Regional Alternative School

Please find the attached newsletter for November. We value the partnerships we have with our students and families. As we settle into the cold months, please let us know if you are in need of cold-weather items. Also, our School Market is available for students to sign up for each week. Please email Miss Cave (jcave@rasblm.org) if your family is in need of additional food. We are running low on dress code clothing for students to borrow. PLEASE make sure your child is dressed in the correct attire every day. As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

💀 Honoring Día de los Muertos at RAS! 🧡

A big shout-out to our fantastic ISU social work intern, Alex, who has created a beautiful ofrenda (altar/table) to help us observe Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)!

This traditional Mexican holiday is a beautiful celebration of life and memory, honoring loved ones who have passed away. Alex's ofrenda is a respectful and vibrant display featuring classic elements like:
Marigold flowers (cempasúchil) 🌼
Calaveras (sugar skulls) 💀
Favorite foods and drinks ☕

Many students/staff have placed pictures of their loved ones on the table, making it a truly personal and meaningful tribute.
Happy Día de los Muertos!

RAS was fortunate to have a new internship partnership this semester with ISU's Department of Criminal Justice Sciences. We hosted Morgan T for her internship hours and she did a phenomenal job working with our middle school students. She partnered with our middle school staff to support learning in many ways, including planning and teaching lessons on the juvenile justice system and current laws, while also providing intervention and instructional support in all classrooms. Staff and students are sad to see her time with RAS come to an end (for now!), but we wish her nothing but the best as she works towards her Master of Social Work degree! Thank you for "picking" us! ⚖️🍎🍏🍯

The Salvation Army of McLean County will begin taking calls for the 2025 Winter and Holiday Assistance Programs on October 1st.

New winter coats are available to McLean County residents 18 and older or under 5 years old who did not receive a coat in 2024. Requests for coats for school-age children should be directed to the school the child attends. Interested clients should call (309) 829-9476 ext 289 to leave a message including name and contact telephone number. A staff member will return the call to conduct the intake interview and schedule the pick up.

Requests for registration appointments for the 2025 Christmas Food Box and Toys for Tots will also be accepted beginning October 1. Clients looking for assistance should call (309) 829-9476 ext 299 and leave a message with name and contact telephone number. Our scheduler will return the call as soon as possible to schedule the in-person registration in November.

Volunteer Opportunities with our winter and Christmas programs will be available for sign up beginning October 1.

One of our most valued partnerships is with ISU's School of Teaching and Learning. We had the pleasure of hosting our fourth student teacher this semester. Morgan joined us for the first part of her K-12 student teaching requirement as an Art Education major. Morgan was very familiar with RAS, as she had completed a number of her clinical hours with us throughout her teacher education journey. She is finishing up her student teaching down the road from RAS at Washington Elementary School. We have loved hosting Morgan over the past couple of years and we wish her the best of luck! Fun Fact: Morgan almost chose to be an entomologist before becoming an Art educator!

PSA to the PD Police: You cannot pour from an empty cup. Most of the time what teachers and school staff need the most during in-service days is just a moment to catch their breath! And we did JUST THAT today. But we did it out of the building and added fresh air! And learned a wee bit! Thank you to 2810 Café for letting us use your space and serving us delicious drinks! Thank you Miller Park for being such a great local resource for outdoor learning. Thank you ROE 17 for lunch. Thank you Matt Sherrill from LTC for additional AI training.

On Thursday, we had the extreme privilege to host Chef Allen Chambers to end our high school ELA unit on the language of the streets. Our students have been learning how story telling can happen through other means that don’t always involve books. Some of the best stories are told on the street, through art, music, activism, and food! Chef Allen told the students his story that led him to being a successful business owner. He was engaging, inspiring, and we can’t wait to work with him again! Thank you, Chef Allen, for spending the afternoon with us!

Chestnut Health Systems & Blue Cross/Blue Shield Community Care Fair will be held on October 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Eastview Christian Church – Normal, 1500 Airport Rd., Normal. The event is free and open to the public!

