TEAM & Family Magazine—Newark—Fall 2021

TEAM

FAMILY FA L L 2 0 2 1

A Year of Transition SUPPORTING SOCIAL + EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

The Journey to

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Race, Equity, Inclusion, and Our Heartbeat

Snapshots from the first day of school!

A MAGAZINE BY AND FOR THE KIPP NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY

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C EL EBRATI NG 2 0 YE ARS I N NJ !

KIPP NJ founder and CEO, Ryan Hill, with KIPP TEAM Academy founding 5th graders in 2002.

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Dear KIPP Newark Families,

to the fall edition of TEAM and Family Magazine! After an incredibly difficult year for so many, we were thrilled to welcome our students back to our classrooms in-person this August. As always, we are grateful for your partnership with our schools as we continue to prioritize the safety of our community.

This year we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of KIPP New Jersey’s first school year.

Currently, we have nearly 8,000 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12th grade in 18 schools across Newark and Camden and over 1,700 alumni, dozens of whom work in our organization today! We’ve come a long way since opening our doors to 80 fifth graders in 2002 in Newark’s South Ward yet our core belief in the power of our students and communities remains the same.

Another reason for celebration is the opening of three new schools in Newark; KIPP Truth Academy, KIPP Purpose Academy, and KIPP Justice Academy. We can’t wait to grow these new school communities in partnership with families.

We hope you enjoy this edition of TEAM and Family Magazine, which attempts to capture this moment in our school communities and elevate the voices of our students, families, and staff. In this issue, you will find:

in this issue LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 03 SCHOOL UPDATES 04 SNAPSHOTS FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 06 6 TIPS TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING THIS YEAR 08 KIPP FORWARD 10 A YEAR OF TRANSITION 11 THE JOURNEY TO 100% 14 BACK IN THE GAME 18 STUDENT WRITING 20 FAMILY RESOURCES + CALENDAR 22

Award-Winning Student Writing.

We’ve featured the work of one student author who won our annual Writing Contest. Check out his powerful work on page 20.

Prioritizing Mental Wellbeing.

In-person learning will be an adjustment for our students and their families. Our social workers offer their tips for supporting your family’s mental health on page 11.

Race, Equity and Inclusion.

Our organization remains committed to our core values of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and staff.

Learn more about this evolving work on page 14.

As we go through this school year together, I look forward to getting your feedback and working in partnership with our Newark families to ensure every child receives an education that supports their journey to college, career and a choice-filled life.

Take care, Drew Martin Executive Director, KIPP New Jersey

TEAM & FAMILY CONTRIBUTORS A special thank you to the KIPP parents, families, teachers, and staff for partnering with us and contributing to this issue.

RESOURCES Visit kippnj.org/school-resources for student handbooks and more information about your child’s school.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? marketing@kippnj.org ABOUT KIPP NJ The mission of KIPP New Jersey is to create a network of schools in Camden and Newark, New Jersey, that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in college, in order to change the world.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL!

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KIPP NEWARK COLLEGIATE ACADEMY

KIPP TRUTH ACADEMY

Our PantherTOWN is up and running with a focus on strong academics and extracurricular activities, adding an activity block to the end of our school day which will give students a space to meet for clubs, athletics, and other extracurricular activities.

KIPP NEWARK COMMUNITY PREP

KIPP Truth Academy hit the ground running during our founding year! We enjoyed our family orientations, back-to-school nights, Father Figure Day and celebrating LatinX Heritage Month!

KIPP PURPOSE ACADEMY KIPP Purpose Academy opened its doors for the first time this August! In addition to rich and fulfilling academic courses, we’re excited to offer choice elective activities from three Newark-based non-profits; dance with Alvin Ailey, glassblowing with GlassWorks, and spoken word with Urban Word.

KIPP Newark Community Prep is looking forward to launching our Student Government and Extracurriculars Programs.

KIPP UPPER ROSEVILLE ACADEMY KIPP RISE ACADEMY

KIPP Upper Roseville Academy loved welcoming all our students this year, new and returning!

We hosted our back-to-school night and implemented our family-focused events every Friday in September. We also celebrated Latinx Heritage Month with a parade!

KIPP Rise Academy is thrilled to be back in the building with students and engaging in extended learning opportunites such as flag football and cross country running. Additionally. we are excited to offer students Physical Education, Performing Arts, Financial Literacy, and Human Development this year!

KIPP NEWARK LAB HIGH SCHOOL I-28

KIPP Newark Lab High School loved welcoming students back to in-person learning as we started a new school year! We are ready to support students’ academic and personal growth this year.

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KIPP Life Academy is committed to ensuring that our scholars, family, and staff are empowered partners. Listening to their voices, we have added science as a core subject, created additional opportunities for art instruction, adopted a new social emotional learning curriculum, and begun several new community initiatives including our Community Closet.

As we are learning in our brand new space at Maple Avenue, we will be enjoying our favorite annual events: Dad’s Bring Your Scholars to School Day, Fall Festival and Picture Me Tomorrow Day!

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KIPP SPARK ACADEMY KIPP TEAM ACADEMY KIPP TEAM Academy is so excited to welcome back the members of the Wolfpack for another school year!

We will launch a Financial Literacy curriculum with 7th and 8th grade students as part of our regularly offered co-curricular courses of Physical Education, Dance, Drama, and Character Education.

KIPP BOLD ACADEMY KIPP BOLD Academy is back in the building! We are launching after school clubs — students recently attended our first ever After School Club Fair to learn more about all clubs being offered.

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KIPP Justice Academy is thrilled to welcome students for our founding school year. We’re offering a robust education that features a daily advisory period that will allow students to converse with peers, set and celebrate goals, engage in social-emotional lessons, and talk with professionals about their field of interest.

