In our super-connected global world, it's ironic and sad that so many people still
seem disconnected from those of other faiths and cultures. Youth LEAD, a Massachusetts
non-profit, is seeking to bridge this chasm of misunderstanding and prejudice.
Executive Director Janet Penn explains why its approach works so well.

Sharon, MA (April 2012)?The world is, without a doubt, flatter than it's ever been. Corporations that a mere 30 years ago were bound to their home country now have locations dotting the globe. The Internet lets us "talk" to people on the other side of the earth with just the click of a mouse. And the U.S. itself is becoming far more culturally diverse: The 2010 census found that Hispanic and Asian populations increased considerably over the past decade, while the non-Hispanic white population grew at the slowest rate.

Given all this change, you'd think that people would naturally gain more acceptance and understanding of those whose skin has more (or less) pigment or who have a different concept of God (or none at all). Unfortunately, says Janet Penn, executive director of Youth LEAD (www.youthleadonline.org), you'd be wrong.

"Sure there are exceptions, but many people seem, if not more polarized, at least more entrenched in their comfort zones than ever," says Penn. "Watch the news and you'll see ample evidence of racial strife, of cultural suspicion, of wars and acts of hate waged in the name of religion. In fact, you don't even have to turn on the TV to see the roots of these problems?just look at the self-segregated makeup of the typical high school cafeteria."

How can a global society function well when its members can't (or won't) connect with each other in a meaningful way? It can't, insists Penn, which is why she's made it her goal to help bridge what she calls the "difference divide" between people of different cultures and faiths. That means getting to them at a young age and helping them understand each other.

This is where Youth LEAD excels. This non-profit organization based in Sharon, Massachusetts (an exceptionally diverse town), trains a diverse group of area high school students to reflect upon their values and beliefs, connect with others across differences, and then the youth themselves act together to address local and global challenges. What makes Youth LEAD very different from typical diversity programs is that the youth truly do lead?adults offer support, but the teens do the hard work of facilitating tough talks across differences themselves.

Youth LEAD has enjoyed tremendous success during the eight years it's been in operation. It's being featured as one of only two promising youth practices in the United States in a major new study by Harvard's Pluralism Project (www.pluralism.org/interfaith/practices). America's Interfaith Infrastructure Study, a pilot initiative of The Pluralism Project, documents the growth of interfaith initiatives across the U.S. and considers the implications of our multi-religious reality for citizenship and leadership today and in the future.

The Pluralism Project recognized Youth LEAD because of its "authentic youth leadership" model (rather than just talking, they actually plan and facilitate complex events) and their multi-year trainings that give teens critical 21st century skills. Unlike many programs or peace camps that bring youth together for one encounter (even if it's for a week or two), Youth LEADers spend several years together, running their own meetings and community service projects. It's too hard to talk about the "hard stuff" on your first date.

Currently, the teens are planning the TIDE Conference, to be held May 25-27 at Northeastern University in Boston, MA (www.youthleadonline.org/tide-conference/). TIDE brings together young people from all over the United States for youth-led workshops on issues like religious bigotry, youth violence, drug and alcohol abuse, civic engagement, and more. While such issues are typically discussed from a public health perspective, in this case the young people will present and explore them in their own voices?a rare occurrence indeed.

Penn says Youth LEAD's overarching goal is for youth to develop the skills they're going to need to operate in an increasingly global, culturally diverse world.

"How do you ask the questions that help you truly understand someone?especially if it's someone with whom you have a fundamental disagreement?" she asks. "How do you work together with people from all different backgrounds to address the problems in your community? If people can learn these skills while they're in their teens, they'll be able to decrease polarization on their college campuses and later in their workplaces and communities."

Penn's plan now is to take the template she's spent years refining and share it with other communities. Last year, Youth LEADers provided year-long trainings to youth at a local Islamic Center and on Staten Island, NY. This year, they trained youth at a local YMCA. Next fall, Youth LEAD plans to spread further afield, to Oklahoma City, Boston, and Central Massachusetts.

"Media stories often reinforce stereotypes and do not fully describe the rich complexity of communities," says Penn. "Youth LEADers have a nuanced understanding of ideas and conflicts, based upon their communication and facilitation training as well as long-term relationships with others across differences."

So why does Youth LEAD's approach work so well? Penn and several alumni of the program offer the following insights:

· Youth get deeply invested because they plan and run the programs. What sets Youth LEAD apart from other programs of its kind is that the teens find their own voice and truly do the work themselves (rather than following orders given by adults). Youth LEADers don't just run an icebreaker; they plan the entire conference. They are trained facilitators who are often called upon to mediate discussions in the larger community. They do it all themselves, from assessing problems to organizing events to implementing every detail.

"I was given the immense responsibility of leading a group of teenagers to productively plan a weekend-long conference," says Aaron Birnbaum, a Jewish participant who is a freshman at Middlebury College. "During the actual conference, I gave a speech, led many workshops and dialogues, and made announcements to keep the conference running smoothly. People built lasting friendships across what might have previously been boundaries. People were given a chance to communicate effectively, and I'm certain that people will be able to bring back what they learned to the outside world."

