As part of a continuing series that will be running every Thursday, we’re going to be featuring the backgrounds and services of our numerous sponsors and partners. Furthermore, we’re going to exhibit how their relationship with us is making an impact in the lives of youth and in the community. Today, our focus is on Indianapolis Public Schools:
School District Overview:
The largest public school district in Indiana, diverse in both population and choice, Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is an agile, innovative educational organization committed to academic excellence built through individualized, relationship-based learning. Though we cover 80 square miles, employ over 6,000 people, and serve over 30,000 students, we’re committed to serving individual students with what they need. IPS does this through innovation—from digital learning initiatives to individual schools fashioning their own rigorous curricula. We do it through exceptional choice—providing excellent opportunities through community schools and Magnet and option programs focusing on math, science, performing arts, Montessori, International Baccalaureate, specific career paths, and Spanish immersion, among others. We do it through community involvement—working with the local library on summer reading programs, securing funding from corporate foundations, and engaging in health and wellness initiatives and parent advocacy efforts, among other meaningful activities. We have the variety, flexibility and expertise to meet all students where they are and guide them where they need and want to be.
We full understand that education can no longer be confined by academic calendars, general budgets, or classroom walls. We appreciate that the more you standardize the way you measure education, the more individual your approach has to be to help students meet and exceed those standards and, more importantly, prepare them for life. At IPS we’re proud to be personal in our approach, and proud to be public!
Relationship with Nine13sports:
Indianapolis Public Schools is arguably the partner that has made the most fundamental impact on our growth and success in Central Indiana. Our relationship commenced in June of 2012 when we announced a new partnership with the school district to provide our Kids Riding Bikes programming curriculum for Merle Sidener Gifted Academy. Our first programming at Sidener involved us delivering our curriculum to students in grades 4 through 8. The program lasted six weeks and was designed to complement the physical education program.
Since our partnership originated back in the summer of 2012, our relationship has grown extensively and organically during each fiscal year. In 2013, we partnered again with IPS to bring our fitness program to the SUPER school at Frederick Douglass School 19 for a two-day event and the SUPER Community Wellness Festival that was held the following Saturday. Additionally, we ran programming once again in the fall at Sidener Academy.
We’ve seen a lot of smiles at Indianapolis Public Schools over the past few years!
In the spring of 2014, our relationship with IPS Gambold Preparatory School began and we delivered our programming in both the spring and fall to the school. Additionally, we participated in the schools, “Week Without Walls,” which encourages learning outside of the classroom by participating in an ActiveIndy Bike Tour with Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. During these bike tours, we bike the Indianapolis Downtown cultural trail, districts, and neighborhoods with a select number of high school students each day. Beyond question, it offers a tremendous chance for our staff, as well as the students, to develop a greater cultural sensitivity and provided direct, authentic exposure to Indianapolis in order to nurture a better understanding and appreciation for our culture.
In 2015, our rapport continued to thrive with the school district as we delivered our programming at four IPS schools (Christian Park School 82, Clarence Farrington School 61, IPS/Butler Lab School 60, and Paul I. Miller School 114). Moreover, we partook in the yearly, “Week Without Walls,” with the staff and students of Gambold. Furthermore, we brought our bikes to the district-wide field day event that IPS held back in May, an event in which we had more than a 1,000 students on our bikes.
Needless to say, our overall growth, progression, and the lasting impact we’ve made on the Indianapolis and Central Indiana community would’ve been much more challenging if our relationship with Indianapolis Public Schools didn’t exist. We’ll be forever grateful for our partnership with you and are excited to continue to build our already growing rapport, in addition to making a positive impact on thousands of your students each year!
For more information on Indianapolis Public Schools, check out their website.