Dear Parents and Guardians,

Where has the year gone? I guess it is a sign of being productively busy and we sure have been here at RICMS. The students, staff, parents and volunteers have accomplished many great things.

I would like to share just a few things that we have done this year:

• Started the Watch D.O.G.S. program
• Started our Lego League with our 3^rd grade students
• Received Grant for the Arts—all students went to the Figge Art Museum and received art lessons
• Received a grant for the trails—these are still being developed
• Received a grant from John Deere to begin implementation of The Leader in Me in our school
• Started our partnership with St. Ambrose University
• Many new clubs, French, Drama, Comic Book, Botany, to name a few have been started this year
• Our first drama production

I want to thank all of you who have worked to get our campus ready for spring and summer. We have put in new plants, edged our garden with donated bricks, laid a great deal of compost and mulch. This is a job that is never done, if you have a free Saturday, let the office know, we can always use another pair of hands!

Celebrations!
We are celebrating our students who have been leaders in our school. In April the Blackhawk Principals Association recognized two of our 6^th graders, Tayler Siebel and John Fialek at a Leadership Breakfast.

On May 16 we will recognize four of our leaders at the Medal of Honor dinner in the district. Those students are Ashley Johnson, Alyssa Long, Hannah Rettig, and Nils Empen.

Pets on the School Ground
It has been brought to our attention that there are pets on school property especially after school. We have a rule in our parent handbook that states that pets are not allowed on school property. Special permission may be given by the principal of RICMS, thank you for your help.

Registration
This year’s registration is on Wednesday, May 15 from 2-6:00  and Thursday May 16^th from 3:00-6:00.

Give Kids a Smile
The dental van will be here on May 22  to serve our students. Please send back your dental slips as soon as possible.

Kids Helping Kids
Mrs. Moskowitz and Mr. Wickard’s rooms are doing a problem based learning activity that resulted in helping to collect funds for the Children’s Hospital in Peoria. Their goal is to earn $500 in loose change. So far they have collected pennies and nickels. This week they are collecting dimes. The winning classroom will receive a party for their efforts.

Aladdin
Our Drama Club will be presenting their first production on May 24^th at 6:30 in our gym. We hope you can come and see this terrific production. A special thanks goes out to our parent, Leslie Thomas, who has directed and produced this event. If you would like to help out, our next play practice is May 9 at 3:00.

Lunch on the Lawn
We will have our annual Lunch on the Lawn on May 29^th from 11-12:30. Please bring a sack lunch and join us as we enjoy the day with the music of the Edison Jazz Band.

Talent Show
We will have our annual talent show right after Lunch on the Lawn on May 29^th from 12:30-2:00. Information on trying out will be coming home today.

Field Day
Field day will be on June 3, if you can volunteer please sign up!

Early outs
The school will be dismissing at 2:10 on the following days: May 29, May 30, 31, June 3 and June 4.

Last Day
Our last day of school will be on June 4^th. We will have a 2:10 dismissal that day. In the morning we will have our Celebration of Excellence awards assembly and in the afternoon we will have our tornado ticket prize assembly where we have our drawing for prizes. Students must be in attendance to win.

Hotline
If you have not signed up for the school hotline, please do so. Go to our website at  http://rockislandschools.org/riec/ricms/ and then to the School Links drop down menu, click on email hotline and then follow the directions to sign up.

Your partner in education,

Ruth Ann Tobey- Brown, EdD.
Principal

May 24:  6:30 the Drama Club will present Aladdin in RICMS gymnasium

May 27: No School Memorial Day

May 28: 6^th grade exiting 5:30 Music, 6:00 Ceremony

May 29:  Lunch on the Lawn 11:00-12:30,  Talent Show 12:30-2:00

May 29, 30, 31 and June 3 & 4:  2:10 dismissal

June 3: Field Day

June 4: Last day 8:30-2:10
9:00 Celebration of Excellence Awards Assembly
1:15 Tornado Ticket Prize assembly (must be present to win)

August 2: Unpack your backpack night 5:30-6:30

Download the newsletter (PDF) >>

The K-kids did a great job with the Dodgeball tournament and were able to raise $375 the Watch D.O.G.S. a check for $375.00.

Also this week –  have environmental club today from 3-4:00, Fusion tomorrow, Wednesday is 5-6 French club and Yoga from 3-4:00, Thursday morning is Lego League at 7:00 a.m., and from 3-4:00 is drama club and comic club.

Friday. Feb. 15 is 11:45 a.m. dismissal and no school on February 18th in observance of President’s Day.

