IMAGINE PARENT ORGANIZATION NEWS
September 2024
We hope everyone is settling in and the school year is off to a great start! Please make sure to read the entirety of the newsletter as there is a lot of important information regarding upcoming events and ways to stay connected and involved with the IPO.
IPO & Parent University Meeting on 9/9
We hosted an IPO/Parent University meeting on Monday, September 9th. Following the IPO portion families were able to attend a Lower School, Middle School or Upper School breakout session. You can review the IPO slideshow here. During the IPO portion of the meeting we:
Discussed the purpose of the IPO
Discussed ways you can get involved
Provided Committee Updates (see committee-specific information below)
Provided information on how to become a registered volunteer
Discussed “What it Means to be a Charter School”
Spoke about the Imagine Fund and how to become a sponsor
Provided an overview of Infinite Campus
Committee Updates
If you are interested in joining any of the committees below, please complete this form.
Fall Festival Committee
This year's Fall Festival is gearing up to be our biggest one yet!. We have so many fun activities and booths for families to enjoy. Did you know Fall Festival is a great way for clubs, departments, teams and grade levels to raise money? Make sure to join us on Friday, October 18th from 3-6 pm to show your support. Information coming soon on how to purchase tickets.
We need volunteers - Parent volunteers are an integral part of this event. Please sign up for at least one 30 minute slot.
Lower School Families - Ways To Help
Check your email and grade level newsletters to discover ways you can help contribute donations to a grade level raffle basket or activity.
Middle School Families - Ways to Help
Middle school is selling drinks and will have a "Treat Yourself" raffle basket at the Fall Festival. Please sign up to volunteer and/or donate items needed for the MS drinks table and raffle basket. Donations must be dropped off at the front desk no later than 10/16. Funds raised through our table + raffle basket will go directly to support the middle school, helping to provide enriching opportunities to our students.
High School Families - Ways to Help
We are looking for high school student volunteers to help at the Fall Festival. Please have your high school student complete this form if they are interested in earning volunteer hours.
Daytime Availability?
The committee needs your help the week of 10/7 and 10/14 prepping everything for the festival. Please email ipo@icimagine.org if you are interested in helping.
Staff Appreciation Committee
Thank you for your generous donations to the workrooms! The staff have been enjoying snacks, coffee, tea, drinks, chocolate and more in the four workrooms. Additional donations are welcome any time. On Sept. 6th the committee decorated the workroom doors with inspirational quotes and quotes shared by families - thank you!
Upcoming Events
Sept. 30th Staff Breakfast
Great Smiles Ortho is sponsoring part of the breakfast. Shout out to donations by CFA West and Bruegger's Bagels as well!
October 18th - Fall Festival Spirit Wear Sales
Get your Spirit Wear as sales go toward our appreciation budget, allowing us to do even more!
November 8th - Staff Bowling Event with Desserts
Families can donate gluten free and vegan options for the staff bowling event. You can sign up here!
Save the Date - Staff Appreciation Week in May
Kickoff with a staff lunch during the teacher Work Day on May 2nd
Events continue May 5th-9th during the school week
Grounds Committee
First Work Day - Wednesday, October 23rd 3PM to 5PM (Anyone Can Help)
During this work day, we will maintain and expand our pollinator garden, located next to the bus lot. Students are welcome to join. Sign-up here if you would like to attend the work day. Please ask local nurseries for pollinator plant donations, native plants preferred. The plants should be in 3 to 5 gallon buckets or less. This is a great time of year to ask nurseries for donations, since they're trying to unload their inventory.
Second Work Day - November TBD - possibly a Sunday from 3PM to 5PM
During this work day, we will prepare the area around the new electric sign for sod and plants to disguise the new electrical meter. The sod will have a chance to establish over winter break.
