|
Superintendent's Message
Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
It is hard to imagine that we have gone through the first quarter of the 2015-2016 school year so quickly! October has been a very busy month at RB with construction, student activities, and homecoming. The weather cooperated for the dedication of the Kennelly Athletic Complex on October 2, 2015, which was an exciting event. The football and soccer homecoming games were the first played on our new field. We would like to thank our past and present Bulldogs, their families, community members, teachers, coaches, and our invited guests for making this a memorable event.
As the month of November unfolds, we think ahead to our Thanksgiving holiday. I would like to wish all the families and friends of District 208 a safe, healthy, and happy holiday.
Cordially,
Kevin Skinkis, Ed.D.
|
The Life Safety/Capital Improvement Projects
|
|
|
Phase II of the Athletic Complex, which includes the field, track, bleachers, track events, and locker room, will be completed by early November. As part of the Phase II Athletic Complex Project, the long jump and pole vault runway and pit are being moved from inside the stadium to an area south of the existing tennis courts located behind the stadium. This concept has been a part of the original plan and has been included in all drawings and public meetings since the beginning of the planning process. This configuration replaces the shot put and discus areas, which are being moved into the stadium.
The Village of Brookfield has recently advised the District that additional zoning approval is now required. This development usually involves a lengthy and expensive process with the Village. The District questioned this requirement and asked the Village for more information. Instead of providing the requested information or engaging in discussion with the District, the Village issued a "Stop Work Order." The order threatened to require the District to remove the nearly completed work unless it applies for and receives zoning approval from the Village. The District is evaluating the Village's order, which, if not promptly resolved, may disrupt the boys and girls track season next spring.
Phase III of the Project, which includes renovation and relocation of the tennis courts and construction of a small parking lot, is still on hold while the court reviews the Village's denial of zoning permission for the District to proceed with this part of the Project.
The District is trying to identify ways to resolve both the Phase II and III issues without further litigation, but is facing a new roadblock as a result of the Village's "Stop Work Order."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Throughout the months of September and October, the Administration presented updated data to the Board of Education in relation to the District's Goals. For a summary of the District's Goals please click the on the following link: District Goals.
|
|
|
 |
Weather and School Cancellation
|
|
|
As we near the end of another fall season, weather will begin to change. This is just a reminder as we prepare for the upcoming winter season. Please make sure your students are dressing appropriately for weather conditions. Attendance is crucial for students to get the most out of their classes and the learning experiences offered daily at RB.
When necessary, school cancelations will be communicated through the website, auto call, Skyward, and local news outlets.
If weather conditions enable the faculty and staff to attend and operate the school, the District's goal is to conduct classes as scheduled. During periods of inclement weather, we understand that a parent may choose to keep their child home. If that choice is made, please remember to call the attendance line to verify and/or excuse your child's absence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The months of November and December will only have one Board of Education meeting due to the Thanksgiving holiday and winter break. The November Board meeting will be held on November 10, 2015, and the December Board meeting will be held on December 8, 2015.
For more information on Board of Education meetings, please check the RB website under the Board of Education tab or you can watch the meetings on
www.rbtv.tv.
|
|
|
|
|
Principal's Message
The student-run technology help desk is up and running! Students are available to help classmates
in troubleshooting Chromebook-related issues, as well as Google Apps, Skyward, and Schoology  navigation. The help desk is located in the library and assistance is available every period of the day.
To prepare your student for the upcoming course selection process for the 2016-17 school year, please review the updated curriculum guide with your student and discuss the courses he or she plans to take next year. Encourage your student to explore a new interest by taking one of our elective courses or to embrace a challenge by taking an honors or Advanced Placement course. Additional information regarding the registration process is included below and found on the
website.
I would like to wish all of our RB families a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
Kristin Smetana
Principal
|
|
|
|
|
There was an all junior practice ACT exam given on November 4. Students were tested in the East Gym from 1st through 4th periods.
|
|
|
Illinois State Board of Education's PARCC Links and Information
|
|
|
The ISBE has developed a toolkit to explain what to expect and to help all stakeholders understand the upcoming district, school, and individual student results for the PARCC exam. The PARCC score toolkit provides FAQs, talking points, fact sheets, sample score reports, other materials that outline what the results will look like, and what they will mean for schools and students. Educators and parents can use the results to tailor instruction and support for each child at an earlier age to promote college and career readiness. Here are some helpful links:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Parent Technology Series is in full swing having held two sessions with two more scheduled for second quarter. The last session in the Parent Technology Series was held during Parent Conferences, which gave parents the opportunity to stop by and ask questions. The next session in the series is scheduled for November 10.
