We are so excited to have you join us for our fifth year.  Welcome, if you are new to Innovations.  If you were with us last year, we are so very happy to have you back. We had a great fourth year and are excited for the 25-26 school year, as we can continue to build on what we started.   We have a very busy beginning of school year schedule.  See below for important dates and information regarding our program and upcoming changes. 

 School Office and Hours – Our office is open from 7:30-4:00, starting July 24^th.

Our main entrance has changed to the Innovation/Walnutwood office. Students and families will enter through door A-19, the registrar’s office.

Innovations Academy

 Important Dates

August 7^th Welcome Back Event—9:00-11:30

Make sure to bring your student and a parent/guardian!  

1. Pickup Welcome Back Passport
2. Sign Independent Agreement--must be completed to receive curriculum materials and finalize enrollment
3. Take School Pictures—watch for an email from Jostenspix for more details
4. Pick-Up Tech Package

School Picture Information

• When: Thursday, August 7^th  during Welcome Back Event
• Where: Innovations Academy/Walnutwood Campus
• Purchasing Information: Details coming through email from Jostenspix
• Seniors!  This photo will not be with a cap and gown.  Senior portraits will be on your own this year.  

August 8^th Minimum Day 9:05 - Noon

Your child will log in with their teacher for their first day of virtual instruction.  This will be a minimum day to support all students in learning about our online platform and meeting their new classmates. 

Minimum Day Schedule

4^th – 8^th Grades  - 9:06-11:30

9^th-12^th Grades - 9:06-12:11

Time	Period
9:06 – 9:31	Period 1
9:35 – 10:03	Period 2
10:10 – 10:35	Period 3
10:42 – 11:07	Period 4
11:14 – 11:39	Period 5
11:46 – 12:11	Period 6

August 11th--First Day of full day instruction

Students will access their live session link through their K12 platform or Clever.

Please note that our Middle School Schedule has changed, due to staffing changes.  See below for more details.

Elementary Daily Bell Schedule

Middle School Daily Bell Schedule

High School Daily Bell Schedule

 

Staffing Updates and Bell Schedule Changes

We are sad to announce that Mrs. Smith will no longer be teaching at Innovations.  It was a very hard decision for her, but she will be focusing on her growing family this year.  She sends her love to you all and will miss you terribly.

Unfortunately, we are not able to backfill for her position at this time.  Instead, I am excited to announce that Mrs. Lyons will be adding Government and Econ to her instructional schedule, and we welcome Mrs. Strang from middle school to support the remainder of the history courses.  They are both very excited for this new opportunity to support all of you this school year.

This change requires us to make changes to our middle school schedule.  For 6^th-8^th grade, we will be moving to an elementary model, with a single teacher.  This will allow for more flexibility for teachers to focus on instructional needs throughout the day, without a time restriction.  I am excited to announce that Mrs. Buckman will be teaching the 6/7^th combination class, while Ms. Cramer will teach 8^th grade.  

ParentSquare

Last year, we started using a new mass-communication system.  It is called ParentSquare.  If you don’t already, please make sure you have an account, so you can stay up-to-date with communication from FCUSD and Innovations.  They also have an app that you can download on your phone that allows you to view past communications.  Creating an account is allowed through the email that is connected to your child’s account in PowerSchool.  Please contact the office if this needs to be updated.

 

 Independent Study Agreement

California Independent Study regulations require that each enrolled student have a signed independent study agreement on file for each grading period enrolled.  The student, parent/guardian and supervising teacher must sign the independent study agreement.  Signing of the independent study agreement states that you agree to all enrollment requirements set forth by Innovations Academy.  Attendance cannot be calculated until your students has a signed independent study agreement on file.  Each student will need to have a signed master agreement for each grading period enrolled in Innovations Academy. You will sign the independent study agreement on August 7th, during our Welcome Back event.  

 

 2025-2026 Parent Student Handbook

  *If your child is interested in school athletics, please make sure to read the section on this topic, as prior approval is required.

Design of Innovations Academy

Innovations Academy is designed as a traditional school, in a virtual setting.  However, at this time, California does not have guidelines on how schools like ours should function.  Therefore, in order to maintain the integrity of our design and ensure we provide a strong learning experience for all students, we will follow Independent Study regulations.  What does this mean for your student?  Although many aspects of our school will be similar to a traditional school, there will be a few aspects that will be different.  For example:

• Meeting with the teacher: Independent study laws requires secondary students to meet with their teacher once a week, while kindergarten-third grade students are required to meet daily.  Our secondary students (7^th-12^th grade) students will meet with their core course teachers daily and their elective teachers once a week.  Elementary students (K-6^th) will meet with their teachers daily.
• Work Samples: Independent study guidelines also require to submit work samples to the state, showcasing their work in different subjects.  We will collect work samples from the students on a regular basis. 
• Homeroom Day: Independent study guidelines require kindergarten-third grade to meet with their teacher, live, daily and fourth-12^th grade weekly.  Since students are able to access lessons online, on Homeroom Days, all grade levels will hold a 20 min, live Homeroom session (9:45-10:05 am), with their homeroom teacher.  Teachers will interact with the students and review the assignments of the day.  Students are still required to complete all of their daily online assignments in all courses on Homeroom Days.  Homeroom Days will be used for Parent-Teacher Conferences and Staff Professional Days.  Communication will be sent out to remind families of these days.
• Attendance: Attendance is calculated in two ways

• • Engagement--Daily Live Attendance
  • ADA Work Completion--This attendance is what determines school funding.  It is based on a combination of live participation during live sessions and work completion. 

• Traveling during the school year: When a student travels away from their normal school environment, prior approval must be obtained, and a Travel Plan is required.  Please contact the admin office on how to obtain a Travel Plan (as restrictions do apply).  Per district privacy policies, students are not able to access any district platform or content while traveling outside the country.  Make sure to read this section in the Handbook for more information.

 

Enjoy the rest of your summer break.  We look forward to seeing you on the 7th!