Inspire Family Newsletter
News and updates for families of Inspire students
February 19, 2021
Dear Inspire Families:
In October, a student reached out to me with an extremely well-written letter expressing concern about whether or not the guidelines in a classroom might be infringing on students' rights to freedom of expression. The letter had me stumped. At its heart, it raised some great questions: To what extent can schools limit or control what students say in the classroom? Wear on their t-shirts? Submit as creative work? Post on social media?
My first step in addressing the student's concern was to reach out to people who were smarter than me...including the President of the CA Arts Education Association, partners in the Arts department at CSU, Chico, and Inspire's legal team. I received some amazing resources, including a draft Student Freedom of Speech and Expression Policy, outlining the details of what constitutes protected and unprotected student speech.
From there, we held a series of meetings with both students and staff to review the policy and ask: Will this help us navigate the gray areas of what students can and can't express on- and off-campus? What will this guidance look like in the classroom? The conversation was illuminating, and I was impressed with the ways students contributed to moving the work forward. We also developed a Position Statement that captures Inspire's approach to student speech and that acts as an introduction to the legal policy. The policy was approved by the Board this month, and will serve as a guide for our school in the years to come, helping teachers to provide safe and appropriate classroom cultures, while protecting students' rights to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions.
I'm grateful to the student whose courage led to such a positive outcome, to the young people who took part in our discussions, to our staff for their openness in exploring these issues, and to our Board for their careful and reflective decision-making. And while it's not always easy to open ourselves up to difficult conversations, it's essential for building student capacity to navigate an increasingly complex and divided world.
If you are interested in exploring this topic with your student, the ACLU has a wonderful resource that is student-friendly and includes an exploration of racial equity and issues of free speech: Racial Equity and Student Expression in Schools.
Have a wonderful weekend, Inspire families. As always, don't hesitate to call or email me with questions, concerns, or good ideas.
With gratitude and hope,
Becky Brown
Principal/Superintendent
Inspire School of Arts & Sciences
(530) 230-7758
Messages from the main office:
Office Hours/Scheduling:
- Office Hours 8-4 Mon-Fri
- School Calendar
- The Perch
In-Person Campus Activities (limited)
- Students MUST have the Covid-19 Parent/Student Agreement Form signed and turned into the office to participate in any on-campus activities
Senior Parents/Guardian Section
Please check HERE regularly for Senior-specific information:
- Graduation
- *Reg2Go*
- Financial Aid
- Cash for College Webinar
- Scholarship Information
- Senior-specific Items
Senior Tributes - EXTENSION
YOU'RE WELCOME! We've extended the deadline for senior tribute submissions!
The time has come to commemorate your student in the 2021 yearbook with a Senior Tribute! It's been a wild year, and what better way to honor your student's hard work during an unprecedented time than to celebrate them in print?
Senior tributes are on sale now through March 14th, but they will be created on a first come, first served basis, with limited available space. Be sure to reserve your space today!
Create and pay online with a credit card, or pay with cash/check using this form. (School code: 16210)
Questions? contact yearbook@inspirechico.org
Thank you,
-The Anthology Yearbook Staff
Yearbook 2020-2021
Be sure to buy your yearbook now, before prices go up!
From now to April 30th the yearbook will be $85 and starting May 1st it will go to $90.
- Paying with credit card? CLICK HERE and enter school code 16210.
- Paying with cash or check? Fill out the order form and bring exact payment amount (not able to make change) to the front office during office hours.
Email yearbook@inspirechico.org with questions.
Yearbook Photos DUE TODAY!!
We are asking that each student sends in a portrait either taken by themself, or by you/someone else in the household. We are looking for front facing, head/shoulders, plain(ish) background, good quality-no light glares/weird shadows, school appropriate, high resolution image, no snapchat or other filters, photo must be from this school year (Aug-Now), etc. Besides these parameters, please be creative! Submit by February 19!
How: upload using hjeshare, school code 16210, portraits button, include the student's grade and advisor in the prompts.
Having trouble uploading your photo? No worries!
