“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 way represents the engaging, project-based learning that goes on at Innovation Academy each day. In the Landberg Hall conference room, students were filming short videos of themselves responding to prompts in Spanish in order to upload them to their digital portfolio. Soon, they would be looking back at their videos and writing prompts from the year to write a reflection of their growth in Spanish. Next in the vestibule, four students were practicing strumming their ukuleles as they learned Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”. They celebrated as they nailed a particularly difficult measure for the first time. Finally, as I arrived to the patio, I saw students in algebra class launching marbles and comparing their measurements to their calculations of their predictions. It was only my intention to put something in the mailbox, but instead I was filled with pride as I paused to consider the dynamic learning students are engaged in at IACS.
As the end of the year approaches, there will be many events to celebrate student learning at Innovation Academy. If you are able to volunteer at a student jury portfolio presentation, we are still seeking volunteers on the afternoons of 5/31, 6/3, 6/6, and 6/9. Please RSVP to the main office. We also have several events to celebrate the arts at Innovation coming up:
MS Art Show 6/3 7-9 pm
MS Band and Chorus Concert 6/6 7-8 pm
MS/HS Dance Team Recital 6/1 3 pm
Please join us and bring extended family and friends to celebrate with your child.
Best wishes for an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
Best,
Melissa Kapeckas
Middle School Principal
All School News
Dates At a Glance:
May 30 No School- Memorial Day
May 31 6th & 8th Grade Jury presentations
High School Orientation 5:00 pm
Spring Concert 6:00 pm
June 1 HS MCAS Science Testing
Early Release
Middle School (grades 5 – 7) Auditions for fall show 12:30 – 2:30
June 2 HS MCAS Science Testing
Admissions Lottery 4:00 pm
June 3 MS Art Show 7:00 -9:00 pm
6th & 8th Grade Jury presentations
June 4 SAT Exam 8:00 – 1:30pm
June 6 – 10 HS Endersession Week
June 6 6th & 8th Grade Jury presentations
IACA Meeting 7:00 – 8:30pm
Middle School Band and Chorus Concert 7:00 – 8:00 pm
June 8 Early Release
June 9 6th & 8th Grade Jury presentations
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast 8:15- 9:15 am
June 11 HS Graduation 10:00 am – 12:00
June 15 Board of Trustee Meeting 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony 8:15-9:15 am
Early Release 12:25 Dismissal
June 16 Last Day of School, End of Year BBQ 1 pm Dismissal
MS/HS Dance Team Recital: Come support the IACS Dance Team on Wednesday June 1, 2016 at 3pm outdoors on the turf field.
IACS Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast June 9th: Please join IACS Head of School, Greg Orpen on Thursday, June 9th from 8:15-9:15 in the IACS Cafe for our annual IACS Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. Kindly, RSVP to kdrake@innovationcharter.org by May 23rd.
Library Updates
Please click here: https://www.smore.com/qcffr to see what's going on in the Library!
IACS School Nutrition Program
The June Breakfast and Lunch Menus have been posted. CLICK HERE TO ORDER. We've added gluten free option for both breakfast and lunch including Gluten Free Pizza on Fridays.
IACA News
5K Raffle Reminder! Help IACS achieve our goal of installing water filling stations in our buildings. The most efficient method to purchase tickets is to go online at:
https://www.raffleriver.com/app/raffle/3816-5k-Raffle-Innovation-Academy/
All of these events happen in August, so we need to start planning as soon as possible. Please click here for our volunteer sign-up.
Boxtops
We are in the home stretch for our Boxtops Baseball contest! We will end the contest on June 1st, so please send in everything you have along with your child's name and advisory name! We've got prizes for the highest totals!! Thank you!
Shoe Collection
Next week is the last week we will be collecting shoes for the school year. If you have shoes to donate, there will be collection boxes in school until next Friday. If you have shoes to donate and miss the deadline, no worries! We will continue this fundraiser throughout the school year next year!
Last Bash
We are looking for volunteers for the Last Bash. This is an all-night event that runs from 10pm-6am on June 11/12th. We are looking for volunteers for 2-hour shifts at a time. Please e-mail lastbash@innovationcharter.org if you are able to help! Thank you.
