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Founded in July 2005 by five teachers, KIPP AMP Academy Charter School now serves 271 students in grades 5-8. KIPP AMP’s students have consistently scored higher than their District and New York City peers on New York State and national assessments since the school’s inception.
On the 2008-09 New York State exams, 99% of KIPP AMP 8th graders scored proficient in math and 79% scored proficient in English Language Arts. All KIPP AMP students participate in a wide array of enrichment activities including band, debate, and Capoeira, providing an opportunity for students to develop new skills and interests and to build character strengths that benefit their academic and life preparation.
About KIPP AMP’s Capoiera Program
During the school day, all KIPP AMP students and teachers participate in Capoeira classes, bringing music and movement into the curriculum. Capoeira increases physical fitness and demands discipline and focus.
With roots in Angola and other African countries, Capoeira was brought to Brazil with the slave trade and was used both as self-defense and as a reflection of kinship among those enslaved. Through a culturally relevant art form, KIPP AMP introduces students to African and Brazilian cultures and the Portuguese language.
Capoeira fosters a sense of self-determinism within our students and teaches them that there are few limits in their personal, academic, and professional lives. Sempre na roda, a mantra of capoeiristas, reminds us that we are always in the roda, or circle of sparring: we must always demonstrate the awareness, passion, and determination that characterize the roda. We must be always mentally prepared for whatever we encounter so that we can fulfill our hopes for the present and the future.
