The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-MS

From the Principal

September 18^th, 2009

Dear Families:

The first five day week of the school year is behind us, and everyone is getting into the swing of things with our new classrooms and teaming structure.  This week both 7/8 teams went on a team-building and hiking trip to Great Book Farm.  Both groups enjoyed some nice hiking, and we are very grateful to all of the parent chaperones who hiked with us.  The 5/6 teams are both getting ready to take trips to Plimouth Plantation in October.  Please see the attachment to this week’s Connection for more information.

Early last Saturday morning, Ms. Attfield Quinlan gave birth to a healthy and handsome baby boy, Rowan Lange Quinlan.  The new family is doing well.  We are still awaiting news on the other two staff babies who will be born soon.

Thank you everyone for doing your part to enable our dismissal to run smoothly.  We are also very appreciative of everyone who has been remembering to turn off car engines and not idle on school property.  This helps us keep the air safe and pleasant for our staff and students. 

Have a great weekend, and I hope to see some of you at the girl’s soccer game this afternoon!

Sincerely,

Kathleen Seward

Middle School Principal, 7/8

News and Happenings

2009-2010 CLUBS

Animal Club

Meeting time:  Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Club advisor:  Martha McLure, 7/8 Social Studies Teacher

Students interested in animals will have an opportunity to share information about animals with which they are familiar, and to learn more about different animals, their behavior, and caring for them properly.  Live animals will be brought in to handle and discuss. Please contact Ms. McLure,  mmclure@innovationcharter.org, if you would like to join. 

Writing Circle

Do you love to express your thoughts and feelings through writing?

Do you want to be part of a community of writers?

Are you looking for a safe space to write and share your stories?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be interested in Writing Circle!

Writing Circle begins with a group writing warm up activity. During individual writing time, students respond to prompts or work on their own journals, poetry, short stories, or play writing. At the conclusion of the circle, we share our writing from that day.

Writing Circle will meet on Wednesdays in room 408 from 3-4. Please contact Ms. Tarshis via email: ztarshis@innovationcharter.org . I look forward to writing with you!

Chess and Game Club - 

Chess and Game Club

The Innovation Academy chess club will expand to include other non-computer games this year.  The club will meet on Tuesdays from 3:00 – 4:00 in the Homebase Park’s 7/8 Social Studies room starting September 29, 2009.  The club will be initially limited to 7th and 8th graders.  Depending upon interest level, admittance may be expanded to 5th and 6th graders.  If you are interested please send a note or email to Mr. Willoughby (Joneilwilloughby@innovationcharter.org) with your name and parental contact information.

Running Club

By popular demand, the IACS Running Club is back.  If you're ready to tie up those laces and check out the trails, some old, and some new, then sign up for running club.  It will be on Wednesdays only this year from 3-4pm beginning Oct. 14th for 6 weeks.  We will work on pacing skills, technique, and endurance but most of all we will have fun being outdoors and feeling healthy.  Space is limited to 25 students.  And if there is a parent who may be interested in assisting in this program please contact Christine Lovely at christinelovely_imt@comcast.net or (508)847-7202.

Comic Club

 Interested in or needing help with drawing?  Join comic club.  In this club you can learn how to  draw, work on your own drawings, and improve your drawing talents.  No drawing experience is needed.  This club will meet Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00.  Please contact Aimee Voleti, avoleti@innovationcharter.org, if you want to join.

Bookstore Club

The bookstore club is a student run club.  The students learn to be responsible for the sale, ordering and inventory of the products sold at our school book store.  Students in the club meet approximately 1 time per month to go over sales and inventory.  The bookstore is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during lunch and recess.  Bookstore club students sign up to cover shifts while the bookstore is open.  The preference is to have students cover shifts during their recess time, so they do not miss lunch.  All money collected during the year is used to purchase new inventory.  We have a year end party where we inventory all items and talk about how the year went and what changes we can make for the next school year.  All profits are donated to a local (or school) charity at the end of the year.  Any questions, please contact Dave Maier at

dmaier@innovationcharter.org.

Yearbook

 The yearbook club will work to prepare the Middle School Yearbook.  This club is open to 8^th grade students only.  The club will meet on Thursday afternoons beginning in early November.  Interested students should see Mrs. Seward.

The IACS High School Proudly Presents
 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare
on Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 at 7:00pm

Tickets are $10 and will be on sale on Monday, October 5.  Watch upcoming issues of The Connection for more information! 

WE NEED ADULT VOLUNTEERS FOR A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM!
Adults:  If you think you may be interested in helping with the high school 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 with the high school show!

Calendar Updates

 You can add our calendar to your own personal google calendar by clicking "+Google calendar" at the bottom of the school calendar page located on our website. If you don't already have a google account, you'll be prompted to create one.

Once you have added the calendar, you can set notifications up to email you daily updates to your google account (gmail) or even send them to your mobile phone.

If you want to receive the updates at a non gmail address, you can set up your newly created gmail account to forward messages to an account of your choosing (go to gmail -> settings -> Forwarding and POP/IMAP).

Back to School Night:

Mark your calendars for Back to School Night, Wednesday, September 30^th, 6:00-7:30pm. There will be a Question & Answer Session about the Plimoth Plantation field trip for parents of 5^th and 6^th grade students with questions regarding the trip from 5:30-6:00 pm prior to Back to School Night.

Homebase Breakfast:

Mark your calendars for the Homebase breakfast, Thursday, September 24^th 8:00-9:00.  Parnts will be able to sign up to bring healthy items at ILP conferences next week. 

School Lunch

Each IACS family should have received a Lunch Packet which included the following:

User ID, Password and instructions for on-line lunch ordering

September Lunch Menu

Free and Reduced Lunch Information

Volunteer Form

If you did not receive this packet please contact karen.drake@innovationcharter.org  (978) 649-0432 x2221.