KBI Monthly news, updates & joy

September 2020

This month's big 5: First Day of School New Board Members KIPP Mission & Vision Fundraising Update KIPP Moment of Joy Upcoming Events September 8, 2020 First Day of School! September 16 at 12 noon Lunch & Learn: Reimagining Learning; Reopening Schools Featuring Marsha Reeves and KIPP school principals; Co-hosted by Board Member Amy Kiesel Click HERE to Register for our September Lunch & Learn! September 24, 2020 Family Back-to-School Night October 13, 2020 Last day: Register to VOTE! Register to vote HERE! A Note from Marsha Each summer, KIPP Baltimore teachers and leaders come together to review the past school year and make adjustments to ensure that the upcoming year is better and brighter for our students. This summer was different; this summer we reimagined - and built - a brand new virtual school for our KIPPsters. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, we knew we needed to pivot quickly in order to retain the growth in our academics and culture for which our staff and families have worked so hard. Within weeks, we foresaw that we were only beginning a long haul -- one that would require us to rethink how we teach and how we partner with families. This summer, under the leadership of Principals Adamson and Reese, our partners, families and staff convened virtually to imagine what KIPP excellence could look like when school must extend beyond the walls of our new Walbrook home. They invested hundreds of hours developing plans to accelerate academics, to promote health and safety and to support our students, staff and families social-emotional needs. They were determined to create learning experiences that are worthy of our KIPPsters' individual needs, goals, and dreams.

At the same time, the murder of George Floyd, the continued acts of racialized violence in our country, and the embedded challenges that our students, communities, and city face as a result of historic, systemic racism and inequity are a call to action. To realize our vision that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities, we must create a school experience that affirms our students' identities, prepares them to be critical thinkers, and provides them with an excellent education. We must also confront those things that stand as barriers to our students truly being and feeling free.   I am proud of the #VirtualKIPP that we are building together, and I am confident that yesterday - the first day of school for our marvelous KIPPsters - marked the beginning of an extraordinary year for us all.

1 | First Day of School at KIPP Baltimore

We can do virtually anything! Classes are back in session, and we cannot wait to see our KIPPsters (virtually) shine! This year will look like none other, and the possibilities are endless. We are excited to work together with our students and families to learn, grow, and build a better tomorrow.

Want to know more about how KIPP schools across the country are reimagining learning this fall? Listen to the KIPP on Learning Podcast! In the latest episode - Reopening Schools: Caring for our Students, Teachers and Staff - KIPP Co-Founder Dave Levin is joined by Erin Slezak, Deputy Chief of Strategy at KIPP Texas and Joey LaRoche, Chief Strategy Officer at KIPP NOLA for a conversation about their regional reopening plans and how they are keeping students, families and staff motivated for the school year ahead.  Listeners can tune in now on  Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts

2 | Meet KIPP Baltimore's Newest Board Members

Natasha Blake-McDowell Associate Program Director of High Schools CollegeBound Foundation Amy Kiesel Health Care Law *Amy will be the co-host for our September Lunch & Learn; Register today! Minyanna Farmer Senior Manager of Relationship Marketing (VIP) ROAR Digital E. Curtis Rountree Financial Management & Accounting Consultant ECR Consulting Anne Swett Operations Administrator, Department of Medicine LifeBridge Health

To the right, you'll find more about our dynamic Board of Directors. Can you imagine yourself as part of the KIPP Baltimore Team & Family?

Click Here!

3 | Evolving the KIPP Baltimore Mission & Vision

At the August 25th meeting, the KIPP Baltimore Board of Directors voted to adopt an updated vision and mission for our continued work in alliance with KIPP schools around the nation. This unanimous decision is a symbol of our shared commitment to center our students in every decision we make and strategy we adopt. Interested in learning more about the listening and learning which informed the new vision and mission? Read more here!

4 | Fundraising Update: Welcome Home to Walbrook!

THANK YOU to all of our partners and friends for your generous support as we transitioned to our new home in Greater Rosemont; we are pleased to announce the close to our 2019-2020 Capital Campaign: It's A New Day at KIPP Baltimore! You helped us raise well over $1.25M so that our 1550+ KIPPsters in kindergarten through eighth grade can truly call our Walbrook building "home". Our students, families, and alumni can access the Ruth & Norman Rales Health Center; our KIPP Through College team; critical family stability resources, like our food pantry; and enjoy art, athletic, and performances spaces, both indoor and out. Each of these is a critical element of our academic program, and because of you we can now enjoy them all on our unified, permanent campus!

5 | This Month's Moment of Joy

Team & Family Spirit! This month's Moment of Joy is our Team & Family spirit! Our incredible Operations team has been busy ensuring our KIPPsters and their families are prepared to kickoff the new school year virtually. They worked tirelessly to distribute technology, books, and curriculum materials for over 1,550 students. Moments like this are possible because of the generosity of our community and supporters like you. Thank you!

Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. 2000 Edgewood Street Baltimore, MD 21216 • p: 410-291-2583 f: 410-826-5513 • www.kippbaltimore.org

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