Pioneer Weekly Express 12
A Publication From the Principal's Desk
Principal's Message
Let's call this the Field Trip Edition! It's not quite Spring break but soon it will be, before we get there though our 6 & 7th graders are headed to the coast to participate in Sound to Sea & Aquarium programming. Please remember these things:
1. Drop off will begin at 6:30 am on Monday for 6th grade and Tuesday for 7th grade.
2. Only approved and contacted chaperones are permitted to travel with us.
3. We will return at 6:30pm. Please be at the school waiting to pick up your pioneer.
4. Students should wear clothing that can potentially get wet and or dirty. 6th graders should bring a change of clothes.
5. The 6th grade team sent home a yellow information sheet. Please refer to that prior to Monday.
6. Students can bring money for the gift shop.
7. Electronics are permitted for ride, but will be left on the bus during activities. Students are responsible for any electronics that they bring with them.
8. Swimsuits are NOT allowed.
9. Students were surveyed to see who needed a bagged lunch. If your student did not sign up for a bagged lunch from the cafeteria, they will need to bring a packed lunch from home.
End of Grade Testing
We are beginning to gear up for End of Grade testing. Please put these dates on your calendar to ensure that you Pioneer is in school on assessment days.
Friday, May 20 Math EOG for 6th, 7th & 8th Graders & Math I EOC for Enrolled 8th Graders
Monday, May 23 English 1 Teacher Made 8th Graders
Tuesday, May 24 Science EOG for 8th Graders
CASE Testing
Students will take English/ Language Arts on 4/20, and Math on 4/21. The following week on 4/26 8th graders will have CASE Science testing. Please be sure that your Pioneer is present at school on each of these days. Assessments will begin at 8:30am.
End of Year Activities
Save the date! We are beginning to plan end of year activities. More details will follow, but please add these times and dates to your calendars. Parents will be invited to attend these events.
Tuesday, May 31
9:00 AM
6th & 7th Grade Awards Day
Tuesday, May 31
12:00-3:00
Field Day 6th & 7th Grade
Thursday, June 2
9:00 AM
8th Grade Promotion & Awards Day
Thursday, June 2
11:00 AM
8th Grade Picnic & Games
Thursday, June 2
1:05 PM
Early Dismissal for All Students
Thursday, June 2
Report Cards Sent Home With All Students
Meal Benefits
The U.S. Congress passed the $1.5 trillion fiscal year Omnibus Appropriations bill. Unfortunately, the bill does not contain language or funding to extend pandemic waivers for the School Nutrition Program. When waivers expire on June 30, 2022, the U.S Department of Agriculture will no longer have authority to provide the higher Summer Food Service Program reimbursement rates, allow all schools to serve meals at no cost to all students, allow the service of meals in a non-congregate setting, or extend the broad regulatory flexibilities our programs have relied on for the last two years.
The student’s 21-22 meal benefit status will carry over for the first 30 days of the 22-23 SY. However, many families did not submit an application while meals were offered at no cost. Even if you think that your family may not qualify, please go ahead and apply for meal benefits so that students are able to roll that benefit for the first 30 days of the 22-23 School Year.
8th Grade Field Trips
8th Grade will be going to Busch Gardens on April 29th. They will also be riding a chartered bus and having a catered picnic in the park. A lite dinner will also be provided on the ride home. The cost for their fieldtrip is $105. Payment is due April 9th.
Payments for the trip can be made on the K12 Payment center. The link to the k12 payment center is: https://www.k12paymentcenter.com/Home/Index. Our district made a quick presentation of how to use the payment center. You can view that here. Use your arrows to navigate the slides.
If you are interested in being a chaperone, please reach out directly to me at crystalgregory@johnston.k12.nc.us
6 & 7th Grade Families
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H7e46eXrn95c5B1f4zR7iSizai7ZxwXA/view?usp=sharing
Yearbooks on Sale!
YEARBOOK SALE IS STILL GOING! Books are selling out fast! We have sold out of hardcovers and only have 35 books left! Act fast! Order online at ybpay.lifetouch.com. Our yearbook ID is 14002622.
Alice in Wonderland Production!
IASC’s Drama Club will present a production of Alice In Wonderland by Jason Pizzarello on May 20th & May 21st at 6:30PM. Tickets for reserved seats will be sold online from May 1st-May 16th. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door.
8th Grade Semi Formal
Connect Special Guests! We need YOU!
Are you interested in bringing your passion or career to Innovation during our connect time? Do you know of someone with a really cool career or passion? We'd love to have you or them! Send an email to CrystalGregory@johnston.k12.nc.us for more details.
Did Some One Say SHOUT OUT???
Kelcey Benson
Cayden Gregory
Mrs. Dauphinais
Mrs. Miller
Promise Hill
Laylah Gonzalez
Harrison Bennett
This weeks happenings around campus
Students enjoyed showing their creativity during the watercolor painting Connect session.
Shared Community Information
Johnston County Community College: See their offerings here.
