Q&A: Has this been a tough job, Dr. Skinkis?

Dr. Kevin Skinkis has now been RB’s superintendent for almost a semester. He has faced a number of challenges, including a divided school board with four newly elected members, the financial aftermath of a failed referendum campaign, on top of simply the experience of being a new chief administrator.

Clarion got a chance to talk to him about his time here so far, and the challenges and experiences he has gone through.

How has your experience at RB been so far?

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Has it been everything you expected it to be?

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What has been the hardest part?

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What difficulties have you come across?

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What changes have you faced being superintendent for the first time?

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What kinds of changes do you wish to make to the school?

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What can you say about any upcoming referendums?

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How do you think the school is dealing with the referendum not passing?

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What have you seen that has impacted the students directly?

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What plans do you have for the future of RB?

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Danielle Sanchez

Danielle Sanchez has been on Clarion since her sophomore year. Realizing her mission in life, she aspires to get the Clarion out there for everyone to read. Although she’s been stuck with Mr. Mancoff since her freshman year, she still manages to come back and deal with his iron fist ruling.

Though she would love to spend every second working on the Clarion, she finds time to play her favorite sport, soccer. She also enjoys spending all her money on clothes and hanging out with friends.

Danielle Sanchez can be reached by emailing sanchezd@rbclarion.org.

SPORTS PREVIEW: Trevizo, Curtin, and Faje lead Boys cross country

The boys cross country team has gotten off to a great start.

Varsity leaders Travis Trevizo, Daniel Curtin, and Kevin Faje have been steering the team in the right direction. Trevizo and Faje were able to break 17 minutes for three miles, while the rest of the varsity is just 10 seconds away from doing the same.

“The top seven are staying together more. We’re more of a pack now,” sophomore varsity member, Curtin said. “We’re working really hard. I also do extra stuff at home like core workouts, eating right and sleeping the right amount.”

Upperclassmen aren’t the only ones contributing to the team. 

“There are a lot of underclassmen that are stepping up,” senior varsity member, Trevizo said.

Freshman Matt Sagan likes being on the team. “I liked to run 5Ks in eighth grade. I thought I would join the team since running is a passion to me,” he said.

“It’s a lot of fun. You get to meet upperclassmen and make new friends,” Sagan said.

Coach Larry Forberg has been happy with how the season started. “The team is running strong and we’ve won a lot of the invites,” he said.

The rest of the season looks promising for the boys. “We’re always saying that sectionals are important, but it’s nice to have some wins along the way. If we stay injury free, and peak at the right time, we have a good chance of winning it,” Forberg said.

2010-2011 RBHS Retirees

Say goodbye to some familiar faces by visiting our interactive retiree web site.

Visit the site here.

Bulldog Spotlight: English teachers win national honor

Three RB English teachers recently received prestigious grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NEH is a federal agency that funds programs for educators across the country. There are many programs that educators can apply for, and the NEH offers fellowships in study areas of their interest.

English teachers Cherise Lopez, Bridget Wilmot, and Daniel O’Rourke all received summer fellowships to go to seminars in different cities around the country.

Lopez, who sponsors the school’s yearbook, will be attending “Emily Dickinson: Person, Poetry and Place,” in Amherst, MA for a week in the summer. Here she will be a student again, going to workshops and reading about Emily Dickinson. She will see Dickinson’s home where she grew up and look at her original documents.

“I teach about her in class so I’m looking forward to learning how to incorporate the things I learn here back into the classroom,” Lopez said.

Wilmot will be attending “A Rising People: Ben Franklin and the Americans” in Philadelphia, PA. There she will go on walking tours, attend lectures, and retrace Benjamin Franklin’s footsteps.   

“I think Benjamin Franklin is one of the most fascinating persons in history. We’ll go to places he went and also go to a concert that will play the music that was played during his time period,” Wilmost said.

O’Rourke is going to Monterey, CA and attend “John Steinbeck:  Voice of a region, Voice for America.”  He’ll go on boat rides to study what Steinbeck wrote about sicne he was a marine biology enthusiast.

O’Rourke said, “I’m excited to go because I’m going to learn thigns I can teach more about in American Studies.  I’ll find more connections between history and literature.”

Teachers must apply for often competitive spots to attend NEH fellowships.  The work is not paid, but teachers receive a stipend from the NEH to help cover travel, room, and board. 

Bulldog Spotlight: Veronica Perez

Senior Veronica Perez has been tutoring students in Little Village for two and a half years. We interviewed her about her experiences.

Perez started working as a sophomore in Little Village through her aunt who works at the Non-for-profit Organization. “I started working there going into my sophomore year up until the fall of last year,” she said. She tutored Monday – Friday every week.