KIPP SPARK Academy’s school focus this year is #WINNING which is an acronym for the phrase “We Intentionally Navigate Necessary Intervention Needs & Gaps.” This school year we are all about focusing on and celebrating student growth (big & small) so that we can ensure that our scholars have an academic experience that is tailored to their specific needs!

KIPP THRIVE ACADEMY KIPP THRIVE Academy loved welcoming back all our students this year! We enjoyed our virtual orientations and back-to-school nights, and celebrating ‘Dads Take Your Child to School Day,’ and LatinX Heritage Month.

L O O H SC S E T A D P U KIPP LANNING SQUARE PRIMARY

KIPP Lanning Square Primary’s school priority this year is, “Our Kids Will Run to School Again.” This year, we’ll be working to rebuild our school community’s sense of belonging and, as always, we’ll be celebrating ourselves, others, and learning.

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KIPP LANNING SQUARE MIDDLE KIPP Lanning Square Middle is springing back into revolutionary action. We are prioritizing H.OT. Classrooms! “What are H.O.T. Classrooms?”

Our classrooms: H: Honor our scholars’ cultures, experiences and unique individual qualities.

O: Offer opportunities to highlight scholars’ excellence inside and outside of the classroom.

T: Trusting relationships built from a culture of care that puts scholars’ needs over adult comfort.

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KIPP Whittier is adding new enrichment classes to our curriculum this year.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in Art and Performing Arts, as well as continuing our Physical Education program! We are also excited to be able to offer extended learning programs again this school year.

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KIPP HIGH SCHOOL KIPP Cooper Norcross High School has opened our doors to all kids for the first time ever! We are continuing to build community standing on the foundation of Ubuntu, “I am who I am because of who we are,” laid last year. This fall we doubled in size and continue to build on that community through Ubuntu groupings, Titans sports such as football, volleyball, soccer, and basketball, and an activity block for built in extra-curriculars. We engage. We belong. We thrive, together.

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Founding KIPP Purpose Academy fifth grader Christophe Afenutsu stands outside his new school on August 19th, 2021

KIPP Truth Academy student Esadiel Camacho listens carefully to a fellow student on August 19th, 2021.

Reunited!

Snapshots From Day One of the School Year Heading back to school is always special, but this year, with so many students returning to in-person learning for the first time in over a year, it was that much sweeter. We hope you enjoy these moments of joy!

Mom Lorine Ombele and daughter Eliza recently moved to Newark from Atlanta, Georgia. Welcome to Newark and KIPP Justice Academy, Eliza and Lorine!

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KIPP Seek Academy first grader Foutoumata Bah gets dropped off by father Mohamad Bah on the first day of school.

KIPP Life Academy students Madison Davis (left) and Djelysira Diabate (right) head into school on day one!

KIPP Justice Academy School Leader Sharae Lewis-Griffith greets students on the school’s founding day for students, August 19th, 2021.

KIPP Upper Roseville Academy student Empress Hall and mom Nikki Hall pose with School Leader Sam Chery-Gefrrard.

KIPP BOLD Academy fifth grader Mya Jones and mom Chantee Jones. Mya was especially excited to see friends and start math class!

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RETURN ING TO T H E C L A SS RO O M:

6 Tips to Support Student Learning This Year This August, we welcomed back all of our students to in-person learning following a school year that presented so many challenges for our families, communities, and schools. Our school staff is committed to making this year one that’s filled with learning and social reconnection for our students.

That’s why we asked several of our teammates from Camden and Newark to offer their best tips on how to support your child’s education in math and English Language Learning (ELA) as we transition back to in-person learning.

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Communicate with teachers early and often.

Transitioning into a new school year means that scholars and parents will be interacting with new teachers. Your child’s teacher will know your scholar’s strengths and growth areas and is a great resource when it comes to recommending supplemental practice materials. KIPP THRIVE Academy teacher Ashley Salter recommends communicating with teachers early on in the year and continuing to check-in throughout. “I notice parents think teachers are busy, and that’s true, but we still encourage them to check in through email, text, or Class Dojo—the more communication, the better!” said Salter.

KIPP Lanning Square Primary Learning Specialist Amanda Ruffner echoes the importance of family-teacher dialogue.”If a parent has concerns about students at home, they can reach out to ask us what we might be noticing in the classroom.

That way, we can work together to develop a plan,” said Ruffner.

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Engage in real-world math.

Learning doesn’t have to happen only when your scholar is at school. There are many opportunities for your child to learn from everyday life. Ruffner thinks it’s important to make math familiar to students. “For Kindergarten, we’re big on number

identification, so play games like ‘I Spy’ at the grocery store when you see a number, or solve simple addition problems like ‘how many apples do I have?’” she said.

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Make learning a family affair.

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Spark curiosity for science.

Ruffner also recommends leveraging the competitive spirit of students’ siblings or other family members to support learning through flashcards or mini quizzes for math learning. When it comes to ELA learning, do adults in the family read the news regularly? If so, KIPP Newark Community Prep Assistant School Leader Tanisha Marchan recommends integrating the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When, Why) into student learning as family members read news articles. “The website Newsela. org is a great resource for helping students answer those questions as they read, which helps build strong reading comprehension,” said Marchan.

KIPP Whittier Middle science teacher Ryan Weaver recommends students

English Language Arts

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E P I C B O O KS (GETEPIC .CO M) A digital reading platform featuring 40,000+ high-quality books that builds reading confidence for students 12 and under.

QUI LL Grades 5-12, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Provides free writing and grammar activities for middle and high school students.

