River Valley Academy News

Hard to believe, but the first four weeks of trimester 2 are in the books! We have 10 school weeks left in the trimester to finish our classes!

Check out the great pictures of students being kind in this issue! Our Student Leadership Team is leading an initiative to grow our culture. We focused on Respect for a couple of weeks, and now we are focusing on Kindness.

As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns, or if there is anything you need!

Take care,

Jenny Thompson

Director of Adult and Alternative Education

Rockford Public Schools

Students and parents are being asked to sign agreements regarding academic honesty in our online courses. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has added a new layer to plagiarism. Online programs are now able to check for both. Students not being academically honest by using the internet to copy or AI to answer questions, will have classes reset, and can lose Edgenuity privileges. Students will be required to complete the Edgenuity Expecations academic honesty agreement, or their Edgenuity account will be paused until they do. Parents are also being asked to complete an agreement, as a parent meeting will be required if a class is suspended. Parents/guardians, please complete this Edgenuity Expectations for Parents form.

In an effort to build community, SLT is planning ways to celebrate and to grow this holiday season!

Skyler DeVore, a member of our Student Leadership Team, was in charge of planning a special observance of the Random Acts of Kindness - Caring two-week challenge. "I wanted to build community with book buddies. I wanted us to have fun with it and be creative. That is why we made bookmarks, getting out and doing something that is not the normal, and being responsible, even in a small way, by not swearing around the kids."

Skyler also selected a video on caring, featuring Sarah Edwards. In the video, she challenges us to take the time to say a kind thing to someone. She started the I Am Kindess organization, because one kind person said something to her that changed her life. Now, she helps others do the same!

To support students in finishing their English, math, science and social studies classes, beginning with trimester 2, when students finish classes they will be given study halls with certified teachers to work on their remaining classes. When all 5 classes they started the trimester with are done, new classes will be added.

Check out this Sliding Scale Fee Counseling in Kent County list of counselors available! People want to help and support!

Counselors from Arbor Circle will be coming to RVA on Fridays during third hour to offer a therapy group! Coping skills, adulting, and other student-initiated topics will be covered. Due to the large number of students interested in this opportunity, two biweekly groups will be formed. Here is a link to the Arbor Circle website if you would like more information.

Students and teachers will meet Monday to evaluate progress on goals for weeks 3 and 4 of trimester 2 and to set goals for weeks 6 and 7 of trimester 2. Goals should reflect efforts to complete all 5 classes before March 1, the end of trimester 2.

Students (and their parents) who didn't meet their goals for two goal setting periods (4 school weeks) will be invited to an Academic Progress Support Plan Meeting. A component of the meeting will be to build a plan to support students in meeting their goals.

Progress Reports for the current two-week goal setting period will be emailed to parents Friday, December 15, by 2:20 PM. Please let us know if you are not receiving that email from your student's advisor every two weeks!

Students who did not meet at least 3 out of 5 goals for two 2-week goal setting periods have been referred by their advisors for an Academic Progress Support Plan meeting. Cecily will be calling to schedule these meetings. Parents and students will be asked to attend, and the agenda will be to complete this plan.

Our school day will begin at 7:45 and end at 2:18. Here is a look at the class time schedule: Daily Schedule.

With Rockford's trimester high school system, students are expected to complete 2.5 credits (5 classes) each trimester, for a total of 7.5 credits each year. While March 1 seems like a long way off, trimesters are about 12 weeks long, so each week, students should be completing about 10% of each class, to finish on time. Completing this work will require students to make progress on assignments and activities in every class, every day!

Setting goals and making action plans is a key part of earning credit and graduating on time!

RVA courses are run through either Schoology or Edgenuity. Schoology courses are RPS teacher created and directed. If you want to know how your student is doing in these classes, log in to Schoology. If you need help getting in to Schoology, use this How to Cheat Sheet. Using a parent log in, parents can see messages and course information. However, if you want to see what your student has completed and what grades they have earned so far in classes, the best way to do that is to log in as your student. Students have access to the course gradebook which includes a list of assignments that need to be completed, showing scores earned on work that has been turned in.

Edgenuity courses offer parent updates. If you would like to be signed up to receive these, please complete this form. When the form has been processed, you will receive directions for signing up for the Parent Portal along with an access code. You will receive daily updates. If you want specific information on how your student is doing in Edgenuity, ask your student for their login information. If you log in as the student, you can see a more detailed report.

Good questions to ask your student include:

1. Are you attending all class sessions?

2. Are you completing at least one assignment in each class session?

3. About how far in each course are you?

4. What are you doing well?

5. What can you do better?

Parents and schools are partners in educating students!

Talk and Tour

Designed for students in grades 7-12, these free career exploration events are like getting 5 job shadows in one! Students can hear directly from a panel of professionals, ask career questions, and tour the employer’s workspace. Professionals will share their own career path, the inside scoop on what their jobs are really like, along with their perspective on what you can do to prepare for a career that interests you. Parents and Educators are welcome.

Offered each month, from 6-7:30 PM
Check out the current schedule at kentisd.org/talkandtour

Upcoming Sessions:

December 13, 2023 (register here)
Location: Plante Moran
Featured Occupations: Accounting: Audit & Tax, Finance: Wealth Management and Valuations

January 23, 2024 (register here)
Location: Amway Grand Plaza /AHC Hospitality

February 20, 2024 (register here)
Location: Corewell Health - Surgical Services

Career Chats

3:30pm - 4:00pm

Career Chats are designed to provide 7-12 grade students a virtual opportunity to meet real professionals employed in real jobs. This series of 30-40 minute sessions will highlight professions from a variety of career pathways, giving students the opportunity to learn more about a career of interest, or to explore new options.

