Innovations Academy Charter School

Kindergarten-8th Grade
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Christine Kuglen, Director
10380 Spring Canyon Road  San Diego, California 92131
(858) 271-1414  www.innovationsacademy.org

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YEARBOOKS ARE NOW ON SALE!

Pick up an order form in the front office, or order online at: http://www.entourageyearbooks.com/YBStore/YearbookStoreMain.asp?YBID=7F040D1A 
You can also design your own dedication or advertising page. Scroll down to "Buy a Yearbook Ad" for pricing and designing.

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NEED SUMMER CAMP?

IA IS HOSTING WEEKLY CAMP SESSIONS

JUNE 18-AUGUST 24

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT http://www.iasummercamp.blogspot.com

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INNOVATIONS ACADEMY ~ NEW WEEKLY INFORMATION FOR IA PARENTS 

FROM DIRECTOR CHRISTINE KUGLEN - FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 6, 2012

This is our weekly informational message. This information should have come to you via telephone and email.
Call the office if you feel there is a problem or if you have not been receiving these messages.



We have welcomed several new families over the past weeks. When I took one new student into the 6th grade class, she was warmly greeted by a student who immediately invited her into a group discussion. This student had, had some difficulty with friends at a previous school. It was heartwarming to see. How we greet each others has a real impact on their life. Ask your child how they greet new students and visitors to our school.

 

 -  THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARENTS THAT DONATED AND HELPED AT THE 8TH GRADE RUMMAGE SALE. IT WAS A SUCCESS!

 - TEACHERS APPRECIATION WEEK is this week! 

• Monday: Bring a flower day! Have your child bring a flower from your garden to their teacher.
• Tuesday: Treat your teacher...bring a favorite baked or store bought treat, such as bagels, muffins, cookies, fruit.
• Wednesday: Notes of appreciation; have your child create a card or note to give to their teacher. All parents are requested to read the blog with their child and post one comment of support.
• Thursday: Bring a school supply day: please have your child bring a classroom supply item for the teacher such as scotch tape, a sharpie, pens, pencils, whiteboard markers...anything!
• Friday: Teacher Luncheon. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please stop by the office.

 - STUDENT LEAD CONFERENCES this week! Make sure you set a time with your child's teacher ASAP! We will have EARLY DISMISSAL due to these conferences. Students get out at NOON ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY THIS WEEK!

 - THURSDAY, MAY 10: 5th graders are having a Pizza Sale Fundraiser! Pizza slices will cost $2.00 and drinks will cost 50 cents. Help support our 5th graders! Pizza will be sold from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., on the Lunch Court!

 - STAMP OUT HUNGER: Help the hungry of our community and Innovations! Get extra label points for "Labels-for Education points. On SATURDAY, MAY 12, leave canned goods out and your postal worker will collect them. See attached flier.

 - SALE!: In the spirit of Earth Day, Green to Go trashless lunchware is having a sale until JUNE 30TH.
   * Go to http://www.greentogolunchware.com and use the coupon code: gowastefree2012

 - SUMMER CAMP: Innovations Academy Explorations would like to invite you to participate in summer camp!
IA Explorations Summer Camp is a program comprised of a variety of educational, active and exciting classes welcome to all San Diego students, not just the IA community! As part of the IA philosophy valuing student inquiry led curriculum, students are welcome to choose classes and activities they would like to participate in as part of their summer camp experience. Students are invited to sign-up for mulitple weekly classes ranging from JUNE 25 - AUGUST 17. Students will have the opportunity to participate in either the full day or half-day program. Registration is happening now so please visit our website or stop by IA for more information. Hope to see you there!

 - SPRING SEGMENT OF OUR FUNDRAISING PLEDGE DRIVE CONTINUES: Please find a way to donate if you haven't already. If you have, your support is wisely used and greatly appreciated. The brochure will be coming home with your child this week. Please look for it! If you do not receive one, there will be brochures in the Front Office. 

 - LOOKING FOR A PARENT(S) WHO CAN TAKE ON A RECYCLE PROGRAM FOR INNOVATIONS ACADEMY!
We have the program in place, just need someone to run it! Our school sure could use it and it will raise funds for classroom needs! If interested, please e-mail Debbie Kutyla at: dkutyla@san.rr.com

 - REMINDER: Label Clothes and Lunchware: Please take some time to label all of your children's lunchware and jackets. It will make it easier to return to you if it should end up in our lost-and-found. 

 - TEACHER BLOGS: Don't forget to read your child's 'Teacher Blogs!' It's filled with important weekly updates as to what's happening in their classrooms! Also, each of your child's teacher has a 'Wishlist' for supplies and various other needs for their classroom!

