TEAM & Family Magazine—Newark—Spring 2023

FAMILY TEAM

SPRING 2023

HEARTBEAT HIGHLIGHTS HEARTBEAT HIGHLIGHTS

HIGH SCHOOL

SPOTLIGHT: THE JOURNEY TO COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS

HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT: THE JOURNEY TO COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS

Your Summer Reading Recs

Your Summer Reading Recs

Dear Families,

Over 6,000 students and their families are enrolled in our schools in Newark this year and we’re committed to seeing and cultivating each of their gifts throughout their academic journeys.

This edition features one central tenet of our guiding Heartbeat values: The belief that our students will change the world. Read on to discover how that heartbeat comes to life every day, both within and beyond the walls of our classrooms.

In this issue, you will find:

Summer Reading Tips. Head to page 7 to learn about favorite summer reading book recommendations from our community that will keep your child reading all summer!

Our High Schools in the Spotlight. From innovative new course offerings, to targeted career support, explore what our high schools have to offer on page 11.

World-changers. Whether they’re on the basketball court or in the classroom, our students learn valuable skills that will support them as they change their communities and the world. Head to page 13 to read ‘heartbeat highlights’ from each of our schools.

As we conclude our school year, it’s a joy to watch end-of-year events designed to celebrate the academic and personal growth for our students.

We are grateful as always for your unwavering support and involvement in your child's education and wish you and your family a relaxing and safe summer break.

Sincerely,

Drew Martin Executive Director, KIPP New Jersey

These individuals are just a few of the inspiring members of our school communities who go above and beyond to exemplify their school values, support other students and teammates, and have a positive impact on everybody they encounter.

KIPP TRUTH ACADEMY

ROXANNE ROSA goes above and beyond to support scholars who are English Language Learners. Aside from providing individualized support, she translates texts, and shares resources with families to continue learning at home. As a result, our scholars have made tremendous academic growth.

KIPP JUSTICE ACADEMY

YVETTE TOBIN is new to Justice this year and her work is having a positive impact on the entire Justice community. She ensures that all students receive intervention and support that they need, and supports every teacher by modeling excellence, even for those she does not coach.

KIPP NEWARK COLLEGIATE ACADEMY

NCA parent WISNIEWSKIE PARFAIT goes above and beyond to support the success of not only her daughter but also her daughter’s classmates. She donates items to community service drives, cooks meals for staff, and chaperones student events. Ms. Parfait offers feedback when she has ideas and attends family engagement activities, embodying NCA values of ‘Humanity, Excellence and Courage.’

KIPP RISE ACADEMY

Assistant school leader ABDOUL OUEDRAOGO embodies our Rise values, supporting teachers, students, families, and the community. He models what it means to be a leader and follows when necessary. He sees support as an opportunity to serve our students and their families.

KIPP

LIFE ACADEMY

PHILIP OYENIYI is a third-grade student-leader in the Life community. He lives out our values by helping his teachers and supporting his teammates. He has earned EVERY ‘Seeds of Excellence Breakfast’ recognizing exceptional attendance this year, has been a student of the month, and has also won an integrity award.

Wisniewskie Parfait KIPP NCA parent

Philip Oyeniyi KIPP Life Academy

KIPP PURPOSE ACADEMY

Having completing her Teacher in Residence program last year, English teacher TATIANAH DEMANDE is earning outstanding results this year as a lead teacher. She exemplifies Purpose’s values, uplifts teammates, and is the person whom staff can lean on when they’re having a tough day.

KIPP

From volunteering her time as a math tutor almost every Saturday morning, to supporting her teammates with implementing engaging and effective math curriculum, math teacher LAUREN COOKE supports every student on their journey to master content. Ms. Cooke is always willing to support her colleagues and families in any way possible.

KIPP NEWARK LAB HIGH SCHOOL

KIPP Forward senior counselor JACOLBY SUGGS works with students and families to help students prepare for life beyond Lab. His love for our students is tangible. When a parent couldn’t attend FAFSA night, Mr. Suggs worked with them over the phone and in-person to ensure the family completed the critical paperwork.

Dance teacher DEBORAH

OVALLES is a leader on the SPARK enrichment team. In her spare time, she makes costumes and set designs for any and every school production. Deborah also hosts fitness and wellness classes for staff members on Wednesdays. She is a jack of all trades and loved by everyone.

