As a safety procedure today, Innovations Academy was ready to perform a lock down had the authorities warranted it. Our staff was immediately notified of the possibility (since we are not far from Helix High) and informed students of the procedure. Our site did not go on lock down and the lock down at Helix was lifted at 1pm.
http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/
Today I have a gratitude for being in a safe environment with a wonderfully responsive community.
~Danielle
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
All School Bake Sale & Holiday Sing-A-Long
Wednesday, December 17th
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
In the Multi-Purpose Room
Parents, please donate a baked good, and purchase one to take home.
All funds raised will benefit IA activities.
The singing will be led by Star, Virginia, Bill, and your children!
We invite you to sing along!
Thank you for your support!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tis the Season!
Hey Everyone,
This has been a busy couple of weeks for IA! With the Thanksgiving break and Winter Break coming ahead there is a lot of energy and excitement around these parts.
Last week we had our first Parent Meeting and it was fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing all of your faces and being able to connect as one community. We went over some school policy as well as had an introduction to Compassionate Communication. As far as turn out, we had about 50% of our parent community in attendance. This is a good start and I know we can do even better in the future.
If you'd like to find out more about Compassionate Communication (CC) Practice Groups in the San Diego area please see: http://www.sdnvc.org/pages/events.html
IA News Below:
Don't want to wrap Christmas gifts yourself? Let IA students do it!
Students from the older grades here at IA have volunteered to help you wrap your Christmas gifts during their lunch break next week, 11am-12noon Dec 15-19! Donations will help support their spring field trip plans!
This Wednesday - School Presentation Show - Many classes will be presenting some of their projects and talents at this morning meeting starting at 8:30am. Parents are highly encouraged to attend!
Iceskating Wednesday - We've had a lovely time iceskating at IA and will be doing it again this Wednesday to close off the holiday season.
Wednesday Bake Sale from 12:30 - 1:30pm
Friday - Last day of school before break
Kim and Lisa's wax museum has been postponed until January.
No school on Monday the 5th!
January 6th - Welcome back!
This has been a busy couple of weeks for IA! With the Thanksgiving break and Winter Break coming ahead there is a lot of energy and excitement around these parts.
Last week we had our first Parent Meeting and it was fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing all of your faces and being able to connect as one community. We went over some school policy as well as had an introduction to Compassionate Communication. As far as turn out, we had about 50% of our parent community in attendance. This is a good start and I know we can do even better in the future.
If you'd like to find out more about Compassionate Communication (CC) Practice Groups in the San Diego area please see: http://www.sdnvc.org/pages/
IA News Below:
Don't want to wrap Christmas gifts yourself? Let IA students do it!
Students from the older grades here at IA have volunteered to help you wrap your Christmas gifts during their lunch break next week, 11am-12noon Dec 15-19! Donations will help support their spring field trip plans!
This Wednesday - School Presentation Show - Many classes will be presenting some of their projects and talents at this morning meeting starting at 8:30am. Parents are highly encouraged to attend!
Iceskating Wednesday - We've had a lovely time iceskating at IA and will be doing it again this Wednesday to close off the holiday season.
Wednesday Bake Sale from 12:30 - 1:30pm
Friday - Last day of school before break
Kim and Lisa's wax museum has been postponed until January.
No school on Monday the 5th!
January 6th - Welcome back!
Kindergarten Service Learning Requests Your Support
IA we need your help! Kindergarten is completing their service learning project with a toiletry drive for an orphanage in TJ. Please ask your students to bring any donations by the end of next week. We will have a donation box on Wednesday, December 17th during the bake sale, but will take donations until Friday, December 19th.
In order to complete our service learning project we would like to have a toiletry drive for the orphanage in Tijuana. We will, also, be sending the stools that we have painted. We would like to collect the following to donate:
laundry detergent
toilet paper
dish soap
paper towels
soap
shampoo
toothpaste
New Socks & New Underwear (children ages 2 & up)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Digital Age
Some thoughts from Kim, our 3/4/5 combo teacher:
Marc Prensky's book "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" made me think about how the children of today learn differently than we did. This has important implications about education, which we are only beginning to understand. I thought you might find this excerpt interesting.
Copyright 2008 Time4Learning All rights reserved
*Excerpted from: "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" By Marc Prensky.
Marc Prensky's book "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" made me think about how the children of today learn differently than we did. This has important implications about education, which we are only beginning to understand. I thought you might find this excerpt interesting.
"Do our children learn differently from us? Are they "digital natives"?
It is amazing to me how in all the hoopla and debate these days about the decline of education in the US, we ignore the most fundamental of its causes. Our students have changed radically. Today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach....
Today's students - K through college - represent the first generations to grow up with this new [digital technology] technology. They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age... Computer games, email, the Internet, cell phones and instant messaging are integral parts of their lives.
It is now clear that as a result of this ubiquitous environment and the sheer volume of their interaction with it, today's students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors. These differences go far further and deeper than most educators suspect or realize.*"
Most parents aspire to have their children enjoy reading and sports and find that somehow, modern electronics (television, game machines, computers, etc.) competes with these activities. It is a challenge for parents to manage the modern media's impact on our children and families. But as parents, you can manage your environment. Of course, tools and services to help are useful. Some tips:
1. Email. Have your children write emails to their cousins and grandparents. Of course, you should closely supervise their online activities including having the youngest ones use your email account.
2. Blogs. While children have traditionally loved keeping journals, it seems that many get particularly excited by seeing their own writing on the internet. Since starting a blog takes minutes and it's easy to keep safe and anonymous, it provides a simple motivating way to "publish" your children's writing.
3. Websites. There are great learning games available online. Three sites that we recommend: LearningGamesForKids, SpellingCity, and Vocabulary is Fun.
4. Online interactive curriculum. Time4Learning's online automated curriculum teaches from PreSchool to 8th Grade. Give it a try. Time4Writing has recently been created to provide eight week online writing courses with individual feedback.
Thanks for reading,
John Edelson
It's Time4Learning. And Fun.
It's Time4Learning. And Fun.
Copyright 2008 Time4Learning All rights reserved
*Excerpted from: "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" By Marc Prensky.
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