**  COFFEE CONNECTION WITH OUR DIRECTOR CHRISTINE KUGLEN: This is a great way to meet other parents from IA and sit with our Director to talk about what's happening with our school. Coffee Connection is held the first and third Wednesdays of every month, 9:15a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

• Next Coffee Connections will be held on May 2 and May 16, at 9:15am

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 CALENDAR EVENTS THIS WEEK
 

• This Friday's lunch will be Pizza!
• For $4.00, your child will be served (2) slices of pizza, grapes, and water
• For $3.00, your child will be served (1) slice of pizza, grapes, and water
• Choices of pizza offered: Pepperoni or Cheese

• Jamba Juice will be here today as a fundraiser for our school! Don't forget to give your child $3.00 for this healthy, yummy, after-school treat.

• Pizza Fundraiser for 5th grade! 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Pizza slices are $2.00 drinks are 50 cents.

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 IA SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2011-2012
(Calendar Subject to Change)
 
http://www.cushycms.com/temporary_uploads/170450/IA Calendar 2011-2012 copy.pdf

  ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

• IMPORTANT: the number one fundraiser you can do is ATTENDANCE! Every time a child is absent, excused or not, Innovations LOSES money. Every time a child is present, Innovations RECEIVES money for that day. If your child needs to be absent for any reason, please contact the school to ask for an 'Independent Study Contract' for the day. You will need to sign it and take home work to be completed on days missed and return the work. This way our school can receive funding for an absent child. Please contact Donna for an IS contract on sick or other absent days.

 IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• DROP OFF/PICK-UP PROTOCOL FOR PARENTS:

• PARENTS, PLEASE DO NOT STOP OR PARK IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL IN THE RED ZONE! IT CAN BACK-UP TRAFFIC AND STOP OTHERS FROM ENTERING THE PARKING LOT.  
• PLEASE PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT, PARK YOUR CAR, AND WALK-IN TO DROP OFF/PICK-UP YOUR CHILD.
• OR PULL INTO THE WHITE LOADING ZONE AND DROP OFF IN THE A.M. AND HAVE YOUR CHILD WALK TO YOUR CAR IN THE P.M.
• PLEASE TURN YOUR CAR OFF WHILE WAITING FOR YOUR CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THE PLAYGROUND! IT WILL HELP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS PROTECT OUR CHILDRENS LITTLE LUNGS. 

• MORNING DROP-OFF:
  • is no earlier than 8:45!
  • if you need to drop-off your child earlier than 8:45, please enroll them in the 'Before Care Program' and have them sign-in daily.
  • Due to staffing schedules, supervision of non-extended care students is not available until 8:45 a.m.

• AFTERNOON PICK-UP:
  • for students not enrolled in after care is between 3:00 and 3:15 p.m.
  • all children still on campus after 3:15 will be signed into after care!
  • please enroll your child in 'Extended Care' if they are ever on campus after 3:15

WEEKLY POSITIVE DISCIPLINE UPDATES

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE:

Our Positive Discipline Tool of the Week is "Follow-Through." 

IF you say it, mean it, and if you mean it, follow through! Think before you speak so you can say what you mean and mean what you say.

For guidance on the use of this and previous tools follow Jane Nelsen's blog:
                                           http://blog.positivediscipline.com/

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      FUNDRAISING UPDATES
 

• LOOKING FOR A PARENT VOLUNTEER(s) TO CHAIR A RECYCLE PROGRAM FOR OUR SCHOOL! IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT:

• ALSO LOOKING FOR PARENTS WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JOINING IA'S PARENT FUNDRAISING GROUP! WE NEED MORE PARENTS WITH GREAT IDEAS AND MOTIVATION TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL! IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT:

• CAMPBELLS SOUP LABELS: Is starting they're annual Labels for Education Annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Drive on Saturday, May 12! This is an opportunity to earn 500 label points besides helping out with hunger in San Diego. See information above.

• BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION:
  • Keep clipping and bringing in those Box Top coupons! We are still collecting for a Spring deposit!

• SPRING PLEDGE DRIVE:
  • We will be starting the Spring Pledge Drive soon! For those of you who were unable to support in Fall, you still have a chance this Spring!
  • So far, we have raised around $6,000.00! Our goal is $15,000.00! 
  • Pledge any amount! It can be a dollar! We want our families to pledge what they feel comfortable with. No pressure! 
  • All Pledge Drive money will go towards technology and other needs for our all our classrooms! We want to make sure all our children have the tools they need to succeed in their education.
• iGIVE:
  • iGive is much like Amazon. Go shopping for various products and iGive sends our school a percentage of all school purchases.
  • To start iGive, go to they're link: http://iGive.com
• Sign-up for "Spreebird" and you will receive daily offers by e-mail and the school will benefit from any purchase you make. This program operates like Groupon or Jack Grabbit. It is free!

