IPSF IMPACT - Mid- January 2017 Edition

GRANTS HELP TEACHERS REACH FOR THE STARS

In 2016, IPSF in partnership with IUSD, helped launch the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program, which has provided teams from each high school the opportunity to assemble, test, and launch a nano-satellite into space! Our students' first experience with CubeSat technology was the result of an IPSF Innovative Teaching Award Program (ITAP) grant that was presented three years ago to Tinh Tran of University High School. It was that spark that helped make this amazing endeavor a reality for our students.

Through a collaboration with Mr. Tran and two Irvine dads, Dr. Brent Freeze and Kain Sosa, the Irvine CubeSat STEM Program was conceived. The team came to IPSF to help fund the program and engage our corporate partners to expand the project so it could reach all of the high schools in Irvine.

Each year, IPSF awards over $130,000 to teachers and counselors through the Innovative Grants Program to support groundbreaking curriculum in the classroom to enhance the educational experience of students.

IPSF is accepting applications for the Innovative Grants Program through January 30. Interested teachers can download the application on our website.

WINTER BOWL 2017

Come out and support your school's team at the Winter Bowl Flag Football Tournament on Saturday, January 28 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Orange County Great Park. The Winter Bowl is part of IPSF's Irvine Youth Sports Tournament of Champions, a city-wide annual sports program that consists of basketball, soccer and football tournaments. Schools earn points for their performance in each tournament, and the school with the most points at the end of the year is awarded the Champions Cup to display at their school.

ENRICHMENT DAY

Monday, February 20 is a district-wide school holiday. If you do not have plans for your student, we have good news! Students in Grades 2-8 are invited to spend the holiday at IPSF Enrichment Day. The day will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Westwood Training Center. Students may pre-register for four classes in a variety of engaging and fun subjects. Cost is $90 per student. Online enrollment will open on January 23 at www.ipsfacademy.org/ee.

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

Thank you to the hundreds of generous supporters who made the 2016 IPSF Annual Campaign a success! View a list of their names on our online Donor Honor Roll. With your participation, IPSF can continue to provide crucial funding to Irvine schools for classroom support, music, science, and health & wellness. Not on the list? It's not too late! Make a gift by January 31 to add your name to the final 2016 Annual Campaign Donor Honor Roll.

STUDENTS SUPPORTING IPSF

We are so proud to share that Tori Shute, a junior at Northwood High School and daughter of

IPSF Legacy Partners , Jim and Trish Shute, has written a children's book, Piper the Penguin . Piper is new to her first grade class, and doesn't quite fit in. But she and the others soon learn being different isn't a bad thing. Tori created this book to address the issue of bullying in schools and has submitted it for the distinguished Girl Scouts Gold Award, the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts organization.

Tori's goal was to create a fun resource to address this serious topic that could be used to teach students acceptance of all different types of people. Tori believes that education on bullying needs to start in elementary school in order to decrease these cases at the high school level by giving students the foundation to understand and be more empathetic toward others.

Piper the Penguin is now available for purchase on Amazon.com. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to IPSF and go towards IPSF's Innovative Grants Program counseling grants. We are so grateful for Tori's support of our mission, and we hope you will support her by sharing this wonderful story with your child to start a conversation about bullying.

IUSD, UCI, AND IPSF TEAM UP FOR MATHLETICS

IUSD middle school students and their families are invited to Mathletics Night at UC Irvine Men's Basketball! Mathletics Night allows students to apply math skills learned in class to in-game basketball statistics, all while cheering on our local Anteaters - ZOT!

Join us as UCI Men's Basketball take on UC Riverside at the Bren Events Center on Saturday, February 18. There will be no charge for game tickets for IUSD middle school students and up to 3 guests (4 tickets total). The tickets are complimentary, but you must complete the online registration no later than February 13.

See the flyer for additional information.

KENDRA SCOTT JEWELRY SPRING LAUNCH PARTY

Join us on Wednesday, January 25 for a special Kendra Scott give back event benefitting IPSF from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guests will enjoy an exclusive sneak peek of Kendra Scott's Spring Jewelry Collection at their Fashion Island store located at 235 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Beach.

Refreshments will also be served, and 20% of the proceeds earned from the event will go to Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

BECOME A COX SCHOLAR

Our partners at Cox Communications are now accepting applications for their scholarship program. The Cox Charities Foundation awards college scholarships up to $5,000 to graduating high school seniors across California, including Orange County. From science and engineering to business and the arts, these Cox Scholars are pursuing careers that incorporate their passion for giving back to their community.

Student can apply now at www.coxcharitiesca.org. The deadline to submit is February 1.