Girls soccer seasons show mixed results

If you see a girls soccer player around RB, she may likely be wearing a t-shirt that reads “212 Degrees – The Extra Degree.”

The meaning behind this is from the 2010 soccer season theme, “At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train.”

The season for the girls’ soccer team has just ended. The varsity team, having an 8-9 record still has regionals coming up.

Varsity coach Marissa Dobbertin said, “Regardless of our wins and losses, the team has always remained a strong team with a ‘212’ attitude. Our number one goal is regionals. It means more to us to take home the first regional championship.”

The sophomore team, ending with 10-3-3 record, had a great season. Winning conference, the team has much to be proud of.

The freshman team had a rough season, with a record of 4-2-11. Playing some of the most difficult opponents, the team faced schools with some of the top programs in the state.

One on One: 2010-11 Principal Pam Bylsma

Q: What drew you to RB?

A: Last year I heard that there was the job opening. Someone told me that I’d be great for the job. I’d hear both from people working in the building and people out of RB that I’d be fit for the job. Looking into it, I found that RB is a wonderful school. 

Q: What is your background in teaching?

A: After going to Central Michigan University, I moved to Illinois. I began working at William Fremd High School; I worked as an English and Art teacher for seven and a half years. I also sponsored Cheerleading and then a Juggling Club. By the end of the first year, the principal of the school told me he saw potential in me for administration. I told him I’d consider it in five years. And so five years later, I went to Northwestern University and received a Master of Science in Educational Administration.

When my daughter was born, I stayed home for a couple of years. When I returned to work, I worked at a Psychiatric Hospital. I was an English and Art teacher for high school students who were victims from suicide attempts due to being abused. I was there for three years, and it was an amazing experience.

I then was an English and Art teacher at Downers Grove South High School for two years. Eventually in 1995, I was the Dean of Students at Plainfield High School, and then I was the dean at Hinsdale Central High School, where I’ve worked for 11 years. After five years, though, I became the Assistant Principal, which I work as now.

Q: What kind of things did you bring to your previous schools?

A: As a dean at Plainfield High School, I helped create programs to help students make better choices such as a Peer Mediation Program. It taught them the skills they need to resolve problems they may be going through. There were moments when students would come back to tell me that they had resolved their own conflicts either between family, friends, or themselves. A student once told me that her relationship with her best friend improved because of these skills.

As the program went on, I realized that this was wrong. These students who were in the program were making things right for everyone around them, but I wanted everyone to have the ability to so that all students could be able to resolve their problems. As I moved on to be dean at Hinsdale Central High School, I had a vision to teach everyone these skills. I immediately pursued this vision, and as a result, student-created groups started.

Q: What plans do you have for RB?

A: I’m excited to hear what the students have to say. Their voice is hugely important. It’s not my place to guess what its like to be a student at RB. I want to ask questions like what makes school easier for them or what things bother them. I’ve already started talking to Mr. Passarella because I want to talk to the seniors. They’ll be graduating before I get to start as principal here, and I don’t want to lose the four years of experience they have at RB. I want to have surveys in the fall for the input of what students want. I want to have a shared leadership; adults should not be the only ones choosing how they want the school. It is important to know what it is to be an RB student.

RB’s Finances: What students need to know

On Monday, March 15, a pubic forum was held at RB in the little theater. The focus of the forum was the financial position of the school.

Students may have heard about RB’s financial situation through parents or by reading the local news. It may be confusing and difficult to understand, so here is a general overview of what students should know about.

What is the financial position of RB?

The school’s operating fund, the fund from which the daily operations of the school and teaching salaries are paid, was at a little over $7 million dollars for the fiscal year of 2010.  In other words, currently, RB has a “reserve” of approximately seven and a half million dollars.

Why is RB having this financial trouble?

RB’s expenses go up 5-6% a year. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) decides the amount of increase in money received. The average amount is an increase of 2.5% a year, but RB will only receive a 0.1% increase for next year. Therefore, we are spending more than we are receiving.

