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ALIGNMENT ROCKFORD NEWS 
DECEMBER 2015
2015 Academy Expo: The Results are in! 

"This was very fun and I really liked this event and wish I could do it over again... Also I feel that everyone there wanted this to be a success,and it was a SUCCESS! THANKS" student survey respondent
Alignment Rockford and Rockford Public Schools Attend National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) Conference! 

Alignment Rockford and College and Career Academy teams from Rockford Public Schools joined National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) communities from across the nation in Louisville, KY for the annual NCAC conference. 



Alignment Rockford and RPS Academy coaches, administrators, and teachers hosted workshops in multiple areas including: healthy community connections; the Academy Expo event; academies implementation, specifically in an alternative school setting; community engagement through teacher and student site visits; and identifying outcomes as indicators of student success.

Conference attendees from Rockford were also able to meet with other model communities to learn best practices and share their expertise with communities interested in developing the Academy model.

While we were able to share successes as a model for other communities, we also learned many best practices from other communities and ideas to continue to strengthen the College and Career Academies of Rockford. 
Pictured at right: several members of the team toured the Ford Assembly Plant. 

FACES OF ALIGNMENT ROCKFORD
Each month we feature one of our Alignment Team members in our new series, Faces of Alignment Rockford
   
Chris Weber 
Financial Advisor, The PCMW Group at Morgan Stanley
Alignment Rockford Pathways Committee  
Chris is a life-long Rockford resident and a 1995 Guilford graduate. He has been an advisor for the last 11 years at Morgan Stanley, where he leads a wealth management team working with successful individuals and families along with corporate retirement plans. Chris is active on Alignment Rockford's Pathways Team, Rockford Public School's Budget & Finance Subcommittee, and a member of Next Rockford since 2010 where he currently serves as the Vice-Facilitator and Education Committee Chair. 

Currently, through Next Rockford and Alignment Rockford, Chris is leading an annual Boots & Coats drive (pictured below.) "There are still too many elementary students that walk to school in a foot of snow in tennis shoes and a hoodie.  This is an easy way to take your children's gently used winter coats and boots and impact students across the city."    

Click here to learn more about Chris and his involvement within Alignment Rockford. 
"When you live in a diverse city like ours with a large school district there are so many ways the average person can help out.  Opportunities to truly make a difference that don't take a ton of time or a ton of money are easy to come by...  Volunteering in Rockford, whether it's through Alignment Rockford or one of our many non-profits, doesn't have to be a full time or even a part-time job.  An hour here and an hour there can allow you to have a bunch of fun, meet some great people, and have a huge impact!"-Chris Weber

ANNUAL BOOTS & COATS DRIVE
It's getting cold out there! This holiday season please consider Rockford's youth. 



All goods collected will be distributed to students in Rockford Public Schools.

Click here for a complete list of collection sites 

OPEN INVITATIONS TO PARTICIPATE (ITP)™

Kennedy Middle School Math Tutor Program

Alignment Rockford's College Readiness Team is seeking math tutors for 6th grade students at Kennedy Middle School. Tutors will work with students for one hour, one time per week during their regularly scheduled math class during the 2015-2016 school year. The school day takes place 8:45am to 3:45pm. Tutoring time of day will vary according to students' schedulesRead more... 

Interested in becoming a tutor ? We are always accepting new tutors. Click here or email Alignment Rockford's Community Engagement Coordinator for more information. 



Capstone Seminar Mentor

Advisers/Mentors from the community are needed to serve as experts for idea development, revision, and refinement of the student's selected project. Advisers/ mentors may assist students via online, telephone, or in-person mentoring with one or all of the 4 components required of the Capstone project (proposal, research, evidence, presentation).  Volunteer one time only ... volunteer on-going for an entire semester ... or anywhere in between.

Click here  to read the Introductory letter from Auburn High School's Capstone teacher, Mr. John Rauh.
"My project is to research the merits of introducing microgreens (young seedlings of herbs, vegetables, beans, seeds, and grains that are very dense in nutrients and sprout anywhere from 6-10 days) into our diets and into the school setting."
"I am creating a program/website for people to learn Laotian language and culture because the Lao community in Rockford is large and most people my age are Americanized and ashamed that they cannot communicate with their elders."
"My goal is to spread a positive message about Rockford to the community through photography."
"I intend to write a full-length novel and get it published within the year."
"I am making a video game that incorporates myths from different cultures to show how the hero's journey can be applied to any story."
"My goal is to spread a positive message about Rockford to the community through photography."

Click here here to read all of the Capstone project summaries and needs from the community.

To learn more about the Capstone Seminar course, or to submit a response to the invitation to participate  click here


Ready, Set, Kindergarten!
 
The Healthy Starts team has developed community-wide messaging for all families with students going into kindergarten.The Ready Set Kindergarten! materials are aimed to ensure parents have a common understanding of the skills children need to be successful in kindergarten.

Services Needed from the Community:
  • Place the provided brochures and posters in a waiting area or employee break room
  • Include the information in your company newsletter (digital information provided)
  • Include the provided information in your church bulletin
  • Have brochures available for interested families to pick up
  • Display the information on your digital billboard or monitor
  • Promote the information on your social media sites
  • Provide brochures to patients or clients with young children
  • Sponsor or donate printing services
To respond to this invitation to please click here . You must be logged in to respond.
ACADEMY NEEDS:  
Don't have time to join a team but want an easy way to help out?
  • Do you have a service project that you could use students' help with? 
  • Do you have an acoustic guitar you could donate? 
  • Do you have access to skilled trades OR medical career specific posters, job openings, apprenticeships, programs, or any information you might have hanging on a bulletin board at work?
Check out the list of Academy Needs by selecting:













Email Katy Haun, Alignment Rockford's Community Engagement Coordinator if you might be able  
to help with any of these needs or for additional information.        

Please pass along to anyone you know who might be able to help out!


Know any students who could be interested in going into Pharmacy? Here's a great opportunity for them to learn more: 

Why Get Involved?




Still have some Christmas Shopping to do? When you shop with AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Alignment Rockford. Amazon supports us every time you shop. Click this link to begin your holiday shopping now:  Amazon Smile 


Alignment Rockford is a collective impact organization whose mission is to align community resources in support of public school strategies to raise student achievement, improve the health and happiness of our children, and advance the economic and social well-being of our community.