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Good afternoon,
As this school year ends our thoughts turn toward summer. We think of all the wonderful things that we will do this summer.
One of the most important things you can do this summer is read.
And the best way to ensure that we read is to make a plan.
Why is reading so important? Reading has positive, meaningful impacts on our ability to learn, our ability to interact with the world, our ability to make sense of ideas and events, and our ability to see and sense the feelings of others.
Adam Grant, a psychologist, has said:
Reading fiction isn’t just for fun. It has small but meaningful benefits for empathy. In 70 experiments on the impact of reading: concerns for and understanding of others grow more through reading than watching shows and movies. Immersion in words about imaginary worlds can help us see realities beyond our own.
In addition to the benefits of reading on developing empathy, research suggests that students who do not read return to school having experienced a summer slump in learning. Activities like family reading time, read-alouds (parents reading to children), and trips to our Krause Memorial Library - part of the Kent District Library, or to Epilogue Books, one of my favorite stores in Rockford, can ensure that our students reading and language skills continue to develop over the summer.
Our media specialists have created a summer reading guide to help: Summer Reading RPS 2025
I also have some recommendations for summer reading:
Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat
- Picture book: 3- 7 years old (but adults will enjoy reading it)
- This is a fun picture book about a devious and suspicious fish.
Have You Seen My Invisible Dinosaur? by Helen Yoon
- Picture book: 3- 7 years old (but adults will enjoy reading it)
- This is a clever picture book that details the struggles of a little girl who has lost her best friend – a dinosaur.
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
- Picture book: 3- 7 years old (but adults will enjoy reading it)
- A fun story about a young owl who wants to be a knight but he is so small. There are now two Knight Owl books. Both are great.
Mouse and His Dog by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
- Reading age: 7-12 years
- Last year I recommended Dogtown. This is a sequel that follows the adventures of a mouse who lives in the shelter that has real dogs and robot dogs. It is a story that focuses on friendship and caring for others.
Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
- Reading age: 9-11 years old
- A story that deals with finding your place, finding friends, and being brave. The cast of four main characters children will relate to and care about.
Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year by Rob Buyea
- Reading age: 8-12 years
- For Carter learning is a challenge. He is worried about his new 4th grade teacher, but things start to go remarkably well. Then she leaves to have a baby, and Carter has to adapt to a new teacher. It is a story of resilience and friendship and finding one’s way.
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
- Reading age: Late elementary to middle school
- A very innovative story told from the perspective of a Mars rover. The story sees the world through the eyes of the rover as it is built, flown to Mars, and the experiences that it has on Mars.
A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen
- Reading age: Late elementary to middle school
- A story about living in Germany on both sides of the Berlin Wall. Greta, her mother, and her brother live on the East German side of the Berlin Wall while her father and middle brother are on the West German side. It is a tale of intrigue and suspense.
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko
- Reading age: Middle grades and up
- A story that focuses on 11-year-old Hank as he tries to navigate caring for his toddler sister when his mother doesn’t come home. It is a story about finding family and navigating adult challenges while still 11-years-old. It is a story of resilience and courage.
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
- Reading age: High school and up
- A deadly virus is spreading but those who survive discover utter contentment – or do they? It is a story of intrigue and politics and discovering how to navigate challenging and competing interests.
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Reading age: High school and up
- Why would a billionaire give a complete unknown their fortune? It is a question Avery Grambs has to figure out while trying to survive the anger and suspicion of the billionaire’s family.
Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America by John Barry
- Reading age: High school and up
- The fascinating true story of American history. It deals with science, politics, race, society all along the Mississippi River. It is a book that makes you think about our shared history in America.
I hope this summer you make great memories and that you find time to read.
Steve
Dr. Steve Matthews
Superintendent
Rockford Public Schools
Superintendent's Updates
Good morning,
I wanted to update you on the North Rockford Middle School Principal position.
After the school year ended, Lissa Weidenfeller informed us that she intended to retire from her North Rockford Middle School principal position effective July 1. Ms. Weidenfeller has guided North for many years and, along with her staff, has elevated North to one of the best middle schools in our region and in our state. She will be missed.
As with any position in our district, we want to make sure that we have the right people in the right place. So, we have taken some time to think through what would be the best next step.
Part of our decision making has also been driven by an examination of our administrative staffing and our budget. Ms. Weidenfeller’s retirement, while unexpected, has given us an opportunity to review our current administrative staffing and examine our administrative staffing relative to our budget.
Given these multiple factors and working to ensure that we have people in the right place, I have decided to move Al Reickard to North Rockford Middle school to serve as the principal. Mr. Santillan will continue to serve as the assistant principal.
As you know, Mr. Reickard was the Freshman Center Assistant Principal during the past year, but he is no stranger to North. Mr. Reickard previously served as the Assistant Principal at North and has been in our district for many years; first as a student and later as a teacher, coach, and administrator.
Mr. Reickard understands our district. He is also well prepared to continue moving North forward, ensuring that our students have an outstanding academic environment and providing our students with multiple co- and extra-curricular opportunities.
I am excited for Mr. Reickard. He will be an outstanding principal at North.
I am also excited about our leadership team at North – Mr. Reickard and Mr. Santillan. They will do great things together and our students and staff will benefit from the leadership that they will provide.
Steve
Dr. Steve Matthews
Superintendent
Rockford Public Schools
Events
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20 Aug 2025
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All Staff PDDate: Aug 20Calendar: RPS District CalendarAll Staff PD
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21 Aug 2025
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All Staff PDDate: Aug 21Calendar: RPS District CalendarAll Staff PD
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25 Aug 2025
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First Student DayDate: Aug 25Calendar: RPS District Calendar
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29 Aug 2025
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No School - Labor DayDate: Aug 29Calendar: RPS District Calendar
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1 Sep 2025
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No School - Labor DayDate: Sep 1Calendar: RPS District Calendar
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10 Sep 2025
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Early ReleaseDate: Sep 10Calendar: RPS District Calendar
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24 Sep 2025
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Early ReleaseDate: Sep 24Calendar: RPS District Calendar
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