Different factors play into RB’s financial struggle, and they are not unique to RB alone.  RB’s enrollment is increasing and is projected to reach over 1,600 students by the 2014-2015 school year.  The state of Illinois has had a difficult time funding schools and has been cutting educational funding.  As the economy has suffered, property taxes – the basis on which RB receives a great deal of its revenue – have suffered as well.

What are possible solutions for this?

There are three scenarios laid out by Superintendent David Bonnette:

1)      One is to do nothing. If RB does not change the way it spends, by the end of the 2011-2012 school year, RB would have a reserve of only $2.2 million dollars.  By the 2013-14 school year, the school would face a $6.65 million dollar deficit. This means that RB will owe that much money. That deficit would increase as the years continued.

2)      RB can manage revenue and expenditures. One thing RB would do is increase fees, such as academic, athletic and activity fees. They would do facility rentals and look for commercial revenue, such as increasing revenue for the use of the school’s cell phone tower.

Reducing academic and support staff would cut costs along with reducing retiree services and coaching/activity stipends.

Supply and equipment costs have already been reduced 38%, but reducing them further would also manage expenses. Along with going green, the total would be around $646,488 in cost reductions.

In this scenario, RB would end the 2011-2012 school year with $3.8 million dollars in reserve.  However, that number would still be shrinking.

3)      The last scenario would be to balance the budget. The most drastic way to accomplish this would be to let go of 19 of the 1^st and 2^nd year teachers, and seven of the support staff. Cutting back on athletic and activity programs, and reducing supply and equipment costs would give RB a $2,350,219 net savings, effectively balancing the immediate budget.

However, in this scenario, the school would immediately begin losing money, again.  By the end of the 2011-2012 school year, it would have a $7.1 million dollar reserve and would still be facing rising costs in the face of shrinking revenues.

According to Bonnette, all three of these scenarios would eventually lead to a referendum, where the school will ask the community to raise their property taxes in order to support the school.  The last time a property tax increase discussion occurred (the increase never actually happened), was in February 2008, and the .38 cent increase proposal meant $282.00 more a year of taxes for a home valued at $250,000.

Where does RB’s revenue come from?

RB receives 84% of its money from property taxes. Property taxes increase an average of 2.5% a year, but that number looks to be low for next year.

What kind of things will be cut back for next year?

RB will cut back on technology expenses, supplies and textbooks. There will be cuts on clubs and sports and less money will be spent on equipment. Fewer field trips will also decrease expenses.

Where does all the money go?

Salaries and benefits for the staff account for 76% of the budget. RB also has to pay for technology and energy costs, textbooks and supplies.

What’s the long term picture?

Regardless of which solution the School Board adopts, Bonnette believes that a tax referendum is in the school’s future for next year.

New principal selected

Having gone for months into the school year without a principal, RB has finally come to make a decision as to who is to fill this position. A board meeting took place on Tuesday, February 2nd, in which the final choice was reached. In the end, there were three finalists that Interim Superintendent David Bonnette and the school board could vote for.

Troy Gobble, the current interim assistant principal for instruction at RB; Pamela Bylsma, assistant principal for operations at Hinsdale Central High School; and David Travis, assistant principal for instruction at Elk Grove High School were the finalists.

Gobble was a physics teacher at RB and also became the science department chair. Last June, he was made assistant principal for instruction.

Bylsma’s teaching background has been focused on student services and she was a teacher for both English and Art.

Travis served in the U.S. Air Force. After his experiences serving his country, he applied to Elmhurst College and went on to become a teacher. He has a background in curriculum and instruction. 

The board meeting that occurred on Tuesday, February 2 decided who was to be the new principal of RB. The final decision was Pamela Bylsma.

With a very warm and inviting personality, she answered a few questions. When asked how she felt about her newly acquired job opportunity at RB, Bylsma’s excitement was hard to contain.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in the building getting to know students. This is a wonderful community and RB is special and unique,” said Bylsma “The students talk about how their teachers are there to help them. There are also a lot of classes that students are able to take.”

