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Messages from the Principal
02/21/12 -

Greetings Parents and Students:

Deadline for enrollment for incoming 9th graders was last Thursday, the  16th at 5 pm.  As of that time, we enrolled 112 new incoming freshmen.  We will begin contacting folks on the waiting list this coming Tuesday.  If you are further down on the waiting list and don't receive a call right away, please be patient as there could very well be more movement and spots could open up.  If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.  

Current juniors have already registered for classes next year.  Current sophomores will be registering this week and current freshmen next week. Incoming 9th graders will be registering for courses on March 5 and 6h from 4-7 pm.  The schedule is on the back of the enrollment packet as students will be coming at a time determined alphabetically by last name. 

Given the latest news on facilities, and while it is not absolutely certain, it is very likely that Inspire will remain on the west side of the CHS campus for the 2012/2013 year.  Because the bids came in high, facilities planners, the architect and the  contractor are all reviewing the documents.  This process will take some time and provide information for the meeting on February 28th.  Because everything is being reevaluated, the project has likely been delayed enough that there will not be enough time to build a new campus for opening of school next August.   We will be in discussions about how to better prepare the campus we occupy now for next year as we anticipate more growth. 

We have added several classes this year.  We suggest that you check the entire course list on the website at www.inspirecusd.org.  Just scroll to the very bottom of the home page and under "Quick links" click on "New Inspire Course Proposals."   

Inspire staff and students are up for the challenge, whichever way it goes.  We have had conversations with students this past week about the facility news, and almost all are upbeat.  It reminds me that we have a positive and energized school culture, a place where we support each other, help each other to learn and succeed, and celebrate our successes.  Now to news, announcements and upcoming events.

 

Brigadoon Performances Just Around the Corner - March 8 - 11th.  Center for the Arts at Pleasant Valley High School.  Tickets on Sale Now!!!  See attached Poster.

Inspire presents a full-scale musical theater production of Brigadoon at Center for the Arts - 1475 East Avenue, Chico, CA. 

Tickets are on sale at the Inspire Office - PC4 - and also available at Bidwell Perk (664 E. 1st Ave.) and Zucchini and Vine (204 MainSt.)  Ticket prices are:

    Students                                             $12

    General Admission                              $16

    Premium Reserved                               $20 

General Admission tickets are also available at Bidwell Perk (664 E. 1st Ave.) and Zucchini and Vine (204 MainSt.)  

Show times are as follows:

    Thursday, Marc 8th                            7 pm

    Friday, March 9th                               7 pm

    Saturday, March 10th                         2 pm and 7 pm

    Sunday, March 11th                           2 pm

Spread the word to everyone you know.  It's going to be a wonderful show.  Over 100 Inspire students are involved in the production either on stage, in the orchestra, designing costumes, in charge of make-up, builidng sets, stage managing, doing lights, designing props...you name it, students are involved in all aspects of the production. 

 

Inspire Fundraiser - Reminder to Students to Sell Tickets - All Proceeds Due in March 7th.

The Inspire Foundation distributed tickets to many of our students a couple of weeks ago.  Most students took a packet of four tickets to sell.  Please remind them to complete the sale of their tickets and turn the money into the Inspire Foundation box in PC4.  They will be eligible for the tablet drawing as well as earn certificates to local vendors.  Remember that everyone who purchases a ticket will be eligible for the all-expense paid trip for four to Disneyland, the bike from Sports Ltd. or the night at the Hotel Diamond which includes dinner and breakfast.  The winners' names will be drawn at intermission of the Sunday matinee of Brigadoon on March 11th.  Proceeds from the  fundraiser go directly to educational programs at Inspire.  As always, thanks to the Inspire Foundation for organizing and coordinating this fundraiser and thanks to all of you for participating.  It makes a huge difference. 

 

Inspire Orchestra Students Have Special Week

The Inspire Orchestra had quite a week! They were visited by Melissa Matson, principal violist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, of Rochester, New York, where she is also on staff at the Eastman School of Music. A Chico native, Melissa was in town to visit her family and to perform as the featured soloist with the North State Symphony. Our students were very fortunate in having the opportunity to meet her last Tuesday, perform for her, and to work with her on the finer points of Saint-Saens's "Bachanalle."  Then a real treat: Melissa picked up her viola (which was built in 1650!!), and commenced to mesmerize our students with her beautiful and passionate playing. Our students were given a great gift in having such a talented artist in their midst. This all led up to the Inspire Orchestra's special Saturday. They rehearsed during the afternoon and then met for dinner at Tres Hombres. After a very nice meal, they walked over to Laxson Auditorium to attend the North State Symphony concert - and once again, Melissa Matson! 

Our students were offered free tickets to the concert and had great seats. Ms. Matson's performance was spell-binding! She played the Sonata for Viola and Orchestra, written by Rebecca Clarke in 1919. Her dazzling performance was made all the more special for students, as they had met and worked with her just days before! A bonus for our students was the North State Symphony performance of Beethoven's 7th Symphony. This piece is one of Beethoven's most famous and the Orchestra performed it flawlessly. What a great experience for our kids: to meet one of the world's finest touring soloists, and to hear her perform, along with the wonderful North State Symphony at Laxson! The Inspire Orchestra is so grateful to Melissa Matson and the North State Symphony for this wonderful opportunity!


Chico Unified School District's Gala Sponsored by "Arts for All "- February 29th - Center for the Arts - 7 pm

We’re pleased to announce Arts For All’s second annual Gala event on February 29, at the CUSD Center for the Arts.  Doors open at 6:30 and show starts at 7:00. Come see what wonderful arts activities are taking place in our public schools!  The Gala will highlight both the visual and performing arts in the Chico Unified School District.  Our first gala was an absolute blast, and a great way to see what Arts For All is fighting for! Most schools from across the school district will be represented.  

Tickets are $15.00 and are available at the door. We hope to see you there!    

For more information, send an email to:  artsforallcusd@gmail.com

Inspire students will be performing, and there will be a preview of a scene from Brigadoon.  This is a wonderful showcase of talent of students for all CUSD schools.

 

Report from "Sojourn to the Past."

As many of you are aware, 13 of our juniors are touring the Deep South, retracing some of the most important places and events of the Civil Rights movement.  Debbie Travers is accompanying them and is sending back reports along the way.  To give you a flavor of the trip, I include a portion of her email. 

"Imagine sitting for a four hour lecture on Little Rock, Arkansas.  Lecturers included Minnie Jean Brown who was one of the original Little Rock Nine.  Many of our kids were in tears.  Follow that with three more hour lectures on Medgar Evers and Mississippi  in 1963.  Include movie clips of the KKK and JFK.  Music.  Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey honoring the Little Rock Nine in their 60s in the same place they went to school where they were spit on, kicked, harrassed in PE, had food dumped on them in cafeterias, and armed Federal troops guarding them in the hallways (alas not their classrooms).  Kids are learning about American terrorism first hand as experienced from fellow teenagers in Arkansas.  Oprah brought together both the original African American Little Rock Nine and some of their tormentors for an emotional reunion.  It's left the kids thinking.  And all this history is tied into the choices they are making today and in the future.  Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.  Such good stuff...

Follow that with Sierra borrowing my phone five minutes ago to call home.  'Mom this is so much fun!  We had eight hours of lectures today and they were great!'  Hard to describe as fun.  But it's a feast really.  Transforming.  Enlightening.  Heartening.  Shocking.  Stunning..."

What a wonderful opportunity for these students.  When they return, they will be speaking to many of our classes about what they learned and experienced. 

 

End of Quarter is March 9th – Check the Aeries Parent and Student Portals

While we may still be a few weeks away, this is the end of our next grade reporting period.  Please use the parent and student portals to check progress in your classes on a regular basis.  Managing your education is a significant part of your success.  With the information you have from the portals, you can contact teachers with questions and plan for success.  We never lose sight of the fact that our teamwork, parents, students and Inspire staff together, help our students achieve at high levels and thrive as learners. 

 

"Healthy Website"

Kidnetic - Sponsored by the International Food Information Council Foundation is a fun site for students to explore and raise health awareness. http://www.kidnetic.com Topicsinclude Move, Eat and Learn.

 

Art Commission Announces New Youth Arts Award

Request for Nominations for Mayor’s Award for

Achievement in the Arts for Youth

Nomination Deadline March 7, 2012

The City of Chico Arts Commission would like to recognize young artists, grades 7-12, with a Mayor’s Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts.  All art disciplines and media including visual arts, theater, dance, literary arts, new media, and music will be considered for recognition. 
 
A sponsor (18 years or older) for each potential award recipient is required.  This may be a teacher, parent, mentor, relative, or guardian. Sponsors are welcome to submit for multiple candidates.  Up to three awards will be selected.  The deadline for submitting nominations is March 7, 2012.
 

The nomination application is available on the City Arts page of the City of Chico’s website,  www.ci.chico.ca.us.  For further information or to request an application via email, contact Mary Gardner, Art Projects Coordinator for the City of Chico, mgardner@ci.chico.ca.us or telephone 530-896-7214.

 

Empty Bowls – March 8th.

Inspire Ceramics students along with CHS and PVHS students are making bowls for the Empty Bowls event at CHS in Lincoln hall.  Dinner seatings are at 5 and 6:15 pm.  Tickets are $5.  If you have not been before, it is a wonderful event that raises money to help the hungry.  When you arrive, you choose one of the student handmade bowls and are served soup contributed by different restaurants from around town.  The bowl goes home with you.

 

"Women of Excellence" Hosting Brunch for Young Women, Ages 14-18. 

