New School, Old Building

I'd like to paint a picture in your mind....
Imagine a high school where students walk calmly through the hallways, wearing either blue or white shirts with the school logo emblazoned on the front. Snazzy signs hang throughout the halls and in classrooms with slogans like, "If a teammate needs help, we give," or "No shortcuts. No excuses." One of my favorite slogans that hangs in our halls says, "Work Hard. Be Nice." What if I said those were the school rules? You won't find signs that say "No Gum" or "No late work accepted." This is a school where students call their teachers and ask for an extension on their homework if they need more time. No excuses. Imagine 130 freshman sitting quietly and listening to school announcements led by their student government. Teachers are visible but rarely heard. In that same meeting, students snap their fingers to praise each other for hard work, being there to lift a friend who had a rough time or thank a teacher for their dedication in the classroom. Was that your high school?
This is KIPP Denver Collegiate High School. Right here in Denver, Colorado.
Imagine these kids, so positive and demonstrating citizenship in their schools, sitting in classrooms with brand new tables and chairs, new science lab rooms with gas and air hook ups. In a building that has air system features that are circulating around dirty air out of filters that haven't been changed in years. The wing we occupy hasn't been used in years. The staircases collect dust and the cleaning crew doesn't clean daily. The lockers need some force to help open them. Teachers don't have keys to their classrooms and our cafeteria is underground, with no air ventilation. 130 teenagers at lunch time can heat up a room! There was asbestos in the building, I was told it was all removed. Hm. I thought that stuff was a little difficult to remove.
Remember those great kids? Their teachers and leaders and coaches are even more indescribable. These teachers show up early and stay late. They make sure each kid has a chance to succeed - whether it takes them an extra week to get it or they need more challenging problems to solve. Their leaders work relentlessly to make college an option.
I am so proud to be a part of the KIPP family. These kids are already showing that they can and will graduate from college - if they continue to work hard and be nice.