Thank you for honoring the teachers and staff at ICA last week!    We have some outstanding people working on our staff and you did a fantastic job making them feel appreciated!

Next week (May 22nd - June 2) we will be conducting standardized testing.  Each grade level (2nd  - 10th) takes computerized tests for two school days (1.5 for the elementary grades) during that time period. Students may express some anxiety about these tests at home, so I would like to give you some thoughts to share with your students in regard to the tests that may help them feel more at ease:

1.  They aren't part of the grades that go on your report card.  These tests are to show us what you have learned and how much your academic skills have improved between last year and this year.  

• While it is important for students to give their very best effort, we want them to be able to relax in the understanding that we are trying to get a clear picture of how well we are helping them learn.   Our goal is to strike the balance between being overly concerned about their performance on one hand and clicking bubbles at random (which some have been known to do!) on the other.

2.  There may be some questions to which you do not know the answer.  If after reading the question two or three times you still don't know the correct answer, make the most logical guess with what you do know.
3.  Bring plenty of water and a book to read silently when you are done with your test.
4.  Bring non-sugary snacks, a water bottle and a healthy lumch as we will have 30 minute breaks between all tests and you will want to feed your brain with both food and oxygen (by exercising).
5.  Please, please, please be sure to get adequate sleep during your testing days as it will give you the best chance of showing what you have learned over the last year.

Below is a list of when specific grades will be testing:

Grade 2:  Monday and part of Tuesday, May 22-23
Grades 3-4:  Tuesday and Wednesday, May 23-24
Grades 5-6: Thursday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 30 (two tests only on the 30th)
Grades 7-8: Wednesday and Thursday, May 31-June 1
Grades 9-10: Friday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 30

Thank you for helping provide optimal conditions for your student to do well on their assessments!

Sincerely,

Brenda

As you know Latin is one of the subjects unique to classical curriculum.  Sometimes people will ask me why we would teach Latin at ICA.  Click here for a fantastic answer to that question.
Earlier this year our Latin teacher, Mrs. Bartel, challenged our students to enter a Latin fable-writing contest sponsored by New St. Andrews college, a school specifically designed for the classically-trained student. 
Junior High and High School students from classical schools all over the United States submitted a 100- to 200-word original fable in Latin, along with an English translation of the work. Compositions were graded based on the student's ability to accurately use Latin vocabulary and forms of speech, the student's creativity in subject matter and their writing style.
I am delighted to say one of our 8th grade students, Molly Mills, was named one of the semi-finalists in the competition!  Mrs. Bartel is thrilled, and so proud of Molly and each of her students who submitted their fables to the competition. 
Congratulate Molly when you see her next and thank Mrs. Bartel for training our students well!
cura ut valeas,
Brenda

Often when our student body at ICA gather together, we rehearse some call-out style sayings that represent truisms we want our students to emulate.  In one of the call-outs, the leader declares, “Finish…” and the students call back, “Strong!” 
As we are approaching the home stretch of the academic year, the curriculum is challenging,  the weather is turning nice (sort of), and there is a tendency to sit back and coast to the finish line.  Such seasons reveal opportunities for students, parents and staff alike to practice the character traits of resilience and perseverance.  If you ask your student what perseverance means, he or she will undoubtedly come back with “working hard all the way to the end.”  This is a character trait that will serve us well the next few months.

I read a book a while back by Carol S. Dweck called Mindset (thanks to the recommendation of ICA parent Rob Chappelle) that contains some fascinating insight for teaching perseverance.
She advocates emphasizing hard work instead of natural ability for adults and students alike.  As parents, instead of ascribing success to natural giftedness, (“You’re/he’s/she’s really good at that!”) we must look for opportunities to praise musical, athletic, or academic achievements not because of talent, but for the hard work and perseverance that lead to success
When a student comes up against a road block of some kind, they can’t simply say, “I’m not good at this”.   We can teach them to say, “I just haven’t learned this or mastered this skill yet, but I can if I keep working.”  Ms. Dweck labels this a “growth mindset”, and cites in her book myriad examples of how well-known people have used the growth mindset to become successful in any number of fields. 
This one principle has revolutionized the way I look at parenting and teaching.  There are many students who have natural ability and yet do not do well because they don’t really care to, and just as many who do not have any natural ability who work hard and do extremely well.  The difference seems to be found in the heart.  As parents, we have the opportunity to nurture the mindset that leads to a heart of perseverance  in our children!
Developing the grit that perseverance requires must be intentional for each of us.  Take some time the next few months to encourage your students to “Finish…STRONG!”

Warmest regards,


Brenda

At today’s hot lunch we were delighted to present awards to many of our students for both academic and character achievements 
We also announced that House Adoratium is in the lead for House of Distinction for the year, but House Auxilium is closing the gap.  The field trip for the group that achieves House of Distinction this year is a trip to Wild Waves June 5th!  Encourage you students to complete quests and read books from the Readers of the Round Table list to boost their house points!
This week's quest is a social feat.  We are encouraging students to watch for others doing kind or honorable acts.  Students in third grade can write the action down on paper including what they learned from the other student's example.  Students in PreK-2nd grade just need to stop in and tell Mrs. Ohme about the action to get their points. (10 points per report)
For example, a teacher related to me an incident that occurred in her class yesterday where a student said, "I just am not a good speller", and another student said, "You mean you aren't a good speller YET?"   THAT is what I'm talking about!
We are so pleased with each student who puts out their best effort day after day.  You have some fantastic kids!

Today is the last day of quarter three of our 2016-17 school year!  

