Inspire Insider
Bringing families together, one newsletter at a time!
Monday, December 2, 2019
Quote of the Week
School News and Important Dates
Learning Period 3 Ends This Friday
An Important Message About Field Trips
2019 Entrepreneur Fair
A Message from our High School Counselor
World of Work Wednesdays! - We need your help!
November is National Career Awareness Month
World of Work Wednesdays are 1-hour, virtual events where a panel of professionals take questions, interview-style from me, the School Counselor. Questions will be pre-released to those who participate in the panel.
We hope to have 2-3 professionals, within the same field, on each panel and hope to hold multiple events throughout the school year. That way, we can present on various career fields!
If you are interested in participating in a panel, complete this survey, and I will contact you.
If you know someone who would be a great person to share their career with our community, share this survey with them, and I will reach out!
Let's build a partnership for the success of our students!
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Tegan Thacker, M.S., P.P.S.
High School Counselor
Serving Families in Orange County
Inspire Charter Schools
Ph. 714-794-2060
tegan@inspireschools.org
Facebook Group- Important!
We have currently messaged all members of the Facebook group. Please help us by checking your Message Requests folder on Facebook and confirming your enrollment. We are starting to remove members who do not reply. Thank you for your understanding!
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
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!
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!
Field Trip Chaperones
1-2 Inspire Students Attending = 1 Free Adult Chaperone
3-4 Inspire Students Attending = 2 Free Adult Chaperones
5+ Inspire Students Attending = 3 Free Adult Chaperones
Additional chaperones not covered may pay out of pocket at the time of booking (subject to availability by each field trip).
Every Kid Outdoors
New Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Mission San Juan Capistrano is pleased to offer a program for the ASD community including adults and children on the autism spectrum as well as their families, friends and caregivers. This program encourages individuals to explore, reflect and learn in an environment that is comfortable for them.
General admission rates apply during ASD Accessibility Hour. Attendees are welcome to arrive before 4 p.m. on ASD Hour afternoon dates and stay after 9 a.m. on ASD Accessibility Hour morning dates.
Friday, December 27 -8 a.m. - 9 a.m.*
Tuesday, April 28 -4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday, June 19 -8 a.m. - 9 a.m
Reservations are required for this event. To reserve your spot for ASD Accessibility Hour, please contact our Bookings Department atbookatour@missionsjc.com or (949) 234-1306.
HAPPY FALL!
Now that school has been in full swing for a few weeks, we are excited to share with you our second issue of the Special Education Newsletter! We've worked hard on gathering resources and hope that you find this issue meaningful and helpful in your special education journey with your student. As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions on topics to cover in the future. Enjoy!
The October 2019 issue includes:
- Introduction to Transition
- How to Teach Your Child to Use the Library
- Using Multi-sensory Instruction
- Following Directions
Academic Video Library
Instructions to access Academic Video Library can be found here.
Wild & Free Conference
Wild + Free One Day
The Crossing | Costa Mesa, CA | April 30, 2020
Announcing a one-day Wild + Free event at The Crossing venue in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, April 30th! Join 1,000 charter school members for a full day of insight, inspiration, and encouragement with Wild + Free.
This beautiful gathering will feature main-stage keynotes, guest musicians, and surprises throughout the day. We may not all homeschool the same way, but we're not alone. We have each other, and we're in this together.
Ticket orders may be placed through the EOS and are non-refundable. Please select "Product Order" and "Other Vendor."
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
California Homeschool Parent Association
Click here to view the Statewide Executive Board New Officers!
S.T.E.A.M. for Teens & Tweens
Park Days
Gingerbread Themed Park Day
Please join us for a fun Gingerbread Themed Park Day to celebrate the season! RSVP to let us know if you're coming and if you want to enter a gingerbread house in our contest by copying the following survey link: https://forms.gle/kuBRXWo8amCtDt2U6
Should your student choose to enter the Gingerbread House Contest, please bring a fully decorated gingerbread house made at home . All students attending will walk through the display to view and vote on their favorite one. We will announce the winners at the end of the event. Please do your best to follow these guidelines. The gingerbread house cannot exceed18” x 18” x 18,” including the base. It must be made of all edible materials, except for the base. The edible materials are not limited to just candy and sweets so be as creative as you can. The base must be made of sturdy material, such as styrofoam or cardboard. No artificial materials, such as wood, lighting, or styrofoam may be used to construct the house. Again, this is a totally optional activity. In addition to the contest, there will be gingerbread themed photo booth, STEM stations, and an Amazing Race activity that you don't want to miss!
