Happy new week, Innovate families!
We are thrilled to share that this Thursday, November 13th, we will be hosting our first Family Math Night of the year! 🎉 We can't wait to come together as a community to explore engaging math games and activities that build confidence, deepen foundational skills, and make learning fun. Family Math Night will begin at 4:00 PM on Ms. Murray’s Zoom link, and we encourage all families to join us — whether you love math, are learning to love math, or just want to be part of a joyful community event. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please note that school is closed tomorrow, but students should return ready to learn on Wednesday at 8:30 AM. We appreciate your partnership in helping your student show up on time and prepared for a strong start in the middle of our week.
Speaking of showing up — attendance remains strong across the school, and we are especially proud of our 7th graders, who are leading the way with an incredible 96% attendance this week! Thank you for continuing to make school attendance a priority; it makes a big difference in student success.
Lastly, we have so many Sparks shout-outs coming your way this month because our students are truly shining! From academic growth to leadership and positivity, our Sparks are stepping up in powerful ways, and we love celebrating each and every win.
Let’s continue to learn, grow, and shine together.
Have a wonderful week, Innovate families! 💛💡
Sparks Shine, All the Time! ✨
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:
Nov 11, 2025- Schools Closed
Nov 12, 2025- Grade 6 SOS
Nov 13, 2025- Family Math Night @ 4 on Ms. Murray’s Link!!
Nov 17, 2025- Nov 21, 2025 American Education Week!
Nov 19, 2025- Grade 7 SOS
Nov 24, 2025- Nov 30, 2025 Fall Break
Dec 1, 2025- Students return
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Spark Points Leaderboard
Sparks Shout Outs!
Kassidi, Gracie, Jibreel, Lennox and Tristian for having the highest scores on ELA ANet
Masiah, Cambri, Courtez, Braylen, Gracie, Milan, Heaven Taylor, Emaree and Kassidi for detailed work on their math tests!
Logan Tyree and Jaedin Byrd-Watson for always staying in their seats and being focused on the math lessons with their full faces in the camera frame!
Za’Niya for completing all of her French lessons! Carly B for stellar participation in French.
5th Grade Science: Tristan and Miley and Jibreel for their thoughtful engagement on the properties of Matter.
6th Grade SS: Destiny, Heaven B., Emaree, Savannah and Gracie for their attention to detail and rich discussions on the
8th Grade Science: Jordan, Charisma, Heaven H., and Diamond on their Project completion on the Transformation of Energy. Their projects were thorough and very well researched.
7th Grade SS: Carly, Jayden, and La'Myr for their leadership and meaningful discussion on the early West African culture.
5th Taylor for being a kind and thoughtful classmate! Taylor wanted to make things right with her friends and looked out for another student’s well-being by telling an adult. Her care and leadership really stand out!
NOVEMBER 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
Thanksgiving Baskets
As we enter the holiday season, we want to ensure that every family in our Sparks community feels supported. If your family could use assistance with holiday meals or resources this season, we are offering Thanksgiving meal baskets to help.
If you would like to receive a basket, please complete the request form so we can plan accordingly. Families will be contacted if their names were selected and provided a date and time next week to pick up their Thanksgiving Basket. We are grateful for the opportunity to support our Sparks community. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Lohoury (mary.lohoury@kippdc.org) if you have any questions or needs during this time.
Math Night!
We are so excited for our first family math night! The math team has been working together to plan a great night. Please see the flyer below and mark your calendars for November 13th at 4:00!
American Education Week
Next week, we are excited to celebrate American Education Week and highlight the power of learning, growth, and future opportunities!
This year’s theme invites students to reflect on their futures through our Essay Contest:
Prompt: What do you aspire to be when you complete your education, and in what ways has Innovate and your learning experience helped you move toward that goal?
Monday, November 17th – Essay Contest Kickoff
We will launch our school-wide essay contest! Students should begin drafting thoughtful, creative responses to this year’s prompt. Criteria is LINKED HERE and should be shared with students
Monday-Thursday: 3:05–3:35 PM – Career Guest Speakers
Each afternoon, we will welcome different guest speakers who will share about their careers, the paths they took, and how education helped shape their journey.
Thursday – Dress for Success Day
Come to Zoom dressed as the career you aspire to pursue in the future! Show us who you want to be and what you dream of achieving.
Friday – Essay Contest Submissions Due
Make sure your final essay is submitted by the end of the school day!
Parent Corner
SOS Family, Student, and Teacher Training
Ms. Lohoury will be leading SOS (Signs of Suicide) Training and sessions for students, families and teachers.
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.
