February Parent Newsletter

All sporting events are included on the schedules under athletics and on IAF's website @ www.iafphoenix.org

Monday, Feb 3:

• National Girls and Women in Sports Day 11:30 AM-1:30 PM

Tuesday, Feb 4:

• Cooking Matters for Adults Session #3- 9a-11a

Thursday, Feb 6:

• $2 Dress Down

Friday, Feb 7:

• PPP Monthly Perfect Attendance Celebration- 2:15p – 3:00p

• Senior Yearbook Photos (details on flyer below)

Monday, Feb 10:

• National Honors Society Meeting- 11:45a

• 4th-6th girls basketball game @ IAF 5:30pm

Tuesday, Feb 11:

• Cooking Matters for Adults Session#4- 9a-11a

• After School Tutoring, starts today pre-registered only, grades K-9 and 11-12 Algebra *students must have a permission slip on file

• 4th-6th girls basketball practice 3:45-5:15

Wednesday, Feb 12:

• 📢 Spring Count Day❗❗❗

• Winter Map Testing Window Ends

• Picture Retakes for specific students ONLY
• Free Dress Down Day K-12
• K-2 Cupid Ball Celebration: 2:00pm-3:00pm (details on flyer below)
• Tutoring 3:45-4:45
• 4th-6th girls basketball practice 3:45-5:15

Thursday Feb 13:

• Parent/Caregiver Meetings 9a-10:30a
• Parent/Caregiver Meetings 5:30p-7p

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45

• 3-5 Cupid Ball Celebration: 2:00pm-3:00pm (details on flyer below)

• 4th-6th girls basketball game @ IAF 5:30pm

Friday, Feb 14:

• No School for Students / Staff PD

Monday, Feb 17:

• No School/ Building Closed

• President's Day

Tuesday, Feb 18:

• Community Conversation 9am-10:30 am

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45
• 4th-6th girls basketball practice 3:45-5:15

Wednesday, Feb 19:

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45

• 4th-6th girls basketball practice 3:45-5:15

Thursday, Feb 20

• $2 Dress Down

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45

• 4th-6th girls basketball game @ Beecher 5:30pm

Friday, Feb 21:

• Middle School: NWEA MAP Awards- 11:25am-12:25pm

  
  

🎇Black History Spirit Week🎇

Monday, Feb 24:

• Unity Day: Wear Red, Green ,Yellow or Black
• 4th-6th girls basketball game @ Holmes 5:30pm

Tuesday, Feb 25

• Melanin Day: Wear a Shade of Brown
• Cooking Matters for Adults Session#5- 9a-11a

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45

• 4th-6th girls basketball practice 3:45-5:15

Wednesday, Feb 26

• Soul Train Day: Dress in Black 70’s attire

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45

• 4th-6th girls basketball practice 3:45-5:15

Thursday, Feb 27

• HBCU Day: Dress in Your Favorite HBCU Shirt of HBCU School Color
• "100 Years of Black Excellence" Black History Program 5:30pm

• Tutoring 3:45-4:45

• 4th-6th girls basketball game @ woodland park 5:30pm

Friday, Feb 28

• Black Out Day!- Wear All Black

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CALENDAR ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please be sure to add our IAF school app and more information is about this below.

Greeting IAF Parents & Guardians,

We are excited to announce a special incentive for black history Spirit Week class participation! The class with the most participation in grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 will be rewarded with either a popcorn bar 🍿or a sundae bar🍨!

This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the achievements and contributions of Black individuals throughout history, while also encouraging everyone to stay engaged in class activities. We hope this small celebration will inspire students to participate more, learn and have fun while doing it!

Thank you for your continued support, and let’s make this a memorable month of learning and celebration!

Sincerely,
Black History Committee

🤩Shout out to:

• Galevon Evans - you are always willing to help staff with jobs and his a positive attitude. -Ms. Hosmer
• Unique Baker - you are always ready to learn and have a great attitude. -Ms. Hosmer

🤩Shout out to

• Alyssa McGee,
• Alannah Gray,
• Anijah Walker an
• MaKayla Thornton

for helping out with the middle school volleyball team, your help is greatly appreciated and the girls love you all. -Ms. Clark

🤩Shout to Phillip Benefield for taking the lead with the track and field team during conditioning season. -Ms. Clark

🤩Shout Out to:

• Christian Monge
• Damarko Youngblood
• Marcus Green!