KIPP UPPER ROSEVILLE ACADEMY

Teacher DAWNE TARVER works incredibly hard on behalf of her students and their families every day. Continuing work she started during the pandemic, Ms. Tarver helps provide Hello Fresh meals to about 50 families on a rotating basis.

Kindergarten lead teacher JEVONNA TOWNES coordinated a gift drive for kindergarten and first-grade students so every student received a gift before the winter holidays. Mrs. Townes supports impactful family partnership projects throughout the year.

KIPP THRIVE ACADEMY

Paraprofessional MIA CLARK goes above and beyond to support THRIVE students! This holiday season, she gave wrapped gifts to every kindergarten and first-grade student during the holiday season.

Grade level chair and math teacher JUSTENE MILLER has created a culture of fun and competition across the fifth grade. Ms. Miller plans competitions every Friday morning like dance contests, silly games, and cheer-offs to get kids excited to come to school. She also invites families to join these events to help them feel connected to her grade-level community.

ELA teacher, grade leader, and basketball coach JOEZER ANTOINE wears many hats well at TEAM. His students have some of the highest ELA results in the school, and he brings together TEAM players with KIPP Lab HS athletes to foster connections with our high schools.

NEWARK

KIPP SPARK ACADEMY

KIPP SEEK ACADEMY

KIPP TEAM ACADEMY

KIPP BOLD ACADEMY

NEWARK COMMUNITY PREP

Dawne Tarver KIPP Upper Roseville Academy

Joezer Antoine KIPP TEAM Academy

CAMDEN

Behaviorist LINDEN REED has supported students since LSP’s second year of founding. She has supported countless teachers in reaching the students that need the most love and support, changing trajectories for so many students. Ms. Reed embodies a growth mindset about students and teachers and firmly believes that ALL students can reach their potential.

KIPP

Athletics Director NICK DRAGO works hard to create a robust athletics program for KHS students. He spends countless hours during weekends and before, during, and after school to ensure students have clean uniforms, teams to play against, and state-of-the-art facilities.

Though lower school assistant dean of students PAUL GAY works mostly with fifth and sixth grade students, there is not a student at LSM that does not view Mr. Paul as "their person." This year he launched a restorative class where he holds mediations and reflective conversations so scholars can learn after a difficult situation. The class provides a sacred time during the day for student growth.

KIPP

KIPP Hatch science teacher and science department leader RYAN WEAVER is committed to supporting science excellence and engagement for all of his students. As a top-performing science teacher, he prioritizes family communication, often calling or texting every family at least once per week. This year, he wrote a new science unit on force, energy, and motion that is being rolled out to all teachers.

Teacher (and KIPP NJ alum!) SASHAI ROBERTS has embraced Sumner’s approach to student learning, providing students with the feedback needed to own their learning. Her clear and concise ‘Criteria For Success’ steps have allowed students to know where to go and how to get there.

KIPP LANNING SQUARE PRIMARY

KIPP LANNING SQUARE MIDDLE

HIGH SCHOOL

HATCH MIDDLE

KIPP SUMNER ELEMENTARY

Sashai Roberts KIPP Sumner Elementary

Ryan Weaver KIPP Hatch Middle

Soaring into Summer Reading

Advice + Top Book Recs From Our Schools!

Summer is almost here, and you’re likely already thinking about how to keep your child engaged over the coming months. Reading is not only fun, but also offers benefits, including improving vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

To help you make the most out of summer reading, we're sharing this summer reading challenge checklist and reading recommendations from our staff below.

for elementary students

summer reading checklist challenge

We’re challenging our community to read, read, read this summer! Complete your reading challenge by checking off as many of these ten items as you can.

READ…



a book about a fantasy world



in the car or on a bus



a comic book

for middle school students

for high school students



a book that's also a movie

 outside

 to a pet or stuffed animal

 a book by flashlight



a book with a one-word title

 a science book  a book set in a different country

Want to share your child’s summer reading progress?

Post a photo of them reading this summer and use the hashtag #kippnjbookworm

Don’t forget to tag us! (@kippnj)

FROM QUIANA DRUMMOND // KIPP SPARK ACADEMY TEACHER

Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne My Weird School Series by Dan Gutman

Jigsaw Jones Mysteries Series by James Preller

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson Code Girls by Lisa Mundy

FROM CHARLES WARE // KIPP HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Wonder by RJ Palacio Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

FROM CRYSTAL PERALTA // ASSISTANT SCHOOL LEADER, KIPP HATCH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND KAREN BONNANO // ENGLISH TEACHER, KIPP LANNING SQUARE MIDDLE

Step Inside Art Class

WITH MR. B. AT KIPP THRIVE ACADEMY!

