The Family Journal
The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-HS

Academic News

Learning Spotlight: Satellite Exhibition
It was wonderful to see so many families attending last night’s Satellite Exhibition Night in downtown Lowell.  Both high school and middle school students put on wonderful dramatic performances and it was amazing to see the student projects from previous years as well as many projects that are already underway for the new school year.  A special thanks to the many students, parents and faculty that made the event possible, most notably Jerry Beck (donated the space, publicized and planned the event, supported development of student artwork), Jim Coates (curated the artwork for the event), Ryan Ferdinand (publicized and planned the event, supported development of student artwork), Shari Whiman (catering and setup), The Beauchamps (setup support), Geraldine Miller (setup support), and the following students who dedicated hours of time installing projects: Emma Beauchamp, Kandace Boutin, Naomi Gossement, Ben Knight, Caitlyn Leedberg, Richele Miller, Math Whiman, Emily Jones, Zhenya Naka,  Adam Reilly, and Alec Willis.   Thanks to everyone who attended and contributed work to this wonderful night!

Parent Presence at Evening Events
Please note that all Exhibition Nights are considered to be community events which we ask parents to attend with their children.  Not only does the presence of our parent community provide a more varied audience for student work, it helps promote the community and family involvement that is an essential component to the culture of IACS.

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..

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 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!

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 barrettes
make-up
hair spray
ballet slippers
wigs
jewelry
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.

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.
 
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.

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!


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! (Ticket, Ad and DVD order forms were attached to last weeks Family Journal (10/23)).

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.

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.

The Community Volunteering High School Choice Block is conducting a food drive:
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.


Family News

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.

The Scholastic Book Fair:
The Scholastic Book Fair was a great success. IACA had $5,056.65 in sales with a cash profit of $1,264.16. In addition, our Scholastic Bonuses came to $878.50! Thank you Corine Mazza, all the volunteers & parents for your time, efforts and contributions- it truly paid off.

A Safety Message From the Facilities Manager:
Please do not to use a cell phone on school grounds while operating a vehicle.
Please keep all eyes on the road as there are students and staff in the parking areas directing traffic or crossing.  Also, we ask that while your vehicle is parked that you please shut off your engine to help reduce the emissions output.

Possible H1N1 Clinic at IACS:
The Health Office is currently working with the Tyngsboro Board of Health to hold a H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine clinic here to IACS on November 17th, 2009.  The clinic would be for high school students.  A parental consent form will be sent home shortly with the high school students.  No student will be able to receive the vaccine without parental consent.  As with any flu clinic this year, the running of the clinic will depend on whether the town of Tyngsboro receives their allotted vaccine by the November 17th date.   In the meantime, if you would like your student to receive the H1N1 vaccine and have the opportunity to receive it prior to our November 17th date, I would suggest that you take advantage of that.  We will keep you posted.

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.