Dear Innovate Families,
I want to begin by sharing just how incredibly proud we are of our Sparks and all of their hard work during CAPE testing season! Because of the dedication of our students, families, and staff, we successfully completed all sections of the CAPE assessment with a 100% completion rate! What an amazing accomplishment and true reflection of what can happen when we work together as a school community. Way to go, Innovate family!
As we enter the final stretch of the school year, it is imperative that our Sparks remain engaged, present, and actively participating in learning each day. Last week, we noticed a significant decline in class attendance and assignment completion. While CAPE testing may be behind us, our school year is not over yet. We still have three important weeks of instruction remaining, along with critical end-of-year academic goals to accomplish.
This week, students will complete their EOY i-Ready Math Assessments. Please support your Spark by ensuring they have a quiet, distraction-free environment so they can focus and truly demonstrate the academic growth they have made throughout the year. Next week, students will complete their DIBELS assessments, which will help us celebrate their progress in reading fluency and comprehension.
As we prepare for upcoming end-of-year celebrations and experiences, we want to continue emphasizing the importance of daily participation, engagement, and consistent attendance. These opportunities are designed to celebrate students who are finishing the year strong both academically and behaviorally, and we encourage all Sparks to continue showing up, participating fully, and giving their best effort each day.
As a reminder, students will be off on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. I will still send our weekly Light Bulb Moments newsletter to ensure families remain informed and connected to all of the exciting happenings at Innovate.
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and continued support. Let’s have a fantastic week and finish the school year strong!
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:
I-READY EOY MATH TESTING: May 18, 2026 - May 22, 2026
May 22, 2026- Main Event (CAPE and Sparks Points Incentive Trip)
May 25, 2026-School Closed
EOY DIBELS BENCHMARKING: May 26, 2026 - May 29, 2026
Jun 5, 2026- Kings Dominion Trip
Jun 8, 2026- 8th Grade Graduation Dress Rehearsal (9:00-11:00) @Shaw Campus
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
Enrollment
The winners of our enrollment prizes, 55” TV and Dinner for 4 will be announced this afternoon. Please check your email for our recorded announcement!
QUARTER 4 ENDS ON JUNE 12TH!
We are entering the final stretch of Quarter 4 with just about three weeks remaining. We want to ensure every one of our Sparks finishes the quarter and year strong. If you have any questions about your Spark’s grades or assignments, please reach out directly to their teacher for support.
Students will present their Student-Led Conference and Artifact Project on June 10th. All students are required to complete and present their projects. They will have plenty of time to work on their artifacts during club time and on Fridays. SLC times will be sent out by their advisor next week so please be on the lookout for your time!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to ending Quarter 4 and our school year with success!
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Spark Shoutouts!!
Shout out to all of our Sparks who came to the Sneakerball on Friday. We loved seeing you all dressed in your best and rocking your kicks! It was such a fun time and we loved celebrating with you!
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
Level 99 Field Trip: New Location
Due to an unexpected issue with finalizing the contract, we are no longer able to move forward with our original plans. While we understand this change may be disappointing, we are excited to share that we have secured an alternative experience that we believe our Sparks will truly enjoy. We are excited to announce that on MAY 22, 2026, KIPP DC: INNOVATE will be going on a trip to the MAIN EVENT: 10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy Ste 2520 Columbia, MD 21044
Students who earned the Piranha Level on their Power Up to Level Up CAPE Challenge will now be attending Main Event in Columbia, MD for a fun-filled and engaging field trip experience. This venue offers a wide variety of arcade games and interactive activities, giving students the opportunity to celebrate, connect with their peers, and enjoy a well-deserved day of fun. In addition, food will be provided for all students, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. We are confident that this updated trip will still provide a memorable and exciting opportunity for our students to unwind, celebrate their hard work, and build community together. Thank you for your flexibility and continued support as we work to create meaningful experiences for our Sparks.
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!
June 11th, 12th, AND 15th: Laptop Return
LAPTOP AND TECHNOLOGY RETURN!
On June 11th, we will host our Spark-a-Palooza, where we will have a designated table for Chromebook and hotspot return.
As we continue communicating expectations for the close of the school year, please note that students must return all school-issued electronics in order to receive their report cards and transcripts. Additionally, students who do not return their devices may be issued a fine and will not receive a new Chromebook at the start of the upcoming school year.
Students will have three opportunities to return their devices:
June 11th: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
June 12th: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
June 15th: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
To ensure continuity of instruction, students have already been provided with instructional packets to support continued learning after device return. For attendance purposes on June 11th and June 12th, teachers will contact students by phone to check in and confirm completion of their assignments. Students who complete their packets and participate in the check-in will be marked present for the day.
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 Thursday, June 4th 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.
