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Yesterday, our high school's Students of Color Affinity (SOCA) Club traveled to UMass Lowell to participate in an annual event, "Day Without Violence lecture." The Keynote speaker was 2023 Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies – Dayamani Barla an Adivasi (Indigenous) activist, journalist, writer, and storyteller from Jharkhand, Central India. Known as The Iron Lady of Jharkand, Barla has been at the forefront of resistance against displacement and dispossession of Indigenous people from state violence, development projects, and commercial expansion.

I'm so grateful that our students and staff continue to find such meaningful ways to engage with our surrounding community. Have a wonderful weekend.

In partnership,

Greg Orpen,

Head of School

SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)

The role of SEPAC is to advise our school district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities. Every public school district in Massachusetts is required to establish a SEPAC.

SEPAC meetings Notes:

January 2023 SEPAC Meeting Notes

February 2023 SEPAC Meeting Notes

Slides Presentation prepared by Mr. Orpen (SEPAC February meeting)

You can find past meeting notes here or by going to the main page of the school

(click "Current Students and Families" tab, click "Families" tab, click "SEPAC")

Upcoming Dates:

4/10 & 4/11 ELA MCAS for grades 5 and 6

4/13 & 4/14 ELA MCAS for grades 7 and 8

4/17 - 4/21 No School: Spring Break

4/29 8th Grade Semi

5/1 & 5/2 Math MCAS for grades 5 and 6

5/4 & 5/5 Math MCAS for grades 7 and 8

5/8 & 5/9 STE MCAS for grades 5 and 8

5/12 7th Grade Dance (more details to come)

5/13 5th and 6th Grade Dance (more details to come)

Check out the all school calendar for 2022-2023

Next week, 5th and 6th graders will have ELA MCAS on Monday and Tuesday and grades 7&8 will have ELA MCAS on Thursday and Friday.

• All MCAS testing is completed on a computer. All students that have been loaned a Chromebook from school need to make sure that they bring their Chromebook and charger to school on testing days. If students do not bring these school-issued Chromebooks, we will not have enough computers for testing.

• For MCAS testing, students can not use personal computers or devices that they own (Macbooks, tablets, PC laptops, personal Chromebooks)

• TestNav is the software that students will use to take the MCAS exam. Click HERE to practice using TestNav and to see some practice questions for each subject & grade level exam. Students will go through the tutorial during advisory as well. Completing this tutorial will also make sure that each Chromebook has the latest updates in order to make sure that TestNav will work correctly.

Spring Athletics!

We are still looking for athletes for our high school and middle school spring teams. We have a no-cut athletics program at Innovation, and offer different options to fit all skill levels and abilities. We encourage athletes to try new and different sports.

High School Spring Athletics Registration Information

Here are our spring offerings for high school athletics:

Girls Outdoor Track & Field

Boys Outdoor Track & Field

Boys Varsity Volleyball

Boys JV Volleyball

Coed Dance

Girls Softball (co-op with NDA Tyngsboro)

Girls Lacrosse (co-op with Nashoba Tech)

Boys Lacrosse (co-op with Nashoba Tech)

Most high school sports begin on Monday 3/20, dance starts one week later.

Please click here for more information about teams, tryouts, practice times, and the registration process.

Most of our high school teams are still accepting new athletes. We will accept registrations on a rolling basis, but please keep in mind that some varsity sports (especially co-op arrangements) may not be able to accept new athletes past the tryout period. Contact the Athletic Department with any questions or concerns - iacsathletics@innovationcharter.org.

Middle School Spring Athletics Registration Information

Here are our spring offerings for middle school athletics:

Girls Outdoor Track & Field

Boys Outdoor Track & Field

Girls Softball (grades 6-8)

Boys Baseball (grades 6-8)

Coed Tennis

Coed Dance

Most middle school sports begin the first week of April, dance starts one week earlier in March.

Please click here for more information about teams, tryouts, practice times, and the registration process.

Contact the Athletic Office (iacsathletics@innovationcharter.org) with any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Dates:

4/17-21 Spring Break; No School

4/28 HS Semi-formal Dance

5/1 Grades Close for Progress Report #2

5/1-5 Presentation week for Sr. Projects & POL’s (see below)

5/3 Early Release, 12:25pm

5/5 Jr/Sr Prom

5/16-17 Math MCAS for Grade 10

ATTENTION SENIORS: Scholarships

Ms. Deknatel has shared a list of local and IACS-specific scholarships with both senior students and parents--definitely take a look, as deadlines are coming up next week!

Presentation of Learning Week

Presentation Week is May 1st - 5th and is one of the proudest (and emotionally exhausting) weeks in the high school. Presentations of Learning (affectionately known as POL’s) are when students will reflect on their growth as a learner, connect their ILP Goals with their personal growth and hone their presentation skills. Although that may not sound exciting, it truly is incredible to see students present. It has brought tears of happiness to many proud parents. All student in grades 9 thru 11 will participate as it is a required piece for promotion to the next grade level.

Seniors will utilize the research and presentation skills that they have learned through their IACS years to complete their Senior Project. All seniors take a semester-long course that is spent exploring a topic of the student’s choosing and requires them to thoughtfully engage in the inquiry process. Students will research the subject, speak to an expert/mentor on the subject, develop knowledge, skills and understanding of a topic and then apply their knowledge /skills in the larger community. All of this will be reflected upon and presented at their Sr. Project Presentation.

Guardians, Parents and family members are invited to attend. There will be an email sent over the next week with the date and time of your student’s presentation. Students will be working on their slideshows in advisory and rehearsing their presentations with peers.

The Craig/Webster advisory spent this week introducing and practicing our chess skills. The week ended with an epic day of chess, on a life-sized board (thanks Ms. Spence for lending it!) The group feels like even closer "mates" through the experience

Parking Permit Application

Students that drive to school must fill out an online Parking Permit Application. The cost is $15 and maybe paid online or in person to Crystal McKiel.

The Cooking for Fun Choice Block made grilled cheese and soup recently. Their mission: to have the best cheese for an epic cheese pull.

Board Positions Available

At our next IACA meeting on May 2, we will be holding elections for next year's board. ALL positions are elected every year for a one-year term. We are especially looking for a Secretary and Publicity Coordinator, but you may also submit your name (or someone else's with their permission) to be on the ballot for the offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Fundraising Coordinator, or Volunteer Coordinator. If you are interested in running or have questions, please email iaca@innovationcharter.org.

Save The Dates

The Spring Middle School Dances will be held from 7-9pm on Friday 5/12 for 7th grade and Saturday 5/13 for 5th & 6th grades.

8th graders will have their Semi-Formal on April 29th official invitation is forthcoming.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Middle School Dances on 5/12-13 or the 8th grade semi on 4/29, please contact Sheila Brotherston at volunteer@innovationcharter.org.

Stay in Touch

To make sure that you are in the know for everything IACA does throughout the year, please bookmark our website and follow us on social media.

Website: iaca.weebly.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/iacatyngsboro

Twitter: twitter.com/IACA_Tyngsboro

Instagram: www.instagram.com/iaca_tyngsboro/

Have a great weekend!