District 208 and
Riverside Brookfield High School
Hallways
March 2015 

A parent and community newsletter. 
District 208 News
Superintendent's Message

Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff, and Community, 

 

We are fast approaching the middle of the second semester. Spring is almost here! There are a lot of exciting events to follow in District 208 this spring! For more up-to-date information, please check the RB website under the Board of Education tab, or you can watch the meetings on www.rbtv.tv.


Cordially,

 

Kevin Skinkis, Ed.D.
Life Safety/Capital Improvement Projects

Phase 1 construction (demolition of the home and visitor bleachers) has been completed. Specifications for Phase 2 (home/visitor bleachers, track, field surface, and locker rooms) and Phase 3 (tennis courts and parking lot) should be going out for bid by the end of March.

 

Phase 3 (the tennis courts and parking lot) still requires zoning and permits from the Village of Brookfield. Our second zoning commission hearing is March 12 at the Brookfield Village Hall. The Village ordinance requires a "variance" on fence height and fence setback since the plan is to move the tennis courts to a different location on District property. A "special use" permit is required for a parking lot on RB's property by Rockefeller Avenue. Please consider attending this meeting and vocalizing your support for the proposed improvements.

 

District Technology Plan

The Administration has been providing updates to the Board on the District's technology plan. The proposal is to provide all incoming freshmen with Chromebooks at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. This format will be followed through 2018 until all grade levels have Chromebooks. The Administration will present this proposal formally to the Board in March. More information about the Technology Plan can be found on the RB website under the "District" tab.

Naming Rights

The Board of Education is considering providing naming rights to individuals or entities that make a significant donation to the School District. These sponsors will help pay for the construction of improvements at the outdoor athletic facility. Letters to corporations have been sent and advertisements have been placed in newspapers. Channel 2 News visited RB and ran a news story on the project. Any interested parties should contact Dr. Kevin Skinkis, Superintendent, at 708.442.8484 or skinkisk@rbhs208.net.

 

District Calendar for 2015-16

The Board of Education approved the 2015-2016 school calendar. A copy can be found on the RB website.

Upcoming Board Meetings

The Board of Education is scheduled to meet twice this month, on March 10 and March 24. 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.

 

RBHS News
Principal's Message                                                        

 

"It's great to be a bulldog!" That's an often-heard saying at RB that comes to life each and every day through the lives of our staff and students. This edition of Hallways highlights student efforts to improve their community and their academic and extracurricular accomplishments. 

 

Also highlighted in this edition are upcoming spring standardized tests. From PARCC to Advanced Placement to MAP, these tests provide students, parents, and teachers important information about an individual's academic progress. Engage in conversation with your student about the importance of these tests and encourage your child to give his or her best effort, to get a full night's sleep, and to eat a healthy breakfast before taking these assessments. More details about these upcoming assessments are included later in this edition.

 

Kristin Smetana

Principal

Standardized Testing Information 

PARCC Testing March 16-20

PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessments are computer-based and ask students to respond to questions that more closely parallel class work in English and mathematics. This year, students enrolled in Geometry, Geometry Honors, English 10, and English 10 Honors will take the PARCC assessment from March 16 - 20. 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.

 

MAP Testing for Freshman April 7- 5

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 from April 7-15.


The purpose of these exams is to measure students' individual 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.

Bulldog for a Day

On Friday, February 20, students and staff welcomed 5-year-old Chris Ellis and his family to RBHS to make him an honorary Bulldog. A resident of LaGrange Park, Chris was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma this summer, and has been going through many experimental treatments to help battle this deadly disease. The Student Association Executive Board, along with many individuals in the RB school community, came together to show the Ellis family the love and support of the Bulldogs as Chris headed into his most difficult treatment yet. The support for the Ellis family will continue throughout the year as student organizations will continue to raise money for the Ellis family.  

 

Freezin' for a Reason 
Students:Sara DiFatta, Galen Aleks, Morgan Kraus, Andrew Kraus, Molly Cunningham, Patrick Mikus, Matthew Pilewski, Brendan Sedivy, Chrissy Gruber, Nick Mascitti, Marlena Roberto, Erin McGovern, Mallory McGovern, Sarah Schoenheider, Natalie O'Callaghan, Kaylyn Landahl  Staff: Janet Szykowny, Jill Musil, and John Fields

