Volume 4 | Article 3_August 15, 2022 | |
Your Weekly News & Updates | |
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Updates for the Week of August 15, 2022
Dear Innovation Families:
We are off to a great start for this 2022-23 school year! This week we began to teach our students about "The Phoenix Way" which includes a set of values we strive to model in everything we do. Our six core values are: Inclusivity, Collaboration, Respect, Discipline, Persistence, and Effort. Throughout the school year you will see how we will use these values to build, grow, and celebrate the legacy your students will leave behind at Innovation Middle School.
I want to applaud the effort students and parents have made to ensure their students were able to get to school on time and be in class ready to learn. It is my expectation that all students are on campus by 9:20 am so learning can begin promptly. Campus opens to students at 9:00 am. For students who need to arrive earlier, they should be signed up for the All Stars Program. This program is free thanks to grants from the City of Orlando and should be utilized to provide your student with a safe and supervised environment between 7:30 - 9:00 am.
Please read on in this week's newsletter for information about upcoming soccer team tryouts, school pictures, attendance policies, as well as a review of other important information.
Together We Rise,
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Jennifer Williams, Principal | | |
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Realize your potential
Inspire others
Show respect
Embrace differences
Utilize your resources
Prepare yourself
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Skyward is our district's student information system. This system houses student academic records allowing access for students and parents/guardians. All parents/guardians have access to this system and can set up their account using the cell phone or email address associated with the student's profile. If you are unable to access your account, contact the Assistant Principal of Instruction - timothy.baumbach@ocps.net - for assistance.
*New for 2022-23*
Pursuant to Florida Statute 1001.42, HB 1557: A parent/guardian MUST Opt In for health services: Opt in MUST be completed on-line for screenings, clinic services, and other health services.
Directions to complete digital document:
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Log in to the OCPS Parent Portal: https://parents.classlink.com/ocps
- Complete Parent Consent Forms
- Any questions, please reach out to Mr. Baumbach
Skyward Family Access
How to Use Skyward Family Access
Be sure to check emergency contact information is up-to-date. If you need to make changes to these emergency contacts, you will need to fill out this form and bring to the front office.
Student Emergency Information Form
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Soccer Tryouts Start August 15, 2022 | |
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Soccer tryouts will begin Monday, August 22, 2022. Students who wish to try out will report to the gym after school. Students MUST have a completed sports physical packet. This is different than a regular school physical. Get the sports physical packet here. Students will not be allowed to try out without the sports physical. No exceptions.
For questions about soccer, contact larry.chambers@ocps.net or leah.reich@ocps.net
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Picture Day is August 22, 2022 | |
All students will be photographed on Monday, August 22, 2022. Pictures will be used for the creation of student ID cards and yearbook memories. Students will be photographed during their PE classes. Students who do not have PE will take pictures in the gym during first period. Picture packages can be pre-ordered through mylifetouch.com using the Picture Day ID EVTRFWCT6 | |
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Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining"!
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Attendance is very important to us at Innovation MS. There is a very strong link between regular attendance and learning. There are times when students do need to miss school and it is important to follow our procedures to ensure absences don't lead to a truancy issue.
It is also important that your child arrive to school on time in the morning. All students should be on campus by 9:20 am at the latest. The ensures students have enough time to get to their first period class on time so learning can begin promptly.
You can view our attendance policies on our website:https://innovationms.ocps.net/parents/attendance_policy
If you have additional questions about attendance, please reach out to our attendance clerk, Mrs. Qureshi at 133274@ocps.net
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Over the past two weeks, we handed out over 1100 brand new laptops to Innovation students. If your student has not received their laptop already, they will be called to the media center to check out the device. It is our goal that all students should have laptops by the end of the day on Monday.
For more information about OCPS Digital Learning policies place visit: https://www.ocps.net/departments/curriculum__and_digital_learning/digital_learning
To help protect the new laptops, Innovation Middle PTSA is selling laptop sleeves for $20. You can purchase the sleeve at https://innovationmiddleptsa.org/Home and it will be delivered to your student at school.
While OCPS provides devices for all students, parents can choose to provide their own device for students, but it must meet specific criteria for compatibility with our digital learning program. This is referred to as the BYOD program and information and device specifications can be found at OCPS Digital Learning BYOD
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Cafeteria & Lunch Policies | |
Starting this school year, we no longer be able to offer meals free of charge to all students. We are asking that parents apply for free and reduced meal benefits through MySchoolApps.com. Having as many parents as possible apply for this would help us tremendously to ensure every student who can qualify is able to.