Lego Robotics
We now have Lego Robotics in clubs and in our curriculum! 1-2 continues with an introduction to Lego Robotics to a small group of students. This is carried on in the 3-4 in our Lego Robotics which are being incorporated into the curriculum. Each teacher is doing it at a different time, if you are interested in seeing this first hand, please contact a 3-4 teacher or contact the office. Some of our third graders are in a Lego League every Thursday morning before school. We are very fortunate to have received funds from grants and donations in order to get these programs implemented in our school.

Leader in Me
We are very excited about the Leader In Me program that we are implementing in our classrooms and school. We have studied the first three habits, Be Proactive (you are in charge), Begin with the End in Mind (make a plan) and Put First Things First (work and then play). This week we are doing Habit 4 “Think Win Win”. Please see the attached for ideas.

Celebrations!

• We are so proud of our students who had perfect attendance first semester and our 5-6 students who received High Honors (all A’s) or Honors (A’s and B’s) on our Honor Roll.
• Last Thursday we had our Spelling Bee with 45 3-6 students participating. Henry Thompson and Miranda Banks took first and second place respectfully and they will be representing RICMS this Thursday in our district Spelling Bee. We wish them both good luck.
• We have three math teams who are competing with the best mathematicians in Illinois. We have a fourth grade, fifth grade, and sixth grade team. We are very proud of their hard work and willingness to take time to participate in this contest.
• As you know, data is very important at all grade levels. We are very proud of our 1-2 students in the area of mathematics. They were given an assessment at the beginning of the school year and then again just before our winter break. The first graders made a 25.5% growth in the percentage of correct answers. The second graders made a 42% growth in the percentage of correct answers. Our growth in reading will be reported in May. The 3-6 are just completing their assessments in the areas of math and language arts. I will be able to give that report later this month.

How You Can Help
Many of you ask “How can I help?” The best way you can help at home is by making sure that your child knows his’ or her basic facts, without that foundation children can not problem solve effectively. Reading every night is also a great way for your child to become a more fluent reader.

ISAT
Illinois State Testing is scheduled for our 3-6th grade students February 25 through March 6th. As you make doctor appointment, etc. please keep these dates in mind so that your child will not have to miss testing days.

Trivia Night
Join us Friday, February 8th at the Plumbers and Pipefitters hall for our 4th Annual Trivia night. Tickets are just $10 per person, 8 people per team. All proceeds support the school’s technology fund. To reserve a spot contact Melissa Bush at 309-738-8488 or via email at mbush1969@illinoisalumni.org. For more information visit the Rock Island Center for Math and Science on Facebook.

Girl Scout News
This Friday, February 8th, is National Girl Scout Cookie Day!  Stop by Troop # 5149′s Cookie Booth in the lobby of the Rock Island Center for Math and Science on Friday from 3-5 p.m.  Help our girls participate in the largest girl-led business in the world!  Cookies on sale for $3.50 per box.

Hotline
If you have not signed up for the school hotline, please do so. Go to our website at http://rockislandschools.org/riec/ricms/ and then to the School Links drop down menu, click on email hotline and then follow the directions to sign up.

Mark your calendars:
February 8-Trivia Night
February 15-1/2 day school 11:45 dismissal
February 18-No school–Presidents’ Day
February 25—Begin ISAT testing
March 4—Math night
March 8—Last day of third quarter
March 11-15—Intersession classes
March 26—First day of fourth quarter

All proceeds support the school’s technology fund!

To reserve a spot contact Melissa Bush at mbush1969@illinoisalumni.org 309-738-8488.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! We have some activities that I wanted to remind you of this week:

Monday, Nov. 26 –3:00-4:15 K-Kids

Tuesday, Nov. 27 — 3:00-5:00 Fusion

Wednesday, Nov. 28 — 2:10-3:00-Yoga
2:10-3:00- 3-4 French Club

Thursday, Nov. 29 — Student Council will be shopping for Toys for Tots. Please send in your loose change this week to donate to the Toys for Tots campaign.

Don’t forget to vote daily for our Clorox Grant Touched by a River at www.PowerABrightFuture.com .

Have a great week!
Ruth Ann Tobey-Brown

• Monday is Environmental Club 3-4:00
• Tuesday–3-5:00 Fusion
• Wednesday:French club (grades 5-6) 2:10-3:00
  Yoga–2:10-3:00
  Send in your reservations for family night on Thursday
• Thursday–Family reading night; Pizza ($3.00 per family) at 5:30; 6:00-7:00 Family reading, book sway and local authors will be presenting their books; 7:00-7:30 Authors will have copies of their books for sale.

We will have pizza for $3.00 per family at 5:30 p.m. and the night’s activities from 6:00- 7:00. It will be a fun reading night for all our families!

• Family reading around the campfire (in the gym)
• Bring your gently used books for a book swap
• Local authors will be reading their books
• 7:00 Local authors will have their books for sale

If you want to eat with us, be sure to send in your reservation with the $3.00 by next Wednesday, Nov. 14.