17 Dec 2012

Rivermont Collegiate Welcomes New Director of Development

By Brittany Marietta

The Rivermont Collegiate Board of Trustees has selected Rod Ossowski as the school's new Director of Development.  Mr. Ossowski will manage Rivermont's advancement endeavors, including the annual fund, endowment, planned giving, auction, and alumni relations.  Rivermont has been educating students in the Quad Cities since 1884.  At Rivermont, tuition alone does not cover the cost of the education provided, nor does it take into account the school's long term needs or address capital improvements.  We are excited to welcome Mr. Ossowksi aboard to help raise the funds that make Rivermont's mission possible!

Ossowski, a resident of East Moline, is a graduate of Alleman High School and Northern Illinois University with over twenty five years of development experience.  He returned to the Quad Cities seven years ago after time spent in Arizona, where he served as Director of Development for the West Valley Symphony and the Challenger Space & Science Education Center in Phoenix, as well as a Major Gifts Officer at the University of Arizona and Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations at Prescott College.  Ossowski spent the past six years as Director of Development at Family Resources, where he started the first annual fund campaign and helped lead a $1.1 million campaign to complete the historic Wittenmyer gymnasium restoration and renovation project.

Rivermont Collegiate, located in Bettendorf, is the Quad Cities' only private, independent college prep school for preschool through 12th grade, with students from throughout the Quad City area.  Each year, students come to grow, to learn, and to experience an education designed to make a difference in their lives.  Founded in 1884, the school was originally organized as St. Katharine's School, an Episcopal school for girls located at 10th and Tremont Streets in Davenport.  In 1968, St. Katharine's dropped its boarding program, became co-educational, and added St. Mark's to its name.  In 1973, St. Katharine's - St. Mark's moved to its present location in Bettendorf and the name was changed to Rivermont Collegiate in 2001, following an amicable break with the Episcopal Church.

Rod Ossowski - Rivermont Collegiate Director of Development.jpg

17 Dec 2012

Branstad, Reynolds, Iowa HSEMD Share Guidance for Developing School Safety Readiness Plan

By Office of the Governor of Iowa

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were joined today at a press conference by Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division (HSEMD) Administrator Mark Schouten to share guidance for developing a school safety readiness plan in wake of the senseless tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.

"The thoughts and prayers of all Iowans are with the families and friends of the innocent victims of this senseless tragedy," said Branstad. "While it is difficult to understand such an evil act, we do know our children and grandchildren remain our most precious gifts and ensuring their safety in our communities is absolutely critical."

Earlier this year, Iowa HSEMD put in place a new school safety guide to assist schools in making plans and establishing procedures to make their facilities, students and staff safer.  This guide covers a variety of emergencies, including how to respond to an intruder with a gun who enters their school intending to do harm.

VIEW THE 2012 SCHOOL SAFETY GUIDE 

"Schools serve as society's pathway to upward mobility and growth," said Reynolds.  "It is our responsibility to keep students, teachers and school administrators safe. We applaud all those whose quick action saved children, including those teachers and school administrators and staff who acted as first responders and preformed heroic deeds."

The school safety-planning guide covers a number of threating events and helps schools plan how to respond.  The planning guide was prepared by HSEMD in conjunction with the following:

§  The Iowa Department of Public Safety's Intelligence Fusion Center

§  Iowa Department of Education

§  School Administrators of Iowa

§  The Iowa Association of School Boards

§  The Iowa State Education Association

§  Heartland Area Education Agency

§  State of Iowa Fire Marshal's Office

§  Des Moines Police, School Resource Officers

VIEW IOWA HSEMD SCHOOL SAFETY FLIP CHART 

"The State of Iowa through its Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has worked with Iowa schools over the past ten years to ensure the safety of their students," said Iowa HSEMD Administrator Mark Schouten. "Our office oversees a program through which we work to increase the security and safety of our state's critical infrastructure and facilities. One of the areas we have done a work in great deal of is in educational facilities."

