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Superintendent's Message
Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
Winter break and the end of the first semester are just days away. I hope everyone uses the holiday season to rest and recharge to be ready for a challenging second semester. I would like to take a moment to wish all the members of the District 208 community a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!
Although we are still in the 2016-17 school year, we have already started planning for the 2017-18 school year. At the December meeting, the Board of Education will begin to review drafts of the 2017-18 school calendar. I will be meeting with the feeder school superintendents to coordinate the winter and spring breaks. Final approval of the calendar will occur in January at a Board of Education meeting.
In November the Administration presented staffing and enrollment projections. The 2017-18 student enrollment is expected to increase by approximately ten students for a total enrollment of 1645. Certified staffing is projected to increase by at least two teachers for a total certified staff of 103.3. You can view more information on the RB website or go to
www.rbtv.tv
to view the actual Board meeting presentation.
Cordially,
Kevin Skinkis, Ed.D
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The District is pleased to report that it has reached a settlement with the Village regarding the zoning litigation.
Over the past few months, the District and the Village have spent considerable amount of time working towards a resolution of this matter. I am pleased to report that the parties have reached an agreement that will enable the District to build five new tennis courts and a new lot containing 50 parking spaces for cars and three spaces for the District's buses.
In addition, the Village has agreed to lease 103 parking spaces on Rockefeller Avenue to the District for $1 per year. Currently the District pays approximately $13,000 a year to the Village for parking spaces on Rockefeller so this new agreement will result in a savings of more than $250,000 to the District over the term of the lease.
In order to alleviate some of the traffic concerns around the school, the District will implement a variety of traffic control measures.
The settlement agreement reflects compromise on both sides and is designed to accommodate the needs of the District, the members of the school community, the neighbors, and the citizens of Brookfield. We look forward to moving ahead and implementing the terms of the settlement agreement.
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Life Safety/Capital Improvement Projects
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Work on Entrance G which includes the stairs, handicap accessible ramp, and railings is almost complete. The work on restoring the Entrance G façade granite panels is finished. If the weather permits, we hope to have the entrance open by the beginning of second semester.
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Now that the litigation is completed, a construction schedule for the parking lot and tennis courts should be developed and implemented this spring. I would anticipate the track will be open for the public to use some time this summer as the construction and security measures are finalized. Thank you for your patience on this.
We still have to keep the current restrictions in place for the track and field facility due to the construction site. The facility, for now, is only open for the high school to use with school staff supervision.
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Weather and School
Cancelation
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Please be mindful of the changing weather and make sure your child dresses appropriately for school. Although cancellations are rare in our School District, you can check the RB website, Skyward, and local news stations for school cancellation announcements.
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The next regular Board meeting will be on December 13, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 201. From now on, the meetings will all be held in Room 201 unless a large audience is expected. Please check the website for any last minute room changes.
Information regarding Board meetings can be found on the RB website under the Board of Education tab or watch the meetings on
www.rbtv.tv
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Principal's Message
December is always filled with many exciting events. The
Holiday Concert featuring band, orchestra, and choir students, along with the Shenanigans Winter Show, the Winter Repertory Dance Concert, and the variety of winter sporting events, are among some of the events that highlighted the many wonderful talents of the students at Riverside Brookfield High School.
With final exams rapidly approaching, please encourage your student to begin preparing for these exams. One great resource available to all students is National Honors Society Tutoring.
More information about final exams and this resource is provided below.
The faculty and staff wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season.
Kristin Smetana
Principal
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The final exam schedule for first semester is listed below. No final examinations or final summative assessments may be administered before regularly scheduled exams. Students may not be excused from this obligation by the classroom teacher. National Honor Society tutoring is available in Room 136 from 7:30 a.m. - 7:55 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and 3:10 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students who would like some extra assistance preparing for final exams.
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DATE
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PERIOD
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TIME
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Tuesday, December 20
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Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Make-up
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, December 21
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Period 4
Period 5
Make-up
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
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Thursday, December 22
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Period 6
Period 7
Make-up
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
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Class of 2020 Important Information
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Future Bulldog Night for Incoming Freshmen & Parents
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
7:00 p.m. in the Gymnasium
Students from the class of 2021 will receive their results from the placement exam and their recommended placements for freshman year. Additionally, parents and students will have the opportunity to speak with Instructional Coaches from each department, receive information about the registration process and course selection, and receive their registration appointment time for Saturday, January 28, 2017.
