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Dear Friend,
KIPP LA has been brimming with activity this spring semester, with KIPPsters out in the community enjoying all that Los Angeles has to offer in the way of culture and the arts. We are excited to fill you in on some recent happenings:
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The Getty Center Welcomes Our KIPPsters |
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Thanks to the generosity of The Getty Center, our KIPP Raíces Achievers and their families enjoyed a fun-filled “Getaway Day” exploring the Getty galleries. The turnout was astounding with approximately 600 students and family members participating in the day’s festivities, which ranged from guided tours to a specialized arts and crafts workshop. In addition to viewing the art inside the Center, the gorgeous Los Angeles weather allowed our students and their families to enjoy the impressive museum architecture, gardens, and vistas.
Most importantly, the Getty galleries presented a valuable opportunity for our Achievers to experience in person the various types of artwork they have been studying in the classroom. According to a spokesperson for the Getty, “Employees and visitors to the museum complimented the level of engagement occurring among the students with the artwork and each other.” We could not be more grateful to The Getty for making this special day possible for our KIPPsters and their families, who cannot wait to go back!
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Raíces Achievers enthusiastically dashing to view the Getty art.
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KIPP LA Prepsters: Not Just Climbing the Mountain to College, Running Up It!
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Mr. Herrera and his dedicated Prepsters sporting their medals after one of their many road races.
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Our hardworking middle school KIPPsters have also been embracing new experiences. KIPP LA Prep students are participating in a running club led by their teacher, Mr. Herrera, who has helped them train and compete in road races all over Southern California. From day one, their goal has been to run the Los Angeles marathon, which they conquered with great success last Sunday!
Pelted by rain, wind and hail, our Prepsters endured the grueling 26.2-mile course, weaving through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, and arriving at their final destination: the Santa Monica Pier. When they crossed the finish line, the runners were greeted by a large group of their classmates and teachers, who were cheering loudly and congratulating the marathoners with high-fives.
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This was a truly memorable experience for our KIPPsters, having triumphed over such a challenging personal test of mental and physical endurance. Anthony, a fifth grader at KIPP LA Prep, crossed the finish line in four hours and nine minutes alongside Mr. Herrera. When asked about his favorite part of the experience, he said “the challenge” because it taught him that “not everything is easy, but if you train and prepare yourself, you can accomplish your goal.” The students’ dedication to one another and themselves is a remarkable testament of their ability to achieve great things in life.
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Quest Challenge Grant: Bringing 21st Century Technology to Our Classrooms |
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In other exciting news, KIPP LA Schools recently received a technology challenge grant from the Quest Foundation, which will be used toward the purchase of 80 laptops for KIPP Academy of Opportunity (KAO). The total cost of these laptops is $100,000, and in order to receive the funds from Quest, the KIPP LA community must raise $50,000 in matching funds.
Developing computer skills is critical for our students to succeed in college and 21st century careers. Accordingly, KAO is committed to providing our KIPPsters a world class education through innovative technology practices. Additional laptops will enable the school to integrate new education programs in the classroom and will provide teachers with instant feedback and data to optimize their instruction.
Please help us earn Quest’s challenge grant by making a contribution toward new laptops for KIPP Academy of Opportunity!
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KIPP Academy of Opportunity students showing hard work and commitment to excellence in the classroom.
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Waiting for "Superman" Released on DVD - Get Yours Today!
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 Davis Guggenheim’s critically acclaimed documentary Waiting for “Superman” is out on DVD and Blu-ray; pick up your copy today and share the experience with friends and family! Also included in the DVD is a bonus video produced by New Schools Venture Fund that highlights what KIPP LA and other high-performing public schools are doing to transform the lives of students across the country.
While supplies last, specially marked packages of the Waiting for “Superman” DVD and Blu-ray include a $25 DonorsChoose.org gift card, good towards funding a local classroom project. If you have not seen the film yet, this represents a great opportunity to do so, and the gift card can be used for projects posted by KIPP LA teachers!
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“When test scores seem too good to believe” | USA Today, March 6, 2011
… Education reformers say a surge in scores is possible without cheating. Mike Feinberg, the Houston-based founder of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), a 99-school chain of charter schools widely recognized for raising test scores, says "remarkable growth" is possible with "great teaching and more of it." Where you have "just an amazing teacher who can motivate his kids to really work hard," classes can see gains that might seem "unbelievable" at first glance. Read more…
“A habit of learning about money early” | Marketplace - American Public Radio, February 21, 2011
…That's what it sounded like one morning at KIPP Raíces Academy in East Los Angeles. About 40 kids, Kindergarteners and second graders, crowded into one small classroom to hear about Sammy the Rabbit, who makes saving a habit. He's the creation of author, and guest speaker, Sam Renick. Listen here…
“Remembering Pioneering Educator Harriett Ball” | National Public Radio, February 14, 2011
Harriett Ball was a public school teacher who made learning contagious, by setting it to a rhythm. By getting her students to chant and rap their lessons, Harriett Ball created her own kind of revolution, starting in Houston schools. Harriett Ball died earlier this month after a heart attack. She was 64. It was her classroom techniques and tricks that were the inspiration for the first KIPP charter school. There are now 99 KIPP schools with 27,000 students around the country, and Tracy McDaniel is the principal of one of them: KIPP REACH College Preparatory in Oklahoma City. Welcome to the program… TRACY MCDANIEL: Thank you so much. Glad to be here. Listen here…
“KIPP Kids Ask, President Obama Answers” | San Lorenzo Patch, January 27, 2011
Three KIPP King Collegiate students were chosen from among thousands of Americans with burning questions for the president. Check back with Patch for President Obama's answer, plus more information about these incredible students. Read more…
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KIPP LA Schools is a non-profit organization that operates high-performing K-8 public charter schools in South and East Los Angeles. We are part of the nationwide KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network, which is dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.
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