Monday Message for March 26, 2018
Message from the Director
Hello iLEAD Families,
As you know, your learners have been MAP testing and we have seen a tremendous amount of growth in your learners’ performance.
April 28 is our annual Benefit Dinner. We would love for you to attend. This year’s honorees are Albion Bowers as our Vision in Education honoree, Zenaida Morales as our Founders Vision Award honoree, and the Van Houten Family is our Founders Family Vision Award honoree. Baskets are being collected for the benefit dinner to support fundraising. Please ask your learner’s facilitator for more information on your grade level theme or contact our volunteer basket coordinator, Michaela Audette, at michaelaaudette@gmail.com.
We are still looking for iLEAD families to help us reach out to businesses to support our Benefit Dinner. Please contact chairwoman, Patricia, at patricia.margosian@gmail.com.
We need your help please take the time to complete our “What Makes iLEAD Special” survey. We value your voice.
Do you have a green thumb? We received a grant and need to use it before the end of the year. Help us begin to build our garden. Please contact Cindy Williams at cynthia.williams@ileadlancaster.org to help.
In closing just a few reminders:
SPRING BREAK DATES: Our last day was March 23 and we look forward to returning Thursday, April 5, at 8:30 a.m.
Lastly, our Backyard Bash is coming up! Save the date, June 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We need your help! Please contact Kristan to sign up to help.
Thank you!
Nykole Kent
School Director
iLEAD Lancaster
254 E. Avenue K-4
Lancaster, CA 93535
(661) 722-4287
Mark Your Calendar
(Please see the school calendar for more information)
- March 26-April 5 – SPRING BREAK
- April 20-21 – Poppy Festival at Sgt. Owen Memorial Park
- June 9 – Backyard Bash June 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., save the date
Reminder: We Value Your Input
We would like to hear your thoughts on what education means to you personally and what makes education at iLEAD Lancaster different. Your voice is important as we strive to continuously improve the iLEAD experience for everybody and showcase what makes iLEAD special. We appreciate your help and look forward to your feedback. If you have not done so already, please click here to complete the survey.
Catching Up with Open Mic Night
A learner led initiative, Open Mic Night, was hosted by Brooklyn, a 7th grade learner in Mr. Max’s class, and ran very well. We had over 25 learners perform at Open Mic Night last Friday — so many that we scheduled out another one for May. Keep an eye on the Monday Message for more information in the coming weeks’ editions. We raised funds for a backdrop for on-campus performances and we listened to beautiful songs and watched amazing dances, comedy acts and one-man shows. Thank you to everyone who came, performed and supported!
Vision in Education Honorees Announced
Vision in Education Honoree (community member) – Albion Bowers - Founders Vision Award (Staff member) – iLEAD AV Honoree – Shyrelle Tillman & iLEAD Lancaster Honoree – Zenaida Morales
- Founders Family Vision Award (Family Members) – The Van Houten Family
Community Spotlight: AV Youth Receives Regional YMCA Award
Community Spotlight: ANTELOPE VALLEY YMCA YOUTH RECEIVES REGIONAL
YMCA EXCELLENCE IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD
Mary Miller Honored for Starting Youth & Government Program
Mary Miller received one of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles’ three prestigious, youth-focused awards at its annual Youth, Government and Teen Excellence in Leaders Awards Dinner at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. Miller received the Excellence in Youth Leadership award in recognition of her determination and successful launch of the YMCA’s Model Legislature & Court (MLC) Program at the Antelope Valley Family YMCA. The Excellence in Youth Leadership award is awarded each year to a teen who has shown great leadership when faced with a challenge, consistently demonstrated the “can do” attitude no matter the circumstances, been a role model for other YMCA program participants, and made a positive impact on their community through the YMCA.
In early 2017, Miller learned of the YMCA’s statewide MLC Program and became determined to launch it at the Antelope Valley Family YMCA. She worked hard to develop relationships with local politicians and business owners to bring awareness to the program. She spent her summer spreading the word about the benefits of the program to both teens and adults.
Her work was so inspiring that the Board of Managers for the Antelope Valley Family YMCA even asked her to join the Board. – Michael Henderson, Executive Director
In the 2017-2018 school year, Miller’s hope of starting a delegation came to fruition. Mary made the most of the year by immediately applying for a statewide position and being appointed as an Under Secretary of State. Her program peers also found that it was only natural that since she started the delegation that she also serve as their President. Miller went on to utilize the relationships that she cultivated to get the delegation two meetings with State Senator Scott Wilk, including one on the Senate floor in Sacramento. It has been my mission to change the way that the Antelope Valley sees the youth in their community …
I can’t wait for the Antelope Delegation to grow. We’re new, but we’re here to stay. – Mary Miller
In addition to her work with the Antelope Valley Family YMCA, Miller is concurrently both a sophomore in high school and freshman in college where she maintains a 3.8 grade point average; represents her hometown as Teen Miss Lancaster; and, is a dedicated Girl Scout. After high school, Miller plans to
attend the University of California Santa Barbara, attend law school, and run for public office.