· It forces young people to get in touch with their own beliefs. Youth LEAD requires its participants to articulate in front of a group what they believe in. This helps them gain clarity on their own views, which in turn creates confidence and a strong sense of self. This is an important first step in being able to communicate with people who disagree. A Christian or Jew who is secure in his own faith, who is not just "going along" with what he thinks he's "supposed" to believe, is less likely to feel threatened by hearing beliefs that are the polar opposite of his own views. In fact, a democracy depends upon a citizenry able to understand why they hold their beliefs and how to defend them, rather than blindly following the pack.

"People fear that interfaith work will dilute their religion or convert them, but it's not like that at all," says Daisy Alioto, a Youth LEAD alum and Christian Scientist who attends Bowdoin College in Maine. "It really helped me become more articulate about explaining my religion. Sometimes it takes someone asking you a question that you never considered to increase your understanding of your religion."

· It helps them give "different" a name and a face. Left to their own devices, kids tend to gravitate toward others who are most like them. Youth LEAD forces them to truly get to know young people from other faiths and cultures. From there, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump to getting to like them. And from that point on, when they think of Jews, they think "Talia." When they think of Muslims, they think "Amal." This makes it far more difficult to feel apathy or negativity toward these groups. They come to see the essential humanity in everyone.

"The program made it easy for me to look at the individuals, and not the religions as a whole," explains Talia Fishbon, a Youth LEAD alumna who attends the University of Delaware (Class of 2012).

"I became friends with many people I know I wouldn't have gotten to know at school," adds Amal Cheema, a Muslim and a junior at Sharon High School.

· Participants learn what real acceptance and tolerance look like. Penn doesn't like to use these words. (They connote, "I'll tolerate you if I have to, but I don't really want to engage," or, "I accept that you think differently from me," she explains.) Still, for many people, they serve as shorthand for the kind of deep cross-cultural understanding Youth LEAD aims to promote. The organization's goal is for youth to actively reduce stereotyping, demystify differences in beliefs, histories, and practices, increase empathy between people, and foster genuine encounters and dialogue among individuals and groups.

"I was never a racist person, and I give thanks to my parents because of that," says Cheema. "But trust me, I did harbor some stereotypes. What Youth LEAD did was make me realize what tolerance exactly is. Tolerance is not merely accepting someone exists but taking an initiative to understand another's identity and pride.

"I became a leader, a facilitator, a conflict resolver, a diplomat, a cultural person, a religious person, a citizen because of Youth LEAD...It allowed me to overcome the human tendency to create patterns?patterns that often lead to stereotypes, then to racism, then to conflicts," she adds.

· They gain a "toolkit" of communication skills that transfer to other people and situations outside the immediate group. Youth LEAD provides intensive training to its participants on how to listen actively, to communicate respectfully even when they disagree, and to negotiate difficult conversations. These are valuable skills that not only help them meet the goals they set inside Youth LEAD?say, initiating an interfaith dialogue between religious Muslims and religious Jews, or educating communities on how to stop teen pregnancy or violence?but that will help them in all aspects of life.

"Life is filled with tough conversations," Penn points out. "Knowing how to negotiate them can mean solving serious conflicts between people at home or at work. It can mean disagreeing with your spouse without the situation erupting into a huge fight. It can mean convincing the boss to give you a raise. And yes, it can mean confronting those who express prejudice and misinformation about other cultures and helping them to gain a better perspective."

· They develop the speaking ability and other leadership skills they'll need to influence others. The idea, of course, is that Youth LEAD alumni will go on to become successful, well-rounded leaders who are well equipped to work together with people from all different backgrounds. And it seems to be working. In a three-year study (conducted without a control group), Youth LEAD found that teens who took part in the program gained nuanced understanding of other groups and were able to articulate sources of conflict. But those youth who actually facilitated the dialogue or chaired the conference or program saw positive changes in their family and school groups.

"I think the organizational and leadership skills that I gained in Youth LEAD allowed me to become a student leader right away at Tufts," says Dan Resnick, a Jewish alumnus who spent much of his childhood in Israel. "I was able to lead meetings with other students, craft an agenda, identify likely challenges, and demand responsibility and organization from others...The skills I gained at Youth LEAD prepared me to be a leader right away on campus. I can't think of one specific example, but as the CAFE president, I led many board meetings and other events."

When asked if he might be willing to start an intercultural group on his campus, he replied, "Already did...I believe it is such a waste having so much diversity on college campuses, only for students to self-segregate and not learn anything about other cultures from their fellow students."

· Participants end up working to make those around them more accepting of different faiths. Many Youth LEAD alumni may not end up promoting cross-cultural understanding and engagement in an "official" capacity. But certainly, they'll do so in an unofficial one. Anecdotal evidence shows they're already doing so.

Divya Chandramouli, a Hindu and a sophomore at Mt. Holyoke College, reports that when she got involved with Youth LEAD, she was able to educate her extended family in India on the different faiths she learned about?dispelling many myths and untruths they may have heard elsewhere.