Click here to register

Upcoming Sessions:

December 12, 2023
Keli Christopher, Agricultural Engineer

Job Board -new resource!

The Kent ISD Workforce Development team recently launched a job board to help connect young job seekers with local employers. It is specifically designed to feature entry-level employment opportunities that lead to advanced opportunities. We will be working this fall to populate this resource with local jobs. Check out the Job Board here.

Recorded career videos are now available for student, parent, and educator use!

Kent ISD Career Readiness pivoted early in the pandemic and started hosting live virtual career conversations with local employers.

• These events were recorded and are accessible via a search engine tool on our website.
• These 30–60-minute career conversations will help educate students, parents and educators about in-demand careers and also expand their knowledge of opportunities with local employers.
• Search by a variety of criteria including Career Pathway, Program, Age Group and more.

Check them out at KentISD.org/CareerVideos

Scholarship Information!

Citizens Scholarship
Citizens wants to honor the dedication of students and families pursuing higher learning. There are no essays, no report cards- just a couple of easy registration steps to enter!

• Fill out the registration form to be entered for a chance to win a Grand Prize of $15,000 to use towards school expenses and one of the $2,500 monthly prizes!
• Additionally, each quarter a student who meets the required criteria for the Minority Scholarship Prize will be eligible to win a $2,500 quarterly prize.
• This Sweepstakes is open to high school seniors, undergrad and graduate students as well as parents or sponsors of high school, undergrad or graduate students. Students must plan on attending college, or be currently enrolled at least half-time in an eligible, accredited undergrad/grad post-secondary institution.

SkillPointe Foundation Scholarships

• Multiple $1,000 scholarships every month for individuals pursuing technical/vocational training in construction, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, transportation and other fields
• Application deadline is the last day of every month and a minimum of 2 winners will be notified approximately 6 weeks from entry.
• Exclusively for individuals wishing to gain a certificate, credential or 2 year degree.
• For more information and to apply, click here

Scholarship Database
View scholarships and sign up for their newsletter to stay up-to-date

Hand 2 Hand can help with food and toiletry needs.

RVA has an amazing staff, social worker, and mental health liaison who can listen and connect you to resources! Visit the RPS Mental Wellness Community Resource Guide for important information and contact information.

Ele's Place is a community-based organization with the mission to create awareness of and support for grieving children and their families. Please find a very helpful guide for parents - how to support teens, as well as a handout titled, How to Help Yourself: For Teens below.

Also, North Kent Connect (NKC) is a hub of help for families who could use some help with food, utilities, counseling, and support. Please check out the flyers below!

Free Covid-19 tests are coming back. Starting Monday (Sept 25), households can receive 4 free rapid tests through USPS again. Order here: COVIDtests.gov. Shipments will start Oct. 2.

Winter sports information can be found at the Rockford Athletics Website. Winter sports opportunities include: basketball, bowling, gymnastics, ice hockey, competitive cheer, skiing, swim and dive, and wrestling.

Ram’s Tale—also known as OUR yearbook! Notes on Book Sales and Senior Photos

Yearbook Advisor: John Feeley — jfeeley@rockfordschools.org

Book Cost:
$70 October 1st through Friday, December 16th
$75 December 17th through Wednesday, May 31st!

Books can be ordered at yearbookforever.com
● Select Rockford High School for ALL 9-12 students
● Ensure to select Rockford, Michigan as there are Rockford schools in other states!

Senior Pictures— The Requirements / must be wallet size & in color!

Before submitting your senior picture, please consider the following guidelines and requirements.
Must:
⮚ Be a wallet sized photo (2X3)
⮚ Formatted vertically
⮚ Appropriately dressed
⮚ Not full length
⮚ Full color image
⮚ No sepia or other toned images

Preferences:

*Digital images 300 DPI or greater

*Digital images over hard copy phones, especially in the case of shooting one’s own photo

*Turn in early!!

Email Pictures to jfeeley@rockfordschools.org
Please Email Pictures: DO NOT send links!
Senior Photos Due By Friday, December 9th, 2023
—1 week before Christmas Break

December 11: Goal setting for weeks 5 and 6 of Trimester 2

December 13: Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 12:18!

December 15: Arbor Circle Group/ Progress Reports emailed

December 21: RVA Holiday Breakfast

December 22: Arbor Circle Group

December 25-January 5 Christmas Break

January 8: School resumes/ Goal setting for weeks 7 and 8 of Trimester 2

January 10: Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 12:18!

January 12: Arbor Circle Group/ Progress Reports emailed

January 19: Arbor Circle Group

January 22: Goal setting for weeks 9 and 10 of Trimester 2

January 24: Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 12:18!

January 26: Arbor Circle Group/Progress Reports emailed

February 2: Arbor Circle Group

February 5: Goal setting for weeks 11 and 12 of Trimester 2

February 9: Arbor Circle Group/ Progress Reports emailed

February 14: Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 12:18!

February 20: Goal setting for weeks 13 and 14 of Trimester 2

February 23: Arbor Circle Group/ Progress Reports emailed

February 28: Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 12:18!

March 1: END OF TRIMESTER 2 - Early Release Day - Students dismissed at 12:18!

North Kent CONNECT: Clients | North Kent Connect (nkconnect.org)

Mobile Food Pantries: https://www.feedwm.org/findfood/

Assistance with housing, food, utilities:

contact 211 by phone or text (800-877-1107), text your zip code to 898211

Youth in need of shelter: The Bridge 616-451-3001 or 877-275-7792 the bridge - Arbor Circle

RVA Team - A caring group of educators dedicated to meeting students where they are and helping students grow and succeed!

Email: jthompson@rockfordschools.org
Website: http://www.rockfordschools.org
Location: 350 North Main Street, Rockford, MI, USA
Phone: 616-863-6324
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rivervalleyacademy