Inspire Insider
Bringing families together, one newsletter at a time!
Monday, February 10, 2020
Quote of the Week
School News and Important Dates
Over 35 Vendors Next Week!
SunDog Therapy
Usborne Books
Miss crady the Math Lady
WM Music Lessons
WM Tutoring Services
Tinker the Robot
Russ Miura’s Subfighter Jiu Jitsu Academy
American Academy of Strategic Education
Buzzy Mae Music Academy
A Tree of Knowledge
Bright bosses ALOHA Mind Math/Reading/Writing
Money Munchkids
Homeschool Campus OC, Inc.,
DBA: World Class Educators
Cadenza Music Academy
Innate Math
BookShark
Innate Math
MoxieBox Art
Dance All You Can
Tutoring Club of Newport/Mesa
Best in Class Education Center
Discovery Toys
Elite Soccer League
Tinker the Robot
Russian School of Music Irvine, llc
Brain Builders STEM Education
Discovery of Learning
Real Life Spanish
Tinker the Robot
Craft and Light Creative Arts Studio
The Madden House
Teaching Writing to Homeschoolers
Hernandez Studio Productions
Karate For All
Urban Workshop
Parents' Night Out
PFT Sign Ups
OCPL Fine Free Library Days
Between February 14 and February 29, Orange County Public Libraries are waiving fines on any overdue books!
Please note, this does not apply to lost books. The fee on a lost book would need to be paid.
Starry Night- Prom 2020
Riverside Art Museum
3425 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA
Friday, April 24th, 7-11 pm
There are a limited number of tickets for this event. Tickets are on sale now!
Ticket Sale Schedule:
February 1st through February 14th ------------------$90
February 15th through March 31st --------------------$100
This event is not eligible for Instructional Funds use.
Join us for hors d'oeuvres, desserts, interactive art, raffle prizes, all-night photo booth, and rooftop dancing under the stars! High School Inspire students grades 9-12 are eligible to attend and may invite a non-Inspire guest (age 14-19) to join them at this event, so grab a friend and dance the night away at the historic Riverside Art Museum in downtown Riverside. Tickets are limited, so purchase yours early! (Tickets go on sale February 1st)
Purchase your tickets HERE:
https://www.icsinspirationstation.net/#/fieldtrip/all/01adfc09-e3ed-4336-9a40-8dbaa12964c3
Prom Details:
https://www.smore.com/qm297
Questions? Summer Davidson summer@inspireschools.org
Join Inspiring Parents This Wednesday
Our featured guest speaker and Student Services writing specialist, Genieva Davidson, provided a close up tour of the Writing Interventions website she developed. If your student is working at grade level, or above, then in your mind, change the title of this website to Writing Resources because everyone can benefit from the treasure trove of free lessons and how-to videos found here.
Missed the live webcast? Sign up here to receive the February 5th recording link via email.
Click this link to view the clickable topics which will transport you to the free writing resources and how-to video web page. On the site, you can scroll down to view the grade level and resources you need.
Inspiring Parents meets the first Wednesday of each month from 1-2 p.m.
In March, we will focus on Elementary Writing Strategies from 1-2 p.m. and Middle to High School Writing Strategies from 2-3 p.m. Bookmark this link to join the online session each month. Come and grow your teaching toolkit with us!
Costa Mesa Mobile Lending Library Locations
Return your items to our librarians at the following locations!
CAASPP Testing
Each year, the State of California requires public schools to reach a 95% participation rate for state standardized testing (CAASPP testing, sometimes also referred to as SBAC testing). If a school has less than 95% of its students participate, they are at risk of losing their charter and WASC accreditation. We are not asking our parents to change their homeschool style or “buy-in” to Common Core State Standards. However, we do need your support in ensuring that our students are in attendance at testing and that they do the best they can. Your participation in helping us meet the minimum 95% requirement is one important way you can aid in safeguarding the survival of our charter. Our school is penalized on our performance levels in math and language arts when we do not meet the 95%.
A second way you can help is to make sure your students are familiar with the testing platform. This will give them the best advantage to show what they know. Please utilize this resource of How to Take a Practice Test and Check-Out Designated Supports to walk them through how to navigate the testing portal. We know our homeschool students are smart and we need to make sure they do their best during state testing to demonstrate that our programs are working. Even if a student scores below grade level, our school can benefit academically when students show growth from year to year.
Inspire Charter Services’ Testing Department has created a series of presentations in response to questions and concerns received from our homeschooling families about state standardized testing. I hope you will find these videos, along with the additional supporting resources and articles, to be helpful in alleviating any fears or anxieties your family may be facing with regards to testing. Please take the time to review these Parent Testing Videos and Resources to see if you feel any would be beneficial for your family. We would also appreciate it if you could complete this Parent Testing Video Survey and give us your feedback.
We appreciate the opportunity you have given us to partner with you in your homeschooling journey. We look forward to many more years of supporting the homeschool community and their unique styles of education
Field Trip Tip
1. Log in to www.icsinspirationstation.net and you will see “Hi (your name)” on the top right, with a little drop down arrow next to it. *Tip: if you're on your phone, just turn it horizontally and this will show.
2. Press the arrow and it will offer the option of viewing “My Account.”
3. Click on "My Account" and it will list all of the field trips you have signed up for. This includes all the links to the pages where you signed up, so you can find the lead teacher's name, email address and phone number!
An Important Message About Field Trips
Inspire Planners Feedback
It may feel too soon, but Inspire is already planning their 2020-2021 school planners and we'd love to hear your thoughts on what you thought of this year's planners!
Special Education Parent Newsletter
January Greetings!