On a Tuesday in February, Anietie Udo-Bassey (who goes by ‘Mr. B’ with his students) greeted his third grade students as they entered his art classroom, encouraging quiet so he could start his lesson.

On the board was an abstract image of a face, with the prompt, “What does African pride mean to you?” Students were asked to reflect on the image and use it as a model to inspire their artwork that day. The day’s topic, planned as part of Black History Month, is close to Udo-Bassey’s heart.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Mr. B. has been teaching art for six years and earned a master's degree in Art Education at Kean University shortly after immigrating to the United States. “My intention was to be a medical doctor, that’s what my parents wanted. But during high school, I discovered a passion for drawing, and my teacher would always encourage me by having me draw for other students on the chalkboard,” said Mr. B. “I told my parents they should allow me to make art, because a teacher told me I had potential,” he added.

In art class at THRIVE, Mr. B’s students study the basics of how shape, color, and texture choices can be used to evoke meaning. His students often share with him art that they’ve created outside of class, and he displays it proudly on walls across the classroom. He views family involvement as an important aspect of cultivating his students' creativity and artistic talents.

“Parents came in for an exhibition we hosted and they saw their children’s art. As a result, some of them bought their children paint and drawing pads, and asked for lists of items they could get at home. It gives me so much encouragement when I see students have the support of their families at home,” he said.

THRIVE third grader Zy’Asia Gonzalez is an avid artist. “I really like Mr. B and making art. He teaches me to be creative and I like to take that home and make art there. I got a painting kit for Christmas and I even sell art to my family sometimes. So far, painting is my favorite type of art form,” said Gonzalez.

Even if students don’t make a career of art, Mr. B knows that the lessons they learn in his classroom will serve them well as they define who they are and go onto worldchanging careers.

“A lot of my students tell me they want to be artists, and I encourage them, but also tell them they can do whatever they want as a career and continue to be artists, you can be a doctor and still paint,” he said.

Mr. B.’s primary goal is for his students to apply the skills they learn to their lives. “Through art, you can learn to be disciplined, patient, self-controlled. They can apply these behaviors when times are tough and they need to calm themselves down. So I do that with them. I love doing it and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said.

I WantART ToBe JOY FU L

Third grader Zy’Asia Gonzalez works on creating a painting in Udo-Bassey's class in February. Students painted faces in February, in preparation for painting self-portraits in a later unit.

Mr. B. helps a student think about which colors to use in her painting.

Mr. B. proudly displays student artwork in class, including work his students created at home. He encourages them to incorporate strong lines, bold colors and textures to make their artwork stand out when displayed.

THEIR FUTURES DISCOVER NG

EQUIPPING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS

Across KIPP New Jersey’s three high schools, our students’ journeys towards discovering their career and college pathways are supported by a range of resources that offer students the skills they need to achieve their goals.

From dual enrollment programs that allow seniors to earn college credits, to personalized college and career guidance, here’s how our high school programming is supporting the next generation of world-changers.

A COLLEGE JUMPSTART:

DUAL ENROLLMENT AT KIPP HIGH SCHOOLS

Dual enrollment programs provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit and gain valuable experience tackling college-level coursework while still in high school.

This year, fifty students at KIPP Newark Lab High School and KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy enrolled in ‘Poetry in America,’ a class offered by Arizona State University (ASU), which provided college credits to students who successfully completed the course. Next year, KIPP High School in Camden will offer dual enrollment opportunities to its founding senior class.

Lab English teacher Toi McRae encouraged her students to enroll in the course, and it was a resounding success. Ninety percent of her students passed and earned college credits. “Students shouldn’t pass up dual enrollment opportunities. They can get a jump start on earning college credits, which saves you money down the line,” said McRae.

Senior Calvin Mitchell-Clark was a standout in the class, placing in the top 5% of all students who enrolled in the course nationally. "Taking the dual enrollment class through ASU was such an eye-opener," said Mitchell-Clark. "When I started, I knew it would be a challenge, but it helped push me to find meaning in every word I read. I’ve been able to apply that knowledge in English class. Plus, as someone who enjoys songwriting, the course helped me think about how I can create lyrics that tell a powerful story."

EXAMINING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE.

This school year, students at all three KIPP New Jersey high schools

We want students to learn about structural racism, but also how people have fought against that effectively by using their resources to create change.

