The Family Journal The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-HS
Academic News
Sustainability Day Recap
Last Tuesday we held our first ever “Sustainability Day”. To get students thinking about this issue, guest speakers spoke to the students, and teachers facilitated class activities/discussions. The day began with all students attending a presentation from the Alliance for Climate Education. This assembly was followed by smaller class setting presentations. Other outside guest speakers included Bob Gagnon who is a commercial plumber in Lowell who specializes in solar powered radiant heating/cooling systems. Ken Hickey (husband of Sue Hickey) spoke about his work as an environmental engineer who studies ground water contamination. We also had a team chemist from “Beyond Benign”, a non-profit organization that specializes in “Green Chemistry”. They had students measuring electrical output when blackberry jam was mixed with iodine.
It was a great change of pace day for students and staff alike to take some time away from the standard curriculum to think about an interdisciplinary topic.
NEXT WEEK -- INNOVATION LANDS IN LOWELL EVENT-All are welcome!!!!
When: Thursday Night, October 29th 6-9 PM
Where: 22 Shattuck Street in the center of Lowell’s Historic Arts and Cultural District. Plenty of parking, including Enterprise Bank parking off Middle Street.
Innovation Academy High School is having an exhibition and performance night, which will highlight some of the best student projects over the last two years. Curated by UMASS Lowell Art Professor Jim Coates, this satellite project will celebrate the amazing talents of our students. Please come and celebrate! For more information contact Ryan Ferdinand (rferdinand@innovationcharter.org) or Jerry Beck (jbeck@innovationcharter.org)
College Counseling The weekly College Counseling newsletter is attached to the Family Journal. Also attached is an updated list of the colleges that will be coming to visit our campus this fall.
Adjustments
to Lateness and Dress Code Policy Effective immediately, students
who violate the dress code or are tardy to class 3 times in a month will
receive an after school detention.
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 be needing 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! Food Drive The Community Volunteering Choice Block is conducting a food drive
through out 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. The High School Play Needs Your Stuff! Do you have these items around the house? Would you be willing to donate them to the play? Please contact rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org. Thank you so much! hangers plastic shopping bags bobby pins hair elastics and barretts make-up hair spray ballet slippers wigs jewelery king's crown fairy wand queen's tiara animal and other creature costumes/ masks/ props 3 black top hats Red "Harvard" T-shirt Red "Harvard" hat Construction Worker Hat and/ or Costume Fireman Hat and/ or Costume 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. Please see the flyer attached.
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.
Beyond Benign Open House: All freshman parents and students are invited to the Beyond Benign Open House on Thursday, November 5 from 5:30-8:30pm. The freshman that attend will be presenting art work that they have done to illustrate the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. If you are planning to attend or would like more information, please RVSP with Ryan Ferdinand (rferdinand@innovationcharter.org) before November 3. Thank you! Please see attached flyer.
Extracurricular News
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM IS COMING TO THE IACS STAGE! Save the Dates! Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 and selling out fast!
We Need Adult Volunteers For the Play! Adults: If you think you may be interested in helping with the play in any area, please email acottle@innovationcharter.org. We need adult volunteers for tech, stage management, costumes, props, hair, make-up, programs, publicity, etc. Please consider lending a hand in any area!
Families of Cast Members: The cast has received a rehearsal schedule, contract and script by email. Please email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org if you would like to be added to the email list for such communications. Cast members are required to attend all listed rehearsals.
The High School Outdoor Adventure Club: We are seeking enthusiastic adults who would like to volunteer on various outdoor trips. If you are interested in an adventure and learning how to be a part of this new club, please contact Michael Hvizda at routedaventures@gmail.com
Athletic News/Basketball Tryouts : Access our NEW Athletics website from the Innovation Academy Charter School home-page for more information. Click “Athletics” on the drop-down menu. This week in sports: -Schedules are subject to change. Please refer to website for more up-to-date information.
HS Girls Soccer* 10/23 @ Chelmsford High School – 4:00pm 10/24 vs. TYS @ Bridgemeadow Fields (Tyngsboro) – 2:30pm * - Any day during the week when there is no game scheduled, practice will take place as usual UNLESS otherwise specified by your coach.
Athletic News & Events: High School Basketball Sign-ups/Tryouts** Dates: November 16th – 25th (1.5 weeks) Location: Athletics/wellness bulletin board in the 1st floor hallway in the middle school. Paperwork*: All required paperwork is turned in BEFORE tryouts begin. Tryouts: Begin Monday, November 30th * - Athletes will not be eligible to tryout if paperwork is not turned in. No exceptions. Do not wait, get it done NOW!
MEDICATION IN SCHOOL REMINDER: Please be mindful that students are not allowed to carry any medications on themselves at school unless the health office has received the “Prescription Medication Form” signed by both a physician and a parent and the health office has approved the request. This form must be signed and updated each school year. This is a state law. If you have any questions please call the health office at x2104. Thank-you for your cooperation in this very important safety matter.
Family News
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.
Unique Volunteer Opportunity for Experienced Carpenters Our school library needs more shelf space to support the library needs of our expanding school. We are looking for an experienced carpenter(s) to volunteer their time to build wall-mounted bookcases that will complement the existing ones in our beautiful library. The school is offering to pay for the construction materials. All you need to supply is your experience, time and skill! This is a unique opportunity to contribute to our school in a very visible and lasting way. If you would like to help or would like more information, please contact our library volunteer, Carol Gallagher, at cagallagher@comcast.net or 978-256-3029
TRICK-OR-TREAT with Box Tops! October marks the first Box Tops submission deadline for the school year - so we want to be sure we gather up ALL those box tops folks have been saving over the summer. Send in your Box Tops to either the office or the collection box in the lunch room. BE SURE to include your NAME AND HOMEBASE/ADVISORY with your submission. We'll reward all contributions with a small (non-food) "treat" to recoognize you for your efforts. Also - a reminder to register on BoxTopsForEducation.Com. They have a terrific SHOP option that earns money for the school when you start your online shopping at BTFE.COM. No coupons to clip, receipts to save, or refunds to submit . Simply register, start your online shopping at BTFE, and the school will automatically recieve a percentage of your purchase in cash! If you have any questions or suggestions - contact Kate Conran 978-244-1244 kateconran@hotmail.com THANKS for your participation in this program!
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
Just a reminder if your child is out sick….. If your child is sick, please have them stay home from school until free of fever (100.4 degrees F) without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours. In addition, when calling the school to report their absence please indicate if your child has or has had a fever of 100.4 degrees F or greater. This is very helpful information as we try to keep track of students with flu-like symptoms. Thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter.
Upcoming Dates Half day Tuesday October 27th 12:15 dismissal |
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News > High School News >
Family Journal: October 23rdposted Oct 23, 2009 11:46 AM by Greg Orpen [ updated Oct 23, 2009 1:19 PM ] |