For students who do not qualify for free or reduced meal benefits, the cost of breakfast is $1.75 and lunch is $2.75. The cafeteria does not accept cash at the point of sale so money must be loaded into the student's School Pay account. Students will provide their ID number and the fee will be deducted from the School Pay balance.
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Student schedules for the 2022-23 school year have been published to Skyward Family Access. Please note that schedule changes will only be made under the following conditions:
- You have previously passed the course
- The course is on your schedule for more than one period
- Your schedule is missing a core class (math, language arts, science, social studies)
- You are missing a class period
- You are scheduled into an incorrect course/level
- You are currently enrolled in the same course on FLVS or OCVS
*Electives changes can be requested but due to space and scheduling constraints changes may be denied.
To request a schedule change, you MUST use the Google Form. Due to high email volume at this time of the school year, counselors will not be able to respond to requests made via email.
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Car Loop Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures | |
To ensure the safety of all students, it is important for parents to follow established drop off and pick up procedures. Students should only ever be dropped off or picked up along the sidewalk by the cafeteria (labeled pick up/drop off zone).
Students should never be dropped off or picked up in the Visitor and Staff parking lot by the front office. This creates unsafe conditions for students as they run across the parking lot to reach the cafeteria entrance.
In addition, students should not be dropped off or picked up along Storey Park Blvd or Story Time Drive. This often impedes the right of way backing up traffic.
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Bus route assignments for the upcoming school year will be available on the Find My Bus web application starting August 1, 2022. Because of anticipated driver shortages, afternoon routes for middle schools may return students home later than normal. At this time, we anticipate most of our routes will pick up students from Innovation around 4:30 pm. Students will be supervised in the gym from dismissal at 4:00 pm until the buses pickup the students around 4;30 pm.
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Student Cell Phone Policy | |
A student may possess a cell phone on school property and at school-related functions, provided that during school hours, the cell phone remains off and is concealed. However, cell phones/headphones can be used during the school day, if use is part of the curriculum and outlined in the teacher’s lesson/syllabus. Violations of this policy may result in confiscation of the cell phone and/or other disciplinary actions. In addition, if the cell phone is used in a criminal act (such as sexting as outlined in Florida Statutes and the Code), the cell phone will be provided to law enforcement and the student may face criminal penalties.
If confiscated, the parent/guardian will make arrangements to pick up the cell phone from the school, unless law enforcement has taken possession of the cell phone for a criminal act.
At no time shall OCPS be responsible for theft, loss or damage to cell phones or other electronic devices brought onto its property.
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Student Dress Code Policy | |
Innovation Middle School will follow the Student Dress Code as written on the OCPS Student Code of Conduct. Please consider these guidelines when shopping for back to school clothing.
The dress and grooming of Orange County Public Schools’ students shall contribute to the health and safety of the individual, promote a positive educational environment, and not disrupt the educational activities and processes of the school. These standards of dress and grooming apply to all students in the public schools of Orange County, unless a specific exemption is granted by the principal. Any request for an exemption shall be made to the principal.
- Clothes shall be worn as they are designed. For example, suspenders should be over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled, no underwear as outerwear, no underwear exposed.
- Clothing must cover the body from one armpit across to the other armpit and down to approximately mid-thigh. Tops must have straps. Undergarments must not be viewable. Rips, holes, or tears in clothing must be below mid-thigh.
- Shoes shall be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment. The following shoes are not acceptable for any OCPS student: cleated shoes or shoes with wheels.
- Headgear shall not be worn on campus during the school day, unless the headgear is approved by the principal.
- Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear, and must be approved by the principal before being worn during the school day.
- See-through, revealing, or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of this dress code.
- Gang paraphernalia, garments and/or jewelry, tattoos, or other insignias, which display or suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, alcohol, or tobacco-related wording/graphics or may tend to provoke violence or disruption in school, shall not be worn.
- Clothing must not state, imply, or depict hate speech or imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected class.
- Clothing and accessories that endanger students or staff shall not be worn.
- Individual schools may implement school uniforms with community input and approval of the principal’s supervisor.
- Individual schools are expected to use the state and district dress and grooming guidelines as minimum standards; any adjustments may be made upon approval of the principal’s supervisor. The principal at each school reserves the right to determine what appropriate dress is for the school as detailed in these minimum standards.
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City of Orlando All-Stars Program | |
The City of Orlando All Stars Program provides services before and after school. The program hours are 7:30 - 9:30 am and 4:00 - 6:00 pm (3:00 - 6:00 pm on Wednesdays). To register visit: http://bit.ly/ASAS-SY2022-23
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IMS Bell Schedule 2022-23 | | | | | |