ARMONI

FOSTER

History

Teacher, KIPP NCA

Lab English Teacher Toi McCrae supports dual enrollment classes for her students.

KIPP NCA teacher Armoni Foster (right) with NCA student Jacob Cassey (left)

were required to take a new course, “African American and Latinx History of the United States.” Exploring everything from the United States’ role in the Cuban Revolution, to post-Civil War Reconstruction, the class offers a unique lens on the diasporas and policies that have shaped the United States and counts towards the U.S History graduation requirement.

“Our goal as we designed the course was to offer a perspective on U.S history that centers the history of Black and Latinx people and movements, while also offering a rigorous, AP-level course that will prepare them for college,” said Ashley Blount, KIPP New Jersey’s Director of Teaching and Learning who helped design the course.

At KIPP NCA, history teacher Armoni Foster is bringing that curriculum to life for the first time this year. A Duke University and KIPP NCA and Rise Academy alumna, Foster believes the curriculum offers students an important view of U.S History.

“I’m Afro-Latina, and being able to teach Black and Latinx history is really meaningful to me and also reflective of our student body,” said Foster. “We start by covering colonization and imperialism, and then pivot to examining how US politics intersected with revolutionary movements

MEET OUR ALUMNI IN CAMDEN

Jha’kira Brown

KIPP Lanning Square Middle alumna

Jha’kira Brown entered the workforce after graduating from high school in Willingboro, New Jersey, following her dream to join the medical field. Today, she works with adults who are mentally disabled in a group home setting, supporting residents with everything from administering medication, to taking them on trips to local attractions. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to help people. I’m a people person. My mom was my inspiration, and today we are co-workers,” said Brown.

She added that KIPP Forward counselors Kate Esposito and Kris Smith were instrumental in supporting her trajectory. “High school could be hard for me, but Ms. Esposito would always ask me what I needed to succeed,” said Brown. After graduation from high school, Brown was impressed with their personalized approach to support. “It wasn’t just email check-ins, we had monthly or weekly meetings, and I knew they really cared,” she said.

Today, Brown’s longer term plan is to attend nursing school, which her current employer will pay for after two years of work. Short-term? She’s recently purchased a car and is currently apartment hunting!

KIPP Lab student, Calvin MitchellClark was a standout in his dual enrollment course.

across the globe. We want students to learn about structural racism, but also how people have fought against that effectively by using their resources to create change.”

For freshmen Jacob Cassey, the course stands out in comparison to his middle school history classes. “I like how it includes such a diverse history, where we’re studying everything from the Monroe Doctrine to South American independence movements,” said Cassey. As a Haitian-American, Cassey was particularly engaged by class discussions about the Haitian Revolution against French colonialism.

After its launch this school year, Blount says the course will be mandatory for all KIPP NJ high school freshmen starting during the 2023-24 school year.

LOOKING AHEAD WITH KIPP FORWARD IN CAMDEN

KIPP High School in Camden will graduate its founding class in 2024, but KIPP Forward counselors like Paige Portner have been working alongside students from day one as they identify their career goals and college aspirations.

“Last year, I launched a career series for our ninth graders, which focused on bringing in speakers from different fields like technology and healthcare to help students understand what career options are available to them,” said Portner.

Community partnerships have played a key role in helping students identify their career interests. This year, the American Training Center brought in an EKG machine for students to use as they explored careers in healthcare. Hopeworks, a career placement organization, has also visited KHS to offer students opportunities to code and learn more about careers in technology.

MEET OUR ALUMNI IN NEWARK

Kamil Vickers

KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy Class of 2019 alumnus Kamil Vickers is making an impact as a senior at Villanova University.

Vickers has demonstrated a knack for impact already. At Villanova, he serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Student Government Association. “That experience has helped me learn how to facilitate dialogue between people who are coming to the table with different backgrounds and really bridge the gap for our minority students,” said Vickers, who will graduate this spring with a major in political science and a minor in Japanese.

This February, Vickers earned an invitation from the White House—Vice President Kamala Harris asked if he would join a group of young people for a conversation about mental health and the Black community.

A recent partnership with Cooper Hospital has introduced students like Yeslian Nieves to the healthcare field. Every Wednesday, Nieves heads to Cooper Hospital for five hours in the afternoon to visit with elderly patients, support patient transport, and organize medical supplies. “I hope to become a nurse or a therapist, and this program has helped me get my foot in the door and steer me towards healthcare,” said Nieves, whose goal is to attend the University of Pennsylvania, a school she visited last year with KHS and loved.

