Important Dates!

Tonight - 6:30 - 7:30pm - New Student Open house - Curious about IA? Come explore our school and get your questions answered.

Wednesday - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day

Thursday - 5pm - 7pm - Family Night - "Me Project Showcase" 5pm dinner, 6pm presentations

Sunday - 10am - 4pm - School Choice Fun Fair - Come play with us at the fair! We'll have a bounce house, arts and crafts, performers, and booths about charter schools in San Diego.

*all events take place at our school site.

School Update for the week of Nov 2

Hello IA Families,

I'm starting a new structure for these write ups: important info, then reminders, then classroom specific info.

Important Info:

1. IA needs 60 new students and we need your help. If we don't get these 60 students by the end of December we will be faced with program and personnel cuts. Have your friends' children shadow any day of the week. 99% of those who shadow, enroll at IA. You can also help by putting fliers out around your community and asking to make an announcement at community events. Grocery stores, coffee shops, and health offices are our friends. Get the word out. If you have a website please put a link to our school.

2. IA is hosting a School Choice Fun Fair. We know that people ask, "What's a charter school? How much does it cost? Isn't that an 'alternative' school?" Charters equal choice. The fair takes place on Sunday, Nov 15 from 10am - 4pm in our parking lot. High Tech High, Keiller Leadership Academy, ourselves, and Pacific American are confirmed for attendance. We'll also have a bounce house, craft booths, performers, and activities. Entrance is free though some booths may be selling items. If you'd like to help with this event contact iaparents@innovationsacademy.org or go to our volunteer page on the website (http://innovationsacademy.org/volunteer.php).

3. Family conferences are this Wednesday. Please schedule a time to meet with your teacher.

Reminders:

1. Coffee Connection is this Thursday from 8:30 - 9:30am. This is a great place to chit chat as well as to bring your friends who have questions about IA.

2. IA Board Meeting is tomorrow at 6pm. We're still looking for members with specialties in special education, law, and facilities.

Classroom Needs:

1. Justin and Karrlie's classes are collecting canned goods and blankets for the homeless. Please drop off items at their rooms.

2. Reading Buddies. Be a buddy and read to a child at IA. Reading to children increases literacy. There are times to read during and after school hours. This is a great way to volunteer and make a big difference with our kids. Contact Danielle if you're interested in being a Reading Buddy.

3. Have you noticed how nice lighting at home affects your mood? It's clear that classrooms that have lamps promote a more calm and focused atmosphere, rather than the intense fluorescent lights. If you have a spare lamp or would like to purchase one for your child's classroom please drop it with your teacher!

4. Do you own or manage a business? IA knows that the fiscal year is almost over and businesses may be looking to donate computers, printers, old furniture, etc. If you're work place is looking to donate, contact us for the tax write off!

Thanks for listening,

Danielle

Songs to inspire

This song, particularly the lyrics below, make me think of our kids. Enjoy!


Upside Down by Jack Johnson

Who's to say
What's impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There's no stopping curiosity

Our Mission...not just for the kids.

Though there are many other things I could be focusing on right now, I was dropped a ray of sunshine by a couple of our parents today.

I've always told people that our mission, "to powerfully create our lives," is not just for the kids. It's about everyone here, the kids, the moms, the dads, the teachers, ourselves, everyone. I've had some parents taken aback by that, "Oh, I never thought of it that way," they say.

One of our moms wrote to me today to say that she is thrilled that her son has gone from being the type of kid who would never ever talk about school, to the young man who now talks about going to college. He's having breakthroughs right and left this year. I can clearly see him fulfilling on our mission, he's powerfully creating his life...a new one envisioned for him.

Another mom, a prolific blogger, wrote, "While the journey is about my son, and I definitely don't lose sight of that, it is also about a very confused woman who is still finding her way, one delicate step at a time. In the nurturing environment I find at Innovations Academy, I have been given the gift of friendship, acceptance, respect and love. There is no price tag, no expectation, other than to show up and join in. What a miraculous place to be." She too is powerfully creating this year.

It's amazing to watch these changes before my eyes. Continue to shine on, our IA community, shine on.

Danielle

Updates for Innovations

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry it's been so long since this has been updated. There has been a lot going on with the beginning of the school year.

For all of you blog lovers out there, I introduce to you: http://iahighlightssandiego.blogspot.com/

This is a blog maintained by one of our lovely parents who is on a mission to keep everyone in the loop. Please see her blog for updates as well as some interesting tidbits.

One great purpose for this blog can be to answer parent questions. If you have questions that you think other IAers would be interested in, please email me!

Thanks,

Danielle

IA's First Parent Night of the New School Year

Future Parent Meetings

· Our first parent meeting was held on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. The meeting area was packed, so next time 1/2 of the parent group will meet with teachers while the other parent group meets with administrators and then the two groups will switch.

Be a Good Neighbor

· Parking in IA or blank spots ONLY! After 6 p.m., and on weekends, you can park anywhere.

Drop-Off and Pick-up

· Drop-off begins 15 minutes before class. If you arrive earlier than that, you will need to pay for before-school care. Pick-up begins at the END of school. If you arrive early, we will ask you to park.

· The only exception includes siblings in upper and lower grades, who need to be in before or after care, until their class starts or gets out..

Lunch

· Bring a bag lunch.

· We have microwave ovens in the classrooms.

· You may purchase lunches Monday-Friday (except Wed.) See Donna in the reception area for details and to place orders.

Needs of Innovations Academy

· More Students! All classes have openings (except kindergarten)! As much as we love the small class size, unless we get a big donor we need more students to bring class sizes to around 20 students.

· Handy parents. There may be work left from the weekend. Check with Donna to see if there are any more projects that need to be completed. at the school.

Info

· Blogging-Teachers blog each week on the IA website. They will let you know which day.

· Tuesday, September 22, is Family Game Night at the school. It will be $1/per person and you will go home with a free game of Bingo. A variety of games are available to play for free or as little as 25 cents a play. If you’d like to help, please email Amy@InnovationsAcademy.org

First Week, Fall 2009

Congrats on a great first week everyone! IA has been full of smiles, fun, and engagement. I've seen students busy at creating fountains, measuring themselves, learning math drills through outdoor games, writing, eating lunch, making new friends, and enjoying their new environment at IA.

I've spoken with many parents this week who are more than happy with their first week at IA and are looking forward to the continued building of our community.

Next week we'll start again on Monday with those happy faces and warm reception. We're all very excited.

Have a great weekend,

Danielle

p.s. DeeDee's (our K teacher) class has set up a Donors Choose Page