Happy Final Week of October, Innovate Families!
As we officially dive into Quarter 2, I want to take a moment to celebrate each of you for your partnership and hard work throughout Quarter 1. Our Student-Led Conferences last Thursday and Friday were a beautiful reflection of the growth, confidence, and leadership our Sparks are developing. I am so proud of the way our students took ownership of their learning—showing accountability, reflection, and pride in their progress. Thank you for supporting and encouraging them every step of the way.
This week is a very important one for our students as they engage in our Standards-Based Assessment (ANET). We know testing can be tiring, but we also know our Sparks are more than capable of rising to the challenge. These assessments are critical in preparing them for their CAPE assessments in April and May. Please make every effort to have your child logged in on time each day and ready to do their best.
We’ve included some best practices below to help you support your Spark before and during testing—simple strategies to keep them focused, calm, and confident. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Finally, this Friday, October 31st, students will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m. There will be no Homework Help or Tutoring from 2:00–3:30 p.m. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy our Fall Friday Fun event from 12:35–2:00 p.m. More details are included below.
Let’s finish October strong and make it a wonderful week for our Sparks! Sparks Shine, All the Time!!
Have a wonderful week, Innovate Family!
With gratitude and pride,
Ms. Casagrande
Director, KIPP DC Innovate Virtual Academy
Upcoming Events
Here's a look at what's happening at our school in the coming weeks:
Oct 28, 2025- Oct 30, 2025 ANET Testing; Student-Facing PPTs
Oct 28, 2025- High School students join to introduce clubs
Oct 28, 2025- Mental Health Night (5:00-6:30)
Oct 29, 2025- Middle School Club interest form on advisory slide
Oct 31, 2025- Quarter 1 Awards AND Student of the Month presented during Advisory
Oct 31, 2025 Friday Fall Fun Event (12:35-2:00) 2pm dismissal
Nov 3, 2025- Quarter 2 Clubs Start
Nov 5, 2025- Grade 5 SOS
Nov 12, 2025- Grade 6 SOS
Nov 19, 2025- Grade 7 SOS
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Spark Points Leaderboard
Sparks Shout Outs!
Shout out to ALL of our Sparks who completed and presented their student led conference. We are so proud of you, your leadership, and your ownership in your educational journey! Keep up the great work and keep shining bright!
Shout out to Isa, La'Myr, KJ, Masiah, Angelina who signed back on for some EXTRA work
Shout out to Marlie, Savannah and Rita who all did an amazing job on their target task in ELA.
Shout out to Egypt for all of her effort in Reading Small Group! You not only got all of your work done but you did a wonderful job of following all of our school rules and expectations!
October Core Value: Accountability
At Innovate, we believe accountability means taking responsibility for your actions, words, and learning while holding yourself and others to high standards. In a virtual school environment, accountability shows up in big and small ways each day.
What Accountability Looks Like:
Logging in on time and prepared for class.
Submitting assignments by the deadline.
Actively engaging in class discussions and breakout rooms.
Following through on commitments made to teachers, peers, and yourself.
What Accountability Sounds Like:
“I didn’t understand this, but I’ll ask for help so I can improve.”
“I wasn’t on time today, but I’ll make sure I set my alarm earlier tomorrow.”
“I’ll upload my work before the deadline so my teacher can review it.”
“Let’s stay focused so we can finish this project together.”
When each of us practices accountability, we create a community where learning is prioritized, growth is celebrated, and everyone can succeed.
Community Events and Activities
ANET SCHOOLWIDE TESTING
Families, next week our students will take their ANet assessments for Math and ELA. These important tests help us track student growth and identify the best ways to support their learning.
Math Testing: October 28–29 during whole and small group Math time
ELA Testing: October 30 in the morning (note: schedules will shift slightly—updates will be posted in Google Classroom and Clever)
To help your student do their best, please make sure they:
✅ Get a good night’s rest each night
✅ Eat breakfast before logging on
✅ Have their camera on during testing (students cannot complete the test with cameras off)
✅ Do their own work and avoid any outside help, including AI tools or unapproved calculators
We know our Innovate students are ready to show what they know! Encourage your child to take their time, do their best, and show off all they’ve learned this quarter. We’re so proud of their hard work and can’t wait to celebrate their progress!
Clubs
We’re excited to kick off Quarter 2 Clubs starting November 3rd! During the week of October 27th, students will be introduced to all of our new club offerings and have the opportunity to complete their Club Interest Form to select their top choices.
Clubs and Homework Help are a required part of our enrichment and support program, ensuring every student has a chance to explore their interests, build community, and get the help they need. Attendance will be taken to make sure students are fully benefiting from these opportunities.
If your child participated in the LEGO/i-Brick Club last quarter, please coordinate with administration to return your LEGO kits so they can be redistributed for Quarter 2. You can email Mrs. Maxwell at caitlin.maxwell@kippdc.org to schedule your drop-off date and time at the Shaw campus.
We can’t wait to see our students diving into new clubs, learning, creating, and having fun this quarter!
Parent Corner
FALL FUN FRIDAY!
We understand that not all of our families celebrate holidays; however, we want to give our students a chance to relax and enjoy some fun together as they head into the weekend. To ensure that every student feels included and welcome, we’ll be offering a variety of movie options for students to choose from during our Fall Fun Friday event on October 31, 2025 (12:35-2:00).
Below are the movie choices for our Fall Fun Friday:
Kung Fu Panda II
Hocus Pocus
Haunted Mansion
Hotel Transylvania
Spies in Disguise
Willy Wonka
SOS Family, Student, and Teacher Training
Ms. Lohoury will be leading SOS (Signs of Suicide) Training and sessions for students, families and teachers. Please see communication below:
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.
