ROWVA's annual Community Open House returns Thursday, March 12, starting at 5 p.m. The event — now in approximately its 10th year — spans the elementary, junior high, and high school buildings and is open to all community members, not just current parents.
ROWVA Elementary Principal Kerry Danner and teacher and Athletic Director Grant Gullstrand joined Galesburg's Morning News to preview the night.
Topics covered
- Why the open house is held later in the school year — and what makes it different from a traditional open house
- Elementary classroom showcases: Pre-K community helpers, kindergarten ocean projects, young entrepreneurs, biography projects, and more
- Junior high and high school highlights: the Wax Museum, K-12 art show, CTE showcases, driving simulators, abolitionist monuments, and Constitution trivia
- Award-winning ROWVA bands — first place in band, vocal, and strings at the solo and ensemble contest, and currently ranked first in Class D in the IHSA music state series by nearly 80 points
- Scholastic Bowl team displaying their regional championship plaque ahead of Saturday's sectional at Elmwood
- Community meal from 5 to 6:30 p.m. — free-will donation, featuring pork chops, hot dogs, baked beans, and a dessert bake sale by the girls track team
- ROWVA Booster Club and Public Schools Foundation presence, and community organization tables in the cafetorium
- The annual student-versus-staff volleyball game to close out the night
Schedule highlights
- 5 p.m. — Doors open; community meal begins; classroom showcases begin
- 5–5:30 p.m. — Junior High Wax Museum; Chopin Piano Contest
- 5:40 p.m. — Winter Guard performance
- 6 p.m. — Junior High Jazz performance
- 6:25 p.m. — High School Jazz performance
- 6:30 p.m. — Community meal ends
- 7 p.m. — Staff vs. Senior Volleyball Game
For more information, visit the ROWVA district website or the ROWVA Facebook page. Click here for the full schedule.