Students and parents will also be able to learn about the programs available to them and will have a chance to meet with other students who are already involved in athletics and activities. The Field House will display all of the athletic programs offered and various clubs and non-sport activities will be positioned throughout the school. Parents will be able to talk with teachers, coaches, and administrators about the full range of offerings.
Incoming Freshmen Registration & Course Selection Day
Saturday, January 28, 2017
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (By scheduled appointment)
Parents will submit registration materials, and students will register for classes. Instructional Coaches and counselors will be available to answer questions about placements and elective opportunities.
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Upcoming Winter National ACT and SAT Exam Registration Deadlines
Students interested in taking either the SAT in January or national ACT in February may do so at any neighboring school that will be hosting the exam on those dates. RB will not be hosting either of those national test dates.
The national SAT and SAT Subject Tests will be offered on January 21, 2017. Interested students should register by December 21, 2016, at
College Board.
The national ACT will be offered on February 11, 2017. Interested students should register by January 13, 2017, at
www.actstudent.org
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AP Testing Information
Copies of the 2016-17 Bulletin for AP Students and Parents will be distributed to all students enrolled in an AP class during AP classes in January. Please take the time to read through this brochure as it provides important information regarding AP exams. A draft of the AP exam schedule at RBHS is available by
clicking here,
the locations are still to be determined.
PSAT Results
PSAT scores will be returned to test takers differently than in years past. The email address that was entered by the student on the answer folder on the day of testing will be used by College Board to send a link to access scores online. Please be on the lookout for the email from the College Board with the link to access scores, as it will also include other important information.
RBHS will also hand out paper copies of the scores and return test booklets to each student that took the PSAT sometime in January. Students should listen to announcements for the hand out date and expect to receive a follow up email to confirm this information as well. For testing-related questions, please contact Michelle Bauer, Testing Director, at
bauerm@rbhs208.net.
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Business Students Pitch Their Product Ideas to Community Professionals
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RBHS Business students have been preparing to pitch their product ideas to business professionals within our surrounding community.
This culminating class project is a collaboration between Burcor Properties and RB's Business Principles and Accounting class. Students created a product/service and are in the process of completing their business plans to share with our volunteer professionals. These professionals will critique and offer expert advice on each of the student's ideas.
"Working with Donna Hutchinson, from Burcor Properties, we decided to take this project to the next level and include Junior Achievement and RBTV into the mix," said Business Teacher Patty Sarkady. "We thought the students would receive an authentic experience if we were to mimic CNBC's hit TV show, Shark Tank." Junior Achievement visited the class to talk about entrepreneurship during seven class sessions throughout a two-month span. "Our JA volunteer, Ms. Mia, was knowledgeable, professional and really encouraged the students to get out of their comfort zones," said Sarkady.
The pitch and conversation between each company and the business professionals was videotaped on RBTV December 7. The show called, Dog House, will highlight the students' companies and products as the business "Bulldogs" decide if they will invest in each product.
Business professionals included Principal & Founder Burcor Properties Jerry Burjan; Business Education Liaison Donna Hutchinson; Chief Creative Director and Marketing Strategist Nick Pann; Suite Spotte CEO Sue Reardon; and Financial Consultant Ed Farrell.
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Extracurricular Activities Update
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Model UN at Carthage College
On November 4, RB Model United Nations participated in the 17th annual Carthage College Model UN Conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Twenty RB students represented the nations of the Russian Federation, Poland, Singapore, Kuwait, and Bolivia in General Assembly, Security Council, and Human Rights Council Committees, as well as advised President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Students prepared for over a month, researching their assigned nations and determining their countries' positions on topics ranging from future borders in the Middle East, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the international oil crisis, combating extremism through non-military means, child marriage, and the death penalty.
Model UN delegates are expected to maintain their country's perspective throughout their research and negotiation in committee sessions. Students must write, speak, listen, and read as if they were truly representing the citizens of their assigned nations, putting aside any personal opinions or reservations. They are also expected to learn and follow international parliamentary procedures in order to align their work with that of the actual UN.
For their participation in Model UN and diligence in their preparation, each student was offered a $4,000 scholarship to Carthage College and had their admission fees waived. Congratulations to RB Model UN delegates!
The next conference that RB Model UN will attend is the Model United Nations of the University of Chicago Conference held at the Palmer House in Chicago from February 2-5. The 16 delegates will represent the nation of Guatemala and serve on the Historical Cabinet of Vietnam in 1945.