|
|
|
Social Issues Apps in AP Computer Science
|
|
|
The AP Computer Science classes hosted a gallery walk for the first Social Issues Apps they have created. The main issue the classes have been addressing is Access to Education, however, some students also chose to integrate other issues. Faculty and staff were invited to join the students and see what they have accomplished by using the apps the students created. Students were on hand to help run the apps for those who needed some extra assistance.
|
|
|
Seeking Veterans for November 11 Program
|
|
________________________________________________________________
|
Students will have an opportunity to honor our military veterans in a personal way at our annual Veterans Day program on November 11 from 8:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. We are seeking veterans willing to discuss their service with students and answer questions about their experiences.
The program begins with a continental breakfast, followed by a school-wide assembly honoring the veterans in attendance, and ends with more personal classroom question and answer sessions. Interested veterans should contact John Fields at
708-442-9298
or Mary Ann Nardi at
|
|
|
Attendance Challenge and Student Handbook Reminders
|
|
|
Fall is here and with the change in weather conditions, the Office of Student Affairs would like to remind our student body to leave for school earlier on days of inclement weather and to dress for the elements. Winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves are all essential items for students walking and/or riding to and from school. As students enter the building, they are to follow all dress code expectations regarding head wear and coats.
Over the past two weeks, the Dean's Office met with students during lunch periods to review the student handbook for behavior expectations during second quarter. Please review this information with your student at home, as well. The student handbook can be found on the
RBHS website.
The Attendance Challenge is up and running for all lunch periods.  The lunch period with the highest overall attendance for a given week will earn rewards such as music, lunch on the lawn, and/or a raffle drawing for additional prizes. An Attendance Challenge mural representing attendance percentages was painted in the Cafeteria by our 5th period art students. It was presented to lunch periods last month.
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Patrick McGrath from Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital will be presenting on Anxiety in Adolescents on November 5 in the Little Theater. Dr. McGrath is the Director of the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD) and the Co-Director of the School Anxiety Program and School Refusal Program at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates.
Dr. McGrath has authored a stress management workbook called "Don't Try Harder, Try Different" as well as "The OCD Answer Book." He has also been featured in many newspapers, journals, and magazines, and has been on numerous radio and television programs across the country, including The John Williams Show on WGN Radio, WGN Television News, CBS News, National Public Radio, PBS, The Sally Jesse Raphael Radio Show, and The Steve Cochran Show. He was recently featured on the Discovery Health Channel's documentary "Anxious" and filmed episodes of "Hoarding: Buried Alive" for The Learning Channel. Dr. McGrath frequently has speaking engagements around the country, leads an active research program, trains students in the treatment of anxiety, and presents at national conferences focusing on anxiety disorders.
All parents/guardian, educators and community members are encouraged to attend this program free of charge.
Presenter:
Dr. Patrick McGrath from Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital
Date:
November 5, 2015
Time:
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Location:
Riverside Brookfield High School, Little Theater
Registration:
Free
|
Yearbook and Senior Recognition Ads
|
|
|
 Show the senior class how much you appreciate them by submitting a senior recognition ad for the yearbook! Visit
www.jostensadservice.com
for more information and to create your ad. Also, don't forget to order your yearbook. Prices go up after the first semester, so order now!
|
|
|
Smart * Savvy * Chic ~ Shop at the RB Boutique!
|
|
|
 Do you have fashion sense? Do you enjoy meeting new people and having fun working on a fantastic project for community high school girls? The RBHS PTO is hosting an exclusive pop-up boutique on
Saturday, February 27,
where savvy high school girls can purchase designer dresses and accessories for prom without the designer prices!
Come join the RB Boutique for a one-time meeting for planning this exciting event on Wednesday, November 18, at RBHS in Room 201 at 7p.m.
|
|
|
Upcoming December National ACT and SAT Exam Registration Deadlines
|
|
|
Students interested in taking either the national ACT or SAT in December may do so at any neighboring school that will be hosting the exam on those dates. RB will not be hosting any December national test dates.
The national ACT will be offered on December 12. Interested students should register by November 6 at
www.actstudent.org
.
|
|
|
Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor Newsletter
|
|
|
Starting in November, a monthly CADC (Certified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor) newsletter will be posted on the
RBHS website
and will serve as an informative drug and alcohol resource to the RB community. The newsletter will contain a variety of helpful information regarding topics, such as new research, drug trends, helpful resources, and overall general information related to adolescents and substance use.
