Nicor Gas’ Energy Efficiency Program, in partnership with Operation Warm, gifted 532 new winter coats & other resources to students at Riverdahl Elementary School today! As colder & snowy weather will be here before we know it, Nicor Gas is committed to providing warmth & peace of mind to local families. Together with Operation Warm, Nicor Gas has handed out more than 3,000 new coats to students at qualifying schools across Northern Illinois. Operation Warm is a national non-profit that was founded in 1998. The organization & its partners have provided more than six million coats across America.
Congratulations to Mrs. Katie Barone at IB-Conklin for being named 97ZOK's Teacher of the Week! https://97zokonline.com/techer-of-the-week-katie-barone/
Reminder for HS Jr. & Sr. Parents: Learn about the RU Education Pathway Scholarship! Students can enter the teaching profession & graduate from RU with little/no college debt & earn a free master’s degree! rps205.com/page/ru-education-pathway-shared
All RPS 205 schools and offices are closed today in observance of the holiday.
East's 70 Newcomer students presented their science projects. Volunteers spent time with these refugees to build their confidence in speaking English with an academic focus. They presented on improving air quality in our community. Most have been in the U.S. less than a year.
Our gratitude & support goes out to AHS teacher Jonathan Logemann as he deploys overseas with the Illinois Army National Guard. We appreciate his commitment to our school district, city, & country. Well-wishes for a safe journey & successful mission. Thank you for your service!
We are still in the Halloween spirit at the RPS 205 Administration building. Departments had the opportunity to decorate their workspaces and submit them into a contest. Staff then visited each space and cast their votes for their favorite. First, second, & third place winners received prizes and year-long bragging rights. And the winners are:
1. Bilingual department
2. OSC (Design & Construction)
3. Early Childhood
Congratulations!
LAST CHANCE: The State Board of Education has added Middle Eastern & North African (MENA) as a race for state reporting. When you enrolled with the Rockford School District, you were asked to select your race from White, Asian, Black, Hispanic or 2+ races. Families can update their student’s race in the district’s records. This helps us identify supports & services for students. It’s not mandatory, but if you want to update it, please contact your school’s main office by Monday, November 4.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Many RPS schools got into the holiday spirit today including Summerdale Early Childhood Center. They held a parade for their staff and students.
Earlier today, Whitehead Elementary held a spirit day instead of a traditional Halloween celebration. Principal Randall & Assistant Principal Skaggs dressed as Gru & Bob from the Minion movies & asked all students & staff to join the fun by wearing yellow shirts & blue pants. Students were given paper minion goggles. After dismissal, the staff continued the mission & started building community with their neighbors next door at Flinn Middle School. They were able to pull off a sneak attack on Principal Schrank with the help from an ally inside.
MS FOOTBALL: Congratulations to the Eisenhower Eagles on winning the JV division championship in double overtime! On the varsity side, Flinn MS challenged a West Warriors team that had only given up 6 points all season. Thank you athletes, coaches, and fans for a great season!
CONGRATULATIONS! More than 200 RPS 205 PreK-5 grade teachers were nominated for the prestigious 2025 Golden Apple Award! For the full list of nominees, click here: https://goldenappleofrockford.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Golden-Apple-Nominee-LIST-2024-2025.pdf
Congratulations to West Middle School PE teacher Mr. Nick Blitch for being named 97ZOK's Teacher of the Week! https://97zokonline.com/teacher-of-the-week-nick-blitch/
RPS high school Theatre students participated in academic acting and tech theatre workshops at NIU. Experiences included stage rigging, movement, stage combat, & acting methods. Students were also treated to a performance of the department's fall mainstage production, MACHBETH.
Check out some of our students in the Nursing Aide course doing their CPR training. We are excited to watch them gain experience this year and work towards their Certified Nursing Assistant certification.
Former U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo (1993-2013) visited his alma mater last week. The 1962 Auburn High School graduate spoke to students in Mr. Logemann's AP US Gov class. They had just finished studying congress and the presidency. In a non-partisan matter, Manzullo addressed the students about maintaining democracy in America.
Attention 5th Grade Families!
You’re invited to an in-person CAPA Informational Meeting! Here’s your chance to discover everything about CAPA and plan for your student’s middle school journey.
🗓 When: Tuesday, October 29, 2024, or Monday, November 4, 2024 at 5:30 pm
📍 Where: West Middle School, 1900 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103
🔑 Entrance: Please enter through Door K and proceed to the library.
Why Attend?
Plan now for your student’s middle school experience.
Learn about CAPA’s audition process and requirements.
Hear firsthand from current CAPA students and teachers.
Tour West Middle School and see where the magic happens!
Helpful Links:
https://www.rps205.com/o/wems/page/how-do-i-join-the-capa-family
Principal Appreciation Day: This annual recognition was first approved by Illinois' Governor in 1990. We took pictures of our principals at our 41 schools & asked students to draw them for us. Here are some of their works of art. Thank you all RPS 205 Principals!
Parents: Did you know RPS offers an amazing scholarship program for junior & senior high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of education? Your student can earn a 4-year college degree at a 75% tuition reduction rate & earn a FREE Master's degree from Rockford University! This opportunity will allow your student to graduate with little to no college debt & begin a fulfilling career. To learn more about this amazing opportunity, please join us at the informational meeting. rps205.com/page/ru-education-pathway-shared
CIOMeet Chicago collaborates with IT leaders with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and industries to connect the dots between innovation, efficiency, and collaboration. Our very own, Chief Information Officer, Jason Barthel, has been invited to be a panelist in November along with other CIOs from diverse backgrounds and industries. Mr. Barthel will participate in sharing challenges, learned lessons, successes and failures in his journey to bring sound technology practices and protocols to RPS205.
