The Connection

The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-MS

 

From the Principal

 

November 13th, 2009

 

Dear Families:

 

Today is the last day of the first quarter. Students have been working hard to finish up the quarter on a strong note and complete end-of-unit projects. On Monday, students will transition to begin new units and new classes, such as switching from Science to Social Studies project or vice versa. Tuesday brings our first Quality Night prep day. Students have recently selected a Quarter 1 project to present for our first Quality Night of the year. On Tuesday, they will work to make revisions, prepare a presentation, and display the work. Please remind your child to come to school prepared with art supplies, note cards, and a poster board or other method of displaying their work and to use their work time efficiently, so that they are well-prepared and polished for their first Quality Night. Please make sure the dates are on calendar at home, as attendance is mandatory. They are notes on our school calendar.

 

The IACS Class of 2027 grows! Sarah Goucher, our Math Enrichment teacher, delivered twins this week. Abby Sue Goucher was born 11/09/2009 at 9:28pm, 18 inches, 5 lb 3 oz.

Ryan Stewart Goucher was born at 9:29pm, 19.5 inches, 5 lb 11 oz. Both Sarah and the babies are doing well.

 

Enjoy the weekend.

 

Best,

 

Melissa Kapeckas

5/6 Acting Middle School Principal

 

News and Happenings

 

Half Day: Tuesday, November 17^th 12:15 Dismissal

 

IACS Gear is Here!!!

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

 

Picture Retake day is Monday, November 30^th

Pictures have been sent home today with your student. See the attached flyer for picture retake details and info.

 

Movie Night Cancelled: Friday, November 13^th Movie Night has been cancelled. Please continue to read the upcoming Connections for the re-scheduled date and time. 

 

Quarter 1 comes to a close: Quarter 1 ends Friday, November 13^th.  First quarter assessments will be sent home with students on November 25^th. 

Morning Drop-Off: Students can be dropped off at the school beginning at 7:40 each morning.  There is no supervision before this time, and students will not be allowed into the building before 7:40.  Please help us keep students safe and supervised by honoring this drop-off time. 

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 from the 10/30 Connection 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.  

 

Are You Looking for a Way to Help out at IACS?

Get trained to be a substitute teacher.  We will be holding a third training session for parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about becoming a substitute teacher at IACS-MS. Parents and guardians have the choice of being paid for substituting or to use these hours as part of the expected volunteer commitment.  The training session will be held on November 19^th from 9:00-10:00 am.  Please email Kathleen Seward if you plan to attend. 

 

 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.  Please donate winter coats with no rips, holes, tears or stains.  Donations can be put 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!    

 

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!

 

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

 

Athletics Information:

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

 

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 type of item

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.

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 a wider circle of 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 at wlandberg@innovationcharter.org or 978-649-0432 x2217

 

No Idling Policy-Some parents have asked about our no-idling policy recently.  The purpose of our policy is to make sure we are doing all we can to provide a healthy environment for our students and school community and to help parents to follow the Massachusetts laws against unnecessary idling.  To learn more about this law, you can read a summary attached to this Connection.

 

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

 

YOU ONLY HAVE UNTIL THIS MONDAY TO BUY SPACE IN THE

HIGH SCHOOL PLAY PROGRAM! 

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!

 

 

THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAY ADDS A MATINEE ON SATURDAY,

DECEMBER 5^th!

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! 

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!