Mariner Update Family Edition

Volume 14 Issue 20

Mariner Family,

I love our school, do you love your school!

Our gifts as educators and parents are meant to be shared and used to benefit others; essentially, the purpose of receiving a gift is to give it away to others in service and love.

Subject: Mid-Year Reflection: Celebrating Our Successes and Planning for Growth

Dear Mariner Family,

As we find ourselves midway through the school year, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the incredible journey we’ve taken together so far. Mid-year reflection offers us the opportunity to celebrate our wonders and acknowledge what we love most about being part of the Innovative Horizons Charter School (IHCS) community.

At IHCS, our shared commitment to fostering student achievement, positive relationships, and continuous growth drives everything we do. We encourage you to join us in reflecting on what is working well. What are the moments that inspire you? What makes our school a special place for our students to grow, thrive, and excel?

We are committed to hearing from all voices in our community—students, parents, and staff. Soon, we will be sharing surveys that invite you to share your insights and ideas. Your feedback is essential in identifying our strengths and exploring ways to refine and enhance the IHCS experience for everyone.

In addition to these surveys, we want to personally invite you to meet with our administration team. Whether you have ideas to share, questions to ask, or feedback to provide, we are here for you. Please feel free to stop by the front office to schedule a meeting or connect with us in person. We value your input and know that your ideas can help create the best learning environment for all.

Please know that every response—whether in a survey, a conversation, or a meeting—is carefully reviewed and considered as we strive to grow our school in all the right ways. Together, we can continue building a community that celebrates excellence and embraces continuous improvement.

Thank you for your partnership and dedication to making IHCS a place where wonders happen every day. Let’s reflect, celebrate, and plan for an even brighter future together.

With gratitude,
Mr. Candelaria, Principal
Mrs. Barry, Assistant Principal
Mr. Castro, Assistant Principal
IHCS Dedicated Admin Team

Finding Faith in Every Step - in Every Picture - & Renewing Our Faith Every Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.” These words inspire us to find faith in the small, meaningful steps we take each day toward building the culture and community we envision at Innovative Horizons Charter School.

The faith is in the student’s whiteboard, filled with math strategies, showing the courage to persist and understand. It’s in the classroom whiteboard, where a student bravely shares her thinking, supported by parents, teachers, and peers who help her grow.

The faith is in professional development, where staff embrace new learning, trusting that it will create belonging, leadership, and success for all. It’s in the words and symbols a teacher posts on the wall, believing they will spark growth and achievement in students.

The faith is at our School Advisory Committee meetings, where parents and teachers collaborate to celebrate successes and envision even greater ones. It’s in the eyes of science fair organizers, school leaders, staff, and parents who trust that these moments inspire confidence, knowledge, and a brighter future.

Faith is all around us—in every picture, every effort, and every small step that brings us closer to the thriving community we are creating together. IHCS Family, Keep looking for the faith and the joy, and finding the faith and the joy, and renewing our faith in each other each day.

I love our school do you love your school!

Our 3rd graders have been buzzing with excitement as they explore important math concepts and the world around them! In math, they’ve been mastering multiplication and division. They’ve also been learning about area and perimeter, measuring objects and calculating the space they cover. Through our Thinking Classroom activities, students are becoming better problem-solvers and collaborators. In science, we are currently diving into the study of weather. It’s been an engaging and fun-filled time in the classroom, and we look forward to all the learning and exploration ahead!

Robotics

Our Robotics Teams Shine at Regionals!

We are thrilled to share the outstanding accomplishments of both of our LEGO Robotics competition teams! After months of hard work, creativity, and collaboration, our teams earned a spot in the highly competitive Regional Championships. This exciting event brought together some of the most skilled teams in the region, including groups who have previously competed at the world level.

During the competition, our students showcased their innovative solutions to this year’s challenge, presenting their ideas with confidence and enthusiasm. They demonstrated exceptional teamwork, programming skills, and problem-solving abilities, impressing both the judges and their peers. The experience of competing alongside such advanced teams was inspiring and highlighted the incredible potential of our students.

We are so proud of the dedication and sportsmanship our teams exhibited throughout the season. This milestone is a testament to their perseverance and creativity. A special thank you goes out to our mentors and supportive families who made this journey possible.

As we look ahead, we are excited to continue building on this success and fostering a passion for STEM in our students. Let’s celebrate our teams for their remarkable achievements and wish them even greater success in future competitions!

Stay tuned for more updates from our robotics program, and thank you for being part of our journey to inspire innovation and excellence!