Inspire Insider

Bringing families together, one newsletter at a time!

Monday, April 15, 2019

Quote of the Week

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School News and Important Dates

INTRODUCING OUR NEW ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE FOR 2019-2020!

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Important Information About Inspire's Enrichment Adventures

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Mark Your Calendars: Preferred Vendor and Curriculum Showcase!

Who are Inspire's Orange County Preferred Vendors and what do they offer? Which curriculum might work best for your family? These are questions we know many of our wonderful families have, so we are organizing a showcase for you next month! Mark your calendars now!
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College & Career Fair

Orange County will be hosting a College & Career Fair on April 16, from 12:30-2:30pm at Urban Workshop. We will have local colleges available to talk to students and parents. There will also be representatives from different professions and trades available to share their experiences with students. This is a great place to have all your high school questions answered!


Click on the flyer for details and to RSVP!

Inspire Charter Schools Prom 2019

We anticipate a fun-filled evening of dinner, dancing, dessert, snacks, raffles and prizes, formal photos, and an all-night photo booth for students to enjoy.


High School Inspire students grades 9-12 are eligible to attend and

may invite up to two (ages 14 - 20) non-Inspire guests to join them at this event, so grab a friend and dance the night away at the historic Mission Inn Hotel in downtown Riverside.

Tickets are limited, so purchase yours today.


Questions? Summer Davidson summer@inspireschools.org


Thursday, May 16th from 7 - 11 pm


Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

3649 Mission Inn Avenue

Riverside, CA


Head HERE for more information


Registration & Payment

This event is not eligible for use of instructional funds.

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2019 Promotion and Graduation Ceremony

Please save the date for our 2019 promotion and graduation ceremony! We will have many more details coming soon!


5th, 8th and 12th grade families should complete this RSVP form here.

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Kindergarten Graduation

We are so excited to see all of our little Kindergartners graduate! Please make sure you RSVP by May 17th, 2019!

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End of the School Year Picnic

Can you believe we are already talking about the end of the year? Please join us and other Inspire families for our end of year picnic!

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Preferred Vendor Info Sessions

Do you have questions about our Preferred Vendors? Want to learn more about your options for our 2019-2020 school year? Our wonderful team is holding Preferred Vendor Info Sessions throughout the next few months! Simply join from your computer here: https://www.tinyurl.com/inspirepv
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Invite Your Friends To Our Info Sessions

Have a friend who asks about Inspire's amazing team and benefits? Do your friends ask you about homeschooling? We'd love to meet them at one of our upcoming Information Sessions!


Enrollment for the 2019-2020 year is open here now! Current parents do not need to re-enroll, your HST will send you a Master Agreement at the end of the year to sign for 2019-2020.


Below you'll find all of April's Information Sessions! To view our complete list of Information Sessions, please click here.

Brave Writer Webinar Series

Exciting news Brave Writer fans! For those of you who were not able to make it to Julie Bogart’s Inspiring Talk in Orange County or Long Beach, here’s your chance. EVERYONE can learn from her engaging wit and wisdom during Inspire’s Brave Writer webinar series. First Wednesday of the month beginning April 3 from 1-2. Free for everyone, but please RSVP for the April 3rd webinar to ensure we have Zoom room capacity for all: https://tinyurl.com/BraveWriterRSVP-April3


Sign up for one, two, or all three sessions and walk away with tips and tricks to enchant your child’s writing journey. Learn it now and take writing outdoors to change up your routine. Or learn how to make writing more fun even if it’s at the kitchen table.


#1 April 3 - The Writer’s Jungle: A Survivor’s Guide to Writing with Kids Help! You have a child who hates writing. Or, your child is so prolific at writing, you’re afraid you aren’t helping her enough. Or, your child writes well, but the results are wooden and tedious to read. Or, your child as the best imagination ever, but punctuation, spelling, and mechanics are atrocious. Or, you’re afraid of writing yourself and have been avoiding it for, oh, the last (yes, you admit it) four years. Gulp!