VIEW 2012 IOWA SCHOOL SELF ASSESSMENT 

HSEMD has also worked closely with the Iowa Central Community College's Homeland Security Training Center to offer active shooter classes to law enforcement and other first responders for the past three years.  The training center has taught some 41,000 first responders through their active shooter and other classes over the past nine years and is currently the recipient of an HSEMD grant to continue active shooter training for smaller law enforcement agencies.

Some 500 copies of the school safety planning guide have been distributed to school administrators, school nurses, emergency management coordinators, and first responders over the last few months.  Electronic versions are available at the HSEMD website: www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov or can be obtained from your local emergency management coordinator.

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12 Dec 2012

Simon - Make affordable higher education a higher priority

By Kara Beach

Colleges call for a vote on Choice Reports bill

CHICAGO - December 12, 2012. Calling for a vote on a key college affordability and transparency bill, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon marked her 12th and final College Affordability Summit today with a visit to Northeastern Illinois University.

Simon said that transparency is one of three basic tenets that will help students afford and complete college. She is backing legislation requiring all degree-granting institutions to publish an annual College Choice Report. The report would help students compare information, such as total costs and completion rates, across all degree-granting institutions in the state and make more informed decisions about where to spend their college dollars.

All 12 public university presidents and the Illinois Community College Board presidents' council submitted letters recently to the House calling for Senate Bill 5248 to be released for a vote before this session ends.

"College Choice Reports will be easy to access and easy to use, helping students find the facts they need to make an informed decision about an institution that will best fit their needs," said Simon. "I appreciate the great support we have received for Senate Bill 5248, and I look forward to working with Speaker Madigan to bring this bill to the House floor for a vote."

While increased transparency will help students discover more information about the state's higher education institutions, Simon has outlined two additional ways stakeholders can work together to make college affordable:

·         Targeted assistance: To better use state resources, Simon wants to strengthen the Monetary Award Program and insure MAP grants promote college attendance and completion, and reduce the achievement gap between low-income and higher-income students. MAP grants are currently awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students based on financial need, but that means state funding reaches only about half of eligible students. Simon currently serves on a MAP Eligibility Task Force that is evaluating ways to improve distributional equity and encourage timely degree completion. A task force report to the General Assembly is due Jan. 1, 2013.

·         Tax credits for tuition payments: More than 9 million students and families are taking advantage of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, saving them up to $10,000 over four years of college. Simon supports making this federal tax credit permanent and preventing it from expiring at the end of this year.

"Cutting investments directly related to economic growth doesn't make sense. We should work together on policies that prioritize education and employment, not shortchange Illinois students and quality employers," Simon said."Together we could stabilize the cost for public universities and community colleges, following tuition and fee increases that have outpaced inflation, family incomes and available aid over the past 20 years."

According to a College Board trends report published in October, costs at public and private universities nationwide increased more than 4 percent this school year, while the cost of community college increased more than 5 percent since last school year. Compounding the burden on students, federal aid declined for the first time in three years.

"In order to retain and attract high-wage and high-skill jobs in Illinois, we will need 60 percent of our working-age population to hold a college credential by 2025," Simon said. "We cannot expect students to complete college if they cannot afford college. I urge our state, federal and higher education leaders to work together to ensure college is not only accessible to the privileged, when it will be a prerequisite for a good job in our state."

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12 Dec 2012

Governor Quinn, College Students Discuss Impact of Pension Squeeze on Financial Aid for Higher Education

By Erin Wilson

Higher Education, MAP Grant Funding at Risk without

Immediate Pension Reform

CHICAGO - December 12, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by Illinois college students to discuss how inaction on pension reform is threatening Monetary Award Program (MAP) college scholarships and access to higher education in Illinois. One after one, the students made clear how access to higher education changed their lives and prepared them for a job and career. Today's event is part of the governor's ongoing effort to educate and activate the people of Illinois to push for pension reform as he continues to work with legislators on the issue.

