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November 18, 2022

Nov 18, 2022Newsletter

Innocademy Thanksgiving Break

Break week will begin on Monday, November 21 and run through Friday, November 25th.

We look forward to seeing everyone when we return to school on Monday, November 28th.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hearty congratulations to Ethan and Grace our 1st place iCademy Spelling Bee Winner and Runner Up! Ethan and Grace will be representing iCademy at the Regional Spelling Bee Competition to be held a bit later this winter. Congratulations to Ethan, Grace and ALL of our spelling contestants! And best of luck to our winner and runner up during their Regional Competition.

THANK YOU!

Congrats to Tina Alicea who won the 25$ gift card for filling out the Parent Perception survey!

NEW INFORMATION

ANGEL TREE

As an IES family, we value all the members of our community and have a heart to give to those who are struggling. With the holiday season approaching, we know that there are many people who may need assistance in one way or another. 

If you live locally and are an Innocademy Zeeland, Innocademy Allegan, iCademy Global, Precademy or Las Huellas family and you need help with food/gas/clothes/gifts/etc. OR if you know of a family in need during the Holiday Season, please reach out to Rachel Potter at rachel.potter@innocademy.com by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21st and she will send you a form to collect your information.

All names will be kept confidential. As much as we’d like to help, please know we will be unable to accept requests after the 21st.

HIGH SCHOOL CAPSTONE TRIP INFORMATION – PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico Details

TOTAL cost will be $750 per student for the entire trip! Cost includes flight, meals, lodging, transportation, entrance and tour fees. iCademy is capping out of pocket student cost at $750. Actual cost of trip will be approx. $1600, but iCademy will cover the cost difference of $850 per student. The only thing not included in the $750 cost are any souvenirs or additional snacks students wish to purchase.

Refundable deposit of $150 due on 12/15

$250 due Jan 27th (non-refundable)

$350 final payment due (non-refundable)

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAPSTONE TRIP INFORMATION – WASHINGTON D.C.

Still time to signup and fundraise!

Here are some of the details:

WHERE: Washington DC

WHEN: May 9th – May 13th 2023

WHO: All Middle School Students

COST: $750 Student ($800 per adult) – includes all transportation, food, lodging and admission tickets

iCademy is investing in students who are committed to travel and fundraise and will support those students with up to $500. This means student cost could be as low as $250 to travel! Space is limited – sign-ups will be sent out after break week. 

If you are interested in finding out more details about the trip – please fill out the survey below. If you have any questions please contact jody.voss@icademyglobal.org or andy.meredith@icademyglobal.org – SIGN UP BELOW: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcT5IwEvjANpxbDOTlVYeUp8MIQNo-evqPBsa_rk8KT1qHrg/viewform

HIGH SCHOOL SYNERGY SESSION – DECEMBER 9TH – GVSU CLIMBING – PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE

Join us on December 9th for a high school synergy session at Grand Valley State University Fieldhouse (Please note location change!) from 10am -12pm. Cost is $5 per student and covers 2 hours of climbing and all the gear you will need. Keep your eyes out for more details!

JOIN US TO LEARN ABOUT WORK BASED LEARNING

Are you enrolled in the class already or are you a parent with a son or daughter enrolled? Maybe just curious about WBL? 

If you answered yes to one of the above questions, please join Ms. Linda for a virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 7 @ 7 pm for an information and Q & A session.

You may want to attend if:

  • You have a job
  • You like to learn with your hands and feet
  • You are interested in working in the near future
  • You want to explore career ideas more

Questions before the session? Feel free to contact Ms. Linda through zoom or at

linda.walker@icademyglobal.org 

If you are enrolled in Work-Based Learning class for next semester and haven’t completed this short survey, please do so by November 28.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScldpCgdKasShkkuAp38r0Q10wbJ7DDSBuhat6LqtJzfUU3KQ/viewform

You can join the meeting on DECEMBER 7 @ 7 PM from your computer, tablet, or smartphone by CLICKING ON THIS LINK.

REMINDER: HOMESTEAD CAMPUS IS NUT FREE

We have students on campus who have severe allergies to nuts of any kind. Please use extra caution when packing snacks, bringing treats to school, and enjoying lunches so that we can keep all of our students safe.