CO M M O NL I T.O RG A digital reading platform for middle and high schools students with a wide library of text genres and topics for individual exploration and practice.

i -R EA DY ELA Grades 3-8, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Supports student growth with targeted reading comprehension practice and support at individual level.

ACCE L E RAT E D READ ER Grades 3-8, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Support student reading and writing skills through reading comprehension quizzes.

ACHI EVE 3000 R EA DI NG Grades 9-10, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Supports student growth with targeted reading comprehension practice and support at individual level.

stay engaged in science outside of school through resources like Youtube channel’s CrashCourse that offers short, digestible and engaging videos on topics ranging from earth science to robotics. Looking for engineering projects to do at home? Weaver recommends families explore PBS Kids Design Squad (pbskids.org/designsquad).

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Cultivate persuasive speaking skills.

Families should follow the lead of KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy Assistant Principal Olayinka Okoye who, during the school’s summer enrichment program last year, held “PowerPoint Parties” for students that allowed them to pick any topic on which to deliver a persuasive speech. According to Okoye, the gatherings were a direct response to her concern that students would have fewer opportunities to speak persuasively in the classroom, both formally or with friends, during remote learning.

“Students could pick any topic they wanted, like ‘why your favorite rapper or football team is superior,’ and then create a persuasive presentation on that topic.

For teenagers, this helps them develop the skills of speaking in the classroom and thinking critically,” said Okoye. She added that families, particularly of older students, can encourage students to do the same at home. “Does your high school student want to take a trip with friends? Have them make a presentation outlining the reasons why,” she said.

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Have patience.

After the challenges presented last year, it is important that students and parents keep everything in perspective. Many parents are concerned about their child’s progress in school; however, it is also important for parents to stay patient and empathetic to help ease the transition and help your student to do their best. “My advice is to be patient with scholars at home. The work can seem overwhelming, but we’re all in it together and working towards the same goal,” said Salter.

As always, we are grateful for the partnership of our families in supporting students’ academic journeys. Sometimes it can be difficult to know how to best support your child at home; however, by discussing your child’s learning with their teacher, integrating learning outside of school, and staying supportive, your child will grow as a student and have a successful school year.

Searching for more resources? Below, our educators and instructional leaders have compiled a list of great online tools to support students’ learning in ELA and math.

Math K H A N ACA DE MY ( KH AN ACAD EMY.O RG) Renowned for simple, engaging math how-to videos, quizzes, and math learning that supports all ages and abilities.

MATH PLAYGROUND (MATHP LAYGROUND.COM) Interactive website offering math games for K-6 learners

JU L IE RO B I NSO N M ATHEMATIC S FESTIVAL (JR M F.O RG ) Perfect for younger math learners, this site offers interactive games that support joyful math learning.

i -R EA DY MATH Grades 3-8, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Supports student growth with targeted math practice and support at individual level.

QUIZ L E T (Q U I ZL E T.CO M) Contains a large bank of online quizzes, flashcards, and games that can be used to support learning across all subjects and grade levels from Spanish to Algebra.

ACHI EVE 3000 MATH Grades 9-10, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Supports student growth with targeted math practice and support at individual level.

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Supporting All Newark Alumni Journeys With

college is KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy Chemiah Parker prepares food graduate Quajen Coates. in her kitchen in Newark.

After graduating from high school in 2018, Coates struggled initially to define his This August, the KIPP Foundation path. “I was working odd jobs, sometimes announced a small, but important at warehouses, whatever work I could shift: Our KIPP Through College get,” said Coates. “At one point, I was in teams that collectively support between jobs, and Ms. Scudieri was able to tens of thousands of KIPP alumni contribute towards my rent,” he added.

nationwide who have crossed the stage at middle or high school graduations would now be called KIPP Forward. The shift was intended to better reflect our longstanding commitment to supporting students on all pathways, including those students for whom college is not a goal.

In Newark, KIPP Forward Director Becky Scudieri welcomes the shift towards a more inclusive name. “The name change reflects our desire to support every student’s career path and the fact that that path doesn’t have to be college. We want to support every student,” said Scudieri, who added that the focus on career happens well before a student is a senior in high school or college. “In all grades, we’re really encouraging students to think through what their path to career might look like.

We want students to know the steps they’ll have to take, whether they decide to become a contractor or a doctor. Starting with the end in mind is one of the most powerful things we can do,” she added.

One alumnus pursuing a career path over 10

Joe Mettle, KIPP Forward Career Technical Education Manager, also provided support.

“Mr. Mettle was the biggest influence for me. He pushed me every day and always asked how I was doing and kept me motivated,” said Coates.

In April of this year, Coates’ grandfather passed away from cancer. “Watching my grandfather’s experience with cancer led me to go after a career in healthcare. I texted Mr. Mettle with my plan, and he helped connect me to the New Community Career and Technical Institute so I could become a patient care technician,” he said. Coates graduated from NCCTI this spring. In June, he received a job offer from University Hospital Newark to be a patient care technician for patients going through chemotherapy. “I take patients’ vitals, make sure they’re comfortable, and assist nurses. I want to make sure patients receive excellent care, like my grandfather did,” said Coates. His next goal? To enroll in nursing school.

Students also opt to pursue their career passions through entrepreneurship.

KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy 2020 graduate Chemiah Parker is an aspiring chef

who attended Rutgers University at New Brunswick last year before withdrawing when she realized that learning remotely during the pandemic was not for her. “I told myself I would take some time off school to figure out what I wanted to do,” said Parker.

“I realized that cooking and bringing people together was my true passion,” she said.

The result has been the launch of Miah’s Kitchen which has provided everything from pasta to salmon dishes to her friends and family in the Newark community since January. “My goal is to bring people in the community together through food, which is something my grandfather always did, too. I want to move to a commercial space and go to culinary school down the road,” said Parker.

KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy alumnus Quajen Coates, pictured after graduating from the New Community Career and Technical Institute.

The KIPP Newark community has had her back throughout her journey. “So many of my teachers and other alumni from my year have been sharing my social media posts, ordering food, and even helping me cook,” said Parker. “Anything I need, anytime I have a question, they’re there,” she added.

A YEAR OF TRANSITION Supporting Social and Emotional Wellness Returning to in-person learning is a transition that sparks a wide range of emotions for students and families, from excitement and happiness to apprehension and anxiety.

For families, it can be hard to evaluate and navigate your child’s emotions, especially if they are reluctant to open up and share them with you.

Knowing that this school year could present unique challenges for students’ mental health, we asked our KIPP New Jersey team of social workers in Camden and Newark to share some helpful tips and recommendations to help support your child’s social and emotional wellness.

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Practice mindfulness with your child.

Kelsie Patton, a social worker at KIPP Lanning Square Primary, points out that, like adults, children store trauma and stress within their bodies before they can verbalize those feelings. “In order to connect children’s emotional well-being to their physical bodies, we practice different kid-friendly meditations like yoga, quick-deep breathing exercises, or short meditations,” said Patton. “I have them place their hand on their heart, close their eyes and take deep breaths, noticing how their chest feels during repetitive breathing exercises,” she added. Patton also recommends families with younger children have them place an object like a toy or stuffed animal on their chest or belly and watch it rise and fall as they breathe.

our students are coming back to a new routine. Work with your child to establish a daily routine that works for your family and helps them balance a social life with academics.” KIPP Truth Academy social worker Stephanie Bailey recommends that families develop morning, evening, and nighttime routines to build safety and reduce anxiety.

KIPP New Jersey’s director of social work says, “Kids will have a range of feelings— big and small. Listening and validating will communicate that we are listening without judgment.” Riaz also recommends that adults actively listen to their kids, rather than filling silence or judging. Simply listen and validate.

Notice your child’s eating, sleep and technology habits.

When children experience stress or worry, it often shows up first in your child’s eating or sleeping habits. If your child is eating less than normal or having a hard time falling and staying asleep, it may be due to an underlying emotional issue. Beyond emotional stress, Massaquoi also emphasizes the role that diet and sleep play in maintaining energy throughout the day. “Eating well and getting rest are important,” Massaquoi says, “so when they come to school, they have the energy to sustain a long day.”

Kids will have a range of feelings—big and small.

Listening and validating will communicate that we are listening without judgment.

Develop and talk through routines.

Routines and structure promote predictability and feelings of safety for children. Tim Massaquoi, a social worker at KIPP High School in Camden, emphasized that students can take longer to re-enter routines than adults, so for many, this school year might feel like starting over, even for older students. “Understand that 12

S HEYLA RIAZ KIPP New Jersey’s Director of Social Work

Discuss and validate your child’s emotions.

Your child may be feeling a wide range of emotions as they return to school. It can be hard for many children to understand or name their emotions, so talking through your child’s emotions can help. Sheyla Riaz,

Patton added that families should keep an eye on their child’s social media usage.

“Children have a difficult time monitoring and limiting their social media usage, so creating other avenues for a child to

Social Work Directory KI PP PUR P OS E ACA DEMY Krystal Folk, LSW kfolk@kippnj.org

KI PP TEA M ACA DEMY Diana Theodore, MSW dtheodore@kippnj.org

KI PP S EEK ACA DEMY Michael Williams, LSW mwilliams3@kippnj.org

Tiffany Burton, LSW tburton@kippnj.org

Kelsey Robinson, MSW krobinson@kippnj.org KI PP S PA R K ACA DEMY Denisha King, LCSW dking2@kippnj.org

express themselves could promote positive social and emotional learning,” said Patton.

Lead by example.

The most impactful way to support your family's social and emotional wellness is by modeling open communication, engaging in self care and leveraging community supports. As part of the school community, social workers are available to help you and your child navigate through the transition into the new school year. Bailey points out that social workers are not just a support for students. “If parents are having a difficult time, I would encourage them to reach out to a social worker. We’re here for our families as well. We have those resources,” she said.

For more resources to use at home, Riaz recommends the Child Mind Institute (www.childmind.org), which has excellent online materials related to emotional wellness. Additionally, the KIPP New Jersey Wellness Space Site (knj.news/ KIPPNJWellness) is a hub with mental health tools promoting self-care.

If you could use support from the social work team, or if you need more information about how you can support your child, you can find your school’s social worker information in this directory.

Esther Pierre, LSW epierre@kippnj.org KI PP THR I VE ACA DEMY Ann Diaco, LCSW adiaco@kippnj.org

KI PP BOLD ACA DE MY Adaria Facchinei, LCSW afacchinei@kippnj.org Denise Rowe, MSW drowe@kippnj.org Jinal Kapadia, MSW jkapadia@kippnj.org Berline Joseph, MSW bjoseph@kippnj.org

Desiree Curry, LSW Dcurry@kippnj.org

KI PP NEWA R K COMMUNI TY PR EP Patrice Holness, LCSW pholness@kippnj.org

KI PP UPP ER ROS EVI LLE ACA DEMY Thea Moss, LSW tmoss@kippnj.org

KI PP NEWA R K COLLEGI ATE ACA DE MY Indira Singh-Mohed, LCSW isingh-mohed@kippnj.org

