Inspire Insider
Bringing families together, one newsletter at a time!
Monday, January 28, 2019
Quote of the Week
School News and Important Dates
Second Semester Starts Today
Inspire School Planner Feedback Survey
Let us know your favorite (or least favorite) things about this year's planners, and what you'd like to see in your planners next school year! Follow the link below to give your feedback.
January 2019 Special Education Newsletter
From our amazing Special Education Department:
"It is so hard to believe that winter break is over and 2019 is upon us! We truly hope that everyone had a safe, relaxing and joyful winter vacation. Once again, we are so grateful for all the students and parents that bring joy to us on a daily basis. We are excited to continue our learning journey with you and your students through the second part of the school year! Please stay in touch and let us know how we can improve the content to meet your students' needs."
Read the full newsletter here.
Great News For Readers!
As a result of many requests from families, Inspire is excited to announce that we now offer Accelerated Reader for TK-12th grade students! The cost for this program is just $20 per student in instructional funds and can be requested through your HST. Please note this program does not include books. For more information click here: Accelerated Reader flyer.
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a computer program that helps parents manage and monitor children’s independent reading practice. Your child selects a book rather than having one assigned to them and reads it at their own pace. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them. They may also read articles of interest right on the screen. When finished, your child will take a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that your child understood what was read.) In addition, when an LP meeting comes up, you can easily print up the list of books that your child read, and share it with your HST.
The AR program keeps track of all the books your child takes quizzes on and provides motivators like points or filling a sunflower with color. Every book that has an AR Reading Practice Quiz is given a point value. AR points are based on the difficulty and length of the book (number of words). There are over 140,000 AR quizzes available. With the AR Program, you can create reading goals for your child.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Janell Gaertig by email janell@inspireschools.org or by phone (559) 376-0215.
If you are interested in signing up for Accelerated Reader, please let your HST know.
High School Info Session
When: Friday, February 1st
Time: 9am
Topic: General information
Link: https://zoom.us/j/2433924197
If you can't make it, you can view past sessions here.
Use Funds To Buy Tickets For GameSchoolCon!
Inspire is so excited to be attending 2019's GameSchoolCon in Irvine! Board games, role playing games, active games, and video games are all fantastic ways to learn! GameSchoolCon is a full weekend of family fun and where you get to learn what GameSchooling is all about. You can borrow games from GameSchoolCon's extensive Board Game Library and a dedicated Gamerunner will join you at your table and teach you and your friends to play! Meet game designers at the demo tables, browse the vendor hall, step into a VR universe, support local artists at the Homegrown Artists Alley, or roll for initiative in the Role Playing Game Room... There's plenty to do for little kids, teens, and parents, too!
Our Enrichment Team will also be attending, so families can make purchases at the event!
When: February 1 to February 3, 2019 (Inspire will be attending on Saturday and Sunday only)
Where: Wyndham Irvine - OC Airport Hotel, 17941 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614
Tickets: Prices vary. You can view ticket prices here and use student funding to purchase tickets!
Inspire Test Locations
50 Reasons to Test with Inspire
Field Trips
Park Days
Thursday, January 31: Sweet Shade Community Park, Irvine. Time: 1:30pm to 3:30pm. UPDATE: This park day has now been called due to the rain forecast.
Educational Tools
NASA Kids' Club
NASA Kids' Club offers some wonderful resources to your STEM aficionado!
"NASA provides a safe place for children to play as they learn about NASA and its missions. On this site, you will find games of various skill levels for children pre-K through grade 4. These games support national education standards in STEM -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The NASA Kids' Club Picture Show is an image gallery of some of NASA's coolest and most interesting pictures. They may be used as conversation starters or writing prompts to lead children in discussions about STEM-related topics and current events.
The Now in Space slideshow introduces young explorers to the crew currently orbiting Earth on the International Space Station.
NASA encourages you to visit NASA Kids' Club and use its games and activities to inspire the next generation."
Visit the NASA Kids' Club website to see all it has to offer!
Homeschooling Advice
How to Balance Multiple Age Levels Effectively
"If you homeschool a wide age-range of children, you know that it is challenging trying to balance multiple age levels. Between keeping the older children challenged to teaching the youngest kids how to read, you’re maintaining a delicate balance. I know. I’ve been walking that tightrope for most of the last decade!
If you’re struggling with homeschooling a wide age-span, try some of my best tips for balancing multiple age levels."
Read the rest of the article here.
Local Events
Tenth Annual Monarch Butterfly Day
OC Parks invites children and families to learn all about Monarch butterflies and their natural habitat with an up-close look at these magnificent creatures at the tenth annual Monarch Butterfly Day!
Activities will include interpretive presentations, children's crafts, face painting and a balloon artist. This event is recommended for ages 4 to 12. For more information, click here.
*Event and parking are free!
*Event will take place at the Forest Shelter.
*Remember to bring your cameras!
*Food trucks will be on site.
When: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Where: Mile Square Regional Park, 16801 Euclid St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Price: Free!
The Revolution - Living History in Huntington Beach Central Park
When: February 16th & 17th, 2019
Where: Huntington Beach Central Park
Price: Free!
For more details, click here.
Kayak Tour in Newport Beach
When: Every Saturday and Sunday at 10am
Where: Newport Aquatic Center, 1 Whitecliffs Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Price: $25. For tickets, click here.
Minimum age: 8
Riverside Dickens Festival
When: February 23rd & 24th
Where: On Main Street between University Avenue and 11th Street (in front of City Hall) in Historic Downtown Riverside California.
Price: The street festival is free, but there are some paid events. View them here.
Community and Connection
Coffee and Conversation
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Orange County Parent Resource Site
Ladan Rashidi - OC Family Liaison
Shaemanique King - OC Family Liaison
Feedback
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