Bylsma must now make the transition from being the assistant to being in the big chair.

When questioned about her goals for the remaining school year, Bylsma expressed her desires to bring a collection of ideas and student voices together. To move forward with these ideas and allow the student opinion to be heard is one of her ultimate goals as principal.

“The student voice is huge to me,” remarked Bylsma, “I want to hear the students’ opinions and for them to be heard.”

Winter art show debuts

On Thursday January 7, RB held its annual winter art show. This show featured art pieces from photo classes, ceramics, drawing, and painting. More than 150 people attended the event to see the work of RB artists.

Zoe Steinberg, 1^st place Digital Imaging

Q: What inspired you to make this piece?

A: It was part of a series. The theme was teenage vices. That particular one is binge drinking, and her friends are holding her hair up. It’s sad. I also like flowers.

Q: Any advice to students who want to be a good artist?

A: Practice. A lot. That’s about it. There’s not much to drawing other than that. And don’t give up.

Amber Powers, 1^st place Photography (Novice)

Q: What inspired you to take this photo?

A: What inspired me for the piece was just the beauty of it. I shot the picture at Starved Rock for this big outing and that place is so special to me so I find I love taking pictures there. When I shot this, I was just thinking about how beautiful it was, and that was all the inspired me: the beauty.

Q: What advice would you give to students to be a good photographer?

A:  My advice to students who want to be a good photographer is to strongly consider a photo elective to really bring out your creative side, but more importantly just to take pictures all the time; at any opportunity you have just take a picture and look for the beauty in everything, even the simple things.

Emily Hejna, 1st place Mixed Media

Q: What was your inspiration for this piece?

A: Well I used a photo of an old art piece I did last year. It’s a drawing of my own eye and it has the lyrics to one of my favorite songs on it.

 

Q: What advice do you have for students wanting to be a good artist?

A: I guess just keep a good sketch book, so you can write down all of your ideas.

Arcade building transformation

Hundreds of Riverside residents and students were able to see these murals upon the building in the Holiday Stroll.

The Arcade building now outwardly symbolizes the town of Riverside and its history. The old boarded up building has now transformed into a colorful and truly unique work of art.

No one knows for sure what’s in store for this building. Hopefully, a new owner will come along and see how the village of Riverside cares for their Arcade Building.

Students did an amazing job and the outcome of this large-scale project was highly successful. This endeavor goes on to show just how much RB cares for the community and preserving its history.

Finals after break- burden or blessing

With the coming of winter break, students are getting excited to be out of school for two whole weeks. But unlike last year, they have the burden of finals when they come back.

Having finals after break is problematic because, in all honesty, does anyone actually study over break? If finals were before winter vacation then students would actually take the time to study.  Now that they have been scheduled for after the holidays, most students will think they have all the time they need to study, but in all likelihood end up not studying at all by the time that break is through.

I know I plan on studying  over break, but I most likely will never get around to actually doing it. When celebrating the holidays, does anyone want to think about school work? I know I don’t. I will probably forget all about anything to do with school and remember at the last minute, but that won’t be enough time to study. And I’m not the only one.

When asked if she liked finals after break, junior Eleanor Hunter said, “No, because I probably won’t study during break and I’ll forget everything.”

Students also get finals over and done with sooner if they are before winter break. Instead of being worried on their break, students would feel relieved and free of the worries of upcoming finals.

Still, there are the students who would rather have finals after break.

Maybe the extra two weeks before can help them improve their chances of getting a better grade on finals. Some may actually study over break. From what I’ve seen, most do not. But there are always some who do.

Or if students don’t want the burden of worrying what their grade was all during break, they’d prefer it after.

Junior Chris Morales would rather have finals after because he said “I’d be worried what I got on them all break.”

So enjoy your winter break and don’t forget to study! I know I will.

