Dear Innovation High School Families,

As we step into February, we celebrate the resilience and growth of our students and staff. This month brings exciting opportunities, including student recognition events, academic milestones, and community engagement initiatives. February is also a time to honor Black History Month, reinforcing our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and learning from the past to inspire the future.

Stay tuned for important updates, upcoming events, and ways to stay connected with our school community. Thank you for your continued support in making Innovation High School a place where every student thrives!

Student Recommitment Process

At Innovation High School, we value each student’s growth and commitment to their education. The student recommitment process is an opportunity for students and families to reaffirm their dedication to academic success, school expectations, and active participation in our community.

Why is Recommitment Important?

Recommitment allows students to reflect on their progress, set personal and academic goals, and ensure they are on track for success. It also helps the school plan for the upcoming year by understanding student needs and enrollment intentions.

What Does the Process Involve?

1. Recommitment Form: Students will complete a form indicating their intent to continue at Innovation High School, including any updates on goals, interests, or support needs.
2. Check-In Meeting (if needed): Some students may be invited to meet with an administrator or counselor to discuss progress, challenges, and available resources.
3. Parent/Guardian Acknowledgment: Families may be asked to review and confirm their student’s recommitment to ensure alignment between home and school expectations.
4. Next Steps: Once recommitted, students will receive confermation they have completed the process.

Who Needs to Recommit?

All current students are encouraged to complete the recommitment process to secure their place at Innovation High School and stay informed about future opportunities.

By participating in this process, students take an active role in shaping their educational experience and ensuring a strong finish to the school year.

Important: Any student who does not complete the recommitment process by the deadline will be considered as returning to their home school. The deadline to complete the process is February 14, 2025. The LInk for recommitment will be sent out February 1st, If you have any questions, please reach out to the school office for assistance.

Reminders:

Cell Phones and Devices

• Yondr Pouches: Upon entering the building, students must show their Yondr pouch and demonstrate that their phone is securely locked inside.
• Forgotten Yondr Pouches: If a student forgets their Yondr pouch, their phone will need to be turned in at entry. It will be secured in the vault and returned at the end of the day or when the student leaves the building.
• Other Devices: External devices such as iPads, tablets, or personal laptops are not allowed in the building, as students are provided with Chromebooks for academic use.

Uniform Expectations

The Ferguson-Florissant School District requires all students in grades K-12 to wear proper uniforms during school hours. Below are the guidelines for Innovation High School:

• Approved Colors: White, blue, gray, black, and orange.
• Special Circumstances: Students attending Tech programs or internships with different dress requirements will be allowed to change before they leave.

Enforcement Steps

1. First Violation: The student will receive a notification, be provided with a uniform piece if available, and a parent/guardian will be informed.
2. Second Violation: A parent/guardian will be called to bring the necessary uniform items.
3. Third Violation: A parent/guardian will be called, and the student will receive an afterschool detention.

We need your support to ensure all students adhere to these expectations. Together, we can maintain a positive and productive learning environment.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Benchmark Scores:
This year, our school is using diagnostic reading assessments to help teachers understand student reading levels throughout the year. One of these assessments is the STAR test. Look for your student’s reading benchmark scores, which are being mailed home.

The STAR reading score provides a snapshot of skills mastered or still in progress. This growth model meets students where they are and supports individual improvement toward standard mastery. Our initiatives to support reading and comprehension include:

• Implementing specific reading strategies and district-approved curricula in all classrooms.
• Dedicating academic time for intervention and enrichment.
• Using Achieve 3000, a Lexile-level building program, for all 9th and 10th graders.
• Holding conferences with students to identify support strategies both in and outside of school.
• Testing all students three more times this year to evaluate the effectiveness of reading strategies.

Attendance:
We’ve noticed a decline in attendance and are asking parents and guardians to help us improve. Please ensure your student is on time and present each day. Although illness may cause absences, students miss out on learning opportunities when not in school. To promote attendance, we’re introducing a grade-level incentive: the grade with the highest attendance for November will receive an addtintonal Dress Down Day.

Uniform Policy:
We’ve seen an increase in students arriving out of uniform. Please ensure your student follows the uniform policy daily.

Yondr Pouch Usage:
Students must use their Yondr pouch while at school. If a student forgets their pouch, they need to turn in their phone to be securely stored in the vault until the end of the day.

Academic Diligence:
It’s essential that students remain diligent in their studies. Students with Edgenuity classes should complete assignments and stay on track. Progress reports are available, and instructions for checking them in Infinite Campus have been sent. We’ll also include these instructions in our newsletter.

Monthly Change Team Meeting:
Our Monthly Change Team meeting is an opportunity to invite more voices and gather valuable stakeholder input for Innovation High School.

Monthly Family Advisory Meetings:
Family Advisory Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, with the next meeting scheduled for Thursday,February 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM.