The fans appreciated your enthusiasm this week at the Genesee Christian Varsity BB halftime free throw competition! You represented us well! ~Dr. Smeltzer, Mrs. Sharp & Mr. Chad

The Genesee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, held an award luncheon at the Flushing United Methodist Church on Friday January 24, 2025. The luncheon honored seventeen Good Citizen Students from Genesee and portions of Shiawassee County.

The DAR Good Citizen Award and Scholarship Contest was created in 1934 to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship: Dependability, Service, Leadership and Patriotism.

“We are pleased to celebrate and reward the accomplishments of the next generation of leaders. The 2025 Class of DAR Good Citizens is a talented group of students. It is no wonder they were chosen to represent their school.” Lisa Hood, Genesee Chapter Regent.

The International Academy of Flint chose Gabrielle McKinzie-Dulaney to be their Good Citizen for the 2024-2025 school year. She enjoys studying, crafting and talking. After graduation she plans on doing some local job shadowing, internships, and career readiness programs. She then plans to study Criminal Justice and possibly have a double major in Cyber Security at Western Michigan University. Her long term goal is to become a special agent within the CIA.

Greetings,

Thank you to all the parents who participated in Parent Teacher conferences. We appreciate when we can partner with you to create a strong connection between the home and school.

Congratulations to the following students for their hard work and commitment to their Academic Growth:

Quarter 2 Honor Roll

Gold Award - All A Honor Roll

• Alaina Conway
• Martez Grayer
• Russell Harris
• Trevon Atkins
• De'Monte Shackelford
• Azaria Brown
• Gabriella Daniel
• Morgan Garrett
• Harmony Jones
• Zion Jones-Brown
• Taliyah Carter-Sanders
• Haniah Flowers
• Amarianna Gardner
• Aneeya Grant
• Serenity Jones
• Za'Nyah Jordan
• De'Ondric Nettles, Jr.
• Kennedy Schneider
• Emir Sherrod

Silver Award - A/B Honor Roll

• Kaden Brown
• A'Layasia Chambers
• Tevina Ewell
• Amir Gay
• Je'Dyn Hull
• Breyden Sherrod
• Sincere Smith
• Juliana Thornton
• Josiah Riley
• Janathan Williams-Snell
• Kendall Branch
• Ralphael Conliffe
• Lorenzo Duncan, Jr.
• Joaquin Gomez Calderon
• Arrhiana Guzman Torres
• Alexis Holmes-Phifer
• Stephon James
• Lazeriq Luster
• A'Myla Neeley
• Amay Pickens
• Jaidah Dukes
• Zion Elbert
• James Johnson
• Camren Jones
• Ishmael Love
• Dey Moss
• KaNiya Pace
• Ja'Mariah Riggs
• Tate Stephen, Jr.
• Jaiden Thompson
• Layla Youngblood

Bronze Award - All B Honor Roll

• MaKiya Pace

Dr. Tamara D. Smeltzer, PhD

Dean of Academics Grades 6-8

International Academy of Flint

Trying to be down, cool, or accepted is very much a dilemma that our youth are facing when amongst the masses of their peers in school. In response to that, we sometimes find ourselves in situations where we end up on the negative side of our choices. Is this by default?

The subject of accountability is not just limited to adults interactions, it actually starts with our adolescent patterns and selections of those we choose to be around and call our friends! It is indeed a trial and error thing!

Although much thought or emphasis may not be put into the space at this age, it is still very much so a thing to spend some time working through ,understanding and navigating.Today we did just that!

In our group dialogue, we identified red flags and having enough confidence to ask questions, stand out or alone, or change their spaces!

The goal is not to be perfect, it is to make progress!

#JustUsGirls#International#Academy#Lady#Phoenix#Mentorship#Safe#Space#Accountability#Trust#Middle#School#Enrichment#MasterQ

I have had the privilege of working with the 6th-8th grade girls at International Academy for the past several weeks mentoring them and discussing relevant topics and experiences that they are going through in their spaces!

With social media, music, and society being a heavy influencer. This weeks discussion consisted of the importance of understanding that what we listen to and watch can determine how we treat others, ourselves, and ultimately our decisions.

We had some very colorful dialogue today on what they spend their time watching and entertaining and how that has indeed affected them and their interactions amongst their community and friend groups in school.

I am very grateful for the transparency and honesty that these young ladies share in the safe space that we've created!

