Inside Unified: News and Events

You can receive balance alert emails for your child's lunch account directly to your inbox. You will be notified when your child's account is getting low or is in the negative. Emails will be sent out every three days.

Please email Kaitlin Miller at [email protected] to sign up for these alerts and include your student's first and last names and the school he/she attends.

District Programs

Free Financial Seminars

The RUSD Extended Learning Office is sponsoring three free financial seminars. Learn more here.

Project SEARCH Info Night March 1

RUSD students, family and the community is invited to attend the Project SEARCH information night to learn about an exciting transition program for individuals with disabilities. Click here for more information.

RUSD high school students: Want to be an exchange student in Japan?

The Racine Sister City Planning Council would like to extend an invitation to Racine high school students who are interested in a two-week home stay in Oiso, Japan, this summer. Click here to learn more.

Community Programs

Registration for Summer STEAM Academy Now Open

The Summer STEAM Academy involves students in real-world science, technology, engineering, art and math. It is a five-day, hands-on, lab-based course where students design, build and discover solutions to challenging problems.

The STEAM Academy is open to all RUSD students presently in grades 5-8.

Online registration can be found here.

Racine YMCA to Hold Safety Around Water Classes April 18-20

The Racine Family YMCA is holding Safety Around Water classes during Spring Break. Click here to learn more and register today!

Mt. Pleasant Summer Recreation Programs

Mt. Pleasant is offering several summer programs including golf clinics, soccer clinics and basketball. Click here for dates, times and registration information.

Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Club Spring Programs
Wisconsin Juniors VBC is offering spring volleyball programs for all levels and ages. Learn more.

2017 Racine PTA Council Scholarship Applications Available

Application forms are now available for this year's Racine PTA Council scholarship program. Approximately 19 scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded to graduating seniors in RUSD. Click here to learn more and to view the application.

Apply Now for Ascension - All Saints' Summer "Volunteen" Program

RUSD students 14 years old and older (or who will be by June 15, 2017) may volunteer in a number of areas this summer at Ascension - All Saints. Click here to learn more about this program.

Belle of the Ball Pop-Up Boutique

Belle of the Ball will host pop-up boutiques throughout the month of March. They have more than 150 free prom dresses in stock. Learn more.

City of Racine Now Hiring for Student Summer Employment

The City of Racine is looking for graduating high school students looking for full-time summer employment. Please click here for more information.

UW-Parkside Summer Youth Programs

UW-Parkside is offering several summer youth camps in 2017, specifically focused in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. Click here to check them out.

Camp Anokkijig Summer Programs

Camp Anokkijig offers several summer programs. Click here to take a look through their 2017 brochure.

City of Racine Softball Registration Open Feb. 7

The city of Racine Parks and Recreation Department announces registration for softball beginning Feb. 7 - April 28. Click here for more information.

RASA Recreational Soccer Spring 2017 Registration

RASA (Racine Area Soccer Association) Recreational Soccer League registration for the upcoming Spring Season is now open. Spring season runs April 29-June 11. For more information and to register today click here.

Racine County Youth In Governance Accepting Nominations

Racine County is currently accepting nominations for student participants in the Racine County Youth In Governance program. Nomination forms are due by Feb. 10. Learn more.

United Way VITA Program - Get Your Taxes Done for Free!

The United Way of Racine County offers the option for community members to get their taxes prepared and filed at no cost. Learn more.

RUSD Website is Best Resource for Up-To-Date Information

News stories are frequently posted on the RUSD website (www.rusd.org)
along with a variety of other useful information for parents. Check it often to stay informed about District events, initiatives, programs, etc.

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Important Update Regarding School Choice

The 2017-2018 RUSD School Choice window closed Jan. 15. Currently, our School Data team is working through the process of running the lottery.

Families that applied for School Choice will be notified of acceptance or waitlist via a letter in the U.S. mail and an email in February.

Once the letters have been sent out, families will have five (5) business days to accept or decline the student's spot at the school of choice. Simply log into your Parent Portal account, click School Choice on the left-hand side of the page and scrol down to the bottom to see and accept your school choice.

Please note, families that do not accept their school choice within five days will automatically lose their spot.

If you have any questions please email [email protected].

RUSD Athletes Commit to Future on the Field

REAL School senior Genevieve Cruz solidified her future plans to be a Cornhusker when she signed her Letter of Intent to play Division 1 soccer for the University of Nebraska. Dressed in all red, her family, coach and teachers gathered around her as she signed on the dotted line. Cruz played for the Horlick High School soccer team during her high school career and says she's excited to continue as a student-athlete at Nebraska in the fall.

Over at Case High School, senior Alex Rogers committed to play Division 1 football at Drake University in Des Moines, IA. Case High School athletic department held a special signing event for Rogers during an all-school pep assembly on Wednesday. Rogers says he's ready for the challenges of college and looks forward to becoming part of such an established program.