Family Advisory Committee Zoom Link:
FAC ZOOM LINK

Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Dr. Eye

Principal, Innovation High School

314-521-5622

beye@fergflor.org

Ariah Dailey is a talented singer-songwriter whose heartfelt music reflects her passion and creativity. A 17-year-old senior at Innovation High School, Ariah will perform her original song Hold On, showcasing her unique voice and musical artistry.

With professional training from J. Oscar School of Music, Ariah plans to pursue a career as a sonographer while continuing her musical journey by earning a degree in music. Her performance is sure to inspire and captivate audiences with its authenticity and emotional depth.

More Info:

https://stlteentalent.org/2025-finalists/

At Innovation High School, we are fortunate to have dedicated educators who go above and beyond for their students. One such teacher is Alexis Stanley, whose unwavering commitment, compassion, and leadership have made a lasting impact on both her students and colleagues.

Over the past two years, Alexis has been an integral part of our school community, demonstrating exceptional dedication to the Big Picture Learning (BPL) Model and ensuring that students receive the support they need to thrive. Her influence extends far beyond her own advisory, earning the admiration and respect of students across the entire building.

This year, Alexis has taken on an even greater responsibility, stepping up to support the sophomore class after an advisor departure. As the only sophomore advisor, she has not only guided her own students but has also extended her leadership to the entire sophomore advisory—all while preparing to welcome a child of her own.

Students speak highly of her impact, describing her as supportive, caring, and deeply invested in their success. They recognize her ability to create a welcoming, encouraging environment where they feel valued and empowered to reach their goals.

For her dedication, resilience, and the meaningful connections she fosters, Alexis is truly deserving of the Teacher of the Year award.

This year, Innovation High School is focused on increasing community and family engagement, recognizing the vital role families play in the educational team dedicated to your student's success. To support this goal, we are establishing a Family Advisory Committee. This committee will help guide building leaders in creating unique and enriching experiences for students, while also giving families a voice and including them as integral members of the educational team at Innovation High School.

We will hold monthly meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting is on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM. I have linked the presentation and agenda from our previous meetings.

• Monthly Family Advisory Meetings: These meetings will take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Based on a suggestion, we will also offer a Zoom option for those who cannot attend in person. This will allow more families to participate, and I have included the Zoom link

FAMILY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ZOOM LINK.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Family Game Night! It was wonderful to see so many of our students, parents, and staff come together for an evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition. Your participation helped make the event a great success, and we truly appreciate your support in building a strong and connected school community.

We hope you had as much fun as we did, and we look forward to hosting more events like this in the future. Thank you for being a part of the Innovation High School family!

Reminder: No School on the Following Days

• Friday February 14, 2025(Teacher Work Day)
• Monday February 17, 2025( Presidents Day)

The Ferguson-Florissant School District provides students with free breakfast and lunch every day. Students are welcome to bring their own food for lunch if they prefer. However, we have encountered issues with students calling families to bring food or attempting to use delivery services like DoorDash during the school day.

If you wish to bring food for your student, it must be done during their designated lunch period:

• 9th & 10th grade: 11:31 AM - 12:31 AM
• 11th & 12th grade: 12:34 PM - 1:04 PM

Any food delivered by families outside of these times will be kept in the office until the end of the day and given to students at 3:10 PM as they leave the building. Please note that any food delivery services used by students will be turned away and not allowed to deliver.

We appreciate your support in adhering to this policy to ensure that learning time is not disrupted.

Below are the district uniform guidelines for the 2024-2025 school year:

Innovation High School students may wear blue, white, orange, grey, or black shirts. Students will need to adhere to the district guidelines for bottoms, which include khaki, blue, or FFSD plaid.

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Universal Field Trip Forms: Attention parents and guardians: To ensure your student is eligible to participate in school field trips and internship opportunities throughout the school year, please remember to complete and submit the Universal Field Trip Form. Students can receive a paper copy from their advisor. This form is required annually, even if you completed it last year. Timely submission is crucial to allow your student to take advantage of valuable learning experiences that are unique to Innovation High School.

Student LTI Opportunities: We are thrilled to announce several opportunities for our students to explore future careers and develop valuable skills. Build My Future offers students a one day hands-on experience in the construction trades, providing insight into potential career paths. First Generation Investors is a fantastic program for students interested in learning about finance and investing. Students are paired with a mentor that works with them weekly for 8 sessions. Lastly, the St. Louis Zoo Career Exploration program will allow students to discover careers in animal care, technology, education, culinary, security, and more depending on student interest. This is a 9-week program that takes place at the Zoo where students will experience behind the scene tours and presentations from Zoo staff. These opportunities are designed to inspire and guide students as they consider their future career paths. Students can sign-up through their advisors. Be sure to encourage your student to take advantage of these enriching experiences!