AUGUST 2025– The first month of the 2025–2026 school year has been full of energy, growth, and connection at Mainspring Academy. Students have been settling into their classrooms, exploring new learning routines, and making meaningful progress toward their goals. Teachers and staff have worked tirelessly to create safe, welcoming environments that nurture both academic and social development. Already, there have been countless moments to celebrate, whether it’s students showing pride in their work, classrooms planning creative projects, or families stepping in to support school events. The positive momentum is clear, and it reflects the shared commitment of staff, students, and families to making this year one of growth and achievement. As we move into the fall, Mainspring Academy remains dedicated to building on this strong foundation. With continued teamwork and enthusiasm, there’s no doubt the months ahead will bring even more opportunities to shine.
Please mark your calendars for the Open House, October Intersession Application Deadline, and September Spirit Month Event dates listed below!
Want to submit photos, testimonials, or stories? Send them here>
Want to Shout Out a staff member for going above and beyond? Tell us about it here>
ILP SEASON AT MAINSPRING!
By Dina Parisi, Head of School
The new school year not only brings new routines, but also one of the most important times of year here at Mainspring—ILP season! Most of our students have their annual ILP meeting between October and January, however what many parents may not realize is that the ILP process starts for teachers and administrators on the first day of school!
ILP stands for Individual Learning Plan. If you’ve heard of an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) in public schools, it’s similar in spirit but different in purpose. Unlike IEPs, which are legally binding compliance documents, our ILPs are accountability documents. They help us set priorities for each student and give families a clear picture of progress. Most importantly, they remind us that education is a team effort, and we love when parents are part of the process!
What Parents Can Expect
Right now, our teachers are busy getting to know your children. They’re using curriculum-based assessments, taking behavior and participation data, and jotting down observations about what each student enjoys, struggles with, as well as where they shine.
All of this information comes together to create a Present Level of Performance (or PLOP). This “snapshot” is the starting point for setting meaningful goals in your child’s ILP.
And here’s the good news – an ILP is not set in stone! If your child reaches a goal quickly, or if we realize we’ve set the bar in the wrong place, we can make changes. We also adjust goals as student needs or circumstances shift. In other words, the ILP is a living document, designed to grow and change right alongside your child.
ILPs also help shape the information you’ll see on progress reports and report cards. While they don’t capture everything your child does during the school day, they do highlight the priorities we’re tracking most closely.
Two Types of ILPs at Mainspring
We use two different kinds of ILPs, depending on a student’s age and stage of development:
• Academic ILP – Typically for students in 8th grade and younger. These plans include goals across domains such as Cognitive and Academic skills, Independent Functioning, Social-Emotional/Behavior, Health, and Communication. Sometimes, students may move off an Academic ILP earlier if it makes sense and we as a team (remember you are part of this!) decide it is the best path forward.
• Functional Academic ILP – Usually for students in 9th grade and older. These plans are more transitional in nature, focusing on preparing students for life after school. Domains include Functional Academics, Self-Advocacy, Vocational, Independent Functioning, Health, Social-Emotional, and Communication. The goal here is to build as many life skills as possible as students prepare for adulthood.
• NEW THIS YEAR- Temporary ILP – Students that are new to Mainspring will be receiving their a temporary document for us to use as a starting point for goal creation and progress monitoring. These are ready and going out this week! While there will not be a formal meeting, we are happy to have a brief meeting to discuss our thought process for initial goals. These goals are usually meant to help the student learn basic school skills that are important to master in order to be successful in our program. Domains for TLPs are Cognitive Academic, Social-Emotional, Independent Functioning, and Communication.
At Mainspring, we know that every child’s path is unique. The ILP is one of the ways we honor that individuality – by creating personalized goals, tracking meaningful growth, and celebrating progress along the way. We can’t wait to partner with you this ILP season to make sure each student is set up for success, both now and in the future!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- SPIRIT MONTH ACTIVITIES – View Schedule Above!
- Monday, September 1st – Mainspring Spiritwear Store Closes. View Spiritwear Store>
- Monday, September 1st – SCHOOL CLOSED for Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 2nd – PAC Meeting in the Cafeteria (9:00am)
- Monday, September 15th – Tuition and Extended Care Due
- Friday, September 26th – Yearbook Pre-Sales (Link Coming Soon)
- Friday, September 26th – Fall Intersession Applications and Payments Due (Quickschools)
Questions or missing any forms? Many questions and requests can be submitted in the Parent Corner of our website! More Information>
MSA BIRTHDAYS!
Jaelyn – September 4th
Sam N. – September 10th
Olivia – September 13th
Mariah – September 13th
Nathan Muzichuk – September 14th
Luke – September 15th
Bryce – September 19th
Mr. Ben – September 28th
DIFFERENCE MAKERS – Honoring Trailblazers this Summer
National Assistive Technology Awareness Month: Recognizes tools like AAC devices, voice output tools, fidget aids, noise-reducing headphones, adaptive seating, and more – technology that empowers non-speaking and sensory-sensitive learners to communicate, regulate, and learn with confidence.
September 12th, Birthday of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins: At just 8 years old, Jennifer, who has cerebral palsy, crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the historic 1990 “Capitol Crawl,” helping to spark the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her bravery helped change laws (and minds) about what children with disabilities can do.
These milestones encourage our students to see their challenges not as limitations, but as strengths that contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate world!
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
A friendly reminder that all volunteers NOT listed as a student’s parent, guardian, or sibling must complete a Volunteer Application to be kept on file. More Information>
Report your required annual parent participation hours. Hours are only logged if you report them, without exception Submit Hours Here>
Parent Action Committee (PAC) Meeting Tuesday, September 2nd at 9:00am in the Mainspring Academy Cafeteria.
World of Cookies Signup for Friday, September 5th Sign Up Here>
Volunteer for our Special Olympics Events this 2025-2026 School Year. Sign Up Here>
Curious about Mainspring Academy’s needs and how to support us through donations, pledges, or sponsorships? Check out our Ways to Give Page. More Information>