Thank You RUSD School Counselors
It's National School Counseling Week! Our RUSD school counselors play a crucial role in the success of our schools. Please take a moment this week to thank your child's school counselor for all they do to support our RUSD students!

FBI Brings Adopt-A-School Program to Gilmore Middle School

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has invited Gilmore Middle School to take part in its Adopt-A-School program. On Jan. 31, Special Agent Justin Tolomeo and Gilmore Principal Ms. Amanda Jordan joined forces to kick off the program.

The Adopt-A-School program is a nationwide initiative that puts FBI special agents, analysts and other employees in local schools to build relationships and trust between youth and law enforcement. This year marks the third year of the program for the FBI Milwaukee Division.

Throughout the program, FBI representatives will reinforce Gilmore's academic principals by discussing with students how to practice responsible behavior, Internet safety and encourage them to stay away from drugs and violence.

At the end of the program, students will take a field trip and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office, which includes a graduation ceremony and lunch.

Horlick Seniors Prepare for the Future with Gateway Promise

Horlick High School senior Jazmin Salazar knows that it's important to go to college. She also knows that it can be expensive and it's definitely a lot of work. That's why, on Jan. 25, you could find Salazar in the library with other fellow classmates learning more about the Gateway Promise.

With financial support through the Gateway Technical College Foundation, the Gateway Promise ensures Kenosha County, Racine County and Walworth County high school graduates, who meet program eligibility requirements, can attend college at Gateway tuition-free. The first eligible class will be the high school graduating class of 2017. [ Read more]

RUSD Schools Come Together for Love of Music

On Jan. 29, 13 students from Gifford, Walden III, Case and REAL schools performed "A Winter Concert" with the Lakeshore Youth Philharmonic (LYP) Orchestra at UW-Parkside Bedford Hall.

Students performed music by seven different composers, including the World Premiere of Capriccio Suite by Madison composer Katherine Punwar.

The focus of LYP is to foster in students a love for playing their instrument. LYP offers young musicians, grades 5-12, the opportunity to train in a quality orchestral environment that will enhance their musical education, while promoting artistic and personal growth.

Front Row: Nate Robinson (Walden III), Jayden Halverson (Walden III), Gabriella Martinez (Gifford), Rose White (Case), Nolan Boerner (Gifford), Rachel Christensen (Walden III), Alaina Jaeck (Gifford), and Strahinja Marinkovic (Gifford). Back Row: Josie Harris (Gifford), Emma Krenzke (Gifford), Ellie Lutterman (Case), Taylor DeDianous (Case) and Maggie Kral (REAL).

High School Seniors: College Scholarship Opportunities

2017 Racine PTA Council Scholarship Applications Available

Educators Credit Union Offers up to 25 Scholarships
ECU will provide up to 25 students with $2,000 college scholarships. Apply by Feb. 27. Learn more.

Kiwanis Club of Racine Offers Scholarships

The local Kiwanis will provide scholarships for a total of $8,000 for students that will be attending UW-Parkside or Gateway Technical College this fall. Application deadline is March 24. Learn more.

Public Programs at RUSD's Planetarium

The Planetarium at Gifford Elementary School will hold a series of evening programs that are open to the public. All programs are from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Reservations are requested. Please call (262) 619-4587 or email John Surendonk at [email protected] and include your name, phone number and number of seats requested.

Cowboy Astronomer Feb. 23 & Feb. 28

The Cowboy Astronomer is an entertaining blend of star tales and Native American legends, combined with constellation identification, star-hopping, and astronomy tidbits all told from the unique viewpoint of a cowboy astronomer who has traveled the world while learning the sky along the way. Cowboy humorist, Baxter Black, provides light-hearted narration for this evening show. Click here to learn more.

Transition Day is Saturday, March 4

Join Us For McTeacher's Night!

Come to the following McTeacher's Nights to raise money for RUSD schools! How do McTeacher's Nights work? While students, their parents and other school supporters have a great time dining at McDonald's, school staff members work behind the counter and in the lobby. For their efforts, McDonald's donates a portion of all sales garnered during the program's two-hour period to each school.

School	Date & Time	Location
Wadewitz	March 2, 5-7 p.m.	1520 State St.
Gilmore	March 14, 5-7 p.m.	3037 Douglas Ave.
Olympia Brown	March 21, 5-7 p.m.	4707 Taylor Ave.
REEC	April 4, 5-7 p.m.	1520 State St.
Giese	April 11, 5-7 p.m.	2610 S. Green Bay Rd.
McKinley	April 25, 5-7 p.m.	2100 Lathrop Ave.
Starbuck	May 2, 5-7 p.m.	2610 S.Green Bay Rd.
Roosevelt	May 9. 5-7 p.m.	3037 Douglas Ave.
North Park	May 17, 5-7 p.m.	5125 Douglas Ave.

Share the Good News!
Do you know something great going on in an RUSD school? Please share it with us! Send us a brief write up about the good news and a photo if you have one. Our email address is [email protected]. We love sharing the good news about our schools and students (and there's a lot of good news to share!).