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Superintendent's Message
Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a safe and restful holiday season. For our District, 2015 is slated to be an exciting and busy year. Two major items worth following are the capital improvements to the District's facilities and the continued implementation of the District's Technology Plan with the end goal being a 1:1 computing school. For more up-to-date information pl ease check the RB website under the Board of Education tab, or you can watch the meetings on www.rbtv.tv.
Kevin Skinkis, Ed.D.
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Life Safety/Capital Improvement Projects
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The pre-demolition asbestos abatement work was completed in December. The District has received its all clear letter from the environmental engineer. Phase 1 construction (demolition of the home and visiting bleachers) will commence in the middle of January.
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Upcoming Board Meetings
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The Board of Education is scheduled to meet twice in this month on January 13 and January 27. For more information on the 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.
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Principal's Message
 I hope your holiday season was safe and restful. As the new semester begins, encourage your student to reflect on their first semester grades and to set goals for their second semester performance. Remind your student that persistence and hard work, along with a willingness to ask for help, will enable them to reach their goals. For ideas on how to help your student make improvements in academic achievement, read our Steps to Success brochure. In addition to reinforcing these ideas at home, your student will find that we have plenty of people and resources here at RB to help them reach their academic goals. Through grade level assemblies, our building administration will meet with all students to review academic and behavior expectations and resources. Presentations will be located on the RBHS website later this month. Kristin Smetana |
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Important Information for Incoming Freshmen, Class of 2019
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Incoming Freshman Curriculum and Registration Night
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.
In order to accommodate such a large incoming class, the event must be held in the RB gymnasium. We will have a limited number of chairs available on the main floor, which means that some families will have to use bleacher seating. Students and at least one parent of all incoming freshmen must attend. Using test data received from the placement exam and 8th grade teacher recommendations, Instructional Coaches will make placement recommendations in English, Math, Science, and World Language. You will receive placement exam results, recommended placements for your student's freshman year, and have an opportunity to speak with Instructional Coaches. Additionally, you will receive information about the registration process, course selections, and your registration appointment time for Saturday, January 24.
Incoming Freshman Registration & Course Selection Day
Saturday, January 24, 2015
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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Assessment Information
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Junior Practice ACT
Wednesday, February 4
Gymnasium, Periods 1 - 4B
All RB juniors will take a second practice ACT test in the school's gymnasium, periods
1 - 4B. Regardless of the student's regular lunch period, all juniors will eat C Lunch on this day in the gymnasium. The purpose of this test is to provide juniors with an opportunity to practice taking an ACT prior to the official ACT test on March 3, which includes a writing section.
PARCC Test Information
PARCC is the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a 16-state and District of Columbia consortium, which has developed computer-based K-12 assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics linked to the new Illinois Learning Standards. PARCC contains extensive constructed response questions that better resemble student classroom work, supports educators by providing data to inform instruction, and provides parents with information about their children's progress in Mathematics and English.
Originally, the Illinois Board of Education mandated testing of students in junior level Mathematics and English classes; however, recently the State Superintendent made the decision to allow schools, this year only, to test a different grade level of students. For this year, we decided that we would test all students in Geometry/Geometry Honors and English 10/English 10 Honors, which will provide the school, students, and parents meaningful feedback about student academic growth. All students enrolled in those classes, regardless of grade level, will take the PARCC exam in March and May 2015. Additional resources and information are listed on the RBHS website.
PARCC Sample Questions
Encourage your sophomore student to visit the PARCC website and to try sample test questions on the technology platform that the computer-based tests will use. They can engage with the different types of items (drag-and-drop, multiple select, etc.) and computer based tools (calculator, highlighter, etc.) that will be available. Below is a mathematics sample question. Additional resources are listed on the RBHS website.
Sample Mathematics Question from the PARCC website
A scientist is studying the cooling patterns of a particular material over time. Her research requires heating a sample of the material to 200�C. She records the temperature of the sample as it is cooled to 0�C. The table shows the data collected during the first 2 minut
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Time material is cooling (seconds)
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0
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40
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80
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120
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Temperature 0�C)
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200
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141
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101
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74
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The figure shows the scientist's data (data points are plotted as large dots). Three possible models for the data are also shown: a linear model, a quadratic model, and an exponential model. 
Part A
- Which model is linear? Which model is quadratic? Which model is exponential?
- Which model is best for the range of times 0 < t < 250?
- Explain why the other models do not fit the data very well for the range of times 0 < t < 250.
Part B - Construct a function using the type of model you decided is best (linear, quadratic, or exponential). Show your work and use function notation when entering your answer.
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Attendance Message from the Dean's Office
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As the snow approaches, it may be necessary to leave home a little earlier in order to get your student to school on time. Students are expected to be in their classes by 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and by 8:40 a.m. on Thursdays.
Parents, if you have any questions about your student's attendance, please check Skyward. Checking Skyward at least once a week for attendance issues will avoid issues that can affect senior final exam exemptions.
If your student is not in attendance for the day, please call Ms. Spry at 708-442-8407 before 10:00 a.m. Failure to call within 24 hours of the absence will result in an unexcused absence.
