Vertis Riley, left, said it is great to see her son Terrance Riley-Smith realize his potential and become a capable, confident young man by having a youth apprenticeship.
Terrance Riley-Smith plans to pursue a construction career and said the youth apprenticeship with Hunzinger Construction greatly improved his self-confidence and life direction.
As a youth apprentice, Terrance Riley-Smith assisted coworkers in many ways, including cleaning, demolition and helping build temporary walls. He liked seeing the results of his work and said physical labor helps relieve stress.
Eight photos of the Goodland Montessori School rain garden
Group
Students and staff explained information about the rain garden Wednesday at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd. Standing in the front row from left are sixth grader Riley Kastler, sixth grader Paige Reff, second grader Luca Carpino and second grader Laila Vinson. Standing in the back row are Principal Lisa Johnson, left, and teacher Marianne Giannis.
RYAN PATTERSON
Laila and Luca
Second grade students Laila Vinson, left, and Luca Carpino look at the rain garden Wednesday at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd. The rain garden is located in a low area of the school’s backyard where rainwater gathers. The garden filters the water, resulting in fewer nutrients washing into the Root River Watershed.
RYAN PATTERSON
Luca Carpino
Second grade student Luca Carpino looks at plants in the rain garden Wednesday at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd. Carpino said he once counted 57 insects in the garden over the course of two hours.
RYAN PATTERSON
Marianne Giannis
Teacher Marianne Giannis looks at a plant in the rain garden Wednesday at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd. The garden's multitude of plants attract birds, insects and small animals like rabbits and squirrels, and the garden can provide real-life examples for science classes
RYAN PATTERSON
Riley and Paige
Sixth grade students Paige Reff, right, and Riley Kastler spent time in the rain garden Wednesday at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd. They saw weeds growing and pulled them out. Principal Linda Johnson says students have been "very respectful" of the garden.
RYAN PATTERSON
Flowers
Flowers provide a vibrant color Wednesday in the rain garden at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd. The multitude of plants in the garden attract birds, insects and small animals.
RYAN PATTERSON
Garden bridge
A small white bridge is in the middle of the rain garden for students to walk on at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd.
RYAN PATTERSON
Rain garden
The rain garden at Goodland Montessori School, 4800 Graceland Blvd., was installed in May 2023.
High school students explore jobs at youth apprentice fair
MOUNT PLEASANT — High schoolers learned about potential jobs Tuesday during a youth apprenticeship hiring event at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St.
About 350 students, mainly from Racine Unified School District, asked questions and received information about work opportunities from about 45 employers in a variety of industries.
Kamiah Brown, REAL School junior, was one of about 350 students at a youth apprenticeship hiring fair Tuesday. Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce facilitates the youth apprenticeship program in collaboration with Racine Unified.
High schoolers explore jobs at youth apprentice fair
Sims, Jackson
Park High School sophomores Kyasia Sims, left, and Jayden Jackson were two of the several hundred high schoolers at a youth apprenticeship hiring event Tuesday.
RYAN PATTERSON
Isabella Strasser
Isabella Strasser, DeltaHawk Engines test technician, talks to a student Tuesday about a youth apprenticeship. Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce facilitates the youth apprenticeship program in collaboration with Racine Unified.
RYAN PATTERSON
Schmidt, Brooks
Park High School juniors Emilee Schmidt, left, and Jevaeah Brooks talk to Lisa Wilckens with Elite Home Health Care on Tuesday at a youth apprentice hiring event at Roma Lodge.
RYAN PATTERSON
Kamiah Brown
Kamiah Brown, REAL School junior, was one of about 350 students at a youth apprenticeship hiring fair Tuesday. Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce facilitates the youth apprenticeship program in collaboration with Racine Unified.
RYAN PATTERSON
Mike, Ellis
Ellis Beavers IV, Park High School junior, left, talks to Mike Ervin, organizing director of Operating Engineers Local 139, on Tuesday at a youth apprenticeship hiring event at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St.
RYAN PATTERSON
RAMAC youth apprenticeship fair 2026
Kyasia Sims and Jayden Jackson
Park High School sophomores Kyasia Sims, left, and Jayden Jackson were two of the several hundred high schoolers at a youth apprenticeship hiring event Tuesday.
RYAN PATTERSON
Candace Jones-Carter
Candace Jones-Carter, O&H Danish Bakery customer experience supervisor, was one of dozens of employees at a youth apprenticeship hiring event Tuesday at Roma Lodge.
RYAN PATTERSON
Mike Ervin
Mike Ervin, organizing director of Operating Engineers Local 139, talks to a student Tuesday at a youth apprenticeship hiring event at Roma Lodge.