Elsy Castillo, Ma.ED ecastillo@kippnj.org

Courtney Mick, LSW cmick@kippnj.org

KI PP LI FE ACA DEMY Avia Johnson, MSW ahenry@kippnj.org

Latoya Church, LSW lchurch@kippnj.org

Gail Ryan, LSW gryan@gmail.com Cordelia Reed, MSW creed@kippnj.org

Elyse Ruth, LSW eruth@kippnj.org Barbara Gibson, MSW bgibson@kippnj.org

KI PP R I S E ACA DEMY Jen Mueller, LCSW jmueller@kippnj.org

KI PP NEWA R K LA B HI GH SCHOOL Shazel Lewis, LSW slewis3@kippnj.org

Adama Pitts, LSW apitts@kippnj.org

Melissa Carrier, MSW mcarrier@kippnj.org

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THE JOURNEY TO

% Race, Equity, Inclusion, and Our Heartbeat 14

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ince we opened the doors of our first middle school, KIPP TEAM Academy, in Newark’s South Ward twenty years ago in 2002, KIPP New Jersey’s mission has been to support every student’s journey to college and a choice-filled life.

Our core values—as defined by our Heartbeat Statement—guide that mission. Four overarching premises are foundational to this Heartbeat: Our community shares a deep belief that students should run to school and be prepared to change the world. Promises we make to children are sacred. Together we know that outstanding teammates (staff!) are crucial in delivering on those promises.

We literally strive to build the most kid-focused schools on earth, driven by an unrelenting focus on equity.

We lead with a commitment to create schools where kids explore their identities, develop an ability to excel in college, and cultivate their desire to become socially conscious change agents. Leadership at every level of our organization is in service of our students’ individual and collective futures as leaders in their chosen fields.

Our goal is that 100% of our Heartbeat needs to live 100% of the time for 100% of our students.

We spoke with leaders and teachers (some of them alumni of our schools) throughout our organization to learn more about how they’re engaging in reflection and action as they seek to create more equitable schools that support the success of every child.

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Shawadeim Reagans C HIEF EQUITY STRATEG I ST KI PP NEW JERSEY

Every five years, KIPP New Jersey develops a strategic plan that establishes goals that will guide our priorities and support our students in the coming years. As we’ve refined our 2025 Strategic Plan outlining those goals, we’ve done that in recognition of the fact that equity is not one component of the work—it is the work. We’ve renamed it our Equity Strategy to reflect this shift. All strategic initiatives, priorities, and goals will be in service of more equitable outcomes for all TEAMmates, students, families, and the communities with which we partner.

gathering data across all of our schools so we can evaluate the experiences of students, staff, and families and identify gaps and areas for improvement. We’re developing a schoolhealth dashboard to capture not just student academic data, but also all of the other ways to measure important components of a school’s culture that supports community, personal growth, and achievement across all student demographic groups.

When we look across our whole organization to define equity, we believe it looks like offering a consistent experience for all students and their families, at all grade levels, all schools, and in all cities. In practice, this looks like

It’s important that we revisit this plan frequently, because we recognize that just like our practices in 2005 couldn’t accurately reflect our equity work in 2021, what’s equitable in 2025 might not be equitable in 2035. Since equity is our work, we have to have the awareness and consciousness to be responsive to the experience of our students and TEAMmates. What inspires me as we engage in this work is both the growing number of alumni who have joined our staff as well as our many talented teachers and leaders who continue to raise the bar and improve outcomes for children.

I’ve worked for KIPP New Jersey for the past eleven years. While creating equitable outcomes for kids has always been a part of our work, in 2018, we realized that we needed to bake equity into the fabric at KIPP Rise Academy to make sure all students were receiving the same quality of education and had the same access to opportunities.

The biggest change we made that year was creating touchpoints for conversations about equitable practices and self-reflection. That meant that just like we made time for setting academic achievement goals for our classrooms and professional development, we needed to prioritize making space to discuss inequities within our region and more specifically on our school campus as well. We hosted about eight gatherings that first year for teachers that were clearly centered on equity and identity work. In the past year, that work has continued and we’ve done deeper dives for staff to help us all understand the different identities and assumptions we bring with us to the classroom. These areas impact our students in many ways, and as educators, we need to bring them to the surface.

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Kyle Newsome SC H O O L L E A D E R I N RESI D EN CE K I P P R I S E ACAD E MY

Anthony Perdue H I STO RY T E AC H E R K I P P N E WAR K CO LLEG I AT E ACAD E MY

Rebecca Fletcher D IR ECTOR OF SC H OOL OP ERATIO NS, KI PP SEEK ACADEMY

My responsibility as a director of school operations is to make sure kids have what they need to learn and teachers have what they need to teach. Showing up for that work with an equity mindset and attitude that is open to growth is critical; I believe that it’s my job to create an equitable environment where staff can bring their full selves to our school. Last year, I engaged in an authentic leadership training session that gave me specific tools I could apply to my role. It brought up the importance of things like being mindful of hearing every single person’s voice, staying curious as I seek to understand staff’s perspective on their work, and creating spaces where people feel comfortable pushing back and feeling heard.

I also apply this lens as our school community builds cohesion and communicates with families.

One of the silver linings of the pandemic was creating more opportunities to create a two-way dialogue between our school staff and families. I’m hosting weekly Zoom office hours with families and these sessions have been an excellent way to connect with our community and incorporate their feedback into our practices.

It requires vulnerability from me as a leader, and that can be hard, but we’re always trying to improve our work and I’m committed to listening to our community as we do just that.

I graduated from KIPP TEAM Academy in 2010, so I’ve been able to see our organization evolve over time and head in a more inclusive direction. I remember that during my middle school experience, race and racism were discussed transparently and openly in the classroom, but unfortunately, at the time, people using homophobic or sexist language wasn’t uncommon.

