RPS announces ‘Our Kids Rock’ campaign to highlight creativity in learning

ROCKFORD, Feb. 3 – Rockford Public Schools announced a new media campaign called Our Kids Rock to highlight students and teachers who use new or different methods of learning, or who incorporate creative and critical thinking in their daily school routine.

The campaign will evolve over the next few months focusing on stories from RPS 205 classrooms. Some highlights include students using art to understand history, flight simulators to fly airplanes and technology to compose the music heard in the commercials.

RPS 205 wants community to be aware of the incredible educational opportunities available to students. It’s not just about facilities, brick and mortar. It’s the learning that’s happening inside. Students from Jefferson High School are excited about the school’s library updates, about using drones in the classroom and vast opportunities available through their academies.

East High Senior Erik Olson composed and created the much of the music used in the media campaign.

He said, “My involvement in East’s music program has immensely helped me grow as a musician, both through the excellent music teachers and through the plentiful opportunities I’ve been fortunate enough to have been given as a musician through school. Even my involvement in this ad campaign is a direct result of an opportunity given to me through school and now I’m here.”

The campaign kickoff will introduce many RPS 205 students and offer a preview of the renovations at Jefferson. An open house for the community is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Renovations include a new main entrance, new media classrooms, and renovated gymnasium and auditorium.

“We are thrilled to be able to show our community what is happening in our classrooms,” said Superintendent Ehren Jarrett. “The stories and projects that are coming from our outstanding students represent the high level of educational expectation and achievement found in Rockford Public Schools.”

See our Facebook gallery of photos from the event here.
Visit the RPS Our Kids Rock page here.
See the #ourkidsrock tweets from attendees.

ABOUT ROCKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 205
Rockford Public Schools offer a rich and varied curriculum to its 28,000 students. It is one of the largest school districts in Illinois and the second-largest employer in the Rockford region. RPS 205 Embraces five big initiatives – Readiness Rocks – designed to create a district that prepares all of its students for a bright future: College and Career Readiness, Seven Periods to Success, 21st Century Learning Environments, Preschool for All and College for All.