As the leaves on the trees begin their spectacular transition to fall, we too, continue to grow and change in positive ways.

Students have embraced the idea of goal setting to help them pace their work and complete all five classes by the end of the trimester, on November 12.

I can't wait to see all of the good work they will complete in the next 5 weeks!

Please let us know if there is anything you need.

On behalf of the RVA Staff,

Jenny Thompson

Students had their first group session on Wednesday, September 29. Many students have been struggling due to Covid. Depression and anxiety are prevalent. In partnership with Arbor Circle, students are invited to join groups of students to support one another. Topics will be initiated by students and facilitated by mental health professionals. Topics may include healthy coping skills, 'adulting', and positive choices.

If you feel your student would benefit from this support, please contact the office! You can find out more about Arbor Circle and their counseling services here.

Last year, students found this resource helpful! Arbor Circle Counselors will be onsite on Wednesdays during third hour.

We can't wait to get to know our students and to watch them succeed and grow into responsible adults! It's going to be a great year! To help you through, you can count on the RVA Staff! Get to know us in this section of the RVA News!

Jenny wasn't sure what career path to follow, so she took classes she enjoyed and discovered her love of literature and young people. Jenny went on to teach and coach volleyball for many years at a variety of levels, including a stint as an Adjunct Professor of Education at Cornerstone University.

Jenny has worked in Rockford Public Schools for 9 years. Jenny is motivated by being creative and helping others. "I love to be able to listen to others and help them work through struggles."

When asked what advice she would give to students considering career and post-secondary options, Jenny says, "Find what you are passionate about. You want to have a job you enjoy going to everyday! My Next Move is a great place to start. Find out how your interests and passions can carry over into career opportunities. O*netonline is also a great resource. Come on down to chat if I can help you think through your options! My door is always open!"

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

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

Good questions to ask your student include:

1. Are you attending all class sessions, whether school is in person or remote?

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

3. About how far in each course are you?

4. What are you doing well?

5. What can you do better?

Parents and schools are partners in educating students!

ACE Mentor Program

(Architecture, Construction & Engineering)

• Partnering with Rockford Construction, Kent ISD & Progressive AE
• 16 After-school sessions (2 hours each) - Oct. '21 - March '22.
  Session start virtually and transition to in-person
• Grades 9-12
• Immersive learning experience in design and construction
• Click here for the 21/22 program flier
• Registration Deadline is Friday, October 8! Click here for more information

Career Chats
Virtual

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

Upcoming Sessions:

Thursday, October 14, 2021: 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Angel Hall - Occupational Therapist
Mary Free Bed

Tuesday, October 26, 2021: 3:30pm - 4:00pm
Leslie Hirschenbauer - Health Instructor
KCTC

Upcoming Sessions:
Health Science Careers: Orthopaedic Associates
of Michigan - Surgery Center (register here)
Wednesday, October 13: 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Health Science Careers:
Mary Free Bed (register here)
Wednesday, October 20: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Upcoming Sessions:

Health Care Occupations
October 5 - October 28, 2021
Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:30pm - 4:00pm
More information and registration is available here.
Registration deadline is October 1.

STEM Occupations (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
November 2 - November 30, 2021
Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:30pm - 4:00pm
More information and registration is available here.
Registration deadline is October 29.

Discover Manufacturing Week 2021
Virtual: November 1-5, 2021
In-Person: November 8-12, 2021

Discover Manufacturing Week continues its mission of providing opportunities for manufacturers and students in West Michigan to connect via webinars and live tours. We are excited to announce we are hosting two events this year, with the option for you to participate in one or both events.

Virtual: Interactive 30-minute webinars offered throughout the week (four per day, M-F). Each webinar features two manufacturers, a tour of the facility, and discussion.

In-Person: Traditional event allows small groups of students to visit local manufacturers
for on-site facility tours and discussion.

Read more about Discover Manufacturing Week here!

Next Session:
Tuesday, October 15, 2021
2:00pm - 2:40pm

Jose Velasquez - Product Engineer
GE Aviation

Kia Rodriguez - Software Engineer
GE Aviation

Humberto Tello - Test Engineer
GE Aviation

This webinar is designed to equip parents so they can help guide their student through the challenging process of narrowing down to their best post-secondary path.

This session will:

• Help you understand the critical role parents play in helping their child to recognize their interests and unique talents
• Help you understand the career development process so that you can partner with your child in the self assessment, exploration and plan of action stages
• Introduce you to useful print and website career resources, and show how your children can access information and experiences they need to make informed career decisions
• Highlight valuable Kent ISD career exposure programs

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

Hand 2 Hand can help with food and toiletry needs.

RVA has an amazing staff, social worker, and mental health liaison who can listen and connect you to resources!

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

$70 October 2 - December 17

$75 December 18 - May 1

Order online at: yearbookforever.com

Senior pictures are due by December 10, 2021, and images must be:

Wallet sized

Vertically formatted

Appropriate

Not full length - headshot preferred

Full-color (No sepia or other toned images)

Email digital images 300DPI or greater to jfeeley@rockfordschools.org.

Students will ride the listed bus to the Rockford Freshman Center, where they will get on the RVA shuttle bus. In the morning that will be bus 51. The shuttle bus leaves RFC between 7:25 and 7:30 AM. After school, the shuttle bus will pick students up at RVA at 2:18 and drop them at the RHS 10-12 building where they will catch the bus that takes them home. The afternoon shuttle bus will be bus 63.

Students riding RPS busses will need to follow the federal mask mandate and wear masks at all times, from entering to exiting the bus.

Second hour: 9:03-10:18

Third hour and lunch: 10:21-11:42

Fourth hour: 11:45-1:00

Fifth hour: 1:03-2:18

In a nutshell, RPS will be following any public health mandates and offering public health recommendations as published by the Kent County Health Department. At this time, this means parents of students in grades 7-12 may choose whether students wear a mask or not, and all classes will be held in person. Choices, to wear a mask or not, will need to be respected.

Most cleaning protocols initiated last year will remain in place. Students will be encouraged to use the hand sanitizer and table wipes in each classroom, and to regularly wash hands, to mitigate the spread of illness.

If you ride an RPS bus, however, masks will be required when riding, following the federal public transportation mandate.

October 13: Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences - 5-8 PM/ Group 3rd hour

October 20: Group 3rd hour/ RPS Early Release Day - students dismissed at 11:48

October 27: Group 3rd hour

November 3: Group 3rd hour

November 10: Group 3rd hour

November 12: End of Trimester 1 - Students should have 5 classes completed by this day!