KIPP Forward Director Kenny Reyes says KHS is constantly seeking to expand opportunities for students. “Next year, we’re offering opportunities for students to dual enroll in career technical programs with Camden Community College, and there’s many new partnerships in the pipeline,” said Reyes. “We know our families really care that students find a pathway that leads to a strong career, and we’re here to provide that support to every student,” he added.

"To be invited to the White House was the most incredible moment of my life so far. V.P. Harris gave us the opportunity to come to the table and discuss how we can all improve mental health in our communities. It was inspiring to see the work being performed at the federal level," said Vickers.

Vickers’ KIPP Forward counselor is Freddie Santana, and the two met up this winter to watch their respective college teams play football at Villanova. (Santana is an alumnus of the College of the Holy Cross.) "Having someone from KIPP in my corner has been really reassuring, " said Vickers, whose longterm goal is to support youth, particularly those in communities like his home city of Newark.

KIPP Forward counselor Paige Portner (left) with KIPP Forward director Kenny Reyes (right)

HEARTBEAT HIGHLIGHTS

One of the central tenets of our ‘Heartbeat,’ the core values that KIPP New Jersey lives by, is that our community shares a deep belief that our students will change the world.

To that end, we support students as they set ambitious goals for their lives and believe that every student who walks through our doors has the potential or outstanding achievement.

Whether they’re demonstrating their leadership ability on the soccer field or their algebra skills in the classroom, our students are gaining the skills and confidence they need to pursue any path that leads to their highest aspirations. Featured here are the students and teammates who bring our heartbeat to life every day.

“Lifting Every Voice” at KIPP Life Academy

According to Life School Leader Charlene Dixon, teacher Niara Sutton has been instrumental in making the school a great place to teach and learn for the past six years. This year, Sutton created an opportunity for students to demonstrate their reading and speaking skills during Black History Month by launching a school news channel where students teach their peers about Black history via a morning announcement video on YouTube. The initiative continued into March and will likely become a Life tradition.

“We wanted students to be able to learn about not only historic Black icons, but also current celebrities like Lebron James or Beyoncé, in order to make that legacy more tangible for our students,” said Sutton, who added that another goal of the program was to help both more confident and more introverted students find their voice. Fourth grader Donnell-Melody Redding was one of the students who presented. “At first, speaking out loud in front of everyone made me nervous, but as soon as I started speaking more, I got more confident,” said Redding.

Developing Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders at KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy

For over a decade, Harold Brown, Chair of NCA’s Department of the Creative Arts, Innovation, Technology & Engineering (CITE), has sparked curiosity in students through lessons in everything from robotics competitions to cybersecurity. This year, his students tackled the challenges of building and coding small and large robots as well as learning cryptography to crack ciphers while learning cybersecurity. Next year, NCA will partner with the City of Newark to launch Tech Academy. Located across the street from NCA, the Tech Academy will offer students hands-on experiences with everything from coding to building servers and fixing hardware. “This new partnership will give students experience in learning different aspects of coding and computing. We want them to be confident in their abilities to have a voice in any room they walk into as adults,” said Brown. “The way these students will change the world is by being at the forefront of the technology industry. I want our students to be in the room when the next best thing is created.”

Music Class With Mr. McKay in Camden

Visitors to KIPP Lanning Square Primary probably don’t need a classroom number to find Kyle McKay’s music class. Instead they’ll hear the drumbeats echoing from the hallway. “When I was a kid, music was my favorite thing, and I used to get in trouble all the time for tapping on my desk,” said McKay. “But my music teachers always supported me. As a drummer in my high school marching band, I realized how much I enjoyed teaching my classmates who struggled.”

Today, McKay inspires the next generation of musicians in his classes to find joy through music. He hopes his students remember highlights from his classroom like the “Walk of Confidence” he hosts at the end of his classes, where students can show off their dance moves and rhythm. “I want my students to learn how to do things even when they’re hard, to develop muscle memory, and to be mindful and present in everything they do in life,” said McKay.

Influential Women at KIPP Justice Academy

On March 31st, KIPP Justice Academy celebrated their second annual Influential Women’s Day, bringing together a panel of women from diverse professional backgrounds with the goal of offering students a window into career choices. March is Women’s History Month, so the event, organized by assistant school leader Yundeh Fisher, celebrated women in traditionally male-dominated careers. Justice welcomed panelists such as the City of Orange’s West Ward Councilwoman Quantavia Hilbert, Nicole Sunwabe (the first female Dean at KIPP TEAM Academy), entrepreneurs, and police officers. Speakers shared their experiences as women of color breaking barriers in their professional lives.