Art Club
The Art Club is up and running and meets after school in room 248 on  the first and third Tuesday of each month. The Art Club also has been busy in the community. Art Club members painted a 25 foot mural that is installed for thousands of Metra commuters to see each day on the back of the Riverside Art Center, promoting a wonderful local institution and major public exposure to a collaborative student painting.
Student Association Update
Student Association, in collaboration with Life Source, collected 109 pints of blood at their recent drive. In November, Student Association donated 14 baskets full of all the Thanksgiving Dinner fixings for local families and is currently working on Santa Anonymous and collecting coats, blankets, hats, scarves and mittens to help people stay warm this winter.
The Iliad, The Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less
The fall play, The Iliad, The Odyssey, and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less, was met with rave reviews by all who attended one of the three performances. Students acted, sang, and danced their way into the hearts of all audience members. Auditions for the Spring Musical, Annie, are under way now.
Speech Team
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Elona Selenica (right) and Marissa Neiburg (left)
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On December 3, the Speech Team attended the Elk Grove Invitational. With 23 schools in attendance, Elona Selenica won 1st place in Humorous Interpretation and Marissa Neiburg broke into finals for Impromptu. The team is led by Kim Baratta and Colleen Stahnke.
German Club Visits the Christkindlmarket in Chicago
 On December 3, the German Club visited the Christkindlmarket on Daley Plaza and did an architectural tour on the way from Union Station, featuring Helmut Jahn and Mies van der Rohe creations.
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Information from the Office of Student Affairs
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Winter safety tips when walking to school
As we transition into our colder months of the year, we want to remind all students that walk to school to:
1. Wear multiple layers including a hat, gloves, a scarf or face mask on really cold days to prevent frostbite.
2. Wear sturdy shoes and or boots with rubber soles. Larger boots are preferred as you can add a wool or comparable warm sock with it.
3. Wear bright reflective clothes to make yourself more visible to drivers.
Tardies to 1st period
With the bridge project in Brookfield complete, unexcused tardies are back up and running for all students late to 1st period. Students arriving after 8 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and after 8:40 a.m. on Thursdays will be marked tardy, given a HERO pass, and will have a notification sent home electronically.
Hats and Hoods
Hats and hoods are not allowed to be worn by students during school hours from 8:00 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. Students found to be wearing any headgear during the school day will be tracked using HERO. For a first offense, students will receive a warning, followed by a lunch detention on the second, and a Saturday detention on the third.
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On November 18, RB welcomed a guest speaker from the WE Service  organization. Students had the opportunity to learn more about the WE Service organization and how students all over the world are making an impact at a local, national, and global level. WE has joined with the College Board to bring a service component to specific AP courses. At RB, the courses involved with the WE Service organization are AP Computer Science A, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and AP Studio Art.
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| AP Spanish Students Visit Northern Illinois Food Bank |
On November 30, AP Spanish students traveled to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, as part of their participation with the WE Service organization, to prepare meals for area families in need. Over the course of the day, RB students were responsible for packaging over 300 meals to help feed the hungry.
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Student Services Events and Information
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College Aid Planning Night with Joe Orsolini from College Aid Planner
January 17, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium
Parents from all grade levels are welcome
Local Scholarship Applications for Seniors
Local scholarship applications will be available on the Student Services website on February 6, 2017. You can access the applications by clicking
Local Scholarship
. The deadline for most applications is March 10, 2017, although a few scholarships have a different deadline. Please see your counselor with any questions.
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Technology Spotlight
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Due to low attendance, the last session of the Parent Technology Series was cancelled. RBHS continues to seek out ways to support parents of students in the 1:1 Technology Series. Questions about how to better support students in the 1:1 Technology Initiative can be directed to a student's classroom teacher or to RB's Instructional Technology Coordinator, Bridget Wilmot. Parents are encouraged to talk to students about how they are using technology in their classes as teachers are consistently investigating and implementing innovative technology in the classroom to support student learning.
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Our website called 8to18.com, which we launched to communicate Athletic information to the public, continues to grow and has many links and school forms for parents and community. Please check it out at
http://il.8to18.com/RBHS and sign up now for e-mail alerts from the Athletic Department regarding important information regarding our athletic contests.
