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Superintendent's Message
Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
Even though we had snow in late March, according to the calendar, spring is finally here. Graduation is right around the corner for our seniors, and we have recently met some of our incoming freshmen. Below are a few points of interest.
Kevin Skinkis, Ed.D.
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District Technology Plan
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The Board approved the District Technology Plan for a 1:1 Initiative and the new technology fee for incoming freshmen at the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 24. Incoming freshmen will receive a Chromebook for the start of the 2015-16 school year. This will be a culmination of two years of planning by the Administration and Staff. Please see more about this plan in the Principal's report.
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Staffing
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Based on enrollment numbers from the course selection process, the District will be adding approximately three full time teachers next school year. The addition of this staff will continue to support the Board's goal to lower class sizes in the core academic areas and continue to offer a rich variety of elective courses. Courses that did not have enough students sign up will not run next school year, but will be listed again during the course selection process next fall.
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Naming Rights
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At the March Committee of the Whole meeting, the Board approved an agreement with Mr. Jerry Kennelly to name the athletic complex the "Kennelly Athletic Complex." His uncle, Martin H. Kennelly, was a civic leader from the Chicagoland area and also served as the 47th Mayor of Chicago. This agreement is for the outdoor complex naming rights only, and does not limit the District from soliciting other donors or advertising throughout the complex such as for the field, scoreboard, locker rooms, and other areas.
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Fine Arts Staffing Reduction
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A strong Fine Arts program is an essential component to a good high school. There have been a lot of questions and concerns presented to the Board and the Administration in regard to the staffing of the Fine Arts Department for the 2015-16 school year. To clarify, one of the music teachers will be teaching one less course for the second semester. There were not multiple cuts or reductions. This reduction was due to AP Music Theory not running next school year. Only three students signed up for the course. The District cannot justify running a course with three students when math, science, and English classes have on average 25-32 students per class. The AP Music Theory class will be offered again during registration next fall, and student enrollment will determine if the course runs the following school year. This is the same process the District uses for all academic departments and classes.
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Life Safety/Capital Improvement Projects
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The bids for Phases 2 and 3 (stadium, track, parking lot, tennis courts) will be opened on Monday, April 6. The bids and the Construction Manager's GMP will be reviewed at a Facilities Committee meeting on April 10 at 7:30 a.m. in Room 201. The bids will be presented to the Board of Education for discussion and/or approval at the Regular Board of Education meeting on April 14. We expect to begin construction in May and to complete the project by September.
The Brookfield Zoning Board has approved our permit application. The next step for this process is to go before the Village of Brookfield Board in April.
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Upcoming Board Meetings
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The Board of Education is scheduled to meet twice this month, on April 14 and April 28. 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
 With only weeks left, the 4th quarter is here and summer is just around the corner. Below you will find information about the summer opportunities available for students at RB. In March, students and a representative from Triton College, presented additional summer opportunities at the monthly PTO meeting. Visit the RB Educational Foundation website to apply for a grant to help offset any summer opportunities that your student may be interested in. Next year, as a part of our 1:1 initiative, freshman students will receive Chromebooks to take home. The Chromebooks will help us fulfill our mission of preparing students for constantly evolving technology and creating futures in education and employment that we cannot forecast. Through the use of Chromebooks, this 1:1 learning environment will help strengthen the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity of our freshman students. Visit the Incoming Freshman tab or Technology tab on the RBHS website for additional information regarding this initiative. The enthusiastic support shown by the student body
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RB 6th Man
Video created by Anthony Carrillo
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during the boys' basketball playoff run assisted the team in making school history by advancing to the Super Sectionals. Hundreds of students respectfully cheering on their peers to victory was amazing. Go Bulldogs! Kristin Smetana Principal |
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Standardized Testing Information
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MAP Testing for Freshman April 7 - 15
As part of RB's commitment to academic excellence, students in grade 9 will be taking a series of tests known as Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). These web-based assessments cover reading, science, and mathematics and are administered throughout the year. Students will be scheduled to take the spring administration of these exams during their English, science, and math classes April 7-15.
The purpose of these exams is to measure individual student growth and needs. This is the second year that MAP testing has been administered at RB, and it has proven to be a useful tool for teachers to inform their instruction. By knowing exactly what students already know and what they are ready to learn, teachers can develop targeted instructional strategies that increase learning for all students. Additional information about MAP tests can be found in the "Parent Toolkit for MAP Testing" on the RB website
PARCC Testing April 27 - 30
PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessments are computer based and ask students to respond to questions better paralleling class work in English and mathematics. This year, students enrolled in Geometry, Geometry Honors, English 10, and English 10 Honors will take the End of the Year (EOY) PARCC assessment during April 27 - 30. PARCC results provide helpful data for teachers to inform their instruction as well as provide parents information about their children's academic growth. Visit the school's website for more information about PARCC.