As a Newark resident, Fisher knows the importance of positive role models and advocates as young women and young men define their own career paths. “When you come from Newark, you deal with negative commentary and statistics. For our gentlemen, we encourage them to expand their career horizons and do whatever they put their minds to, be it a nurse, teacher, or artist. Our kids can literally change the world,” she said.

Did You Hear the Buzz at KIPP Newark Community Prep?

When English teacher Georgeann Stewart started hosting KIPP NCP’s Spelling Bee last year, she didn’t anticipate the level of investment her school would demonstrate in the competition. But soon after the ‘Bee’ was announced, everyone from the school nurse to students was all-in on spelling.

“At first, it was an opportunity to encourage literacy in small moments. It gave students a chance to be seen in a new light. Some scholars with behavioral challenges or who had anxiety were top spellers in their homerooms, and staff supported them as they faced their fears of public spelling,” said Stewart.

The best part of the Spelling Bee? It’s student-led. From creating flyers to hosting practice rounds to reminding parents of competition dates, students lead the charge while developing leadership and planning skills they’ll carry into the future. Stay tuned on social media (@kippnj) to learn the winners of this year’s spelling bee, planned for May!

Spreading a Love for Reading With "Book Arks" Across Camden

A group of KIPP High School students teamed up with local partners to spread a love of reading in their community this year. Working with Tom Martin of The Free Books Project and Larry Abrams of BookSmiles, students painted and distributed threeshelf libraries called Book Arks to neighborhoods throughout Camden.

Junior Eniyah Boyd helped lead the project. “I really enjoy reading, and it’s important to me that my community has access to books. A lot of people in Camden don’t have access to libraries, and the Book Arks will allow them to discover their love of reading.”

Boyd and her classmates used their artistic skills to paint the little libraries, each one representing a different time of day. “Art brings joy to communities, and I believe aesthetics make a difference in how happy people are in their communities,” said Boyd, who hopes to become an illustrator in the future.

Basketball Champions at KIPP Hatch Middle

The persistence of KIPP Hatch Middle boys basketball players paid off this year; the team won the Camden City Basketball Championship. Coach Shakoor Woodson said the season was full of lessons in hard work and skill development. “This has been the best coaching job in the last six years. I watched this team improve in so many ways over the season, from becoming better players and developing sportsmanship to being better young men off the court as well,” said Woodson, who added that KIPP Lanning Square Middle’s team played an excellent championship game against Hatch.

Hatch eighth grader and student-athlete Kyle Scott was named the Most Valuable Player. “I improved my overall game. Rebounding and playing defense are what I worked on the most this season. But I’ve also developed as a person, I’m more disciplined and I’m starting to take my schoolwork more seriously,” said Scott, whose ‘plan A’ is to be an NBA player and ‘plan B’ is to start his own business.

Checkmate! Students Gain New Skills Through KIPP RISE Academy Chess Club

When KIPP Rise Academy dean Rashawn Ricks launched a new chess program in January, many of his students had never played the game before. “Our first few classes involved reviewing all of the pieces, their strengths, weaknesses, and how they move across the board,” said Ricks. Today, the club is thriving, having grown from 15 to 26 members.

One of those members is fifth-grader Shemaiah "JJ" Jackson. “I had taken a chess class before, so I knew how to play. I really enjoy being part of the chess club and also helping my friends learn how to play,” said Jackson. Ricks’ vision for the program is to teach students problem-solving, patience, strategy, and creative thinking through chess. “In chess and in life, when we're faced with challenges, we have to think ahead, be patient, and not rush our decisions,” said Ricks.

Movement Meets Math at KIPP Upper Roseville Academy

When Rilwan Adeniran offers his students free time in class, many of them huddle to start answering math facts at lightning speed, attempting to beat their classmates in speed and accuracy. As a track coach and a teacher at KURA, Adeniran says that’s the kind of intrinsic motivation he hopes his students will demonstrate throughout their lives. “I want my kids to be a part of the lesson. When we learn about equivalent fractions, I have them move around physically on a number line, so they can see why 2/4ths is equivalent to 4/8ths. My goal is to make math feel applicable,” said Adeniran.