My goal is to continue to provide a healthy outlet for the girls to talk and work through their challenges with themselves and others while creating a space of accountability, and confidence to stand out and be who they were destined to be!

I am blessed to be in this space of giving back in a way that truly matters!

I have had the privilege of working with the 6th-8th grade girls at International Academy for the past several weeks mentoring them and discussing relevant topics and experiences that they are going through in their spaces!

With social media, music, and society being a heavy influencer,This weeks discussion consisted of the importance of understanding that what we listen to and watch can determine how we treat others, ourselves, and ultimately our decisions.

We had some very colorful dialogue today on what they spend their time watching and entertaining and how that has indeed affected them and their interactions amongst their community and friend groups in school.

I am very grateful for the transparency and honesty that these young ladies share in the safe space that we've created!

My goal is to continue to provide a healthy outlet for the girls to talk and work through their challenges with themselves and others while creating a space of accountability, and confidence to stand out and be who they were destined to be!

I am blessed to be in this space of giving back in a way that truly matters!

#JustUsGirls#Mentorship#Sisterhood#Accountability#Confidence#Lady#Phoenix#International#Academy#MrsPowell#MasterQ#Love#The#Kids#They#Are#The#Future#Blessed

See less

— feeling thankful at International Academy of Flint.

#JustUsGirls#Mentorship#Sisterhood#Accountability#Confidence#Lady#Phoenix#International#Academy#MrsPowell#MasterQ#Love#The#Kids#They#Are#The#Future#Blessed

See less

Thank you

Mrs. Powell

— feeling thankful at International Academy of Flint.

IAF has so many opportunities and activities for scholars. It is imperative that your child is at school everyday unless he/she is truly sick. Daily routines such as, an identified bedtime schedule and preparing uniforms at night, not only can help save time in the morning, but also helps reduce stress and anxiety.

We know life isn’t always easy, but you keep doing your best to show up to school every day.

If your child misses school due to illness or an unfortunate situation, please call the Attendance Hotline to report the absence. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE HOMEWORK OR MAKE-UP REQUESTS ON THE ATTENDANCE HOTLINE.

Attendance Hotline (810) 600-5249

Thank you for your continued partnership.

The Family and Community Engagement is here to serve! Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding attendance matters or resources.

Keri Crane, K-4 Advocate, kcrane@iafphoenix.org

Durrelle Willis, 5-8 Advocate dwillis@iafphoenix.org

Ayonna Gill, 9-12 Advociate, agill@iafphoenix.org

Rosie Twitty, McKinney-Vento/Homeless Liaison, rtwitty@iafphoenix.org

Jonique S. Donald, FACE Director, jdonald@iafphoenix.org

February is Black History Month and GISD shared with IAF a wonderful resource of a virtual bookshelf that has many books and resources for schools and parents to use.

Here is the direct link to that bookshelf: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fOWjv_3XuEnda3h3CK9NILY2LFDOCi-DQlOxb4sGB8w/edit?usp=drive_link

Here is the link to the document that has a list and links of all the bookshelves we have:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rjU6dRrGsA2QPHKMmiM4m5IRuEim5EQAeDajJy9AgQc/edit?usp=drive_link

Stay connected with all the latest updates for this school year by downloading our International Academy phone app today! #StayInformed #IAFCommunity

www.iafphoenix.org

Let's welcome the following staff from the Flint Center For Educational Excellence to IAF for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

• Jamie Foster: Community School Director (CSD)
• Kamaron Williams: Expanded Learning Coordinator
• Nyree Higgs: K-2 Success Coach
• Deneshia Smith: 3-5 Success Coach
• Aliyah Sims: 6-12 Success Coach

• Breakfast is Served at 7:35 am
• School Day Begins at 8:00 am
  
• New: School Day Ends at 3:15 pm
• Early Release Dismissal at 12:15 pm
• Late Start begins at 10:00 am & Breakfast starts at 9:30 am
  
• New: No Early Dismissal after 2:45pm

If you are coming into the office to request early dismissal, students will not be released after 2:45pm. It is too challenging and too disruptive to request the number of students being asked for early dismissal. We understand that transportation reductions are challenging, and we have been consistently working with MTA on this. However, it is a county wide problem unfortunately. Thank you for understanding and your patience in advance.

Parents/Guardians- do you have a phone number/address that needs to be updated with us? We have a form in the office that you can fill out for a quick change. Or you can email either Ms. McKinley in our records department at smckinley@iafphoenix.org. It is extremely important to have the most current contact information for our families on file at all times. Please, be sure to let us know if this changes.