Fishbon agrees. "If I saw a lack of tolerance of other religions being shown by members of my family or religious community, I would question or call them out because of Youth LEAD," she says. "It made me look at the reasons why people believed what they did and motivated me to make those around me more accepting."

· They get to improve their communities in many ways. Youth LEAD doesn't teach understanding for its own sake. A big part of its mission centers on using the skills to identify a community's most pressing problems and to make inroads toward solving them. Last summer, for instance, Sharon participants worked to raise awareness of food insecurity in Massachusetts. Teens on Staten Island made anti-violence public service announcements to educate their community.

"Many of society's biggest problems, including terrorism and other forms of violence, stem from desperation and hopelessness," says Penn. "And I think that's one of the most powerful things about Youth LEAD. We encourage young people to think about how they can help lift their fellow human beings out of those conditions.

"It's not all about talking," she adds. "It's about trying to fix what's broken in the world, together?and it's about not letting the fact that you don't look like each other or agree with each other stop you from your mission."

· The program gives them hope in a world that often seems hopeless. If you did nothing but watch the news, you'd believe America and the world are so deeply fragmented?politically, culturally, and economically?that we'll never be able to solve our problems. (And, admittedly, the situation seems pretty dire!) But when Youth LEADers bring people together on a local level and reap positive, tangible results, it shows the community, as well as the young people themselves, that it is possible for youth to change things for the better.

"I believe that I became more optimistic regarding the potential of diverse members of a community to work together for the common good," says Resnick. "Even as I follow international conflicts and learn theories that suggest we are on a path to a cultural clash, I always remember that at least in my home community that was not the case."

· It sets them up for success in an increasingly global economy. Youth LEAD may seem on the surface to be a deeply idealistic organization. And it's true that both the organizers and participants fervently believe in the cause of interfaith and intercultural harmony. But participating in this program also has practical benefits. It helps young people gain the skills they'll need to influence and collaborate in a world whose boundaries are dissolving and whose workforce is growing ever more diverse.

"Interfaith organizations need to exist," says Rabya Saraf, a Muslim and a sophomore at Mt. Holyoke College. "Everyone will benefit, even if it's indirectly. In this world there's a high chance you will come in contact with different people, and you will need to understand them and their stories. Interfaith organizations provide a forum for that, and their existence will definitely lessen misunderstandings."

Renata Bakousseva, who now works for an oil company in Brunei Darussalam, Southeast Asia, says she is currently using many of the skills she learned during her time with Youth LEAD. "I find that I am...more understanding of the traditions, despite being newly exposed to them, than some other expats," she says. "Youth LEAD taught me how to handle these differences, how to agree to disagree with someone's ideas without showing disrespect for the opposite culture...Youth LEAD nurtured within me this desire to learn more about other people. So anywhere I go, I make the effort to befriend people who have different backgrounds. It makes life more fun and interesting!"

Ultimately, the biggest fans of intercultural organizations tend to be the young people who've belonged to them. They wax eloquent about the rewards they receive from the experience.

"What it does for each person is different," explains Cheema. "For some people, they find their identity. Others connect with their culture, religion, or heritage. Some become leaders; some become dialoguers. Youth LEAD is completely personalized in how it changes you as a human being.

"Maybe, just maybe," she adds, "if youth from all over the U.S.A. participated in Youth LEAD, then any type of conflict would be resolved in a flash, people could be more tolerant of each other, and in a long shot, world peace would not be so far off."

# # #

About Youth LEAD:
Youth LEAD, Inc., (YL) was founded in 2004 to inspire and motivate youth to reflect upon their values and beliefs, connect with others across differences, and act together to address local and global challenges. YL's Leadership Program trains high school students to reach across religious, ethnic, and racial divides to increase understanding and to turn fear of differences into hope and positive action.

YL teen leaders at the flagship program in Sharon, MA, have developed and facilitated community dialogues, celebrations, and school programs for over 4,000 people. They have presented workshops at national conferences in Chicago, Kansas City, Cambridge, and Atlanta, and international conferences in India and Jordan. In the spring of 2011, YL Sharon teens were featured on Linda Ellerbee's Nick News segment "Freedom to Believe...or Not" as an example of teens "waging peace" in the name of religion (available on www.nick.com/videos/nick-news-videos). Youth LEAD has just been identified by The Pluralism Project at Harvard University as a promising practice based upon their unique focus on building skills youth need to engage across differences and that the program is replicable across the U.S. Youth LEAD is currently forming new communities across the country.

For more information, visit our website at www.youthleadonline.org or call 781.784.0651.

Classrooms First could cut $1 billion in operation costs

 

SPRINGFIELD - April 16, 2012. The Classrooms First Commission is expected to release a set of draft recommendations Tuesday that would make it easier for school districts to consolidate and help them save up to $1 billion in operations costs by sharing services, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon said today.

 

No districts would be forced to consolidate under the recommendations, but the state would require counties with small and declining school-age populations to study whether county-wide consolidation or sharing services would save money and boost learning.

 

Money recouped from what Simon calls "voluntary and virtual consolidations" would be redirected to public school classrooms so students and taxpayers would benefit from the efficiencies, according to the draft report.