Infusing his classes with real-life examples, competitions, and the occasional ‘secret’ (he closes the door to preview fourthgrade math with his third graders!), Adeniran strives to be a role model for what it means to love math unapologetically. “I call myself the ‘Master of Math' with my students,” said Adeniran. “I think it’s important for them to see someone who looks like them showing their love for math. That’s what I want them to take away from my class,” he added.

I want my students to learn how to do things even when they’re hard, to develop muscle memory, and to be mindful and present in everything they do in life.

KYLE MCKAY Music Teacher

KIPP Lanning Square Primary

Sound Waves and Family Trees: Step Inside Science With Ms. Bethea

KIPP Truth Academy science teacher Gia Bethea’s classroom is full of hands-on activities and interactive group work. Bethea’s approach to science learning is inclusive and engaging. “Fourth grade learned about inheritance and traits, so scholars created a family tree. It was interesting for students to share more about their families, students were really engaged through that assignment,” said Bethea. Second-grade students explored patterns of night and day, which gave them opportunities to create graphs, draw pictures, and explain their hypotheses, while first grade observed how sound waves moved by studying the vibration of cups through rubber bands.

Bethea’s young scientists can show their knowledge through drawing, reading, and describing observations. Her goal is that students apply these skills as they learn to think through problems and develop persistence in the face of challenges. “Giving elementary school students the opportunity to engage in group work and critical thinking will prepare them for academic success in the years to come,” she said.

Joyful Reading at KIPP Sumner

Enter Sakia Crawford’s classroom, and you’ll find students hanging on her every word during her daily read alouds. But Crawford knows that reading skills must be nurtured outside the classroom, too. As the school’s Culture of Achievement Coordinator, she is always finding ways to celebrate students' growth and success.

During Sumner’s winter break, she pushed for students to participate in a reading contest and was sure to shout out and highlight the students who participated and excelled. “I believe reading is the cornerstone for education and academic success. Cultivating a love for reading shapes the way children see the world and those around them. Creating a winter reading challenge at Sumner invited scholars and families to share priceless moments of bonding, learning, and competition,” said Crawford.

“Character First” on the Court at KIPP Lab

The KIPP Newark Lab High School girls' basketball team may only be in its second season on the court, but already the team is making waves: This year, they went 13-1 in their conference, winning the Freedom Division Championship and ending their season in the quarter-finals of the NJ State basketball tournament. According to Lab principal Danielle Burroughs, “Coach Ariel Smith worked so hard to develop players not only as athletes, but also as young ladies.”

Coach Smith pointed to not only her player’s development on the court but in the classroom as well. “Heading into the season, we rounded up our GPA requirement for eligibility, and our players really stepped up to meet that challenge as student-athletes,” she said. “Our motto is ‘character first,’ and this year so many players embodied that, demonstrating discipline, keeping their cool in tense situations, and having break-out seasons.”

Lights, Camera, Purpose!

A new community partnership at KIPP Purpose Academy is helping students cultivate their creativity. This year, with support from a generous KIPP NJ Board member, students partnered with Montclair Film. They worked with two of their filmmakers to come up with a storyline and storyboard that they then filmed and edited to create a short movie. Montclair Film’s Axel Ortiz and Ross Stearn started the semester by showing the students examples of different types of films, highlighting different angles and techniques, and

Cultivating a love for reading shapes the way children see the world and those around them.

—SAKIA CRAWFORD

Next-Level ELA Learning at KIPP BOLD Academy

BOLD ELA teacher Megan Schenauer has taken literacy to the next level for her eighthgraders by ensuring that students learn the importance of test-taking strategies and critical thinking they need to succeed in high school. “Last quarter, students debated whether Claudette Colvin should have received more recognition for staying seated on the bus months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Strong arguments were built on both sides with counter-arguments, and students had prepared reasons and supporting evidence,” said Schenauer.

Schenauer, along with all ELA educators at BOLD, focus on strategies that help students identify and apply standards-aligned skills. Why? “Students need to have the confidence to do hard things. When faced with obstacles, academic or real-world, they need coping strategies and skills that will help them walk with their heads up high so they can move forward in their journey,” said Schenauer.

sharing the effects these angles and shorts have on an audience. Students then acted, directed, and produced a short film.

Director of School Operations Lauren D’Angelo helped to coordinate the program. “Film is a vessel for people to get messages across, and our students have a lot to say. Our partnership with Montclair Film makes students feel that film and production is achievable and attainable for them. Through this opportunity, student voices are heard, and they are able to experience the intricacies of film production, gaining skills that will open up doors for them in the future,” said D’Angelo.

