Happy Thanksgiving!

Fundraising update:  Last weeks recycling contributions raised $43.24 toward our Biosphere2 trip!

Reminder:  We need some 7th graders to help with our Parent's Night Out on Friday night from 6-9pm.  So far we have 8 children signed up to be taken care of.  I could use an extra parent or two to help out! We will be supplying pizza for dinner.  Please let me know if your 7th grader will be able to help. Here is the message that went out to parents:

PARENTS NIGHT OUT!  Bring your kids to Innovations Academy’s from 6-9pm, and for a small fee you receive childcare for a night out!  Our 7^th graders will babysit your kiddos while you shop, see a movie, or just enjoy a night out. They are excited to keep your kids entertained, provide crafts, show a movie, and feed them pizza! $15 for the first child, and $10 additional siblings. What a deal! As if that is not enough, 7th graders will also be GIFT WRAPPING!  Bring your gifts and we will wrap them for you.  (supplies provided, cost to be determined, and DONATIONS WELCOME!) Email lisa@innovationsacademy with child(s) name and age so we can reserve a spot for you.

Can you believe we are almost to December?  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break with family and friends.
A quick recap of our last week together:

• Students wrapped up the Shapes and Designs Unit with a cumulative test.  
• Vocab Quiz #6 was taken
• The majority of the Human Body Project is complete (click here for checklist) Final Due date is Friday Dec 4.
• Students did an amazing job performing their dance, "The Body is a Machine" for their 2nd grade buddies.
• A big thank you to all parents who attended the Parent Meeting for our overnights. Here are the details (you can also find this info on my field trips tab on the Class Portfolio).
• We will be visiting the Biosphere2 in Oracle, Arizona January 20-22. 
• Cost is $125. Payment 1 for $75.00 due Dec.15, Payment 2 for $50.00 due Jan 15.
• Click here for itinerary
• We will be doing as much fundraising as possible to reduce costs.  Currently our ongoing fundraisers are Tuesday and Friday hot lunches (a percentage of proceeds goes to 7th grade) and weekly recycling.  We have the Parent Night Out scheduled for this coming Friday as well as a possible garage sale right after the holidays(still planning this one!)
• Our end of the year trip to Zion National Park is tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 6 - Friday, June 10.  I can't make the reservations until December 6 so I will firm up the dates then.
• Cost is $175.  3 Monthly payments of $50 begin on February 15 with last payment of $25 due May 15.  (as previously stated, fundraisers will reduce these payments)
• I will put out a daily itinerary after December 6, but we can look forward to camping at Watchman campground, hiking Zion Narrows,  Bryce Canyon, Watchman Trail and Emerald Pools.

One More Week til Thanksgiving!

Reminder! Parent Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 3:45-4:30 pm or Thursday, Nov.19 at 8:15-9:00 am:  We will be talking about our 2 big trips for the year.  The Biosphere2 Tuscon trip Jan 20-22 and our end of the year Zion National Park trip June 6-10.  We will be discuss the educational significance, itineraries, costs, fundraising and chaperone needs. I have only heard from a few parents saying they cannot attend so I expect to see the rest of you at one of the meetings!

Our class is working on advertising our fundraisers.  An ongoing fundraiser is Weekly Recycling.  We also have a Parent Night Out Scheduled for December 4 from 6-9.  7th graders will "kid-sit" for IA families.  It will be an evening of fun, movies, crafts and pizza.  All of the proceeds will go toward our overnight trips.  I will speak more about the fundraisers at our Parent meeting.

We will be wrapping up our project this week and performing the dance piece of the project during the last hour on Friday.  I am not set on the exact time yet but should know by tomorrow.  Both 7th grade classes will be performing for each other as well as for our lower grade buddies.  The entire project itself will be displayed during Exhibition Night in December.

We have our Math Shapes and Designs unit test on Wednesday and vocab quiz #6 on Thursday. For any last minute studying, students were given a study guide that was worked on during class time.  It may help to review it with your student.

I look forward to a busy week and a relaxing Thanksgiving break!

Recap of Oct 26-30

Last week was full of MAPs testing and project design/building. We finished the Outsiders novel and celebrated by watching the movie and comparing the book to the movie (comparison is due Tuesday). Be aware that the Flash Fiction Final draft is due this Friday.  Please take a look at it and help your student with final proofreading.  The History mini project is also due Friday.  Check with Keith or look on GoogleClassroom: Humanities for more information.  

Our schedule is finally getting back to normal after a very eventful October.  Thank you to all of you who made it to student led conferences.  It is so evident that our students have much support at home as well as school.  If you were not able to schedule your SLC, it's not too late!  Contact me for an appointment.  Today we started the boys' and girls' groups.  I enjoyed sitting in with the girls and understand from Keith that the boys' group was as exciting. Due to our class party on Friday, I forgot to remind kids to bring their home-to-school journal home.  You should have seen it today after school.  Please sign and return back to school tomorrow.  

Please mark your calendars for either Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 3:45-4:30 pm or Thursday, Nov.19 at 8:15-9:00 am.  We will be talking about our 2 big trips for the year.  The Biosphere2 Tuscon trip Jan 20-22 and our end of the year Zion National Park trip June 6-10.  We will be talking about the itineraries, costs, fundraising and chaperone needs. If you cannot attend, please contact me.

Last but not least, did you listen to the weekly call on Sunday?  Our school is hoping for 100% participation in our Pledge Drive.(extended deadline!)  If you haven't already, donate! Even $1 makes a difference.  If you can't contribute, how about a note about something you appreciate at IA?   

Have a wonderful week!