BITTERSWEET SKI INFORMATION & PASSES

We are again offering Bittersweet Ski Passes for students (7 + years) and their families (extended families and friends, too! Open to anyone!) through Innocademy and iCademy Global.

Ski passes are a great opportunity for folks to purchase a pass ($29) that acts as a coupon throughout the season, reducing the prices on lift tickets, helmets, and rentals. The pass can be used, repeatedly, at any time throughout the ski season (please read the restrictions on timeframe and days as well as black-out holidays), by the pass holder! ANYONE can be part of the ski club…student, parent, family friend. 
​If you are interested, please… 

  1. Read through the attached information
  2. Fill out the attached form for student and/or adult
  3. Secure in an envelope with payment (checks payable to BITTERSWEET SKI RESORT
  4. Label envelope: BITTERSWEET SKI PASSES – LEISA LOBBEZOO 
  5. Return to campus. If you would like to mail the forms and payment via US mail, that is great, too! Please use the information, below:

Attn: Leisa Lobbezoo – Ski Club, iCademy Global, 8485 Homestead Drive, Zeeland, MI 49464

Once we receive the application and payment, there is usually about a 14 school-day turnaround for your information to be processed at Bittersweet and passes to be issued so please plan ahead. =)

https://innocademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/22-23-Bittersweet-Ski-Club-Info-PREFILLED-1.pdf

Just in case you were wondering, “Hmmm…what does Bittersweet usually charge for lift tickets and rentals?”

WITH SKI CLUB PASSES ($29 each pass – every skier must have one to receive the discounts.)

Adult (anyone not still in high school)

  • $33 lift ticket
  • $33 Rentals
  • $15 helmet

Student (7 years old and older)

  • $29 lift ticket
  • $29 rentals
  • $15 helmet rental 
  • + 2 FREE Lessons 

WITHOUT SKI CLUB PASSES

ESSER III Survey – THANKS TO EACH FAMILY FOR COMPLETING ONE SURVEY, ASAP.

If you didn’t get a chance to take the survey sent to you via email, this week, please go ahead and use the information to do that, asap.

Many of you provided feedback on the spending of ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds last year either through a survey and/or a scheduled Zoom meeting;  these funds were given to school districts as a result of the pandemic   We greatly appreciate your past input and would like to give everyone another opportunity to continue the feedback. 

There are four sections to the ESSER III funding. On the survey, there are 4 listed requirements followed by information regarding a plan for the way in which our school intends to respond to each. You will be asked if you “strongly support”, “I am fine with this” or “I would like something different”. You will have the opportunity to make comments on each of the proposed plans and/or share a different idea. 

We greatly appreciate your time and feedback. Once the feedback is compiled, we will communicate any changes to the plan and give you an opportunity for further discussion. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Tyler at tyler.huizenga@icademyglobal.org

Please note that the results will be reported at the December board meeting. 

iCademy ESSER III Survey

Thank you again for your time and valuable feedback.

DECEMBER LUNCH MENU

https://innocademy.com/wp-con

OLD INFORMATION

MORE TECHNOLOGY HELP

Sadly, Zoom has been giving lots of folks fits, lately, including teachers! So sorry for the frustration. If you DO get kicked out of Zoom, please follow the directions, below:

If you are a K/5 Family and get kicked out of a different platform that you need, please check, below for instructions on connecting.

Thank you for your patience and perseverance!

NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS WEEK INFORMATION

Did you know that if a family is experiencing homelessness they can reach out to their school and there are resources available to help with education-related items (transportation, school supplies, clothing, anything that can prevent a child from being successful at school)?

If you or someone you know struggles with hunger and/or homelessness, please see, below for information and resources for community assistance.

https://www.oaunitedway.org/housing-assistance

https://www.shelterlistings.org/county/mi-ottawa-county.html

NOVEMBER FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULE – OTTAWA COUNTY

THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE? JOIN MDE FOR A VIRTUAL FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

Are you a senior planning to attend college next year? There are THREE more Virtual Financial Aid nights put on by the Michigan Department of Education: November 22nd, and 29th all at 6:30 pm. Click this link for more information and to sign up: Virtual Financial Aid Nights (michigan.gov)

Seniors planning to go to college scholarship announcement! 🌟NEW THIS YEAR 🌟

Starting with the high school class of 2023, students will be eligible for more financial aid from the State:

  • Up to $2,750 if they attend a community college, per year
  • Up to $5,500 if they attend a public university, per year
  • Up to $4,000 if they attend a private college or university, per year

Students will be eligible if their family demonstrates financial need* when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

*Financial need is defined as an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $25,000 or less.