Attendees can receive NO COST care and wellness resources including:
Local health and service providers
Blood pressure checks
Medical screenings
Mental health and education resources
Dental screenings and referrals

RAS loves our neighbors! In recent days, staff and students have been able to get out of the building and lend a hand in our community. A few of our morning students have walked down to First Christian Church to help stock The Helping Shelf, while our afternoon students put in some manual labor to help repair some landscaping at St. Mary's. We value these partnerships and the opportunities they provide our students! ❤️

September is Suicide Prevention Month. This month, we are reminded of the incredible power of compassion. Talking about suicide isn't harmful—silence is. It's in the quiet spaces, where people feel unseen, that we lose the chance to help. But one honest, caring conversation can be a lifeline and save a life. It's a simple act that can make an immense difference. Start a conversation. Be the difference. If you are someone you know is In a crisis, Call/text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7. #988

Ride Connect Transit 🚌 for FREE during the month of September with your library card. If you don't have a library card, you can sign up for free at either Bloomington or Normal libraries 📚

🍎We are excited to welcome students to school tomorrow, Monday, August 18th! A few reminders: ▶️Dress code- 🖤🤍🩶🤎 ▶️Timings-🕗AM High School 7:45-11 🕙Middle School 9:45-2 🕛PM High School 12-3:15 ▶️Transportation-🚌 Home schools run their own buses to RAS. Contact bus barns for immediate assistance if needed. It's going to be a great day! 🥳

💛We are ready💛

Phew, it's been a busy few days! RAS staff members returned on Monday and have participated in learning and planning, while living the 2025-26 theme of LOVE.SERVE.CARE 💛 From training at the ROE on the latest tech tools, doing community service to help beautify the West Side, and harvesting fresh produce and herbs from our community garden, we are excited to be back in action! Our hallways and meeting rooms have been busy with student and family orientations, many leaving with items from our community garden and school market. It's going to be a great year!

Mr. Earley, Mr. O'Kraski, and Mrs. Quick had the opportunity to participate in the American Institutes for Research (AIR) Insights for Student Success and Engagement Training this week in Washington D.C. Focusing on people and system capacities within an educational setting, the sessions included practical processes and solutions to provide interventions related to student needs. This training expands the agency's ability to best serve students in ROE 17. It was great to be around like-minded educators from across the country who were solution-focused!

School will be starting before you know it! We're excited to see all our families again. The first step is to call and schedule your orientation time. Please call 309.828.5807 ex 2200. All RAS students must have an orientation before starting school. This is a great chance for us to connect with you and make sure we're all on the same page for a great year ahead. Let's make the 2025-26 school year the best yet!

⭐️Our very own Brian O'Kraski was honored to be selected as a 2025 20 Stars for LIFE, supporting the Great Plains LIFE Foundation's Stay 4 Project. This annual fundraising event raises tens of thousands of dollars to provide scholarships for youth in our community. A few RAS students over the years have been the lucky recipients of Stay 4 scholarships to help pursue post-secondary opportunities. Congratulations, Brian! ⭐️

Friendly reminder: ALL students attending RAS for the 2025-26 school year must be registered with their home school district prior to starting at RAS.

Get Your Child’s School Physical! Get your child ready for the upcoming school year with their annual physical. Chestnut Family Health Center, Carle Health, and the McLean County Health Department will be offering physicals and immunizations to McLean County students. You must bring a parent/guardian I.D., the child’s current immunization records, and insurance card(s). Medicaid and private insurance are accepted, and uninsured patients are welcome! Western Avenue Community Center, 600 N. Western Ave., Bloomington. July 30: 1 – 4 p.m. Danvers Township, 898 N. W. St., Danvers. August 1: 1 – 4 p.m. Schedule an appointment: Chestnut Family Health Center: Call 309.386.9478 Carle Mobile Health Clinic: Call 217.365.7928 McLean County Health Department: Walk-in immunizations only

We are appreciative of a recent donation of feminine hygiene products made by Soroptimist International Bloomington-Normal. This amazing organization focuses on improving the lives of women and girls through a variety of programs and initiatives. Give them a LIKE on Facebook to follow all of the great things they do for our community!