Athmar Park

KSPA Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Nov 06, 2005

by Susan Vermeer Lopez

Students at the KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy (KSPA) officially opened their new building on October 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. With a welcome to the school from the KSPA band, students, parents, and community members gathered to celebrate the new building located at 375 S. Tejon Street, next to Rishel Middle School.

School Director Richard Barrett thanked all of the organizations and people who were instrumental in making KSPA and the new building a reality, including the Athmar Park Neighborhood Association. Barrett also thanked the KSPA students, teachers, and family members, along with the class of 2010, the KSPA Board of Directors, Denver Public Schools (DPS), past Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, the KSPA Foundation, and the Colorado League of Charters Schools, along with other partners. KSPA Board President Ken Seeley also thanked students and parents, as well as private and foundation funders, DPS, and the Colorado Department of Education for their support.

KSPA started as a DPS charter school in June 2002 with five teachers and 59 students. Currently 230 students in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades attend the school. With a new class of 5th graders each year, the school will eventually serve 320 students in grades 5-8.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, KIPP students were asked when they would be going to college and each class responded with the year that they will graduate from high school.

KSPA students show strong results by achieving approximately 2 grade levels of growth in one year and increases of 25 percent on the CSAP. KSPA is part of a national model program, KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), and these results are consistent with KIPP schools in other states.

Students are selected for the KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy through a lottery system and families must sign up on a waiting list during the second semester before the year that they wish to attend. KSPA also welcomes donations of time and supplies from community members. For more information contact Richard Barrett at 303-623-5772 or visit their web site at www.sunshinepeak.org.

(CAPTION FOR PHOTO: A few of the 297 KIPPsters who took part in a GIGANTIC ribbon-cutting ceremony held on October 20, 2005 to commemorate the official opening of KSPA?’s new building at 375 S. Tejon. Each student took home a bag with a piece of the 300-foot ribbon and the scissors they used in the ceremony!)