“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 of high nutritional value, to participating in the Farm to School Program, to on-site gardening, the food services staff and parent volunteers deserve praise and thanks for all of their efforts on behalf of our students. Please take a minute to read more about the various ways IACS focuses on healthy, environmentally aware nutrition here at school .
Food Services Team: Karen Drake, Donya Sammon and Jamie Green.
(Not pictured Jane Collins and Cathi Brittian.)
Did you know that IACS participates in the National School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs? IACS meets or exceeds all of the components of the new nutrition standards, here are a few highlights:
Offer fruits and vegetables every day. The new regulations ensure that a variety of fruits and vegetables are offered during lunch. IACS exceeds this regulation by offering fresh fruits daily and fresh raw vegetables at least 2 times per week with the main entrée as well as various other healthy meal alternatives.
More whole-grain foods. All grains are whole grain rich.
Only low-fat milk (1%) and fat-free milk varieties are offered.
Drink more water. In addition to water bubblers, IACS offers free spring water to all student. During the warmer months, IACS serves fruit infused ice water.
Stronger local wellness programs. Foods offered at school events beyond the meal programs are also regulated. The IACS Wellness Policy was revised to ensure that foods offered at school wide events maintain the spirit of making good nutrition a priority. This includes, foods and beverages sold in vending machines as well as snacks sold during lunch. Go to IACS Wellness to view the details of this policy.
In 2015, IACS became members of the Massachusetts Farm to School Harvest of the Month Program. Through this program, IACS students enjoyed locally grown produce for breakfast and lunch. Fresh produce was purchased from Griggs Farm, Gaudette Farm, Dragon Fly Farm of MA and Kimball’s Fruit Stand Farm of NH which included cherry tomatoes, lettuce, apples, pears, a variety of award winning squash and more.
IACS parent, Bernadette Baird, along with other volunteers, were able to harvest and donate 80 pounds of apples to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank from the apple trees located on IACS property. Additionally some of these delicious apples were served to IACS students during lunch. Led by IACS parent, Natalie Kelsey, the Garden Club has continually grown the school garden. Alumni Marc Prince, donated a Garden Tower to IACS. The Garden Tower grows plants vertically, enabling you to grow 50 plants in a very small space. These programs have the potential to grow with increased volunteer efforts.
Best,
Gayle Nutile-Pimm
Director of Health and Wellness
Important Upcoming Dates
February 20 – 24 No School February Vacation
February 28 New Enrollment Applications due by 12:00 noon
March 1 Early Release
Enrollment Lottery 4:00pm
March 6 MS Band and Chorus Concert 6:00pm
March 7 IACA Potluck Meeting 6:30 – 7:00pm
March 8 Early Release
March 9 MS Innovation Morning for Prospective Parents 8:30 am
March 11 SAT Exam 8:00 am
March 15 Early Release
March 16 HS Innovation Morning for Prospective Parents 8:30 am
March 17 MS Parent Principal Advisory Council 7:45 am
March 17 WInter Drama Production
All School News
Looking for fun events for February Vacation?
The MIT Museum is hosting Feb Fest, their annual celebration of National Engineers Week, during February school vacation, with daily hands-on activities and workshops for students. This is a terrific connection to our middle school engineering units. Check it out and learn more about registering here
The Tyngsborough Public Library is also running many programs over the vacation week and upcoming:
Programs for Grades 6-12:
Kudo Game Lab – Tuesday, February 21 (Vacation week)
Art for Teens – Chalk on canvas acrylic painting. Tuesday, February 21 (Vacation week)
Game on! Modding With Minecraft – Saturday, March 11
For ages 7- Adults/ Two sessions: Vacation week
Makerspace: 3D Technology…and More! 3D scanner and printing, plus 3Doodlers, Sphero and Ozobot robots! Wednesday, February 22, 1-5:00 p.m.
Programs for ages ranging up to age 12: Vacation week
Harry Potter Adventure – Thursday, February 23
For teens and parents:
College Financial Planning – free seminar, Wed., March 8, 7-8 p.m.