The current newsletter contains some helpful information regarding slang categorized by substance. For questions or more details, contact Megan Williams, LCPC, CADC, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Rosecrance,
708-442-7500 ext. 2169
, or
[email protected].
|
|
|
Information for the Class of 2020
|
|
|
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Incoming freshmen are invited to RBHS on December 2 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. to visit with the nearly 50 athletic groups, clubs, and groups that are available to the students. Current members, as well as the sponsors, will be on hand in the gymnasium to answer questions.
Student involvement in extracurricular activities has proven to be an excellent way to encourage strong connections to school and helps build positive relationships with teachers and other students. Joining a group will enable your child to spend more time engaged in activities that are of interest to them and will help develop your child's unique strengths and talents
.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
High School Placement Exam at Riverside Brookfield High School
8:00 a.m. - approximately 10:30 a.m. for regular testing
Students with extended time will finish later depending on their accommodations.
Bring two #2 pencils and a calculator
Contact April Englehart in Student Services at ext. 2190 with questions.
You must have completed the online registration form in order for your student to test.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Incoming Freshman Pre-Registration and Curriculum Night (for Parents & Students)
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Contact April Englehart in Student Services at ext. 2190 with questions.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Registration at Riverside Brookfield High School (for Parents & Students)
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Appointment times TBD
Contact April Englehart in Student Services at ext. 2190 with questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fall Play - The Great Gatsby
"The Great Gatsby" will be performed on the RB stage on November 12, 13, and 14. Thirty students will act on stage, with nearly as many serving on the lighting, sound and stage crew. The play is directed by Mrs. Diane Marelli and assisted by Mrs. Rosanne Marshall. Costumes and music from "The Jazz Age", and a set built by Mr. David Weishar all add to the excitement. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets may be purchased in the Business Office. Performance times are 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 12 and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 and 14.
Fretted Friends
RB's newest club, Fretted Friends, is up and running! This club is for students who are interested in jamming out on either ukulele or classical guitar. Their first meeting was held on October 23, engaging many musicians new to the RB music department! For more information about this club please email Mr. Baum at
[email protected].
Ecology Club
The first restoration workday for the Ecology Club was on Sunday, November 1, from 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at Waubansee Woods.
French Week
French Classes and French Club will be celebrating French week from November 16 through November 20. All week French classes will host a bilingual art project exhibit in the Art Exhibit Space at RB on the 2nd floor.
Student Association
In October the Student Association and the National Honor Society raised $600 through a penny pinch fundraiser. This money was donated to Chris Ellis, our honorary Bulldog and Brookfield resident who is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. The check was delivered to Chris the day after his 6th birthday.
On October 28, the Student Association hosted the first of two blood drives, and all students 16 or older were eligible to donate.
The Student Association is currently planning three major holiday fundraisers. The first fundraiser will be Thanksgiving baskets filled with non-perishable items and gift cards to purchase a turkey. The second fundraiser will be Santa Anonymous, which helps less-fortunate people in the area. And the third fundraiser is scheduled to be a coat, blanket, hat, mitten, and scarf drive. All of the items will be donated through a local charity.
Scholastic Bowl
Scholastic Bowl is now two weeks into its conference competitions. Both the Varsity and JV teams are 4-0 under captains Marly Santora (Varsity), Alec Frank (Varsity) and Erik Robertson (JV).
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Student Services Events
|
|
|
Conquering the Challenges of College Costs - Right College, Right Price
Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the RB Auditorium
Presented by Frank Palmasani, founder of Financial Fit (The breakthrough tool that helps parents and students keep college affordable and avoid excessive debt.) Learn about the latest Department of Education initiatives, finding affordable college options, paying for college without excessive debt, and how to maximize benefits for scholarships and grants.
College Planning Kick-Off Night for Juniors and Parents
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
A panel of college admission experts -- Annie Kremer from DePaul University in Chicago, Nate Barger from the University of Cincinnati, Julie Nelson from Xavier University in Cincinnati, and Sujith Zachariah from Triton -- will provide a number of helpful planning tips as you begin the college search process. This is a night college-bound juniors and parents should not miss.
Attention Seniors - Transcript Request Deadline
All transcript requests to be sent before the holiday break must be received by your counselor by Friday, December 11. Requests received after the deadline will be processed in January 2016.
2016-17 Course Selection
Please ask to see your student's course selection form and review RB's online Curriculum Guide for specific course information.