 

"These recommendations are a road map to stronger, streamlined school districts," said Simon, chair of the Classrooms First Commission. "There's no one-size-fits-all way to achieve efficiency, but there are many ways to eliminate wasteful spending and free up money to improve learning in classrooms."

 

The Classrooms First Commission is a bi-partisan group of education stakeholders that was charged last fall by Governor Quinn and the General Assembly to reduce duplicative education spending and improve educational outcomes. It reviewed several paths and collected input from hundreds of Illinois educators and taxpayers through public hearings and an online survey.

 

The commission found that mass consolidation would cost state taxpayers nearly $4 billion up front under current law. A more cost-effective approach would be to eliminate or modify state regulations that discourage districts from voluntarily consolidating. At least 40 districts were in the process of or considering such realignments in the past year, according to the report.

 

"Forcing districts to merge is not realistic, but providing them the resources and tools to consolidate on a voluntary or virtual basis is well within reach." said State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a member of the Classrooms First Commission.

 

The draft recommendations to promote voluntary consolidation at little or no new cost to the state include :

 

·         allowing compact but not contiguous districts to consolidate; currently districts must be compact and contiguous

 

·         expanding the regional board of school trustees dissolution authority, by allowing local districts with under 750 enrollment to seek dissolution with or without a referendum; currently this is an option for districts serving communities with under 5,000 people

 

·         piloting a new capital project list that targets school construction money at districts willing to consolidate and that are in need of new buildings, additions, and/or building renovations

 

·         phasing in lower local tax rates for new unit districts; currently, elementary and high school districts become a lower, unit taxing district immediately after consolidating

 

·         requiring counties with small and declining school-age populations to conduct efficiency studies that could lead to shared services, district mergers, or even county-wide districts; 12 counties currently have county-wide districts and another 16 counties have small and declining student populations, according to state and federal population projections through 2030

 

"These changes will help to remove red tape so districts can more efficiently provide students with a quality education whether that be through consolidation or shared services," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch.

 

The draft recommendations also include two legislative proposals that would promote shared services in areas such as technology, transportation and food service across districts.

 

The first proposal would create a revolving fund to provide short-term, low-interest loans to seed cooperative service agreements or conduct efficiency studies. The loans would be repaid with the money gained through resulting streamlining.

 

A second proposal would authorize the Illinois State Board of Education to provide a web-based resource management program to districts to help them identify potential savings in five major spending areas: instruction, transportation, food services, administration and facility maintenance. A pilot program of a similar service in Ohio resulted in at least a 5 percent operational savings at participating districts. At that rate, Illinois districts could realize a net savings of almost $1 billion.

 

"Right now districts are required to complete many annual reports, but they simply end up in a black hole and are never linked," said Michael Jacoby, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials and member of the commission. "This new service would create a business analytics tools for districts to compare their data, learn best practices and make operational changes to initiate new efficiencies. This could free up significant resources for instruction and offset the funding losses all districts are currently experiencing."

 

The Governor's office would establish a resource repository for the shared service agreements so districts could have samples to follow. It could be patterned after a shared service repository for municipalities in New Jersey.

 

"Shared services offer school districts the opportunity to provide more diverse curriculum options and expand educational opportunity, while streamlining delivery and saving money," said Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association and a member of the Classrooms First Commission. "It is my hope that the Classrooms First Commission recommendations will point districts towards the tools and resources they need to accomplish this goal."

 

A statewide health insurance pool and a state-run online professional development tool for various health/safety trainings are additional options for savings and streamlining, the report states.

 

"Through these recommendations, we hope to eliminate barriers to efficiency and provide school districts the tools they need to streamline operations and put resources into the classroom," said Paul Swanstrom, executive director of the High School District Organization of Illinois and a member of the Classrooms First Commission. "I look forward to working with Lt. Governor Simon and my fellow commission members as we gather public input and work to finalize these recommendations."

 

The Classrooms First Commission is scheduled to meet Tuesday in Springfield to vote on the release of the draft recommendations, and public hearings are set to begin Thursday in Champaign. Comments will also be collected at www.ltgov.illinois.gov.

 

Simon said public input will be incorporated into the final recommendations. A final report will be delivered to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1.

 

MEDIA ADVISORY

EVENT: Classrooms First Commission meeting

TIME: 11 a.m.

DATE: Tuesday, April 17

PLACE: Fourth Floor Board Room, Illinois State Board of Education, 100 N. First St., Springfield

 

###
ROCK ISLAND- Congratulations to Jordan Catholic's Brendan Hird, who won his school's Religion Bee on Wednesday, April 11th.  Seven students in grades five through eight competed as finalists in the bee.  In addition to Brendan, the finalists were Lisa Do, Hannah Luppen, Olivia Manternach, Andy Maynard, Will Mihm, and Brittani Solorzano.  The competition was judged by Jordan faculty: Julie Bushre, Jackie Braet, Dawn Coyle, Debbie Patronagio, and Heather Roman.  The questions for each round were given by Sister Marlene Miller.