“Math is Life” in Mr. Shiver and Mr. Collins' Classroom

At KIPP Lanning Square Middle, teachers Rahim Shiver and Christopher Collins are making math come alive for their students by sharing their love for problem-solving (and some corny jokes!). “Growing up, math and history were my favorite subjects. I loved to find different ways to arrive at a solution,” said Shiver.

Their approach has made math more enjoyable for students like Rayanna Torres. “Math challenges my brain. But Mr. Shiver is always there to support me—and make jokes. He pushes me to try my best, and I can apply math to things like helping me spend my birthday money,” said Torres.

“So much of the math we teach is applicable to life. We teach everything from card playing and probability to calculating interest on loans and down payments,” said Collins. “These are practical skills we want our students to carry forward from our classroom, and making math feel applicable and engaging is really important to us as educators,” he added.

‘Lifting Queens’ at KIPP SPARK Academy

Every Tuesday, a dozen KIPP SPARK Academy girls gather after school with Assistant School Leader Inayah Williams. Their goal? To learn how to use their voices effectively, build relationships with one another, and practice teamwork. The ‘Lift a Queen’ group began in 2019, when Williams recognized a need to support second through fourth grade girls in building their social skills and confidence. “It’s so important at this age that girls learn to build healthy peer relationships and have a safe space to encourage one another,” said Williams.

Each club meeting has a different topic like identifying emotions or navigating conflict within friendships. A ‘word of the day’ offers a prompt for conversation. Afterwards, physical activity is incorporated. A recent meeting saw the girls working together to move a hula hoop around a circle, hand-in-hand. “These skills will impact their future. Whether they’re having a difficult conversation with a coworker or leading a meeting, I want them to be able to express themselves, hear other opinions, and continually grow,” said Williams.

Sportsmanship and Soccer at KIPP TEAM Academy

TEAM English teacher and seventh-grade team leader Gaetan Bondoa is making strides to increase student leadership through soccer. Bondoa and assistant coach Stefon Bowman lead the school's soccer team. “Our vision for the soccer program is that students who may not be seen as leaders in the classroom have a space to develop those skills in a different setting,” said Bondoa, who shouted out players like Mohammed, Sean, Aminah, and Shakhi for their development during the past school year.

Bondoa’s vision is that students leave their soccer season knowing they can achieve anything they set their minds to through persistence and teamwork. “I want them to carry forward the lesson that even when you work hard in life, sometimes you have to be able to withstand failure. But failure can mean you’re getting closer to your ultimate goal,” said Bondoa.

“Going Beyond Z:” Celebrating Literacy and Community at KIPP THRIVE

This January, KIPP THRIVE Academy’s ‘Literacy Night’ demonstrated what happens when schools partner with families to help every child fall in love with reading. Assistant Principal of English Language Arts, Naquana Haynes helped organize the evening, where families, students, and staff came together for dinner and reading workshops. Families walked away with literacy resources to support their children at home.

“Reading unlocks the door to many opportunities for our students. Literacy Night encouraged families to discuss reading habits in order to build community and create a growing space for young readers,” said Haynes. This year, THRIVE also initiated a challenge that offered students incentives for meeting their reading growth goals. In small reading groups, teachers celebrate students as they progress through their F&P reading levels (A-Z). “If we make literacy knowledge accessible for our kids and families over time, we can foster student independence, a love of reading, and prepare students for reading level Z and beyond!” said Haynes.

Building Character and Camaraderie Through Game Club

There’s a new club in town at KIPP Seek Academy, and scoring an invite isn’t easy. When it launched this school year, Seek’s after-school Game Club received more than 40 applications to join, and ten students were selected to participate. The criteria? Scholars had to answer two questions that spoke to their character and why they valued game play.

According to music teacher ‘Music Makil,’ who leads the program, “Game Club is a space where students can come together and learn about important aspects of competition like failure, camaraderie, and sportsmanship.” Students play a variety of board games and card games—and sometimes the competition gets heated. But under the guidance of Makil, they learn the importance of coping with loss and the nature of friendly rivalry. “My goal is to help students learn valuable strategy and conflict resolution skills that they can carry with them as future leaders in their communities,” said Makil.

I want them to carry forward the lesson that sometimes, even when you work hard in life, you have to be able to withstand failure. But when you fail at something, it means you’re getting closer to your ultimate goal.

GAETAN BONDOA

English Teacher + Soccer Coach KIPP TEAM Academy

EMPLOYMENT

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