Pre-Course Selection Meetings with Counselors
|
November 4 & 5
|
Class of 2018 - Sophomores
|
|
November 23 & 24
|
Class of 2019 - Freshmen
|
|
January 11 & 12
|
Class of 2017 - Juniors
|
Course Selection Appointments with Counselors
|
November 9 - 20
|
Register Class of 2018
|
|
December 1 -15
|
Register Class of 2019
|
|
December 16 &17
|
Make-ups for the Class of 2018 & 2019
|
|
January 13 - 25
|
Register Class of 2017
|
|
January 26 & 27
|
Make-ups for the Class of 2017
|
|
|
|
|
Athletic Updates
|
|
|
Fall Sports have concluded their regular season schedules, and several teams are competing in IHSA S
tate Tournaments.
-
Boys and Girls Cross Country teams competed in the IHSA sectional on Saturday, October 31
-
Football played St. Ignatius in the first round of the IHSA playoff  series on October 30 at RB and defeated St. Ignatius, 28-13. This game was the first round of the IHSA playoff series. RB will take on Grayslake North High School in Round two of playoffs on Saturday, November 7 at 1 p.m. in the RB's Kennelly Stadium. Tickets and t-shirts will be sold all week in the Athletic Office.
- Boys and Girls Golf have concluded their season and state playoffs. The Boys qualified for Sectionals by placing 3rd in the Regionals
- Boys Soccer won the MSC West Championship with a 5-0 record
- Girls Swimming will compete in IHSA state sectional November 14
- Girls Tennis has concluded their season and state playoffs
- Girls Volleyball are Conference Champions and are competing in the IHSA regionals this week
To help keep the Bulldog Community connected, sign up and follow us on Twitter @rbhsathletics
Join a Winter Sports Team
Be active and stay engaged by joining a winter sport. See the dates below:
October 26 - Competitive Cheerleading and Competitive Dance
November 2 - Girls Basketball
November 9 - Girls Gymnastics, Boys Basketball, and Wrestling
November 23 -
Boys Swimming
Fall Athletes of the Week
Our new website, 8to18.com, which was launched in early August 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 about our athletic contests. RB "Athletes of the Week" are highlighted on this site. The fall sport winners are:
Gia Cinkay, Volleyball Michael Gruber, Golf
Mia Hruska, Cross Country Leanna Keen, Cross Country
Paulina Linares, Cross Country Mateo Nunez, Cross Country
Mikah Patil, Soccer Dana Rettke, Volleyball
Ryan Swift, Football
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Derek Johnson and Spencer Williams recently attended the Northern Illinois University Hackathon (#HuskieHack). For 24 hours, Derek and Spencer worked with another teammate to create a software project "for the greater
|
|
|
Spencer Williams (Junior)
|
good." Competing against over 200 other college and high school students comprising 50 teams, their team placed 3rd overall. Competing in the health care category, they developed an iPhone app for patients and families of patients suffering from Dementia. The app's design integrates GPS tracking and health data to allow family and caretakers to know if a loved one has left specific areas.
Students of the Quarter
On Friday, October 16, we honored 10 students representing each academic department and a Student Building Leader who exemplify our values of "Excellence and Ethics in all Bulldogs Do!" These students were nominated by faculty for excelling in two areas: academics and character.
(Pictured L-R)
Front Row:
Marly Santora, (Senior) Math Recipient recipient; Isabelle Echevarria (Senior) Library Department Recipient; Nicole Kural (Senior) World Language Department Recipient
Back Row:
Ms, Kristin Smetana (Principal); Abigail Schwarz (Senior) Fine Arts Department Recipient; Nerija Cuplinskas (Senior) Science Department Recipient; Colin Hughes (Senior) Applied Arts Recipient.
Not shown in photo:
Morgan Kraus (Senior) Building Leader Recipient; Kierra Collins (Senior) Social Science Department Recipient; Gianna Finnigan (Freshman) Wellness Department Recipient
|
|
|
|
|
|
Excellence and Ethics
in Education
|
|
|
Important Dates
Please check our website for the dates and locations of all performances and events.
|
|
________________________
|
Parent Technology Workshop - Skills for Success
College Planning Tips for Freshmen Families
Veterans' Day Breakfast / Assembly
Financial Fit: Affording College Costs
Fall Play - The Great Gatsby
Fall Play - The Great Gatsby
College Kick-Off Night for Juniors
December 2
Jostens Class Ring Delivery for Sophomores
Student Cafeteria/ Commons Area
We Are RB - Open House Event for Incoming Freshmen Families
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Us
|
|
|
See our website for individual staff email addresses
|
|
|
|
|
|
