Though we are currently bombarded with candy, costumes, and pumpkins, October is an important month not just due to Halloween - October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Students at Rivermont Collegiate are taking some time out of their costume-planning this month to organize fundraising events and promote breast cancer awareness.

 

The entire Rivermont campus (faculty and staff included!) is invited to participate in a "pink" relaxed dress code day on Thursday, 10/4 in exchange for a donation to the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer campaign. The campus will be a sea of pink and students may enjoy sweatpants (while the faculty enjoys jeans!).  In addition, the volleyball triple-header Thursday evening will be a "Pink Out" event in which the entire crowd is encouraged to wear the color.  All proceeds from admissions, concessions, and donation buckets at the games will benefit Coaches vs. Cancer.  Opponents Our Lady and North Scott will be joining in, with their players and spectators donning pink and even competing with a pink volleyball.

 

Rivermont vs. Our Lady      4:30 p.m.        5^th/6^th grade

5:30 p.m.        7^th/8^th grade

Rivermont vs. North Scott    7:00 p.m.        Varsity

 

(home games held at Rivermont - 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf - directly off 18^th St. behind K&K Hardware)

 

Thanks to improvements in treatment and early detection, millions of women are surviving breast cancer today.  Because early detection significantly increases chances for successful treatment, awareness is a critical tool in the fight against the disease.  Rivermont students are boosting awareness at an early age and helping create a dialogue on breast cancer!

 

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only private, independent, non-sectarian PS-12^th grade college preparatory school.  Visit us online at www.rvmt.org!

 

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Rock Island, IL: Learning isn't just for schoolchildren. Beyond the thousands of books, DVDs and other resources at Rock Island Public Library locations, fall brings plenty of ways for adults to learn something new with free programs on genealogy, technology and job searching.

Learn More About Who You Are:

With the help of two new genealogy programs at the Rock Island Main Library, participants can learn how to find out more their family ties. On Tuesday, Oct. 2, the Rock Island County Genealogical Society presents Genealogy: Getting Started, for an introductory look at how to start a family tree. On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the library and the Genealogical Society will offer Genealogy: Online Resources, for a look at how to use computerized research databases, such as Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest. Both programs start at 6:00 pm in the Main Library Community Room at 401 19^th Street. No registration is required.

 

Learn More About Using and Buying Technology:

If you're discovering the world of digital books, the Rock Island Library offers OverDrive, which contains a large number of eBooks, and a small number of eAudiobooks; and OneClickdigital, which contains more than 3,500 eAudiobook titles that can be checked out for free. The library will offer a demonstration on using OverDrive at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 10 and Wednesday, Nov. 14, both  at the Rock Island Southwest Branch Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road. No registration is required. Time is provided for questions and one-on-one help after each demo.

If you're considering a purchase of new technology (or putting some devices on your gift list), the library will offer a showcase of what to look for in a new computer, eReader, tablet or cell phone, and an overview of their compatibility with library products, such as OverDrive, OneClickdigital and Mango online languages. All three products offer mobile apps to help patrons use them on mobile devices. Technology Basics will be offered at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19^th Street.

Learn more about social media, with Facebook and Twitter: What You Want to Know, at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Library employees will answer some common about the features of both Facebook and Twitter, and how people use them to build connections with others.

 

Learn More About Finding and Landing a Job:

In a crowded job market, knowing how to present knowing how to present yourself can be the edge you need to stand out in the crowd. The Rock Island Library Reference and Information department will host two free programs to help you do just that:

Getting That Job: Tips on Making the Cut will be presented from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Participants will hear tips from a panel of experts on how to fill out the application, what to avoid on a resume, and what to do during an interview. No registration is required.

Getting That Job: Resume Tips will be presented from 11:00 am to noon on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Participants will hear tips and suggestions for putting together a resume. Registration is required for this course, as computers are limited. To sign up, call 309-732-7341.

 

Both programs will be presented in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19^th Street.

 

For more computer tip workshops and other hands-on demos for adults at the Rock Island Library, visit the library calendar at www.rockislandlandlibrary, call 309-732-7341 or follow the library on Facebook.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad announced today that the Central Decatur Community School District and the Saydel Community School District won a grant in partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) from the U. S. Department of Education's 2012 Teacher Incentive Fund.

