Happy Monday Innovate Families!
Happy Monday Innovate Families!
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the start of spring!
As we continue celebrating Women’s History Month, I’d like to highlight Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space. As a physician, engineer, and astronaut, Mae Jemison broke barriers in STEM and showed generations of young people, especially young women, that there are no limits to what they can achieve. Her contributions continue to inspire innovation, curiosity, and excellence, values we strive to instill in our Sparks every day.
I also want to take a moment to thank you for your continued collaboration and partnership during ANET 3 testing. We are so grateful for your support in ensuring students arrived at and from testing at Signal House ready to do their best. Your partnership makes a real difference in our students’ success.
We are excited as we look ahead to CAPE testing:
Grades 5 & 8: April 28–30 and May 12
Grades 6 & 7: May 5–8
(More detailed information is included below.)
We also have many exciting events coming up! As a reminder, students must complete all portions of their CAPE assessments in order to participate in these events.
One of our most exciting incentives is our Level 99 Field Trip, but it must be earned! Students need to collect all of their Power Up Coins to qualify. You can support by checking in on your child’s individual tracker, which shows whether they are on pace. Students individual CAPE trackers are located in their advisory classroom on google classroom. Students earn coins through:
Mastery of grade-level standards
Demonstrating key academic strategies
Strong attendance
Consistent platform usage
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for supporting your Spark every step of the way.
Let’s have a wonderful week!
Sparks Shine, All the Time! ✨
Ms. Casagrande
Director, KIPP DC Innovate Virtual Academy
Upcoming Events & Important Announcements
Here's a look at what's happening at our school in the coming weeks:
Mar 23, 2026- Quarter 4 Clubs Start up
Mar 30, 2026- Graduation RSVP, Graduation Additional Ticket Request and T-Shirt Form Due
Apr 1, 2026 - Apr 2, 2026- DIBELS Progess Monitoring
Apr 3, 2026- Schools Closed for Students
Apr 13, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026 SPRING BREAK
Apr 28, 2026 - Apr 30, 2026- Grades ⅝ CAPE In-Person Testing (ELA/Math)
May 5, 2026 - May 7, 2026 - Grades 6/7 CAPE In-Person Testing (ELA/Math)
May 12, 2026- Grades ⅝ CAPE In-Person Testing (Science)
May 15, 2026- Sneakerball (5:00-7:00) Shaw Campus
May 22, 2026- Level 99 Field Trip (CAPE and Sparks Points Incentive Trip)
May 25, 2026-School Closed
Jun 5, 2026- Kings Dominion Trip
Jun 8, 2026- 8th Grade Graduation Dress Rehearsal
Jun 11, 2026- 8th Grade Graduation (9:00-11:00) @ Shaw Campus
Jun 11, 2026- End of Year Celebration Bundy Field
CAPE Testing - IN PERSON!
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Shoutout to all the students who used their four-square strategies on Math and ELA during ANet testing last week. We are so excited to see how these strategies support them in their growth and mastery!
MARCH VALUE OF THE MONTH: PERSEVERANCE
At Innovate, we believe Perseverance means continuing to try even when things feel challenging, staying committed to your goals, and learning from mistakes along the way. Perseverance is about showing determination, resilience, and a growth mindset — understanding that success often comes from effort, patience, and not giving up.
When we practice perseverance, we build confidence in our ability to overcome obstacles and develop the skills needed to tackle challenges both in school and beyond.
What Perseverance Looks Like:
Sticking with a task even when it feels difficult.
Trying new strategies when the first attempt doesn’t work.
Completing assignments and responsibilities with effort and care.
Learning from mistakes and using feedback to improve.
Staying focused on goals despite setbacks or frustrations.
What Perseverance Sounds Like:
“This is hard, but I’m going to keep trying.”
“I didn’t get it yet — I’ll try a different way.”
“Can you help me understand so I can improve?”
“I’m proud of the progress I’m making.”
When we embrace perseverance, we learn that challenges are opportunities to grow. By continuing to push forward, supporting one another, and believing in our ability to improve, we create a community where all Innovate scholars can achieve their goals and reach their fullest potential.
Community Events and Activities
POWER UP CAPE TESTING! ⭐
As we prepare for the upcoming CAPE assessment, we are launching our Power Up for CAPE initiative, which will run from March 16 through April 27. During this time, students will have the opportunity to earn “Power Up Coins” for demonstrating excellence in their learning and preparation for the CAPE assessment.
