IACS Hawk Distance Edition
Week ending June 5, 2020
Dear IACS Community,
Yesterday, I emailed a final call to complete the 2020 Family Survey with hopes that we received over 400 responses and you crushed that goal with (as of now) 462 responses. Thank you so much for your time and feedback.
As we begin to wrap up this year, I'm sure all of you are wondering about what school will look like next year. The number of variables are pretty exhausting and so much depends on what happens with coronavirus cases over the summer. Will we see a summer surge? Will reported cases and deaths drop off faster than expected? Those questions are impossible to know for certain, but I want to give you a small flavor of some updates I've learned from sitting on more Zoom webinars than I care to admit.
Statewide Recommendations: It was always assumed that some decisions for opening would be statewide mandates while others would be locally controlled. The current conventional wisdom is that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will post a set of core criteria for all public schools to follow. So the reality is that most of the "big" decisions which apply to IACS will apply to our surrounding districts. Examples would include health and safety precautions, level of social distancing requirements in classrooms and buses, etc. For now, schools are being asked to develop plans for 100% of students on campus, 100% distance learning, AND blended options when some percent of students are on campus while the others learn remotely. DESE has committed to releasing these recommendations by the end of June.
IACS Preparedness: Despite the daunting nature of planning in uncertain times, IACS has already taken steps to enhance our facilities (ex: installing "touchless" bathroom fixtures, make adjustments to our HVAC system), revise our health protocols and equipment, and rethinking lunch service to name a few. Additionally, we had an incredible number of staff who have already volunteered to planning how our unique educational model can be better adapted to virtual learning, should this become a requirement. Our "Return to School" committees will begin meeting next week. Their initial steps will include reviewing Family Survey data and then the forthcoming DESE recommendations. At that point we'll enlist additional student and family input to finalize a path forward.
One thing that I've always loved about IACS is how nimble our organization can be and I am extremely confident in how we will take these next steps together. Besides, I know you all miss reading the Hawk in the summer, so you can plan on getting A LOT more issues in the months ahead!
In partnership,
Greg Orpen
Head of School
All School News
Please return all Library books and Chromebooks to the school during the open school times on Sat June 6th from 10-11 or Friday June 12 9am-10am. If you aren't able to come during those times please contact Heather Landis @ hlandis@innovationcharter.org and we will work it out.
Additional opportunities for families to pick up personal items still in our buildings. The dates are designed to meet different family schedules and are as follows:
Saturday, June 6: 10 am - 11 am
Friday, June 12: 9 am - 10 am (Final Date)
All of these dates have been added to our website calendar with the following reminders:
These visits must be brief and should not be viewed as social "meet ups".
In order to plan appropriate staff supervision, please email the main office (mainoffice@innovationcharter.org) if you would like to enter the building.
All personal belongings must be picked up by Friday, June 12th. Personal items left in school after that day will be discarded or donated so that the normal summer cleaning can occur.
Theatre News
JOIN US FOR AUDITIONS FOR THE FALL MUSICAL!
Auditions are open to students currently in grades 5-11. If you would like to audition, please email rhawthorne@innovationcharter.org a video of you singing a song piece that is about one minute long. (Unsure of what song? Something from the show would be great, but something as simple as Happy Birthday works, too!) If you would prefer a non-singing role you do not need to do a singing audition. In its place you can read or memorize and recite a 30-60 second poem, monologue, piece of a book, etc. If you would like you may do both, but only one or the other is necessary. Super determined? Feel free to add a short dance number to your video audition! Video auditions are due to my email by Tuesday, June 9 . (Though, the sooner the better!) Thank you, and we hope to see you soon!
Middle School News
“Catch Up” Week
There are no new distance learning assignments this week. Instead, students should use it as an opportunity to catch up on any missing distance learning assignments as they will not be able to submit them after the last day of school, 6/12. Students should attend office hours and/or reach out to their teachers for assistance with any outstanding assignments.
Last Week of School Fun
8th grade Game Day - Wednesday, 6/10 3:00-4:30 pm
We are hosting an 8th grade game day on Wednesday June 10th from 3-4:30 pm on Zoom! It will be a fun social event for 8th graders only during our last week of school.
Here is a video preview of the event
Please RSVP on this form
Thursday, 6/11 Moving Up Ceremony 7 pm
Our virtual 8th grade Moving Up Ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 11th, at 7 PM. While most of the ceremony will be pre-recorded, we will share it on the school’s Facebook page using Facebook Live to provide a shared experience for our students. We will also be releasing our traditional Moving Up Messages Book through a special virtual presentation (each 8th grade student receives a personalized message of congratulations and encouragement from a member of our staff) that you will be able to download and keep.
