There’s a new venue this year – Jumer’s Casino & Hotel! And the event will showcase a sampling of signature dishes from some of the finest restaurants in the QC – Atlante’s Trattoria, Bent River Brewery, Blue Cat Brewery, Dr. Gyros, Gendler’s Black Ram, Goombaz Big City Eatzz, Hill & Valley, Hungry Hobo, Jumer’s, Legends Corner Bar & Grille, Mama Bosso, Mama Compton’s, OH Nuts and more, O’ Melia’s, Pagalo’s Pizzeria, Pizza & Subs, Stern Beverage!

You could also have a chance at winning the Grand Prize – A Rock Star Vacation Package! A full week in at least a 2 bedroom unit – Possible destinations include Phoenix, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, Orlando, Las Vegas and more! Limo service provided to and from QC International Airport and $500 credit toward airfare!

Some of the LIVE AUCTION items you will find at the Night of 1000 Dreams: Four tickets to the John Deere Classic; A Week in Orlando Florida (condo, Hopper passes); Lasik Eye Surgery; Comprehensive Orthodontic Package (2) - See the full LIVE auction list (PDF) >>

When: Friday, April 12, 2013.
Time: Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Jumer’s Casino & Hotel, Rock Island
Cost: Entry Ticket $20 per person – includes a “taste” of vendors

Reservations: Call the Development Office at 793-5950 ext. 2006 or ext. 2019 for information. Download a registration form (PDF) >>

Your reservation packet including all necessary tickets and bidding instructions will be waiting for you when you arrive at the 25th Annual – “Night of a Thousand Dreams” on Friday April 12.

Superintendent Oberhaus presented the award to the Longfellow Student council.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced in January that Longfellow Liberal Arts was being awarded the 2012 Academic Improvement Award for the schools outstanding improvement in test scores in reading and mathematics.

Longfellow showed an overall improvement of at least 7.5 points in reading and mathematics from the previous years test scores. The school is one of only 81 schools across the State of Illinois to receive the award.

Superintendent Oberhaus presented the Longfellow Liberal Arts Student Council with the award at a school-wide assembly on Friday, Feb. 22. He congratulated them on a job well done and encouraged all of the students to keep working hard during the ISAT testing the following week.

Stephanie Kerno, Washington Jr. High (8th grade)
Kaylyn Lemmon, Longfellow Liberal Arts (6th grade)
Carson Verstraete, Thomas Jefferson Elementary (5th grade)
Jasmine McAfee, Earl Hanson Elementary (4th grade)

Stephanie Kerno was crowned as the Rock Island-Milan School District Spelling Bee Champion.

School Board member Dr. Kim Armstrong, Rock Island Mayor Dennis Pauley and Kai Swanson from Augustana College served as judges for the event. Sandee Luster, the Dispatch/Argus NIE Coordinator served as pronouncer.

Spelling Bee winners advance to Regional Bee! Pictured: Stephanie Kerno, Carson Verstraete, Kaylyn Lemmon and Jasmine McAfee.

Denkmann Elementary: Wednesday, April 24, 3:30 p.m.
Earl Hanson Elementary: Wednesday, May 1, 3:00 p.m.
Eugene Field Elementary: Thursday, April 18, 6:00 p.m.
Frances Willard Elementary: Thursday, April 18, 5:30 p.m.
Longfellow Liberal Arts: Tuesday, April 9, 4:00 p.m.
RI Academy: Thursday, April 25, 5:30 p.m.
RI Center for Math & Science: Wednesday, April 17, 2:30 p.m.
Ridgewood Elementary: Wednesday, April 3, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary: Wednesday, April 24, 2:45 p.m.

Parents and guardians should bring birth certificate, physical (if done), social security card, and proof of residence. Child must be 5 on or before September 1st, 2013.

Check the boundary map to see what school your child should attend >> 

Children eligible for Kindergarten at the R.I. Center for Math & Science must be accepted for enrollment prior to the Round Up date. Call the school at 309-793-5995 with any questions.

Tom Thoms, Kelly Bishop, Kayla Jackson, Lizandra Gomez Ramirez, DeAuna Ivy and Lindsay Womack

The Thoms Family Above & Beyond Scholarship announced Kayla Jackson as the $5,000 top scholarship winner during at the January 22 meeting of the Rock Island-Milan Board of Education.

Kayla’s project, The Art of Giving, was based on the goal of starting an art program at the high school beyond the traditional classes. Her project included an art show of creation by the students and teachers of RIHS. With entry fees, raffles, and ticket sales, Ms. Jackson raised the seed money to start a program. Kayla explains, “My goal is to establish a program which allows students to express their artistic abilities and give back to our community.”