High school seniors can get started by following these steps:

1. File the FAFSA.

2. Create a MiSSG Student Portal account three to five business days after filing your FAFSA.

Check out the link below 👇

https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/michigan-achievement-scholarship?fbclid=IwAR3ijJYZQQgQJK538_gk3q4QlYI8ZPiw9dGojFcIeUXy1S9EbZw1Aq9n_6s

HIGH SCHOOL 2ND SEMESTER SCHEDULING MEETINGS

Believe it or not, we are looking into 2nd semester courses, and Ms. Laura would like to connect with each high school student to confirm/change/create a course plan for next semester and beyond. 

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SCHEDULE YOUR 15 MINUTE MEETING

Note: If you are interested in exploring dual enrollment, tech center programs (CTC, KCTC, or others around the state), Community Passport options, work-based learning, or other ideas you have to leverage the flexibility of our virtual programming for meaningful learning opportunities, please sign up for TWO MEETINGS back to back.

NEED TECHNOLOGY HELP? PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS, BELOW

Please note…if you work through the problem with Vector Tech Group and they request that you return your computer to campus for a technology exchange, please connect with Robyn.parks@icademyglobal.org, directly, to make an appointment or to work with her regarding shipping.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Technology-Help-791x1024.png

ID YOU MISS FASFA NIGHT? NO WORRIES! WE’VE GOT YOU!

In case you missed the FAFSA/College Info Night, here is a presentation with links for further information on how to: 

  • find the right-fit college 
  • virtual college fairs
  • kinds of financial aid
  • the FAFSA form specifically (with super helpful and short videos)
  • virtual financial aid presentation opportunities by the Michigan Department of Education
  • scholarship sources
  • more tips and info

Please use this info as a launching point and I am happy to have an individual meeting to help navigate specific questions. Feel free to set up a meeting here: https://calendly.com/mrslauraverkaik/30min  

SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS GIFTS & FOOD VOUCHER ASSISTANCE

If your family lives in Southern Ottawa or Allegan County (except Plainwell, Otsego or Martin) and is in need of assistance this upcoming Holiday Season, please take a peek at the information, below and apply onlilne at saholland.org between October 17th and December 9th.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

We’ve enjoyed celebrating our K5 students this month and coming up next we have Middle and High school students spotlights 🙂  Don’t miss out, check us out on Facebook or Instagram! 

https://www.facebook.com/icademyvirtual

https://www.instagram.com/icademyvirtual/

And don’t forget to join us in our iCademy Parents group on Facebook!

https://icademyglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HC_Inno_Oct_2022_menu_FNL.pdf

This is the first Fall Open House in several years, and there is no better way than to attend the Open House to get a feel for if CTC is a good fit for you!

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL IF YOU VISIT CAMPUS

Just a reminder that, if you are visiting campus for Re:FUEL or Blended Learning, please adhere to the “ONE WAY” traffic moving to the right immediately upon entering the East (Taco Bell =) parking lot. Need a refresher? Here’s a short VIDEO to help!

NEED TO CONNECT WITH YOUR TEACHER/MENTOR?

Please remember that teachers and mentors are excited to help answer questions each school day. Please, please, please always use zoom to reach out to them instead of email. They do not want to miss your message!

HAND 2 HAND – SIGN-UP OPEN – IF YOU LIVE LOCALLY AND CAN PICK UP FROM CAMPUS EACH THURSDAY

OK, Hand2Hand is firing up again for the year, and attached is the sign-up form.  A few things to know:

https://icademyglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/iCademy-H2H.pdf

  • Hand2Hand is a weekly food bag distribution, provided by Vertical Church (yay to them for this partnership!!). Read the attachment for more info.
  • There are no qualifications, other than just signing and returning the form. Families can continue to sign up throughout the year.
  • Bags are distributed on Thursday mornings and we attempt to put in lockers/cubbies during the lunch hour.

2022-2023 School Calendar

https://icademyglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2223-iCademy-Family-Calendar.pdf