As we start off 2020, we are excited to share with you the January Special Education with Care newsletter! In this newsletter, you'll find some great information on:
- Extended School Year
- Academic Crafts
- Going Back to School After the Holidays
- Positive Reinforcement
If you missed the Bravewriter webcast
Julie Bogart, creator of BraveWriter shared techniques for how to incorporate writing across the curriculum and ways to make it fun.
If you missed the live webcast, click on this link http://bit.ly/BraveLearnerFreeResources to add your email address and receive Writing Across the Curriculum, Writer's Jungle and High School Writing Help, as well as the Brave Learner Companion Guide.
Parent Testing Resources Website
Academic Video Library
Instructions to access Academic Video Library can be found here.
Orange County History Day - Natural History Day
To learn more about this unique opportunity, please visit https://ocde.us/EducationalServices/STEMandHumanities/History/Pages/History-Day.aspx
If your child is interested in participating in this year's contest, please contact Chuck Glowacz: chuck@inspireschools.org
Field Trips and Events
Click on the flyer to view the event!
All new field trips open on Wednesdays at 8am for ticket bookings.
Community Connections: park days, high school hangouts and more!
Below is the newsletter for February and March. Although there are some fun events planned for both months, be sure to check out your nearest Test Prep Party going on in March. Also, If you have attended a Community Connections event, will you please take the time to fill out THIS survey? We would appreciate your feedback. Lastly, you may bring any non-consumable Enrichment item you need to return to the mobile Lending Library. They will be at select Community Connections events that are happening at parks throughout the county, but for returns only at this time.
February OC Community Connections Newsletter
March OC Community Connections Newsletter
We would like to ask that if you are unable to attend an event that you have RSVP’d for, please cancel your ticket and inform the coordinator for that location. It helps with supplies and planning. Thank you!
If you need any assistance, please reach out to the CC in that area or to our Regional Community Coordinator, Gina Garland: ggarland@inspireschools.org
Educational Tools
Right Start Math Games Kit
Math Card Games Kit children have fun while learning or reinforcing math skills. Kit includes everything needed to play math games: Math Card Games book by Joan A. Cotter, Ph.D., instructional DVD, six special decks of cards, two laminated fraction charts and an AL Abacus Standard. Includes chapters on numeration, addition, subtraction, clocks, money, multiplication, division, and fractions. Supplements any math curriculum.
The Math Card Games book has 300 card games providing practice in learning concepts and the facts. Chapters on:
- Number Sense
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Division
- Money
- Clocks
- Fractions
The games become progressively harder within each chapter. Use with any math program. Also excellent for remedial work.
Why games are important, tips on playing the games, description of the six special decks of cards, and some practical considerations are discussed in the Introduction.
- Math Card Games, 5th edition
- Math Card Games Instructional DVD
- AL Abacus Standard
- Card Deck - Basic
- Card Deck - Multiplication
- Product Card Envelopes
- Card Deck - Fraction
- Card Deck - Corners
- Card Deck - Money
- Card Deck - Clock
- Laminated Fraction Charts
Price: Currently on sale for $64.50.
Homeschooling Advice
3 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Read-Aloud Routine
"Everyone knows that reading aloud is one of the most important things parents can do for their children. As parents, we have the best of intentions, but sometimes our reading aloud routine can get thrown off course.
- Maybe your children have been under the weather.
- Maybe your homeschool routine is in a rut.
- Maybe the kids are cranky.
- Maybe you are all lacking motivation.
Whatever the reason, please know that you are not alone. No one is immune to bumps in the homeschooling road. Those bumps are inevitable and are part of the journey. When it comes to reading aloud, it is important to remember that consistency is key.
Just as you model kindness and manners day in and day out, you must model a love of reading. If your goal is to raise lifelong readers, you must try to read aloud to your children every single day. If you find that you are lacking a read-aloud rhythm, it can be helpful to take a moment to regroup and get back on track.
When things are off-course, scheduling can help you to get back in a habit. Here are some tips to rejuvenate your read-aloud routine."
Read the rest of the article here.
Local Events
Irvine Park Railroad's 24th Anniversary
To celebrate our 24th year of business and to show our appreciation to all our loyal customers… we’re rolling back to our original 1996 prices!
The cost is $2.00 per ticket; this price is valid during the Anniversary Celebration weekend only. Coupons, discounts, and any other promotions are not valid on the Anniversary Celebration dates.
February 29 – March 1, 2020
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
ENTRANCE TO THE CELEBRATION IS FREE
Activity tickets are $2.00 each
Tickets are only valid during the Anniversary Celebration
IRVINE REGIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE
Weekdays $3.00 per vehicle
Weekends $5.00 per vehicle
Holidays $7.00 per vehicle
Please see Event Parking for details
The Revolution - Living History in Huntington Beach Central Park
When: February 15th & 16th, 2020
Where: Huntington Beach Central Park
Cost: Free!
Find more details here.
Girls in Ocean Science Conference
Middle school-aged young women with a love for science, or even just a growing interest, are invited to attend this conference that features workshops led by prominent female scientists. It’s a great opportunity to get first-hand information about careers in fields related to marine ecology, oceanography, and conservation. Registration is required for this conference, which lasts from 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Where: Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point
When: Middle School Conference: February 15, 2020 and High School Conference: March 21, 2020
Price: General: $60.00
Members: $50.00
*Members receive $10.00 off by typing “gios” before your member number
EX: gios1234567
Please note that the Ocean Institute does not accept purchase orders or certificates.
For additional information or assistance regarding registration please contact us at girlsinoceanscience@oceaninstitute.org.
Your Orange County Team
Community and Connection
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Orange County Parent Resource Site
Ladan Rashidi - OC Family Liaison
Shaemanique King - OC Family Liaison
Feedback
We would like this newsletter to best reflect the needs of our community! If you have any suggestions or input, please complete this survey. We appreciate your feedback!