Stuart Thoms, founder of the scholarship fund, stated, “Ms. Jackson’s efforts were heroic and she demonstrated the ability to coordinate a challenging first-time event to benefit the arts, our youth, and ultimately our community.”

Three other finalist completed projects of their creation and received a $500 scholarship.

Kelly Bishop, We Have Been There, centered on the issue of “bullying.” Utilizing her experiences in grade school and junior high, Ms. Bishop made presentations to upper-grade school students with the goal of redefining “cool.”

Lizandra Gomez-Ramirez, A Day in My Shoes, focused on the refugee population within the school district. The program was aimed at creating awareness and promoting understanding within our community, in order to make the transition easier. Her audiences included administrators, teachers and students.

DeAuna Ivy, Students for a Better School, leveraged peer assistance to help those students who are struggling to “make the grade”. Through recruiting fellow students, the program identified issues related to poor performance and offered structured support and peer encouragement to raise grades and prevent others from dropping out.

“Every one of these students deserves our thanks. They represent our future and are willing to go beyond themselves to improve our community. The committee is honored to issues these scholarship to such wonderful people,” stated Thomas Thoms, Chairman.

The Thoms Family Foundation created the scholarship in 2003 to encourage and reward the leadership and entrepreneurial spirit of Rock Island High School (RIHS) students. Any RIHS student, regardless of race, economic status, or academic standing, may submit a proposal the spring of their junior year on an original project of their choosing. Potential topics for proposals could explore business/entrepreneurship, conservation, technology, community service, or politics. For more information on these scholarships and the Thoms Family Foundation please contact Thomas W. Thoms at 309-269-0398.

The Taco Dinner $5.00 a plate – includes 2 tacos, beans, and rice. Drinks may be purchased through the Milan Community Center. There will also be a DJ, raffle baskets, and a whole lot more! Please join us for an evening of high energy, laughter, favorite memories, and hugs as we support her on her healing journey!

Please rsvp to Julie VanDerGinst with name and number of dinners by February 1st, vanderginst@sbcglobal.net or 787-3917 or 269-5558.

The Course Description session will be held in the auditorium at 6:00 p.m. This session explains our course registration process and provides detailed information about courses. Teachers and counselors will be available to answer any questions you have.

Parents and guardians wanting information on paying for college should attend the Financial Aid session held in the Little Theater at 6:30 p.m. You will hear how to complete the FAFSA (Federal Financial Aid form) and other important information regarding paying for college.

For more information, contact the Rock Island High School Counseling Department, 309-793-5950 x2010

Interested parents (who have not previously applied this year) can contact Julie Smith in the Teaching & Learning Department at 309-793-5900 x258 by January 31, 2013.

iWireless Center, Moline, IL

The 2013 Rock Island High School graduation ceremony will be held at a new venue this year – the iWireless Center in Moline. The decision was made to move the event due to overcrowding in the Rock Island High School Fieldhouse and alleviate parking concerns around the high school.

The event will be held on Sunday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m. Rock Island High School senior students will have an amended schedule during the 4th quarter of the school year to accommodate the date a week before school officially ends on June 3.

Rock Island High School senior class will have a meeting during the school day on January 16 to review graduation and ordering of caps and gowns.

What: Class of 2013 Commencement Ceremony
When: Sunday, May 26, 2013, 5:00 p.m.
Where: iWireless Center, 1201 River Drive, Moline, IL Directions http://goo.gl/maps/Bt0eF >>

Questions can be directed to RIHS Principal Tim Wernentin, 309-793-5950 x 2000.

The students tracked 161 vehicles traveling on 25th avenue during that hour, and also observed:

• 85 drivers not wearing a seat belt
• 49 front seat passengers not wearing a seat belt
• 10 rear seat passengers not wearing a seat belt

The team also observed multiple drivers using a electronic device while driving as well as both students and parents using their phones, despite several street signs reminding drivers not to use cellular phones in the school zone.

Therefore, the students are launching “Buckle Down Rock Town” to promote save driving habits to teens. From now through February, the Rock Island High School Key Club members will be asking students to take a pledge to wear a seat belt while driving and to also stay off their cell phones.

The students will also be promoting the cause at the RIHS sports events and the information will also be distributed to the rest of the schools in the district. “It is our hope that not only will students take the pledge to wear their seat belt and stay off their phone, but adults as well,” said Rock Island High School Key Club member Maggie Pappas.

Rock Island High School was among 105 statewide to receive a $2,000 grant for the project from an initiative funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Ford Motor Co.’s Ford Driving Skills for Life program and the Allstate Foundation’s Keep the Drive.

www.buckledownrocktown.com 

www.teensafedrivingillinois.org

Rock Island High School Key Club