All School News

IACS Communication Updates:  This year our school will be working to streamline communications and been “greener” in how we disseminate information to our families.  Every week we’ll be sending an all community email (“The Dispatch”) with current announcements, many of which link to pages/postings on our school website.  This approach reinforces another of our communication goals of making the IACS website a more effective tool for families to get information they need.  Returning students, staff and families who are accustomed to seeing paper copies of our former monthly newsletter (“The Hawk”) will still be able to find the same information and curricular highlights on our school website.   Thanks in advance to taking a few minutes each week to read up on the latest news at IACS.

On a communication note, you can now follow IACS on Twitter @IAcharterschool  —- Tweets may be related to the whole district, high school, middle school, or athletics. This is just one more avenue to share information with the community.

Student Services Parent Advisory Council : The IACS Student Services Parent Advisory Council seeks PAC members.

Reporting Absences: Please call IACS to report a student’s absence before 9:00AM at 978-649-0432 ext.1000 for the mailbox or ext. 0 to speak with the main office. Thank you for your assistance in keeping out students safe.

IACS School Nutrition Program Highlights: The October Menu has been posted:  CLICK HERE TO ORDER and click here for more information about our school breakfast and lunch program..

IACS Middle and High School Presents

the British Musical

Peter Pan

Music, Book & Lyrics by Piers Charter Robinson

November 13 at 7pm, November 14 at 7pm, and November 15 at 2pm and 7pm.

Ticket order forms and more found at www.innovationcharter.org/theater

This Week’s IACS Calendar

Monday, 9/29- Wednesday, 10/1- ⅞ Problem-Solving Team Trip to the Sargent Center.

Tuesday, 9/30 7-8:30 pm IACA meeting/potluck supper

Wednesday, 10/1 Early Release

Wednesday, 10/1-10/3 ⅞ Self-Direction Team trip to the Sargent Center

Friday, 10/3- High School Picture Day

Middle School News

7/8 Sargent Center Trip- Next Week!

Our ⅞ students are gearing up for their overnight experience at Sargent Center where they will challenge themselves to work together to effectively communicate and problem solve “challenge by choice” low and high ropes course. Please check the weather and pack appropriately as students will be outdoors for much of the day into the evening for skits and a campfire. Please click here to see the packing list. Remember students are not allowed to bring any personal electronics, including cell phones, to help students “unplug” and enjoy the group experience. If students are home sick, they will be allowed to call home. Students on the Problem-Solving team will leave Monday, 9/29 at 8:15 am and will arrive Wednesday, 10/1 at 2 pm. Please arrange for pick up of your student at 2 pm. Students on the Self-Direction will leave Monday, 10/1 and will return Friday, 10/3 in time for regular 3 pm dismissal.

Spanish Immersion Trip for 8th and 9th Graders: IACS is heading to Costa Rica!  There will be an informational meeting about the trip on Tuesday, October 7th at 6 pm in the auditorium. Click here for more information:

Middle School Clubs: The following after school clubs are currently forming: Middle School Technology & Robotics Club, Middle School Yearbook Committee, Garden Club, and Knitting/Crochet Club. Click here for more information:

High School News

*Click on the heading to read the full post*

Picture Day – 10/3

IACS Internship Program Begins 10/1

IACS Seniors Nationally Recognized

Innovation Academy High School Performing Arts Proudly Presents

Improvisational Acting Workshop with Melissa Connors!

Classes will run on full day Wednesdays 3:00-6:00

Registration forms and information available at the front office and www.innovationcharter.org/theater

Spanish Immersion Trip for 8th and 9th Graders: IACS is heading to Costa Rica!  The Spanish Immersion trip is open to current 8th and 9th grade students.  The trip dates are April 19th – April 27th.   There will be an informational meeting about the trip on Tuesday, October 7th at 6pm in the auditorium. Interested students should attend with at least one parent. Contact Ashley Uyaguari (auyaguari@innovationcharter.org) or Stel Schmalz (sschmalz@innovationcharter.org) if you cannot make the meeting, but are interested in learning about the trip.

