Math Rules at Two Noble Campuses

Pritzker College Prep and Gary Comer College Prep have formed Math Teams in recent years thanks to hard-working dedicated teachers and support from the Actuarial Foundation.  Students choose to become Mathletes to compete in city-wide competitions and participate in weekly practices with their coach, peers and adult mentors from Chicago's professional community.  Adult mentors recruited from the Actuarial Foundation provide special math expertise and mentoriship to students.   

Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy Students Host a Solar Celebration 

On May 2, hundreds of Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy students, staff, families and supporters gathered in celebration to learn about the students' solar unit. 

Students and community members participated in many different learning stations throughout the day including:

• Solar Panels
• Solar Jewelry
• Space Bingo
• Solar-powered race cars
• Sun cookies
• Solar Balloons
• Changing Shadows
• Solar Make and Takes

Above: A representative from the Field Museum talks about alternate energy sources with students.

7th Annual Noble Classic A Success!

The 7th Annual Noble Classic Fun Run & Walk, held May 16 in Humboldt Park, was an overwhelming success. Nearly 500 students, staff, family members and community supporters participated as runners, walkers, spaghetti dinner guests and volunteers. Supporters and participants included over 325 students, nearly 50 staff members, many Noble alumni and over 100 community supporters. The weekend's events rasied nearly $7,000 for community service programs across the Network and for Camp VIDA.  Race Director David Biele led campus liaisons and the Noble Auxiliary Board to obtain sponsorships and donations, recruit runners and walkers and host the first-ever pre-race Spaghetti Dinner event (generously sponsored
by Pasta Palazzo). 

Listed below are highlights regarding each campus's participation.

• Noble Street Street College Prep- Greatest campus involvement - nearly 200 runners, walkers, guests, volunteers and families participated from NSCP.
• Rauner College Prep- Hosted the Classic's first pre-race spaghetti dinner, which was a wonderful success.
• Pritzker College Prep- Moussa Diallo, a Pritzker freshman, was the first Noble Network male student 5K finisher.
• Golder College Prep- Staffed the gear check station, watching over participants belongings while they ran/walked.
• Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy- Staff and students operated the on-course aid station and provided water to thirsty athletes.
• UIC College Prep- Venus Ruby, a UICCP freshman finished first in the female student division.
• Gary Comer College Prep- Health and Physical Education Teacher Orlandus Thomas and students pumped up the crowd before the race with a hip-hop aerobics warm-up session. 

Pritzker and Rauner Students Shine at All-City Jazz Competition

In May, Pritzker College Prep and Rauner College Prep competed in the All-City Jazz Competition.  Pritzker and Rauner competed against nearly 20 other city schools.  For Rauner, this was their first year competing; 14 students participated, which was twice the size of the band since last year.  Band Director Jon Jupp said, "Since the Rauner Jazz Ensemble is only two years old, we were really excited to be able to participate in this event so soon in the campus's existence." The ensemble was given a favorable rating of "2" ("1" being the highest possible rating).  Jupp and the Rauner Jazz Ensemble hope to continue to copete for years to come.  Pritzker College Prep made their second appearnce at the competition this year.  The Latin Jazz Orchestra played the songs "La Suerte de los Tontos" and "Salsa Caliente".  For the first time in the competition's 17-year history, Pritzker featured an all-girl jazz ensemble that played "Night in Tunisia" and "Autumn Leaves".  The all-girl jazz combo included Helvia Garcia (bass), Helia Garcia (flute), Vanessa Rodiriguez (trumpet) and Lizbeth Torres (drums).  Both performance groups received "excellent" ratings.

Noble Hosts First-ever Noble Network College Fair

On April 29, 2009, the Noble Network of Charter Schools hosted its first-ever College Fair for all juniors in the Noble Network.  Approximately 250 students eagerly attended the fair to continue the process of finding the best college and future for them. Rauner College Prep's college counselor, Eric Rapp, along with the help of the principal, teachers and faculty members brought nearly 50 colleges and programs to Rauner College Prep's multi-purpose room.  "I'm so glad I went; if I hadn't, I would've missed out on making a good impression on the Knox representative- he said he would stay all night to talk to me!" - Donavan Rosa (Junior, Pritzker College Prep). 

Rowe-Clark Students Take Back the Night

Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy students, faculty and community supporters attended the campus's first annual "Take Back the Night" event, which was spearheaded by Algebra Teacher Megan McCarter and her freshmen class advisory class.  The event brought awareness about domestic  violence to individuals within the school and community.  Over 90 people attended the festivities.  Students Miesha Ross and Amber Ryan sang "Never Would Have Made It".  Raquel Rico and Forever At last, Rowe-Clark's rock band, performed "I'm Just a Girl".  Emily Rabinovich, and advisee of Ms. McCarter, produced a video that encouraged the audience to speak out about this growing problem. 

Noble Auxiliary Board Spotlight: Emily Dean

The Noble Auxiliary Board is nearing the end of its fourth year of successfully working to support Noble Street Charter School programming.  This year Emily Dean led the group as Chair.  Emily is a proud member of the University of Chicago Alumni Relations and Development staff.  There she works with alumni to help support the University.  Emily has always had an interest in charter schools and in supporting her community through philanthropy, so becoming involved with Noble was a natural fit.  She believes that "access to good education is paramount to a child's life-long success."  During her first year as Chair, Emily oversaw a 40% increase in the number of active board members, implemented quarterly service projects with students and alumni and created a structured per-member giving policy.  Emily's favorite board activities are those that involve working directly with students.  Emily's work on behalf of Noble is extraordinary. 

A Noble Birthday

David Weinberg, Noble Network board member, hosted a special kind of birthday party this year.  He invited over 50 of his friends to join him at Noble Street College Prep for a night of celebration with students and staff of Noble.  Guests learned more about Noble by working with students to create skits about different aspects of the Noble Way and by enjoying a catered dinner with students and staff.  Guests were encouraged to bring novels for use at the campus in lieu of gifts. The party raised over $5,000 to purchase novels and over one hundred books were donated in-kind.

Noble Supporter to Run 100 Miles in Support of Noble Students!

Long-time friend of Noble, George Kirk, plans to run over 100 miles across Illinois this summer in support of Noble students.  His 4-day run will end at Rauner College Prep on August 23, 2009, the day before school begins for freshmen.  George wishes to extend an invitation to any Noble staff member to join him for one or more legs of the run.  Click here to sponsor George's run!