Michele Beach
Gifted Program Administrator
Office of Learning Support Services
Rockford Public Schools Administration Building
501 7th Street
Rockford, IL 61104
(815) 966-3182
FAX (815) 972-3443
Email Contact
The Gifted Program is one of many specialized programs in the Rockford Public Schools. We recognize that gifted students, like other groups in the general school population, possess unique potential and needs which can only be addressed through modification of the regular curriculum. The goal of our program is to identify and nurture potential through the development of specialized curriculum offerings modified and adapted to meet the unique learning styles, learning rates, interests, abilities and needs of gifted students.
Every child has the right to learn something new every day.
Gifted Program Expansion
We could not be more excited that the school district is supporting the expansion of the Gifted Program. The School Board and district administrators recognize that the Gifted Program is an integral piece of ensuring that all RPS #205 graduates are college and career ready.
For the 2012-2013 school year, Gifted Program grades 6-8 will be moving to the building that used to hold Kennedy Middle School, 4664 N. Rockton. We will be creating a new partnership with the Montessori Program, which is also expanding. Montessori Grades 4-7 will be joining us in our new building. We believe that the combination of these two outstanding programs will provide a wonderful, rich and diverse learning environment!
Gifted Program grades 1-5 will continue to be housed at Washington Academy next year and in the foreseeable future. This fall, for the 2012-2013 school year, we will be adding a classroom at grades 3, 4 and 5. This will allow us to provide seats to many more qualified students who would have previously been put on a waiting list, hoping that a seat would open so their academic needs could be met.
Name that School
When the middle school students at Kennedy moved into the old Wilson building this year, they took their name with them. That program is still called Kennedy Middle School, leaving our new building without a name. As part of our new beginning, we want students to have the opportunity to choose that name.
Administrators from the district, Washington and Montessori have discussed many different name options, focusing on individuals with a commitment to excellence. We have selected three outstanding Americans: Jane Addams, Thurgood Marshall and Janice Voss. Over the next few weeks, students will be learning more about these individuals and then voting for their favorite. The name receiving the highest number of votes from Washington and Montessori students will be designated as our new school name. For more information about them:
Wonderful Website
Where the Wonders of Learning Never Cease - Wonderopolis - Wonder of the Day
Creative Writer
Congratulations Sarah Pfleiderer! Sarah participated in the Rockford Women’s Club’s 88th Annual Creative Writing Competition. The purpose of the contest is to encourage the organization and writing of creative ideas in two categories: Prose and Poetry. Sarah’s piece, “Prose on Prose”, earned her an award and a place at a special recognition luncheon. Sarah was the only sophomore finalist.
Washington Academy Scholastic Bowl
Washington Academy defeated a pool of six schools to win the IESA Class AA Scholastic Bowl Regional on April 25, 2012. Washington defeated Dixon Reagan 250-140 in the first round and earned a bye in the second round. In the third round Washington defeated Freeport by a score of 250-20. In the fourth and final round Washington defeated Sterling Challand 305-130. Washington has advanced to the IESA Class AA Sectional that will be held on Monday, April 30 at 4:30 in Streator. Members of the team include: 6th graders Ellen Chidley, Zane Clevenger, and Brady Peterson, 7th graders William Jiang and Frey Lemonholm, and 8th graders Chen Lin, Luke McGowan-Arnold, Henry Roe, Cole Timmerwilke, and Hamza Zahurullah. Washington is coached by Deb Johns and Bonnie Wallin.
Forensics Students Win!
Congratulations to the 35 Washington students who participated in the regional Forensics Competition at Hononegah HS on April 21, 2012. Washington tied for the highest number of trophy winners. What a great day for the students, who not only won great awards but also gained confidence in speaking in front of a room full of adults and their peers. Speech topics included Tigers, Bullying: Uncool, Sharks, The Phillippines, Cheerleading, Making Smoothies and My Trip to the Pentagon.
Trophy Winners
Grade 2: Jacey Jerding, Puranjay Gupta
Grade 3: Carter Norsen, Ayush Bhalavat, Chris Park
Grade 4: Anjali Puri, Paige Broski, Lily Drinkwine
Grade 5: Zoe Doll, Andrew Schwartz, Manya Shah, Charlie Shriver
Medal Winners
Grade 2: Margarita Arango, James Shields
Grade 3: Srikar Vanavasam
Grade 4: Mimi Filkin
Grade 5: Alyssa LoTempio, Samantha Via
Money Smart
Congratulations to Grant Burress and Connor Bullard, winners of the 2012 Money Smart Kid Essay Contest. After reading more than 350 submissions, these two Washington Academy students were selected as two of the top winning essays. Grant is the first place winner, receiving a $1000 Bright Start Scholarship from BMO Harris Bank. As the runner-up, Connor will receive a $500 award courtesy of First national Bank and Trust Company of Beloit. The scholarships are awarded to the students at the Money Smart Kick Off Breakfast in April.
USA BioOlympiad
Congratulations to Maxwell Wang from Auburn High School. He is a semi-finalist in the USA BioOlympiad Exams. He is one of 594 national and international semi-finalists out of 10,423 students who took the first level open exam. He will be taking the semi-final exam at the end of March.
Top Illinois Schools
Congratulations Washington Academy! Fifth highest ranked school in Illinois!!
Each year, the State Board of Education releases school report cards for each public school in the state. The Chicago Sun-Times analyzes these scores using a statistical method called standardizing to analyze the “scale score” of every reading and math test statewide. Then, schools are ranked based on average scores on state achievement tests - not on the percentage who meet state standards. When several schools, such as Washington, have 100% of their students who meet or exceed state standards, this statistical analysis yields more accurate rankings.
Both of Washington’s sections earned 5th place in the rankings! To see the top 50 schools, see: