ALIGNMENT ROCKFORD NEWS
JUNE 2015
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE?: KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TUTOR PROGRAM
Pictured above are participants from Lincoln Middle School's Tutor Program organized by UTC Aerospace Systems volunteer tutors. The program significantly impacted Rockford Public School students which is why Alignment Rockford's College Readiness A-Team is using it as a model to implement a similar math tutor program at Kennedy Middle School for the 2015-2016 school year. We are asking for your help as we need at least 10 additional tutors registered within the next couple of weeks. Is math really not your thing? You can help us by passing this need along to friends, coworkers, and social groups!   

 

The Need: Become a tutor and help 6th grade students bolster their confidence in math! Students who are on track in middle school are significantly better prepared for college-level math by high school graduation. 

 

Why: Engage students in small groups to bring understanding to math lessons and mentor students to show how middle school math concepts apply to life and work. 

 

When: Tutors will work with students for one hour, one time per week during their regularly scheduled math class within the 2015-2016 school year.  

 

Where: Kennedy Middle School, 520 N. Pierpont Ave., Rockford.   

 

What: Are you good at math? That's all you need to know. We will provide training materials and tips for working with students prior to the school year.  

 

Who: Tutors will work with two 6th grade students who are identified by faculty as needing additional assistance with the lessons at hand.

 

To read about Lincoln Middle School's Program click here  
2015 ACADEMY EXPO INDUSTRY EXPERT
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE?


CLICK THE PICTURE TO WATCH A VIDEO
OF THE 2014 ACADEMY EXPO!
The Alignment Rockford Academy Expo A-Team is seeking businesses and organizations to participate in the 2015 Academy Expo to be held at the BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., on Thursday, October 15, 2015 from 8:00am to 3:00pm. The purpose of the Academy Expo is to engage 9th graders in a variety of career experiences. Rockford Public Schools students will utilize this event to make an academy selection in January 2016. Rockford Public Schools and Alignment Rockford are also hosting 9th grade students from Belvidere, Harlem and Hononegah School Districts for an overall total of approximately 3,000 students. Last year's Expo was a giant success with over 113 companies, 121 represented careers, 140 booths, 563 Industry Experts, 99 Hospitality Ambassadors, and 10,571 donated hours.
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
MEANS A HEALTHY COMMUNITY


Pictured above are three students who graduated last week from Roosevelt Alternative High School after completing a senior Capstone project as part of a pilot for a district-wide Capstone course offering beginning the 2016-2017 school year. Sixteen students in the Renaissance Gifted Academy at Auburn High School also participated in the pilot through a Senior Seminar Class. Each student worked with community members and organizations to apply theory with practice in individual student projects. Community members, including Academy Support Team (AST) members, sat in on a panel at the end of the course to critique the students' presentations on their projects.


Click to view Dance to Make Change Facebook Page

One example of the impact this course has on college and career readiness is evident in Jermaine Robinson's project at Roosevelt High School. Jermaine worked with the Rockford Housing Authority on starting a community center for at-risk teens as a means to give them a safe place to occupy their time and release their frustrations in a healthy and artistic way. Jermaine started a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for his project "Dance to Make Change." To make a donation to this cause click here. 
Alignment Rockford's Career Awareness A-Team will partner with RPS 205 in helping to align community mentors to support this exciting project district0-wide. If you are interested in in becoming a mentor or assisting in the planning process please click here .

Read more about this projects from RPS 205 blogs:
SCHOOL MAY BE OUT FOR SUMMER...
But our Alignment Teams will continue to be busy with planning solutions to meet the needs of our students. Whether you like working with students in the schools or behind the scenes in a boardroom; if you prefer regular meetings with specific initiatives or more roundtable discussions; if you simply want to volunteer once or on a more regular basis; or if you want to help by just spreading the word, Alignment Rockford needs your help!
Alignment Rockford's A-Teams:
Academy Expo:  
Design a quality career exploration event for freshman students

Healthy Starts:
 
Equip families of children ages 0-5 with the tools needed to excel in school

Career Awareness:
Create a K-12 system to increase student awareness
 
Pathways:
Increase student engagement, preparation and placement in post-secondary training and employment or education

College Readiness:
 
Create an engaged school and community culture where all students expect to pursue higher education or professional training beyond high school graduation
 

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.