In This Issue

A Note from Our Principal
Important Dates
PSAT/NMSQT
Athletics and Activities
Spotlight on School Safety
Counselor Corner
Publicity Denial
Destiny Parent Portal
School Policy Reminders
Save the Dates

Principal's Message

Welcome Back, Innovation Academy!

What a great start to a new school year! It has been wonderful to welcome our students back to Innovation Academy and see our classrooms, hallways, and shared spaces filled with energy, creativity, and learning again.

We kicked off the year with Launch Week, giving students an opportunity to build connections, learn our school routines, and jump right into what makes learning at IA unique. As part of our Schoolwork to Real Work project, students worked together to design and build a display for Howard Elementary that highlights an important message: every subject we learn in school helps prepare us for the real world. It was a great way to start the year by putting collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and authentic learning into action.

This week, we officially launched our first Hex of the 2026–27 school year! New projects are underway, new challenges are waiting to be tackled, and we are excited to see what our students create over the next six weeks. We encourage families to ask their students what project they are working on, what problem they are trying to solve, and what they are most excited about this Hex.

Save the Date! Our first Hexibition of Learning of the year will be Thursday, October 8, from 5:00–6:00 PM. Hexibition is an opportunity for our students to showcase the projects, products, and learning they have worked on throughout the Hex. We hope our families will join us to celebrate their hard work and see learning at IA in action!

Thank you to our students, staff, and families for helping us start another great year at IA. We are looking forward to a year filled with curiosity, innovation, growth, and plenty of opportunities to fail forward along the way.

And one quick reminder: Picture Retakes are coming soon—be ready! Keep an eye out for additional information about the date and details.

Here’s to a fantastic September and an incredible year ahead!

Ms. Cass

Cass Thonstad

Principal Innovation Academy

#InnovationToGraduation

#ChooseIA

Important Dates

9/4 No school

9/7 No school- Labor Day

9/16 Picture re-take day, during school hours

PSAT/NMSQT

Students in 10th and 11th grade who are interested in taking the PSAT/NMSQT are invited to register at the Innovation Academy front office.

The PSAT/NMSQT is a great opportunity for students to practice for the SAT and, for eligible 11th-grade students, potentially qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Important Dates & Information:

Registration Deadline: September 23
Test Date: October 16
Cost: $18
Registration: Stop by the front office to sign up.

Please reach out to the front office if you have any questions.

Attendance Matters - Every Day Counts!

Welcome back to school! Did you know students who miss two days a month, excused or not, are at risk of falling behind academically? Help your child develop strong attendance habits early. Every Day matters!

Athletics and Activities

Students who wish to participate in clubs, activities, or athletics that are not offered at Innovation Academy will have the opportunity to do so at the comprehensive high school based on their attendance area (North or South).

South Medford High School Athletic registration: https://or-medford.intouchreceipting.com/

North Medford High School Athletic registration: https://or-medford.intouchreceipting.com/

Spotlight on School Safety

Welcome back to school, Innovation Academy!

We are so excited to begin this school year and have everyone back with us! We have been working hard over the summer to get everything ready and updated. You can expect our monthly fire drill to occur early in the month. September will also see our first of two lockdown drills. At Innovation Academy, we practice these lockdowns seriously: We practice our barricades, we discuss what it means and might look like to evade and/or distract. Our district School Resource Officers and other supports will be present on campus checking our procedures and testing our defenses. It sounds like a lot, but all of this work is in the name of keeping students and staff safe in the event of a threat inside the campus, and keeping everyone safe is our highest priority. Practice makes habit!

Kelly Singleton, Ed.D

Assistant Principal

Innovation Academy

Counselor Corner

Welcome Back, Innovation Academy!

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! I’m Ms. Tina, your school counselor, and I’m so excited to start another year with you.

My job is to help you feel connected, be successful, and build a future that feels right for you. That might mean helping with classes and credits, figuring out plans after high school, working through a tough day, celebrating a win, or simply having someone to talk to.

🌟 Start the Year With Connection 🌟

This month, challenge yourself to connect with someone new. Say hi to someone you don’t normally talk to, sit by someone new, ask someone how their day is going, or introduce yourself to a new student.

Small moments of kindness can make a big difference in helping everyone feel like they belong here.

Ms. Tina’s Reminder

Show up. Be yourself. Ask for help. Keep moving forward.

My door is always open. I’m glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to see where this year takes you!

Publicity Denial

Throughout the school year, students may be photographed, videotaped, recorded, or interviewed during school activities and events. These images and recordings may be used in school and district publications, including yearbooks, district websites, social media, marketing materials, and by news media.

When appropriate, your child's first and last name, classroom work, or information about their participation in a school program or activity may be shared with images or recordings.

If you do not want your student’s image to be published, please visit your school office to fill out a Publicity Denial form. We will make every effort to protect the privacy of your students.

Please note the district cannot guarantee a student’s image will not be published if the student is photographed/videotaped in a large group or crowd setting, such as school assemblies, sports events, and public meetings.

Please contact the Communications Department at msd.communications@medford.k12.or.us with any questions.

Destiny Parent Portal

To manage your child's library preferences, view Destiny Portal instructions here.

School Policy Reminders

Attendance: Consistent attendance is essential to academic success. We understand that challenges can arise, and we’re here to support you. If your student is experiencing any barriers to attending school regularly, please don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. Together, we can help every student stay on track and thrive.

Tardies: Our bell system helps students arrive to class on time with a warning bell one minute before class begins, followed by one minute of music. When the music ends, students should be in their classrooms and ready to learn. To encourage punctuality and consistent attendance, tardies accumulate throughout each hex. After 3 tardies, students will receive a lunch detention. After 6 tardies, they will receive a second lunch detention. After 9 tardies, students will receive a half-day of in-school suspension. Tardy totals reset at the beginning of each new hex.

Bell-to-Bell Cell Phone Policy: Students are required to keep personal electronic devices turned off and out of sight throughout the school day from the first bell to the last bell. This includes during breaks and lunches. Should students violate these consequences, they will be subject to consequences. The first strike, students will turn in their phones to a visible, locked cabinet in the classroom. The second strike, students will be escorted to the office to turn their phones in for the remainder of the school day to the locked phone cabinet in the office, which is constantly monitored. The third strike, students will be required to turn their phones in to the office at the beginning of each day and may collect it at the end. Administration may contact home to set up a meeting to build a support plan for the student. Cell phone strikes will reset at the beginning of each new hex.