The goal of the project is to create a new teacher leadership and compensation structure in each district to help boost student achievement. This will be done by putting in place NIET's Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), which creates mentor and master teacher roles that provide more support for classroom teachers to help them improve instructional strategies. As part of the project, the districts will make it possible for teachers who specialize in science, technology, engineering and math to seek more training at local universities. Helping principals become more effective also is a focus of the project.

The grant provides $2.3 million for the first two years, with the possibility of nearly $9.6 million total over five years depending upon annual congressional appropriations.

"This is an outstanding opportunity to implement a new teacher leadership and compensation structure, which will better support teachers in the classroom as they work to raise student achievement," said Branstad. "I would like to thank the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and the Central Decatur and Saydel school districts for working together to win this grant. Their superintendents, school boards, teachers' associations and others did an extraordinary job of moving this application forward in a short time frame. Graceland University and Grand View University also deserve to be commended for their support for the grant application. So does the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Advisory Council."

"The creation of mentor and master teacher roles will give teachers new career options in these two districts," Branstad added. "We cannot continue the one-size-fits-all approach toward the teaching profession, which limits professional opportunities."

The Central Decatur and Saydel superintendents said the grant will better support work already under way in their districts.

"We are excited to have this opportunity. The core concepts of the Teacher Advancement Program align with the work we have done and conversations we already have had as a district. We feel this will help provide more structure and better consistency to sustain and improve student achievement," said Chris Coffelt, Central Decatur superintendent. Coffelt added that the grant will offer teachers multiple career paths, and will help the district have more success retaining and attracting great teachers.

"I believe the grant has the power to be transformational. It is such a great opportunity to improve teaching to increase student learning," said Saydel Superintendent Brad Buck.

Buck said Saydel teachers work extraordinarily hard now, but the additional support will help them accelerate student achievement.

"In line with Governor Branstad's and Education Director Jason Glass's reform blueprint, this will open up new career opportunities in our district with the designation of mentor and master teacher roles," said Buck. Master teachers will spend 100 percent of their day providing staff with instructional coaching and analyzing student achievement data, among other duties, he said.

"This is an exciting new day for the teaching profession in Iowa," said Glass. "This is the first federal grant of its kind ever awarded to the state and a marked change from the one-size-fits-all profession that has come to limit career opportunities for teachers. We are incredibly proud of these two districts and their innovative spirit, and we look for them to lead the way in this exciting new era of the teaching profession."

The grant won by Central Decatur and Saydel is one of 35 grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Education to "improve pay structures, reward great teachers and principals, and provide greater professional opportunities to teachers in high-poverty schools." For more information: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-boosts-district-led-efforts-recognize-and-reward-great-t

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Milan, IL 9/26/12

The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) has awarded Just Kids @ XPAC with NAC Accreditation.

As a NAC accredited center, Just Kids @ XPAC has been recognized as an early care and education program that exemplifies excellence in the care of young children. By achieving NAC accreditation, Just Kids @ XPAC offers a high quality program that  exceeds state licensing requirements and provides an environment that is conducive to each child's individual growth and development. The program also offers opportunities to support and educate staff members and parents on child development issues.

The accreditation process included a self-study process in which administrators, staff members and parents evaluated the program in accordance with NAC Accreditation Standards. After the self-study process was complete, an onsite observation took place at Just Kids @ XPAC by an early childhood professional. Based on the information collected, Just Kids @ XPAC was awarded  accreditation through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs. All parents, staff members and administrators at Just Kids @ XPAC are to be congratulated for achieving this level of excellence.

Just Kids @ XPAC is located on site at XPAC Corporation, Milan. More information about the program can be found at www.justkidsinc.org.

About NAC
The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) is sponsored by the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP). NACCP is the nation's leader among associations serving child care owners, directors and administrators. The organization's goal is to strengthen and enhance the credibility of leaders in the field of early care and education by providing membership services and benefits. For more information about NACCP and NAC, please visit www.naccp.org.

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