 

 

Dear Rivermont Community,

 

580 students from 56 schools around Iowa traveled to Iowa State University on March 30th-31st for the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair.  Of those, 11 students from Rivermont won an impressive 27 awards and scholarships.

 

For the third time in her high school career, top honors went to senior Pavane Gorrepati, winner of the prestigious Grand Championship award for her project on the impact different genes have on the nutritional characteristics of rice.  Pavane will represent the State of Iowa at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May, 2012.  Pavane also won 1st place in the Plant Sciences category, 3rd place in the Senior Individual Biological Seminar, and was awarded several prizes and scholarships for her project.

12th grader Maghana Pagadala and 10th grader Shravya Pothula also had impressive projects that made them Semi-finalists for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.  Meghana won first place in the Cellular & Molecular Biology category and was awarded several prizes and scholarships for her project on the Mechanism By Which CD8+ FoxP3+ T-Cells Regulate Osteoclast Activity.  Shravya won second place in the Medicine and Health Science category for her project on how Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Reduces Mitral Valve Regurgitation.

 

But the high schoolers weren't the only winners at the competition!  Not to be outdone by her older sister, 7th grader Manasa Pagadala was the winner of the Grand Champion award in the Overall Junior High Biological division for her project titled How Do Spices Affect the Growth of Bacteria and Fungi?  Manasa also won 1st place in the 7th Grade Biology division, a University of Iowa College of Engineering scholarship, and she will compete at the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) National Middle School Science Fair in Washington DC in the fall, 2012.  Sixth grade Rivermont students Collin Smith, Klaus Storl-Desmond, and Aviana Zahara will also compete at the Broadcom MASTERS.

 

Other Rivermont Collegiate students at the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair include :

  • Klaus Storl-Desmond (6th grade) - Do Moon Phases or Weather Factors Affect Different Coyote Calls? - 2nd place winner in 6th Grade Biological division and Broadcom MASTERS Junior High Finalist.
  • Naina Ninan (6th grade) - How Does Temperature Affect Scindapsus Plants? - 10th place winner in 6th Grade Biological division.
  • Lana Meier (6th grade) - Do Background Distractions Influence a Person's Hand-Eye Reaction Times? - 8th place winner in 6th Grade Biological division.
  • Collin Smith (6th grade) - Do the Number of Magnets on a Guitar's Pick-Up Influence the Sound Frequency? - 4th place winner in 6th Grade Physical Science division, BroadcomMASTERS  Junior High Finalist, and Student Incentive Prize Winner.
  • Aviana Zahara (6th grade) - Which kinds of Bacteria Do We Find in the Mouths of Cats, Dogs, Horses, and Humans - 3rd place winner in 6th Grade Biological division, Broadcom MASTERS Junior High Finalist, and Horizon Award winner.
  • Sophia Xiao (6th grade) - Phototropism, Geotropism, Hydrotropism: Which has a Greater Effect on Plant Growth?
  • Sarah Bowman (8th grade) - How Does Road Run-Off Affect the Germination and Growth of Common Seeds?- 5th place winner in 8th Grade Biological division.
  • Marta Storl-Desmond (8th grade) - Does Precipitation Influence the pH, D.O. or Nitrate Levels in a Local River? - 9th place winner in 8th Grade Biological division and winner of special award from the Association for Women Geoscientists.
  • Hannah Hansen (8th grade) - Can Photocatalysis Allow Concrete to Self-Clean?
  • Bailey Mangan (8th grade) - Do low Voltage Currents in the Soil Influence Pea Plant Growth?
Rick St. Laurent
Headmaster
KUDOS!

 

Congratulations! Sixth grader Collin Smith has been selected for the Junior Scholars Institute (JSI) class: Leadership for Students Who Want to Make a Difference which will be held on The University of Iowa campus June 17 - 22, 2012. Many outstanding applications for JSI were received. Selection teams, composed of faculty and staff from The University of Iowa, reviewed all applications and selected students from across the US and around the world to attend.


Welcome to our newest Rivermont Lion!  Max Hauser was born on April 10.  Congratulations to PreSchool teacher Sara Hauser and her husband Matt.  
Max


It's SATURDAY!

 

Congratulations to our Lower School students for a great program Thursday evening.  You were amazing!

Thanks go to our Music Director Sally Schulz, our special guest performers, and all the Lower School teachers who helped put on a great show!
Saturday - piano teacher
Way to rock the house!

Saturday - Ensemble

Summer Enrichment Camp
Coming to Rivermont!
Stay tuned!  We are putting the finishing touches on our new and improved summer camp at Rivermont!  Classes will include Harry Potter-Ology, Electricity and Magnetism, Cultural Food and Art, Greeks, Romans & Percy Jackson, The Seas & Me, and much more!

 

Classes will run from 8:30-3:30 Monday-Friday for 8 whole weeks!  Sign up for just one class, or the whole summer.  Classes will be available for PreSchool-Kindergarten, 1st-3rd Grades, and 4th-8th Grades.  We hope you will join us!
Sports camps will also be offered. Basketball, Volleyball, Archery, LaCrosse, Martial Arts, and more!

More info coming next week.