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Lunch on the Lawn
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 We believe student attendance is an integral part of the educational process. No classroom activity or experience can ever fully be replicated outside that time and place of its environment, so students need to miss as few classes as possible.
We are excited for the warmer weather and giving our students an opportunity to have lunch on the lawn this spring. In collaboration with the Student Association, the deans will be allowing any grade level that has had 95% attendance rate in March to have their lunch on the lawn in April. Any grade level that does not reach their goal can have lunch on the lawn in May if their grade reaches the 95% attendance goal in April.
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| Sign-Up Now for Summer Academics, Workshops, and Camps |
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Summer academic and athletic offerings for 2015 are posted on the RB website under the Student tab. The academic offerings include several academic workshops and camps as well as credit recovery opportunities. The non-credit academic workshops will assist students in transitioning to Advanced Placement (AP) or pre-AP courses. Additionally, a College Admissions Preparation (CAP) will also be offered for students to gain familiarity with the ACT test, learn test-taking skills, and understand the importance of pacing for this college preparatory assessment. There are also academic camps to provide students with opportunities to participate in band, prepare for the college application process, experience RBTV, become familiar with Chromebooks, and learn about theater, creative writing, and journalism. There are several athletic camps throughout the summer.
Registration is currently being taken in the Business Office through May 25. Forms are available online and in the Business Office. Currently enrolled students will be given priority for registration. All tuition and fees must be paid at the time of registration. Click here to link to the program booklet.
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Student of the Quarter
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On March 20, we honored 11 students representing each academic department, in addition to two student building leaders, 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.
Front Row: Silvana Alvarex (Junior - Building Leader recipient), Hailey Jurgens, (Freshman - Science Department recipient); Samantha Miezio (Sophomore - Mathematics Department recipient); Taylor Jensen (Sophomore - Fine Arts Department recipient); Julian Herrera (Senior - Library/Media Arts Department recipient); Back Row: Ms. Kristin Smetana (Principal); Sara DiFatta (Junior - English Department recipient); Parley Belsey Daily (Senior - Wellness Department recipient); Tom Loftus (Junior - Building Leader recipient); Not Pictured: Sydney Barrueta (Junior, Applied Arts Department recipient) Nick Jepson (Senior, Social Science Department recipient) Jazmin Andablo (Senior, World Language Department recipient).
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Class of 2015 Updates
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Graduation Information All graduates will be receiving a total of six tickets. Four tickets will be issued for the Main Gym, and two for either the Little Theater or the Auditorium where the ceremony is being broadcast live. Any student with outstanding debt needs to contact the Business Office to discuss payment arrangements. Only one ticket will be issued to any student with any unpaid fees. If you have purchased a Graduation Package for the 2015 Graduation, please email Mr. Passarella at [email protected]. Prom Prom will be held at the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare in Rosemont on May 1 from 7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. All students attending prom are required to ride the bus to and from the event. Students should arrive at RBHS at 6:00 p.m. to check-in and the last bus will leave at RBHS by 6:45 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale now in the Business Office. All fees must be paid in full in order for a student to be eligible to attend or purchase a prom ticket. Contact the Business Office for payment questions.
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Parking Permits for 2015-16
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Parking permit applications for the 2015-2016 school year will be made available this summer. Please check the RBHS website for additional information. Email Mr. Passarella at [email protected] with any questions.
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Student Services Update
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College Bus Trip for Juniors on Friday, April 10 Juniors are invited to see the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and Carroll University. The bus will leave RB at 7:30 a.m. and return around 5:15 p.m. The cost is $30 and permission slips can be picked up in Student Services or printed out online on the College and Career Counseling page of the website. Permission slips and payment should be returned to Ms. Englehart in Student Services by Wednesday, April 8, at 12 p.m. The trip usually fills up before the deadline, so students are encouraged to get their forms in before that deadline. Students with less than 95% attendance for the school year - more than 7 days of absence - must see Mr. Franko for permission to attend. Contact Mr. Franko with any questions. "What I Wish I Had Known" on Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 p.m. Juniors, sophomores, and their parents are encouraged to attend this yearly event to hear advice on the college admission process from a panel of current RB seniors and senior parents. The panel will share their experiences regarding the application process, college visits, essay writing, scholarship opportunities, completing the FAFSA, and more. Local Scholarship Ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium All students that are awarded a local scholarship will be invited to attend this event with their parents. The ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium followed by a light reception. Invitations will arrive mid-April.
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The Day of Silence
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Riverside Brookfield High School will be participating in the Day of Silence on Friday, April 17.
The Day of Silence is a national day of action in which students across the country vow to take a form of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. The Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying, and harassment, and effective responses. The goal of the Day of Silence is to make schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.
