Learning spotlight: Progress Reports
Within the next week, families will receive mid-semester progress reports.  These reports are mailed to all students and reflect student progress over the first half of the semester.  Progress Report grades are not final, and provide valuable information about how students can grow over the second half of the semester.  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the grades reflected in the report, please contact your child’s teachers.  Please carefully read the letter included with Progress Reports as it provides important information about Academic Probation and Attendance.

If you are new to IACS, you will notice that each student receives strand grades in each class.  Strands are an essential aspect of the IACS high school grading system.  An explanation of our strands is attached to this week’s Family Journal.


Extra Help
After school extra help is from 3:00 – 4:00 each afternoon.  Students who need to stay should email or speak to their teachers in advance and need to make arrangement to be picked up promptly at 4:00.  Extra help hours are listed on all teacher syllabi and are also attached to this week’s Family Journal.

PAC meeting
Thursday November 12th 6:30-7:30 pm in the Student Services Conference Room. 
The PAC purpose is to ensure that children with special needs in our school have the best school experience possible. It is about sharing information, ideas, resources and energy among school personnel and families with and without special needs children.

College Counseling
The weekly College Counseling newsletter is attached to the Family Journal..

More Donations Needed!
The Biology and Environmental Science Classes will be looking to reuse clean glass jars (baby food, salsa jars) and clean spray bottles for upcoming labs and projects.
Several classes and honors students will also need plant pots for projects.
Please drop them off next Tuesday thru Friday in the Science Room (B 53) or on Ms. Burtch's desk in the teachers' room.
Thanks!
 
Society of Women Engineers
On Friday, November 13, the MITRE Corporation is hosting “Young Women in Engineering Day”. It’s a one-day workshop where they will experience the creativity and innovation of engineering and technology through hands-on activities and presentations. They will meet women engineers, see live demonstrations of real research, and hear first-hand about these exciting careers.

Event Details:
 Location: MITRE Corporation, S Building, 202 Burlington Road, Bedford, MA
Date: Friday, November 13, 2009
Time: 8:30AM - 2:00PM

More information can be found online at: http://www.mitre.org/public/ywie/
Space is limited.  Please email Mr. Orpen if you would like to attend.

High School Service Culture Committee:
We are reaching out to our community of parents for an upcoming Service Day on February 25, 2009. We would love all suggestions or and support to help us make this day a success. See the Connection/Family Journal for more details

What we need:
•    A keynote speaker –someone who is involved in non-profit service based work.
•    At least 6-10 places where groups of our high school students can volunteer and therefore also establish long-term relationships for further service opportunities in the Greater Lowell area.
•    Parent chaperones
•    A panel of people who have done long-term service projects. Ideally, we would love the panel to be a combination of teaching staff and parents

If you are interested in helping us make this day a success, please contact Ryan Ferdinand (rferdinand@innovationcharter.org), Oliver Renau (orenau@innovationcharter.org) or Emily Porter (eporter@innovationcharter.org). Thank you!


H1N1 vaccine clinic:
Student consent forms for the November, 17th  H1N1 vaccine clinic (to be held at IACS) have been sent home with all high school students today.  Signed consent forms should be returned to the Health Office no later than Friday November 13th. No student will be allowed to receive a vaccine without written parental consent.  The vaccine clinic is for high school students only and the date is subject to change due to the availability of the vaccine.  Parents will be notified of any change of date.  Middle school students are encouraged to consult their own physician and or local Board of Health in regards to receiving the vaccine.

IACS Gear is here!
Dress cozy in our new IACS gear! IACS sweatshirts and sweatpants now available!! See the attached IACS gear order form.

Athletics Information:
For all new and updated information regarding athletics, please refer to our Athletics webpage.

Community Volunteering High School Choice Block:

The Community Volunteering High School Choice Block is conducting a food drive throughout the month of November and will be sending the donated goods to the Merrimack Valley Food Pantry, where we have been volunteering. Each week in November is dedicated to a different good.
2nd - 6th: Canned or Boxed Food
9th - 13th: Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, diapers, shampoo, soap, etc.)
16th - 20th: Thanksgiving Related Items (stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie mix, gravy, etc.)*We will accept any non-perishable food during any of the weeks above.

THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAY ADDS A MATINEE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5!
Due to demand, the high school play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will add a third performance!  The show dates and times are Friday, December 4 at 7:00pm, and Saturday, December 5 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. You and your family will not want to miss this hilarious romp through the forest with some unusual characters...including a Micheal Jackson impersonator, a Ghostbuster and Joe the Plumber!  Please see the attached ticket order form for information! 

Do you know someone in the high school play cast or crew?  Do you own a business or know someone who does?  Do you have a message you want to share with hundreds of people?  If so, considering buying space in the "Midsummer" program!  You can purchase one line in the program for only $2!  Or, you can buy a whole page and say whatever you wish!  Please see the attached advertisement order form! 

Fairies, lovers, royalty and peasants need YOU!  Adults - please consider volunteering to help with the high school play!  Please email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org. Thank you! 

We need your hangers and plastic shopping bags!  Please consider donating these to the play!  Email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org for information!  Thank you! 

High School Information Session:
On Thursday, November 12th, we will be hosting an Information Session for families.  Please help us by spreading the word by referring families from other schools (and reminding our own 8th grade families) who are interested in exploring Innovation Academy as a high school option.  Contact our Director of Admissions, Kathleen Feeney, kfeeney@innovationcharter.org, with any questions.  Additionally, if any parents would like to volunteer to serve on a parent panel that night, your presence would be greatly appreciated!