 

Please see the attached letter from "Women of Excellence."  This looks like a great opportunity for girls and young women at Inspire.  The brunch will be occur on March 11th from 10 am to 4 pm at the Women's Center.  If you're interested, the application to participate is attached with the letter explaining the event.

 

6th Annual Growing Healthy Children Walk and Run Celebration - Bidwell Park - May 5th.

Please find attached the registration form for this even. 

Believe that does it for now.  Get your tickets to Brigadoon!!!  Sell your tickets for the fundraiser.  Thanks to all of you to help make Inspire a great school!

Keep your questions, concerns, feedback and ideas coming our way!

 

Eric Nilsson

Principal

 

02/12/12 -
 
Sunday, February 12, 2012 11:39 AM
Greetings Parents and Students,
 
As you’re probably aware, we completed our lottery for the incoming freshmen class on February 2nd.  This past  Wednesday, we had our enrollment meeting in Roger Williams Theater.  The theater was overflowing with students and their families.  Peg Johnson presented information about the transition to high school, and Inspire staff was on hand to talk about our elective programs to include Engineering, Theater, Dance, Music, Electronics, Robotics,  and Video and Audio Production.
 
I would like to welcome the families who made it through the lottery to the weekly e-newsletter as well as those families who are on the waiting list.  I want to keep you in the communication “loop”, and this newsletter is a way to connect you to what is going on at Inspire.  I want to remind all of you who made it through the lottery that the deadline for submitting enrollment paperwork is February 16 at 5 pm.    If we do not receive paperwork, then we will go to the next student on our waiting list. 
 
Our weekly e-newsletter is one of the critical communication links to the school.  If at any time, you have a change of email, please let us know immediately.  We also always encourage ideas, feedback, concerns and questions.  It is  what helps keep the school strong and helps us to continually improve. 
 
Marysol de la Torre on Maternity Leave
 
Ms. de la Torre’s last day was Friday, and their new baby will be expected in the next couple of weeks.  It seems our students celebrated her all day on Friday.  They decorated her room, there were singers and dancers, our seniors baked her  chocolate chip cookies, and announcements of love went out over the speaker system.  Ms. “DLT”, as our students affectionately call her,  will be back for the beginning of next school year.  In the meantime, she is merely a phone call away should Mallory Murphy, who is filling in for her, should need her, or  for that matter any of the rest of us.  Mallory has her credential in Social Science and has done her student teaching at Inspire.  She knows our students which is wonderful, loves Social Science and loves to teach.  We are fortunate to have her available for this time.
 
News from the Classrooms
 
Ron Pope’s Robotics:  Students designed robots and wrote programming to meet a challenge.  An arena was established in the classroom with a perimeter of black electrical tape.  Hard candy was distributed throughout the arena.  The robots were designed to push as much candy out of the perimeter of the arena without exiting the arena.  That required that the robot use sensors to determine where the black electrical tape was, stop, reverse and turn and go hunt for more candy.  Any robot to exit the arena lost all of its candy, and if one robot pushed another robot out of the arena, they won the losing robot’s candy.  More competitions to come!!!
 
Becky Anker’s AP Junior English:  Students are reading Sound the the Fury by William Faulkner.  Don’t know if you remember that one – it’s a very challenging read.  Ms. Anker asked the students to create a rubric for effective character analysis, and they used the rubric to reflect on a sample student essay.  They were looking to identify a clear argument about the writer’s insight into the character, identify evidence from the text that supports the argument and do an analysis of the evidence.  When they finished that discussion, Ms. Anker provided a couple of purses, with contents.  Students studied the contents as a class and were then challenged to write a character analysis based on the contents in the purses.  Very lively discussion ensued as the contents of each purse were revealed. 
 
Jarrah Myles’ Choreography:  Dance students are working on choreography for what they are calling “academic dances,” dances based on themes and ideas they have learned in other classes at Inspire.  They have to interview the teacher, another expert in the field and do research from four to five sources to help inform the movement and composition of the dance.  Students have chosen things like the Great Depression in the U.S., a chemical reaction, iambic pentameter in a Shakespearean speech, borderline personality disorder, the  math Fibonacci Sequence used in nature,  and the human heart – young, in love and then older.  These will performed at the dance showcase in May. 
 
Brigadoon – March 8-11th – Center for the Arts at Pleasant Valley High School
 
Tickets will be going on sale next week for Brigadoon – we’re hoping as early as Monday, and we’ll keep you posted.  Show times are as follows:
 
Thursday, March 8th                                            7 pm
Friday, March 9                                                    7 pm
March 10                                                               2 pm and 7 pm
March 11                                                               2 pm
 
Inspire Foundation Fundraiser – You May have Disneyland, a new bike or a Night at the Hotel Diamond in your future!
 
Don’t forget to continue to sell your tickets for the fundraiser and turn the money into the foundation asap!!!   They have a locked box at the school, so all you need to do is bring the $$ and the ticket stubs in and drop then in the box.  The foundation will take it from there.  Folks who purchase tickets have a chance at the trip to Disneyland, a new bike or a night with dinner and breakfast at the Hotel Diamond.  .  Tickets and money are due back by March 7, so don’t delay!!!   Thanks to everyone for participating in this great effort.  Proceeds will go directly to educational programs at the school.
 
AP Exam Information – Schedule for 2012 and Sign-up Info
 
The deadline to sign-up and pay for AP tests is March 2.  Students interested in taking the AP exams can sigh up in the office with Peg Johnson or Doris Luther.
 
AP English Lit/Comp                            May 10th                8 a.m.
AP US History                                        May 11th                8 a.m.
AP Government                                   May 15th                8 a.m.
AP English Lang/Comp                        May 16th                8 a.m.
AP Statistics                                           May 16th                12 p.m.
AP Spanish Lang.                                  May 18th                8 a.m.
 
Please also read this update from the College Board:
 
We are writing to provide you with an important update regarding the AP® Test Fee Program, a federal program that provides grants to states to help fund AP Exam fees for low-income students. The recently passed appropriations bill has reduced the funding for the program for 2012 AP Exams. As a result, there are significant changes to the subsidies for low-income students' AP Exam fees this spring:
Description: http://www.collegeboard.com/common/shared/images/bullet.gif
The federal subsidy for AP Exams taken by low-income students has been reduced to $38 per exam, with a cap of three federally subsidized exams per low-income student in 2012.
Description: http://www.collegeboard.com/common/shared/images/bullet.gif
The College Board AP Exam fee reduction for low-income students will increase from $22 to $26 per exam, with no cap on the number of subsidized exams per low-income student in 2012.
Description: http://www.collegeboard.com/common/shared/images/bullet.gif
This combination of federal and College Board subsidies results in a:
o
Fee of $15 per exam for low-income students for up to three AP Exams per student this year.
o
Fee of $53 per exam for low-income students for the fourth, fifth, sixth and additional AP Exams they take this year.

State AP Exam Fee Reduction Policies
If your state elects to supplement the federal and College Board subsidies as a way of further reducing this year's exam fee for low-income students, this will be reflected in the state's AP Exam fee reduction policy. We will post each state's policy as soon as it becomes available at www.collegeboard.org/apexamfeeassistance and notify Coordinators by email.

We recognize the challenges introduced by this budget reduction, and we thank you for your efforts to support participation in AP among low-income students. If you have any questions, please contact us at apexams@info.collegeboard.org.
                                                                                               
 
Integrated Science Classes to Visit Gateway Science Museum
 
All of our Integrated Science students will be visiting the Gateway Museum this week on Tuesday to study the exhibit on “Noise.”  Ms. Olson has seen the exhibit, and it addresses standards in our Integrated Science classes related to sound and wavelength.
 
“Sojourers” Leave this Wednesday
 
Thirteen of our juniors will be off on their adventure to the Southern United States and be immersed in the history and the people of the Civil Rights Movement.  They will be flying out on Wednesday.  During their time in the south, they will meet some of the most significant people in the Civil Rights movement, they will read several books related to this time in our history, and they will do lots of writing and reflecting.  They will  also have the opportunity to forge relationships with young people from all over California, over 100 others, who are also making this journey.  It is a trip that focuses on respect for all people, on justice for all, and sends the message that ordinary people, all of us, do extraordinary things. 
 
Sad News on the Chapman Tree
 
Looks like our new campus will be losing this wonderful landmark.  Please see the note from Julie Kistle, Construction Manager for Chico Unified School District.
 
One of the natural treasures on the Chapman campus is a large Valley Oak tree which is located in the center of the playfields.  This oak has been identified as one of the features to incorporate into the Inspire campus design.  The completed design utilizes the oak as a part of the campus core.  As a key part of the campus with students gathering under and passing by the oak, it is critical to have the tree evaluated and trimmed up.
 
The Facilities Department contracted with McMillan Tree Service (A local certified arborist) to prune back the tree at Chapman and provide an overall report on the condition of the tree.  This is standard operating procedure prior to a construction project where trees are to be protected from construction related activities.
 
Scott McMillan attempted to prune the tree on the MLK holiday because he knew that school would not be in session.  Upon climbing the tree, he found a large cavern in a large arm of the tree, just above the trunk.  The cavern is approximately 21” deep, the arm (branch) is only 23-24” wide.  So, the cavern is hollow with only about 1” of bark on the outer edges.  This cavern runs upward approximately 5-6’.  Scott ordered his crew out of the tree immediately for safety reasons.
 
