Inspire Insider
Bringing families together, one newsletter at a time!
Monday, February 24, 2020
Quote of the Week
School News and Important Dates
Parents' Night Out This Thursday
Leap Year Fun Day This Friday!
Read Across America Event
You could not, would not, want to miss a celebration as fun as this!
Join us for Dr. Seuss Read Across America park day filled with fun art and STEM activities geared towards grades TK-3! Although all are welcomed!
Sign up here: https://www.icsinspirationstation.net/#/fieldtrip/all/0e305f08-06f3-4bab-825f-19d919f0ece8
Test Preparation Workshops
Please sign up using the sign-up links below. Registration is in on a first-come, first-serve basis and spaces are limited.
Registration Links- Please only sign up for one workshop per student.
February 25- 3rd- 8th Grade Laguna Niguel
March 10th- 3rd and 4th Grade- Costa Mesa
March 17- 3rd and 4th Grade - Costa Mesa
March 24- 5th and 6th Grade- Costa Mesa
March 31- 5th and 6th Grade- Costa Mesa
PFT Sign Ups
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Membership
You are invited to participate as an active voice in the educational programs of Emergent Bilinguals by becoming a member of the English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC).
As a member of ELAC, you will:
● learn more about the programs offered to Emergent Bilinguals.
● participate in the school’s needs assessment.
● advise the Director and school staff on positive and effective strategies for teaching Emergent Bilinguals.
● provide valuable input on ways to support Emergent Bilinguals.
Our next ELAC meeting is on Thursday, March 5, 2020, at 6:00 pm.
Please fill out this survey to let us know if you will be attending.
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
You're Invited...
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 14-20) 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!
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.
Ticket Price: $100 each
This event is not eligible for Instructional Funds use.
Questions? Summer Davidson summer@inspireschools.org
Inspiring Parents on the First Wednesday of the Month
Your children struggle with writing. You try your best and wonder … is there a better way?
The first Wednesday in March, from 1-2, click on this link to learn from former writing trainer and HST, Elvira Burlingham, some tried and true methods to teach your elementary students how to write: http://bit.ly/InspiringLink
Same day, March 4th, same link (above), from 2-3, get middle to high school writing help from our Student Support Services writing expert, Genieva Davidson.
Genieva Davidson treated us with an in-depth tour of our school’s writing support site which is a treasure trove of resources. She talked about her tutorial videos and featured the site’s highlights. Missed it? Sign up here to receive the recording link for February’s Inspiring Parents recording: http://bit.ly/SignUpWritingResourcesRecordingLink
Pi Day Celebration
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
Enter Imaginology's Student Competitions!
Imaginology at the OC Fair and Event Center is a huge STEAM event that families and schools love! This year, it will be on Friday April 17th to Sunday April 19th and Inspire will be there! At Imaginology, kids and their families will not only see a world of wonder, but can participate in a wide range of fun and educational hands-on activities designed to inspire and encourage academic and career exploration.
Did you know that Imaginology holds competitions for children that have a $50 cash reward? This is the time for your child's creativity to shine!
There are 19 different project divisions, and they are:
Fiber Art
Fashionista!
Upcycle It
Cardboard Engineering
Wood & Metal Arts
Digital Art
Make It With Clay
Jewelry
Drawing
Read & Draw
Painting
Photography
Manipulated Photography
Poetry
Farmology
Lights, Camera, Action
Mobiles
3D-Printed Art
The project registration deadline is March 27th, so start thinking about what you might be interested in building and stay tuned for more information about how to submit your projects!
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. We’re excited about hosting some fun Test Prep Parties in March, so check out the ones closest to you and help your child(ren) feel prepared for testing (grades 3rd – 8th). Also, we’re hoping to have as many families as possible fill out >>> THIS <<< short survey about Community Connections, will you please help us out and take 5 minutes of your time to fill it out? Thank you!
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 let the coordinator for that location know. 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
Homeschooling Advice
Letters from Afar
Isabelle is traveling the globe and exploring the most spectacular destinations our world has to offer.
At every stop, she writes you a letter to tell you all about it. From the souks of Morocco to exploring castles in Germany to visiting elephants in Thailand, follow along on an unforgettable tale.... told through letters in the mail.
Subscribe to receive a handcrafted letter every month sent via USPS.
Letters From Afar are an entertaining, nostalgic, and refreshingly different way to learn.
How It Works
-Subscribe for $6 to receive a handcrafted letter in the mail each month.
-Check your mailbox.
-Enjoy learning about exotic destinations in a fun, organic way.
Link: www.lettersfromafar.com
Purchasable with funds: Yes. Select "Product Order" and search "Approved Vendors."
Dictation: A Natural Way To Teach Language Arts
"When we incorporate copywork and dictation into language arts, our kids learn to write from those who do it best.
Copywork and dictation are similar in many ways. In copywork, students write from the written word while in dictation, students write from the spoken word.
Don’t let the simplicity fool you though. Both are incredibly effective. And as students progress from copywork to dictation, they start applying what they have learned through copywork. Dictation requires higher-level thinking and writing skills and helps you to evaluate what they really understand."
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
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!