Come on, the contest has already started!
Coats for Kids wants you to donate coats to help people in need, both kids and adults.  It is a contest with other middle and elementary schools.  The drive begins immediately and ends on January 9, 2010.  There are prizes for the winning school, too.  One of the prizes last year was tickets to the IMAX Theater.  The coats will be cleaned by Anton’s Cleaners.  We want warm winter coats with no rips, holes, tears or stains.  Bring them in to school and put them on the coat rack that is located on the second floor of the middle school in front of the teachers’ mailboxes. If you have any questions be sure to speak to a member of HB Edelman. Thank you for your donations!   

Holiday Gift Cards:
IACA is happy to announce the Gift Cards are back! Gift Cards are sold at face value (no additional cost to you) and IACA receives a percentage of sales from the retailers. Categories include: Books & Music, Clothing & Accessories, Department Stores, Electronic & Office, Gas, Restaurants, Travel, Sporting Goods, Online & Catalog, Children & Teens, Grocery, Home Décor, Health & Beauty, Home Improvement, Specialty Stores and many more! With us you can do all your shopping at once and save you many trips to the mall!
 Please see the attached flyer and order form for information on this terrific program. If you would like to see a complete list of hundreds of available retailers – please visit glscrip.com.
If you have any questions, please contact Nichole Young at  nyoung@innovationcharter.com You can place as many orders as you need. Family and friends are welcome to order too. Thank you for your support and happy shopping!!

Program dates:
Order by Wednesday, November 11th - receive Wednesday, November 25th
Order by Wednesday, November 18th - receive Friday, December 4th
Order by Wednesday, December 2nd - receive Friday, December 18th

IACA – Game Day Tailgate Party!
Nov 8th Parking Lot Opens at 11:00am
Bring your WHOLE family for a tailgating party at the IACS school parking lot!  Pack your chairs, grills, footballs, soccer balls, radios, Frisbees and even your grandparents and join the fun! Grill your own food or let us cook for you!  At kickoff, everyone is invited to watch the game in the school auditorium on the BIG screen. This is a great opportunity to meet other IACA families and to hang out with our students. Volunteers are needed – please contact Janet Morris @ janetmorris1@comcast.net 
 
IACA Roller Skating Party!
Nov 17th (Early Release Day) 1:00-3:00 @ Roller Kingdom - Tyngsboro
Join your friends and family for a fun skating event! Admission is $6.00. Skates are available for rental ($3) or you can bring your own.  Hope to see you there!
Please click on the attachment below to view the flyer.   We hope you will consider joining us not only for a fun filled afternoon but as a way to raise funds for the IACS enrichment programs.

Looking to Volunteer?
The Board of Trustees Land and Facility Planning Committee is seeking a parent volunteer who is a civil engineer or has similar experience to provide guidance to the group.  While there are no plans for development of the property for school use or other wise at this time, the committee is working to best understand all possibilities.  Anyone interested that meets this criteria should contact Walter Landberg, Executive Director by email at wlandberg@innovationcharter.org or by phone at 978-649-0432, extension 2217.

Box Tops - HOMEBASE for the HOLIDAYS
THANKS to all who submitted Box Tops already this year! Our first submission has been sent and we expect a check for $262.50! (Yes - that's 2600 Box Tops and 5 Bonus Box Tops.)  Prizes have been placed in homebase mailboxes for distribution to students who participated in this individual contest.

I've heard from several folks who were waiting for a HOMEBASE (or Advisory) Contest - SO HERE IT IS! 
Box Tops HOMEBASE for the HOLIDAYS collection is ON!  Be sure to include your HOMEBASE (or Advisory) NAME with all Submissions in November and December.  On December 18th, we'll tally up the totals and award a HOLIDAY TREAT to the HOMEBASE and the ADVISORY who collected the MOST.  Bragging rights and homebase spirit are ON THE LINE!  A collection box is located on the table by the door just inside the cafeteria.

Planning on doing any ONLINE SHOPPING for the Holidays???  PLEASE Register at BTFE.COM to support Innovation Academy and then start your shopping there.  A portion of purchases from participating merchants will be AUTOMATICALLY added to our funds.  No coupons to clip, submission forms to send, or receipts to track.  Just register and then start your shopping from BTFE and you'll be supporting the school in a BIG WAY!
Happy Holidays from your Box Tops Coordinator!
Kate Conran
978-244-1244
kateconran@hotmail.com

Exciting Opportunity:
The IACS development team is looking for a parent or community volunteer to help lead the development, coordination, printing and maintenance of a quarterly magazine/newsletter on all things Innovation Academy.  The magazine will be sent out to family members and wider community members (external funders and partners, grandparents/parents, alumni, etc.) and will assist us in our efforts to spread the word about the excellent work that is being done at Innovation Academy.  Ideally, the individual will have experience working with Quark XPress or a similar magazine layout program and will have experience putting together similar publications.  We are also looking for writers and individuals willing to serve as the photographer for the magazine.  Anyone interested in helping to lead this and or get involved, should contact Walter Landberg, Executive Director. Wlandberg@innovationcharter.org or 978-649-0432 x2217

Upcoming Dates

No School: Wednesday November 11, 2009-Veternas Day
Information Session: Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:00 - 8:00
H1N1 flu Clinic: Tuesday, November 17, 2009