Scott McMillan contacted the District with his concerns on the following Tuesday morning.  He had taken photos showing the measurements noted above, which he shared with us.
The District notified the Architect and Landscape Architect for the Inspire project.  The landscape Architect and Scott McMillan discussed guidelines for protecting, cabling and trimming the tree in a telephone conversation. In summary, they agreed that the tree could be saved for an undetermined amount of time if we can guarantee a traffic free area at a particular radius around the tree which would be very difficult to enforce.  The Architects have devised plan options which involve the planting of young healthy trees in place of the old Valley Oak Tree.
 
The District contacted North Valley Tree Service (Tom Bettencourt) to get a second opinion on the health of the tree.  Tom Bettencourt stated that the main trunks on the tree are hollow, as a result of large cuts that were made many years ago.  He recommended removing the tree since it is located on a school campus.    If it is the Districts desire to keep the tree, he recommends a permanent fence to be installed around the tree for public safety. 
 
 
Please let me know if you need additional information.
 
Thank you,
 
Julie Kistle
 
Exciting On line Education
 
Debbie Travers, who teaches World History, AP Government, Government and Geography, has provided us all with a link to free online learning through Stanford University.  She heard this report originally on NPR and took notes which I’ve attached.  Check it out in the attachment above.  MIT, does the same thing – they offer a plethora of on-line classes for free.  Really appreciate Debbie for passing this along – her passion for life-long learning benefits us all. 
 
CUSD Performing Arts Gala - February 29th - Center for the Arts at PV High.
 
This is a wonderful district wide arts celebration (all high schools will be represented) sponsored by Arts for All that will see performances from students at all high schools as well as a fine arts gallery of student art work. 
 
Empty Bowls – March 8th.
 
Inspire Ceramics students along with CHS and PVHS students are making bowls for the Empty Bowls event at CHS in Lincoln hall.  Dinner seatings are at 5 and 6:15 pm.  Tickets are $5.  If you have not been before, it is a wonderful event that raises money to help the hungry.  When you arrive, you choose one of the student handmade bowls and are served soup contributed by different restaurants from around town.  The bowl goes home with you.
 
 
 
That’s all for now folks.  So much happens at Inspire every week – it’s a pleasure to bring you just some of the news at Inspire.  As stated above, please let me know if you have questions, concerns, ideas, feedback and/or ways you can be involved.  Have a great week!
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal, Inspire School of Arts and Sciences
530-891-3090
02/05/12 -
Greetings Parents and Students:
 
Several items this week.  Reports from the  classrooms will return next week.   I want to appeal to you again to use the Aeries portal and work with your students to complete their assignments!!!  It is so helpful.  When you have a question about a particular class, contact the teacher.  I can’t say enough times how important our partnership is in the success of our students. 
 
California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) February 7 and February 8 for Sophomores.
 
Inspire sophomores will be taking the CAHSEE this Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 am to noon in the Chico High gym.  Please make sure they have plenty of rest, they arrive on time and they do their best to attend.  Otherwise, they will have to take the exam on make-up days later in the semester.  One day will be English Language Arts and the other will be Math.  Last year, our sophomores did extremely well, and we expect the same this year.  This is an exam all sophomores must pass to graduate from high school.
 
AP Testing Deadline for Sign-up is March 2nd. 
 
The deadline to sign-up and pay for AP tests is March 2.  Students interested in taking the AP exams can sigh up in the office with Peg Johnson or Doris Luther. 
 
Inspire’s Production of Brigadoon – March 8-11th.  Center for the Arts at PVHS.  Spread the word!!!
 
Rehearsals are in full swing for Brigadoon.  Over 100 students are involved in the production to be performed at the Center for the Arts.  As with “Wizard of Oz” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream” costumes, sets and art design are student generated, and we will have a live orchestra.  It is a wonderful story for all ages.  I have attached copies of the rehearsal schedules and our production team of Jarrah Myles, MaryLou Lim and Joyce Henderson will be happy to answer any questions of parents of students involved in the production.
 
“Sojourn to the Past” Fundraiser a Success at La Comida.
 
Our junior students who will be going to the south to visit some of the people and places of the Civil Rights movement and Inspire would like to thank Carrie and Mike Pavis for hosting a fundraiser at La Comida!!!  
 
Classroom Speakers.
 
We continue to bring speakers into our classroom with the purpose of deepening learning and providing exposure to experts and great thinkers in our community.  Marysol de la Torre had Brad Azevedo with Edward Jones Financial speak to her Economics class last Friday.  She has also scheduled the following CSU, C professors for her Ethics class:
 
 
    Monday, Feb. 6th
    Prof. Moaty Al-Fayek, CSUC
    Ethics (3rd Period)
 
    Tuesday, Feb. 14th
    Prof. Robert Jones, CSUC
    Ethics (3rd Period)
 
Kim Gimbal is coordinating speakers across the school, and we know our parents are one of our best resources for speakers.  If you're willing to present on a subject that you are passionate about, please contact Kim at kgimbal@chicousd.org, and he will help coordinate the most appropriate class or audience for your presentation. 
 
An Evening with Bernard Marks, Holocaust Survivor.

MJHS is sponsoring a very special event on Sunday evening February 12th at the CARD Community Center at 6:30pm.  Bernard survived life in four concentration/work camps during the Holocaust. His amazing story is an emotional account of resilience and strength during traumatic times.  We are the last generations who will be privileged to meet survivors – Don’t miss out on this FREE event for students, staff and family members.
 
 
CUSD Performing Arts Gala - February 29th - Center for the Arts at PV High.
 
This is a wonderful district wide arts celebration (all high schools will be represented) sponsored by Arts for All that will see performances from students from all high schools as well as a fine arts gallery of student art work. 
 
Empty Bowls – March 8th.
 
Inspire Ceramics students along with CHS and PVHS students are making bowls for the Empty Bowls event at CHS in Lincoln hall.  Dinner seatings are at 5 and 6:15 pm.  Tickets are $10.  If you have not been before, it is a wonderful event that raises money to help the hungry.  When you arrive, you choose one of the student handmade bowls and are served soup contributed by different restaurants from around town.  The bowl goes home with you.
 
Free Walk-in Shrine Screening Clinic
 
On March 3, 2011, from 9 AM to 1 PM, at the Shasta Community Health
Center, 1035 Placer Street, Redding, the local Shrine Club will be 
conducting a free walk-in screening clinic to identify children, through the
age of 17, who can benefit from expert orthopaedic, spinal cord and burn
care provided by Shriners Hospitals for Children. No appointment
necessary.
 
Although the emphasis is on, spinal cord and burn care, the hospital also
offers other services, including plastic surgery for non-burn related
scarring, birthmarks, abnormal skin growths, congenital ear deformities,
and cleft lip and palate repair. 
 
At Shriners Hospitals for Children care is provided regardless of the ability 
of a patient or family to pay. 
 
Questions regarding the Clinic: Call Monte Fitchett, Redding Shrine Screening 
Clinic Chairman,  (530) 246-4940, etnom33@gmail.com
 
Keep your questions, comments, concerns and feedback coming.  Don’t forget to email Kim Gimbal if you’re interested in speaking in a classroom. 
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal
01/29/12 -

Greetings Parents and Students:

January is almost past us, and I, for one, can hardly believe it.  There's lots going on and many events and activities coming up. 

Open Enrollment Period Ends January 31st

If you know families of incoming 9th graders (Fall of 2012/2013)  who are interested in applying to Inspire, please encourage them to apply by midnight, January 31st.  This will make them eligible for the lottery which will take place on February 1st.  Applications have exceeded the number of places we have available for 9th grade, so we will be having a lottery drawing.  In order to be eligible for the drawing, prospective 9th graders must apply.

On another note, if you know families who have students who will be in 10th, 11th and 12th grade next year and are interested in applying, please encourage them to do so.  We have a few slots at each level, and students will  be placed on a priority list determined by date of application. 

News from Inspire Classrooms

As per last week's newsletter, I wanted to continue to provide you with a glimpse into the instruction and learning in our classrooms.

1)    Integrated Science        In Ms. Olson's class early in the week, students completed an introductory lab on volume and force that aided students in the Hydropower lab onFriday. Students have access to Ms. Olson's screencasts and course schedule at her website www.mrsolson.com.

2)    Pop Band           Mr. Gimbal coordinatied ‘in class performances.’ The Pop Bands have been working on blues music and had many songs to choose from. Bands perfomed “Black Magic Woman  (Fleetwood Mac; Santana), “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” (Stevie Wonder), and “Baby I Love You”, (Aretha Franklin). Each band put their own musical stamp to their music and sounded great!  They began their next musical project with a focus on Rock and Roll in the 50's.  They watched several clips from Joe Turner, Elvis Presley and the Dell Kings.  Bands were given, from that time,  100 songs to choose from, and they will work on one to perform.

3)  Chemistry        Ms. Iufer gave her students a series of problems to do where they had to choose equations related to gas laws.  Students were solving the problems on their individual whiteboards while Ms. Iufer floated the room and helped with questions.  All students receive learning targets related to the instruction which helps them see, very explicitly, what they need to learn and be able to do.  Ms. Iufer is able to focus more on application because she is employing the “flipped” classroom where students view her “screencasts” (short lectures) through her web site for homework, and then come to class with the learning necessary to apply the  knowledge. 

4)  Robotics           Mr. Pope’s students are building and programming robots for specific movements and actions.  On this particular day, they were discussing what kind of a contest they wanted to enter into with each other – most were attracted to a robot Sumo contest or to a bumper robot competition.