Even though we’re still improving in so many ways, it’s inspiring to see where we are over a decade later. In professional development, our team had always discussed race and equity as being central to our work, but starting last year, those conversations shifted to become more inclusive of how other identities like ability or disability, age, and sexuality can intersect with race to create unique challenges and experiences for students and teachers.

Together, we read books like Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele and How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi that prompted conversations about how racial and gender stereotypes impact student learning and growth.

My goal is to see my students for their whole humanity. I do that by listening to them, always.

Tiandra Kimbrough A SS I STA N T SC H O O L L E A D E R K I P P N E WAR K COM M UN I T Y P R E P

As a KIPP New Jersey alumnus and current assistant school leader, it’s important to me that the next generation of KIPP students have an equitable experience in our classrooms. When I was part of the founding class at KIPP TEAM Academy in 2002, I had the great Ryan Hill and Shawadeim Reagans as math teachers.

Today, as a leader, I want students at KIPP Newark Community Prep to have the same positive and affirming experience. My goal is to remain kid-focused and be mindful of how my practice impacts students.

I’m always asking myself, “If I was a student here, would I be engaged in this classroom?” When I look at texts our students might read, I’m looking at them with a lens of whether or not students can really relate to those texts and their characters. Our school also realized that when we offer tutoring sessions for students, something as seemingly small as how we name that session might impact whether students take advantage of additional support. For example, we re-named our tutoring sessions ‘LitLounge,’ ‘Math Lab,’ and ‘Math After Dark’ and found attendance increased. In middle school, students being able to advocate for the help they need is so important to achieving their goals, and we don’t want to unintentionally discourage that. The lens we’re taking is that equity is not an additional thing we do, it’s central to everything we do every day as we seek to build a high-quality learning experience for kids.

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Back in the Game A R E TUR N TO AT H L E T I C S AT K I PP N EWARK

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his year, the squeaks of sneakers on gym floors, the shriek of a whistle on the field, and shouts of encouragement from the sidelines are back, as our student athletes return to programs at our schools across Newark. We can’t wait to welcome back our new and returning athletes and coaches as they make their mark on athletics this year.

Coach Herbert Ruth and Niaja Troutman share a celebratory moment after a flag football game in 2019.

At KIPP Newark Lab Academy, KIPP Newark’s newest high school, physical education teacher and athletics coordinator Ariel Smith is thrilled to see students getting back into athletics. “Having strong athletics programs is so important because many kids really rely on that as their outlet for energy. Sports build school culture—there’s nothing like cheering on your teammates and building that camaraderie. In high school, it’s everything,” said Smith.

Smith’s colleague Ryan Baylock, Director of Student Life, has big plans for the school’s reentry into athletics. “We’re entering the NJSIAA this year which will allow us to compete in state tournaments,” said Baylock, who added that a plan is underway to also join the Super Essex Conference once the school’s athletics programs are further along.

KIPP Newark Lab Academy junior Ahnasia Jones-Hodges, a two-sport student-athlete

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who plays volleyball and basketball, is excited to return to the court. Last year, she said, the team’s volleyball season started late, and the season ran quickly with three games per week and no playoffs.

But her true passion is basketball. “I miss having a crowd and people in the stands.

When you have someone cheering your name, it makes you want to work harder,” said Jones-Hodges, who aspires to play basketball in college as she pursues a degree in family therapy. This year, she wants to be able to work all the positions on the court and thinks that her role on the team will also help her refine her time management as a student-athlete.

Jason Agyei, a rising junior at KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, has played soccer since he saw a documentary about pro team Arsenal F.C. when he was four years old. “My family and most of the people from my country of Ghana play soccer.

I love it because soccer really connects people,” said Agyei.

Last school year, Agyei’s soccer team won their conference, but the championship game was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Coach Hope Whalen wants as “I’m looking forward many students as to reconnecting with possible to engage my team and winning in the athletics program at KIPP the conference again Purpose Academy. this year,” said Agyei, whose older brother Michael Agyei coaches the soccer team.

This year, KIPP Newark opened new middle school KIPP Purpose Academy where student-athletes will be supported by the leadership of coach Hope Whalen.

Whalen, who coached soccer for years at

I miss having a crowd and people in the stands. When you have someone cheering your name, it makes you want to work harder.

AHNAS IA JO NES -HO DGES Volleyball and Basketball KIPP Newark Lab Academy Junior

the college level, is aiming to bring as many students into athletics as possible. She encourages students to explore a variety of sports before choosing to concentrate in one specific sport and plans to bring volleyball, basketball, and soccer to the school, adding more sports as the school develops.

“In a new school, sports offer the community so much,” said Whalen. “I believe there’s a place for everyone in athletics, whether students are in the crowd cheering on their classmates, helping out as athletics trainers, or recording statistics.

There’s a way for sports to impact everyone in our community,” she said.

At KIPP Rise Academy, coaches like Herbert Ruth agree that sports are an integral part of the school community. Six years ago, Ruth started a flag football team to help unite the school around a sport that was accessible to both boys and girls of all ages. “I noticed a difference for students in the classrooms after they played a game.

It’s a sport where anyone is capable of scoring. You can tell when it’s game day, because the sixth graders and the eighth graders will be doing secret handshakes in the hallway. They view themselves as brothers and sisters,” said Ruth.

KIPP Rise Academy eighth grader Niaja

Troutman plays flag football and competes in track. “During quarantine, I found ways to stay active, like going to the park to get a run in or work on areas I struggled in previously,” she said. But mostly, the pandemic taught her to appreciate the role athletics plays in her life. “The challenges of last year, of not being able to be with my friends and play for fans, taught me to not take things for granted. I know so many families were isolated, and it was sometimes hard to keep up with school,” said Troutman. This year, she looks forward to playing as many sports as possible.

