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, No.4056 which outlines the requirements for all public schools in the the state of Massachusetts to engage in substance use prevention, education and screening. This program is designed to address the fact that 28% of teenager reported in a national survey that drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are the most important issues they are facing. Moreover, recent research has also shown our brains are not fully developed during adolescence and substance use in the early years substantially alters brain functioning for a lifetime (www.drugabuse.gov).

As a result of this legislation, IACS will be initiating the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program for grades 7 and 9 this school year. Parents/guardians of students in these grades will be emailed additional information, including the option to opt out, in the next few weeks. Our goal for implementing this program is to let the students know that we are available to reinforce healthy decisions and to assist them in obtaining support, if needed, for substance use related problems.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Gayle Nutile-Pimm

Director of Health and Wellness

Important Dates

December 4 Middle School Picture Re-take Day

December 6 High School Tour for Parents of Prospective Students 8:30am – 9:30 am

Early Release Wednesday

December 7 Middle School Tour for Parents of Prospective Students 8:30am-9:30am

Grade ⅞ Boda Borg Field Trip

December 8 Grade ⅞ Boda Borg Field Trip

December 9 “Children of Eden” Performance 2:00pm – 4:30pm

December 13 Early Release Wednesday

December 14 MS 5 & 6 Quality Night 6:00pm – 7:15pm

December 18 IACS Board of Trustees meeting 6:00 – 9:00 pm

December 19 Q&A with HS Principal for Prospective Students & Families 5:00 – 7:00pm

MS 7 & 8 Quality Night 6:00pm – 7:15pm

High School Winter Exhibition Night 6:15pm – 8:30 pm

December 20 Early Release Wednesday

Middle School Winter Concert 7:00pm – 8:00 pm

December 22 Early Release (Friday before vacation)

December 25 – January 1 NO SCHOOL WINTER VACATION

January 2 Classes Resume

January 3 Early Release Wednesday

January 6 Middle School Open House for Prospective Students & Families 10:00am

January 10 Early Release Wednesday

IACA Meeting 7:00pm

January 11 MS Parent/Principal Advisory Council 7:45am

January 15 No School in Observance of martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 16 No school for Students, Staff Professional Development Day

January 17 Full Day Wednesday

High School Open House for Prospective Students & Families 6:00pm

January 19 Grade 7 & 8 Social 7:00pm

January 20 Grade 5 & 6 Social 7:00pm

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Emma’s Giving Tree

This holiday season, a mitten tree fundraiser will be running from Monday, November 27th to Thursday, December 21st to help donate gifts and living essentials to those in need. The gifts will be donated to local families with infants all the way through teens.

How it works! The mitten tree along with the donation box can be found in the cafeteria.

  • Take a mitten from the tree!
  • The mitten will contain the gender of the child, the age, and the gifts that are suggested
  • Purchase one of the gifts listed on the mitten or an appropriate gift for the age group on your mitten.
  • GIFTS MUST BE NEWLY PURCHASED.
  • PLEASE LEAVE ALL GIFTS UNWRAPPED
  • Bring the gift back by Thursday, December 21st and drop it in the bin located next to the tree in the cafeteria. You do not need to bring your mitten back.

    • If you would like to donate without taking a mitten, gloves, hats, diapers, infant pajamas and winter-wear is greatly appreciated. Once again, make sure it is all NEWLY PURCHASED AND UNWRAPPED.

    Thank you so much for your participation, Let’s make it even better than last year!

    If you have any questions contact Emma Chaitin at emma.chaitin@gmail.com or Kyle Thornton at kthornton@innovationcharter.org

    Theatre News

    Children of Eden: Saturday, Dec 9th at 2:00pm- Our amazing theater kids will be performing Children of Eden for a full audience in NYC, BUT we’re thrilled to bring this amazing story BACK to Innovation Academy in December! Come and see our fantastic cast and join us for this beautiful story of the importance of family, caring for another and preparing our world for future generations. Children of Eden is sure to be a moving musical for the whole family! Tickets are $15 or by donation at the door.

    Please contact iacstheater@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you!

    Like us on Facebook! Did you know that we have a theater Facebook page? Find us at Innovation Academy Performing Arts to see news, photos and videos of our IACS "rock stars!"

    Middle School News

    Photo Retakes

    Photo Re-take day is on Monday, 12/4.

    Progress Reports

    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 your child to help them reflect on areas of success and where they can improve. If you need your password resetl, please reach out to the main office.

    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 board, and art supplies. In between Quality Night prep day and their scheduled Quality Night, students should practice their presentation at home. Families can help ensure readiness for this important event by listening to the presentation. Asking your child questions about how the work relates to the real-world and making connections to the four school outcomes as well as providing feedback about their presentation skills will help your child polish their presentation.

    Guests are asked to review short student presentations of their work and are given the opportunity to provide feedback to students. Quality Nights give students the opportunity to share an example of their best work with the public. We believe that this is not only an experience for adults to learn about what we do at Innovation Academy, but an opportunity for students to learn very important public speaking and presentation skills.

    Presenting at Quality Night is a promotion requirement. Fifth and seventh graders will present twice throughout the school year. Sixth and eighth graders will present in December and turn their focus to preparing for their gateway jury presentation in the spring. Family participation at Quality Night is essential in providing students individualized feedback about their work. Please do not hesitate to invite other guests (grandparents, aunts/uncles, neighbors, etc.) that are interested in supporting your child and seeing some examples of the project-based work IACS students do.

