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KIPP Texas Families,
Welcome to May! Today is Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. To mark the occasion, I am partaking in the tradition of eating something sweet! I also can’t forget to mention that National School Principal’s Day was yesterday. I honor and celebrate our KIPP Texas school leaders’ commitment to our Little and Big KIPPsters. If you have not already done so and have some time today, send a school leader you admire a note of gratitude. 🙂
We have also officially entered the last month of the 2021-2022 school year, one of the busiest times of the year in PK-12 education. State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, also commonly known as STAAR testing, continues this week for our middle and high school KIPPsters, and I know our KIPPsters will shine because they are brilliant! Click here for a full testing schedule.
A good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast at school will set them up for success for STAAR. It is important to continue to Chase Excellence by attending class every day to ensure students are on track to learn and succeed.
This month is also the most celebratory season as our seniors graduate and take another step towards our promise – a path of their choosing, college, career, and beyond – and our other grade levels are promoted, some to middle school or high school for the first time. For our Class of 2022, college acceptances are rolling in and our seniors are making big decisions about their personal and educational journeys. Our Big KIPPsters support and guide our students through these life milestones. This May, we will celebrate both of our Little and Big KIPPsters for all they have accomplished Rising Together.
Celebrating our KIPP Texas Teachers
Our teachers are at the core of all we do at KIPP Texas; they are life-affirming and radiate the true meaning of Team and Family. As the first supporters of Little KIPPsters in the classroom, our teachers provide an academically excellent education in brave and belonging spaces where all identities are welcome, which is no easy feat. As a former middle school ELA teacher, I have the most profound appreciation for our EXCEPTIONAL KIPP Texas teachers.
When I say we have the best teachers in the state, maybe even the nation, I mean it! Take our Big KIPPster Meredith Dickson, a teacher at KIPP Prime College Preparatory in Houston, who leads with her heart to Championing Equity for all. She exemplifies our core value by making it her calling to support ALL Texas students. When Meredith heard about a Houston ISD and Teach for America teammate in need of books, she stepped up without hesitation to help. She rallied her community to donate more than 1,500 books to “Meredith’s Book Drive,” which many Houston area students will receive from the “book fairy.” Check out a news story featuring Meredith!
Meredith and all of our KIPP teachers inspire me as they reach within our walls and outside of our walls to lift up our children. Throughout Teacher Appreciation Week from Monday, May 2 to Friday, May 6, I want every teacher to feel loved, cared for, and valued. If you would like to give a shoutout and celebrate a KIPP Texas teacher, send a message to comms@kipptexas.org sharing why they are so amazing!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to our Big KIPPsters!
KIPP Texas High Schools ranked best in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report
Six of our KIPP Texas High Schools are ranked among the best in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report! More than 18,000 public high schools across the U.S. were ranked based on six factors: college readiness, math and reading proficiency, math and reading performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate. For KIPP Houston High School (HOU), KIPP Generations Collegiate (HOU), KIPP Northeast College Preparatory (HOU), KIPP Sunnyside High Schools (HOU), KIPP University Prep High School (SA), and KIPP Austin Collegiate (AUS) to be ranked among the top in the nation is an achievement we need to celebrate big time. Congratulations to our Big KIPPsters and brilliant Little KIPPsters who Chase Excellence! Learn more about U.S. News & World Report rankings here.
It’s Official! Rest and Renew and Bell Schedule Changes for the 2022-2023 School Year
We have heard the voices of Big KIPPsters and Little KIPPsters alike who enjoyed and needed this year’s Rest and Renew Days. We want to continue creating an environment that embraces mental health and balance for our Little and Big KIPPsters.
Our KIPP Texas Board members met on Tuesday, April 26, and voted to stamp our 2022-23 Academic Calendar, which includes Rest and Renew days for the 2022-2023 school year to allow KIPPsters to rest their body and mind, renew their mental health, and recharge for the days to come.
With the additional days off during the 2022-2023 school year to Rest and Renew, KIPP Texas will increase the Monday – Thursday schedule bell across all regions by 10 minutes. This will allow us the three rest and renew days for next year, which are: Monday, October 24, 2022, Friday, February 17, 2023, and Monday, April 10, 2023.
Each KIPP Texas region will communicate with families and staff regarding their school’s start and dismissal times for the upcoming school year as they will vary across the state.
COVID Updates
Each week we will share an update on where each of our KIPP region’s current levels stands according to the CDC Community Levels tool. As of 6 am on Monday, May 2, the levels are as follows:
Austin: LOW – Masks are strongly recommended but not required in KIPP schools or offices. Masks are still required in healthcare areas.
Dallas: LOW – Masks are strongly recommended but not required in KIPP schools or offices. Masks are still required in healthcare areas.
Houston: LOW – Masks are strongly recommended but not required in KIPP schools or offices. Masks are still required in healthcare areas.
San Antonio: LOW – Masks are strongly recommended but not required in KIPP schools or offices. Masks are still required in healthcare areas.
Please follow our Health & Safety Guidelines found here according to the level in your region.
If COVID-19 Community Levels change mid-week in counties where our schools are located, we will not change our Health & Safety Guidelines until the following week unless the update involves a high (orange) threat level. In this instance, we will share same-day communication with regional staff and families, and the appropriate KIPP Texas COVID Policies will go into effect immediately.
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We’re less than a month away from the last day of school in this year that has been unlike any other; let’s celebrate our Little and Big KIPPsters with love and joy and support them to the finish line! I have no doubt our KIPPsters will shine on STAAR (high school EOC’s and 8th grade start next week), APs, IB exams, and all of our end-of-year assessments!!
With gratitude,
Sehba Ali