“My mindset for this year is to go get it!” she said.

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Presumptions 20

By Quameer Riggins KI PP NEWA R K LA B H I G H SC H O O L , G RA D E 9

Gates, Bezos, Winfrey, McMahon. What comes to mind when you hear these names? Is it wealth or prosperity? Ok now let’s try this: Moore, Young, Riggins. What comes to mind now?

Generally, people use a family name as the definition of a person. If one is a McMahon, automatically, people consider them to be involved with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). If one is related to Bill Gates, people consider them to be wealthy because Gates is known for creating Microsoft...But what about us? What do people think of when they hear your family name? Crime? Illiteracy? My last name is Riggins, but my mother is a Moore/Young. In Newark, most of them are considered crooks or drug dealers. Should that define my mother, sister, or me?

Asking that question is like asking whether skin color affects how society views a person. The morally correct answer is no, it shouldn’t define them, but that doesn’t stop society from seeing BLACK citizens as criminals, gangsters, or less than human in some instances. A person could be BLACK and have a Ph.D, but the moment a white person sees them in street clothes walking to the corner bodega, micro and macro assumptions are often made. They assume we all are crooks, that we are all broke. But what if we aren’t?

When a person asks me, “What are your life goals?” and I give them a ten year rundown of where I want to be, they almost all say the same thing: “Wow, you have it all figured out. I’m very impressed.” I’m 14, and I’m a freshman. That’s how it should be. I should have goals for myself. I should have a 10-year plan, so I know what I want to do with my high school years and beyond. I want to make history.

Would they look at the child of Donald Trump and ask why they are successful? Would society ask the child of Bill Gates why they have life goals set? If the answer to those questions are no, then why would they be allowed to ask them of me—because I am different? I am an American citizen and a teenage high schooler, just like the rest. When people ask, “Have you ever experienced discrimination before?” I always answer, “No, but why are you asking?”

I have accepted the social norm that it is shocking for me to have goals and don’t consciously consider it discriminatory when it truly is. It’s because white people aren’t the only ones who have done this; people of color have as well.

I’m different, my own person. The only competition I will EVER have is who I was yesterday.

My mother always said, “Quameer, I want you to be different, I want you to be better than who I was.” She constantly drilled this into my head. This woman raised me to have aspirations, to have the constant mindset that I am destined for limitless possibilities, and all I have to do is chase and catch the dream. “Sky’s the limit” is what she always tells me. My mother is the reason that I am becoming the confident and well-mannered man that I am today.

A family name doesn’t define who you are. Neither does race, nor does religion. The only thing about a person that defines them is their identity, joy, pride, and aspirations. My definition of my name is different from others.

Many consider me a descendant of a family with a criminal history and a minority. But for me, when I hear the name Quameer Riggins, I consider that name to mean power because of all of my hard work, aspirations, and the identity I’ve created. MY actions define me, NOT the actions of my family members nor a last name. And I’ll NEVER apologize for who I am.

Suposiciones

Por Quameer Riggins KI PP NEWA R K LA B H I G H SC H O O L , 9. º C UR SO

Gates, Bezos, Winfrey, McMahon. ¿Qué te viene a la mente cuando oyes estos nombres? ¿Es riqueza o prosperidad? De acuerdo, probemos esto: Moore, Young, Riggins. ¿Qué te viene a la mente ahora?

En general, la gente usa los apellidos como la definición de una persona. Si alguien es un McMahon, automáticamente, considera que está implicado en el World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Si alguien está relacionado con Bill Gates, la gente lo considera rico porque Gates es conocido por crear Microsoft... Pero ¿qué hay de nosotros? ¿Qué piensan los demás cuando oyen nuestro apellido? ¿Delito? ¿Analfabetismo? Mi apellido es Riggins, pero mi madre es una Moore/Young. En Newark, a la mayoría se les considera delincuentes o traficantes de drogas. ¿Debería eso definirnos a mi madre, a mi hermana o a mí?

Plantear esa pregunta es como preguntar si el color de la piel afecta a cómo la sociedad ve a una persona. La respuesta correcta moralmente es que no, no debería definirla, pero eso no impide que la sociedad vea a los ciudadanos NEGROS como delincuentes, gánsteres o infrahumanos en algunos casos. Una persona podría ser NEGRA y tener un doctorado, pero desde el momento en que una persona blanca la ve en ropa de calle caminando hacia la bodega de la esquina, a menudo se hacen suposiciones a pequeña o gran escala. Suponen que son todos delincuentes, que todos están arruinados. Pero ¿y si no es así?

Cuando alguien me pregunta: “¿Cuáles son tus objetivos en la vida?” y le doy un resumen de diez años de dónde quiero estar, casi siempre obtengo la misma respuesta: “Vaya, lo tienes todo calculado. Estoy muy impresionado”. Tengo 14 años y soy estudiante de primer año en el instituto. Es lo que debería ser. Debería tener objetivos para mí mismo. Debería tener un plan de 10 años para saber qué quiero hacer con mis años del instituto y más allá. Quiero hacer historia. ¿Miraría alguien al hijo de Donald Trump y preguntaría por qué tiene éxito? ¿Preguntaría la sociedad al hijo de Bill Gates por qué ha establecido objetivos en la vida? Si la respuesta a esas preguntas es que no, entonces por qué se le permite hacérmelas a mí, ¿Por qué soy diferente? Soy un ciudadano estadounidense y estudio en el instituto, igual que el resto. Cuando la gente pregunta: “¿Te han discriminado alguna vez anteriormente?”, siempre respondo: “No, pero ¿por qué lo preguntas?”.

