This Week's IACS Dispatch

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Greg Orpen

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Mar 23, 2013, 10:14:15 AM3/23/13
to iacs-co...@googlegroups.com, stud...@innovationcharter.org, a...@innovationcharter.org

All School News
  • Family Survey: Thanks to all of the families who have taken time to provide feedback in via our annual family survey.   We are extending the window for the completing the survey to this Monday, 3/25. For those how have not had a chance, you can access the on-line survey by visiting the IACS website or clicking on the following link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XCMJTPR 
  • IACS Performing Arts:  Congratulations to the cast and crew of Les Mis on a stunning production! 
  • Destination Imagination: Congratulations to the IACS Destination Imagination teams. Both teams came up with creative solutions and placed third in their challenges. A big thank you to the team managers, Kim Albert and Alyssa Zenitz, who spent countless hours with their teams. Three IACS students will be moving on to the state tournament in conjunction with their town's team. Congratulations to Cameron Braunstein, Araceli Schmalz, and Isabela Schmalz for this accomplishment! 
  • MCAS Notes:  All families are reminded that MCAS testing will continue on Monday for English Language Arts with the Long Composition fro Grades 7 and 10.   During MCAS testing IACS cannot host visitors per Department of Education regulations.  We'd like to ask families to take extra efforts to have students arrive to school on time as testing begins first thing in the morning.   
  • April Lunch News   The April lunch menu has been posted. If you would like to place a lunch order click here. 

    Please place your order by Wed 3/27/13 9:00pm for April's lunch.  Preview Menus are attached.
  •  Dance Performance @ IACS:  Through dance, video, monologue and story-circle, “No School” invites community members to share personal memories, think constructively  together, and talk cross-generationally about the daily lived experience  of our young people, asking:

    What scars and blessings do we carry from our years in school? 
    How do our years in school shape our identities?  Our social interations?  Our sense of empowerment?
    How does the culture of school reflect socia values and vice versa?
    What should a 21st century school be and do? 

    For more information, contact High School English teacher Lise Brody (lbr...@innovationcharter.org).  Round the Corner Movers is an intergenerational dance/peformance company that has been doing experimental work since 2005.  You can learn more about them and “No School” at www.roundthecornermovers.org.  (See attached flyer for details)

  • **EXPANSION INITIATIVE UPDATE -- AN ANTIDOTE FOR SNOW**  With another foot of snow outside it is time to think of spring, get in shape and encourage our kids to be active.  Join us on Thursday, May 16, 2013 for the 1st Annual Innovation Spring 5K and Fun Run.  Registration details:  the 5K is $25 and starts at 7pm; the FunRun is $10 and starts at 6:30.   For more details, and to register on line, go to www.innovation5k.com.

If you don't run please join us to cheer on our runners, and to enjoy an evening out with family and friends.  Adding to the festivities, we'll have a DJ and the Augusta Market food truck "Chicken on the Road".  It is sure to be a great time!  We need volunteers as well as sponsors -- if you have a family business that might sponsor, or you're interested in volunteering, please contact Carol Passarelli at 
cupass...@comcast.net.  


A message from the IACS Board of Trustees

The Innovation Academy Charter School Board of Trustees is proud to announce the appointment of two new members, Mr. Robert DeSimone and Ms. Carol Gallagher.

 

Robert DeSimone has spent nearly 30 years in the medical device industry focusing on the design and development of innovative, creative communications materials to support marketing, sales and product education. In 1992, he founded MediComm Consultants that today works with device companies of all sizes in a variety of specialties including cardiovascular, critical care, imaging and hospital supplies. His two sons, Alec (grade 8) and Nicholas (grade 6), are in their second year at Innovation Academy Charter School. He and his wife, Denise, are deeply committed to the mission of the school and look forward to many years of active participation at the school.

 

Carol Gallagher is an accomplished software and software quality assurance engineer who spent over 20 years working in all phases of the software life cycle including producing products for real-time embedded and Content Management markets.  Carol was a founding member and executive board member of the Innovation Academy Community Association, and served very actively in various roles throughout the time her son, Andrew Iovanna, attended 5th-12th grade at our school. Carol managed our school library program as a volunteer and later served as our first staff librarian. Her son graduated with our first IACS HS class in 2011, and through the years Carol has participated in both innovating and advancing the unique mission of our school.

 

Rob and Carol join the other members of our Board of Trustees, Rick Bourque, Chairman and Chief Governance Officer, Susan Howard, Vice Chair, Dan St. Jean, Treasurer, Bob Dion, Secretary, Adam Baake, Matthew Bush, Alex Knight, Diane Fonseca, Mike Frey, and Linda Willis.You may contact your Board of Trustees at b...@innovationcharter.org 




Middle School News
  • Worcester Museums Field trip for 7/8 grade Social Studies students in Homebases Brinker, O'Connor, Parks and Winfrey has been rescheduled  (again!) to Thursday, April 11. Cross your fingers for no more snow days to postpone the trip! We need chaperones on this new date! If you can chaperone on that day, please email Martha McLure at mmc...@innovationcharter.org or Jason O'Neil-Willoughby atjjoneilw...@innovationcharter.org.  We will be taking attendance at 8:00 am on the buses that will be located at the end of the Middle School parking lot that day.  Students will need a lunch,  beverage, snack, and a notebook. We will provide pencils. Students may bring a camera. No backpacks that day, please!