 TEACHERS FUNDRAISERS

• JENNIFER KIRKBY-TATRO (1st Grade): has a wishlist on Amazon.com for her class. Click on the link for more information: http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/1GPWNUYF8VVAH/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go

 TEACHER AND DONATION REQUESTS!
 

• Please bring in old BROKEN and no-longer wanted electronics for our 'Inside-Out Club.'

• SOLUTION CENTER IS IN NEED OF DONATIONS: If you are doing any cleaning out, we are looking for the following donations for our solution center: action figure (such as animals, toy soldiers, super heroes, Disney characters, mystical figures like witches and princesses, etc.) dolls, doll houses and furniture, play food, puppets, juggling balls and other soft balls. PLEASE PUT SOLUTION CENTER'S NAME ON YOUR DONATIONS SO THE OFFICE KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE GOING!

 INNOVATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER UPDATES
 

• The newsletter contains a "COMMUNITY PAGE" where we offer space for advertising, announcements, and anything you would like to share with our school community. Would you like to let our school community know about your business? Would you like to let everybody know that you are having a garage sale on a certain day? This is a great way to support our community financially and create opportunity for yourself as well. A win-win! You can also offer this opportunity to friends, neighbors or businesses in our neighborhood that would like to have exposure in our community.

 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

• Volunteer for Robotics Needed: our parent had to back out, so is there anyone who can support the Robotics coach on Friday's at 1:45 p.m.? Please contact the school.
• Volunteers and Clubs Coaches: We will soon begin our 'Friday Clubs.' If you are interested in coaching a club on Friday from 1-3 p.m., please contact the school. 
• Volunteers Needed: IA is still looking for volunteers for Monday's Exploration's Classes, especially for the afternoons from 12:45-3:00. If you can volunteer, please e-mail: christine@innovationsacademy.org.

 EXPLORATIONS PLUS AFTERCARE AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Are you looking for something for your child to do after school?
 

The Explorations PLUS afterschool program is accepting registrations this week for the new Spring Session of Enrichment classes which begin on Monday, March 5th. Any IA student (and IA school aged sibling) or friend of an IA student may attend these enrichment classes. The new class schedule is now available in the front office. Those interested in trying out the class first are invited to do a drop-in day this Wednesday, Thursday or Friday for selected classes. The drop in rate is discounted to $5/student/day and covers a healthy snack, participation in the class and time after class to hang out with friends. 

REMINDERS:

• Extended care is available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Reminder: you must sign your child out daily from the Plus Program!
• If your child is enrolled full time in the Plus Program, your child is able to choose ONE Enrichment Class!
• Enrichment classes are offered weekly for 8-10 weeks. Classes run from 3:30 - 4:40pm (unless noted)
• Please see FAQS for 2011-2012 schedule
• Fees that are received from the programs are to help pay for the program. They also buy materials and equipment that will benefit the program and our school.  
• For more information about our Explorations Plus Aftercare Program and Enrichment Classes, please e-mail:                                       Michelle Anderson, Program Coordinator at: michelle@innovationsacademy.org
• Please make note: our Musical Theatre Explorations class has changed into a PE class.

 BE IN THE KNOW: Got Homework?
 

So many of our children now use keyboards for daily life. It is very helpful for them to have keyboarding skills necessary so that the keyboard is a tool and not a hindrance. Here are a couple of programs that you may use: 

Dance Mat typing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/


 

 FACEBOOK

• Connect with us with at Facebook!
• Feel free to write about field trips, send in class photos, videos, etc. Would love to hear from all of you!
• Our page is called "Innovations Academy."  

Innovations Academy: A Loving School!



What is a Charter School?

At Innovations Academy we powerfully create ourselves through self-expression, compassionate connection, and purposeful learning.

Our free public charter school, serving K - 8 students in Scripps Ranch, is a constructivist project based learning school with a strong character and community development program.  We are difference makers inspired to contribute to our world.

At Innovations Academy children learn in an environment that respects the intellectual, emotional, and social intelligence of all children. We use a multidimensional curriculum to support the innate human desire to learn.  We also offer families additional choice in education, choose from our full time (5 day) model for full time school or our 2 and 3 day models for homeschooling families.   

Page updated on November 1st., 2011