Rockford Public Schools -

Happy first day of Winter!

Washington Elementary hosted its second annual Santa’s Reindeer Games today. It was a festive, indoor field day filled with fun and friendly competition. Students participated in a variety of holiday-themed games where they earned points, promoted teamwork, and school spirit. Games included: Snowball Relay, Gift Delivery Relay, Hungry Hungry Reindeer, Musical Cups, Cookie Toss, Build a Snowman, Candy Cane Lane, & Santa’s Present Stacking.

The Kindergarten lottery for STEAM Academy at Haskell will accept 2025-2026 school year applications from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025. Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 5 years old by/on September 1, 2025 Families must: 1) Complete an application with the Welcome Center 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the school Click the link to learn more about STEAM Academy at Haskell https://haskell.rps205.com/o/haskell/page/what-is-the-steam-academy Application/Enrollment Information: https://www.rps205.com/o/rps/page/k-12

NATIONAL UGLY SWEATER DAY: The district’s administration building got into the holiday spirit and showed off their tacky garments for a contest. And the winners are… Ugliest Sweater: Joyce Budlong, Software Support Specialist Cutest Sweater: Kim Nelson, Executive Director of Early Childhood Best Homemade/DIY Outfit: Valerie Merle Reyes, IT Help Desk Specialist Best Head to Toe Outfit: Amy Gannon, Executive Director of MTSS

We are excited to share that the 2025-2026 school year calendar was approved by the school board on Tuesday night. It includes several important updates that reflect our commitment to aligning with neighboring districts and enhancing the overall learning experience for our students. Key Changes : Earlier Start Date: The school year will begin earlier in August. This adjustment is possible because all RPS 205 schools are equipped with air conditioning, ensuring a comfortable learning environment during warmer months. Fall Break: We will continue to offer a full week off for Fall Break, giving families and staff time to recharge. First Semester Ends Before Winter Break: High School students will complete their first semester before Winter Break, allowing for a true break without pending exams or projects. School Year Ends Before Memorial Day: The last day of school will occur before Memorial Day, providing families an earlier start to summer vacation. The 2025-2026 calendar can be viewed here on the Calendar page on rps205.com: https://5il.co/33ras

🎉🍗 Ultimate Chicken Sandwich Champions Celebrated! 🍗🎉 RPS 205 & Tyson teamed up to host the Ultimate Chicken Sandwich Contest! Students competed to create the most creative chicken sandwiches. The winners, Auburn 11th grader Liam Muth, Montessori 6th grader Avery Huels, & Gregory 5th grader Andrew Fahrenwald each received an iPad along with a portrait of their incredible creations. The sandwiches will be featured on the lunch menu this Spring!

This month, the Family and Community Engagement team hosted over 1,000 students at Skateland to celebrate their achievements for the first quarter. These students met the criteria for the B.A.G.S. (Behavior, Attendance, Grades) goal by maintaining strong attendance (missing no more than two days), achieving As, Bs, and one C, and having no suspensions. This event recognized their hard work and dedication as part of our ongoing effort to support academic and behavioral success. Students will have another opportunity to qualify for the spring incentive, which begins on January 17th.

GOOD LUCK! Auburn High School senior Corbin Gray has earned a spot as a national finalist for marksmanship. The Gifted Academy pathway student is a 2-time captain of the Marksmanship team and 1st 2-time Marksmen of the year.  The championship is taking place in February at Camp Perry, Ohio over a three-day period. It will be one day of training followed by two days of official shooting.  Athletes will shoot an average of 200 pellets.  Only 750 Cadets out of 405,000 worldwide earn one of these coveted spots. Corbin is the 6th Auburn Knight in the last seven years to accomplish this. After graduation from Auburn, Corbin plans to do Army ROTC at Iowa State.

The Kindergarten lottery for International Baccalaureate Candidate School at Conklin will accept 2025-2026 school year applications from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025. Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 5 years old by/on September 1, 2025 Families must: 1) Complete an application with the Welcome Center 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the school Click the link to learn more about IB Candidate School at Conklin https://conklin.rps205.com/o/ibcsc/page/what-is-the-ib-program Application/Enrollment Information: https://www.rps205.com/o/rps/page/k-12

The Kindergarten lottery for Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour will accept 2025-2026 school year applications from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025. Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2025 Families must: 1) Complete an application with the Welcome Center 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the school 3) Student must pass an oral assessment in Spanish or English Click the link to learn more about Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour https://barbour.rps205.com/o/twlib/page/what-is-two-way-language-immersion Application/Enrollment Information: https://www.rps205.com/o/rps/page/k-12

5th graders from Bloom, Brookview, Johnson, & Welsh were treated to a holiday concert this morning at Guilford HS under the direction of Mrs. Kubacki. The entire concert was performed by the high school musicians who also showcased how each instrument worked. Mr. Walls' choir students also performed for the 5th graders.