Field Trips and Events
Click on the flyer to book tickets!
Community Connections: park days, high school hangouts and more!
Community Connections is excited for the December CC Newsletter where we will be celebrating “Adventures in Giving”. We’re thrilled to announce that we now have events happening in South Orange County beginning in December! Be sure to sign-up for all events in the Field Trip and Events page or simply click the links in the newsletters:
December OC Community Connections Newsletter
If you would like to know what is going on in other regions or simply want more information about Community Connections, you can find this information in our CC Parent Website where all our newsletters and events throughout the state are found.
If you need any assistance, please reach out to your local Community Coordinator (contact info found in newsletters). We look forward to seeing you at our next event.
Educational Tools
Equate Math Game
Have fun creating equations crossword-style. Equate is a great math board game for family and classroom. Earn higher scores using division or fraction tiles and landing on premium board positions. Great for the classroom and family. Includes a laminated playing board, 190 tiles stored in two zip-lock bags, 23-page rules booklet with math review, and 4 racks behind which players hide their tiles. For 2-4 players or teams. Many levels of play for ages 8 to adult.
"Equate looks a bit like Scrabble--for aspiring mathematicians, that is. Designed by a real mathematician, it works like this: You put down tiles on a board and make points by correctly completing simple equations. Your nine tiles include both numbers and mathematical symbols; you can add on to previous plays both vertically and horizontally. Learn simple stuff (like what division is) and more sophisticated ideas (like the order of precedence among arithmetic operations). It all adds up." --Richard Farr
Homeschooling Advice
Cultivating Creative Thinking
No matter how old a child is, he or she will benefit from this. It’s such a tragedy that there is little time left in the average public school day for teachers to encourage their students to think “outside the box.” And, it’s one of the greatest gifts of being able to homeschool my children — I can capitalize on the time I have with them, and help them develop into good thinkers.
The best things – inventions, cures, advances in medicine, art, theater, music, scientific discoveries, etc. – come about because someone had the courage to ask why, or how, or what if. By encouraging our children to approach situations as problem solvers, and giving them the tools to think for themselves, we will grow adults who aren’t afraid to ask tough questions of politicians, doctors, college professors, and anyone else. And, they will take an active role in understanding situations before forming opinions or voting.
Developing critical, creative, and logical thinking in kids is a crucial part of raising lifelong learners and strong citizens.
So how do you do it?"
Read the rest of the post here.
Local Events
3rd Annual Holidays Around The World
Watch the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza transform into a winter wonderland! Enjoy live performances that showcase traditions from around the world, including Mexican ballet folklorico, Indian Bollywood dance, German holiday folk dances, Chinese lion dance, and more. The festive family fun doesn't stop there—take a ride on our Holiday Express train, create your own seasonal craft, and experience our special snowfall on the plaza!
Performers:
- Costa Mesa High School Jazz Band
- South Coast Chinese Cultural Center
- Orange County School of the Arts
- Bollywood Deewane
- Kaiser Elementary
- Reverb Tap Company
- Upstream
- OC Cello Choir
- Die Gemütlichen Schuhplattler
- Island Inspirations
- L'il Dickens Carolers
- El Centro Cultural de Mexico
* Artists and programs subject to change.
Give Back
Segerstrom Center will be hosting a drive for new and unused personal care items at Holidays Around the World, including shampoo, deodorant, heating packs, sunscreen and moisturizers, first aid kits, etc. Donations will benefit the residents at The Link transitional housing shelter in Santa Ana, which is operated by Mercy House. The Link is a 200-bed shelter for families, women, children, and unhoused adults. The donated items will be collected on both days of Holidays Around the World and delivered to The Link in time for the new year.
Running time (approximate): 5 hours and 30 minutes
When: December 14, 2019 at 11:00 am and December 15, 2019 at 11:00am
Where: Argyros Plaza, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa
Price: Free
Orange County Inspire Team
"Wishing you and your families all the best for a happy and adventurous school year!"
~ The Orange County Inspire 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!