Sparks can earn coins in several ways, including daily attendance, completing their learning platforms and assignments, demonstrating mastery of grade-level standards, and effectively applying testing strategies during class and practice activities. Our goal is to encourage students to stay engaged, build strong academic habits, and approach testing with confidence.
Students will also earn coins for showing strong testing readiness behaviors, such as staying focused, using problem-solving strategies, checking their work, reading questions carefully, and demonstrating perseverance when working through challenging problems. These strategies help ensure that students are not only prepared for the CAPE assessment but are also continuing to grow as thoughtful and independent learners.
Throughout the Power Up period, students will be recognized and celebrated for their effort, growth, and commitment to doing their best. We look forward to seeing our Sparks power up their learning and shine during testing season!
SNEAKERBALL
We are delighted to host our Grades 5–8 Sneakerball on May 15 from 5:00–7:00 PM at the Shaw Campus! This will be a fun celebration for our Sparks and a way to recognize their effort during the testing season.
Students who complete all portions of the CAPE Assessment will earn a ticket to Sneakerball. At the conclusion of testing, eligible students will receive their ticket along with an RSVP form, which families will need to complete so we can plan for the event.
We look forward to celebrating our Sparks and their hard work together! ✨
KINGS DOMINION FIELD TRIP!
We are excited to offer our Grades 5–8 Sparks an end-of-year trip to Kings Dominion on June 5 from 7:30 AM–6:00 PM! Students will meet at the Shaw Campus, where we will travel together by bus to the park for a full day of fun and celebration.
In order for a Spark to receive an invitation to attend, students must complete all portions of the CAPE Assessment and demonstrate our Power Up strategies during testing.
Once your Spark has completed all portions of the CAPE assessment, an RSVP form will be shared so families can confirm participation and help us finalize planning for the trip.
We are excited to celebrate our students’ hard work and dedication with this special experience! 🎢✨
8th GRADE GRADUATION!
We are looking forward to celebrating our 8th grade Sparks as they reach this important milestone! Our 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will take place on June 11 from 9:00–11:00 AM at the Shaw Campus. This year’s student-selected theme is “Dream Big, Shine Bright.”
8th Grade Families must complete the Graduation RSVP, additional ticket request, and promotion t-shirt size form by March 30th . Each Spark will receive up to four guest tickets, and additional tickets may be available based on space.
Students will also participate in a mandatory graduation rehearsal on June 8 from 9:00–11:00 AM at the Shaw Campus. Attendance at rehearsal is required in order for students to participate in the ceremony.
We are incredibly proud of our 8th grade Sparks and look forward to recognizing their hard work, growth, and accomplishments as they continue to dream big and shine bright. ✨🎓
GREAT ATTENDANCE EACH MONTH = GROCERIES FOR PARENTS!
A new month means a new winner!
Parents whose children have an attendance rate of 90% or higher will be entered to win $50 of groceries! Our next drawing will be on Friday, April 3, 2026.
Parent Corner
CAPE
We hosted a parent information session on March 3rd. If you were unable to attend, we have linked a recording for you to review and listen to at your convenience!
Clubs
This week for Clubs, our Sparks are completing their SLC projects and slides. Quarter 4 Clubs will resume March 23, 2026 due to in person testing.
Kids Ride Free Cards
Kids Ride Free Cards can now be requested for our new school year. Please use this form to complete your request.
KIDS RIDE FREE CARD REQUEST FORM
Once you have completed the form, please wait to receive confirmation regarding pickup. All cards will be available for pick up at the Shaw Campus.
Additional Supports:
Scheduling for IEP and 504 meetings is currently underway. If you have an upcoming meeting, please watch for an email invitation. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to the following individuals for further support:
SPED (SWIEPS): Manager of Student Success, Candice Davis, (540) 202-1035
504’s: Mental Health Practitioner, Mary Lohoury, (301) 750-3767
SST (attendance): Director of Systems, Caitlin Maxwell, (708)-408-0399
SST (academic): Manager of Student Success, Candice Davis, (540) 202-1035
School Policies Reminders:
Attendance:
If your Spark is going to be absent, please complete the absence form located on our website (www.kippdcinnovate.com).
Website:
We are so excited to have our website to support you with all current information.
Remember some pages are password protected to protect internal information. It enter these pages please type the password:
Innovate2025!
Communication:
For any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher first.
Important Documents:
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education.
