RAS Staff returned today for the 2024-25 school year and lived up to our theme: Good vibes only...positive energy + positive people = positive results. We had the opportunity to be outdoors and in nature at Moraine View, while getting to know our new staff and working together as teams. It was a fantastic way to kick off the new school year and it was hard to be anything but POSITIVE with fresh air and hands-on fun!
Please read the flyer for information regarding Chestnut's Wellness Fair on Wednesday, August 7th from 1-5pm @ 702 W Chestnut in Bloomington.
🎓📢 Calling all recent graduates of RAS-Bloomington! 📢🎓
We want to hear from YOU! Your experiences and suggestions are invaluable to us, and we invite you to participate in our alumni survey. This is your chance to share what you've been up to since leaving the Regional Alternative School and help shape the future of RAS-Bloomington.
💬 Your feedback will be shared with our faculty, staff, and decision makers to improve our programs and support future students.
📅 It only takes a few minutes, but your impact will be lasting. Ready to make a difference? Click the link to start the survey now! https://forms.gle/5r9pRAwq2LqwKGVe7
This spring, RAS students worked hard to upgrade our community garden plot. They added fresh mulch, new raised planter beds, a custom-built bench, and even a "bug hotel" (feel free to Google it)!
When students return in the fall, we hope to have an abundance of fresh produce. The fall harvest from the garden will be used to help teach students about cooking, nutrition, and the science behind agriculture. Not only does it provide fresh food for our school community, but it also serves as a hands-on learning experience for the students.
RAS has a strong appreciation for the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation (IPCF) and their Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) group. In recent years, IPCF and YEP have helped fund a number of projects for our Bloomington campus. From the mural in our parking lot (done in partnership with the one and only Joel Bergner), to first aid training and an AED machine, to vocational and art opportunities for our students, the contributions are far-reaching and recognized by RAS staff, students, and families on a daily basis.
Through YEP grant funds received last year for FCS opportunities, we were able to purchase $2,000 worth of equipment and supplies to help students become more sustainable and creative. We are excited to kick off some fun sewing and Cricut projects during the coming school years!
Do you know what are the best kinds of dessert? Besides "All of them!", SURPRISE desserts are a huge win! We have been the beneficiary of a multiple year partnership with a small group from Eastview that is very intentional in encouraging our staff with support and tasty treats.
Today, they surprised us with ice cream 🍨, brownies 🍫, chocolate chip cookies 🍪, and small tokens of appreciation in the form of a card and gift card to Orange Leaf! Thank you for your continued partnership and support of RAS!
We were excited to have Cassius and his students from the 💈Bloomington Normal Barber College💈 back in the building yesterday. Our students enjoyed the fresh cuts to get ready for the warmer weather! Thank you, Cassius, for continuing this awesome partnership!
RAS was happy to host Specialist Devyn Nicholas from the Illinois National Guard on Tuesday. He led an activity in which students created gourmet meals using Military Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE's). Students had a great time and it was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about what the National Guard does.
Nate from the Boys and Girls Club spends Tuesdays with our middle school students. Each week, he plans fun and engaging activities to help build their teamwork and critical thinking skills. We are grateful for this community partnership and the outreach services the BGCBN provides for RAS students. A group of high school students spend time with Nate in the after-school program at First Christian Church. We are excited for continued opportunities with the BGCBN!
🗣️Friendly reminder: No school tomorrow, Monday, April 15th! Enjoy the beautiful weather ☀️and be ready to finish the school year strong starting on Tuesday!
We are over the moon with gratitude to Corn Belt Energy for their incredibly generous grant of $1500! Thanks to their support, our students at Regional Alternative School will soon have brand new iPads and Apple Pencils! This means more opportunities for creativity, learning, and growth in the classroom.
We can't thank Corn Belt Energy enough for investing in the future of our students and helping us provide them with the tools they need to succeed. Together, we're making a real difference in their education journey. Thank you, Corn Belt Energy, for your commitment to empowering young minds!
RAS staff visited Heartland Community College yesterday to learn more about the wealth of programs available at their Normal campus. The goal? To gain firsthand knowledge about the college’s offerings, ensuring we provide our students with the best advice on post-secondary opportunities right here in our local community.
Mr. Baez’s PM homeroom was joined by Mr. Kendall in the garage this afternoon learning about vehicle safety, DOT approved lighting, and replaced factory brake lights with a safer LED unit.
Exciting New work from the RAS PBL classes!
Before the break our talented PBL artists were focusing on the element of art, Value. Working together, each student crafted individual value squares that when united assemble the amazing portraits below.
Witnessing their growth, teamwork and artistry has been nothing short of inspiring. We are immensely proud of our artists and can’t wait to what they produce next.
This morning a group of our graduating seniors visited Heartland Community College to tour campus and learn more about the programming they offer the local community. It was also a great opportunity for our students to see Heartland's newly built Advanced Manufacturing Center & State Farm Electric Vehicle Lab!
This afternoon RAS got to help our friends at First Christian Church in Bloomington. Their parking lot was in need of a little spring clean up after the long winter. First Christian Church is a great community partner to RAS and we were happy to help!
Our RAS students in the digital wing have been creating and developing sculptures that challenge artistic conventions as they find inspiration in the simplicity of form and the raw beauty of materials. Much like their predecessors from the 1960s, they crafted sculptures using everyday materials, transforming these humble elements into expressions of profound creativity.
Our students used modules they created to make art that was not representational but evoked thought and emotions through tangible shapes and forms. Like the work of Sol LeWitt our RAS students meticulously orchestrated open and closed forms to embark on their own artistic journeys arranging interlocking elements with precision and purpose.
Today RAS welcomed representatives from StaffQuick Staffing Agency to speak with our graduating seniors. StaffQuick has a variety of opportunities available for new graduates who are ready to join the workforce directly out of high school, including their $250 "Ready to Work Scholarship" which was awarded to four of our seniors during the 2022-2023 school year! They also offer Resume Workshops every Thursday from 2-4 PM at the Bloomington Public Library.
Last week RAS hosted Cody Stewart from Midwest Technical Institute who talked with students about the different programs MTI offers. Students learned about the possibilities of a career in the skilled trades and the incredible demand for workers in these fields.
Due to a widespread power outage throughout Bloomington, RAS Bloomington campus will facilitate remote instructions for students today. Please have your student work through their Google Classroom or Edmentum platforms. If you are having issues, please contact your homeroom teacher for assistance.