IACA NEWS
Mixed Bag Fundraiser: This will be our second year of offering this fundraiser and it rocks! Just in time for Spring and Summer, Mixed Bag offers a wide variety of stylish storage bags for every occasion- and more! Students will be receiving fundraising packets on the February 28th.
BoxTops contest continues through vacation: Keep on clipping! Who wants to be the next BoxTops champion?? Our next BoxTops contest began Monday, February 6th and runs until Friday, March 3rd. This contest will have ONE student winner from middle school and ONE student winner from high school. The student who brings in the most BoxTops gets a $25 gift certificate! Here are a few submission tips: 1) ALWAYS include your child's NAME AND ADVISORY when submitting BoxTops. Written room numbers are sometimes reversed and we cannot identify who submitted them 
Save the date for CASINO NIGHT: Come Get Lucky at our upcoming Casino Night and Fundraiser! It'll begin at 7pm on Friday March 31st at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference center on Warren Street in Lowell. This years event will feature a buffet dinner, casino games, cash bar, silent auction and our now famous Live Dessert Auction! The tickets will be $35 each or $300/table of 10, so grab some friends and make a night of it! Hope to see you there. If you have questions or would like to purchase tickets, please email Heather Landis at domeafavorheather@hotmail.com or by phone at 978-502-9450.
Step up and Help your school: We are always looking for people to help with events, create events, and step into leadership roles of our parent organization. There may be 3 or more open roles for the upcoming school year. Would you like to know more? Please email Jo Anne at iacapresident@gmail.com for more information.
Athletics Update: Please take a moment to check out the most recent edition of the Athletics Winter Newsletter. It’s one-stop shopping to see how all of our Middle and High School teams are doing. Go Hawks! CLICK HERE.
Performing Arts News:
Tickets are available for our March production of MAN OF LA MANCHA! Please find the ticket order form at https://www.innovationcharter.org/theater/
Do you have a business you would like to promote? Or a message you would like to share with about 900 people? If so, please consider supporting the drama program by purchasing program space! Information is found at https://www.innovationcharter.org/theater/
Mark your calendars! Auditions for the MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY are on Wednesday, March 29, 12:30-3:00pm in the auditorium! It's an early release day so bring a lunch! We hope to see you there so you can have your turn to light up the IACS stage! Auditions are open to any current middle school students – with or without acting experience! The play, which features numerous monologues as well as full scenes, is called "Game of Tiaras" and you can find details about the hilarious spoof at https://www.playscripts.com/play/2750. Rehearsals will be on half day Wednesdays, 12:30-3:00, and performances are on May 20 at 2pm and 7pm.
Auditions for the next HIGH SCHOOL PLAY are on Tuesday, March 21, 3:00-4:30 in the auditorium! Auditions are open to any current high school students – with or without acting experience! The play, which features numerous monologues as well as full scenes, is called "I'm A Teenager Get Me Out of This Family" and details can be found at https://www.playscripts.com/play/2122 (If you are in Darts or Shards you may still audition for this show, as long as rehearsals do not conflict. Priority will go to those who do not currently have other roles. Performances will be on Thursday, May 18 and Friday, May 19 at 7pm.)
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SUMMER IS COMING! Mark your calendars for 3 Performing Arts Camps right here on the IACS Campus! Camps are open to students finishing 4th through 12th grades.
July 10-July 14: Drama Camp 8:30-3:30 daily with a performance of Ghostbusters on Friday night
July 17-July 21: Glee Camp 8:30-3:30 daily with a performance of songs and scenes from School of Rock on Friday night
July 24-July 28: Improv Camp 8:30-3:30 daily with a performance created ON THE SPOT by the campers on Friday night
*The first ten Drama Camp students finishing grades 8 through 12 have the option of going to Broadway to see Wicked on the Wednesday of Drama Camp!
*The first ten Glee Camp students finishing grades 8 through 12 have the option of going to Broadway to see School of Rock on the Wednesday of Glee Camp!
*The first ten Improv Camp students finishing grades 8 through 12 have the option of going to Broadway to participate in an IMPROV THEATRE workshop, meal and show on the Wednesday of Improv Camp!