On Saturday, February 21, 16 RB students and three faculty members took part in Special Olympics (SO) Illinois' annual Polar Plunge. The 19 students and faculty members raised over $2,000 for Special Olympics Illinois, contributing to the $80,000 raised by Area 5, RB's district for SO. Each participant raised at least $75, with some raising as much as $450! The RB team took the plunge together on Saturday, running into freezing-cold Lake Michigan as a group. The team was grateful for the over 30 degree day, but still took some time thawing out as they celebrated their success over lunch in Evanston. Congratulations on "freezin' for a reason," Bulldogs! 
AST's Tolerance Week March 16 - 20

Tolerance Week 2015 was created and is sponsored by the Association of Students for Tolerance (AST). At a morning discussion held last year, we discovered that RB was becoming a clique-influenced environment of people who needed to be inspired. This insight led to a discussion of celebrating International Tolerance Day on November 16. We decided, however, we could not accomplish what we planned to do in just one day. So, Tolerance Week was born. During Tolerance Week 2015, we hope to:

  • Unite the organizations of RB through a service project at Cantata, charity donations, and activities to promote clubs and sports.
  • Create a partnership within the building between AST and other clubs and sports.
  • Celebrate AST and what we stand for.
  • Highlight activities done by other activities and showcase RB.
  • Have another Spirit Week!
RBEF Telethon

The RBEF Telethon raised over $21,000 on Saturday, February 21, for

TV Arts Production Student Jay Heer on camera 3.
student, staff, and faculty grants. The eight-hour live television event featured faculty and alum hosting each hour as students, parents, and community guests manned the phones. If you missed the telethon, you can still donate at
  www.RBEF.TV.  All major credit cards are accepted including PayPal.
Honors Repertory Dance Ensemble

On Wednesday, February 18, the Honors Repertory Dance Ensemble performed for 100 students in second and third grades at Brook Park Elementary School and for the entire Komarek School. The dancers performed five dances for the enthusiastic audience members and even demonstrated a ballet class and a modern dance class. The highlight of the performances included answering questions from the audience such as "what is your favorite cartoon" or "how long have you been dancing" and lastly inviting audience members to come choreograph on the dancers. 

The Tribute Walkway

In the tradition of Riverside Brookfield High School excellence, District 208 is proud to offer an opportunity to become part of a new legacy of "Bulldog Pride and Honor." The Tribute Walkway is an elegant way to preserve the spirit of your Riverside Brookfield High School graduate. Strategically placed at our school's new entrance, your custom engraved tribute paver will honor an individual, family, or event for many years to come. The tribute paver comes in three sizes and makes a great gift! Please click click here for additional information.

 

RB Boutique 

Just in time for the prom, the RBHS PTO is hosting a pop-up boutique.

The event is Saturday, March 21, from      

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Hollywood House, 3435 Hollywood Ave, Brookfield. Gently worn prom gowns, jewelry, and shoes are available at low prices. It's a shopping opportunity for students that includes raffle prizes of hair and make-up demonstrations and coupons. All proceeds go back to the students at RB. To donate gently worn dresses or prizes contact Kathi Parisi at parisi@rbhspto.org.

 

Student Services Department Update 

College Planning Tips for Juniors

March 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium

Jim Franko will give some helpful tips for parents of juniors on college admission and financial aid.

 

Local Scholarship Applications for Seniors

Local scholarship applications are now available on the Student Services website. The deadline for most applications is March 13.  Please see your counselor with any questions. Click here to visit the scholarship page

Student Accomplishments

Chess Team

Congratulations to the following 10 students who participated in the IHSA Chess Tournament in Peoria on February 13 and 14. After the first day, the team was 3-1, with wins over Fenwick, St. Rita, and Freeport. The team went on to finish 76th in state out of 146 teams with a 3-4 record. Chess team members are: Jacob Bell, Mario Crespo, Christopher Detloff, Luke Graham, Jackson Hajer, Joe Jones, Konrad Kroczynski, Lukas Kulbis, Ben Roussin, and Joe Tan.

 

Scholastic Bowl Team

Congratulations to the RBHS Scholastic Bowl team for their record-breaking performance at the NAQT Illinois State Championships on Saturday, February 14. The games, held on Valentine's Day, took place at the University of Illinois, and our team finished tied for 17th in the state, the highest final ranking in the history of the organization. With an incredible 5-5 record against the best teams in Illinois, including Loyola Academy, Lake County Academy, and the U of C Lab School, RB defeated very strong opponents including Springfield High School, Peoria Christian, and Naperville North. The team consisted of seniors Chris Olszewski (averaging over 64 points per game), Monika Janas, Nick Jepson, and David Buksa, as well as juniors Marly Santora, Alec Frank, and Remy Doornebos. The team is coached by Mr. Gibbons.