Areas of Focus For the Year:
Remove exposed landscape fabric in the picnic table area
Maintain the school trail
Add plants to the strip between the basketball court and parking lot
Add plants to the area outside of the fence around the playground
Add educational signs about native grasses/pollinator plants
Lower School Committee
Fall Festival - Preparations for Fall Festival are underway! Please sign-up to volunteer and/or provide supplies for your grade’s activity or raffle basket. Donations are due to your child’s teacher no later than 10/9. Our teachers are working hard to support our children’s learning. Let’s help them raise funds to support their classrooms and supplies for this school year! The Fall Festival is super fun and not just for Kingfishers. Invite your extended family and friends!
Bricks 4 Kids - Bricks 4 Kids would like to offer an after school opportunity at our school. However, they are in need of instructors. If you or someone you know may be interested, contact Alyson at 828-674-2446. It is a paid position for a one hour session at school with a pre-set curriculum. It will run once a week for 12 weeks.
Imagination Days - Lower School had a blast dancing with our mascot, Kirby, at their first Imagination Day! We are looking forward to the next one on 11/22. Mark your calendars and be on the lookout for ways to volunteer closer to the date.
PBIS - Positive Intervention Behaviors and Supports, or PBIS, is the school’s behavior and rewards system. Each day students have the opportunity to be awarded stars (or DOJO or Live points) that they then can turn in for rewards, like eating lunch with a friend. Each Friday they can trade in stars/points for raffle tickets for a prize. Some of these raffle rewards are experiences and some are prizes. LS needs your help to distribute prizes and/or move students between class and their activity. Prizes are distributed on Thursday and the experiences happen on Fridays. Be on the lookout for how you can sign-up for these opportunities as they become available.
Middle School Committee
Fall Festival plans are in motion! Please sign up to volunteer and/or donate items needed for the MS drinks table and raffle basket. Donations must be dropped off at the front desk no later than 10/16. Funds raised through our table + raffle basket will go directly to support the middle school, helping to provide enriching opportunities to our students.
Oct 1st Meeting - We've booked the conference room for a Middle School Committee meeting from 7:45am - 9am (meeting will begin at 8am). If you are a current member or interested in joining our committee, we'd love to see you there! We will begin planning our fall events.
Save the Date for the first MS dance event of the 24-25 school year: Friday, Nov. 1st, 6pm - 8pm at the ICI Gym.
Dance Donations - You can now make donations toward our dance budget to help with the purchase of food, decor, and supplies! Look for “Dance Donations for 11/1/24” under middle school products in the school store in Infinite Campus. There are a variety of donation amounts, so you can choose one that best fits your family budget!
Upper School Committee
We have a lot of exciting things happening in US and would love your help:
September Snack Cart/ PBIS Fridays sign-ups are available HERE We will provide simple instructions to those interested in helping run the snack cart and/or distributing PBIS Friday treats. The timeframe is 12:50-1:50 any day of the week.
Angela Stahl is leading the Dance and Prom portion of our committee. If you are interested in lending a helping hand, you can sign up HERE
Parents can sign up to volunteer during Imagination Days from 12:30-2:30 to help serve pizza and treats. Specific dates are listed HERE if you are interested.
There are many other ways you can get involved. Check out our sign-up HERE or reach out to one of our committee chairs Kimberly Wall (kimberlydawnwall@gmail.com) Kathy McElreath (knovella110@gmail.com).
Band Committee
Band is hosting a "Musical Sweets" activity at the Fall Festival (similar to a cake walk). They are looking for sweet donations (cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc.). Please email Kathy McElreath (knovella110@gmail.com) if you would like to donate a sweet.
Development Committee
Are you someone who is interested in helping the school to generate funds? Or maybe you are well-connected in the local business community? If so, the Development Committee may be the place for you. If you are interested in attending a meeting and/or joining the committee contact Avery Jones, averyjones@icimagine.org.
We are looking forward to a great rest of the school year and appreciate any help you can give to these committees! If you have any questions, please email ipo@icimagine.org.
~Imagine Parent Organization