Dear Innovate Families,
Welcome to December! We hope you had a restful and joyful Thanksgiving Break filled with time to relax, recharge, and connect with loved ones. We are excited to welcome our Sparks back tomorrow, December 1st, refreshed and ready to finish 2025 strong.
The month ahead is a big one at Innovate—we have a jam-packed three weeks of learning, activities, events, and important Middle of Year assessments, and you won’t want to miss a moment! Our students will be diving into their MOY testing, an important opportunity to show just how much they’ve learned and grown this year. We’ve seen their hard work and perseverance, and now they get to shine.
To celebrate their achievements, we have special incentives planned:
If our school meets its overall proficiency goals, we will host a schoolwide celebration in January.
Every student who meets their individual growth goal will earn a limited-edition Innovate winter hat to honor their effort and success.
We are so proud of our Sparks and can’t wait to see the incredible progress they’ll show this month. Thank you for your continued partnership and support—together, we help our students soar.
Here’s to a joyful, productive, and exciting December at Innovate!
Sparks Shine, All the Time! ✨
With gratitude and pride,
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:
Dec 2, 2025 - Dec 18, 2025 - MOY Testing Incentive!!
Dec 2, 2025- Dec 5, 2025 - I-Ready MOY Math Testing
Dec 8, 2025- Dec 12, 2025 - I-Ready MOY ELA Testing AND M&M Competition
Dec 9, 2025- School Pictures @ Shaw Campus
Dec 10, 2025- Holiday Google Form Due
Dec 15, 2025- Dec 19, 2025 SPIRIT WEEK!
Dec 15, 2025- Dec 18, 2025- DIBELS Benchmark Testing
Dec 16, 2025- Literacy Night
Dec 17, 2025- Vision to Learn
Dec 20, 2025- Jan 4, 2026 - Winter Break
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Spark Points Leaderboard
NOVEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH!
We are so very proud of our November, respectful, students of the month. Congratulations to the following Sparks:
Because we recently changed financial management systems, instead of ordering from Amazon, we now can order from Walmart. All students of the month can choose a $25 gift from Walmart, email the link of the gift and your current address to Mrs. Casagrande (kelly.casagrande@kippdc.org) and it will be shipped to your home!
Congratulations, Sparks!
DECEMBER VALUE OF THE MONTH: KNOWLEDGE
At Innovate, we believe knowledge means actively seeking to learn, understand, and grow. It is the commitment to curiosity, inquiry, and continuous improvement. Knowledge empowers us to make informed decisions, solve problems, and contribute meaningfully to our learning community.
What Knowledge Looks Like:
Asking thoughtful questions to deepen your understanding.
Engaging fully in lessons, discussions, and assignments.
Using feedback to improve your work and skills.
Exploring new ideas, strategies, or perspectives—even when they're challenging.
What Knowledge Sounds Like:
“Can you explain that in another way?”
“I want to try a different strategy to solve this.”
“I did some research to better understand this topic.”
“I learned something new, and here’s how I used it.”
When we embrace knowledge, we grow as learners and as leaders. We build the confidence to take on new challenges, the curiosity to explore, and the understanding needed to make a positive impact. By pursuing knowledge every day, we strengthen our minds and uplift our entire Innovate community.
Community Events and Activities
SCHOOL PICTURES!
We are excited to share that we are offering school pictures for our Sparks on December 9th from 8:00am-9:30am at the Shaw Campus (421 P Street NW Washington, DC). If you would like for your child to have their school picture taken, please sign up using the google form linked below
Our time slot is only from 8:00am to 9:00 am. If you are late, you may miss the opportunity to take your pictures.
VISION TO LEARN
We are excited to share that KIPP DC is partnering with Vision To Learn, a nonprofit organization that provides free vision screenings, eye exams, and glasses to students ON DECEMBER 17, 2025 AT THE SHAW CAMPUS. This program helps ensure every child has the tools they need to see clearly and succeed academically.
All students are invited to participate BUT you must complete the below form to be included and receive additional information and services.
👉 Please complete the Family Vision Form here:
GOOGLE FORM LINKED HERE
What You Need to Know
Every student whose parent completed the form linked above will receive a free vision screening at the Shaw Campus.
Students who need an eye exam will be scheduled for one through the Vision To Learn mobile clinic.
Students who need glasses will be able to choose a pair at no cost.
If your child already has a valid prescription (within the last 12 months), you may provide it to the school nurse.
Why This Matters
Vision plays a major role in learning. Many students who struggle with reading, focus, or engagement simply need glasses. This program offers an easy, free way to make sure every student has access to the vision support they need.
Please take a few moments to complete the form as soon as possible. Your participation ensures we can provide the best support for your child.
SPIRIT WEEK!
We are jumping into our Winter Break with style and fun! We will be hosting a Spirit week for our Sparks to gear up for break. Please see our schedule below:
LITERACY NIGHT!
Join us for Literacy Night, Dec 16, 2025 from 4:00-5:00 on Ms. Cooper’s link. Ms. Cooper’s Link will be located on your clever page the night of the event! We look forward to engaging in fun activities and raffling away a prize!
Parent Corner
WINTER/HOLIDAY SUPPORT:
Innovate Virtual Learning Program is committed to supporting families in need during the holiday season by providing warm clothing, books, and games/activities. If your family is in need of assistance, please complete one Google Form for EACH Innovate student in your household.
INNOVATE HOLIDAY SUPPORT GOOGLE FORM
Families who are selected will be invited to attend our Holiday Shop and choose items during one of our scheduled shopping days. Additional details regarding dates and times will be shared directly with selected families.
While we may not be able to fulfill every wish, our goal is to ensure that every need is supported.
In addition to Innovate support, families can also reach out to the local organizations linked below for specific resourcing and support.
NONPROFIT GIVING FOR THE HOLIDAY AND BEYOND
MOY Testing!
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.
