ICS PTSA NEWSLETTER

October 6, 2024

See the ICS Calendar for more upcoming event dates.

MR. HENDRICKSON TO DISCUSS IB PROGRAM AT PARENT MTG

Please join us on THURSDAY, October 10 at 7:00 PM in the Lyceum for an especially important parent meeting. Principal Hendrickson will have the floor to present an overview about the IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma program.

ICS aspires to implement the program for 11th and 12th grade students for the 2026-27 school year; the current grade 9 class would be the first cohort of students to enter. Mr. Hendrickson will give an update on ICS' IB accreditation status and how the transition to an IB program will affect your students. PTSA specific updates at this meeting will be minimal.

THE 2024 PTSA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE HEATS UP!

6th and 11th grades are tied and well on their way to a pizza party! Which grade will reach 75% membership rate first? Show up for your students' grades and ICS and DONATE HERE NOW!

WHY ARE PTSA DONATIONS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT?

ICS relies on family and matching contributions to the PTSA for well … EVERYTHING! Donations are so important that we are launching our first ever PTSA membership drive. Your student's grade could earn:

• A Pizza Party: during lunch on Friday, November 15 for students of any grade that reaches a 75% membership rate.
• Donuts: at the end of lunch on Friday, November 15 for students of any grade that reaches a 70% membership rate.

Did you know that before covid the PTSA had 100% participation? Our goal is to reach 100% participation again to keep and grow the core programs that drew you family to ICS. The suggested donation amount is $225 per family per school year, but any amount helps us reach our goal. So far, we have raised $55,075, which is only 69% of our $80,000 goal. THANK YOU to all families who have donated already.

Note for those donating through Benevity (commonly used by Microsoft and other employers’ portals), there is a 30–45-day delay before we receive notification of your donation/matching funds. Please email treasurer@icsptsa.org for more information.

REFLECTIONS 2024-25 CALL FOR ENTRIES

This year's theme is Accepting Imperfections. The due date for entries is Thursday, November 7 by 11:00 PM. The complete rules are listed on our website. More details will be shared next week! For further questions, contact reflections@icsptsa.org.

KEY CLUB INTEREST MEETING

Are you interested in helping your child make a positive impact in the community? Encourage them to attend the Key Club interest meeting on Tuesday, October 8, in Mr. Plank’s room, right after school. This meeting is open to all students in grades 8 to 12. Key Club is a student-led, volunteer-oriented organization that offers countless opportunities for personal and leadership development.

At the meeting, students will get the chance to participate in a fun Kahoot game, with candy prizes for the winners! Key Club hosts exciting annual events, such as Key Club Days and DCON. Key Club Days is a fun-filled trip to Wild Waves, where students can relax and connect with other Key Clubbers from different schools. DCON is a district-wide convention that celebrates a year of service and achievement. Students will attend workshops, receive officer training, and build valuable leadership skills.

Don't let your child miss this incredible opportunity to grow, serve, and make a difference. We look forward to seeing them there! For questions, contact icskeyclubsecretary@outlook.com.

NEW ICS PTSA BOARD POSITIONS ARE OPEN

Three Board seats have opened as family circumstances changed during the summer. This creates an exciting opportunity for new volunteers to bring fresh perspectives and continue the great work of our PTSA. Please consider applying for the following roles:

Co-President

Co-Secretary

VP Community & Facilities

Please email president@icsptsa.org if you are interested!

A FANTASTIC ART DAY STARTS NOW!

Parents, the Art Day Committee is gearing up for another fantastic Art Day event for ICS students. This is an annual event in which students have expressed much interest and excitement. The tentative date for Art Day is Jan 27, 2025. We would appreciate your help with a few items as the planning continues. 

We will need the following volunteers:

• Art Day Committee Co-Chair
• Tech Team - Need 2 Volunteers with coding skills (Our app is GO / C++ but we welcome any language).

We need ideas for Art Day course options, i.e. Dance, Henna, Sculpting, Cooking, etc. The sky is the limit! Add more ideas by clicking this form.

Or email artday@icsptsa.org. Thank you! The Art Day Committee

What is International Pronouns Day?

International Pronouns Day began in 2018 and takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of October each year to educate and raise awareness about respecting and sharing personal pronouns. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is one of many important ways we can show respect for one another and foster an inclusive learning and working environment.

The day's purpose is to promote the importance of respecting, sharing, and educating people about personal pronouns. It's also a day to recognize how pronouns shape people's sense of identity and to celebrate the diversity of human identities.

You can learn more about personal pronouns and why they matter - including sharing and asking about personal pronouns, and how to respond if you make a mistake when using pronouns - at MyPronouns.org.