Good morning! We’d like to share with you the recently completed Innovations Academy newsletter, it’s a fun read. Please share with anyone who might enjoy hearing about our therapeutic day school. We currently have openings in both our elementary/middle school and high school/vocational education programs and would welcome your questions and comments. Thank you for taking the time to see what Innovations has been doing over the last few months. Have a great Thursday!

1. Inside this issue:
Holidays at Innovations 1
Man cave decorates
Christmas tree
2
Principal’s Corner 3
Innovations At the Museum 4
Visit from St. Nicholas 5
Check it Out 6
Parent University 7
HOPE through Service Excellence
Phoenix Times : Winter
WINTER 2016
The clever and creative
staff of Innovations
Academy spent quite some
time collaborating and
developing this holiday
“masterpiece.” We entered
this art work into the SBHS
contest. Even though we
did not come in 1st place,
the staff could agree that
the enjoyment of putting
this together was much
more than any prize. This
Grinch did not steal our
spirit!

2. Page 2Phoenix Times : Winter 2016
School Choice Week was celebrated
at Innovations Academy the last week
of January. The students and staff
spent the week wearing yellow
scarves in honor this nation wide
awareness project. On that Friday of
school choice week, the students and
staff participated in school pride by
sporting Innovation’s school colors;
yellow and orange. Students who
participated earned extra positive
behavior points throughout the week.
Thanks to all of the participants!

3. Page 3Phoenix Times : Winter 2016
Dear Parents and Guardians:
The second semester school year began on January 16, 2016. Academic instruction is
rigorous and challenging with more opportunities for life application thanks to the certified
Common Core training that our staff received from Mrs. Jen Norton of K-12 Teacher’s
Alliance. Teachers are also doing an amazing job with unpacking the N.W.E.A. standards.
We anticipate that our students will perform well on the next upcoming MAPs and PARCC
standardized tests.
We are growing! Recently, Mr. Art Weidner was added to our high school staff as our math
specialist. Mr. Weidner has been in the education field for many years and has a strong
background in therapeutic school settings. Ms. Myers, will continue to work as the Teacher
Assistant for this classroom.
We are progressing! Congratulations to all of the staff and students on their 1st Semester
success! There was a 15% reduction in D’s and F’s this semester thanks to the hard work of
the teachers, staff and students! We exceeded our goal of 5%! I am very proud of this recent
accomplishment and recognize the hard work of our staff and students! Keep Up The Great
Work!!!
Innovations Student Council Members are active and creating ideas to involve more student
engagement at our school. Members have participated in saying the Pledge of Allegiance and
reporting the morning announcements. As a reminder, Student Council Members must pass
and maintain a successful grade average and demonstrate and represent positive and
respectful character traits in the school. The student council members met with Ms.
McComb and Ms. Quartman on February 2, 2016; They discussed a variety of student ideas
and suggestions for the second semester.
Pizza with the Principal! February 24, 2016 @ Noon until 12:45pm, Parents are invited to
attend a Pizza Luncheon with the Principal! There will be an open discussion format and the
Principal will share information on the great things that are happening at Innovations. After
the luncheon, please join our school staff and students for our Black History Program @
1:00pm. Our students are learning about the history of Black Americans and will share and
celebrate their learning at our assembly.
Janice Quartman
Principal
Janice.quartman@uhsinc.com
630-540-3900 ext. 2774

4. Page 4Phoenix Times : Winter 2016
Innovations at the Museum !
Ms. Kramer’s Freshman English
and Ms. McComb’s World History
classes took a field trip to the Field
Museum to see the exhibit on
Alexander the Great. Artifacts
over 3000 years old which had
never left Greece before were on
display. Students saw the bronze
voting ballots used back then, as
well as jewelry, pottery and
statutes. They also had the
opportunity to walk through other
exhibits such as the Hall of Gems
and listen to a guide tell them
about how Native Americans lived
in a communal longhouse. It made
for a memorable day.

