Rockford Public Schools -

GOOD LUCK! Auburn High School senior Corbin Gray has earned a spot as a national finalist for marksmanship. The Gifted Academy pathway student is a 2-time captain of the Marksmanship team and 1st 2-time Marksmen of the year.  The championship is taking place in February at Camp Perry, Ohio over a three-day period. It will be one day of training followed by two days of official shooting.  Athletes will shoot an average of 200 pellets.  Only 750 Cadets out of 405,000 worldwide earn one of these coveted spots. Corbin is the 6th Auburn Knight in the last seven years to accomplish this. After graduation from Auburn, Corbin plans to do Army ROTC at Iowa State.

5th graders from Bloom, Brookview, Johnson, & Welsh were treated to a holiday concert this morning at Guilford HS under the direction of Mrs. Kubacki. The entire concert was performed by the high school musicians who also showcased how each instrument worked. Mr. Walls' choir students also performed for the 5th graders.

Some RPS staff were presenters at the “Raising Student Achievement Conference” in Oakbrook, Illinois. McIntosh Principal Erin Salberg & McIntosh Instructional Coach Elizabeth Hand presented "Start Strong to Stay Strong - The Importance of a Morning Routine for Student Success". Ellis Instructional Coach Jessica Berg presented "Fluency is Fundamental". Carlson Assistant Principal Kelsey Scarpetta Carlson & Instructional Coach Katherine Trotter presented "Enhancing Student Achievement through Rigorous Problem Solving".

The Kindergarten lottery for Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour will accept 2025-2026 school year applications from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025. Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025 Families must: 1) Complete an application with the Welcome Center 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the school 3) Student must pass an oral assessment in Spanish or English Click the link to learn more about Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour https://barbour.rps205.com/o/twlib/page/what-is-two-way-language-immersion Application/Enrollment Information: https://www.rps205.com/o/rps/page/k-12

🏀 Rumble in the Rock is more than basketball—it's about community! 🗓️ When: Saturday, January 11 📍 Where: Rock Valley College's PEC 🌟 All Rockford high school teams will play under one roof, PLUS check out RVC’s campus while you're here. Doors open at 8 AM. Tickets: $8. 🎟️ Bonus: RPS elementary schools are giving out 30 FREE tickets each for students at their schools! Mark your calendars & bring the family! 💥

The Pre-Kindergarten lottery for Maria Montessori at Marsh will accept 2025-2026 school year applications from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025. Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025 Families must: 1) Complete an application with the Welcome Center 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the school Click the link below to learn more about Maria Montessori at Marsh https://montessori.rps205.com/o/mmam/page/what-is-the-montessori-program Application/Enrollment Information: https://www.rps205.com/o/rps/page/k-12

We hosted the fall student teacher celebration at Prairie Street Brewhouse. Administration from across the district, as well as University & community partners, came together to thank & celebrate our fall student teachers & their cooperating teachers for their service.

Rockford Public Schools is thrilled to announce the Special Programs Lotteries for the 2025-2026 school year! Applications will be open January 2, 2025, through March 14, 2025. Programs for Kindergarten (Age eligible: 5 years old by 9/1/2025): International Baccalaureate Candidate School at Conklin STEAM Academy at Haskell Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour (requires passing an oral language assessment) Pre-Kindergarten Program (Age eligible: 4 years old by 9/1/2025): Maria Montessori at Marsh How to Apply: 1) Complete an application at the RPS Welcome Center (bring your photo ID, two proofs of residence, and child's birth certificate) 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the respective school Helpful Links: What is Montessori? https://montessori.rps205.com/o/mmam/page/what-is-the-montessori-program What is STEAM Academy? https://haskell.rps205.com/o/haskell/page/what-is-the-steam-academy What is IB Candidate School at Conklin? https://conklin.rps205.com/o/ibcsc/page/what-is-the-ib-program What is Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour? https://barbour.rps205.com/o/twlib/page/how-do-i-apply-for-two-way-language-immersion

RPS Teachers: Are you ready to take the next step in your career? The NIU Principal Residency Program offers an incredible opportunity to earn a Master’s in Education and an Illinois Principal Endorsement with leadership coaching – all at zero tuition cost to you, fully funded by RPS 205! Join us for one of our upcoming info sessions to learn more: January 9 at 8:00 AM – Virtual January 21 at 4:00 PM – In-person February 3 at 2:30 PM – Virtual February 20 at 3:30 PM – In-person March 6 at 7:00 AM – Virtual If you're interested, contact Jason Pope, Director of Recruitment, at jason.pope@rps205.com to reserve your spot. This is your chance to elevate your leadership career while continuing to make a difference in Rockford Public Schools.

6th & 7th grade art students at Marshall Middle School designed & painted original characters based on everyday objects ranging from paper clips to conchas. Now, their characters have found a new home in the empty storefront at the Richardson Building at State & Wyman. Their characters will be on display through December & all are welcome to check it out by driving or walking by.

Jefferson’s Advanced Theatre Students would like to cordially invite you to attend our 6th annual Children’s Readers Theatre! C.R.T. is a form of theatre that's directed towards younger audiences. It’s like bringing a bedtime story to life! It's a special way to show what acting is all about to younger audiences. This year’s theme is dedicated to tall tales: Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, Sal Fink, John Henry, Sally Ann Thunder, & Davy Crockett. We hope to see you there!! TALL TALES Wednesday, December 18th Doors Open at 5pm Performance begins at 5:30 Jefferson High School Auditorium Admission is FREE

MS FALL SPORT RECAP: GIRLS BASKETBALL--Congratulations to Eisenhower's JV team that went undefeated in conference and won their regional! Kudos also go out to Marshall's varsity team that won a tough conference this season. Way to go teams! #OurKidsRock

🏀Get ready for the 10th Annual Rumble in the Rock! 📅 Saturday, January 11, 2025 📍 Rock Valley College's PEC This all-day basketball showdown showcases talent from RPS 205 high schools & Rock Valley College! Doors open at 8 AM. Tickets are $8 at the door. Rolling schedule: 9AM - East v Auburn (Girls) 10:30AM- Jefferson v Guilford (Girls) 12PM - RVC Women vs MATC 2PM - RVC Men vs MATC 4PM - Jefferson v Guilford (Boys) 5:30PM - East v Auburn (Boys) ✨ Each RPS elementary school will have 30 FREE tickets for students at the school’s office!

Attention 5th Grade Students and Parents! The Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Middle School Auditions are just around the corner! Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your talents and join the CAPA family! Date: Saturday, December 14, 2025 Times: Choose between a 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM session Location: West Middle School, 1900 N. Rockton Ave Registration is required. Learn more and sign up here: https://www.rps205.com/o/wems/page/how-do-i-join-the-capa-family We can’t wait to see you at the auditions.

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HS FALL SPORT RECAP--SWIMMING: Congratulations to Guilford's Hannah King on qualifying for state in the 100-yard backstroke! She was both a NIC-10 and sectional champion in the same event. Let's clap it up for Hannah! #OurKidsRock

HS FALL SPORT RECAP--GIRLS TENNIS: Congratulations to Auburn's Taylor Buhl, Aida Dummer, and Avery Trapp on winning their sectional and making it to the state tournament. Kudos also go out to Guilford's Laci Belknap and Yeva Ksenafontova for making it to state! #OurKidsRock

The closing reception was held for this year's NIU High School Invitational Art Show. Each teacher submitted two pieces for inclusion in the show. Congratulations to Jefferson High School senior Samaa Al-Zirjawi for her FIRST PLACE Award! Auburn's representatives were seniors Kassandra Aguilar and Ella Roxworthy. Ella was awarded 2nd place for Artistic Merit by Blick!

Wishing you a day filled with joy and gratitude

HS FALL SPORT RECAP--FLAG FOOTBALL: Congratulations to Guilford's Girls Flag Football team. In the inaugural season on IHSA flag football, they went undefeated in the NIC-10, won both their regional and sectional, and placed second in state. What a season! #OurKidsRock