#2 May 1 – Writing Across the Curriculum Writers like to write about what they find interesting. Writing Across the Curriculum Teaches you how to develop your students’ abilities to hone skills in writing across the curriculum, narrowing their chosen subjects and determine subtopics.


#3 June 5 - Help for High School is a self-directed writing program for teens that both teaches rhetorical thinking in writing, as well as the academic essay formats for high school and college. Teens work independently of their parents, however models of completed assignments and rubrics for feedback are included, as well.

Earth Day Celebration

Join us as we celebrate Earth Day with a Planting Party! We'll have Earth Day inspired books to read and lots of space to play and enjoy the great outdoors. Each student can plant a seed to take home!


Please click on the flyer to RSVP!

Senior Grad Night

We would like to invite all Inspire Seniors to Inspire’s Grad Nite at Disney California Adventure on June 11, 2019! Your ticket includes access to Grad Nite festivities like dance parties and California Adventure rides and attractions from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.


Please note! We recently received an update that instructional funds can now be used for Grad Nite tickets. If you have already paid out of pocket, the Enrichment Team will be contacting you.

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Testing Resources

Testing dates are nearly upon us! Our wonderful teachers have complied a list of resources and links to practice tests to help your student feel comfortable with the testing process.


CAST Resources

SBAC Resources

More High School Info Sessions

Amy Edwards, Inspire teacher and homeschooling parent, held an amazing High School Information Session on Friday. If you were not able to attend, here are the upcoming dates in which she will hosting more sessions.


If you have a student approaching the High School years, or have a friend that is considering options for High School, this would be a great place to start! Everyone is invited!

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Special Education Newsletter- April 2019

From our wonderful department of Special Education:


"Spring is just around the corner! We can definitely see a difference in our students this time of year. We have a long stretch of instruction without interruption and consequently, it is also the time when students want to be outside and having fun. Please encourage your child to continue to work to his/her fullest potential, even when the weather is calling them outside. We are excited for them to “show what they know,” as the school year begins to wind down. Thank you for all your daily hard work and please let us know how we can assist you."


Read the full newsletter here.

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Field Trips

Stop By The Inspire Booth At This Upcoming OC Event

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Educational Tools

Illumanatomy: See inside the human body with your magic viewing lens (See 3 images in 1)


A 2019 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students: K-12 (National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council).

An anatomy lesson like no other! Look inside the human body with the magic three-colour lens and x-ray from head to toe to discover how your body works. Use the red lens to reveal the skeleton, the green to see the muscles working, and x-ray your organs with the blue lens to find out what they do day and night to keep you alive. Uncover the secrets of the human body and explore how its different systems work in this stunning follow up to the internationally best-selling Illuminature. Jam-packed with detailed illustrations and full of facts and information, this innovative encyclopedia from from Milan-based design duo Carnovsky will make you see the human body in a whole new light.


Price? $18.49 on Amazon here

Can use funding? Yes

Consumable? No

Vendor Spotlight: Cogito Debate

Cogito Debate is a specialized speech and debate program that offers classes at various educational locations and for several Charter Organizations. Students are also given the opportunity to participate in local, regional and state speech and debate tournaments. Children from ages 8 to 17 can attend a variety of classes throughout the week.


Their Mission


  • Improve Students Communication Skills
  • Engage Students in Critical Thinking
  • Encourage Students to Consider Different Perspectives
  • Enable Students to Confidently Express Themselves
  • Connect Students Intellectually
  • Prepare Students for Personal and Educational Success


Public Speaking


Classes are designed to introduce students to critical thinking and formats for communicating those thoughts in an organized manner. Students become confident speakers who learn to use effective delivery skills.


Debate


Introducing and strengthening debate skills that are applied to a wide variety of topics. Debate activities support the development of strong critical thinking skills, due to the requirement that each student be prepared to debate for or against any given topic. Students will learn to confidently present well-research arguments and practice artful speaking skills.


