What a great start to the year!

This week, we had the opportunity to meet with all of our students during class meetings, teach our Programming, Games, Apps, and Society class, and reconnect with our amazing kids. I watched students play Musical Chairs and other social games led by our pathway student leaders. We tasked those leaders with helping us build community at lunch during these first two weeks, and they have done an excellent job welcoming our newest students. The most memorable part of the week was meeting hundreds of new students who are both eager and nervous to be joining us at IA. I’m looking forward to watching them grow over the next four years.

For our new parents, I hope you can join us for the PTSO’s Coffee Chat next Thursday. We’ll have a panel of parents, staff, and students ready to help you navigate these busy first weeks.

I’m also extremely proud of our teachers, who have gone out of their way to welcome students into their classes. If your student has had an exceptional interaction, I always encourage parents to let the teacher know. It will mean the world to them.

As this is our first Beacon of the school year, please take time to look it over. This newsletter will be one of our major communication channels for sharing information with you. Please also check out the post about our Storytelling Day. We need our community’s help teaching our students to “Listen Locally.”

Thank you for all the support and trust you have placed in IA.

Scott Kent
Principal Educator