Happy June Innovate Families!
We hope you are enjoying your weekend and taking time to relax and recharge with your loved ones. It is hard to believe, but we are officially in the final countdown of the school year! Our Sparks have just 9 more days of learning, and we are encouraging every student to stay focused, stay engaged, and finish strong all the way to the very end.
This upcoming week is especially important, as students have one final week to submit assignments, complete missing work, communicate with teachers, and ensure that all grades are updated. Families, your partnership during this time is incredibly important. Please continue encouraging your Spark to log in daily, attend classes, check Canvas and email regularly, and reach out for support when needed. Strong finishes matter, and we want every Spark to end the school year feeling proud of their growth, accomplishments, and perseverance.
As we approach the close of the year, we are also excited for our upcoming Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) on June 10th. This is one of our favorite traditions at Innovate because it places our Sparks at the center of the conversation about their learning journey. On this day, students will log in for Advisory and attendance and then log off until their assigned conference time.
During the conference, students will have the opportunity to reflect on their academic progress, celebrate achievements, discuss areas of growth, and share whether they met the goals they set at the beginning of the school year. Families will hear directly from their Spark about the hard work, resilience, and determination they demonstrated throughout the year. These conferences are truly a time of celebration, reflection, and pride. We encourage all families to attend and engage in this meaningful experience as we honor the growth our Sparks have made academically, socially, and emotionally.
Be sure to also mark your calendars for our exciting end-of-year celebration — Spark-a-Palooza! We cannot wait to celebrate an incredible school year together with our Innovate community. This event will be filled with food, games, music, activities, fun, laughter, and opportunities for our Sparks and families to connect and celebrate all that has been accomplished this year. Our team is working hard to make this a memorable experience for everyone!
Spark-a-Palooza will also serve as an important opportunity for students to return their school-issued devices. All Sparks will need to return their laptops, chargers, and hotspots (if applicable). Returning technology on time helps ensure we can prepare devices for next school year and continue supporting student learning successfully. Families should plan ahead to bring all school-issued technology and accessories with them to the event. Additional details regarding device return procedures will be shared soon.
Families, thank you for your continued partnership, encouragement, and support throughout this school year. We know this time of year can feel busy, but together we can help our Sparks finish these final 9 days with excellence, determination, and pride.
Let’s finish strong, Innovate!
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:
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
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 Kordell, Laila, Jabrayah, Lynxx for all of your support with packing bags for next school year. We SOOO appreciate you, your service, and your leadership!
Shout out to Courtez for winning our Math Multiplication Masters! Keep up the strong automaticity.
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
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!
Please note that all permission slips were due by May 29. If a permission slip was not submitted by the deadline, your Spark will unfortunately be unable to attend the trip.
To avoid confusion the morning of the trip, please do not send your student to campus for the Kings Dominion trip if their permission slip was not completed and submitted on time, as students without completed forms will need to return home.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we wo
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.
