Learning Spotlight:  Endersession

Next week begins our week of  “Endersession”.   These courses are offering students and staff to apply their learning in unique ways that often aren’t possible during the school year.   We have eight different Endersession courses being offered:  Backpacking in the White Mountains (Ryan Ferdinand), Coastal Ecosystems (Kellie Burtch), “Shape the Universe” – a blacksmithing experience (Heather Szafran), Historical Tour of Massachusetts (Liz Nyden and Shannon Arel), Service Projects in Lowell (Sasha Douglas), Bike Tour of Martha’s Vineyard (Greg Orpen, Sue Hickey, and Emily Richardson), Public Art on Campus (Jerry Beck and Stephanie Kelly), Intro to Cooking (Janna Thomas), and Recording an Album (Oliver Reneu and Tom Hinkle).

This part of our academic program highlights not only the connections students make with staff, but also the willingness of our staff to go above and beyond to create amazing learning experiences that they will hold for years.


Camp Darfur Appreciation

One of the best things about our school is the reaction we get from visitors.   After our Camp Darfur event, one of the guest speakers emailed Emily Richardson to express her thanks and appreciation.  With her permission, we are sharing her thoughts:

“On another note, I have been meaning to write you to thank you again for asking me to participate in Camp Darfur. It was a wonderful event and I enjoyed meeting you and all the young people who are so engaged around this issue. But the packet of letters I received from the students were so clear and heartfelt, I was overwhelmed. Their words and descriptions of what they took from my speech were the most beautiful appreciation I have received possible ever! I will keep them with me always. It is precisely moments such as those that keep us going in this work that can often be very difficult. I am so proud of the young people and what they gained. I know they must have a super teacher to have come so far. Thank you so much, Emily, for all that you do.

Please let me know if there is ever any way I can contribute to your efforts.

In peace,

Kiara L. Nagel,
Project Manager, Sisterhood for Peace”

Thanks to Emily and Sharon Arel who were the program organizers, the rest of the HS staff who helped support the work, and of course the students for putting so much work into the event!


9th Grade Engineering Trip to UMass Lowell

On Tuesday, June 23rd all freshmen will be traveling to UMass Lowell to participate in a series of hands on engineering/design labs.  This event was organized by Janna Thomas (Engineering teacher) who not only teaches Engineering at IACS, but also teaches a series of courses at the TEAMS Academy at UMass Lowell.   TEAMS is a state funded program that recruits juniors and seniors in the Merrimack Valley to take specially designed courses using state of the art lab equipment available at college labs.
 

Important Forms for 2009-2010 School Year

Earlier this spring all current IACS families were mailed a series of forms that were to be signed and returned.  The most important of these was the Emergency Forms for next year.  Having these forms for all enrolled students is mandatory.   Please take the time to get these forms into the front office (high school students can pass into Greg or Sasha’s office) before the last day of school.   Copies of these forms can be found on our website:

http://www.innovationcharter.org/forms.php

Thank you for your support.


Summer Opportunities

Teen Life Boston http://www.teenlifeboston.com/  

This organization is a clearinghouse for summer activities/camps, vounteer work, internships etc. I talked to one of their staff members at a college fair I went to in March in Boston. If you have heard from this organization it is probably because I told them about our school! The bad news is that most of their info is for Boston and the nearby suburbs, but some of the non-profits they list have opportunities out here too. You can search on their website but they also publish books.


High School Drama Program

Important Change:  To accommodate students participating in the Experimental Theater, the information session for next year’s drama program will occur on Wednesday, June 24th in the Auditorium from 3-4 pm!

Questions?  Email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org

IACA News

IACA Events: Looking for a way to get involved and meet other parents at the school?  Participate in some of the following upcoming events sponsored by the IACA.

•    End of Year Barbecue:  Contact Kerry Wellenstein (wellensteins@comcast.net)

Art Show/Exhibition Night  “Basket” Raffles!!!!!!!!!!!


Lunch Orders

June Lunch Menus are now available online.  Below is the link to place your order:
 
https://secure.orderhotlunch.com/605/(3suv1cr4lriv0n55ls2vbxbh)/wfLogin.aspx?Customer=MA_Tyngsboro_InnovationCharter

Box Tops for Education

All high school families are encouraged to send in Box Tops found on the cartons of many boxes of cereal, granola bars, etc.   It is an easy way to raise money for our school.  You high school student can drop them off at Mr. Orpen’s office at any time.


Important Upcoming Dates:

6/12:          End of Trimester 3
6/15- 6/19:       High School Endersession
6/24:         High School Drama Information Session 3-4 pm (Auditorium)
6/24:                 High School Exhibition Night
6/26:          Last Day of School/ End of Year Barbeque
        Contact Kerry Wellenstein to help: wellensteins@comcast.net