Skyward experiences growing pains

A quarter and a half into the school year, RB’s grading system has been experiencing some growing pains.

Skyward, new to RB this year, holds information about students such as their grades, discipline, and even where they live. Teachers keep attendance through Skyward and also send messages.

Many problems have occurred throughout the school year with the new program. The reason is not because Skyward itself is a bad system, but because of the conversion. All one thousand and five hundred students’ data had to be switched from SASI, RB’s old grading system, to Skyward.

“The problems aren’t bad,” said Interim Assistant Principal, Troy Gobble, “The problem is really with little things.”

The most recent problem with Skyward is that it was calculating GPAs incorrectly. There is already a great team working to fix it: the Data Processing team.

“We will find a way to fix it, and I think it will be fixed by December,” Gobble said.

Another trouble the school has had with Skyward is that Skyward has generated old e-mails and sent them to parents. Though no one is exactly sure why it happened, it was believed to be a glitch in the system, but is now repaired.

Teachers were also not able make adjustments to first quarter grades. The reason behind this however was not because Skyward was having a problem. Administrators had to lock down the grade book to print out first quarter grades. The administrators have opened it again grade window but it will be closed soon.

“I anticipated these issues- there are always some problems. It’s important for us to stay ahead of the game and look at the areas that will impact us most,” Data Processing Supervisor, Ron Lilke, said

He and the other Data Processing team members are working to correct these small issues.

Even through these small troubles, administrators believe they are getting good feedback on Skyward.

“The adjustment the school is going through is average and not overpowering. The faculty has adapted well,” Lilke said.

Arcade building mural underway

If you’ve seen the large murals on the second floor of the new entrance, you’ve seen the artwork of the many students who are working to preserve an old building. The building they are trying to save is the Arcade Building which is located in downtown Riverside.

When threats to the building came in September of 2009, the village of Riverside contacted RB. With RB Fine Arts Department Chair, Jon Grice, more than willing to participate, the artists prepared to take on the huge challenge which lay before them – devising a plan to save the historic building.

With this project, serious help is needed. Many middle schools have been volunteering their time to come out and paint murals which will cover the boarded windows of the arcade building. Two particular schools that have joined the effort are Hauser and St. Mary’s.

When asked what has come from the mural project, Gric said “Just the fact that community has stayed together, and is working on completing this huge community project.”

The mural is filled with images centered around the town of Riverside and the four seasons. The themes all come together and represent the passing of time in Riverside. With what participating students call the “friendly giants”, the large mural promises to be something remarkable that everyone will be able to enjoy.

The targeted completion date is November 21^st. On this date, the mural will be attached to the Arcade Building and put up for the Holiday Stroll, an annual Riverside event.

With brilliant colors and fascinating details, this is something that no one should miss.

Blood drive and surprise guests collect 109 pints

At RB’s first 2009-10 blood drive, 109 pints of blood collected. There weren’t enough pints of blood to hit a record, yet Student Association sponsor, Angela Ziola said, “The numbers were great with the condition of the students and staff having the flu.”

Fourteen people were deferred which means they wanted to donate blood but couldn’t. This was either because they had a temperature higher than 99.5 degrees or their iron levels were too low.

There were sixteen people who did the Alyx machine donation. With this donation, blood is withdrawn and red blood cells are separated from it and the rest is returned to the donor. Alyx removes two times the blood than a regular donation.

With the requirements of having to be 5’1’’ and weigh at least 130 pounds for a male, and 5’5’’ and weigh at least 150 pounds for a female, it was a very good turnout.

There were also surprise guests at the blood drive. Two 1985 Bears players showed up at RB. Shaun Gayle and Emery Moorehead were signing autographs and posters. Both frequently donate blood, but couldn’t during the RB blood drive because they recently did.

If you missed out on the last blood drive or want to donate again, the next one will be Wednesday, February 3. Anyone over the age of 16, once again, can donate. RB students and staff saved 327 people with this blood drive. Help save even more people by donating blood.

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