Happy April, Rock Island-Milan!
Here are some important dates to keep in mind for this month.
We’d like to give a huge thank you to our amazing RIMSD librarians:
Edie Crayne, Denkmann
Elizabeth Saunders, Earl Hanson
Amy Jahn, Edison Jr. High
Lori Gregan, Eugene Field
Sarah Freeman, Eugene Field
Donna Manning, Frances Willard
Shannon Fuhrer, Longfellow
Melissa Knoeferl, Rock Island Academy
Dee Anderson, RI Center for Math & Science
Diana Bush, Ridgewood
Mary Mendelin, Rock Island High School
Amy Curtiss, Rock Island High School
Amy Marshall, Thomas Jefferson
Karen Long, Washington Jr. High
Your passion, dedication, and the love you bring to your libraries make a lasting impact on our scholars and school communities. Thank you for all that you do!
Mark your calendars! Children who turn five on or before September 1, 2026, are eligible to start school in the 2026-2027 school year in the Rock Island-Milan School District. Below are the upcoming Kindergarten Round-Up dates for all elementary schools.
Rock Island-Milan, as part of our Building Our Future Facility Management Plan, we are excited to share details about an upcoming project and invite you to learn more.
Please join us for a community meeting at Rock Island Academy on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 5-6 pm to learn more about upcoming construction projects.
Please view the flyer below for more details. We hope to see you there!
During National Assistant Principals Week, we recognize the dedication, leadership, and heart these school leaders bring to their schools every single day.
Take a moment to thank an assistant principal who makes a difference!
On Tuesday, Deputy Superintendent Dase and District Safety Manager Charles Butler visited five schools as “Spring Santas!”
During the spring intersession, scholars had the opportunity to participate in the Spring Break Writing Challenge, crafting letters to share why they would love to receive a specific toy from a curated list.
Congratulations to all the scholars!
Rock Island-Milan,
This is a friendly reminder that all district facilities will be closed on Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday!
https://www.rimsd41.org/events
Yesterday, RIMSD41 welcomed partners from ESS (Effective School Solutions) and State Representative Gregg Johnson for a visit focused on scholar well-being.
Guests heard a brief presentation from Principal Turner and ESS about how their partnership is expanding access to mental health care. Rep. Johnson has played a key role in securing funding for these clinical therapy services at Earl Hanson, helping to strengthen the support systems our scholars rely on every day.
Thank you to ESS and Rep. Johnson for continuing to invest in our scholars and this important work!
Rocky was proud to host Senator Mike Halpin as he stopped by to personally congratulate Courtney Walls on her IHSA Girls State Wrestling championship, recognizing her outstanding achievement with an official certificate of recognition. Congratulations again, Courtney! 💪
Happy Paraprofessional Appreciation Day!
Today, RIMSD proudly recognizes the paraprofessionals whose daily contributions make a lasting difference across our schools. Your commitment and care help ensure scholars feel supported, valued, and empowered to learn each day. We are grateful for the impact you make and the role you play in strengthening our school community!
“Wake up, Mr. West!” ☀️This morning’s inservice kicked off with an energizing message from renowned guest speaker Mr. Damon West, setting the stage for a day of meaningful breakout sessions and professional learning.
A huge thank you to Mr. West for the powerful reminder to be a coffee bean – when the pressure is on, we have the ability to transform the environment around us. That message couldn’t come at a better time!
The 4th quarter is here, and the finish line is in sight. Be a coffee bean. Finish strong!
RIMSD community, we are excited to continue our new Shout-Out Series, spotlighting outstanding team members across our district.
This series supports our 2030 Strategic Plan - Priority 5: We will nurture relationships and connections with all members of our school community.
We are proud to share our March features. Thank you all for your continued support, and thanks to everyone who took the time to recognize their colleagues!
Calling all community members!
Culture Club is gearing up for our 4th Annual Culture Fest! Last year, over 1,000 attendees came together to celebrate the diversity that makes our school and community so special.
This year’s event will take place on Monday, May 18th, from 5–7:30 PM at RIHS. The theme is “Play the Game, Live the Culture,” in anticipation of the World Cup coming to North America this summer. ⚽
Visit the event website to:
🌎View photos and videos from last year’s celebration
🌍Order a t-shirt
🌏Register for a table – open to all district students, staff, families, and community members!
Celebrate, connect, and share your culture with us!
Quick reminders:
🟡Staff returns on Monday, March 30th, for all staff inservice day.
🟡Fourth Quarter begins Tuesday, March 31st.
Enjoy your break! 🔆🌱
Due to the threat of inclement weather, all scheduled activities during our Spring Intersession have been cancelled for Monday, March 16, 2026. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe!
We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and coaching staff for their dedication and teamwork. Way to represent!
Congratulations to our Rock Island Special Olympics Basketball team! We were proud to send them off with a Walk of Champions celebration as they qualified for the state tournament, taking place tomorrow at the Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL.
We kicked off the celebration on the third floor - our athletes and coaches walked through each floor of the school while scholars and staff lined the halls to cheer them on and celebrate their hard work and dedication.
We are proud to have such a phenomenal team represent Rocky at the state level. Congratulations to coaches Jeff Martens, Lisa Martens, and Meghan Miers for their leadership in guiding our team to this outstanding achievement! Good luck tomorrow!
This morning, Superintendent Dr. Williams had the opportunity to experience the installation firsthand. Scholars led a tour through the building, proudly showcasing their work and explaining the ideas and techniques behind each piece.
Following the tour, scholars also shared their thoughts on the importance of the arts in school, expressing that arts education should be introduced even earlier in scholars’ academic journeys.
The Edison art class is led by Mrs. Cassandra Salas-Mikaio, recipient of the Illinois State Board of Education Award of Excellence for Classroom Teachers.
Best of luck to all of our student-athletes as they represent their school at state!
