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Innovation Insider

January 2024

InnovationInsiderJanuary 2024

In This Issue

  • Important Dates

  • Coming Up This Month

  • Staff Spotlight

  • Students Speak

  • Spotlight on School Safety

  • A Note From Our Principal

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Important Dates

  • January 1: No school - New Year's Day

  • January 2: Classes resume

  • January 15: No school - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

  • January 25: End of Hex 3

  • January 26: No school - Grading day

Coming Up This Month

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Disco Night - January 19, 7:00-9:00PM

The Innovation Academy leadership class is putting on our very own dance! The theme is Disco Night and the dress code is semi-formal. Join us to get down and boogie all night (until 9:00)!


Students can purchase tickets and guest passes at the front office. Tickets start at $5 from Jan. 5-12, $7 Jan. 15-19, and are $10 at the door. Guest passes must be returned to the office for approval by January 16.

Hex 3 Exhibition - January 24, 5:00-6:00PM

Take a look at what our students have been working on at our end of hex exhibition and open house! This hexter's projects include The Science of Sports, Pilot, Design It, and Boom Or Bust. What are we piloting? What are we designing? Come see for yourself on January 24!

Staff Spotlight

Alicea Gatlin, Campus Monitor

Ms. Alicea has known that she wanted to work with teens for her whole adult life. Her education background is in Psychology with a focus on the emotional and behavioral health of youth, and she has worked with teens in a care and/or volunteer capacity for the last 20 years. High school was her safe and happy place and she attributes her passion to her own high school experience. She wants to be that person that gives whatever support is needed for a kid to grow into the person they are meant to be. She says, “The staff that I connected with (at school) forever shaped me, and maybe even saved my life, with their support and love”. She believes in empathy and love above all else and approaches each Innovation Academy student as if they were one of her own kids.

She has two children of her own at home as well as a “beautiful red-headed pirate viking” of a husband, three cats, an axolotl, and a corn snake. When Ms. Alicea is not a work, she can usually be found gardening in her backyard, napping with her cats, or adventuring with her family.


Fun facts about Ms. Alicea:


  • She thinks the best way to spend a rainy day is by baking sweets and then watching movies in bed.
  • Her favorite movie is the original Little Mermaid.

Students Speak

What could someone say to you that would absolutely make your day?

  • That I'm super nice. -M, 9th grade
  • I believe in you. -R, 11th grade

Spotlight on School Safety

Winter Weather Procedures

With winter weather conditions on the horizon, it's a good idea to be updated on the MSD severe weather protocols. The MSD works closely with the National Weather Service as well as City and County public works to make decisions regarding weather conditions.


In the event that the driving conditions within our boundaries are unsafe, the decision to delay or close school will be made the day of around 5:30 AM. Parents will be notified through email, and the decision will be posted on our website and social media channels.


For more information, please read the Severe Weather Procedures FAQ.

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Partner with Us to Help Keep Our School Safe

If you see or hear anything about school threats, weapons, violence, bullying, drugs, self-harm, or have other school safety suspicions, report it!

CALL OR TEXT 844-4-SAFE-OR (844-472-3367)

EMAIL tip@safeoregon.com

ONLINE safeoregon.com

Principal's Message

Welcome to the new year!


I hope everyone had a wonderful break with a chance to rest, spend time with your families, and to spread joy around you. As we launch a new calendar year, consider celebrating some (or all!) of the following…


  • January 14th National Organize your Space Day

  • January 19th National Good Memory Day

  • January 20th National Take a Walk Outdoors Day

  • January 24th National Compliment Day


At Innovation Academy, we are excited to continue our Hex 3 classes including our launch of PE and our Computer Lab spaces. Every hexter we are finding new ways to use the space in our building and continue to appreciate the curated examples of student work from earlier this year. Please join us on January 24th at the End of Hex 3 Exhibition to see what we’ve been up to and celebrate your student’s learning!


Happy New Year-

Cass Thonstad

Principal Innovation Academy

#InnovationToGraduation

#TigersTogether
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