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ALIGNMENT ROCKFORD NEWS 
MARCH 2016
Student-Led Tours of the Academies a Success! 
Nearly 20 local Realtors and human resources directors participated in student-led tours of Auburn and Guilford High Schools on February 18th. Students guided the group of visitors through the schools showcasing the recent updates, the Academy structure, and impressive student work within the Academies.

Pictured left are three of the Guilford High School students leading the tour. Pictured bottom-left is the group of students who led the tour at Auburn High School, and pictured bottom-right is a Guilford student showcasing student work from Guilford's new Industrial Arts lab.

Individuals or companies interested in attending a student-led tour of any of the RPS205 High Schools should contact the school's main office for additional information. 


Check out this video about the RPS 205 Academies:  College & Career Academies of Rockford 

  
Auburn and East High School Virtual Enterprise Classes Compete



On January 23rd students in East and Auburn High Schools' virtual enterprise classes competed among hundreds of other students at the Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) Regional Trade Show in Holland, Michigan. East High School's Evolve Gaming won 1st place in the booth competition! 
Pictured below: 1st place team from East High School
Picture top-right: Auburn High School's VEI team
Pictured bottom-right: Evolve Gaming student at competition
 

With an emphasis on college and career readiness, Virtual Enterprise International is an in-school, live, global business simulation that offers students a competitive edge through project-based, collaborative learning and the development of 21st-century skills in entrepreneurship, global business, problem solving, communication, personal finance and technology.

ACADEMY NEEDS:  

Want an easy way to support the Academies? Check out the list of Academy Needs below to see if you or someone you know might be able to help out! 

Click on the need to see a detailed description.  





Informational materials related to Health Sciences Careers
Materials for building raised gardens and a bench for the atrium
 Nook replacements (10) for Deaf and Hard of Hearing classes
 Support/coordinate a interdisciplinary crime scene project
Car kits for a Pinewood Derby project
 Health Sciences Professionals (Veterinarian, RN, chiropractic, sports med)
 Vectric software experts (VCarve and Aspire)
 Performing Arts Theater and Performance Production (music and/or theater) Professionals
 Judicial/Criminal Justice experts to assist with interdisciplinary project
Industrial Trades and Manufacturing experts
 Professional who can provide TPRS training
 Engineering and civil engineering Industry Experts


Studio Art Professionals
Don't have time to join a team but want an easy way to help out?
ACADEMY SUCCESSES  

Thank you to our our community partners investing in our schools and students!


Thanks to the work of two Academy Support Team members at Jefferson High School, Media Production students have had two project-based case learning experiences. Kathy Olson with Crusader Community Health wrote a grant to Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation to sponsor three public service announcements produced by students on oral and dental health.  Click to view.   



Ashley Burks with United Way of Rock River Valley commissioned Jefferson High School Media Production students to produce a documentary on the Midtown District as part of the Strong Neighborhoods Series.


Chet Parker with the Rockford Park District, and Alignment team member, provided supplies and designed and built raised garden beds for Roosevelt High School. The raised beds will be used in a school wide project across all Academies involving a farm to table theme.

Becky Costello with Rasmussen College, and an Academy Support Team member as well as a College & Career Readiness Council member helped to secure a donation from Rasmussen College to provide Roosevelt High School with 150 thumb-drives to assist students in saving pertinent information such as resume, cover letter, and student portfolio work. 


Home Depot has been a great partner to Guilford High School often donating additional supplies with their orders to support student projects and storing their lumber for them until they are ready to use it.

Habitat for Humanity in Rockford is working with Guilford High School's Orientation to Construction classes which are building the pre-fabricated walls for a home this year to be assembled for a Rockford family. They are working to arrange a partnership where next year's Construction class (3rd year), will go offsite to assemble a Habitat for Humanity home including, electrical, plumbing, etc. Click to read more



Rockford Fire Department worked with a Guilford High School student who designed banners for the Fire Department providing a work-based learning opportunity for the student as well as an addition to his resume.  Click to view the banners .

OPEN INVITATIONS TO PARTICIPATE (ITP)™

Kennedy Middle School Math Tutor Program

  "[My tutor] is awesome and I want him to be my tutor forever!"  -current student in the 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' schedules.  Read 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.

Roosevelt High School is now seeking community mentors to help students make community connections.

Click here  to read the Introductory letter from Auburn High School's Capstone teacher, Mr. John Rauh.

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.
Save the Date: Thursday, April 21st 
Save the Date: FIRST Annual RPS 205 FIRST Robotics Fundraiser! 
Giovanni's Restaurant & Convention Center
5:30-8:30pm 


A team from this year's Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Rockford class is coordinating this fundraiser to help the Rockford Public Schools with its  goal to bring an after school FIRST Robotics team to every school within the Rockford Public Schools in the next 5 years. 

National studies show that students involved in FIRST Robotics are significantly more likely to attend college, major in science or engineering, and be outstanding future employees and citizens. This is especially important in the Rock River Valley where there is a great need of future manufacturing professionals. 

To ensure a successful and sustainable event, the team is looking for your help with  sponsorship  and/or silent auction donations. 
Your sponsorship is a tax deductible investment in the futures of our students.  Click here for sponsorship levels, or mark your calendar to join us for a great evening of FIRST Robotics demonstrations, community spirit, appetizers, and fun.
Rockford Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Rockford
and RPS 205 FIRST Robotics
779-774-4389 x11 | [email protected]
Microsoft Office Specialist Exams (MOS) for Students Survey 
The Rockford Public School District is considering implementing these exams into their information technology pathway. The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams enable students to certify their skills in Office applications. All exams are interactive and test students ability to accomplish discrete tasks by performing those tasks in live applications. Currently the district is piloting this program in an 'Advanced Computer Applications' course where students spend about a quarter of instructional time on each of the following Microsoft programs: Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access.

Your input will help us determine whether or not we should expand this program to all of our high schools.


Check out some of the incredible things going on in the schools- join the momentum!


 






Support the cause just by shopping! 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.