5)  English 11       Ms. Anker’s students are reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and were working from their response journals to generate discussion about the novel and its characters.  Students had chosen passages in the  novel which revealed something about one of the characters and were presenting their findings.  Ms. Anker uses 3 by 5 inch cards, one student name per card, and uses them to randomly asks students to contribute to the discussion.  This is an approach to heighten student engagement as everyone needs to be ready in case their name is  called.  In a more traditional classroom, hands are raised and often only a handful of students participate.  Many of our instructors are employing randomization as a way of enhancing student engagement. 

Intervention notices / End of quarter progress report

Some students received a notice on Friday that they may be assigned to “Step 1” of the new intervention plan described in the January 18th Principal’s newsletter. After grades are posted in Aeries this Wednesday Feb. 1st, administration and counseling will review students with failing grades and assign the online class “Strategies for Academic Success” to be completed by the end of the 3rd quarter (March 9th). Successful completion of the online course and maintaining passing grades in all courses will effectively “exit” students from intervention at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Graduation

Junior parents, our graduation committee is interested in getting any junior parents involved in planning for this year to ease planning for next year. If there are any interested folks willing to help out call our Assistant Principal, Dan La Bar or swing by our graduation committee meeting. The schedule is attached.

Senior parents, the graduation committee has been in the process of changing location for the ceremony. We are anticipating on hearing back early this week for the first choice. If you are interested in assisting with graduation, serving on the graduation committee, or have any questions/comments for Inspire’s first ceremony do not hesitate to call our Assistant Principal, Dan La Bar on campus at 891-3090.

Honor Roll

Over 100 Inspire students made the Honor Roll for fall semester 2011  achieving a 3.5 GPA or higher. Notices were sent home to families last week. Please join us in celebrating our students’ academic achievement and performance in the classroom!    

Inspire Orchestra to Attend North State Symphony Conert

The orchestra will be going to see and hear the North State Symphony Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 PM at Laxson Auditorium. We have been offered free tickets and look forward to an enjoyable evening. We actually plan to pend the afternoon rehearsing our own group, then to off to dinner – then to the Symphony!

Brigadoon – March 8-11 – Center for the Arts at Pleasant Valley High School

Rehearsals are in full swing for Brigadoon.  Students are very excited.   As with our previous major performances, we will have a live orchestra, original costumes, sets and choreography.  Over 100 students are involved in the production, either on stage or back stage.  This includes lighting, designing and building sets, designing and making costumes, stage management, and make-up.  Ticket will  be going on sale well in advance of the show.   Details to follow soon.

California High School Exit Exam – February 7 and 8th – All Sophomores!!!

Please encourage your sophomore student to do their best, to get plenty of rest and have a protein filled breakfast in the morning.  This is an exit exam.  All high school students must pass to receive their diploma.  Currently, Inspire has a 95% pass rate.  We believe all our sophomores will continue this trend if not improve.   We hope for 100% participation in the test.   

Progress Reports

Grades will  be updated in Aeries by this Wednesday at midnight.  Please check the parent portal.  If you have questions about a particular class, please contact the teacher directly.  Their email is on the Inspire web site, www.inspirecusd.org. 

Parents of Seniors:  Please check progress regularly.  All of our seniors are on track to graduate, and we must all work together to support them through the finish.  If they start faltering in any class, we want to catch it early and intervene for success.  Counseling is giving razor-sharp focus to senior progress towards graduation and will notify families as appropriate.   

Cash for College/Financial Aid Night

High school seniors and their parents are invited to attend this FREE workshop to receive help in filling out the FAFSA, the application necessary to apply for federal and state financial aid, including Cal Grants. You will get on-the-spot assistance in completing the FAFSA, plus valuable financial aid information from counseling and financial aid professionals.  It will be hosted at the Chico High Library on Wednesday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m.  See Mrs. Johnson in counseling for details.

Google Art Contest

Please see the attached note from Janet at the Chico Art School and Gallery.  You can access information about Google's art contest at the following web site:  http://www.google.com/doodle4google/index.html

Dear Parents,

I know this is one more thing to think about, but I looked into this and think it is worth the effort...Here is a chance for your child's art to win a national competition to design a Google logo. Information can be found on this website and is worth checking into (college scholarship of $30,000 and $50,000 goes to your child's main school). If you would like your child to work on this project at art lesson, please let me know. You will need to submit the artwork yourselves or through your child's main school. If your school is already doing this, then do not submit two entries. Homeschoolers can also do this. 

Deadline is in March, but have them work on it soon.

Thank you very much,

Janet

Message from CUSD re Norovirus

The norovirus is active in the greater Chico community.  There are some indicators that we may be experiencing an increase in norovirus cases in the community, including in schools.  Our School Nurses are working closely with staff from the Butte County Public Health Department regarding this matter. 

Symptoms of a norovirus infection may include a sudden onset of stomach cramping, vomiting and diarrhea.  Anyone can be infected with noroviruses and get sick.  Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines) in the United States.  Noroviruses are different from the “flu” which is a contagious respiratory disease.  

The School Nurses will report possible norovirus infections to the Butte County Public Health Dept. when three or more students in a classroom or a small group (e.g. a club or team) are calling in ill or are sent home from school due to vomiting and diarrhea.

Please be apprised of the following:

1.  The virus can be “shed” for up to 48 hours so parents are encouraged to have their student remain at home for 24 hours after the norovirus symptoms have resolved

2.  Encourage frequent hand washing and the use of hand sanitizers by students and staff during the school day, particularly prior to eating

3.  District maintenance personnel will provide enhanced cleaning of classrooms (i.e. use of disinfectants) in which a group of students have a reported norovirus infection

4.  There is an informative factsheet regarding norovirus on the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Norovirus/.  You are encouraged to share this information with students, staff and parents.

 

As always, let us know if you have questions, comments, concerns, ideas or feedback.  Thanks much,

Eric Nilsson

Principal

 

01/08/12 -

 

Greeting Parents and Students and a very Happy New Year to you all!!!
 
Students returned to school with renewed energy and a positive spirit as did staff.   This semester is  filled with many more  events to include our production of the musical, “Brigadoon”, our second semester of our  Engineering program, spring concerts in dance and music, our first Twirps and Prom, and of course our very first graduation!  At the same time, we’ll be packing up supplies for the move over to the  20th Street/Chapman location.  Talk about an adventure!  And what a Segway into the rest of the newsletter.
 
Update on Facilities
  • On Wednesday of this past week, the CUSD Board approved the funding for our move.  The collaboration between CUSD and Inspire has been positive and strong and will result in an exciting and unique new campus for our students.  
  • Completion is  planned for the beginning of school.  Please note that we attempt to make our calendar consistent with CUSD, and right now the district is gathering input for the next three years.  If you’d like to join the conversation, go to the  following address, http://www.chicousd.org/Departments/Superintendents-Office/HOT-TOPICS/index.html, on the CUSD web site.  By February, we’ll should know the exact start date of school as well as information on the rest of the 2012/2013 calendar school year.
  • BCM Construction is the contractor for our site.  They have an execellent reputation and have never been late on a job.
  • Students will have learning opportunities throughout the entire process and be involved next year in the development of the quad areas. 
  • Chico Area Recreation District(CARD), CUSD and Inspire entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to allow sharing of facilities.  This allows Inspire to utilize the CARD Field House and 20th Street Park to include student parking along Marthin Luther King Parkway.
  • The entrance to the school will be off Martin Luther King, not from the Chapman Elementary side. 
  • Features of the new campus include:
    • An outdoor amphitheater than will seat up to 600 people.  This will have a concrete stage 60’ wide and 30’ deep and terraced lawn and wall seating.
    • Three Science labs.
    • Specialized spaces for Engineering, Robotics, Media Technology, Fine Arts, Theater, Music, and Dance.
    • A Media Center/Library.
    • Four outdoor quads to have the following themes:  Science/Engineering, Fine Arts, Academics, and  Performing  Arts.
    • 100% on-site water filtration.
    • Cool roofs on all buildings.
 
We will keep you informed all along the way, and we’ll be watching the weather closely!
 
1st Semester Report Cards Mailed Home Friday
 
Look for the report cards to arrive Monday or Tuesday if they haven’t already.
 
Senior Morning Meeting and Important Info from Counseling
 
This past Wednesday morning, I met with many of the seniors – donuts and pastries were the big draw.  What a wonderful group they are.  I had two points to make with them:
1.   That we are all so proud of them.  They did something outside the ordinary when they chose to come to Inspire.  They took a risk.  They have brought so much to this campus, not the least of which is an adventurous spirit and the willingness to forge and create a positive and nurturing culture of learning, innovation and creativity to follow.  Let’s celebrate them.
2.  That they must remain focused through the semester!!!  We want 100% of them to walk across the stage.  Parents of seniors – please check in with them regularly.  This is one of those times when crossing the proverbial t’s and dotting the proverbial i’s is critical.
Our next event will be January 18th  when the staff will be cooking lunch for them on campus…well – cooking at home and bringing the delectable food to campus.
 
Reg-to-Go
Seniors: If you are interested in participating in Butte College RTG, there will be a meeting with Butte College Counselors during Advisory in PC14 on Monday, January 9th.  Be there to get all the information you need to take advantage of this great opportunity to be registered into classes at Butte College by the time you graduate from high school. 
 
Cash for College/Financial Aid Night
High school seniors and their parents are invited to attend this FREE workshop to receive help in filling out the FAFSA, the application necessary to apply for federal and state financial aid, including Cal Grants. You will get on-the-spot assistance in completing the FAFSA, plus valuable financial aid information from counseling and financial aid professionals.  It will be hosted at the Chico High Library on Wednesday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m.  See Mrs. Johnson in counseling for details.
 