Camp Courage will be hosting their free, annual bereavement camp again this year. If you know of any children/youth between the ages of 6 to 17 years old who might be interested, please feel free to share this flyer with them for more information: 2022-Camp-Courage-PRINT.pdf
Grade Level Updates
Year 1 / 6th Grade
Social Studies:
The Middle Ages are in full swing! This week, we will continue to learn about feudalism and the manor system. This short unit will end this week with a closer look at the Magna Carta and Medieval activity options on Friday!
ELA:
This week we are in full prep mode for our Mock Trial on Friday. Students will each play a role in the trial: witness, juror, prosecution, or defense. Our prosecution will seek to prove that Modern Technology is harmful to society, while the defense will argue that Modern Technology is beneficial to society. They will build their arguments and cite evidence from 10 different sources. Ask your student about their role and if they can run through their parts with you! Students should dress for trial on Friday. Last trial, all teams brought strong arguments and the juries took diligent notes for their deliberation. We are excited to see everything our students have learned on display
Year 2 / 7th Grade
Science: In preparation for the field trip, students will be doing a mini project where they design their own aquarium on Monday and Wednesday. On Thursday, we will continue to explore L.2.1 and discuss Gregor Mendel and the beginnings of modern genetics. On Friday, expect an open note quiz!
Social Studies: The “Age of Enlightenment” is over! Next week we wrap up the various forms of government which will help us with our introduction to WWI.
Year 3 / 8th Grade
Science: We continue to wrap up loose ends before the break. Afterwards, we are moving full force through an intensive EOG review. 8th Grade Science EOG is Tuesday, May 24 and our Pioneers are going to be more than ready!!
Math 1:
Thursday students took the End-of-Year MAP test. We are excited to see the growth of our third year Pioneers over this school year. Next week we will begin analyzing the results as a team to determine next steps as we move into testing season. In class, students are learning how to add, subtract, and multiply polynomials and apply their knowledge to perimeter and area problems.
Math 8:
Thursday students took the End-of-Year MAP test. We are excited to see the growth of our third year Pioneers over this school year. Next week we will begin analyzing the results as a team to determine next steps as we move into testing season. In class, we reviewed and assessed on Functions. As a whole, students found much success in this standard. Next topic… my personal favorite… GEOMETRYYYY!
Enhancements
Theatre Arts: Students in Theatre Arts will continue to explore Musical Theatre this week! Throughout the musical theatre unit, students will create their own musical & research a musical of their choice using interactive google slides!
If your student is placed in Theatre Arts for Q4, please add yourself to their grade level’s Remind group!
CTE: Students are in full swing! They are motivated and gaining skills daily. Ask your 6th & 7th grade to share their challenges with you. Students have grown by leaps and bounds in their words per minute and accuracy. They are now challenging me!
6th - We are continuing to learn about word processing documents and formatting.
7th - We are continuing to learn advanced word processing documents and utilizing the command bar while following written directions to create documents.
8th - We are working on everything business! Students are doing individual and group activities on different types of businesses, making commercials, franchising, and more!
21st Century Skills:
We wrapped up our Career Exploration unit with presentations from students! Each Pioneer shared research with fellow classmates, practiced presentation skills, and had the opportunity to offer warm and cool feedback to their peers to help support growth!
This week, we’re discussing budgeting: salaries, paychecks, insurance, and more! Students will participate in various activities to practice making responsible financial decisions.
Clubs
Drama Club: We need parent volunteers for our upcoming production! Please learn more about this opportunity by clicking this link. Additionally, the next afterschool rehearsal for the performers in Alice In Wonderland will be on April 22nd from 4PM-6PM. If your student is a part of drama club, please use this link to join IASC Drama Club’s Remind App Group!
Movie Appreciation: We are looking at theme in films through Pixar’s Inside Out. Ask your student what the overarching theme is for our movie and if it is implicit or explicit.
Upcoming Events
April 4th, 2022
6th Grade Field Trip
April 5th, 2022
7th Grade Field Trip
April 8th
Payment for 8th Grade Field Trip Due
Wednesday, April 20th
ELA 6-8 Case Testing
Thursday, April 21st
Math 6-8 Case Testing
Tuesday, April 26th
Science 8 Case Testing
April 29th, 2022
8th Grade Field Trip
May 14th, 2022
8th Grade Semi-Formal
May 20th & 21st, 2022
Alice in Wonderland Production
Tuesday, May 31
9:00 AM
6th & 7th Grade Awards Day
Tuesday, May 31
12:00-3:00
Field Day 6th & 7th Grade
Thursday, June 2
9:00 AM
8th Grade Promotion & Awards Day
Thursday, June 2
11:00 AM
8th Grade Picnic &
Thursday, June 2
1:05 PM
Early Dismissal for All Students
Thursday, June 2
Report Cards Sent Home With All Students
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The Innovation Academy at South Campus
Crystal Gregory
Principal / Lead Learner
Email: CrystalGregory@johnston.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/iasc
Location: 521 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577, USA
Phone: 919-934-6481
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jocoia