Friday, 6/12 Greet & Goodbye- 10 am
There will be a Zoom Greet & Goodbye for both the 5th/6th grade team as well as the 7th/8th grade team on Friday at 10 am. Students will be emailed a page of Zoom links and can stop in to see any of their teachers to say goodbye as we head to summer vacation.
Reverse Parade- Friday, 6/12 3-4 pm
One of our most beloved IACS traditions for the last day of school is the “Bubble Brigade” of teachers and staff that line the driveway, waving and blowing bubbles as students leave campus to start their summers. This year, we’re asking you to come back to campus on the last day of school, because we miss our students and want to celebrate them (from a safe social distance) before we all step back for the summer break.
On Friday, June 12th, teachers and staff will be lined up outside (6 feet apart and wearing our IACS gear!) and waiting to see your smiling faces! Come dressed in your IACS gear, deck out your car, make signs, wave, yell, send air hugs, or however you want to say hello distantly!
To help with traffic flow we ask that you please follow the schedule below:
5th and 6th Grade Families: 3:00-3:30 PM
7th and 8th Grade Families: 3:30-4:00 PM
If you have multiple students in different grades, just pick one time to drive through!
Please use this one-way route to see all staff and be safe with other visitors:
Enter campus at the HS student lot.
Follow the one-way route along the front of the building and in front of the Landberg Hall and circle the lot closest to the track and field.
Exit at the circle.
For safety reasons, please do not let your student(s) get out of the car. We are all practicing social distancing and are looking for waves, smiles, and cheers as you pass by!
Looking for Summer Options?
Camp Kinda: EdNavigator has created Camp Kinda, a free, at-home summer experience designed to keep kids in kindergarten through eighth grade engaged while they’re at home. Each weekday from June 1 to September 1, participating families will get three to four hours’ worth of daily activities, all connected to a weekly theme. Activities will include online and offline offerings. Use registration code KINDA2020.
Middle School Yearbook
Middle School yearbooks can be ordered here for the regular price of $27. Yearbooks can be picked up at school over the summer. The pick up dates will be announced later in the summer. For questions, please email the middle school yearbook advisor at: rpakala@innovationcharter.org There are a few extra copies of the yearbook which are available on a first come first serve basis.
High School News
Important Dates for Seniors
Don't forget to mark your calendars for these other senior events:
June 10th, 2020 12-2 PM Formal Cap & Gown pictures with professional photographer (details to follow)
August 1, 2020 2 PM Graduation Ceremony (details to follow)
5 More School Days! You’ve almost made it! Please finish strong! Grades close on Friday and report cards will follow about 2 weeks after that. For those that need to do online summer school classes, information will be sent home after report cards are complete on June 29th.
Athletics News
High School Preseason Meetings
While nothing has been officially decided about the fall athletic season, some of our high school fall coaches have elected to host virtual preseason meetings to connect with their teams. If you are interested in joining soccer (JV or varsity) or cross country this fall, please do your best to join the below meetings. Anyone with questions about other sports is encouraged to contact the Athletic Department at iacsathletics@innovationcharter.org.
HS Girls Soccer and Cross Country Meetings have already taken place
- Boys Soccer
Topic: HS Boys Soccer Preseason Meeting
Time: Jun 9, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98229838923?pwd=MGprUi90QVdaMVVGYVp5MHJVRjJ3UT09
Meeting ID: 982 2983 8923
Password: 4c0bVB
IACA News
We are excited to report these are the names of IACS parents who are running to be part of our IACA Board.
President – Jessica Francisco
Vice President – Dawn Piasecki
Treasurer – Jo Anne Frazier
Secretary – Fabiane Kelley
Publicity Coordinator – Danielle Plourde
Along with still having a chance to run for any of the above positions we still have Fundraising Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator open.
If you would like to run for any of our positions please email iaca@innovationcharter.org by Monday, June 8th.
Voting for all positions will be done on Wednesday, June 10th at 7pm via zoom.
Topic: IACA Meeting
Time: Jun 10, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89171016757?pwd=TDlGNTJBYkZQYlhnbXpHdTlVdDArdz09
Meeting ID: 891 7101 6757
Password: 508357
Innovation Academy Charter School
Email: mainoffice@innovationcharter.org
Website: www.innovationhcharter.org
Location: 72 Tyng Road, Tyngsborough, MA, United States
Phone: 978-649-0432
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IACStyngsborough/
Twitter: @iacharterschool