High School News

  • High School Jr/Sr Prom:  Plans were confirmed this week of the high school junior/senior prom.    Details will be forthcoming regarding logistics (prize, food/drink offerings, etc.), however the time/date/location have been confirmed:
 
When: Friday May 24, 2013
Time: 6pm-11pm
Where: Sky Meadows Nashua, NH

  • College Admissions Panel:  Tuesday April 2nd @ 6:30 PM in the IACS auditorium IACS Director of College Counseling Daniel Barr will be moderating a College Admissions Expert Panel of admissions deans and directors from UMass-Amherst, Providence College, Worcester State University, Boston College and Suffolk University. The purpose of the evening is not for each school to give “information sessions” about their own college, so it is just as ok if you have interest in the schools, no interest, or have no idea at this point! The panel will cover a range of assigned key topics from a variety of college perspectives. Topics include identifying personal needs and matching those needs with the right institution,financial aid and affording college,  SAT optional colleges in the admissions process,  the highly competitive private college...who gets in and WHY, the importance of getting involved in extra-curricular activities in high school ...to coming to college without knowing what you want to study and lots more


Innovation Academy Community Association (IACA) News

Comedy Night Fund-Raising Event: Join us for a night of laughs and great fun at 7pm on Friday, April 5, 2013, at the Billerica Hall of Elks. This year's show will feature live comedy by Boston Hysterical Society’s Peter Gross. The evening will include buffet dinner, cash bar, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, photo booth and lots of laughs. Tickets are $35 each or 2/$60 or better yet grab some friends and buy a table of 10 for $250. All proceeds to benefit the IACA in their efforts to support the students of Innovation Academy. For a preview of our growing list of silent auction items please go to www.iaca.weebly.com or check us out on Facebook IACA. For questions or to purchase tickets, contact Heather Landis at 978-502-9450 or domeafav...@hotmail.com  **This is an over 21 event***Hope to see you there!

 

Yankee Candle Fundraiser: Looking for the perfect gift for an upcoming birthday or Mother’s Day??? IACA will be having a Yankee Candle Fundraiser which will run from 3/22-4/5. (orders need to be into the main office by April 5th) Deliveries will be in the week of May 6th …in time for Mother's Day.  There will be two $25 GameStop Gift cards given out for the largest dollar amount on a single order, one each MS and HS. Keep a lookout for packets delivered through HB/Advisory.


 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!

·      Last Bash Party: If you are interested in helping with the graduation night Last Bash Party please contact Tracy Leedberg at tracyl...@hotmail.com.

·      We need a Dance Social Chairperson for the 2013-2014 school year. If you are interested in learning to run the dance socials please contact Lisa Reed at tlr...@comcast.net. There are a few dances left to learn how to coordinate the dances

·      8th Grade Semi-Formal Volunteers Needed:. If you have any questions or would like to help please contact Kerry Wellenstein, Wellen...@comcast.net .

·      On April 1st, IACA will post a list of any person intending to run for office for the 2013-2014 school year in the IACA May elections. If you are interested in running for President, Vice President elect, Treasurer or Secretary, notify Valerie:iacapr...@gmail.com

 

 

Need Jury Volunteers: 6th & 8th grade have received their jury dates. We need many community members to volunteer as a member of a jury panel. If you can give an hour or more during the school day (juries start at 8:00 and go throughout the day until 4:00) this spring, please contact Paula Girouard: giroua...@comcast.net or stop by the main office.

 

Box Top ContestIrish for More Boxtops: How many box tops can you collect in one month? We challenge you to collect as many box tops as you can by March 29th. The student collecting the most will win a prize! Winners will be chosen for 5/6, 7/8 and HS. Don’t forget to label your bags with your name and homebase/advisory so we can find you!! Hurry, all boxtops must be submitted by 3pm on March 29th.

 

E-Boxtops: Have you signed up at the Boxtops website?  Well, why not?  Did you know they have coupons for some of your favorite boxtop products?  Or that they have a recipe for Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles?  Yum-Yum!   Well you must know about the games you can play to earn a boxtop for IACS, right?  And by now you’ve already started using the links in the boxtop marketplace to shop at your favorite stores.  I earned IACS $1 in e-boxtops today buying ink for my printer.  Have you printed your February vacation photos yet?  Use the Shutterfly, Snapfish, Target or Walgreens links to earn e-boxtops for your school.  When you start making your summer travel plans don’t forget they have links for Hotwire, Orbitz, Seaworld and even some hotel chains.  My sister in law is expecting her first child anyday now and I already have started perusing OshKosh B’Gosh, GAP, The Children’s Place and Babies R Us for cute outfits.  My girls would rather I click the Justice, Aeropostale or American Eagle links.  My hubby asked me to use the Walmart link to purchase some dog food and vacuum bags for our house.   Aww the housework never ends.  Whatever your need check out www.btfe.com .   Shop to the marketplace to peruse over 250 retailers or find a great recipe for dinner.  Thank you for supporting the IACS!

 

 

Recycle and Earn Money for IACS!

IACA now has an alternate drop off location for Funding Factory donations. Funding Factory will accept Inkjet Cartridges, Toner Cartridges, Cell Phones, iPods/MP3 Players, Laptops, Digital Cameras, and GPS Devices. Turn your unwanted recyclable items into dollars for IACS! In addition to the MS lobby, we have a new location to drop off items: Chelmsford Storage Solutions, 296 Littleton Road in Chelmsford. See Karen Lowry. Questions? Contact Nancy Therrienn.the...@verizon.net

 

 

Next IACA Meeting: Monday, April 8th 6:30 - 8:30pm In the Café





--
Greg Orpen
High School Principal
Innovation Academy Charter School
72 Tyng Road
Tyngsboro, MA 01879
www.innovationcharter.org
Phone: (978) 649-0432 x3141
Fax: 978-649-6337

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No School Excels East Stroudsberg Invite IACS April 6 13.pdf
IACS April 2013 HS Menu.doc
IACS April 2013 MS Menu.doc
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