California YMCA Youth and Government’s Model Legislature Court has been the state’s premier youth leadership and civic development program since 1948. The MLC creates a six-month learn-by- doing experience that teaches the values of democracy by bringing together a cross-section of the state’s high school students.
There are more than 1,300 teens involved in the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles branch delegations.
If you would like more information about the Model Legislature and Court Program at the Antelope Valley Family YMCA, please contact Cynthia Lathrop at 661-723- 9622 or email at CynthiaLathrop@ymcala.org.
Enroll Now for 2018-19!
2018-19 enrollment now open online and in the office! If you are a current iLEAD family, please fill out our intent to return. If you are a prospective family or are currently on our waitlist, please fill out the 2018-19 intent to enroll to be included in our lottery.
iSAP/DreamUp To Space 2018 Mission Patch Designer Finalists Announced!
Mission Control here…
We are thrilled to announce that we had well over 100 incredible patch designs submitted for this year’s 2018 mission patch design challenge. Congratulations to every learner and facilitator who participated. Mission accomplished beyond our wildest dreams!
This year’s designs were so uniformly well conceived and well executed that we had a very tough time narrowing it down to these selected designer finalists:
| Mercy Sagar, 5th Grade | iLEAD AV |
| Belle Sanfrey, 5th Grade | iLEAD AV |
| Emma Murphy, 4th Grade | iLEAD Encino |
| Scott Kim, 6th Grade | iLEAD Encino |
| Syla Calderon, 4th Grade | iLEAD Lancaster |
| Evelyn Regaldo 7th Grade | iLEAD Lancaster |
| Andrew Villamar, 4th Grade | iLEAD Pacoima |
| James Mercado, 4th Grade | iLEAD Pacoima |
| Jayna Bunao, 1st Grade | SCVi |
| Skyler Verkouteren, 8th Grade | SCVi |
| Sydney Jackson, Upper School | SCVi |
Keep a sharp eye out for Monday Messages in the coming weeks as we send our finalist designs out for the final selection of the two patches, TK-5 and 6-12 that will be flown into space in fall 2018!
We’re Looking for Your Reviews
Do you LOVE your school? Have you had a fun experience with a staff member? Has someone left a positive impression on you or your learner? Visit this link to leave us a great review so more people know how your family fits within our iLEAD community.
Attention Parents: Learner Information and Registration
1) Parent Square – Download the app to your smart phone for free and get instant alerts
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/parentsquare/id908126679?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parentsquare.psapp&hl=en
2) Monday Message – Sign up and read the weekly message for upcoming events and opportunities.
3) iSupport – Get involved and help make change! Join iLead’s version of PTA. We need you! Learn More
4) Website – Check out the iLEAD website for a calendar of important dates.
If you have not filled out your learner’s registration in person or in Pathways, please contact 661-722-4287 immediately.
Traffic is a BEAST! This is how we slay…
Hello parents! We encourage the use of VALET for all drop-off and pickup for safety reasons. K-4 is a busy commerce street and we value the safety of our learners! Remember, if you are not using valet, all children should be walked to the front door by their parent/guardian. Learners without a chaperone will warrant a call home.
- No learners will be released without a valet card and proper ID.
- Please always enter our lots via driving eastbound on K-4, DO NOT turn left into our driveways and always pull as far to the right (curb) as you can get when using the valet line. PLEASE PULL TO THE CURB WHEN WAITING FOR VALET TO BEGIN. STAGGERING PICKUP PREVENTS A BACKUP DOWN AVENUE K-4. Blocking traffic is illegal Please DO NOT park in our neighbors’ lots — your vehicle will be towed.
- Be very mindful when choosing where to park when visiting our campus for any reason. If you need to drop off your learner and valet is over, please park and walk your learner in. Learners without a parent cannot be properly checked in late.
- Please do not double park or pull up and let your learner out in front of the school, ever. It is very dangerous.
- Please remember that our neighbors are very supportive of our site — despite the impact we have on their daily operations — and that all of our neighbors love iLEAD. Let’s show them the same support by parking in iLEAD parking lots ONLY as well as not blocking driveways and always yielding to our neighbors when using valet.
If you need clarification as to where to park please ask ANY iLEAD employee. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT TURNING LEFT INTO THE VALET ENTRANCE AND OUT OF THE EXIT IS A HAZARD TO BOTH YOUR VEHICLE AND OUR LEARNERS. IT IS ALSO A TRAFFIC PATTERN DISRUPTION.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our learners and your vehicles safe!
Share Info on Difference Makers!
Do you have a learner who is shining in their community? Email mm.avregion@ileadschools.org with their school name and what they are doing to make a difference.We want to share with our school community the difference makers on our campus!
About Those Heelys…
We’ve seen an influx of Heelys on campus. Learners are zipping along the halls and on the play spaces. While we LOVE fun and seeing our learners enjoying themselves, we have to ask that they don’t use the wheels while at school. Please understand this is a safety concern for learners and staff. We want to prevent accidents and keep everyone safe. Heelys brand shoes can be worn, — just please remove the wheels for school.
General safety guidelines also include no skateboards or bicycles being ridden on campus; they must be carried and walked.
Thank you for your understanding and support!