The Family Journal
The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-HS

News and Happenings


X2 Training Session:
One additional X2 training session ahs been added on October 2nd, from 7:30 – 8:00 am. Please email Sasha Douglas (sdouglas@innovationcharter.org) if you are interested in attending.


Back to School Night:
Mark your calendars for Back to School Night, Thursday, October 1st, 6:00-7:30pm. 

Picture Day:
School Picture Day is coming up on Friday, October 9th.  Today, students will bring home envelopes that may be used to order pictures.  Pictures can also be ordered online at www.coffeepond.com.    All students will have their picture taken regardless of whether pictures are being purchased.  Students who wish to purchase school IDs may do so at a cost of $2.00.

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

PSAT & PLAN
Testing Fee: If you have not already paid the $26.00 testing fee, please send this to Ms. Warren’s attention as soon as possible.  If you concerned bout your ability to pay the fee, please contact Ms. Warren directly at jwarren@innovationcharter.org.


Athletic News/Basketball Tryouts : All high school boys and girls interested in playing basketball for the IACS high school basketball teams this winter season should write their name on the sign-up lists located on the athletics/wellness bulletin board in the 1st floor hallway.  The sign-up lists will be posted beginning November 16th.  Tryouts will begin after school at 3:30pm on November 30th.

** All athletes need to make sure all paperwork is up-to-date and on file.  Paperwork includes a current physical exam form (turned into the Nurse’s office) AND a parent permission slip (available from & turned in to Mr. Lenter, the Athletic Director).  You will not be allowed to tryout until both forms are turned in.  Don’t wait, get it done NOW!
Book Fair is back! It will run 9/28-10/1. Please have your child check with their advisor to see when they will be visiting the book fair.


Fall Book Fair Next Week

The Scholastic Fall Book Fair is here! The fair is run by the IACA (Innovation Academy Community Association) and will be open September 28^th to October 2^nd. The Book Fair provides a wide variety of books available for purchase. The fair is an important fundraiser for the IACA to help supplement Enrichment Programs and provide new books for the library.

 

Students will attend the fair with their classmates at a pre-scheduled time during the week. Students can also drop by during lunch. Families are welcome visit during their child’s class or any day between 8 am and 3 pm. The fair will also be open for both Back to School Nights from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Middle School Night is on September 30^th and High School is on October 1^st.

 

For your convenience, our Book Fair accepts credit cards, checks payable to IACA and cash.

Destination Imagination Season to Begin

An after school activity created to build teamwork, creativity and problem solving skills, Destination Imagination (DI) has been around in Massachusetts for more than 10 years. www.madikids.org is the State website where you can read more about DI in MA. www.idodi.org is the National website where you can see the challenge overviews, background about DI, and see Global Finals videos from prior years.
DI teams meet weekly starting no later than the Holiday Break in December, and compete at the Regional tournament at Chelmsford High School in early March. Successful teams need:

•    A Team Manager (primarily an administrative position… no direct coaching or hands-on assistance is allowed by anyone besides the 7 team members)

•    A place to meet (teams often find weekend meetings work out best)

•    Seven enthusiastic and creative students with 2-4 hours per week to meet and work on a solution between December and March (this continues to Memorial Day if they win at the Regional then State tournaments)
•    A volunteer appraiser for the tournament (two-Saturday commitment). Each team must supply one appraiser.

This program is supported by the IACS Community Association. The only cost to participate is the cost of materials for the team’s solution and any snacks/meals during team meetings if appropriate.  If you are interested in learning more about DI, volunteering as a TM or Appraiser, or participating on a team, please attend our Information Session on October 20th at 6:30 PM in the Chapel. Interested students must be accompanied by an adult to this meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting but are interested in participating, please contact Bryn Dews (dewskb@yahoo.com) , the DI School Coordinator. See attached flyer.


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 rhawthorne@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.

Art Donations Needed!

The High School Art Department is making a big effort this year to incorporate as much recycling into art making as possible. We need the following items that you might have and not want any longer!!
➢    30 Large - XLarge Men's long sleeve dress shirts (these make great smocks!)
➢    Clean glass baby food jars with lids
➢    Magazines
➢    Newspapers
➢    Clean 20 oz Gatorade/Powerade bottles with lids. These bottles are made out of a much thicker plastic than water bottles, so they work very well for storing paint.
➢    FURNITURE!! - Have you been holding on to a small end table or coffee table that is made out of wood and could be transformed into a beautiful art piece? If so...please contact Ryan Ferdinand at rferdinand@innovationcharter.org!

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.

A Note from The IACA:
The IACA (community association) encourages all IACS families to have at least one parent fill out a CORI form as soon as possible.  The CORI forms are good for 3 years so, if you have filled one out in the last two years AT THIS SCHOOL, you are all set.  As you know, the school handbook requires families to volunteer each year.    Many parents enjoy volunteering at student socials. Cori’s can be found on the schools website under the FORMS link.

If your child attends IACS, you are already a member of the IACA.   Our next meeting is on Wednesday, October 14th in the dining room.  All members of the IACS community are welcome to attend.

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!

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
October 1        Back to School Night
October 6        Early Release (12:15)
October 8        PLAN (Pre-ACT) for 10th and 11th grade students
October 9        Picture Day
October 12       No School (Columbus Day)
October 14       PSAT for 10th and 11th grade students