expand their lab-centered, inquiry-based biotechnology and life sciences curriculum. In this photo, students are testing how different types of light (colors) affect the rate of photosynthesis in spinach leaves.

High School News

IACS student interns Isabella Green, Erzi Nason, & Emma Foley are featured in a video from the company Beyond Benign. They have been working on a Guide for Sustainable Bioplastics in partnership with Lemelson-MIT "Green Chemistry Invention: A Student Perspective" https://youtu.be/K8R6T9wblH8
Seattle Coffeehouse Open Mic Night!
Join us Friday April 26th from 6-8pm in the cafe for IACS’ very first open mic night! Sip a hot cup of coffee while you watch and listen to the stylings of our students and staff while supporting our Seattle Endersession team! All proceeds will go towards the team’s cost of the trip. There will also be fresh baked goods for sale, a “build your own” trail mix buffet, and handmade paracord survival bracelets available for purchase! Sign up for a slot to perform HERE (Performing is open to BOTH STAFF and STUDENTS) and feel free to sing, play guitar, read poetry, or try out your stand up comedy routine! Any questions-talk to Debi or Ms. Connors! $7 at the door to spectate/perform!
Course Selections Begin Next Week
Juniors can begin selecting classes through the Aspen portal on 4/1
Sophomores on 4/2
Freshmen on 4/4
All requests must be entered by 4/22.
Please review our Program of Studies for more information:
IACS Scholarships for Graduating Seniors
We have compiled a list of IACS Scholarships that we give out to graduating seniors. Please be sure to check for deadlines and application requirements.



IACA News
A huge thank you to everyone who attended our Casino Night on March 29th, We brought in over $42,000 AND had a fun night doing it. Much appreciation to all of the bakers who’s dessert trays made nearly $3,000, and the volunteers who helped with putting trays together and setting up the hall. A special shout out to the IACS facilities team who helped transport our big items to the venue! This event would not be possible without the generosity of all of our donors, especially our Table Sponsor – Enterprise Bank.
Take a look at the list of our donors and if you shop there, let them know we appreciate them!
Please join us as we discuss upcoming events including Last Bash and HS Graduation reception. Grab a friend and join us!

Innovation Academy Charter School