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KIPP Texas Families,
I hope you and your family had a wonderful weekend with intentional time to Rest and Renew on Monday for your Little KIPPster yesterday. Those extra days are so important as time to recharge after a busy and academically excellent first two months of school. Coming back to school today, I am hoping all Little KIPPsters feel rejuvenated, joyful, ready to learn, and confident that they are coming back to a Brave and Belonging space.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, and we are making it an organization-wide half-day for most staff and students. This KIPP Texas tradition is intended as an uninterrupted afternoon of wellness and to provide our staff and families with an opportunity to vote in the elections that matter most to them. Due to minute requirements, this early release does not apply to our Pre-K3 Little KIPPsters on November 8.
Voting is one of the most effective ways to make our voices heard. For non-partisan and official information about upcoming elections, polling locations, and more, visit our KIPP Texas Votes page. Can’t wait to see your pictures and selfies at the polls! Be sure to tag KIPP Texas on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Building a more just world begins in our schools. We work together to develop in our KIPPsters the skills and confidence they need to make their voices heard and teach them about empathy and kindness in our social-emotional learning lessons. During this month’s Bullying Prevention Month, we want to remind our staff and families that they can quickly and anonymously report bullying, any suspicious activity, or safety and student-related issues to a school administrator by submitting an Anonymous Alert report. We care about all of our Little KIPPsters and want to provide them with a Brave and Belonging space to learn and thrive. Learn more on our blog about what KIPP Texas does to prevent bullying in our schools and how we respond if it does occur.
We take the safety of our KIPPsters seriously, not only inside our schools but also on our school buses. National School Bus Safety Week was recognized October 17-21, and I want to show my gratitude for our more than 200 bus drivers. Not only do they safely transport our Little KIPPsters to school and from school, ensuring they have access to the high-quality education they deserve, but they also keep them safe on the road by following all safety measures. Hear from KIPP Texas – Houston Bus Driver Betty Johnson about how she keeps our students safe on the road!
Our KIPP Texas bus drivers trek over 1.5 million miles annually – that is no easy feat. I am also incredibly grateful for our KIPP Texas transportation team, who works tirelessly behind the scenes. They are a dedicated group of Big KIPPsters who ensure our students are on the road to college, career, and beyond. Read more about National School Bus Safety Week here. Thank you!!
October is full of celebrations and observances! Take a look at all we are celebrating across KIPP Texas:
- National Principal Appreciation Month
- LGBTQIA+ History Month
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Bullying Prevention Month
- Children’s Health Month
- Dyslexia Awareness Month
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- October 2 National Custodial Workers’ Recognition Day
- October 5 World Teachers Day
- October 10-14 National School Lunch Week
- October 17-21 National School Bus Safety Week
- October 6 National Coaches Day
- October 10 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- October 24 Diwali
- October 31 Halloween
Throughout October, we continue sharing our love for our school leaders during National Principal Appreciation Month.
Today, I want to highlight KIPP Austin Beacon Prep School Leader Robin Nguyen, a true rockstar! After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011, Robin started her educational career in New Orleans, where she taught 5th, 6th, and 7th-grade math, science, and social studies. Missing the Lonestar state, she decided to move back to Austin and was hired at KIPP Academy of Arts & Letters as a long-term sub before becoming a leadership fellow and later an assistant principal and a member of our Principal-in-Residence (PIR) program. She is now in her second year as the school leader at KIPP Austin Beacon Prep.
Robin is passionate about providing an equitable educational experience for ALL students, including high-quality academic instruction inside the classroom and access to various extracurricular and enrichment opportunities outside of the school. She leads and inspires her staff to empower students to break barriers. Please don’t take it from me; hear from Special Education Teacher Tee Torres in this National Principals’ Month Spotlight as she shares just how amazing Robin Nguyen is!
Let’s continue to show our love for our school leaders by sending your Little KIPPster’s school leader a note of appreciation.
KIPP Journey Collegiate School Leader Alison Cumbley and KIPP Journey Primary School Leader Ashley Monteil have had a great month so far by not only celebrating Principals’ Month but also the official opening of their newest building on the KIPP Journey campus!! The two schools are now united on the same campus and have added a brand new gym. The smiles and gleeful applauses during their ribbon-cutting ceremony brought me so much joy!
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Now that we have rested and returned from a long weekend let’s continue making dreams come true for our Little KIPPsters by promoting the benefits of coming to school every day. Our Little KIPPsters will learn and grow their minds and build a strong foundation for academic success through your support and guidance. Every day counts! Thank you for bringing your Little KIPPster to school and making every day an impactful day at KIPP Texas!
With gratitude,
Sehba Ali
CEO de KIPP Texas