There are two events coming up in the next couple of weeks I would like to highlight for you:

1.  Awards Lunch - next Tuesday, April 18th at 12:00

Parents and grandparents are invited to join us for this celebration!  Our 1st/2nd grade and 5th/6th grade classes will be performing, and as an additional treat we will hear from several students who visited Washington, D.C. over spring break.  They will also be presenting a slide show of their whirlwind tour and sharing about the sites they saw.  
Whole-hearted thanks to Mrs. Ronna Bartel for making this trip happen for our students.  She led the way in fundraising, organizing and preparation for the trip!  Thanks to each of you who helped donate through various means - including hot lunch!
2.  Parent Teacher Conferences next Thursday and Friday, April 27 & 28   We are so glad for this time to discuss our partnership with parents in their children's education.  P/T conferences set aside intentional time to talk about your individual student, giving both teachers and parents a valuable opportunity to ensure each student is having an optimal experience at ICA.  
Thanks for taking the time call the office to sign up for your conference soon.
Remember there is no school this week on Good Friday.  If you don’t regularly attend a church, you are invited to join the Easter celebration at SWAG, our host church 8:30 and 10:30this Sunday!
Regards,
Brenda

One of the best parts of my job is talking about our school and giving tours to families who are considering ICA.  I've had seven or eight tours so far in just the month of March, and have found that almost 100% have become interested in ICA on the recommendation of a friend or acquaintance. Although we are always looking for innovative ways to reach new familes, YOU are by far our most effective marketing tool.  Thank you for spreading the word!I am grateful for everyone who responded to my question two weeks ago about why you send your student(s) to ICA.  
Here are the results of that informal poll:
Of those who responded, the top reasons parents indicated they send their students to ICA are:
1.  the moral/values based or biblically based worldview 
2.  the academic environment/quality education
3.  small class sizes
4.  caring or dedicated staff
Here are some of the comments:
"Passionate teachers and staff.
"Faith based top of the line education with family like, warm environment.
"Excellent academics taught by enthusiasts teachers!
"I know the staff cares for and loves our kids like their own, which is apparent in their work, play, and attitudes."
"We chose ICA for a quality  education with a Christian worldview and great teacher-to-student ratio."
There are many more similar responses, but there are also a few reasons that are less common you might want to use as talking points when you're sitting at the baseball or soccer game chatting with other parents this spring.

• This year we have been able to take each class on a curriculum-rich field trip each quarter.
• Our current reading/spelling program gives students the opportunity and encourages them to launch into reading earlier and at a higher level than ever before.
• Discipline - the environment does not allow for unruly students to disrupt the learning of others
• Student response:  "I would send my kids here because it is a family environment."   Love that!

Thanks again for your input!  Hopefully you have enrolled for next year.   I'm working on staffing for next year, so your reenrollment helps us plan more effectively.
 
Tomorrow morning is the last morning to bring in "Clothing for the Cause".  
 
Click on the attached MT document for a list of last week's Art Fair winners and several other announcements.  
 
 I've attached a photo below of our future politians who are headed to Washington, D.C. next week.  Can't wait to hear their stories!
 
Have a lovely "spring" break next week!  
 
Brenda

Good afternoon ICA!
Please joins us this evening at 7p.m. for our annual Art Fair.  The ICA Band will entertain us while we peruse our students' fabulous displays and vote for the People's Choice Awards.  Ribbons and medals will be awarded beginning at 7:30.  
Attached is this week's Message Tuesday full of up to date information for happenings around our school. Please read it and let me know if you can help us this Saturday with our Spring Clean Up.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Mrs. Ohme

Happy Pi Day to you!  3/14 is a great opportunity to inspire your young mathematicians!  You may want to do this simple Pi Day demonstration at home with your family to add some fun to the day:
Measure around the edge of your dinner plate tonight after dinner.  Then measure the diameter of the  plate.  Divide the first measurement by the second, and you will always come up with something close to 3.14!  Then they’ll want to try it with the dog dish, and the clock, and then the….
While I know you are all super busy, I would like to ask you to take 30 seconds to answer a question by responding to this email with one sentence.  I’m keeping it short to save you three minutes of reading, so you have 30 seconds to spare.  Here is the question – just write the first thing that pops into your mind:
What is the first thing you would say if someone asked you the question:
“Why do you send your child(ren) to ICA?”
Ready...set… hit the reply button!
But don’t forget the attached MT document with all the important dates!
Enrollment is now open for all families outside ICA - help us spread the word!
Warm regards,
Brenda

Four thoughts for today in addition to the announcements in the attached MT.
1.  Progress Reports = Half Day/Early release tomorrow (12:30).  We are half way through the third quarter already!  Teachers will be preparing reports.
2.  Re-enrollment - Thank you to all of those who have already completed your re-enrollment for next school year.  The on-line re-enrollment feature in Gradelink makes it easier than ever.  The directions are attached to this email.    Open enrollment for families not currently at ICA begins next Monday. 
3.  The Uniform question ... is still up in the air.  I'm so grateful for every single response to the question of uniforms I posed over the last month.   I'll be presenting a compilation of each familiy's comments and suggestions tomorrow at our board meeting and will let you know the outcome.  
4.  Field trips this week -   Our kindergarten class braved the March weather (and suprisingly didn't get rained on much at all) to visit the Fort Casey lighthouse today.  Their favorite part of the tour was learning about composting using a worm bin!  Thanks to Kelli Houck for the photos below.
The 3rd-4th grade class strikes out for Everett on Thursday to develop their literary and theatre appreciation as they view a production of Charlotte's Web at the Pied Piper Theatre.  
Have a terrific week and cherish the sunbreaks!
Brenda