| Dear KIPP Philadelphia Families;
As always, we hope that you remain well and safe. We are excited to see our KIPPsters and families in a few short weeks. A major priority is and has always been to make sure families are connected to available resources. Our Director of Social Work, Tara Stanley says:
When thinking about family engagement, I am reminded of KIPP’s mantra of doing “Whatever it Takes,” and being “All In” for EVERY student family rostered at our schools. During these trying times, translating theory into practice can be difficult. Our region has the unique opportunity to strengthen families by fostering parental resilience and creating social connections. In order to do that, information is key and constant connection is paramount. Two ways that KPPS will implement this plan is via our Social Services Support Website and multiple family touch points. The website launched in June of 2020 and offers up to date community resources for housing/utility needs, food insecurities, and physical/mental health support. The multiple touch points include weekly parent square notifications, town hall meetings, all staff virtual family check-in’s, Social Work Chat and Chews, and monthly themed KFA sponsored virtual family hangouts. We want to ensure that every student’s needs are met, and all parents feel supported. In our quest to make sure every moment is memorable and meaningful, we strive to receive 100% family engagement as we help them bridge the gap between home, school, and community.
Social Services Support Website
The resource website offers up to date community resources for housing/utility needs, food insecurities, and physical/mental health support. The site can be found HERE
Please Take The Technology Survey
We are continuing to assess the needs of each family. If you have not done so already, please take the survey. We want to make sure we have an accurate assessment of Chromebook and internet access needs. You can find the survey HERE
Internet Access
As you may have heard, the City of Philadelphia is partnering with Comcast and T-Mobile to provide internet for FREE to families who do not currently have access. This is GREAT and will be a great way to ensure all of our families have access to all of our programs, classes and zooms. KIPP Philadelphia will be participating in this partnership this school year to ensure all of our students and families have access to the internet. If you are in need of internet access please make sure you complete the survey above.
Chromebook Distribution
Distribution of Chromebooks will be the week of August 17th. Schools will be sending out communication to families to let you know days, times and location of pickup. Please be on the lookout for detailed instructions from your child’s school this week.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
In this climate of social unrest and uncertainty, we know that prioritizing care for our students is going to be the key driver of all of our success this year. With that in mind, staff came together to create plans that focus on student wellness. We are committed to deepening our relationships with our families, creating space for our teachers to be cared for and heard so that we can create learning environments for our students to grow not just academically but socially and emotionally as well. Schools will be holding space for deeper student dissuasion and encouraging students’ self awareness and social awareness.
Virtual Family Home Visits
Home visits are a way to connect our new KIPP families with teachers and staff at the beginning of the year. KIPP prioritizes building relationships and partnerships with our KIPP Philadelphia families. We will continue this practice in a virtual setting. Schools will be contacting parents directly to schedule one-on-one virtual family visits for all families in the near future.
First Day of School
Remember, our first day of school is August 24th. Families will have all of the resources needed to begin the school year strong. Schools will be sending out zoom links and schedules soon.
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