Email Ms. Hawkins at bhawkins@inspirechico.org
YEARBOOK NEEDS YOUR HELP - SUBMIT PHOTOS TODAY
The Yearbook will be submitted to the production plant for printing mid-March, so all photo submissions need to be uploaded ASAP for a chance to be in the book!
Please help us make this yearbook great by submitting photos of what school has been like for your student, via distance learning!
Here are ways to participate:
- Use the app HJeShare (school code 16210) to upload photos
- Use hjeshare.com (school code 16210) to upload photos
- Email photos to yearbook@inspirechico.org
- Tag photos with #2021InspireYBK on Instagram
- Answer questions asked on instagram @inspireyearbook
- Buy your book on yearbookordercenter.com (school code 16210)
Spain 2022 - ¡Olé!
Spain trip to June 2022.
Join us for an interested participants info meeting!
Feb. 25 | 6-7 pm | via Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/95370817440?pwd=aTNFbmsxeHdNNmpQbTBBUHdYUlZHQT09
Meeting ID: 953 7081 7440
Passcode: tapas
Inspire Performing Arts Booster
Want to be a part of our next act? You could be a STAR! Donations of kindness, time, energy, effort, and/or finances can bring our program to life even during a pandemic.
We want to welcome you to the NEW IPA (Inspire Performing Arts) Boosters! We are not a beer or an alphabet, BUT we will be the Crew behind the Crew! We are creating this team to stimulate greater interest and appreciation for the Performing Arts and to increase parental, alumni, and community participation in the Inspire Performing Arts Program.
Counseling Office
Need to talk to about their schedule?
In need of emotional support?
Let us help!
Office Hours: Mon – Fri 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Counselors:
Tasha Teeter -students last names beginning A-K
Marcus Hopkins – students last names beginning L-Z
Virtual Auction - Support Needed!
The Inspire Foundation is hosting a national auction in April 2021 to raise money for programs such as Sober Grad Night, the Angel Network, Scholarships, Programs, and of course, building a new, state-of-the-art school!
We are currently looking for auction items as we gear up for April, and we need your help to spread the word. Items we are seeking may include vacation getaways, gift cards, new jewelry, new artwork, and more. If you are able to donate an item to the auction, please get in touch with us using the info below.
Also, from now until March 31st - any business that pledges an auction item worth $250 or more, or who commits to one of our naming opportunities on the new campus, will also be featured as a sponsor for Inspire's Virtual Auction. This includes more exposure by having business featured on social media, during the auction, and on our website. Visit: https://inspirechicofoundation.com/capital-campaign/ for all the naming opportunities available, and leave a lasting legacy by featuring your name on our new campus!
Contact Celeste Cramer, Development Director, ccramer@inspirechico.org for more information or to submit an auction item. Thank you for helping us spread the word, and for your support.
Attendance Expectations
Though students are not on campus, attendance is mandatory for both your daily classes and Friday afternoon Advisory.
Distance Learning Attendance Expectations:
- Teachers will track attendance for the duration of class.
- Students are required to log in, on time, at the beginning of each period and remain logged in until excused.
- If a student cannot make a class period, a parent/guardian must call or email attendance as usual.
- Students should stay in communication with their teachers.
To leave a message on the Attendance Line please call (530) 891-3133.
More information HERE.
WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
For attendance:
- Call and leave a message at (530) 891-3133 or
- email attendance@inspirechico.org
For general questions, or material appointments:
- Call the front office at (530) 891-3090
For technology assistance:
- Call or email Ken Hardy
- (530) 891-3090 x209 or email khardy@inspirechico.org
To speak with your child's teacher:
- Call or email by visiting the "Staff" page on our Inspire website.
To speak with the Principal/Superintendent:
- Call (530) 230-7758 or email bbrown@inspirechico.org
Contact Us!
This is learning, Inspired.
Email: outreach@inspirechico.org
Website: www.inspirechico.org
Location: 335 West Sacramento Avenue, Chico, CA, USA
Phone: 530-891-3090
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirechico