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Rock Island-Milan
School District Newsletter
LOOK What 1% Can Do
Ready, Set...
for Rock Island-Milan Schools!
The Rock Island-Milan Schools are ready
to round up the Kindergarteners to begin
school the 2015-2016 year! Children must
be 5 on or before September 1st, 2015.
Not sure what school boundary you are in?
Visit www.rockislandschools.org or call
309-793-5900.
Denkmann Elementary
April 22nd, 3:30 p.m.
Rendition of Rock Island High School secure front entrance renovation.
I
f passed, the Rock Island County School Facility Sales Tax will
benefit Rock Island-Milan Schools in many ways by improving
facilities. The sales tax is for one cent on every dollar spent on
qualifying retail purchases that people spend in Rock Island County.
Here is what the Rock Island-Milan School District will do should the
1% Sales Tax Measure pass in April:
• Focus on safety and security. Enhanced secured entrances at Earl
Hanson, Edison and Washington Jr. High Schools and Rock Island
High School.
• Efficient Food Production. Centralized food service facility and
food court at Rock Island High School.
• Improve Learning Environment. Facility upgrades that support
a 21st Century Education. Build STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics) classrooms at Washington Junior High
School.
V
How can the sales tax revenue
on o OTE
r be
funds be used?
A
pril fore
New facilities and additions, classroom
7!
renovations/upgrade, land acquisition, ongoing
maintenance, access and security, parking lots, roof
repairs, energy efficient projects.
The funds cannot be used for:
Salaries/overhead, textbooks, buses, operating costs, furniture,
moveable equipment.
Learn more at www.RockIslandSchools.org
Earl Hanson Elementary
April 29, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Eugene Field Elementary
April 2, 5:00 p.m.
Frances Willard Elementary
April 9, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Longfellow Liberal Arts
April 9, 4:00 p.m.
Rock Island Academy
Summer 2015 TBA
*R.I. Center for Math & Science
April 22, 2:30 p.m.
Ridgewood Elementary
April 22, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
April 22, 2:15 p.m.
**Children eligible for Kindergarten at
the R.I. Center for Math & Science must be
accepted for enrollment prior to Round Up.
Call the school at 309-793-5995.
It’s never too early to get your
child ready for kindergarten...
Call 309-793-5900 and ask for a copy
of “Ten Things Your Child Needs to Know
Before Kindergarten.” The guide is
produced by United Way of the Quad
Cities and offers tips and resources
parents can use and do with their children.
www.RockIslandSchools.org
News & Events...
What Parents
Need to Know
About the New
PARCC Test
Students in the RIHS
Anatomy/Physiology
class are on their way
to potential careers
in the medical and
biology field.
Pictured: Alyssa Fields,
Melissa Gomez, Angel
Parker and Odalys
Trigueros
L
ast school year was the final year of the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). The new
assessment, which began this year, is called PARCC: Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College
and Careers. PARCC is based on the expectations of the New Illinois Learning Standards in English Language
Arts and Mathematics. The Rock Island-Milan School District #41 teachers and staff continue to learn about,
collaborate and implement these new standards.
Why PARCC?
Along with the shift to the New Illinois Learning Standards comes the need for a revised assessment that measures
student progress toward these newly developed standards. The PARCC will assess writing and thinking skills, give
students a chance to solve real problems, designed to measure whether students are on track for college and career,
apply his/her knowledge, and communicate clearly. This new PARCC test is all online, and one assessment will be
given approximately 75% of the way through the school year (Feb./Mar.), with the second assessment given 90%
of the way through the school year (May). RIMSD students in grades 3 through 9 will participate in these new
assessments. “The goal is for our students to be better prepared for college and/or a career upon graduation,”
said Superintendent Dr. Mike Oberhaus. “We believe that the PARCC is an insightful assessment that provides a
snapshot on how our students are progressing toward that goal.”
More about the New Illinois Learning Standards and PARCC
at www.rockislandschools.org/TeachAndLearn
2015-2016 Calendars Available
RO
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The 2015-2016 School Year Calendars are posted on the web site at
www.rockislandschools.org under the “Calendar” tab.
There are four calendars: Elementary; Jr. High/Marshall Learning
Center; Rock Island High School and a Combined Calendar.
New for 2015-2016 – There are 4 emergency make up days built
into the second week of spring intersession (break) March 14 –
March 25, 2016.
