Happy Monday Innovate Families!
Welcome to May, families! We have officially entered the home stretch of the school year, and what an exciting and important time this is for our Sparks. The energy, focus, and determination we are seeing right now truly set the tone for a strong finish.
I want to take a moment to celebrate our 5th and 8th grade students for their outstanding start to CAPE testing. They showed up prepared, focused, and committed; using their strategies and giving their very best effort each day. We are incredibly proud of how they represented themselves and our community.
Our 6th and 7th grade students begin their CAPE testing tomorrow, May 5th at 8:15 AM at Signal House. We are confident they will rise to the occasion and demonstrate that same level of commitment, effort, and hard work. Each day, students will receive a small treat in recognition of demonstrating our 4 Square Strategy and maintaining sustained focus. Let’s follow the lead of our 5th and 8th grade Sparks and aim for 100% participation and effort across the board; we know our students are capable of it.
This week is also Teacher Appreciation Week, and it is the perfect time to recognize the incredible educators who support your Sparks every single day. Our teachers consistently show care, intentionality, and deep commitment to their students, not only in their instruction, but in the relationships they build and the high expectations they uphold. A quick email, message, or note of appreciation from families goes a long way. These moments of recognition truly mean more than you might imagine and can brighten a teacher’s entire week. I encourage you to take a moment to share your gratitude.
We are now midway through Quarter 4, and every assignment, assessment, and moment of effort matters. If you have any questions or concerns about your Spark’s grades or progress, please reach out directly to their teachers. Our team is actively monitoring student progress and has already connected with students who may need additional support to ensure they are meeting expectations. We are committed to partnering with you to make sure every student finishes the year strong and confident.
As we move through these final weeks, let’s stay focused, stay connected, and continue pushing toward excellence. The finish line is in sight; let’s make these last weeks our strongest yet.
Sparks Shine, All the Time! ✨
Ms. Casagrande
Director, KIPP DC Innovate Virtual Academy
Upcoming Events & Important Announcements
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
I-READY EOY ELA TESTING: May 18, 2026 - May 21, 2026
May 22, 2026- Level 99 Field Trip (CAPE and Sparks Points Incentive Trip)
May 25, 2026-School Closed
I-READY EOY MATH TESTING: May 26, 2026 - May 29, 2026
EOY DIBELS BENCHMARKING: May 26, 2026 - May 29, 2026
Jun 5, 2026- Kings Dominion Trip
Jun 8, 2026- 8th Grade Graduation Dress Rehearsal
Jun 10, 2026- SLC Conferences
Jun 11, 2026- 8th Grade Graduation (9:00-11:00) @ Shaw Campus
Jun 11, 2026- Spark-a-Palooza: End of Year Celebration Bundy Field
Jun 11, 2026- Laptop Return at Shaw Campus/Bundy Field
CAPE Testing - IN PERSON!
At the conclusion of each day of testing, students will receive a special treat. On the final day of testing, an ice cream truck will be here, and students will get to choose their favorite ice cream as a reward for their hard work and for powering through CAPE! Students must complete all portions of CAPE to the best of their ability in order to receive their treat.
Enrollment
Re-enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is open, and we have two raffles coming up that you do not want to miss! On May 8, we will raffle off a 55-inch TV (or an electronic of equivalent value). On May 15, we will raffle off a dinner for your family.
Any KIPP DC family who is fully enrolled by each of those dates is automatically entered into that day's drawing. Re-enrollment closes June 1, and the review process takes several days on our end. Finishing early is the best way to be eligible for both raffles. If you have not started yet, please log in and complete the form. If you started but did not submit, please go back and finish. Hurry up and get enrolled!
Questions? Reach out to Ms. Maxwell directly.
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Shout out to Heaven H. for the use of 4-square everyday in ELA during Performance Training.
Shout out to the following Coding Rockstars:
Robert B.
Lennox H.
Tristan F.
Lila A.
Isa S.
Asyria S.
Keep up the wonderful Coding work!!
APRIL ACCOUNTABILITY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH!
Congratulations to our April students of the month! We are so proud of you and the Accountability you showed. As a reward, each student of the month will receive a $25 gift from Walmart. Please email Mrs. Casagrande your order and current address so we can have it shipped directly to you! Congratulations!!
MAY CORE VALUE OF THE MONTH: RESPECT
At Innovate, we believe respect means recognizing the value in yourself and others through your words, actions, and attitude. Respect builds trust, strengthens relationships, and creates a positive learning environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
What Respect Looks Like:
Listening actively when others are speaking.
Using kind and professional language in class chats and discussions.
Taking care of your learning space and materials.
Honoring teachers’ directions and peers’ ideas, even when you disagree.
What Respect Sounds Like:
“I appreciate your perspective—here’s what I think.”
“Thank you for helping me understand that better.”
“I’ll wait my turn to share.”
“Let’s encourage each other to do our best.”
When we practice respect, we strengthen our community. We show others that we care, we value differences, and we are committed to making Innovate a place where everyone belongs and thrives.
Community Events and Activities
POWER UP CAPE TESTING! ⭐
As we enter our fourth week of POWER UP for CAPE, we’re excited to recognize the following Sparks who have leveled up through earning coins—check out their levels and their earnings!
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! ✨
Level 99 Field Trip!
Get ready, Sparks! 🎉 We’re celebrating your hard work with an exciting Level 99 Field Trip on May 22!
This trip is for students who reached Piranha level during Power Up for CAPE by earning 45 coins OR MORE in March and April and completing all parts of the CAPE assessment. If you qualified, keep an eye out, your official invitation will be emailed to you and your family on May 15!
You’ll travel by bus from the Shaw Campus to Level 99, an amazing experience filled with real-life games, cool technology, and interactive challenges unlike anything else around.
Keep pushing, stay focused, and let’s finish strong. Level 99 is waiting for you!
KINGS DOMINION FIELD TRIP!
We are excited to offer our Grades 5–12 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 in Grades 5-8 to receive an invitation, they must complete all portions of the CAPE Assessment and demonstrate our Power Up strategies during testing. In order for a Spark in High school they must complete all portions of the CAPE Assessment (if they are in grades 9 and 10 ) and must have all courses complete.
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.”
All tickets will be passed out on May 1st at the conclusion of CAPE Testing.
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. ✨🎓
Get ready for SPARK-A-PALOOZA: Celebrating Our Brightest Sparks! 🎉✨
Join us on Thursday, June 11 from 1:00–3:00 PM at Bundy Field for an unforgettable end-of-year celebration! Families and Sparks will enjoy carnival games, a video game truck, cookout favorites, popcorn, cotton candy, face painting, an ice cream truck, interactive activities, a live DJ, and so much more. We can’t wait to come together as a community to celebrate an incredible year of growth, achievement, and joy!
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, May 9, 2026 during advisory!
Parent Corner
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.
