The Connection

The Weekly Newsletter of IACS-MS

 

From the Principal

 

September 25^th, 2009

 

Dear Families:

 

September continues as a busy and exciting month. The Homebase Breakfast on Thursday was a success; it was great to spend time with so many families. Thank you to families that contributed breakfast items for this event. We hope to see you again next Wednesday, 9/30 from 6-7:30 pm at our Back to School Night where you will have the opportunity to hear more about the curriculum for the year and to see the new classrooms and meet your child’s teachers.

 

Extra help sessions and Work Completion Center are up and running. If your child needs extra help in a particular subject area, please make arrangements to stay with his/her teacher 48 hours in advance of the extra help session. All academic teachers offer weekly extra help sessions. This information can be found in individual class web pages found under the “Academics” tab of our webpage. Work Completion Center is for students that are beginning to fall behind with their homework assignments and/or rubrics. Our front office will call families to make arrangements for children to stay in this quiet study hall to catch up on work, as needed.

 

Another week brings two new members of the IACS community. Clara Sayre Hinkle was born at 12:18pm Tuesday, September 22^nd and weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Cooper Michael Doire was born Wednesday, September 23^rd at 10:41am and weighed 8 pounds 8 ounces. Congratulations to the Hinkle and Doire families!

 

Sincerely,

Melissa Kapeckas

Acting Middle School Principal, 5/6

 

News and Happenings

 

Middle School Back to School Night-7/8 Parent/Family Schedule Overview

 

September 30^th 6-7:30 pm

 

6:00-6:15-Presentation in Auditorium for 7/8 Families

Come and hear a brief presentation from the Executive Director, Principal, and Board of Trustees. 

 

6:15-6:45- Open House

You will have time to visit classrooms and introduce yourself to teachers.  All 7/8 teachers and specialists will be in their classrooms ready to greet you at this time.  You can also take a building tour with Kathleen Seward. 

 

 

6:45-7:30 Curriculum Overview of English Language Arts, Math, and Project (Science and Social Studies)

 

	Families of 7th graders	Families of 8th graders
6:45-7:00	Math	Project
7:00-7:15	ELA	Math
7:15-7:30	Project	ELA

 

Middle School Back to School Night-5/6 Parent/Family Schedule Overview

 

5:30-6:00 Plimoth Plantation Question & Answer Session

Please attend if you have any unanswered questions about the Plimoth Plantation field trip.

 

6:00-6:45 Curriculum Overview of English Language Arts, Math, and Project (Science and Social Studies)

Teachers of English Language Arts, Math, Science Project, and Social Studies Project will rotate through in 10-minute intervals to introduce themselves and give a brief overview of the curriculum.

 

6:45-7:15 Open House

You will have time to visit classrooms and introduce yourself to teachers.  All 5/6 teachers and specialists will be in their classrooms ready to greet you at this time.  You can also take a building tour with Kathleen Seward. 

 

7:15-7:30 Presentation in Auditorium for 5/6 Families

Come and hear a brief presentation from the Executive Director, Principal, and Board of Trustees. 

 

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).

 

Art Donations

Middle School Art is in need of magazines and newspapers!

 

Picture Day: School Picture Day is coming up on Friday, October 9^th.  A picture ordering envelope is being sent home with today’s Dispatch.

 

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

otherwise 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.

 

The 8^TH Grade Spanish Play is Coming!

The performances may not be until April, but we are already looking for adult volunteers!  If you think you may be interested in lending a hand with props, costumes, hair, make-up, chaperoning, publicity, program materials, or any other area, please email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org.  WE NEED YOU!

MARK YOU CALENDARS FOR THE PERFORMANCES:  Tuesday, April 13 at 9:15am and Wednesday, April 14 at 6:00pm. 

 

After School Music Classes:
Please see the flyer attached to this week’s Family Journal from the Music Academy of Chelmsford.   The Music Academy is running two classes- “School of Rock” and “Songwriting 101.” As stated on the flyer- reservations for the class is due by September 30th.    All questions should be directed to Andrew Rega @ (978) 251-7741 or email: info@musicacademyofchelmsford.com

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 forms can be found on the school’s website under the FORMS link.

 

We are thrilled to announce that there will be six student socials (three for 5/6 and three for 7/8) and more at the high school this year!   In order to run these socials, we will need volunteers to serve as chaperones.  For the safety of our children, all chaperones must be CORI-certified.    The first middle school dances are coming up on October 23 (for 7/8) and October 30 (for 5/6).  We want to have volunteers lined up ahead of time so that the evening goes smoothly and the kids have a great time.  Please help by filling out a CORI form and turning it in at the front office.

 

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.

 

Just a reminder if your student is out sick…..

If your child is sick, please have them stay home from school until free of fever (100.4°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°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.

 

Athletic News/Basketball Tryouts:

All 7^th-8^th grade boys and girls interested in playing basketball for the 7^th-8th IACS basketball team should sign up on the lists located on the athletics/wellness bulletin board in the 1^st floor hallway.  The sign-up lists will be posted beginning October 26^th.  Tryouts will begin after school on November 1^st at 3:30pm.

** 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!

 

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 20^th at 6:30 PM in the Middle School Commons. 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.

 

Tyngsboro Youth Soccer Seeks Players

Tyngsboro Youth Soccer is seeking girls to play on their Under 12 Rec team. Girls would have to be born after 7/31/1997 to participate. Practices are every Wednesday at Bridgemeadow field in Tyngsboro and games are Saturdays at 11:30. Players do not have to be Tyngsboro residents if they go to school in Tyngsboro. .The cost is $75 for each player but no players are turned away for financial reasons. Please contact Dave Seltz (TYSA U12+ Coordinator) if you are interested: daveseltz@yahoo.com – 978-649-7258 

Scholastic Book Fair is back!

 The Book Fair will run 9/28-10/1. Please see the attached flyer for book fair information and a schedule of when your child’s homebase will visit the book fair.