Dear Innovators,

January was a month of alignment, celebration, and preparation across the Young Innovators Program and Advanced Academics community and the results speak for themselves.

This month, we held our third YISA alignment meeting, continuing the intentional work of ensuring instructional coherence, rigor, and consistency across campuses. These meetings are not routine check-ins; they are strategic spaces where data meets planning and expectations stay high.

We also proudly celebrated strong SIA performance, with students demonstrating continued growth and readiness in both RLA and Math. These results reaffirm what we already know: when advanced learners are challenged appropriately and supported consistently, they risen every time.

Our next major assessment milestone is the AIA:

• RLA AIA: February 3

• Math AIA: February 12

AIA data will play a critical role in our next phase of work. Results will be used to:

1. Induct current YISA students into the Year 3 cohort

2. Identify and invite new rising 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students who were not previously in YISA but meet the criteria based on assessment performance.

Once selections are finalized, official invitation letters will be given to families of selected students.

To motivate and celebrate achievement, students who pass the AIA in Math and/or Reading will earn a special incentive titled: “Think Smart, Snack Sweet” Because excellence should be rewarded loudly and joyfully. As we move into this testing window, a few important reminders: GT Hours: Please ensure all GT hours are updated and documentation is current. Compliance matters, and our students deserve educators who remain fully equipped.

Support During Testing:

1. Maintain calm, confident classroom energy

2. Reinforce strategies not stress

3. Encourage rest, hydration, and positive self-talk

Words Matter: Advanced students still need encouragement. Remind them that effort, strategy, and confidence go hand-in-hand.

January proved once again that this work is intentional, data-driven, and student-centered. We are not just maintaining excellence we are scaling it.

Thank you for your consistency, your high expectations, and your refusal to lower the bar. Together, we are shaping scholars who think deeply, perform boldly, and rise confidently to every challenge. Let’s keep pushing forward focused, aligned, and unapologetically excellent.

Together, we are building brilliance one Young Innovator at a time.

— Ms. Harris & Mr. Hare