Announcements re Sojourn to the Past
 
Sojourn Club Fundraiser at La Comida
Please come and support our Sojourn Club on Tuesday, January 17th.  Dine in or take out at La Comida Restaurant (954 Mangrove Avenue) from 4 - 9 p.m. and a percentage of your bill will be donated to our Sojourn students to help make their historical journey to the deep South a reality.  The flyer will be emailed/distributed shortly. 

Final Parent/Student Sojourn to the Past Meeting
If your son/daughter is attending the Sojourn to the Past trip in February, you must attend the final meeting on Wednesday, January 25th at 6:30 p.m. in classroom PC13.  The flight schedule and full itinerary for the trip will be discussed.

 
News from Health Department
 
Please find attached a flyer from the Health department re gastrointestinal illness in Butte County.  It advises additional precaution.
 
Math Tutoring
 
Tutoring is available to Math students on Tuesdays from 3-4 and on Thursday from 2:25-4.  It will  either take place in PC8 or PC12.
 
CSU, Chico ISPE
 
If your student is participating in this wonderfulE programPE at Chico State, it will begin Monday, January 30th. 
 
WASC Accreditation and UC a to g Course Approval – We are accredited and the vast majority of our courses are approved by UC a to g.
 
Occasionally, I still hear, through the good ol’ grapevine, that Inspire isn’t accredited and doesn’t have UC a to g approval, so you might be hearing the same.  If you do, the accurate information is the following:
 
1.   Not only are we accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges but we received the maximum term of accreditation.
2.   Staff has done an amazing job of submitting courses for approval to UC a to g.  All but five of our courses have been approved (which means colleges and four-year universities recognize them as rigorous and that they ready our students for post-secondary education).  We are awaiting approval on the five courses and expect to receive it. 
 
Current Juniors Interested in College Connection Next Year – Important Meeting this Week, Tuesday, January 10th. 
 
Juniors:  College Connection applications are in the counseling office.  Pick one up and plan to attend the College Connection Information night next Tuesday 1/10 from 6:30 to 8pm in the PVHS library; please bring a parent/guardian with you to the informational meeting.
 
Spring Musical is “Brigadoon.”  March 9-11.  Center for the Performing Arts at PVHS. 
 
Save the dates!!!  Auditions were this week.  We’re gearing up in a hurry as March will come quickly.  We’ll have lots more info in the coming weeks.
 
Website for a Smoke-free Life – Great resource for teens
 
Thanks to parent Kathy Gray who works in Public Health, we can refer you to the following website for education about the dangers of smoking as well as information for teens helping them to quit.  It is  http://teen.smokefree.gov/. 
 
Opportunity for Juniors
 
Benzos Family Foundation Invites Applications for its Scholars Program.  The Benzos Family foundation is accepting applications for its Benzos Scholars Program @ the Aspen Ideas Festival.  The program is designed to help cultivate the next generation of leaders who are independent thinkers, demonstrated leaders, and engaged community members.  Applicants must be student and educator teams from a public high school (including charter and magnet schools) at which at least 25 percent of students are eligible for the free/reduced lunch program.  The school must offer Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or the opportunity to take college/community college courses.  Student applicants must be public high school juniors during the 2010-11 academic year who: demonstrate leadership in school and community, have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have scored exceptionally well on PSAT/SAT/or ACT, are enrolled in Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate/college classes, and are legal U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.  Awardees will receive seven-day, all-expenses-paid scholarships to attend the Aspen Ideas Festival, June 26 to July 2, 2012, in Aspen, Colorado.  To obtain additional information and an application, visit:
 
Technology and Education
 
This past week, the CUSD hosted a workshop on current technology in education.  Among the presenters was Inspire’s Rachel Iufer who talked about the use of web based screen casts that enable students to view from home and create more time in the classroom for deeper thinking.  Here is the link to the article in the Enterprise Record this week. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_19678954   Students Iris Fenn and Sara Kraatz also participated  in the workshop offering their perspective about the use of  technology and how it enhances learning.  From this older, balding educator’s point of view, the discussion was enlightening in the sense that technology can have a powerful and positive effect on learning when used strategically and with purpose.  It also reminded me how quickly things are changing and how important it is that we teach students how to be effective learners, about the process of learning, how to be a strategic learner which is in stark contrast to the old model of teacher as provider of information.  As Rachel put it, with the amount of information available to our students, the teacher’s role is to be more the “guide on the side.” 
 
Coincidentally,  this week I received another interesting link to an article in the New York Times from a colleague about MIT’s expansion of free courses.  The link to the article is  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/education/mit-expands-free-online-courses-offering-certificates.html?_r=2&hpw and the link to all the courses is http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm.  My goodness.  I would encourage students and parents alike to explore this resource.   Once you get to a list of the courses, all  you need is a good dose of curiosity.  
 
I would also like to remind you that both Danielle Pierce and Katie Urrutia are referring Math students to the Kahn Academy web site where they can find additional help with Math concepts. 
 
Much is happening with all of our staff related to the tools of technology.  These are exciting times indeed, and I would add that for a person of my generation, I have much to learn from the young people who have grown up with this level of technology. 
 
If any of you have useful resources, please let me know, and I’ll pass them along to the community.
 
Think that’s it for now.  Keep your comments/questions/feedback coming our way. 
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal

 

 

12/20/11 -
Greetings Parents and Students:
 
A few days rest has been wonderful.  It has given me time to reflect a bit, and more than anything else, I'm left with a feeling of thanks and appreciation for our entire community. 
 
Thanks to our students for their hard work this semester.  They have accomplished so much in their classes and in all of the activities outside of the classroom.  They are truly remarkable young people.
 
We so appreciate our parents as well.  You all have contributed in so many ways - from rides to and from events, to props for plays to helping with advertising to supporting the school in all that it does.  This semester, the Angel Network was started by parent Carrie Pavis.  This is the parent organization that steps in when folks in our community are in need because they have been confronted with hard times.  We often talk about student learning in terms of coursework, but there is also the learning that builds empathy and compassion in our young people.  Angel Network is a model for that, and we so appreciate the contributions of the parents in the Angel Network. 
 
The Inspire Foundation is busy as well, preparing for a big raffle to begin shortly after the  second semester.  Thanks to the  Inspire Foundation Advisory Board for raising the money and providing support to our educational programs. 
 
And of course, I continue to be honored to work alongside the staff at Inspire.   
 
All-day Staff Meeting
 
This past Friday, Inspire staff had an all-day staff meeting.   There is always much to talk about including school culture, preparations for the move to the 20th Street location, effective instruction, the state budget and how it affects education, and beginning the  planning process for next year in terms of our educational programs.
 
I was reminded in the meeting of the dedication and commitment of Inspire staff to high expectations for learning, to the importance of personal connection to our students, to intervening when students need addtional time and support, to ongoing learning and to continual improvement.   It is not often in education that we  have time to sit back and reflect about how to maintain a rich and productive learning environment, and staff saw the opportunity last Friday to spend an entire day doing just that.  It has a positive impact on our students, and I want to thank staff for their time, energy and expertise. 
 
New Fine Arts Teacher
 
Linnea is our new Inspire Art teacher. She has been teaching High School Art for the past 5 years in California, Guam and Tanzania. Linnea’s education has included Industrial Design and Art from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Boston’s elite School of the Museum of Fine Arts. During her undergraduate education, Linnea decided that her heart was in teaching, and proceeded to finish her studies with a B.S. in Art Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  She believes that Art can be taught and learned, not just by the naturally talented, but also by anyone with the tenacity and desire to learn and improve. Linnea is devoted to teaching Art and believes that every student can use art to improve his or her life. In her free time Linnea loves to travel, read fantasy books and play with her nephew, West.   Linnea will start on January 2nd.
 
We would like to thank both Patty Moriarity and Rod Gray for working with our fine arts students during this time of transition.  We deeply appreciate their service. 
 
Every 15 Minutes Program
 
We are pleased to inform you that on April 4th and 5th, 2012, the “Every 15 Minutes” program will again be presented in partnership with California Highway Patrol, Chico Police Department, Chico Fire Department, Enloe Hospital, Newton Bracewell, and numerous other agencies and organizations on all CUSD high-school campuses.   “Every 15 Minutes” is a two-day program originally developed by Chico Police Department in 1996 to help prevent alcohol-related incidents.  The program focuses on 11th and 12th grade students, challenging them to think about drinking, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions.  This program has won nationwide recognition and has been duplicated throughout the United States, and continues, thanks to a grant from the California Highway Patrol.
 
ISPE Assignments
 
If your student needs to turn in written assignments for ISPE, they can email the completed work to Lisa McWhorter at lmcwhorter@chicousd.org.  
 
Audition Information on Inspire's musical production of "Brigadoon,"  March 8th-11th, 2012 at CUSD Center for the Arts at Pleasant Valley High School.
 
Please contact Jarray Myles (jmyles@chicousd.org), Joyce Henderson (jhenderson2@chicousd.org), and/or Marylou Lim (mlim@chicousd.org) for audition information. 
 
Interact Club Sponsors Family for the Holidays
 
The attached message is from Jarred Morales-McKinzie.  He and the Interact Club coordinated this drive and were able to provide gifts for a family in need.  Congratulations to the Interact Club and all of our advisories who contributed.   
 
"I am pleased to announce that Inspire's first holiday change drive raised $350 dollars to adopt a family this year! Thank you all for encouraging your advisories to participate and the best part was that there was no payoff and that is what Christmas is really all about (:

Happy Holidays
Jarred Morales-Mckinzie" 
 
DonorsChoose.org  - a way to give to Inspire projects. 
 