If an emergency day is used during the winter months, then
the days will be made up starting with Thursday, March 24,
2016 and working backward. Friday, March 25, 2016 is Good
Friday and that day will not be used for an emergency make up day.
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Rock Island High School News & Notes
Advanced Opportunities
with New Courses
Teachers and staff at Rock Island High School are preparing
for the 2015-16 school year with the introduction of several
new classes and programs. Three new options are Advanced
Placement courses: AP English Language and Composition
(replaces Honors English 11), AP Studio Art and AP Biology
(replaces Biology II). The addition of the new AP courses will
help strengthen the AP program at the high school and also
create value for the students who want to exceed expectations.
In addition, 5 Dual Credit offerings are available: Medical
Terminology, English Composition I, English Composition
II, Basic Precision Measurement and Essentials of
Technical Math. The Dual Credit courses are done in
conjunction with Black Hawk College.
The new Entrepreneurship and Enterprise program at Rock
Island High School will introduce students to the exciting world
of creating and owning their own business! Students will “learn
by doing” important concepts and techniques for planning a
business and living the entrepreneurial lifestyle. The course will
culminate with a comprehensive business plan and students will
have a chance to “pitch” their business to potential investors.
The Entrepreneurship and Enterprise program is open to RIHS
students in their junior year and is completed over the course of
two semesters. The program is generously supported by the Rock
Island-Milan Education Foundation and Rock Island Rotary.
Students and staff at Rock Island High School are enjoying
the new digital display at the entrance of Circle Drive! The
sign was donated by the Rock Island-Milan Booster Club
and construction was completed in January.
Graduation, Sunday, June 7
Class of 2015 Commencement will be held on
Sunday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the iWireless Center.
First Day of High School Classes
Tuesday, August 4
Rock Island High School added extra instructional
days to their school calendar, therefore RIHS students
will start a day earlier than the rest of the district.
Read more at www.rockislandschools.org/riec/rihs
Charles O. Austin Scholars
Congratulations to Rock Island High School seniors
who were recognized as Charles O. Austin Jr.
Scholars for the 2014-2015 year. Pictured: Ariel
Rodriguez, Logan Enstrom, Grant Fessler, Alicia
Murphy, Khaliyah Randle, Iradukunda Josephine,
Max Friestad, Dariyn Perez, Nikolas Jacobs,
Madelaine Perry, Courtney Smith, Moneé Turner,
Lindsey Steger. Also pictured are Superintendent
Dr. Mike Oberhaus, RIHS Principal Tim Wernentin,
Board of Education Vice President Dave Rockwell,
Retired RIHS Teacher Chuck Austin.
Not pictured: Kayli Ahuja, Erika Atwater, Shelby
Burroughs, Thomas Bustard, Guadalupe Garcia,
Ethan Hong, Elizabeth Kasimu, Alex Lavery, Jessica
Morrissey, George Pappas, Hannah Price, Hannah
Rodriguez, Andrea Ruiz, Taylor Schneider, Sara
Solis, Tyler Mitchell, Gene VanWinkle, Dean Zeglin.
3
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 48
Rock Island,
Illinois
Rock Island-Milan School District 41
2101 Sixth Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201
www.rockislandschools.org
CURRENT RESIDENT
Mark Your Calendar
March 16-27 - Spring Intersession
March 31 - School Resumes
April 3 - Good Friday (No School)
April 10 - Night of 1000 Dreams!
May 25 - Memorial Day (No School)
June 7 - RIHS Graduation Day, iWireless Center
June 8 - Last Day of School, Jr. High & Elementary*
June 9 - Last Day of School, Rock Island High School*
August 4 - First Day of School, Rock Island High School
August 5 - First Day of School, Jr. High & Elementary
The Rock Island-Milan School District Update
Published by the Rock Island-Milan School District
2101 6th Ave., Rock Island IL 61201
309-793-5900
www.rockislandschools.org
Editor, Holly Sparkman
[email protected]
Administration
Dr. Mike Oberhaus, Superintendent
Jim Andrews
Associate, Superintendent, Human Resources
Dr. Kathy Ruggeberg
Assistant Superintendent, Teaching and Learning
Bob Beckwith
Chief Financial Officer
Mike Breidenstein
Director, Technology
Carmine Draude
Director, Grants, Assessment and Accountability
Dr. Sheila Pickens
Director, Pupil Personnel Services
*Pending further emergency days
www.facebook.com/RIMSD41
@R_I_Schools