IACS Hawk Summer Edition
Week ending July 24, 2020
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Dear IACS Community,
Last week's edition of the Hawk, my letter provided some updates about your first round of feedback and asked that you complete a second short survey. Here is what you've shared with the school:
Theme #1: There is an increased desire for hybrid models or fully remote program and decreased preference for a full "in-person" model where most students are present on campus everyday.
Theme #2: Of all of the hybrid models presented, families most support a model with Group A on campus Monday and Tuesday and Group B on campus Thursday and Friday.
Our return to school committees are continuing the work to finalize plans for all three models (in-person, hybrid, remote), as all school districts must share summaries of those plans with DESE by next Friday, July 31st. After that submission, all districts must release final reopening plans by Monday, August 8th. Please stay tuned for a "Hawk Extra" early next week for listings for web-based community meetings that share more detailed updates of our return to school planning.
Have a wonderful weekend and as always thank you for the support you continue to provide to IACS.
In partnership,
Greg Orpen
Head of School
All School News
More on Mask Practice and free, local Covid-19 testing
Thank you in advance for helping students to prepare for wearing masks when they return to school. Please ensure your child has a mask that fits properly and one that they feel comfortable in. Please talk with them about the importance of wearing a mask, how to safely take it on and off, and practice wearing it for stretches. While there will be mask breaks at school, it’s important that students are accustomed to wearing them. Here is a helpful video that shows how to safely put on and remove a mask. These steps will be followed when at school so now is a good time to get in some practice. In addition, you may find this poster helpful.
Lastly, please be reminded that for the next few weeks, there is free, local testing for Covid-19. Two tests sites in Lowell are offering free tests to anyone that would like to be tested, you do not have to have any symptoms. You can find more information about local testing at Stop the Spread . You do not have to be a resident of Lowell to obtain a test.
Emergency Forms - Please submit!
Please be sure to return your medical (Emergency info) form as soon as possible, Drop off at the main office between 8am-3pm or Send to IACS, 72 Tyng Road, Tyngsboro, MA 01879.
Immunization Updates From the Health Office
Hello from the health office staff! During these unsettled times we encourage families to continue to reach out to coordinate well-child care and immunizations with their pediatricians; maintaining overall general health must be a priority.
As we prepare to welcome students back to school for next year, we would like to remind families of the following statewide immunization regulations for school attendance:
Students entering Grade 7 must show proof of having a Tdap vaccine prior to school entry
Starting with the 2020-21 school year, all students entering Grades 7 and 11 will also need to show proof of having received the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, MenACWY (brand names Menveo or Menactra) for school entry.
Please send updated immunization records to the Health Office as soon as possible. You can mail updated records to the IACS Health Office or you can email the records to healthoffice@innovationcharter.org.
Summer Hours at IACS: Our main office will be open Monday through Friday, 8 am until 3pm. If families have any school items to return (books, Chromebooks, uniforms, paperwork, etc.), you may come during those windows of time. While sending an email in advance (mainoffice@innovationcharter.org) is helpful, no appointments are required.
Wednesdays in August, via Zoom from 3-4pm. Take an arts break with your family to preview the latest in remote arts learning for Prek - 12th graders.
Click Here To Register Now for any or all of their free Wednesday Showcase events!
Middle School News
If you were unable to pick up your pre-purchased yearbook today, please stop by the front office to retrieve it between 8am-3pm. It is not too late to set up digital signing if you have not done so already. To find out how to do so, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKUWyuczG4c&feature=youtu.be.
Any questions contact Ms. Pakala at rpakala@innovationcharter.org
High School News
HS Yearbooks
If you haven't picked up your high school yearbook yet, you can get it at the main office Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm. Please contact Mr Macdonald if you have any questions: tmacdonald@innovationcharter.org
Work Permits
Students needing a work permit need to fill out this work application. Your employer might give you a copy at your interview. Once completed, email a copy to Crystal McKiel, cmckiel@innovationcharter.org or Steph Kelly, skelly@innovationcharter.org. MS students should email Mr. Pereyra, fpereyra@innovationcharter.org. We will issue a work permit to you. While we do work over the Summer there are reduced hours so please allow us 3 business days to process your permit. Employers fill out and sign the first page, and parents and students must also sign the second page (pediatricians must sign the second page for students who are 14 or 15 years old).
Graduation
Graduation is planned for Saturday, August 1st at 10am. More specific details will be sent in July. Only immediate family of graduates (max of 4 guests per graduate) can be on campus to attend the ceremony and must register before the ceremony to be allowed in. The deadline to register is Monday, July 27th, 2020. The registration link is here.
Athletics News
HS Boys Soccer
Hello IACS, as captains of the IACS boy’s 2020 soccer team the captains, Jack and Diego have some information regarding workouts and other news related to the upcoming soccer season. As of right now, the idea of training in person is very limited and we think it is best for everyone to work out on their own at the moment. As requested by Coach Capone the team should be exercising 1 hour every three days meaning that each player should exercise for 2 hours a week. At least 30 minutes of those two hours should be conditioning. If you are having trouble figuring out what to do look at the workout schedule for some guidelines. If you have any questions email Diego at diego.goodrich@innovationcharter.org or Jack at john.panilaitis@innovationcharter.org. We are excited about the upcoming season and hope that we can get together and practice in groups on the field soon.
Best,
Diego and Jack (Class of 2021)
HS Girls Soccer
Hello IACS Community! As the captains of the Girls Varsity soccer team for 2020, Taylor and Hope wanted to take the time to share some important information about captains' practices for this summer.
We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. We are proud to be writing this message as we prepare for our first official season in the CAC League! Due to social distancing guidelines, we are currently going to keep all conditioning virtual. Although this is sad and difficult, we want to make sure we are making decisions that give us the best chance of having a season come the fall. We have our fingers crossed that we may be able to get together in small groups later on in the summer, and we will keep the team updated!
Students and families, please view this document that Taylor and Hope created which will hopefully help give everyone an idea of what our goals are for each age group this summer.
If you are a new high schooler at IACS or are a current high schooler who is interested in learning more about the soccer team, please reach out to either captain at their IACS emails hope.coleman-plourde@innovationcharter.org or taylor.scanlon@innovationcharter.org. If you are the parent of a rising freshman who is interested in playing soccer and they haven’t been receiving texts/emails from us, please let us know that as well! We are so excited to get to meet prospective players!
Thank you to the student-athletes and parents for your support during these times where we are all being challenged to learn and adapt. We are grateful to have this community to support our team, the athletic program, and our school through it all.
Best,
Taylor and Hope (Class of 2021)
Summer Training Plans
Please see below for summer training plans for high school girls soccer and high school cross country. Any athletes with questions about either plan are encouraged to contact the appropriate head coach (girls soccer, Bruce Cottle, bcottle@innovationcharter.org and cross country, Kyle Thornton, kthornton@innovationcharter.org).
Cross Country Beginner Training Plan
IACA News
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