(Moline, IL) Wilson Middle School student, Ian Brown, has composed "Endeavor" and it will be premiered on Thursday, May 22nd at the Wilson Middle School Orchestra Spring Concert. The concert begins at 7:00 pm. in the school auditorium.

According to the Wilson Instrumental Music Director, Todd Slothower, this is not Brown's first composition.  The 13 year old has been composing for about a year. "He has a lot of talent and drive.  This will be the first time our orchestra has performed a student's work," says Slothower.  Brown is a cello player in the orchestra and a bass player in the jazz band at Wilson.

Rock Island County parents have the opportunity to find out how their little ones are progressing. A free "early learning readiness fair" is being held THIS week.

(Rock Island, IL)  Rock Island County Regional Office of Education Superintendent, Tammy Muerhoff, says birth to age five is an integral time period for the development of young children. And because of that, the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education, the Early Childhood Coalition and the All Our Kids Early Childhood Network are collaborating to offer parents of children age birth to age five an opportunity to acquire resources from community agencies, school districts, and child care centers.

Muerhoff says "The Early Learning Readiness Fair "provides an opportunity for parents to gather information and ask questions in one location.   "Children's experiences in their first few years of life influence how they develop, learn and interact with the world and so parents must know what they can do to make sure that time is filled with great growth".

The fair is being held THIS Wednesday, April 9th from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Building in Rock Island?4600 46th Avenue  Rock Island.   At the fair there will be vision and hearing screenings, information on family resources available in the community, age appropriate activities, summer learning activities and tours of a school bus for those going to kindergarten in the fall.

Some Rock Island middle school girls have joined a sorority--a so-called "BLING "SORORITY designed to learn the value of community service and being good role models.

Each week a couple of dozen 6th through 8th girls at Edison Junior High in Rock Island meet in a "Lights ON" afterschool program being run by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois and the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education.  The high school girl led program consists of activities and discussions about friendships, stereotypes and bullying.  The students will also learn about giving back to the community by exploring service opportunities such as helping in a soup kitchen and visiting nursing homes.

(Rock Island, IL) Approximately 50 refugee families from eight countries speaking eleven different dialects will gather for a traditional Thanksgiving meal and family reading night thanks to the effort of some local college students.  The Church of Peace Family Reading Night will take place on Thursday, November 21 from 6:00-7:30 pm.

The special night will consist of eating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and then reading to refugee families.  St. Ambrose University graduate students from Dr. Christine Urish and Dr. Terry Schlabach's Occupational Therapy classes have been collecting books to read and give to the refugee children.
The graduate students began collecting books when their classes began in August and have at least one book to give every child on Family Reading Night.  Several of the OT students will be reading to the entire group, playing guitars and singing songs.  In addition to supplying the refugees and all of their families with a full dinner, they will receive a sack filled with full size self-care supplies (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant).

The immigrants are attending "English as a Second Language"classes funded by the "Lights ON for Learning" program at the Church of Peace.  The Rock Island County Regional Office of Education oversees the 21st Century grant that is a cooperative effort among Black Hawk College, the Regional Office of Education and the Church of Peace.  The students are from many countries with the majority being from Myanmar (used to be called Burma), Iraq, and Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania).

Lisa Viaene, the Site Coordinator of the Family Literacy Program, says the partnership with St. Ambrose has been wonderful for the students and the refugees.  "The professors and students have been an integral part of our English as a second language program at the Church of Peace.  They have volunteered numerous hours already this semester and prepared projects to help our students with functional life skills.  On Family Reading Night the refugees will be introduced to new foods, learn new songs and get to hear some children's stories before leaving with a book and a bag
of personal hygiene products."

Tammy Muerhoff, the Superintendent of the RIROE, says the program has helped so many families adjust to their new life here in the Quad Cities. "The funds provided through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants and our partnership with Black Hawk College have offered refugee families an opportunity to become familiar with English as a second language, a new community, and customs.  Having local students take an interest in their well-being is heartwarming and vital for their education."