Some RPS staff were presenters at the “Raising Student Achievement Conference” in Oakbrook, Illinois. McIntosh Principal Erin Salberg & McIntosh Instructional Coach Elizabeth Hand presented "Start Strong to Stay Strong - The Importance of a Morning Routine for Student Success". Ellis Instructional Coach Jessica Berg presented "Fluency is Fundamental". Carlson Assistant Principal Kelsey Scarpetta Carlson & Instructional Coach Katherine Trotter presented "Enhancing Student Achievement through Rigorous Problem Solving".

The Pre-Kindergarten lottery for Maria Montessori at Marsh will accept 2025-2026 school year applications from Thursday, January 2, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025. Eligibility Requirements: Students must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2025 Families must: 1) Complete an application with the Welcome Center 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the school Click the link below to learn more about Maria Montessori at Marsh https://montessori.rps205.com/o/mmam/page/what-is-the-montessori-program Application/Enrollment Information: https://www.rps205.com/o/rps/page/k-12

🏀 Rumble in the Rock is more than basketball—it's about community! 🗓️ When: Saturday, January 11 📍 Where: Rock Valley College's PEC 🌟 All Rockford high school teams will play under one roof, PLUS check out RVC’s campus while you're here. Doors open at 8 AM. Tickets: $8. 🎟️ Bonus: RPS elementary schools are giving out 30 FREE tickets each for students at their schools! Mark your calendars & bring the family! 💥

We hosted the fall student teacher celebration at Prairie Street Brewhouse. Administration from across the district, as well as University & community partners, came together to thank & celebrate our fall student teachers & their cooperating teachers for their service.

Rockford Public Schools is thrilled to announce the Special Programs Lotteries for the 2025-2026 school year! Applications will be open January 2, 2025, through March 14, 2025. Programs for Kindergarten (Age eligible: 5 years old by 9/1/2025): International Baccalaureate Candidate School at Conklin STEAM Academy at Haskell Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour (requires passing an oral language assessment) Pre-Kindergarten Program (Age eligible: 4 years old by 9/1/2025): Maria Montessori at Marsh How to Apply: 1) Complete an application at the RPS Welcome Center (bring your photo ID, two proofs of residence, and child's birth certificate) 2) Attend a mandatory orientation at the respective school Helpful Links: What is Montessori? https://montessori.rps205.com/o/mmam/page/what-is-the-montessori-program What is STEAM Academy? https://haskell.rps205.com/o/haskell/page/what-is-the-steam-academy What is IB Candidate School at Conklin? https://conklin.rps205.com/o/ibcsc/page/what-is-the-ib-program What is Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour? https://barbour.rps205.com/o/twlib/page/how-do-i-apply-for-two-way-language-immersion

RPS Teachers: Are you ready to take the next step in your career? The NIU Principal Residency Program offers an incredible opportunity to earn a Master’s in Education and an Illinois Principal Endorsement with leadership coaching – all at zero tuition cost to you, fully funded by RPS 205! Join us for one of our upcoming info sessions to learn more: January 9 at 8:00 AM – Virtual January 21 at 4:00 PM – In-person February 3 at 2:30 PM – Virtual February 20 at 3:30 PM – In-person March 6 at 7:00 AM – Virtual If you're interested, contact Jason Pope, Director of Recruitment, at jason.pope@rps205.com to reserve your spot. This is your chance to elevate your leadership career while continuing to make a difference in Rockford Public Schools.

Jefferson’s Advanced Theatre Students would like to cordially invite you to attend our 6th annual Children’s Readers Theatre! C.R.T. is a form of theatre that's directed towards younger audiences. It’s like bringing a bedtime story to life! It's a special way to show what acting is all about to younger audiences. This year’s theme is dedicated to tall tales: Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, Sal Fink, John Henry, Sally Ann Thunder, & Davy Crockett. We hope to see you there!! TALL TALES Wednesday, December 18th Doors Open at 5pm Performance begins at 5:30 Jefferson High School Auditorium Admission is FREE

6th & 7th grade art students at Marshall Middle School designed & painted original characters based on everyday objects ranging from paper clips to conchas. Now, their characters have found a new home in the empty storefront at the Richardson Building at State & Wyman. Their characters will be on display through December & all are welcome to check it out by driving or walking by.

MS FALL SPORT RECAP: GIRLS BASKETBALL--Congratulations to Eisenhower's JV team that went undefeated in conference and won their regional! Kudos also go out to Marshall's varsity team that won a tough conference this season. Way to go teams! #OurKidsRock