IACS End of Year Barbeque
The year end student and staff BBQ is quickly approaching. We've had an amazing response but we are still in need of many donations and volunteers.
Please visit http://bit.ly/1TITwhx (case sensitive) for our most current list of needs and then e-mail Kerry Wellenstein at yearendbbq@innovationcharter.org if you are able to donate and/or volunteer your time.
Some say "it takes a village" but for this event ''it takes a country" to put on. Please help if you can. Thank you very much for your generosity!! -Kerry Wellenstein
Drama News:
Congratulations to all five casts and the crew of The Night of Comedy Production last weekend! Special thanks to all of the amazing volunteers who made the show possible!
Extra special congratulations to all of the directors who worked so hard on a terrific show!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: AUDITIONS FOR THE FALL MUSICAL: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
MAY 24, 3:00-5:30: CURRENT GRADES 8-11
JUNE 1, 12:30-2:30: CURRENT GRADES 5-7
No preparation or experience is needed, but you do need a signed audition agreement form available at the main office and at https://www.innovationcharter.org/theater
SUMMER IS COMING and we want you to join us for
IACS Performing Arts Camps
for students completing grades 4-12
July 11-15: Improv Camp
July 18-22: Glee Camp
With a Middle School Performance of
Star Wars the Musical
and
a High School Performance of Scenes & Songs from Hamilton
July 25-29: Drama Camp
With a Middle School Performance of Treasure Island and
a High School Performance of Sherlock Holmes
Forms available at the main office and a https://www.innovationcharter.org/theater
Middle School News:
What a way to enjoy a good book! Mrs. Falewicz and Ms. Muhigi read aloud with their students on a beautiful day!
Middle School Art Show
Our annual Middle School Art Show is on Friday, June 3 from 7 – 9 pm. This year we are excited to display paintings, drawings and prints by the ⅚ students, stop-motion animated movies created by 7th graders, and garments created from recycled materials by the 8th graders. In order to prepare for this event, your help is crucial! Volunteers can assist in a variety of ways, both on the day of the show and the weeks prior. Here are some ways you can help:
* Editing artist statements (can be done anytime between 5/16 – 5/27 via Google Docs)
* Mounting student artwork (at school)
Thursday 5/19 3:00 – 4:30
Monday 5/23 – Thursday 5/26 3:00 – 4:30
Tuesday 5/31 3:00 – 4:30
Thursday 6/2 3:00 – 4:30
* Setting up on 6/3
Anytime between 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
* Breaking down after the show on 6/3
9:00 pm
If you’re able to help out, please email jshaby@innovationcharter.org.
Please consider lending a hand – with over 400 students in the middle school, there is much
need for your support! Even if you’re not able to help out, the art show is always a fun and well-attended event, and we hope to see you on June 3!
Jury Volunteers Needed
Sixth and eighth grade gateway jury presentations are soon upon us! Sixth grade juries participate in a 20 minute jury presentation. Eighth graders participate in a 30 minute jury presentation. Students share pieces of work and provide evidence of why they believe they are ready to be promoted to the next grade. Successful completion of a jury presentation is a promotion requirement for sixth and eighth graders. Student juries are assessed by an IACS faculty member. A younger peer also attends to learn about the process and provide additional support. We will need many community members to volunteer as a member of a jury panel. Contact: Michelle & Pat in the main office at mainoffice@innovationcharter.org.
Juries will occur during the school day on the afternoons of 5/31, 6/3, 6/6, and 6/9. If you can volunteer for 30 minutes or more on any of these days, we would love to have your participation. Please spread the word to grandparents, prospective families, or other community members as this is also a wonderful way to learn more about our middle school program.
Click the blue links for more information:
For 8th grade Students & Families- Moving Up Ceremony
MS Yearbook- Orders and 8th grade personal pages
Sixth and Eighth Grade Jury Presentations
High School News
Click the blue link for the full text…
Beautiful Night for a Prom!
Engineering MCAS Exam June 1-2
EMC sponsored 4-day summer workshop for students
Thank you to our Internship Partners!
—
Middle School Principal
Innovation Academy Charter School
72 Tyng Rd.
Tyngsboro, MA 01879
978-649-0432 x2229