"A college degree gives students the foundation they need to launch a successful career," Governor Quinn said. "Nobody has more at stake in pension reform than the students of Illinois. We must make sure every student has the chance to pursue their dreams and the degree of their choosing, and that's why we must work together to enact comprehensive pension reform by January 9."

MAP grants are need-based college scholarships that provide students with merit who are in need across Illinois with the opportunity to attend a higher education institution. These grants help cover tuition and fee costs at approved universities and colleges in Illinois, and do not need to be repaid by the student. 18,000 students lost their MAP grant scholarships this year because of budget reductions to education. Currently, only half of eligible MAP grant applicants are able to receive the aid they need to attend college.

According to the Pew Center for the States, Illinois has the worst-funded pension systems in the nation. As Illinois' $96 billion unfunded pension liability grows, it squeezes out more and more funding for crucial services such as health care, road repair and MAP college scholarships from the state budget. Unless comprehensive pension reform is enacted, taxpayer dollars that would otherwise be spent on ensuring that deserving students have the opportunity to pursue a degree will instead continue to cover ballooning pension costs.

In April, Governor Quinn proposed a plan that would rescue Illinois' public pension systems, ensure employees have access to benefits and prevent skyrocketing pension costs from squeezing out core services such as education, health care and public safety. The governor's plan would fully fund the pension system by 2042. The governor also launched an Internet campaign-Thanks in Advance- to boost public awareness about the "squeeze" caused by soaring pension costs and the urgent need for pension reform. Since launching, more than 34,000 unique visitors have gone to ThisisMyIllinois.com and a video featuring "Squeezy the Pension Python" has been viewed almost 25,000 times.

The legislature is scheduled to work January 3 - 8.

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11 Dec 2012

Lt. Governor Simon: College Affordability is Key

By Kara Beach

Final Affordability Summit to be held at Northeastern Illinois

CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will convene her final College Affordability Summit on Wednesday at Northeastern Illinois University. Throughout the fall, Simon has met with students, faculty, staff and administrators at each public university campus in Illinois to urge state, federal and higher education leaders to keep college affordable for all students.

Simon says that transparency is key to helping students afford and complete college. She is backing legislation requiring all degree-granting institutions to publish an annual College Choice Report. The report would help students compare information, such as total costs and completion rates, across all degree-granting institutions in the state and make wise choices about where to spend their college dollars. Each of the 12 public university presidents recently signed a letter of support to House Speaker Mike Madigan, requesting the bill's release from the House Rules Committee. 

An October report from the College Board indicates that public and private universities nationwide have increased costs more than 4 percent this school year, with community college costs up 5 percent. To make ends meet, students have taken on more debt, carrying an average of $26,682 in student loans in 2010 according to the Pew Research Center. 

"As a state, we want to increase the proportion of working-age adults with a college degree or credential to 60 percent, up from 41 percent, by 2025. The only way we can achieve this goal is if college is affordable," said Simon, a former Southern Illinois University law professor and a member of a state task force evaluating MAP Grant eligibility. "We must work together to rein in the costs of higher education."

DATE: Wednesday, December 12

TIME: 10:15 a.m.

PLACE: Golden Eagle room, Northeastern Illinois University Student Union, 5500 St. Louis Ave., Chicago

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11 Dec 2012

2013 Robert D. Blue Scholarship Application is Available Online

By Karen Austin

DES MOINES, IA (12/11/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced today that the application for the 2013 Robert D. Blue Scholarship is available online at www.rdblue.org. All Iowa residents who plan to attend college in Iowa for the 2013-2014 school year are eligible to apply.

Awards are based on financial need, an original essay, academic achievement and written recommendations. "These scholarships not only help Iowa students financially, but also honor the achievements and potential of the young people of our state," Fitzgerald stated. "Last year, six outstanding students representing six counties were chosen to receive awards. Each of the recipients went on to attend a different Iowa college or university."

The Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation awards the Robert D. Blue Scholarship to Iowa students attending college in Iowa. Governor Blue created the Foundation in 1949 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Iowa's acceptance into the union. At that time, a scholarship fund was established to encourage the youth of the state to attend Iowa's fine colleges and universities. In 1990, the Foundation officially named the scholarship to honor the late Governor Blue.

Robert D. Blue Scholarship applications are only accepted online through May 10 at www.rdblue.org. The winners will be announced during the summer. Those who would like more information on the Robert D. Blue Scholarship should visit the website, or call the treasurer's office at (515) 242-5270.

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06 Dec 2012

Governor Quinn Announces Over $34 Million in Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Federal Funding to Strengthen Early Learning Programs in Illinois

By Leslie Wertheimer

Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge funds will target the state's neediest children

CHICAGO - December 6, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced Illinois has been awarded a $34.8 million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support quality early childhood education in Illinois.

Illinois was one of only 14 states selected for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. The grant funds will help Illinois connect children most at risk of school failure with high-quality early learning programs.

"Illinois has been a leader in early learning for decades and we will now be able to further strengthen that leadership through the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge," Governor Quinn said.  "The achievement gap begins before a child steps into kindergarten. Empowering our children with a solid education foundation before they begin kindergarten is the most crucial investment we can make in a future workforce that will drive economic growth in Illinois."

The Illinois State Board of Education, Department of Human Services and Department of Children and Family Services will work together to improve the quality of all early learning and development programs in the state through this grant.  The federal grant will be used to: create a new Quality Rating and Improvement System to inform parents about program quality through a website that will be fully implemented in July 2014. In addition, the grant will help communities connect children with the greatest needs to high-quality programs, strengthen the quality of early learning programs, and support the development of great teachers for early learning programs.  These funds will also allow the state to make important one-time investments to improve efficiency, streamline program administration and data systems and evaluate effectiveness for early childhood programs.

"Making sure young children and their families get the support they need to prepare children for success in school and later life requires coordinated effort from all of our agencies," said Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Michelle Saddler.

"Early childhood funding is one of the best investments we can make for the success and prosperity of future generations and our Illinois economy," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "These funds will allow us to improve our infrastructure to better serve early learners and make more efficient use of state resources toward that purpose."

Illinois was one of five states eligible to compete for the second round of the grant, which was submitted in October to the U.S. Department of Education.  The state was one of 35 states to apply for the first round of funding and was found eligible to apply for the second round based on its performance.

Illinois' application is designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of early childhood education in Illinois by taking a patchwork of early learning programs and integrating them into a unified system and increasing early childhood program quality?making sure that all programs provide quality education and helping already good programs become great.

To learn more about the Illinois plan for the Early Learning Challenge, please visit:  http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/OECD/Pages/EarlyLearningChallenge.aspx

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04 Dec 2012

QC Students Recognized as IL State Scholars

By Brittany Marietta

RIVERMONT SENIOR RANKS TOP IN ILLINOIS

Rivermont Collegiate is ecstatic to announce senior Darsani Reddy has been named a 2013-14 Illinois State Scholar by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Darsani is the daughter of Dr. Bouyella and Mrs. Kamala Reddy of Moline, IL.  The State Scholar Program recognizes students for outstanding academic achievement.  Approximately the top ten percent of graduates from approved high schools are recognized as State Scholars each year.

A list of State Scholars in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas is attached.

About the Illinois State Scholar Program

To be eligible, a student must be a resident of Illinois and perform in the top one-half of their class (at the end of their junior year) and/or score in the 95th percentile on the ACT, SAT, or Prairie State Achievement Exam.  Once all students who meet these criteria are identified, a formula based on standardized test scores and performance-based academic data is used to select State Scholars.  While the prestigious recognition does not include a monetary award, recipients are encouraged to cite the award on college admission applications.  For additional information, visit http://www.isac.org.