Teachers will be posting requests for donations on this website thanks to the recommendation from Linda Rogers.  Malina Olson got us started by registering a couple of projects on the site.  If you go to donorschoose.org and type Malina Olson in the keyword, it will take you to her projects, and you can donate any amount you choose.  It's a wonderful way to connect donors to the needs of the education.  As more  teachers post from Inspire, I'll  let you know.  The url's for her two projects, if you want to go directly are:
 
 
You can read more about her projects as well. 
 
That will be all for now.  Hope you're holidays are restful and peaceful.  As always, let us know if you have feedback, concerns, comments or ideas as we go forward. 
 
Take good care of yourselves and each other.
 
Eric Nilssson
Principal

 

12/11/11 -
Greeting Parents and Students:
 
Winter Concert
 
A big thanks to all of you who attended the Winter Concert at the Center for the Arts last Wednesday night.  While I couldn’t be there, I heard great things about our students’ performances and how they brought to our community the spirit of the season. 
 
Deep appreciation goes out to Marylou Lim and Kim Gimbal.  Their continued to dedication and commitment to their students and to music and performance at Inspire makes all the difference.  Both spoke about how  hard students worked to prepare for the performance and how it showed Wednesday evening.
 
Thanks also to staff who helped backstage and with the ushering, tickets and various and other as sundry details. 
 
Congratulations to all.
 
Inspire Charter is Renewed for Five More Years!
 
The reason I couldn’t attend the Winter Concert is because Dan La Bar and I had to be at the CUSD board meeting for discussion and confirmation of the Inspire’s charter renewal, and we were successful in having the charter renewed.  I would  like to thank Dan for all the work he’s done over the past several weeks to coordinate and facilitate this process.  I would  also like to thank the folks on the charter renewal committee who contributed their time.  The original charter needed to be updated and quite a bit of information was added in a supplemental.  We are all relieved to have the project finished and look forward to the  next five years.
 
Finals Week this Week!!!
 
Don’t forget that this week is finals week.  December 14 and 15 are minimum days and students go home at 12:35 pm.  Given the shorter periods on those days, I know there is testing on Monday and Tuesday as well.  Teachers have been pleased with the effort from the majority of students so far.  Get plenty of rest, eat well, and keep  up the good work.
 
Open Application Period – Siblings of Current Inspire Students Must Still Apply
 
I want to confirm that siblings of current Inspire students, should they wish to attend,  will be automatically accepted, but you must still apply on line.  The reason is that we won’t know  of the interest any other way, and the danger is that we could enroll 120 other incoming freshmen and not know you wanted a slot.  Please apply before the January 31st deadline, and make sure you let anyone else who is interested know.  If folks don’t apply, they will not be eligible for the  lottery.
 
CSU, Chico Independent Study PE – no classes this week!
 
For students in CSU, Chico PE, the semester is over.  You will not have classes this week. 
 
Professional Learning Community
 
One of the concepts that we’re committed to and all excited about is this central notion of “continual learning.”  We know that continued learning, related to our profession, leads to continual improvement.  This is part of the work we do every Wednesday morning from 7:30 to 8:25 am.  We gather, usually in discipline or course alike groups and reflect on instruction, essential standards and assessment – all issues related to student learning. 
 
We are also reading an informative book entitled Focus, Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning by Michael Schmoker.  He is making the argument that classrooms need a greater focus on reading, writing and discussion – that students need more  opportunities for deeper learning and critical thinking.  He believes that there are too many standards in all the disciplines, that we need only teach those that are essential and teach them deeply.  If you’re interested in reading about education, this is worth your time and would encourage you to read it. 
 
We are all – students, staff and parents – a learning community.  The more parents and adults in our community who are engaged in continual learning and excited about it, the more our students benefit.  Many of you have already come to school and shared what you think and learn about in your professions or in the world.   The energy you bring connects student learning to the world outside the classroom and helps to provide relevance so critical to motivation.  I want to continue to encourage more of you to do that – come and share your excitement with our students.
 
Inspire Foundation – Update on Giving
 
Many of you, over the last year and a half, have given to the Inspire Foundation.  It takes some time to build the resources, and the foundation, as per their mission, is supporting educational programs at Inspire.  Examples of their  support include:
1.       Several thousand dollars to help support the theater performing arts program last year and help make our first production, “The Wizard of Oz”, a reality.  This included materials for set building and design, costuming and make-up. 
        2.    Exploratorium Field trip for Physics (Mr. Gunderson)  $496.93.
                3.    Choir Uniforms (Mrs. Lim)   $1200.
                4.    Biology Field trip (Mrs. Olson)  $500.
The foundation is working diligently to continue to raise money and will be funding several more projects or requests for materials in the second semester. 
 
There is also a longer term plan to continue to build an endowment so that several years down the road, support of programs can be generated from the interest on the endowment.
 
If you’re interested in contributing or would like to get involved with the foundation’s advisory board,  you can contact Roger Hart, at rhart@sbcglobal.net. 
 
Our deep thanks for the work of the parents on the Inspire Foundation Advisory:  Carrie Pavis, Teri Eldenburg, Robin White, Dave Kelly, Kim Azevedo, Ron Sherman, Nancy Heffley and Roger Hart.
 
Inspire Students attend Oregon Shakespeare Festival Acting Workshop
 
About 50 of our students participated with professional actors in workshops on Friday both in the CFA at PV and in Roger Williams Theater at CHS.  These were students from Theater 1, and Theater 2 and some of the students who performed in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from such high quality and professional actors.
 
Engineering Students Working on Train Projects
 
Our first year Engineering students are designing trains using the computer with 3D CAD solid modeling program.  As you may or may not be aware, this is the first course of a four-year engineering program called Introduction to Engineering Design.  I have attached the assignment as an example of the kinds of projects they are being challenged to do.  I observed just this past week, and it is a delight to watch engaged students grappling with engineering problems and finding solutions.  If we have any parents involved in the field who would like to come and speak with these students, we would welcome that. 
 
Scott Gunderson has already had three Engineering Chico State students present their projects to his classes, and a gentleman named Paul Rabo, an engineer with Rolls, Anderson, and Rolls, is coming to present in his classes early next semester.  Again, students really appreciate the opportunity to engage with folks in the field as it makes that relevant connection for them.
 
Economics Final Projects – A very “sweet” opportunity for all.
 
Marysol de la Torre challenged her students to develop a business plan for a fictitious company as a final project for Economics.  The theme was  “sweets.”  Components of the project included Statement of Purpose/Partnership Agreement, Description of the Business, Description of the Product, Advertising, Marketing, Personnel and Financial Data to include Projections and Operating Budget. 
 
Some of the titles of the companies included “Just Cookies”, “Star Bars”, “Spoon Full of Sugar”, and “Lil Cup o’ Heaven.”  As a judge, I samples pies, cookies, bars, cupcakes – later that afternoon was a bit  challenging in the way of energy level!
 
The projects reflected great thinking and an awareness of the  complexity of  economics around starting a business. 
 
Believe that’s all for now.  I’ll have one more communication out to all of you before the break.  We are meeting as a staff all day Friday to continue to plan for the upcoming months as well as the move to 20th Street and as always, reflect on ways we can continue to enhance the learning environment and opportunities as Inspire.  Let me know if you have questions, feedback, concerns and/or  ideas.
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal
 

Special note:

Now is a great time to consider the options available to your student in his or her senior year.  College Connection is a hybrid program that allows high school seniors to complete graduation requirements through a daily class with a CUSD high school teacher (located at Butte College) and independent study.  In addition, the students enjoy a supported college immersion experience. Each semester the students enroll in three Butte College classes.  Students have direct opportunities to learn about building college schedules, the college setting, and college instructors’ expectations, while earning general education credit, exploring interests and majors, and gaining a head start on their freshman year of college.
College Connection, Region III & IV, is a program that serves high school seniors from Chico High, Inspire, Pleasant Valley, and Orland High schools.  Juniors apply at the beginning of the spring semester (applications will be available online and at each high school counseling office by December 9th).  Program representatives will be visiting classrooms and holding informational meetings.   Check the daily bulletin, see the College Connection application coversheet for a time line of events, or ask your student’s high school counselor for more information.
Please feel free to contact me, Elaine Ellsmore-College Connection Teacher/Advisor, with any questions at EllsmoreEl@butte.edu or 893-7600, or contact your student’s high school counselor at 891-3090 x386.
 
There will be an Informational Meeting at Inspire during Advisory on Monday, December 12th in PC 11.  All interested students are invited to attend.
 
Peg Johnson
Counselor
 
 
 
12/04/11 -

Dear Parents and Students:
 
Winter Concert - Wonderland: An Evening of Holiday Music, December 7th, 7 pm, Center for the Arts, 1475 East Avenue.
 
Come an enjoy a wonderful evening of music.  Students have been working hard to prepare and can't wait to bring you the spririt of the season. 
Tickets are  $7 general admission and $5 for Inspire Students with an ASB sticker.
 
Update on Inspire's New Home in 2012/2013.
 
We had an exciting meeting with NTD, the architects, and BCM Construction, the company who will be building our school.  The purpose of this meeting was to brainstorm ways students could be involved and take ownership of the new site at 20th Street/Chapman.  Staff and students were both present at the meeting and had a very productive discussion with NTD and BCM.  Ideas included the  following:
 
    1)    Students will document through photos, videos and interviews, the process of building a campus.  A camera will be mounted at the site to record the activity as it occurs, and this will provide some of the footage for this documentary.
    2)    BCM and NTD will provide career workshops to students who are interested in any of the fields related to the design, development and construction of the school.
    3)    Students will be involved in work related to the quad areas on campus to include ideas about how those four areas will evolve in design. 
    4)    BCM will be providing numerous opportunities for students to visit the site at its various stages of development.  Often, we aren't aware of the infrastructure, to include underground, that goes into a sight, and there will be opportunities to develop
            deeper understanding of this entire process.
 