Parents/Guardians- Our school utilizes the SchoolMessenger system to deliver auto dialers to our families in case of a school closure, reminders of events, or simply a dress down day, etc.

We would like to start to utilize the texting option as well on SchoolMessenger but we do not currently have that many families signed up for the text alerts.

You can participate in the free service by just sending a text message of "Y" or "YES" to our school's short code number 67587.

You can also opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with the word "STOP". SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy Pledge, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.

Locks and bus passes will be available for sale in the main office. Students who wish to purchase can do so from 7:35 - 8:00 am and 3:30 - 4:00 pm. Parents can visit the office at any time to purchase for their student(s).

Because the safety of our children is of paramount concern to us, we require all parents to adhere to the following rules of the road while on campus:

1. There is a 5 miles per hour speed limit at all times while on school property.
2. Park in designated parking spaces only.
3. While on school grounds, pedestrians always have the right of way.
4. Vehicle ignitions MUST be turned off, and the keys removed, while parked on school grounds.
5. Children may NOT be left unattended in a vehicle at any time or for any reason.
6. Violations of these rules may result in a warning. If a violation is serious, or if violations continue, school personnel are authorized to take a tag number for a report to the local police.
7. Do not park in areas around the school that have signs that specifically say NO PARKING. This is an order from the city.

Ms. Cormier

• 810-600-5210 or email tcormier@iafphoenix.org
  

Mrs. Giles: Director of Student Services & Operations

• 810-600-5269 or email kgiles@iafphoenix.org
  

Mr. Crosby: Assistant Director of Student Services 6 to 12

• 810-600-5247 or email kcrosby@iafphoenix.org
  

Mr. Shakir: Assistant Director of Student Services K to 5

• 810-600-5253 or email dshakir@iafphoenix.org
  

Mrs. Southworth- Grades K-5

• 810-600-5240 or email nsouthworth@iafphoenix.org

Dr. Smeltzer- Grades 6-8

• 810-600-5239 or email tsmeltzer@iafphoenix.org

Ms. Vincent- Grades 9-12

• 810-600-5234 or email mvincent@iafphoenix.org

Ms. Alexander- Special Education Director

• 810-600-5233 or email salexander@iafphoenix.org
  

Mr. Brooks- Gr. K to 2

• 810-600-5253 or email kbrooks@iafphoenix.org

Mr. Warren-Gr. 3 to 5

• 810-600-5211 mwarren@iafphoenix.org
  

Ms. Givens- Gr. 6 to 8

• 810-600-5246 sgivens@iafphoenix.org

Mr. Kendall- Gr. 9 to 12

• 810-600-5281 jkendall@iafphoenix.org

Does your child need a wellness visit, sports physical, or vaccine including COVID-19? Just make sure your child has a consent form on file with us and we can schedule an appointment for you. These can even be done during the school day without a parent/guardian having to miss work. Consent forms are also available in the Main Office or in our Health Clinic. This is a great opportunity for you to take advantage of, but you cannot do so without a consent form on file.

RAHS-International Academy of Flint gives IAF children and youth the tools they need to live a healthy and happy lifestyle. The school-based health center helps provide immunizations, health and fitness programs, and counseling services. Come over and talk to us!

What's on site at RAHS-International Academy of Flint:

• General physical exams
• Sports physicals
• Sick care
• Dental care
• Immunizations
• Lab tests
• Risk assessments

• Counseling (individual, group and family)
• Nutrition program
• Physical activity program
• Referrals to community resources
• Insurance enrollment
• Interpreter services available

Room 170
2820 S. Saginaw Street
Flint, MI 48503
(810) 600-5290
(810) 591-0577

Hours

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - 7:30am-3:45pm
• Wednesday - 7:30-11:30am
• Friday - 7:30am-2:30pm

Main Office Hours:

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am to 4:30 pm

Fax Number:

810-600-5300

The International Academy of Flint, College Preparatory Classes & Tuition Free Public Charter School, is a highly regarded K to 12th grade public charter school and institution that provides tuition free, high-quality education to a diverse population in the Flint, MI area.

Email: info@iafphoenix.org
Website: http://iafphoenix.org/
Location: 2820 Saginaw Street, Flint, MI, USA
Phone: 810-600-5000
Facebook: http://facebook.com/IAFphoenix