In a Harris Interactive study on bullying, students said two of the top three reasons students are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression. Additionally, nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment at school. Students across the country participate in The Day of Silence to bring attention to this problem, let students who experience such bullying know that they are not alone, and ask schools to take action to address the problem.
The day is a positive educational experience, and it is an opportunity for RB students to work toward improving school climate for all of our students. For more information, visit www.dayofsilence.org.
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PTO Day of Service - April 25
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RB Pa
rents, we need your help! J
oin us for a day of beautifying the community at RB's 3rd Annual Day of Service, Saturday, April 25! Work outside with the kids, serve food, or be a driver for the day. For more information, visit the PTO website.
(Day of service t-shirt design by Remy Doornebos)
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Student Accomplishments
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Monika Janas was selected as the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) Northern Illinois Affiliate Award Runner-Up. This award recognizes recipients for the strength of their computing aspirations and accomplishments, as well as their leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
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Athletic Accomplishments
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Congratulations to the following winter athletes and teams for their success:
Team Accomplishments
Boys Basketball - IHSA Sectional Champions, MSC Conference Champions (West Division)
Boys Swimming - Independent Conference Champions
Wrestling - IHSA Regional Champions
Cheerleading - MSC Conference Champions (West Division)
Dance - 16th in State
Individual Accomplishments
Girls Basketball
Samantha Bloom - All Area (Suburban Life), MSC All-Conference
Dana Rettke - All Area (Suburban Life), MSC All-Conference
Lyndsey Hoyd - All Area (Suburban Life)
Boys Basketball
Jalen Clanton - Honorable Mention - All State, Honorable Mention All Area (Suburban Life), MSC All-Conference
Daniko Jackson - Special Mention - All State, All Area (Suburban Life), MSC All-Conference
Sam Johnson - 3rd Team - All State, All Area MVP (Suburban Life), MSC All-Conference MVP
Kevin Fitzgerald - State Qualifier for the 3-point competition
Mark Smith - Honorable Mention All Area (Suburban Life), MSC All-Conference
Cheerleading
Haley Wolfer - MSC All-Conference
Maddie Hopek - MSC All-Conference
Mary O'Callaghan - MSC All-Conference
Cayley Stanislaw - MSC All-Conference
Dance
Grace Rasmussen - MSC All-Conference
Meredith McCarthy - MSC All-Conference
Gymnastics
Lacey Smith - IHSA Sectional Qualifier
Boys Swimming
Quinn Risley - 7th in State, 50 Freestyle & 20th in State, 100 Freestyle
Kevin Garza - 12th in State, 100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle - 10th in State (Quinn Risley, Christian Hernandez, Joey Rosa, and Kevin Garza)
200 Medley Relay - 13th in State (Tim Walsh, Christian Chavez, Kevin Garza, and Quinn Risley)
Mac Catrambone - 20th in State, Diving
Wrestling
Tommy Russull (106) - State Qualifier, IHSA Regional Champion
Josh Contreras (113) - State Qualifier, IHSA Regional Champion & MSC All-Conference
Joey Swallow (152) - IHSA Regional Champion
Al'lon Carter (220) - 5th in State, IHSA Regional Champion & MSC All-Conference
Nick Giurini (120) - State Qualifier, ? IHSA Regional Champion & MSC All-Conference
Antonio Ochoa (126) - State Qualifier, IHSA Regional Champion & MSC All-Conference
John Szydlo (145) - State Qualifier, IHSA Regional Champion & MSC All-Conference
Maxx Reeze - MSC All-Conference
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Staff Accomplishments
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While attending a College Board Service-Learning Workshop, Sandy  Czajka, along with another teacher, created a curriculum for AP Computer Science (APCS). Next year, RBHS and the Boston school will be the only two schools in the country to implement these units. If the students follow up with the service from the units, the College Board will give them a "Service Learning" distinction associated with APCS. When the curriculum is published, her name and RB will be cited.
Sandy also presented at the Special Interest Group for Computer Science Educators (SIGCSE) conference for university and high school computer science educators. At this conference, the College Board invited RB to be a pilot school for the new Computer Science Principles course next year.
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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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April 6
Non-Attendance Day
April 7
Classes Resume
April 9
Jazzapulooza IX
Band Room
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
April 13
PACT Meeting
Room 202
6 p.m.
April 13
PTO Meeting
Room 201
7 p.m.
April 14
Vocal Jazz Concert
Band Room
7 .m. - 9 p.m.
April 15
"What I Wish I Had Known" presentation
Auditorium
7 p.m.
April 16
Band/Orchestra Spring Concert
Auditorium
7 p.m.
April 24
RB's Bring Your Child to Work Day
April 25
P.T.O. Day of Service
April 29
Local Scholarship Night
Little Theater
7 p.m.
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Contact Us
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See our website for individual staff email addresses
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