Final approval of the architectural plans will be forthcoming from the state in the next several days.  Once those are received, then BCM will be doing a cost analysis of the entire project and putting it out to the bidding process.  Once they have an accurate idea of the costs, then they will return to the CUSD Board of Trustees for approval to begin construction.  
 
If you'd like to see an animated rendition of the vision for the campus, go to our website at www.inspirecusd.org, scroll down and pick on the picture of the new site.  It will take you links to a slide show and a video. 
 
Open Application Period - December 1 through January 31
 
Applications are rolling in, so make sure to tell all those you know who are interested to apply during this time frame.  This will make them eligible for enrollment next fall.  Should we receive over 120 applications during this time, then we will go to a lottery.
 
To apply, folks go to our web site at www.inspirecusd.org, scroll down and hit the "Apply Now" button. 
 
High School Scholars Program at Chico State - Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!
 
High School Scholars Program  Spring 2012
NEW HSS INFORMATION: High School Scholars has been approved for Spring 2012.  Students must attend a mandatory HSS orientation, even if they have participated in the program before, in order to obtain application materials.
The High School Scholars (HSS) program is an excellent opportunity for local high school students to take up to two courses at CSU, Chico for just $32 (subject to change each term)!  The objective of the program is to offer local students access to college courses that have not been filled by regularly enrolled CSU, Chico students.
 
The following procedures are required of all high school students in order to enroll in courses through the High School Scholars program:
    Attend a mandatory HSS Orientation session to obtain an application, please RSVP to tcuriel@csuchico.edu and indicate which orientation you would like to attend.
    Meet any pre-requisites or eligibility requirements necessary for the course(s).
    Have junior or senior class status and have at least a 3.0 academic GPA.
    Students must identify themselves to professors as High School Scholars students and apply each semester.
    Obtain a signature from the course instructor on the HSS Add Request form (provided at the orientation) and return that form to the Office of Admissions immediately (within the first two weeks of classes).   It will take at least 72 hours to process the application and Add Request form and students will not have access to their Portal account until their application is fully processed.
Important Registration Dates and Deadlines- Spring 2012
 
Mandatory HSS orientation and application review
 Tuesday, December 13; Thursday January 5; or Wednesday, January 11
 6:00-7:00 PM  Student Services Center, Room 150
 
Application & unofficial transcripts due by 5pm (postmark ok)
 Friday, January 13 by 5:00 PM
 Office of Admissions, Student Services Center, Room 130
 
Final date to submit the HSS Add Request form and fee payment ($32) for course registration (check/money order to CSU, Chico)*
 Friday, February 3 by 5:00 PM
 Office of Admissions, Student Services Center, Room 130
 
*We will not process your application until the fee payment and add form(s) have been received by our office.
Important Dates:
January 23:          First day of classes
March 19-23:        Spring Break (no classes)
March 30:             Cesar Chavez Day (no classes)
May 14-18:           Final Exams (Modified class schedules; students will need to notify their high school of their final exam schedule as courses are typically offered at different times.)
For campus maps and parking information, visit: http://www.csuchico.edu/taps/maps_direct.shtml.
 
If you have any questions concerning this program, please feel free to call the High School Scholars coordinator, Teresita Curiel, at the Office of Admissions, 530-898-5599 or e-mail tcuriel@csuchico.edu.
 
Finals Week Schedule
 
1)    December 12th and 13th - Normal bell schedule.
2)    December 14th and 15th - Students will attend from 8:00 am - 12:35 pm.
3)    December 16th - No school.
 
Attendance Reminder
 
Please make sure to check your student's attendance on the parent portal.  Email our attendance clerk Lisa McWhorter at lmcwhorter@chicousd.org to clear any absences or to ask questions about absences.
 
Charter Renewal
 
In this Wednesday's meeting of the Chico Uniifed Board, our charter is being considered for  a five-year renewal.  It went to the board last month as a discussion/information item only and was referred to this meeting for action. 
 
News from Inspire's Concert Choir 
 
The choir sang winter concert songs at the Creche Festival at the Mormon Church on Floral and East Ave. at 7:30 pm.  .  The Antidivas, our girls acapella group performed at the festival as well.
 
The choir will be at Enloe Hospital on Monday, Dec. 12, during our class time, to sing to the patients.  
 
Let me know if you have questions, concerns, feedback or ideas.  Your partnership is deeply valued.  
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal 

11/21/11 -

 

Dear Parents and Students:
 
Tickets for Inspire's winter concert, Wonderland: An Evening of Holiday Music, are on sale beginning this afternoon after school in the Inspire office.  They will be on sale before and after school up to the day of the concert.  Tickets will also be available at the door.
 
Tickets are $7 general admission and $5 for Inspire students with an ASB sticker. 
 
Reminder that this year’s winter concert is in the Center for the Arts at PV High School, 1475 East Avenue on Wednesday evening, December 7th at 7 pm. 
 
As always, our students appreciate seeing you at the performances.  Your support makes all the difference!  Look forward to seeing you all there.
 
 
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
 
A dream it certainly was!!! 
 
Over 125 students were involved in the production, either on stage or back stage or helping to build sets, design and make costumes, compose and play the music – the list goes on and on.  We are so proud of them all as the production was professional through and through, the students, for the most part, ran most of the show themselves from start to finish, and it was a magical run.
 
Thanks go out to so many – the entire Inspire staff who chipped in to supervise, run errands, sell tickets, work the lobby, make phone calls.
 
Thanks to all the parents who had students involved in the production.  We know there were some late nights for you providing rides and other various and as sundry things!   
 
Thanks to Christopher (CB) and Gail Hobrook for their guidance, expertise and advice – CB with set design and lighting and Gail for costume design and production.  They have provided rich, hands-on learning for our students.
 
Special thanks go to Joyce Henderson for her masterful direction, Marylou Lim for her wildly creative original musical score with help from students Cooper Grosscup and Avery Pound, Jarrah Myles for producing the play and Ron Pope for his work on the sound.  They are a formidable team!
 
Danielle Pierce took some wonderful pictures of the play, and I have attached one where the cast is taking a curtain call.  Their faces tell the story.  When young people are invested and engaged in learning, they do remarkable things, and Midsummer was just that – remarkable.
 
And thanks to all of you for supporting the show.  We never lose sight of the fact that your support strengthens the programs at Inspire and more importantly, send the message to our students that what they are doing is valued and important.
 
Pick up a copy of this week’s News and Review.  There’s a wonderful review of the show and a great picture of Josiah Robinson.  
 
Teens and Sexual Harassment
 
About a week ago, Peg Johnson and I were driving to work and both heard a report on National Public Radio regarding a national survey they had given to students in grades 7-12.  The second paragraph of this report is enough to provide you with an idea of the scope of the problem.  I quote:
 
“During the 2010-11 school year, 48 percent of students in grades 7-12 experienced some form of sexual harassment in person or electronically via texting, email and social media, according to a major national survey being released Monday by the American Association of University Women.”
 
We have discussed this as a staff and believe it is important to raise awareness about this issue with the Inspire community so that we can work together – students, staff and parents – to combat it and be proactive about promoting and teaching kindness, respect and a support of each other.
 
If we are not proactive, then we risk facing the consequences as described in another paragraph in the article.  I quote:
 
"Words can cut a kid all the way to the heart," Bond said. "And when it's on the computers and cell phones, there's no escape. It's absolutely devastating and vicious to a kid."
 
At Inspire, we will do the following:
 
1)                   Distribute the attached letter to students in their advisories with the goal of creating awareness and stimulating an initial conversation as well as let the students know you have received the same letter so that we’re all a part of the same conversation. 
2)                   Meeting in grade level groups for further discussion about the issues.
 
One of our parents, Diana Shepherd, Associate Professor in Child Development at Chico State, has expertise in this area and has provided all of us with some resources which I have attached as well.  The podcast, “Electronic Agression” is what you’ll want to listen to first and then the word file that you can look at afterwards is “cyberbullying resources and current information.”  I want to thank Diana for sharing these resources. 
 
I shared my letter with Student Government already.  They received it with a variety of reactions, and there was one thing they were united about – sexual harassment is a problem, and it needs to be dealt with by raising awareness and promoting a culture of kindness, support and respect.
 
One of the things we’re proud of and you will hear from our students is that there is very little bullying on our campus.  That may be, in part, due to our size.  We all know each other, and students look out for each other.  It might also be due to the mixture of grades in our electives and in some of our core classes.  This idea of pecking order by grade is also not prevalent at Inspire. 
 
Having said that, we cannot become complacent.  I am certainly one of those “baby boomer” types who has not grown up with the Internet like the generation of students in our schools today and do not “live” in that world like most young people do.  What I know is that sexual harassment and bullying are not to be tolerated in any context, and one of the most effective ways to fight it is to educate to raise awareness, to address the pain harassment causes so that we all learn compassion and so that we all work to build a culture that is kind and supportive.
 
Application Window for Next Year’s Students – December 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012
 
If you know folks who have current 8th grade students who are interested in attending Inspire next year, our application window is from December 1st through January 31st.  
 
You can let folks know that they go to www.inspirecusd.org, scroll down and find the “Apply Now” button and it will take them to the application.  When they’re finished and submit, they will receive an email confirmation of submission. If the confirmation is not received, they should resubmit or contact the Inspire offices.
 