NJHS Garden

In preparation for a successful growing season and an opportunity for outdoor learning and service opportunities, National Junior Honor Society members, advisor and parents filled 6 container gardens full of dirt. The garden will be used in all divisions to extend outdoors learning and increase the service opportunities that Rivermont students have. The produce grown will be given to local food pantries.

Congratulations to Rivermont Collegiate High School senior, Christine Mbakwe, on winning a National Achievement Scholarship!  Christine is among the highest scoring students in the National Achievement Scholarship Program competition which is based on performance on the PSAT examination administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The National Achievement® Scholarship Program is an academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students.  With more than 160,000 students who enter the National Achievement® Program each year, Christine was one of only 700 in the nation to win this prestigious award.
Way To Go
6th Grade Math Bee Team!

 

Did you see them in the Bettendorf News?  Rivermont's 6th grade Math Bee Team placed 3rd in the regional Math Bee on March 6th!  They will be advancing to the state competition on April 27th.  Good Luck

 

KUDOS!

 

Congratulations! Sixth grader Collin Smith has been selected for the Junior Scholars Institute (JSI) class: Leadership for Students Who Want to Make a Difference which will be held on The University of Iowa campus June 17 - 22, 2012. Many outstanding applications for JSI were received. Selection teams, composed of faculty and staff from The University of Iowa, reviewed all applications and selected students from across the US and around the world to attend.


Welcome to our newest Rivermont Lion!  Max Hauser was born on April 10.  Congratulations to PreSchool teacher Sara Hauser and her husband Matt.  


It's SATURDAY!

 

Congratulations to our Lower School students for a great program Thursday evening.  You were amazing!

Thanks go to our Music Director Sally Schulz, our special guest performers, and all the Lower School teachers who helped put on a great show!
Way to rock the house!



Summer Enrichment Camp
Coming to Rivermont!
Stay tuned!  We are putting the finishing touches on our new and improved summer camp at Rivermont!  Classes will include Harry Potter-Ology, Electricity and Magnetism, Cultural Food and Art, Greeks, Romans & Percy Jackson, The Seas & Me, and much more!

 

Classes will run from 8:30-3:30 Monday-Friday for 8 whole weeks!  Sign up for just one class, or the whole summer.  Classes will be available for PreSchool-Kindergarten, 1st-3rd Grades, and 4th-8th Grades.  We hope you will join us!
Sports camps will also be offered. Basketball, Volleyball, Archery, LaCrosse, Martial Arts, and more!

More info coming next week.



NJHS Garden

In preparation for a successful growing season and an opportunity for outdoor learning and service opportunities, National Junior Honor Society members, advisor and parents filled 6 container gardens full of dirt. The garden will be used in all divisions to extend outdoors learning and increase the service opportunities that Rivermont students have. The produce grown will be given to local food pantries.

!

DES MOINES, IA (04/12/2012)(readMedia)-- Thomas Wolfe, a retired junior high school teacher from Davenport, will receive the Iowa State Education Association's (ISEA's) top honor, the Charles F. Martin Award for Association Leadership. Wolfe will accept the honor Friday, April 13, before a group of nearly 400 educators attending the ISEA Delegate Assembly at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

The Charles F. Martin Award has been presented annually since 1972 to recognize an ISEA member who has made significant contributions to the teaching profession through Association involvement. Named in honor of the late Charles F. Martin, who served as ISEA president in 1945 and then as executive director from 1946 to 1961, the award is given to an educator who embodies the link between the Association's mission and the impact it has in the classroom.

"Tom is truly one of the most committed and compassionate leaders the ISEA has had the privilege of working with," said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA. Tom spent his professional life dedicated to being the best in his classroom and a leader in his professional association. He has helped shape the face of public education and we will be eternally grateful for the many leaders he inspired. While he is retired today after years in the classroom and working alongside his colleagues strengthening his local association, he can still be found actively promoting public education, the ISEA, and the NEA at all levels," Bern added. "Tom truly embodies the Charles F. Martin award."

The ISEA is a professional association made up of nearly 34,000 educators dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!

APRIL 11, 2012 

MOLINE, IL -- The Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Admissions department will host an open house for interested students and their families  from 1-3:30 pm. Friday, April 13 at the WIU-QC Riverfront Campus Alvin & Elaine Goldfarb Grand Atrium. 

"The open house is an excellent opportunity for prospective students to meet with admissions professionals and WIU-QC instructors, while learning about the programs offered at the Riverfront Campus," said Kassie Daly, assistant director of admissions. "There will be a variety of campus representatives available to discuss resources, career development, academic assistance, dual enrollment with community colleges, financial aid and more." 

According to Daly,  during the open house, students will be able to sit in on a class, meet with faculty, explore different majors and interact with current students. 

Reserve a spot at the Discover Western Illinois University-QC Event by logging on to wiu.edu/qc/discover. Free prizes and refreshments will be provided. 

For more information, contact Daly at 309-762-1495 or kj-daly@wiu.edu.
Author Offers Tips for Getting Adolescents to Turn the Page

Being able to read well is more important than ever for young adults to achieve economic success. But more than 60 percent of middle and high school students score below "proficient" in reading achievement, according to a December 2011 report by the Alliance for Excellent Education.