Working with kids was Perez’s favorite part of working in Little Village. “I loved learning about their fascinating lives. Each kid has a unique story. It fascinates me what they have had to go through at such a young age,” she said.

Perez said she wants to continue working with kids in the future. “I just want to have a career that I can interact with people and I want to make a difference.”

Social studies teacher, Jan Goldberg commented about having Perez as a student, saying “I think she’s terrific. I am so proud of her. When she talked about working with little kids in Little Village, I almost started crying. I just had to tell someone about it.”

Administration excited to work with Skinkis

On Thursday, February 17^th, 2011, the new Superintendent, Dr.  Kevin Skinkis, was officially announced and confirmed by the school board. Though only 34 years old, Skinkis is ready to confront his new job head on.

“I’m elated and excited for this great opportunity. I grew up around here and I watched and played against RB. This school has a lot to offer and I am looking forward to working here with the staff and students,” said Skinkis.

Along with his eagerness to join District 208, Skinkis is also sad to leave his former job as principle of Bartlett High School.

Skinkis said, “I told my staff this afternoon; I had to pause because I started to tear up. It will always hold a place in my heart.”

It is hard to leave a school you love behind and start over a new tradition. As Skinkis is making the transition to RBHS, the existing administration at District 208 is welcoming him with open arms.

“We’re very excited about him coming to RB. He has great experiences with students and culture. He also had Character Counts at his old school. He is very energetic and has a ‘can do’ energy. He is strong, fearless, and focused. He will bring great things to the district,” said Principal Pamela Bylsma.

Interim superintendent David Bonette was hired by the district two years ago. He was originally only going to serve one year, but District 208 asked him to stay on until they found a new superintendent. After his two years as interim superintendent, he is glad to welcome Skinkis to district 208.

Bonette said, “Great, I can’t wait to hand off the baton. He in some respects reminds me of myself when I had my first superintendent job. I had very good interesting experiences before I got to be the superintendent, like him. He is young, ambitious and energetic, and I think he will be a good fit for this school district. “

As well as Skinkis, Bonette will also miss the school he is leaving.

“I really enjoyed working with the faculty and the board. One thing I regret is not spending more time with the students. Being an interim superintendent really made it hard to do so,” said Bonette

Skinkis will start his new job as superintendent at RBHS on July 1^st.

“It is a great opportunity. It’s my first time as superintendent and I’m looking forward to building on the traditions here,” he said.

Bulldog Spotlight: Mindy Haines

Fine Arts teacher, Mindy Haines won the Dance Educator of the Year award from the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education. We interviewed Mrs. Haines about how dance has influenced her life and her love for it.

Haines started dancing when she was a little girl. Her passion began when she saw her older cousin had a pair of pink Pointe shoes and she also wanted a pair. “I saw a bunch of little girls tap dancing on a big silver circle and I was anxious to go home and see what other dance classes they offered,” Haines said.

Dancing influenced her life by teaching her to wonder about the unknown and to think the impossible is possible. “It has taught me to be ‘thick skinned,’ to trust my intuition and not to be afraid of taking risks,” she said.

Haines is inspired by many different things in her life. Her dad, teenagers, toddlers, quotes, sincere and honest people inspire her. “I love the energy of teenagers and how everything is SO BIG- they live for the moment,” she said.

Haines never knew she wanted to become a dance teacher until she was at an audition at Columbia College and saw a part-time teacher position at RB. She got the job. “I continued to dance professionally while teaching at RB for about eight years.  Then RB became a fulltime job and I had to make a decision to dance or to teach.  It was a very difficult time in my life, but looking back I am very happy I picked teaching,” she recalled.

The news about winning the Dance Educator of the Year surprised Haines. “I had no idea. I am a little embarrassed, but I am looking forward to going to the Governor’s mansion in March!”

Winter Art Show

The annual Winter Art Show took place on Tuesday, December 14. See some pictures of the amazing artwork RB students created.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

With the holiday season here, the wonderful music we’ve all been waiting for comes along with it. The best part of it though, is that the music starts even before the holiday season.  Some people believe all of that holiday decorations and music should come after Thanksgiving, or even two weeks before the holidays. I think the sooner the better, especially if the music could start way back in the beginning of November.

The Holidays only come once a year. I think that we should prepare for it, because if we don’t, it will be here and gone before we know it. So why not get more than one day out of it? It makes me excited for Christmas and just makes it come that much sooner.

With all the excitement and preparation, the music and buying presents, time just seems to fly with holiday spirit. Though it gets to Christmas faster, which is always the best part, it also is sad because it feels like it’s over in no time.   Holiday music brings back memories from years ago, and it helps create new ones. Singing with family, putting up a Christmas tree, all these memories are what make our childhoods full of happiness.

So enjoy all there is to this great holiday because, when it’s over, you’ll miss it, and you’ll already be looking forward for the music to start again.

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