If we receive more than 120 applications from 8th graders, then we will have a public lottery to determine which of those 8th graders will attend.  Siblings of current Inspire students will be guaranteed a space if they desire.
 
If current 9th, 10th and 11th graders want to apply, please encourage them to do so as there will likely be openings at those levels.
 
Opportunities for Parent Involvement
 
Last week, we invited interested parents to a meeting to talk about more ways parents can be involved and contribute to the school.  We would love to have you become involved.  If you’re interested in any of the following categories, please contact us at the Inspire ofices at 891-3090 and we will get your information to the the parent group.
 
Our Talking Points went as follows:
Angel Network
Parent/ Student Advisory Board
Theater/Science/Engineering Groups
Teachers Luncheons
Fundraising
IFAB Board Members
 
These topics are areas where Mr. Nilsson and the IFAB (Inspire Foundation Advisory Board) need extra help. This is where all of you come in. The IFAB consists of 8 members, and we have been trying to do most of the Fundraising, and making most of the decisions that a PTA or PTO would do. We would love to have more members; we are also forming committees to help with some of the other topics that we feel are important for Inspire.
 
Angel Network.  One of the most important things a school community can do is come together when a member of the community has a time of need. An Angel Network within the school organization fulfills this duty.
Parent Advisory Board: is a group of parents who will meet with Eric Nilsson, Dan La Bar and student representatives to discuss issues related to the school, e.g. achievement data, curriculum, student events and relevant issues.  
Theater/Science/Engineering Groups:  These are particular areas that need parent support, e.g. providing rides for field trips, finding props for performances, speakers for Science and Engineering and additional resources as necessary. 
Teachers’ Luncheons: This is a group of Parents who are willing to bring food, drinks, plates, napkins etc. to show our appreciation to our Inspire teachers and staff.  There will be three of these each year, the day before school starts, before winter break, and during Teacher Appreciation week.
Fundraising: We need help not only putting on fundraisers but also new ideas for the kinds of fundraisers we can do. 
IFAB Board Members: We need new board members!
 
Winter Concert – December 7th – 7 pm – Center for the Arts at PVHS – 1475 East Avenue
 
This years Winter Concert will feature our Orchestra, Concert Choir, Guitar classes and smaller musical ensembles.  Students are excited about presenting a variety of festive and holiday music!  As soon as we return from Thanksgiving break, we’ll have information about where to get your tickets. 
 
Nutrition Tips for December – Thanks again to Kim Hernandez.
 
December-Mandarins
1. Mandarins are December’s Harvest of the Month featured produce. Mandarins are very high in vitamin C which helps boost your body’s immune system. Mandarins will stay good for a long time. Try filling a bowl of bright colorful mandarins for an easy and edible centerpiece.
2. Vacation Tip: Having a break from school means a lot of families take vacations. Many vacations consist of sitting all day, whether in a car or a plane. Purchase pedometers before the trip and have a family fun competition to see who can take the most steps while traveling.
3. No matter what your child's fitness personality, remember that he or she looks to you for guidance and needs your support and encouragement. Also it's important to set a good example, so don't groan about your own exercise, and look for chances to be physically active as a family.
4. Avoid playing elimination games. Some games, such as dodge ball, make it too easy to be eliminated from play, which usually ends up in kids standing still waiting for the game to restart. Keep kids moving by playing games that don’t have a real stopping point.
 
Need for Temporary Storage
 
After the conclusion of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” there is a need for some temporary storage through May of next year.  We need a space about 10’ by 12’.  If anyone has space available, please email me, and we’ll coordinate from there. 
 
AP US History Debates
 
The past several weeks, students in AP History have been preparing for debates which are being judged by staff members.  Tomorrow, I’ll sit on the judging panel for a debate tomorrow.  The topic will be:  “Did Ronald Reagan Win the Cold War?”  This is another example of inquiry based learning where students are presented with a question or a problem that requires extensive research and results in deeper learning.
 
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving all.  Get lots of rest and enjoy every minute.  As always, let me know if you have questions, concerns or feedback.
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal 
11/06/11 -
Greetings Students and Parents:
 
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”  This week!!!  
 
As I write this, Joyce Henderson, Marylou Lim, Kim Gimbal, Jarrah Myles are rehearsing with about 75 students preparing for this week’s performances at the beautiful CUSD Center for the Arts on the Pleasant Valley High School campus.  Dates and times are:
 
                November 11                7 pm
                November 12                2 pm and 7 pm
                November 13                2 pm
 
Tickets are on sale at Bidwell Perk and in the Inspire Office (PC4).  Ticket prices are as follows:
 
General Admission                     $12
Students 18 and under               $10
Students with ASB card             $8
 
 
Some of the features of the performance include:
 
* Director Joyce Henderson -- well known local director has returned to Chico & is our new theater teacher at Inspire.
 
* Choreographer/Producer Jarrah Myles -- Same Producer as Wizard of Oz -- We have developed 14 additional fairy roles & they dance, juggle & even yo-yo.
 
* Composer/Conductor Mary Lou Lim -- Original score written by Mrs. Lim with student composer Cooper Grosscup and performed live by a student orchestra on stage under our two story set that includes a spiral staircase and even a slide/waterfall.  Guitar improvisation by student Avery Pound. 
 
* Costumes & Sets Designed & Created with the help of community members Gail Holbrook and Christopher Burkhardt working collaboratively with our student designers.
 
* Set in the Directoire Fashion Era 1755-1810, think Pride & Prejudice.
 
·         This era was influenced by the Greeks where our play is set.
 
Spread the word to everyone you know.  We want to support all the hard work these wonderfully talented young people have done to bring this performance to Chico.
 
 
Attendance Alert
 
Please make sure to check your student's attendance on the parent portal.  Email our attendance clerk Lisa McWhorter at lmcwhorter@chicousd.org to clear any absences or to ask questions about absences.  
 
To date, it looks like we have been able to average about 96% attendance.  Thanks to students and parents for helping to keep attendance high, and we believe we can do better and should.  High attendance leads to greater success!  Keep up the good work everyone.
 
 
Chico State Engineering Students to Present Projects to Inspire Engineering Students
 
Professor Dale Word is coordinating a visit by CSU, Chico Engineering students to present their projects on November 10th.  As Professor Word puts it, “This is a great opportunity to help “inspire” (pun intended) some young engineers in the making.” 
 
We did this last year as well, and our students were very motivated by it. 
 
 
Biology Students in Ms. Olson’s Class Visit Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve
 
Last Wednesday they were able to visit the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.  The mission of the reserve is to, "preserve critical habitat and to provide a natural area for environmental research and education."  Our students will be working closely with Jeff Mott and Paul M. on a research project at the reserve.  The objective of this project is to learn the best way for the reserve to "manage" the native and non-native species of grasses. 
 
We started our tour of the reserve with an hour and a half hike through the beautiful 4,000 acre reserve.  Paul and Jeff were able to point out the geology and biology of the ecosystem.   After the hike, and a quick bite to eat, we were able to watch a controlled burn and learn about its role in "managing" a reserve.  The students were then introduced to their "plots."  The plots will be used in the experiment.  We will visit the reserve again in the spring to take our first count of the different species.  The students had a blast!
 
 
Algebra 2 Students Peer Tutor Algebra 1 Students during Advisory
 
Ms. Pierce arranged for several Algebra 1 students to come to her room for tutorial to receive peer tutoring from Algebra 2 students. It was a structured session where the Algebra 2 students were given a guide to follow that would help (teach and improve) with skills regarding balancing equations, solving for x, and putting an equation of a line into slope intercept form. These are skills that have been troublesome for many Algebra 1 students.  While this is additional support for Algebra 1 students, it also reinforces and deepens the learning of our Algebra 2 students.
 
 
Peace Corps Presents to Inspire Students
 
Last week, students were invited to attend the presentation by Bhoj Raj who served in the Peace Corps in Panama and shared his experiences.  Twenty-five students attended and learned a great deal about Panama and about the Peace Corps experience.
 
 
Speaker Series in Ethics Class
 
Marysol de la Torre has arranged the following speakers to present in her Ethics class.  This is an effective way of connecting what they’re learning to the world outside the classroom.
 
Wednesday, Nov. 2nd
-  Intro to Ethics (3rd period)
-  CSUC Professor Robert Jones, Philosophy/Animal Ethics Issues
 
Friday, Nov. 4th
-  Intro to Ethics (3rd Period)
-  Officer Rich Hartman & K-9, Chico Police Department
 
Thursday, Nov. 10th
-  Intro to Ethics (3rd Period)
-  CSUC Professor Art Sanchez, Psychology
 
 
Grade Update
 
Grades will be posted by Wednesday midnight for the 12 week progress report and reports will be mailed home the following Friday.  Every student’s progress report will be mailed. 
 
Please check Aeries parent portal on Thursday as all grades will be updated in the computer.  The mailed report will reflect what you see on Thursday. 
 
We are two thirds of the way through the first semester.  If your student is struggling in a class, in the vast majority of cases, there is time to improve the grade.  Please email the teacher of the applicable class if you have questions or need to discuss how what needs to be done. 
 
 
Inspire Concert Choir to Present at CUSD Board Meeting – November 16th – City Hall Chambers  
 
The Concert Choir will sing a song and recite a poem for the board from the “Voices for Hope” performance they did on October 25th.  They will be presenting some time between 6 and 6:45 pm. 
 
All for now.  Keep the questions, concerns and feedback coming.  Thanks to everyone for your continued involvement in and support of Inspire.
 
Eric Nilsson
Principal
Principal
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