"Teen literacy is a huge problem in the United States - its 15-year-olds rank 14th among developed nations in reading - behind Poland, Estonia and Iceland," says Rhiannon Paille, 27, an advocate for teen literacy whose new fantasy novel, Flame of Surrender (www.yafantasyauthor.com) targets young adults. (South Korea, Finland and Canada rank 1st, 2nd and 3rd.)

"Kids need strong reading skills if they hope to graduate from high school AND they really need to plan for college - 59 percent of U.S. jobs today require some postsecondary education, compared to 28 percent in 1973."

The best thing parents can do to help boost their 12- to 18-year-olds' literacy is to get them reading - anything.

She offers these suggestions:

• Buy them comic books. Boys persistently lag behind girls in reading, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, Paille says. If your son isn't a reader, try getting him hooked on comic books. "Stephen King started off reading comics, 'Tales from the Crypt.' Hey, if it was good enough for him ...!'' From comic books, they may move into graphic novels, a popular young adult genre. As long as they're reading, they're building comprehension skills and vocabulary, so it needn't be "War and Peace."

• Look for book-to-film novels. Chances are, if it was a great movie, they saw it, and that's often enough to get a non-reader curious. This is another especially good hook for boys, Paille says.

• Tune into what they're interested in. What kinds of video games do they play? Some popular games have spawned novels, including Halo, EverQuest, ElfQuest and Gears of War. Even gaming guides, which players read to unlock new clues to advancing in the game, can motivate a teen to crack a book.

• Read the same book your teen is reading. Book clubs are popular because people like talking to others who've read the same book. Your teen may not be ready for an evening of petit fours and grape juice while discussing the pacing of "Hunger Games," but it can make for some interesting conversation on the way to soccer practice. And you can always nudge them along with comments like, "Oh, you haven't gotten to that part yet? It's really good!"

"People tend to think their young adults aren't reading if they're not reading novels," Paille says. "But novels aren't for everyone, and whether it's a comic book or a gaming guide, all reading helps build comprehension skills and vocabulary."

Good magazines, with shorter articles suited for distractible adolescents, might include Sports Illustrated, People, Seventeen or Mad.

"When you're out shopping, think about what they're interested in and pick up something just for them. Sometimes, it's as simple as putting the right reading materials right into their hands."

About Rhiannon Paille

Rhiannon Paille is an active advocate for youth literacy and an avid reader of young adult novels. Her first book, the non-fiction Integrated Intuition: A Comprehensive Guide to Psychic Development, remains a popular seller on amazon.com. Paille is the founder of the Canadian Metaphysical Foundation. She's married and the mother of two children.

580 students from 56 schools around Iowa traveled to Iowa State University on March 30th-31st for the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair.  Of those, 11 students from Rivermont Collegiate, an independent school in Bettendorf, Iowa, won an impressive 27 awards and scholarships.

For the third time in her high school career, top honors went to Rivermont senior, Pavane Gorrepati, winner of the prestigious Grand Championship award for her project on the impact different genes have on the nutritional characteristics of rice.  Pavane will represent the State of Iowa at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May, 2012.  Pavane also won 1st place in the Plant Sciences category, 3rd place in the Senior Individual Biological Seminar, and was awarded over $7,200 in prizes and scholarships for her project.

 

Also high school students at Rivermont Collegiate, Maghana Pagadala (12th grade) and Shravya Pothula (10th grade) both had impressive projects that made them Semi-finalists for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.  Meghana won first place in the Cellular & Molecular Biology category and was awarded over $5,700 in prizes and scholarships for her project on the Mechanism By Which CD8+ FoxP3+ T-Cells Regulate Osteoclast Activity.  Shravya won second place in the Medicine and Health Science category for her project on how Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Reduces Mitral Valve Regurgitation.

 

But the high schoolers weren't the only winners at the competition!  Not to be outdone by her older sister, 7th grade Rivermont student Manasa Pagadala was the winner of the Grand Champion award in the Overall Junior High Biological division for her project titled How Do Spices Affect the Growth of Bacteria and Fungi? Manasa also won 1st place in the 7th Grade Biology division, a University of Iowa College of Engineering scholarship, and she will compete at the Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars) National Middle School Science Fair in Washington DC in the fall, 2012.  Sixth grade Rivermont students Collin Smith, Klaus Storl-Desmond, and Aviana Zahara will also compete at the Broadcom MASTERS.

 

Headmaster of Rivermont Collegiate, Rick St. Laurent, is extremely proud of this year's award winners and attributes much of the school's success to science teacher Linda Hampton who has been with the school for over 28 years.  "Rivermont has a long list of graduates who have gone on to do amazing things in science and technology.  Mrs. Hampton's passion for teaching science and inspiring students is one of the main reasons Rivermont does so well year after year at the State and National science competitions." says Mr. St. Laurent.  "We continue our commitment to outstanding science and technology classes as part of our students' education and look forward to seeing what our students come up with next year."