 

Metro Suburban Conference Art Show and Workshop

The RBHS Visual Arts Department hosted the annual Metro Suburban Conference Art Show and Workshop on Wednesday, February 18, with 100 participating students and faculty from our 13 conference schools. Ben Gembara, Caley Stanislaw, Emily Temmer, Taylor Jensen, Mia Caballero, Elizabeth Rowley, and Alana Novak were chosen to represent RB as our most promising underclassmen in the department. These participants had the opportunity to create art pieces in a studio workshop operated by five local working artists. The student-artists produced various pieces including oil stick portraits, acrylic painting, photograms, sculpture, and wheel throwing. Each student-artist contributed previously made artwork in a competition judged by a curator and artist from The Riverside Art Center. Alana Novak won an award for her photography and all seven Bulldogs represented our school in a proud fashion.

 

Metro Suburban Band and Jazz Band Festival 

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to participate in the Metro Suburban Band and Jazz Band Festival on Tuesday, February 17. They spent the day rehearsing with other students throughout the conference to prepare for the concert that evening.  Participants were: Jackson Hajer, Amelia Haugland, Antonio Jimenez, Thomas Kelliher, Jacqueline Labelle, Andrew Lemesurier, Miranda Molina, Adrian Murphy, Diamanda Pedroza, Rebecca Perry, and Samantha Winslow

 

UIC German Day

Each spring, the Department of Germanic Studies hosts High School Day at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) where German teachers and their students from the Chicago area come to UIC to participate in various German language competitions, to visit undergraduate German classes, and to take part in language games. Students compete in the following categories: Poetry Recitation, Culture Essay, Skits in German, Spelling Bee, City Guide, Eindr�cke von Amerika, Werbespot-Video, and Program Cover Art Contest. Students are judged by a UIC panel in all categories. In the final round, they are judged by Consular representatives, faculty, and representatives of the Goethe Institut. Trophies are awarded to first, second, and third place in each category. Congratulations to the following students who earned trophies: 

1st Place: Kylie Payne, for her poem "der Zauberlehrling" (the Apprentice)

2nd Place: Nicholas Jepson, for his essay on "Global Challenges - Economic, Political, and Environmental Issues"

3rd Place: Collin Dreilich, Nicholas Jepson, and Robert Peugh (with special thanks to Elvis Begic) for their Werbespot Video (advertisement - German Is Fun!)

Athletic Accomplishments 

RBHS Dance Team

On Friday, January 30, the Riverside Brookfield Dance Team competed at the IHSA State Competition down in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The girls were originally ranked 20th out of the 30 teams that made it down state. After an amazing performance and hard work from each and every girl, the team moved up four spots placing 16th in the state. Originally, there were 74 teams competing to make it down to state. The girls did an awesome job and it was great experience for everyone! The

2014-2015 Dance Team members are: Mia Avena, Nida Aleksa, Parley Belsey, Madeline Brom, Nicole Capone, Anna Cook, Lilliana Dzigua, Alyssa Dziura, Kailee Gillhooly, Nicolet LaBelle, Meredith McCarthy, Maddie Nakis, Grace Rasmussen, Grace Rock, and Catie Sinn. The team is coached by Nicki Sabatino.

 

Excellence and Ethics
in Education
Important Dates
Please check our website for the dates and locations of all performances and events.

March 6 and 7

Bye Bye Birdie

Auditorium

7:30 p.m.

 

March 8

Bye Bye Birdie

Auditorium

2:00 p.m.

 

March 9 

Parent Advisory Council for Technology 

Room 202

6:00 p.m.

 

March 9 

PTO Meeting  

Room 201 

7:00 p.m. 

 

March 10 

College Planning Tips for Juniors

Auditorium

7:00 p.m. 

 

March 13

End of 3rd Quarter

 

March 16-20 

PARCC Testing 

 

March 16

Chamber Orchestra Recital

Little Theater

7:00 p.m.

 

March 20

3rd Quarter Breakfast Ceremony for the Student of the Quarter Recipients 

Alumni Lounge

7:15 a.m.

 

March 25

National Honor Society Induction

Auditorium

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

 

March 30 - April 3

Spring Break

 

April 6

Non-attendance Day

 

April 7

Classes Resume

 

 

Contact Us
(708) 442-7500
newsletter@rbhs208.net
See our website for individual staff email addresses
Event Schedules
Check the website for:

Athletic Event Schedules/Updates