    Mark your calendars:

  • 5th/6th grade Quality Night prep will occur during the school day on 12/5 and 12/7 during the school day. Quality Night for fifth and sixth graders is Thursday, 12/14 6-7:15 pm.

  • 7th/8th grade Quality night prep during the school day on 12/12 and 12/14 during the school day. Quality Night for seventh and eighth graders is Tuesday, 12/19 6-7:15 pm. We are encouraging students and families to stay for the HS Exhibition Night after the conclusion of Quality Night. This would be a terrific way to learn about the HS program as you view student work.

    • Please remind your child to dress professionally. A suit or fancy dress is not necessary, but a nice shirt, slacks, and/or skirt would all be good choices.

    Middle School Yearbook Announcements

    There has been a delay in the completion of the 8-page 2016-2017 Supplement. It will be delivered to those who ordered a 2016-2017 yearbook later in the year.

    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 Federico Pererya, Dean of Students.

    Upcoming 7th & 8th grade Advisory Field Trip:

    7th & 8th Grade Advisories are headed to Boda Borg in Boston! Please be sure to send permission slips to advisors, with $33 and complete the online waiver. Problem Solving Team is going on December 7th, and the Self Direction Team is going on December 8th.

    Links: ​

    Boda Borg Permission Slip- Problem Solving.doc​​

    Boda Borg Permission Slip- Self Direction.doc

    Waiver:

    https://www.smartwaiver.com/w/56a919530a7d0/web/

    Eighth Graders Composing Music

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    High School News

    The next couple months are going to be busy for our students with a lot of great activities, and here is a list of some of those events…

    High School News

    12/4 Sexual Harassment Assembly during Advisory (follow-up in Advisory on 12/5 & 12/7)

    12/15 Chorus/Chorale Concert during Advisory

    12/19 Endersession Packets shared with students and families

    12/19 Winter Exhibition Night 6:00-8:40pm

    12/21 Lecture Hall Live during Advisory

    Congratulations to Antonio Gulia for earning a spot on the Senior District Chorus!

    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.

    2018 Summer Opportunities Fair for Students

    Sunday, January 21, 2018 – Noon to 3 PM. PHILLIPS ACADEMY ANDOVER — SMITH

    HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK INFORMATION

    Don’t forget to order your high school yearbook! Extra order forms are available outside of Ms. Kelly’s office. Order forms should be turned in at the main office. Orders can also be placed online at schoolannual.com. The early bird deadline to purchase a yearbook for $30 is December 22. After December 22, the price will go up from to $35.

    Families of Seniors: Please make sure to submit senior portraits, baby photos, and parent pages to yearbook@innovationcharter.org by January 5, 2018.

    IACA News

    DINING FOR A CAUSE December 12: Come and join us at the 99’s in Tewksbury for a food, family, and friendship! From 4:00-10:00pm, 15% of all meals ( dine-in, take-out and drinks) will be given back to Innovation Academy! Be sure to stop by the IACA table for a raffle ticket. Please use the attached paper flyer when you pay your server. Thank you!

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    ORDER SCRIPS BY DECEMBER 8! Thank you to everyone who has ordered gift cards with SCRIPS! There’s still time to do your holiday shopping! I will be placing the last gift card order on Friday, December 8th. Remember that you can order both plastic and e-cards too! HUNDREDS of gift cards and participating vendors are available. Every gift card that you purchase has a percentage of money that is donated back to the school.You may order by paper order form or online. Please do not use the "PrestoPay" option when ordering. Ordering instructions can be found on the IACA website. Click here for more information.

    YANKEE CANDLE: Orders were distributed last week and are available for pickup in student advisory classrooms. Online sales continue through January. Visit: http://www. yankeecandlefundraising.com/ store.htm and enter group number 990035230 to start shopping. If you have questions regarding online sales, contact Annette Famolare at chicknikki@gmail.com or Bernadette Baird at bbairdkm@yahoo.com

    WE WANT YOUR IDEAS! Our basket raffle fundraiser is coming in February at the Embrace Winter Family Social—a fun community building event for the whole family! What kind of baskets would you like to win? Do you have a business or service you’d like to offer toward a raffle basket? We would appreciate your donation! Take the easy, three-question poll linked below. Encourage your student(s) to make their suggestions too!

    Basket Raffle Survey

    CALLING ALL PINTEREST-Y PEEPS! We need you! Do you like crafting and putting things together? Do you have a creative knack? Consider being a coordinator for a basket raffle! Better yet, enlist a friend to help! Your responsibilities would include collecting donations from the main office, using cash donations to supplement items, and arranging the final product.

    Thank you all for your time and support!

    VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Visit our IACA Website and read about our newest Spotlight volunteer, Fabiane Kelley! She’s the cool mom who organized our recent MS dances! www.iaca.weebly.com/volunteer.html

    MONDAYS are BROTHER’S PIZZA DAYS: Ordering lunch out on a Monday? Call Brother’s Pizza next door to Innovation Academy! Just mention IACS when you order and they’ll donate 9% of your total back to the school. Dine in or takeout. MONDAY IS COMING!!!

    Innovation Academy Charter School

    Innovation Academy Charter School

    72 Tyng Road, Tyngsborough, MA, United States mainoffice@innovationcharter.org 978-649-0432 innovationhcharter.org

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