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 sense that schools can and should develop outcomes relevant long after graduation. This work cannot be accomplished without your ongoing support.
In the past week you should have received a mailing announcing the launch of our Annual Giving Campaign (AGC). Supporting our AGC allows us to keep our operating budget focused on the staff and programs that most directly impact our students and minimize the impact of capital costs, such as renovating our front staircase. As you may be aware, there is a movement designed to inspire charitable donations on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving- “Giving Tuesday”.
I hope our entire community, immediate and extended, will consider supporting our AGC this Tuesday.
In partnership,
Greg Orpen
Head of School
Important Dates
November 22 Early Release Wednesday
November 23 No School Thanksgiving
November 24 No School Thanksgiving Recess
November 27-Dec 1 IACA Book Fair
November 29 Early Release Wednesday
November 30 Middle School Parent Advisory Council Meeting 7:45am – 8:30 am
Middle & High School Auditions for “Gilligan’s Island, the Musical” 3:00pm – 5:30pm
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
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 Wednesday
December 25 – January 1 NO SCHOOL WINTER VACATION
All School News
Looking for a spot on the Christianson Bus? There is space for one more student on Bus #1, which makes stops at Route 129 Plaza (at 258 Salem St, in Billerica) and the Stadium Plaza (Rt 38 on the Lowell /Tewksbury line). If you are interested, please contact Transportation Manager, Marybeth Bush: mbush@innovationcharter.org.
IACS School Nutrition Program:The November Breakfast and Lunch Menu is posted here. This month’s menu features Thanksgiving Turkey Sandwich, Chicken Fajita, Steak & Cheese Sub, homemade soup and much more. Monday’s are meatless and we offer gluten-free and vegetarian options daily. To better serve IACS families, an innovative point of sale (POS) system, specifically designed for school nutrition programs, is available to all families. To create an account or to add funds to an existing account go to our website: IACS School Nutrition Program. We also accept cash and checks at the register as well. Contact Karen Drake kdrake@innovationcharter.org if have any questions about the School Nutrition Program.
Festival of Trees – Come see our own IACS students performing at the Festival of Trees, see poster below for more details.

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.
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
Athletics News
All HS sports start practice Monday, 11/27. If you are planning on joining, please be sure to fill out FamilyID and submit the necessary paperwork before then. Practice and tryout information can be found on the HS athletics webpage. If you have any questions, contact the Athletic Department at iacsathletics@innovationcharter.org
Theatre News
Gilligan’s Island- Middle and High school students are invited to audition on Thursday, November 30th from 3:00pm-5:30pm. If middle school students cannot stay for the entire audition time it’s ok! All you need is a signed agreement form. No experience necessary- just come and prepare to have fun! Please note that the middle school cast will rehearse on half-day Wednesdays. Rehearsal schedules will be arranged so that students may take part in the show and chorus if they wish.
Children of Eden- 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! Saturday, December 9th at 2:00pm. $15 tickets available 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
MS Progress Reports will be published to our Student and Family Portal on Monday, November 27th.
Middle School Yearbook Announcements
1. 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.
2. The Middle School Yearbook Committee will be starting up after the production of School of Rock is over. Therefore, our first meeting will take place after Thanksgiving break, in room 408 from 3:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Permission slips are available by the Main Office.
Quality Night- coming in December:
Please be certain to mark your calendars. All middle school students are required to present at Quality Night.
Fifth and Sixth Grade Quality Night ~ Thursday, 12/14 6-7:15 pm
Seventh and Eighth Grade~ Tuesday, 12/19 6-7:15 pm
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/
After School Art Winter Session
Tuesday or Thursday from 3:00 – 4:30
Starts Tuesday, November 28 or Thursday, November 30.
This 8 week open studio session is designed to give students access to a wide variety of materials and tools in the art room in order to create work of their choosing. Available media include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed-media sculpture, collage, book making, paper mache, stop motion animation and more! There is a $60 fee for this program. Please fill out the registration form and submit payment by Friday, November 17. You can now submit your payment online!
Questions about the program or to inquire about a scholarship, please email jshaby@innovationcharter.org.
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…
11/22 Grades close for 2nd round of Progress Reports
11/28 Progress Reports shared with students and families
12/1 Winter Choice Blocks Begin
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
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, Gautham Giridharan, Hannah Goldthwait, Zachary Harrison, Isaiah Krehbiel, Connor Lee, Pierre-William Lessard, Brian McLane, Zach Palmer
The students & staff of Garage Band are: Carolyn Brooks, Nam Bui, Chris Calderon, Emily Carignan, Thomas Crane, James Knochenhauer, Emma McDonald, Maddie Premru, Mr. Spiro, & Mr. Morse.
2018 Summer Opportunities Fair for Students
Sunday, January 21, 2018 – Noon to 3 PM. PHILLIPS ACADEMY ANDOVER — SMITH
STUDENT HEALTH 101 – our Online Wellness Magazine
The November issue of Student Health 101 is here! From in-the-moment mindfulness tricks, real facts about vaping, or useful tips for getting your priorities straight, Student Health 101 has something for everyone. If you’re looking for even more ways to access this wonderful tool download the Student Health 101 app, and take a look at the official IACS SH101 Twitter page! Just search @SH101atIACS within the Twitter app, tap that follow button, and be sure to turn on those post notifications to receive alerts about future articles!
For parents, there is a Student Health 101 experience designed specifically for you at http://iacs.getsh101.com/category/student-advocate/ .
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
COMING NEXT WEEK: The IACA Scholastic Book Fair, 11/27-12/1 – Got a couple of late morning hours to spare? We SURE COULD USE YOUR HELP! Check out our website for the week’s schedule of visiting advisories, and sign up to help from 10:30 to 12:30. Contact Laurel and Rachel at iacsbookfair@gmail.com.
SCRIPS – Have you started holiday shopping? We can help you do that! Now through the beginning of December, you can order gift cards AND help support your school. 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. Ordering is fast and flexible, by paper or online: just visit our website for details.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: IACA Quality Night Store
IACA needs volunteers to staff the Quality Night store – a convenience offered for those students who don’t get a chance to get out and buy their quality night supplies. Please contact Angela Caputo Griswold at acaputogriswold@yaoo.com if you are able to help out.

BOXTOPS DECEMBER– Get ready for our next contest! We’ll have have an individual MS and HS student winner who will get their choice of a $25.00 gift card. Please send in your clipped, non-expired BoxTops in groups of 50. ( Please be sure not to clip the expiration date off of the BoxTops- thank you!). Winners will be announced in January!
DINING FOR A CAUSE – THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Owen and Ollie’s for our November Dining for a Cause night! We raised $246.00! Be sure to save Tuesday December 12 for the 99’s in Tewksbury for our next event! Catch up with your friends and reconnect with your family during the crazy holiday season. We’ll have another great raffle prize to offer, too!
YANKEE CANDLE FUNDRAISER- Yankee Candle orders are being distributed this week. So far we’ve made over $3000.00- thank you! Online sales continue through January- go to 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
Innovation Academy Charter School