It’s been a busy month for the KIPP DC community relations team! It’s back-to-school season, and we’ve been out and about meeting students, families, community members, and partner organizations. This year we’re pulling back the curtain and inviting you to see all the amazing members of the D.C. community we get to work with. This is the first in a series of monthly blog posts letting you know what we’re up to!
We’re excited to have you along on this journey! A few highlights from August include:
Mayor Bowser visits Promise Academy – On August 23, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Deputy Mayor for Education Jennie Niles, and Public Charter School Board Executive Director Scott Pearson visited KIPP DC Promise Academy in Ward 7 for their #EveryDayCounts campaign. Mayor Bowser reminded KIPPsters of the importance of attending school and encouraged them to make every day count by showing up, on-time, and ready to learn. At KIPP DC, we’ve always believed that more time in school and strong attendance are crucial to student achievement, and we support the Mayor in this vital work. KIPP DC Promise Academy boasts a 94% attendance rate and continues to be the highest-achieving public charter elementary school in Washington, D.C. We’re very proud of our Promise Academy students! Read more about the Mayor’s visit.
Ridge Road Community Back to School Carnival – The Back to School Carnival took place on August 12 at the Ridge Road Community Center and brought together a number of Ward 7 residents and organizations. The carnival, organized by KIPP DC parent Veda Rasheed and others, brought together a host of community organizations to provide free school supplies, book bags, haircuts, immunizations, raffle prizes, and information needed to start the 2017-18 year on the right foot! We had a blast and are excited to continue working with the Ridge Road community.
PAVE DC Back 2 School BBQ – On August 18, our team hung out at the Ward 8 Back 2 School BBQ with our friends at PAVE and Education Reform Now. The day, held at Friendship Southeast Academy, was filled with moon bounces, face painters, school supplies, and dozens of community resources for Ward 8 families. KIPP DC’s Community Relations Manager, Mr. Woods, even ran into one of his old students, a 2017 graduate of KIPP DC College Preparatory.
Back to School Nights at KIPP DC – Throughout the month, we were especially excited to see so many students and families join us at Back to School Nights hosted across the KIPP DC network. Our teachers were eager to meet their new students’ families and are excited to build lasting relationships with students and families this year. If you need a copy of the 2017-18 handbook, your school’s lunch menu, or additional resources, head to our Students & Families page. We’ll see more of you at the remaining Back to School nights in September!
State Board of Education’s Markus Batchelor visits Douglass Campus – On August 31, 
Ward 8 State Board of Education Member Markus Batchelor visited the Douglass Campus, home to the highest-achieving elementary and middle school in Ward 8. We were excited to show Board Member Batchelor all that our KIPPsters have already learned this year and discuss his and the State Board of Education’s priorities for the academic year.
Benning Campus Parent Community Meeting – Thanks to all the Benning and Smilow Campus families that joined us for the Parent Community Meeting on August 31. We were grateful for your input and guidance regarding a second KIPP DC high school location, design, and academic program. Your input is invaluable as we chart a path forward for KIPP DC and your students’ education. Keep an eye on your inbox and child’s backpack for more information on additional parent meetings about a second high school at the Smilow and Douglass Campuses this fall. Parents can also share what they’d like to see in a second KIPP DC high school via our Parent Survey.
What a month! Check back at the end of September to see what we’ve been up to and don’t hesitate to reach out to Althea Holford or Nathan Woods on the community relations team with questions or to learn more about what KIPP DC is up to in our community. Till then, have an amazing start to your school year!