Current Event Investigators


We introduce younger elementary students to speech and debate through creating STEAM project presentations based on current event topics. Students will learn Spontaneous Argumentation which teaches them the art of organizing and communicating their perspective on a topic.


Address: 3 Peters Canyon Rd. #100 Irvine, CA 92606

Tel: (949) 838-6446

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Homeschooling Advice

My Biggest Homeschool Scheduling Mistake


Have you heard the advice about getting up early and getting your most important tasks done before noon? It’s great advice until it’s taken too far.


Since my family is composed of early risers who are up and moving before 7 a.m., I decided I could get homeschool and housework done in the morning. This arrangement would leave me and the children free in the afternoons for playing at the park and reading books together.

So I sat down with a schedule and planned. My goal was to cook a hot breakfast every morning and have it on the table by 7 a.m. We would deep clean the house, complete all weekly chores, and finish the day’s homeschool lessons by noon. Our afternoons would be free.


However, I quickly learned that tight schedules and families don’t mix. Breakfast wasn’t on the table at 7 o'clock sharp after the nights I was up with a crying baby. We had no room in the schedule for the mornings when my husband wanted to linger over his coffee and chat.

Even something as simple as an exploding diaper sent us careening off schedule. There wasn’t time for a child to savor a good bookor spend extra time on a difficult math problem. We were on a strict schedule to reach that goal of a free afternoon.


Our homeschool schedule had become a prison, and we were the inmates.


Through my failure, I learned two vital lessons about scheduling our school day.



https://www.bookshark.com/blog/scheduling-mistake/

Local Events

America's Family Pet Expo

America’s Family Pet Expo is the largest pet and pet product expo. Exhibits include retailers, groomers, hobbyist, rescue organizations, breeders and pet experts. Great show of dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, small and large animals, plus top notch entertainment and attractions.


When: Friday, April 26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.


Where: OC Fair & Event Center


How much: $16 (pre-show sale online only), $18 general admission, $14 seniors (60+), $11 children (ages 6-12), free for kids 5 and younger. Active and retired military members are free with valid ID. Parking is $9.


More info: Visit petexpooc.org, email info@wpamail.org or call 800-999-7295

Newport Beach Film Festival

The Newport Beach Film Festival seeks to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program as well as providing a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the Festival focuses on showcasing a diverse collection of both studio and independent films. The Festival supports the creation and advancement of innovative and artistic cinematic works from both emerging and seasoned filmmakers and proudly embraces the passion, vision and independent spirit of these talented artists. With the integration of the local community and educational institutions, the Festival stimulates an interest in the study and appreciation of film and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to participate.


When: April 25 to May 2

Where: Various theaters in Newport Beach
TIckets: Available here

Parents' Night Out

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Newport Sea Base Open House

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The 11th Annual World Dance Celebration

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Community and Connection

Facebook Page

Did you know we have an Orange County Facebook page? We have new parents in the group who would love to hear from you! We also advertise our field trips here, and upload the newsletter there every week.

Instagram Page

If you are on instagram, we'd love to hear from you! Join our page, learn about our upcoming events and field trips, and tag us in your homeschooling photos!

Orange County Parent Resource Site

Have you visited Inspire's Orange County Parent Resource Site yet? If not, head on over to meet our regional team, stay current on school events, and find general school information. This website is a great resource and one you'll want to bookmark!

Ladan Rashidi - OC Family Liaison

I have three children who are 2, 6 and 8 years old, and I was previously a high school math teacher. Four years ago, our family chose the path of homeschooling and we have enjoyed it ever since! I am passionate about helping families navigate their way on their exciting homeschooling journey, and connecting individuals to build a community!


ladan@inspireschools.org

Shaemanique King - OC Family Liaison

I am a mom of four children, ranging in ages from 8 years to 6 months, and have homeschooled for the past four years. I consider my homeschooling style to be “eclectic” as I draw from many sources and philosophies. I have a background in Project Management Support and enjoy planning and hosting activities and events. I look forward to interacting with and supporting homeschooling families!


shaemanique@inspireschools.org

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!

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