Re-enrollment Forms have been mailed to current families. They are past due, so please submit now if you have not yet returned one. Please remember if you have a sibling that would like to enroll at IACS for the 2017-2018 school year you will need to fill out an application by February 28, 2017 to be entered into the March 1, 2017 lottery. ALL admissions to IACS is done by lottery.
If you have any questions please contact Marybeth Bush,978-649-0432 ext 3218, or mbush@innovationcharter.org or Kathleen Feeney at ext 2218 or kfeeney@innovationcharter.org
IACS School Nutrition Program: The February Breakfast & Lunch Menu is posted here. Contact Karen Drake kdrake@innovationcharter.org if you have any questions about the School Nutrition Program.
Middle School News
The Krakauer advisory spent Valentine's Day at the Brookdale Nursing Home, twisting balloons and spreading cheer. To see more photos and read about their experience, read Ms. Krakauer’s blog entry here: https://innovationonearth.com/2017/02/16/balloons-for-all-ages/
Meanwhile, the Patterson and Leedberg advisory stayed on-campus and did some sewing projects to make dog and cat toys and beds for the animals at the Lowell Humane Society.
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 in the program. Find the registration form here. For more information, email jshaby@innovationcharter.org.
Looking for summer programs?
See the flyer from Middlesex Community College about their “College for Kids” summer program for students ages 8-15.
Middle School Yearbook:
It is the time to create 8th Grade Personal Pages and find 8th Grade Baby Pictures for the 2016-2017 Middle School Yearbook.
Students will receive instructions and submission forms in Advisory, but they are also available on the Yearbook Committee Page on the website.
8th Grade Personal Page Instruction and Submission Form
Submit this form with your page to Peggy Stephens-North or a yearbook staff member
Email digital files to pstephensnorth@innovationcharter.org
Deadline: Friday, April 28th, 2017
8th Grade Childhood Picture Instructions and Submission Form
Dig through those old photos and find a GREAT picture from childhood and have it printed in the 2016-2017 Middle School Yearbook! Show your friends what you looked like as a wee one.
Did you look like you? Were you adorable or goofy, serious or funny, sloppy or stylish?
Deadline: Friday, April 28th, 2017
To guarantee delivery of a 2016-2017 Middle School Yearbook on the last day of school, order at the regular price of $27 by Friday, May 19, 2017.
8th grade baby pictures
8th grade personal pages
Year Book Order Form
Click the links for more information:
High School News
Driver’s Education – Future Driver’s of America will begin their Spring class at IACS on Wednesday, March 1st from 12:30-4:30pm. Registration can be made directly thru the Future Driver’s of America website at http://www.futuredriversofamerica.com/IACS-Page.html. Classes will be held every Wednesday (half & full days) with the exception of April Vacation week. The schedule can be found on this flyer. Questions? Contact Ron Vincent at Future Driver’s, 978-455-0290 or Crystal McKiel at IACS, 978-649-0432 x2004.
Mr. Barr was recognized on Thursday by the seniors for all of the assistance he has given them during their college and post-grad planning process. Mr. Barr has accepted a new position at UMASS Boston as Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, and everyone at IACS wishes him nothing but the best going forward. Mr. Barr has been invaluable to our students and families over the past 5 years and he will be greatly missed.
Paying for College Presentation
Upcoming Programs at the Tyngsborough Public Library
Student Health 101 –IACS parents and supporters, February’s IACS Student Health 101 and the accompanying Student Advocate for parents and supporters are available online. Check out the new article “Chasing Perfection -how to help teens see through social media”. Keep reading Student Health 101 articles and enter to win $100…it is that simple! We have already had one student winner here at IACS. If parents enter…their student wins also!! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
High School Yearbook
It’s not too late to buy your yearbook! The cost has increased to $35. You can get an order form outside Ms. Kelly’s office or at the Main Office. Or you can order online at schoolannual.com. Anyone who buys before February 17, 2017 will be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card (this includes those who have already ordered)!
Student Health Info
New articles this month highlight how students can quit competing against and comparing themselves to peers as well as information for parents regarding concerns that your child may by in an unhealthy relationship.
I hope you find Student Health 101 a valuable resource, it certainly has a lot to offer both parents and students.
Photo of the Week
The Boys Varsity Basketball Team
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