Hello Innovate Families,
Happy first winter snow, Innovate families! I hope you are safe, warm, and taking care of yourselves as we jump into the colder months. As we head into winter, it’s important for families and students to be aware of KIPP DC’s snow policies and how they impact Innovate.
If a school closure is called due to inclement weather, Innovate will be closed.
If KIPP DC calls for an asynchronous learning day or a 2-hour delay for in-person schools, Innovate will operate on our normal schedule, beginning at 8:30 AM.
We want to ensure continuity of learning for our students, and our virtual environment allows instruction to continue even when weather conditions make travel unsafe. If you have any questions about how closures or delays impact Innovate, please feel free to reach out!
Starting tomorrow, students will begin their ANet 2 assessments. This standards-based assessment helps us understand students’ proficiency with grade-level standards and serves as an early indicator of how students may perform on the CAPE assessment later this year. Please support us in setting up a positive testing environment at home so our Sparks can show what they know! An overview of ANet and testing strategies can be found below in the newsletter.
Lastly, we are excited for our upcoming field trip to the DC History Center with students in grades 7–12! Students will be traveling using public transportation. If your student already has their Kids Ride Free card, please make sure they bring it with them. Students who do not yet have a card will receive one on Friday before we depart.
Thank you for your partnership, your flexibility, and your continued support of our students. Stay warm and stay safe! We are looking forward to a great winter season at 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:
Jan 27, 2026- Reading ANET
Jan 28, 2026 - Jan 29, 2026 - Math ANET
Jan 29, 2026- DIBELS Red PM
Jan 30, 2026- Grades 7-12 Field Trip to the DC History Center
Feb 2, 2026- Level up, Lace Up! School Incentive starts!
Feb 3, 2026- Grades 5-6 Field Trip to Lego Discovery Center
Sparks Shine, All the Time!
Spark Shoutouts!!
Thank you to all of our High Schoolers who are supporting our Clubs! Your leadership and service are greatly appreciated.
Shout out Heaven H (Grade 8) for an incredible improvement in attendance and participation! Keep up the great work.
Shout out to Robert B (Grade 5) for engaging and participating in class!
JANUARY VALUE OF THE MONTH:
At Innovate, we believe Service means contributing to our community, supporting those around us, and using our skills to make a positive impact. Service is about taking action—big or small—to help others succeed and to strengthen our learning community. When we serve, we show responsibility, compassion, and leadership in both our words and actions.
What Service Looks Like:
Offering help to classmates during lessons or group work.
Participating actively and positively to support the learning of others.
Completing responsibilities on time so the community can function smoothly.
Using your strengths and talents to uplift classmates and teachers.
Showing kindness, patience, and respect in all virtual interactions.
What Service Sounds Like:
“How can I help you?”
“Let’s work through this together.”
“Thank you for helping me—I appreciate it.”
“I noticed you needed support, so I stepped in.”
When we embrace service, we become stronger classmates and leaders. We learn that our actions matter and that helping others helps our entire community grow. By practicing service every day, we create a supportive, caring, and inclusive Innovate community where everyone can thrive.
FEBRUARY VALUE OF THE MONTH: SELF ADVOCACY
At Innovate, we believe Self-Advocacy means knowing your needs, using your voice, and taking ownership of your learning and experiences. Self-Advocacy is about speaking up respectfully, asking questions, and seeking solutions so that you can succeed. When we advocate for ourselves, we show independence, confidence, and responsibility in both our communication and our actions.
What Self-Advocacy Looks Like:
Asking questions when something is unclear or you need more support.
Communicating with teachers about assignments, deadlines, or challenges.
Taking initiative to find resources or tools to help you learn.
Requesting feedback to improve your work or understanding.
Setting personal goals and tracking your progress toward them.
What Self-Advocacy Sounds Like:
“I don’t understand this yet—can you explain it another way?”
“Can we meet to go over my work together?”
“I need more time or support to complete this assignment.”
“I found this strategy works well for me—can I use it?”
When we embrace self-advocacy, we become active participants in our own learning. We learn that our voices matter and that we have the power to ask for what we need. By practicing self-advocacy every day, we build confidence, strengthen our independence, and create a learning environment where all Innovate scholars can reach their fullest potential.
Community Events and Activities
GRADES 7-12 FIELD TRIP TO DC HISTORY CENTER: LETS BE CHANGEMAKERS
Our 7th–12th grade students are attending the DC History Center on Friday, January 30th. Due to the lower attendance, we will be traveling on the metro to and from the DC History Center. All participating students and family members will be receiving an email Wednesday, January 28th outlining all important information and logistics regarding the trip.
STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING THE FIELD TRIP MUST SIGN ON AT THEIR NORMAL TIME AND COMPLETE COURSEWORK AS USUAL.
GRADES 5-6 FIELD TRIP TO LEGOLAND!
Our 5th–6th grade students are attending Legoland on Tuesday, February 3rd. Our 5th/6th Graders will ride a school bus to and from the museum due to distance. All participating students and family members will be receiving an email Friday, January 30th outlining all important information and logistics regarding the trip.
STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING THE FIELD TRIP MUST SIGN ON AT THEIR NORMAL TIME AND COMPLETE COURSEWORK AS USUAL.
GREAT ATTENDANCE EACH MONTH = GROCERIES FOR PARENTS!
Parents whose children have an attendance rate of 90% or higher will be entered MONTHLY to win $50 of groceries! Monthly drawings will start at the end of February and carry through Quarter 3
Level Up, Lace Up: Win Custom Nike Shoes…
Throughout Quarter 3, students in Grades ⅚ and ⅞ who hit their weekly goals, completing 3 i-Ready lessons, logging 45 Amira minutes, and maintaining 90% attendance, will be entered into a raffle to win a pair of custom Nikes!
For High School students, eligibility is earned by being on track or ahead in all coursework and maintaining an attendance rate of 90% or higher throughout Quarter 3.
One winner will be selected from each grade band: Grades 5–6, Grades 7–8, and High School.
Show up. Put in the work. Earn your shot at custom kicks!
This incentive will kick off on February 2nd!
Parent Corner
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.
ELA Testing: January 27, 2026 in the morning (note: schedules will shift slightly—updates will be posted in Google Classroom and Clever)
Math Testing: January 28–29, 2026 during whole and small group Math time
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
As a reminder, Clubs and Homework Help are required parts of the day at Innovate Virtual Academy. Attendance is taken for both. These components ensure students receive the academic support they may need while also engaging in extracurricular activities for a well-rounded educational experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
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.