When calling the attendance line please provide the following information:
- Parent/Guardian name
- Student name (spelling of the last name)
- Reason for the absence
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Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
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Please drive carefully and be patient with the traffic, both vehicle and foot. In an effort to ensure the safety of our students, we are asking that you form a single file line of cars along the west side of the building as your students are dropped off. Do not double park, execute U-turns, or enter the faculty parking lot to turn around, as all such maneuvers create potentially dangerous situations for our students and other motorists. Once inside the circle drive located at door A, slowly pull out into the street watching for our students crossing Golf from the west.
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Student Activity News
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New Clubs for Students
Something new, just for you! We now have a Girls who Code club and a Fishing club as well. Go to the school's website to find out where and when they meet and to learn more about each of them.
Computer Science Week
December 8 - 14
As a part of a national initiative to introduce coding to millions of students, the Math Department hosted an "Hour of Code" in their classrooms for one class period. Videos were also shown in Math classes to explain the importance of studying computer science. Students were also introduced to a new course to be offered next year at RB, Computer Science (CS) Principles. RBHS joined students worldwide to reach 100 million students exploring computer science!
Collaboration with Cantata
 On Wednesday, December 10, the Riverside Brookfield High School girls' basketball team spent time creating holiday-themed arts and crafts with Cantata residents. Additionally, every week, a group of students in Association of Students for Tolerance (AST) plays bingo, charades, and other games with Cantata residents. John Beasley, AST sponsor, eagerly shared with Cantata staff, "It's all driven by the students themselves; all I do is drive them here!"
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PTO's RB Boutique
The Riverside Brookfield High School PTO is hosting "RB Boutique" on Saturday, March 14, 2015, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Hollywood House in Brookfield at 3435 Hollywood Ave. The boutique is a take-off of The Glass Slipper Project in Chicago, where local girls can purchase gently used, formal dresses and accessories for a fraction of the cost. The PTO wants to provide young, smart shoppers with extra money for other things, while also promoting the "green" idea of finding a new and creative life for something that otherwise might sit in a closet or be discarded.
The intent is to make this an annual event where The Hollywood House will be turned into an exclusive mini-boutique with hair, nail, and floral demonstrations. A raffle give-away, along with valuable hair, nail, and floral coupons, will be given to those who make a dress purchase. The proceeds will go back to RBHS to benefit the students.
So while you are looking through your glitzy, holiday jewelry, formal dresses, shoes, purses, and hair accessories this holiday season, please consider donating to this new and exciting program the things you won't be wearing!! For additional information about volunteering or making a donation, please visit the PTO's website.
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Student Recognition
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ILMEA Statewide Jazz Instrumental Category
Congratulations to Alex Tong for winning 3rd place in the Jazz Instrumental category in the ILMEA statewide composition contest for his composition "Bring it Outside".
Scholastic Team
The team finished their regular season with an undefeated record of 11-0-1. Four of our students finished in the Top 10 in our Conference. Go to the group's website to see the names of these students as well as to learn more about the group.
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Math Team
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Math Team
The Math Team placed second in our conference with numerous individual and team finishers. Visit the team's website to view these accomplishments.
Model UN
Our Model UN group attended the Carthage College Model UN conference where 20 schools from Illinois and Wisconsin were in attendance with 403 delegates participating. Our students represented the United States, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Columbia in General Assembly, and World Health Organization committees. Visit the Model UN website to learn more about the students that attended.
Fall Athletic Recognition
IHSA State Cross Country Meet Individual Results
Hailey Jurgens-38th place
Wayne Morrelly- 110th place
All-State Athletes Honorable Mention
Matt Chapp, Football
Dana Rattke, Girls' Volleyball
Academic All State Athletes
Louis Grigoletti, Football
David Prybl Pierdinock Football
Ryan Swift, Football
All - Conference Athletes
Hailey Jurgens, Girls' Cross Country
Matt Armenta, Boys' Cross Country
Andrew LeMesurier, Boys' Cross Country
Mateo Nunez, Boys' Cross Country
Matt Chapp, Football (Offensive Player of the Year),
Nick Fucinato, Football
Louis Grigoletti, Football
Adolfo Linares, Football
Jordan Petronella, Football
David Pribyl-Pierdinock, Football
Ryan Swift, Football
Dean Zigulich, Football
Sotero Barraza, Boys' Soccer
Robert Peugh, Boys' Soccer
Nerija Cuplinskas, Girls' Volleyball
Dana Rettke, Girls' Volleyball
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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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January 5
Classes Resume
January 5
Parent Advisory Council for Technology (PACT)
Room 202
6:00 p.m.
January 5
PTO Meeting
Room 201
7:00 p.m.
January 9
Student of the Quarter Breakfast
Alumni Lounge
7:15 a.m.
January 14
Incoming Freshmen
Pre-Registration Night
Gymnasium
7:00 p.m.
January 19
Martin Luther King Holiday
No Classes
January 20
Financial Planning Tips with Joe Orsolini
Auditorium
7:00 p.m.
January 24
Incoming Freshmen Registration
Commons
By Appointment
(9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
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Contact Us
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See our website for individual staff email addresses
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