About Darsani Reddy

Darsani, who was also recently named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program, is a member of National Honor Society and President of the Rivermont Computer Club.  She is a member of the Varsity Basketball team and Show Choir and enjoys participating in Rivermont theater productions and volunteering at Trinity Medical Center.  Currently, Darsani is exploring The University of Chicago, Syracuse University, and Washington University in St. Louis, among other schools.

Congratulations to Darsani - the entire Rivermont community is extremely proud of this accomplishment!
04 Dec 2012

JORDAN ENGINEERING PROGRAM EVENTS

By Janine Parr
Jordan is the first school in the area to establish a K-8 STEM program. The following ground-breaking events are planned:

"STEM-stirs" Show and Share Night
Jordan Catholic School, Wednesday, December 5th from 4:00pm to 5:30pm Jordan Catholic School is the first school in the Quad Cities to sponsor 11 junior FLL teams (K through 4th grade Junior First Lego League) and is having a Show and Share Night to show
our community the students' projects and their journey to learn more about "Super Seniors" and how the senior citizen's lives have changed since they were kids. Please join us and view the first ever Jr. FLL projects to be displayed in the Quad Cities area. The event will take place in the lower level of the school. Please enter via the South doors and turn left down the stairs.

JET to host 2012 First Lego League Regional Competition - Senior Solutions
Jordan Catholic School, Saturday, December 15th from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Jordan Catholic School, in support of First Lego League, offers an Engineering and Technology program. JET (5-8th grade) has participated in FLL successfully for four years and is taking the next step- hosting the first ever Illinois FLL Regional Qualifier in the Quad Cities. Fifteen teams from around the area will compete in the 2012 FLL Senior Solutions Challenge for four coveted spots to advance to the state competition in Arlington Heights on January 19, 2013. The event will take place in Farrell Hall. Please enter via the Farrell Hall doors around the back of the school.


04 Dec 2012

USA Network and Mediacom Award Quad Cities Principal

By Khalan Boyer

USA NETWORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MEDIACOM HONOR QUAD CITIES TEACHER WITH A CHARACTERS UNITE AWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS TO COMBAT PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION

 

Phillip Ambrose, Principal of Thurgood Marshall Learning Center in Rock Island, to Be Recognized at an Awards Ceremony on December 7; Also Featured on USA Network On-Air and Online as Part of Characters Unite Campaign

WHAT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing its highly successful multiplatform public service campaign to address social injustices and bridge cultural divides, USA Network, along with its distribution partners, have selected ten winners for the 2012 Characters Unite Awards. The winners were selected from hundreds of nominees for their extraordinary efforts in combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance in their communities. 

Each honoree will be acknowledged during a hometown award ceremony and will receive a $5,000 grant from USA Network and participating local distribution partners to support his/her project or related nonprofit organization. Additionally, honorees will be featured on-air in a PSA and online at charactersunite.com.

Local Davenport resident Phillip Ambrose is among the ten winners selected and will be recognized at an award ceremony in Rock Island, IL. Phillip Ambrose is a Principal at the Thurgood Marshall Learning Center, an alternative school serving the Rock Island/Milan School District in Illinois.  Under the leadership of Principal Ambrose, the school pursues and engages in compelling projects to increase awareness of diversity, tolerance and respect through innovative cross-curricular activities.  Most recently, with the school's Tuskegee Airmen Project, students studied how the Tuskegee Airmen, America's first squadron of African-American pilots, overcame prejudice to achieve their goal of fighting for their country. The next project the school plans to undertake is entitled Beyond the Dream; 50 years (1963-2013), which studies tolerance in America and the impact of significant events and people over the course of the last 50 years, from Dr. King's famous "I have a dream" speech to Barack Obama's presidency.

Mediacom Communications is the local distribution partner for USA Network, and will be co-hosting the awards program and lunch at Thurgood Marshall Learning Center.

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