C.E.O. Message

Greetings From Baba Andre Noble, C.E.O.

September 1, 2023

Hotep Family,

We are so excited about this school year. Our theme, Tujenge Taifa means “Let’s Build a Nation.” In an effort to build an even stronger Imhotep nation, we are implementing new programs, initiatives and are excited about the 2023-2024 staff that we have working with your young people. While Mama Jury, our amazing Principal, outlined much of the important information needed to start the school year, this communication will focus on a few new programs and initiatives.

Kickboard

We are so excited about our new behavior management software, Kickboard. We are confident that Kickboard will provide teachers, parents, climate staff and students with a powerful communication tool. One of Kickboard’s primary functions is to serve as a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. Teachers and staff will be able to give students positive points to reinforce desired student behaviors. Imhotep’s PBIS school store will return this school year. We are proud that over 93% of our students used their positive points to purchase items in our PBIS school store last year. We are hoping to increase that percentage this school year! Kickboard will also track referrals (discipline write ups) and negative behaviors as well. This week Imhotep will email your Family Portal access information and directions to sign up for Kickboard. If you need support after receiving your login information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Culture Leader for additional support. We will also have a Kickboard signup space during Back to School Night on September 26, 2023 from 6pm - 8pm.

Dual Enrollment Program Expansion

We are committed to providing our students with high quality educational opportunities. This year we have expanded our dual enrollment program. Ten sophomores have been selected and enrolled in our pilot dual enrollment expansion program. The goal of starting in the 10th grade is to provide a pathway for our students to graduate with their Associates Degree during the Spring of their senior high school year! While there are requirements that must be maintained, there is no cost for this program as with all of our dual enrollment programs we will cover expenses for materials and tuition. We will also assign an advisor to support these students with their collegiate coursework and time management skills. What an amazing opportunity!

Whitson’s & Imhotep Food Services Partnership

We are so excited to partner with Whitson’s for our school breakfast and lunch program. Our students have voiced concern about our food services program and we have heard them. We are proud to respond with this partnership. All students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch this school year. Our student leaders will also help shape the menu offerings on a monthly basis. Menus are posted as well. We are working to add new stations to provide even greater variety of food choice. As stated in Mama Jury’s message, breakfast will be held from 7:30am to 8:25am every school day morning. Students will be able to enter the building at 7:30am.

Identimetrics & Imhotep Charter

This year we are using a biometric software called Identimetics. The software allows students to use their fingers to scan into the building and for breakfast and lunch services. The system is fast and assists in marking our students present without their school ID or any human error typing mistakes. As an African-centered school, we were initially concerned about finger scanning. However, finger scanning is very different from fingerprinting. Finger scanning scans two fingers and turns the scan into a unique binary number. Fingerprinting is used to capture images for all ten fingers. In our scanning system, no finger print images are collected or stored anywhere! Below is a diagram of the process that is used in the system.

New Stem Initiatives

We are so proud of the Stem Initiatives that our students and staff have participated in this past school year. Using our Stem Code of Ethics and African-centered Stem (ACS) framework as our foundation, Imhotep’s Stem program is growing. This year, every student will work on developing an interdisciplinary STEM project. We have also added multiple new Stem elective opportunities for our students. We are building an innovative Stem lab. While I will not steal their fire, we are super excited about the new STEM Initiatives for this school year. Shout out to Sister Shirley and our STEM team for all their hard work and dedication.

Unified Operations - Attendance Intervention

Our last new program that I will discuss is Unified Operations. It is an informative tool that helps families and school communicate more effectively about student attendance. Monthly, you will receive a digital postcard framing your child’s attendance standing. If your child has 3 or more unlawful absences, the parent or guardian will receive an UO attendance letter outlining your child’s attendance history. It is very important to bring in excused notes following an absence. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for your child to be in school every day! Please work with us and your child to be the best of ourselves. Asante Sana!