 

Rivermont Collegiate has approximately 200 students in PreSchool - 12th grade.  The science curriculum starts in Kindergarten.  With a dedicated science teacher in their Lower School, students as young as 5 go to the science classroom 3 times a week.  Mr. St. Laurent says, "Science is one of our younger students' favorite subjects.  They love doing hands-on experiments and learning how things work.  We tie science in with what they're doing in math, reading, and even social studies, so it provides a good, solid foundation for life-long learning."

Other Rivermont Collegiate winners at the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair include :

  • Klaus Storl-Desmond (6th grade) - Do Moon Phases or Weather Factors Affect Different Coyote Calls? - 2nd place winner in 6th Grade Biological division and Broadcom MASTERS Junior High Finalist.
  • Naina Ninan (6th grade) - How Does Temperature Affect Scindapsus Plants? - 10th place winner in 6th Grade Biological division.
  • Lana Meier (6th grade) - Do Background Distractions Influence a Person's Hand-Eye Reaction Times? - 8th place winner in 6th Grade Biological division.
  • Collin Smith (6th grade) - Do the Number of Magnets on a Guitar's Pick-Up Influence the Sound Frequency? - 4th place winner in 6th Grade Physical Science division, BroadcomMASTERS  Junior High Finalist, and Student Incentive Prize Winner.
  • Aviana Zahara (6th grade) - Which kinds of Bacteria Do We Find in the Mouths of Cats, Dogs, Horses, and Humans - 3rd place winner in 6th Grade Biological division, Broadcom MASTERS Junior High Finalist, and Horizon Award winner.
  • Sarah Bowman (8th grade) - How Does Road Run-Off Affect the Germination and Growth of Common Seeds?- 5th place winner in 8th Grade Biological division.
  • Marta Storl-Desmond (8th grade) - Does Precipitation Influence the pH, D.O. or Nitrate Levels in a Local River? - 9th place winner in 8th Grade Biological division and winner of special award from the Association for Women Geoscientists.

 

When asked the secret to her success, teacher Linda Hampton humbly said, "I just love teaching science.  The kids come up with their own science fair ideas; I am just here to provide guidance and support.  Their enthusiasm and curiosity inspires me to keep learning myself.  I am always amazed by what the students here are capable of."

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DES MOINES, IA (04/10/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald wants to encourage Iowans to make the most of their tax refunds this year by investing in College Savings Iowa. "Much like the April 17 deadline for taxes, the time to save for college is over before you know it," said Fitzgerald. "Put your refund to good use and start saving for a loved one's future educational needs today. By starting early, saving a little at a time and making smart investment choices, families can make their savings work for them."

College Savings Iowa is designed to provide families a tax-advantaged way to save money for their children's higher education. It only takes $25 to open an account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $2,975 per beneficiary from their 2012 adjusted gross income, and there are no income or residency restrictions.* Investors can withdraw their investment federally tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.**

Saving for a child's education is always a smart investment, and College Savings Iowa is there to help. To learn more about College Savings Iowa or to open an account, please visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

**Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

MOLINE, IL - Beginning this fall, a new major in human resource management (HRM) will be available to students at Western Illinois University's Quad Cities campus.

WIU College of Business and Technology Dean Tom Erekson said the addition demonstrates WIU's commitment to the future.

"WIU is educating business leaders for the Quad Cities by expanding the business majors offered to include the HRM program," he said. "We have highly qualified faculty and a first-rate program that meet AACSB international accreditation standards."

According to Susan Stewart, associate professor of human resource management at the WIU-QC campus, WIU students who major in HRM gain a robust skill set that will help them to effectively manage human capital within organizations.

"We're excited to offer this major at the WIU-Quad Cities campus," said Gordon Rands, interim chair of marketing and management at WIU. "In today's global economy, the HRM field is ever evolving. This field is diverse and spans a broad variety of pivotal functions from equal employment opportunity law to staffing to training and development and more."

While completing the degree, students take courses in several functional areas including staffing, compensation, legal compliance, performance management and training and development. These are in addition to courses in broader areas such as organization behavior and general management.

The national SHRM organization also provides a Professional in Human Resource (PHR) Certification Exam and an Assurance of Learning Exam for students. Recently, five students at the Quad Cities completed and passed the rigorous PHR exam and have achieved the certification.

"I'm proud that our students are taking this step in their careers as human resource professionals," said Stewart. "By taking these exams they are demonstrating their knowledge of the most current principles and core practices of HRM, and they will better compete for the top HR positions across the nation and internationally."

Stewart has planned "HRM Day" Friday April 27 for students to network with HR professionals from the Quad Cities, learn more about career tracks in HRM and understand the HRM major and minor programs at WIU-QC.

"HRM is our newest educational opportunity, joining recent announcements of new English and communication majors, that once again is based on requests and documented need for local and regional employers," said Joe Rives, vice president for the Quad Cities, planning and technology. "We are proud to offer strong in-demand programs that help recruit and retain a highly talented workforce in the community and the region."

For more information or to RSVP for HRM Day, contact Stewart at SM-Stewart2@wiu.edu.

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