IACA News

Innovation Academy Community Association Wants You: Welcome new and returning families  to Innovation Academy Community! The IACA is Innovation Academy’s Community Association…similar to the PTO at other schools. The IACA consists of IACS parents, guardians, students, school staff and administration. The group meets once a month and our next meeting of the school year is Tuesday, September 30th from 7– 8:30pm in the cafeteria. This meeting will be a potluck dinner.   We will be reviewing this year’s budget, upcoming community events and volunteer opportunities. Through IACA’s fundraising activities we are able to support, book fairs, Destination Imagination, school socials and much more. Throughout the year we run various different fundraising events, including raffles, Box Tops, Spirit Wear, dances and one major social fundraiser. Over the last couple of years, through our various fundraising events, IACA was able to donate funds for a hydration system for the practice field and a sound system for the drama and music programs!  Thanks to the IACA this year students will be able to enjoy the newly updated library, complete with new iMac computers , ipods, new furniture and several other touches to make the library more functional and appealing.  In order to run these events and support these activities we need volunteers. IACA volunteers are the life-blood of the organization. It is easy to volunteer. You just need to fill-out our on-line volunteer form, by clicking on: Volunteer Form. Filling out the form does not automatically obligate you to volunteer; during the school year, the head of the committee(s) that you signed up to help will contact you directly to further discuss specifically what help is needed and confirm your availability. We hope that you can join us on September 30th! For more information about IACA, contact our IACA President Lori DiMattia: iacapresident@gmail.com

Middle School Socials: The IACA is pleased to announce two upcoming middle school socials: October 10th for 7/8 students and October 24th  for 5/6 students. The two socials will be a Halloween theme.  Students are encouraged to wear costumes as desired but are not required. The cost is $5.00 /student and will run from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Approximately 14 parent chaperones are needed and must be CORI approved prior to the evening of the social.   All offers of help are greatly appreciated.   To ensure the safety of students, parents or guardians that are not prior approved to chaperone or help are not allowed in the school during the dance.  Please e-mail Lisa Reed  at tlreed@comcast.net if you are available to help set up, chaperone or clean up.  Please consider donating snacks for the dances.

Back to School Boxtops: Send in your boxtops. There is a collection box located in the cafeteria. The advisory with the most boxtops submitted though October 10th will win a prize. Make sure your bag of boxtops has your advisory name on it.   This contest is open to middle school and high school advisories. Check your binders, check your kitchen, bring in those boxtops.  Register at www.btfe.com to enter boxtop contests, find coupons, recipes and more. Attention Costco and Walmart Shoppers: Keep an eye out for special packaging that offers up to 8 boxtops per item. IACS loves boxtops!

Middle School and High School Liaison Parent Volunteers Needed: We are looking for several liaison parents for both the middle school and the high school. These volunteers will work with advisors at the different grade levels to help coordinate volunteers for advisory activities and grade level events. Liaisons will contact families via email and can do this work from home – day or evening. If you are interested, please contact: Sheila Hingorani, HS Liaison Coordinator on behalf of the IACA at michael2sheila@hotmail.com

It's DI time!  DI (Destination Imagination) is a yearlong program that encourages teams of students to have fun, take risks, focus and solve challenges while incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering , and Mathematics), the arts and service learning. Teams showcase their solutions at a regional tournament in March.  Teams of up to 7 students have 6 challenges to choose from and meet weekly  to come up with a solution for that challenge.  We are starting to create teams and are looking for interested students and for parents who would be willing to manage a team.  For more information about the program, visit www.idodi.org  If you are interested in being part of this wonderful program please contact Estela Schmalz at sschmalz@innovationcharter.org.

Funding Factory: Funding Factory helps earn money for school programs. IACA has partnered with Funding Factory in a recycling program to raise funds for student enrichment activities. We would like to reach out to you and/or your workplace to invite participation by registering for an easy, no obligation, no deadline program. Ink and laser cartridges, laptops, ipods, GPS units and cell phones can be dropped off at the main office in the Funding Factory drop box or you can register at http://www.fundingfactory.com with IACA’s nonprofit ID – 10133 as the organization you wish to support. If you have any questions about this program, please contact Nancy Therrien at nancy.therrien.nt@gmail.com

Hannaford Helps Schools – When does 4 = 3? When you help your school earn school dollars, and it all starts with your next shopping trip. Use the attached shopping list to get you started. For every 4 participating products you buy, IACS l earns $3. Look for the schoolhouse shelf tags in-store to find the items you need. http://www.hannaford.com/helpsschools. Hannaford Dollars can be deposited in the IACS slot at the Hannaford Drum Hill location or sent to the IACS Main Office attn: Crystal McKiel

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