5. Page 5Phoenix Times : Winter 2016
A Visit from St. Nicholas
Students in the elementary/
middle school music classes
as well as the high school
choir worked very hard this
year to perform the musical
“A Visit from St. Nicholas”.
The production took place on
December 18th
, and was an
excellent showcase of the
students’ talents. Solos were
sung by Mason H., Ammar
B., Joey P., and Moises V..
Mr. Nichols played the part of
“grandpa” and his class
performed the speaking parts
for the musical. Special
thanks to Ms. Hurrle and the
students involved in open art
studio who made the
backdrops for the
performance. They really
made everything come alive.
All students involved in the
performance did an excellent
job, and I am extremely proud
of them for their
accomplishments.
Ms. Lindaman

6. Page 6Phoenix Times : Winter 2016
Sports
The 2016 Basketball season has begun for Pro-League. The Innovation team is coached by
Edward Charse and assisted by Amy Schaper. The players that attend the basketball games in
Addison are Joey P., Zach H., Luis R., Justin H., Roman B., DJ D., Omar B., Jan J.,
Colton.,. The students play every Friday and the games are four 8 minute quar-
ters. Innovations has had two games so far and played extremely hard but lost both games.
These players have shown amazing sportsmanship and teamwork with peers and other
teams. Keep up the great work Innovations and “Good Luck” in your future games.
Culinary Arts
Our Culinary class is very excited to embark upon our new adventures. We have really taken
advantage of helping others. We just finished our first annual Innovations’ Food Drive and it
was a great success! We participated in our philanthropic duties with FMSC just this past week
and our students, as always, loved it. Coming soon, is our February Love Bake Sale and our
brand new task of a grocery shopping service that is being piloted this week.
School Store
The School Store is hopping!! We have received very many generous donations from staff
and parents. The Employability students have been organizing and “selling” many
goods. Sweatshirts, pants, wallets, toiletries, toys and books are just a small sample of what
is available to purchase. Employability is also working on learning life skills such as filling
out forms, buying a car, finding an apartment and learning about personal likes and dislikes
which could lead to a possible career.
Home Economics
Home Economics class is making fleece hat for the winter. The students are recycling the
National School Choice Week fleece scarves, which were generously donated by staffs after
the week’s long celebration. Students made personal hats and are working on making hats for
their favorite staffs, after which the remaining fleece would be turned into children hat for
donation at children’s Hospital. This skill allows the students to use the sewing machine for
basic straight sewing, basting, and simple clothing construction.

7. Page 7Phoenix Times : Winter 2016
“Lemon and Lime Magic”
By: Olive S.
This fabulous comic was created by the
one and only, Olive S. from Mrs. C’s
class. When Olive was asked where she
gained the inspiration to create such a
comical piece, her response was, “I was
inspired by the Sprite can and the flavors
of the lemon and the lime.” Olive also
read her comic to the entire school during
the daily announcements. Great job,
Olive!
Next Parent University
February 19, 2016 at 12:00 P.M
Gregory Kabat LPC, CADC will discuss adolescent video gaming addiction by addressing current
research regarding healthy and unhealthy gaming behaviors, warning signs and behaviors that may
require intervention.
On December 10, 2015
Innovations therapist Ms. Jillian
Newkirk presented Parent
University: Healthy Bodies,
Healthy Minds workshop to
teachers and parents. The discus-
sion was on how food and nutrition
impacts our children’s behavior,
mood and attention span. The
audience learned about research
supported nutritional advice for
addressing mental health concerns.
Thanks to all who came!

8. At the holiday presentation back in December, the students and staff of Innovations had the honor
of witnessing the student council executive members being sworn in to their various offices. Ms.
Quartman and Ms. McComb, seen in these photos, have been hard at work to train and discuss the
ins and outs of being on the student council board. We are pleased to announce the 2015-2016
student council board members of Innovations Academy. Top left: Ammar B.—President Top
right: Joey P. –Vice President Bottom left: Kanye C.-Secretary and Bottom right: Joey W.-
Treasurer Congratulations, to the executive student council members!
Phoenix Times : Winter 2016 Page 8