Fall Sports Summary
Congratulations to all fall athletes on a successful season. Some varsity team highlights are below. For a full, detailed summary, please visit the
athletic website.
- Girls Varsity Volleyball - MSC Conference Champions, having an 11-1 record in MSC and 26-10 overall record, IHSA Sectional Champions
- Girls Varsity Cross Country - 1st in IHSA Regionals, 2nd IHSA Sectional Champions, 12th at IHSA State Finals - Highest in school history
- Girls Golf - 5th in IHSA Regionals, 4th at MSC Tournament
- Boys Cross Country - 1st at MSC Conference Meet, 1st IHSA Regional, 1st IHSA Sectional, 11th at IHSA State Finals
- Girls Tennis - 3rd in MSC Conference, 4th at MSC Tournament, 6th at IHSA Sectional
- Varsity Football - 7-3 overall, 4-1 MSC record 2nd place, IHSA playoffs 1st round
- Girls Swimming - 4th at Independent Conference Meet, New Team Record, Julia Keller 100 BS, 4th in IHSA Sectional
- Boys Golf - 6th in MSC, 5th in IHSA Regional
- Boys Soccer - 2nd in MSC
Winter Sports are in Full Swing!
- Boys Basketball opened their season 3-1 and were 2nd Place in our own Bill VandeMerkt Thanksgiving Tournament. The team played at the Team Rose Shootout on December 11 at the Moraine Valley College.
- Girls Basketball traveled to Maine East HS for their Thanksgiving games going 3-1.
- Wrestling opened their season at Morton HS and hosted the Bulldog Quad on December 3 at RB.
- Girls Gymnastics opened its season with two new Invites at Hinsdale South and Downers Grove North to create a more competitive schedule for the team this year. Their score has gone from 117 to 124 in the first two weeks.
- Boys Swimming had its first meet on December 3 at Maine East Invite.
- Competitive Dance had their first competition on November 19 and had their second competition on December 3 at Eisenhower HS.
- Competitive Cheerleading had their first competition at Sandburg HS on December 4.
Athletic Boosters
With the holiday season fast approaching, we know that many RB families will be placing catering orders for gatherings they may be hosting. For any RB family that places a catering order with the North Riverside Chick-fil-A and mentions RB Athletics, the company will give the Boosters 10 percent back of all the sales they do through those catering orders.
Football Team Participates in the Brookfield Zoo Reindeer 5K Run
A few members of the football team participated in the Brookfield Zoo Reindeer Run on December 3. Wearing their jerseys, other members of the team were spread throughout the course cheering on and directing participants. Way to go Bulldogs!!
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Student Recognition
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27th Annual Sheriff's Youth Service Medal of Honor
Volunteers make a difference in individual lives as well as communities. To recognize these efforts, the Sheriff of Cook County annually sponsors the 27th Annual Sheriff's Youth Service Medal of Honor. This award is given to residents of Cook County, grades 9-12, who have provided meaningful volunteer service to their communities. A minimum of 100 hours of voluntary (unpaid) community service is required to qualify during the period between September 1, 2015, and August 31, 2016. The following RB students received this award:
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Jovita Berzanskyte
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Class of 2017
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Gianni D'Altorio
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Class of 2017
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Madison Darcy
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Class of 2017
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Alexandria Hodges
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Class of 2017
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Derek Johnson
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Class of 2017
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Bailey Schejbal
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Class of 2017
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Jacqueline Servin
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Class of 2018
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Lizbeth Servin
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Class of 2017
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Cynthia Smith
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Class of 2017
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Jakob Veselsky
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Class of 2017
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Clark Williamson
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Class of 2018
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Excellence and Ethics
in Education
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Important Dates
Please check our website for the dates and locations of all performances and events.
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December 16
Repertory Dance Concert
7:00 p.m.
Auditorium
December 17
Repertory Dance Concert
7:00 p.m.
Auditorium
December 20 - December 22
1st Semester Final Exams
December 22
End of 2nd Quarter/1st Semester
December 23 - January 6
Winter Break
January 9
Classes Resume
January 9
PTO Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Room 201
January 16
Martin Luther King Holiday
No School
January 17
College Aid Planning Night
7:00 p.m.
Auditorium
January 18
Future Bulldog Night
7:00 p.m.
Gymnasium
January 28
Freshman Registration
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(By Appointment)
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Contact Us
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(708) 442-7500
newsletter@rbhs208.net
See our website for individual staff email addresses
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