He aceptado la norma social de que es impactante que tenga objetivos y no lo considero discriminatorio conscientemente cuando en realidad lo es. Es porque los blancos no son los únicos que han hecho esto; las personas de color también.

Soy diferente, mi propia persona. La única competencia que tendré JAMÁS es quien fui ayer.

Mi madre siempre decía: “Quameer, quiero que seas diferente, quiero que seas mejor de lo que fui yo”. Me inculcaba esto en la cabeza constantemente. Esta mujer me crio para tener aspiraciones, para tener la actitud constante de que estoy destinado a tener posibilidades ilimitadas, y todo lo que tengo que hacer es perseguir y alcanzar mi sueño. “El cielo es el límite” es lo que siempre me decía. Mi madre es la razón por la que estoy llegando a ser el hombre seguro y educado que soy hoy.

Un apellido no define quién eres. Tampoco la raza ni la religión. Lo único que define a una persona es su identidad, su alegría, su orgullo y sus aspiraciones. Mi definición de mi nombre es distinta de la de los demás. Muchos me consideran un descendiente de una familia con antecedentes penales y miembro de una minoría. Sin embargo, para mí, cuando oigo el nombre Quameer Riggins, considero que denota energía por todo mi trabajo duro, mis aspiraciones y la identidad que he creado. MIS actos me definen, NO los de mis familiares ni un apellido. Y NUNCA me disculparé por ser quien soy.

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Newark Family Resources

EMPLOYMENT State of NJ COVID 19 Jobs & Hiring Portal knj.news/NJHiringPortal

North Ward Family Success Center 286 Mt Prospect Avenue, Newark 973-481-0415

As we navigate the COVID-19 crisis together, if you are in need of services or food, or have been in close contact with someone affected by COVID-19 please call our hotline at 973-679-7199.

FOOD PA NTR I ES & R ESO U RCE S NJ SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/ SNAP Outreach Team is available to help families apply or recertify for SNAP benefits SNAP Hotline: 908-838-4831

Have general COVID-19 questions? Here are some numbers to know.

Call (General COVID-19 Questions): 2-1-1 (24/7) Call (Medical COVID-19 Questions): 1-800-962-1253 (24/7) Call (Vaccine Appointment Support): 1-855-568-0545 (8a-8p) Text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive alerts

Community Food Bank

Several locations in Newark www.cfbnj.org/food/find-food/ 908-355-3663

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Holidays & Recesses

Start/End of Quarter Start Date for Students Last Day of School

MATER NI TY S ERVI CES Family Service Bureau’s New Start Program

Mend Hunger Relief Network Several locations in Newark www.mendnj.org 862-250-5216

H OUS I NG Eviction Protection & Assistance knj.news/NJRentalRelief

South Ward Children’s Alliance Brick Avon Academy: 219 Avon Avenue, Newark 07108 862-236-1333

LG BTQ + RE SO U RCES LGBTQ National Youth Talkline 1-800-246-7743

Family Equality Resource Center www.familyequality.org/neighborhood/

274 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103 973-412-2056

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24/7 Hotline: 1-844-732-2465 (ReachNJ)

MEN TA L HEA LTH S ERVI CES PerformCare

UTI LI TY A SS I STA NCE Utility Rights

www.njcommunityresources.info/utility_shutoff.html

www.performcarenj.org State-wide system hotline for children’s psychiatric care (24/7): 877-652-7624

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc 45 Academy Street, Suite 303, Newark, NJ 07102 973-624-1520

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Free emotional support from trained staff Call 866-202-HELP (4357) or text NJHOPE to 51684 7 days a week from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

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www.centerffs.org/ Various Locations Access Center contact: 877-922-2377

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Delayed Openings & Early Dismissals KIPP may call a delayed opening or an early dismissal because of an emergency or winter inclement weather. For winter inclement weather, KIPP will follow the decision made by the Newark Board of Education. In most cases a delayed opening will mean each school starts two hours later than its regular start time and early dismissal will mean each school ends two hours earlier than its regular dismissal time.

Make-Up Days The calendar allows for 3 school days to be missed due to emergency or winter inclement weather. Any school cancellation in excess of 3 days will be made up by converting a staff PD day to a full school day and/or adding school days to the end of the school year.

Jul 4 Holiday Jul 16-31 New Teacher PD Aug 2 First day returning staff Aug 2-19 Staff PD Aug 19 First Day for Grades (K, 1, 5, 9) Aug 23 First Day All Other Grades Sep 6 No School - Labor Day Oct 8 No School - Staff PD Oct 11 No School - Indigenous Peoples’ Day Nov 1 HS Students in Session ES & MS - No School (PD) Nov 10-11 Q1 Report Card Conferences Nov 12 Holiday - Veteran’s Day Nov 24-26 No School - Thanksgiving Break Dec 22 Early Dismissal - Winter Break Dec 23-31 No School - Winter Break Jan 1 No School - New Year’s Day Jan 17 No School - MLK Holiday Jan 24 No School - Staff PD Feb 2-3 Q2 Report Card Conferences Feb 21-25 No School - Mid-Winter Break Mar 18 No School - Students & Staff Mar 28 No School - Staff PD Apr 11 HS Students in Session ES & MS - No School (PD) Apr 18-23 No School - Spring Break Apr 27-28 Q3 Report Card Conferences May 30 No School - Memorial Day Jun 13-16 Early Dismissal Jun 15-16 Q4 Report Card Conferences Jun 16 Last Day of School Jun 19 Juneteenth

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TEAM Charter Schools 60 Park Place, Suite 802 Newark, NJ 07012

Know someone interested in enrolling their child in a KIPP school in NEWARK? Tell them to visit kippnj.org today!

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