RYAN PATTERSON
YA hiring event
High schoolers learned about potential jobs Tuesday during a youth apprenticeship hiring event at Roma Lodge.
RYAN PATTERSON
Curt, Carey
Curt Shircel, REAL School principal, right, talks with Park High School teacher Carey Palacios on Tuesday at a youth apprenticeship at Roma Lodge.
RYAN PATTERSON
Beavers IV, Ervin
Ellis Beavers IV, Park High School junior, left, talks to Mike Ervin, organizing director of Operating Engineers Local 139, on Tuesday during a youth apprenticeship hiring event at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St.
Jimmy Boatner said the best part of his youth apprenticeship is interacting with students like Nyla Gates, left, and Rhonda Hagar, who call him “Mr. Jimmy.”
Six photos of All Pro Dads event at Bull Early Education Center
Cataleya and Caleb
Caleb James gives Cataleya James a boost during an All Pro Dads event Thursday at the Bull Early Education Center, 815 DeKoven Ave. The goal of All Pro Dads is to encourage fathers and father figures to spend time with children at school and understand the vital role they play in academics.
RYAN PATTERSON
Breakfast
Elius Antoine, left, has breakfast with Sheldon Antoine during an All Pro Dads event Thursday at the Bull Early Education Center. There are pilot All Pro Dads chapters this school year at Jerstad-Agerholm K-8 School and the Bull Center.
RYAN PATTERSON
Hicks, Woods
De Andrae Woods, right, helped his granddaughter De’Moni Hicks eat breakfast, told Hicks why he was proud of her and played games with Hicks before walking her to class Thursday at the Bull Early Education Center.
RYAN PATTERSON
All Pro Dads BEE Center
Rodriguezes
Caroline Rodriguez, left, and Jason Rodriguez play cornhole Thursday at the Bull Early Education Center.
RYAN PATTERSON
Entrance
Sheldon Antoine, right, and Elius Antoine were two of the attendees at an All Pro Dads event Thursday at the Bull Early Education Center.
RYAN PATTERSON
All Pro Dads
About 70 people attended an All Pro Dads event Thursday at the Bull Early Education Center.
Tyler Pias, from left, Jake Anderson and Ethan Fredrick are the first three Union Grove High School students to graduate early after completing the youth apprenticeship program.
Nine photos of Union Grove HS "Bronco Give Back" day
Group
Union Grove High School students and staff participated in community service projects for about two-and-a-half hours on a sunny Thursday afternoon with temperatures at about 70 degrees.
RYAN PATTERSON
Broncos Give Back Day
Union Grove High School students and staff participated in community service projects for about two-and-a-half hours on a sunny Thursday afternoon with temperatures at about 70 degrees.
RYAN PATTERSON
Anastasovski, Van De Water
Sofia Anastasovski, left, and Jocelyn Van De Water, were two of several students decorating gas station windows Thursday during Union Grove High School’s fourth annual “Broncos Give Back” event.
RYAN PATTERSON
Working
Chase Byrne, from right, Ben Bower and Zac Brown prepare to build little libraries Thursday during Union Grove High School’s fourth annual “Broncos Give Back” event.
RYAN PATTERSON
UGHS
Broncos Give Back
Union Grove High School Principal Tom Blair talks with students before the school's fourth annual “Broncos Give Back” event Thursday.
RYAN PATTERSON
UGHS window paint
Union Grove High School students and staff participated in community service projects for about two-and-a-half hours on a sunny Thursday afternoon with temperatures at about 70 degrees.
RYAN PATTERSON
Building
Chase Byrne, right, and Ben Bower prepare to build little libraries Thursday during Union Grove High School’s fourth annual “Broncos Give Back” event.
RYAN PATTERSON
Broncos Give Back
Union Grove High School staff members walk during lunch hour before the school's fourth annual “Broncos Give Back” event Thursday.
RYAN PATTERSON
Organizers
“Broncos Give Back” event organizers included teacher Emily Paskiewicz, from left, student Abby Johnson, student Evan Henderson, student Ryan Curtin and teacher Beth Urban. Students said event planning prepared them for future activities like job interviews and assisted with skills like time management.
The Racine Unified School District Board during its business meeting Monday approved the purchase of a “zSpace” educational resource at a maximum cost of $199,969 over two years.
Racine Unified earned a two-star rating on the state’s latest report card, falling just short of meeting expectations. Here’s how each school performed.
The school district reached tentative agreements Wednesday regarding 2026-27 base wages with the union representing RUSD instructors and the union representing RUSD building service employees.
Teachers will receive about $4.29 million more in base wages in 2026-27, and building service employees will receive $462,983 more in base pay, according to the district.
