Mrs. Holmes' students helped harvest the school garden! They were excited about their finds and brought fresh veggies home to their families.
Why is RPS facing a budget deficit?
➡️ State funding hasn’t kept up with inflation or the rising cost of staff salaries, utilities, and school equipment.
➡️ Of the 15 MN districts with 10,000+ students, RPS ranks last in voter-approved local funding.
Visit RochesterSchools.org/referendum to learn more.
Join us tonight to hear what the three psychological needs are that need to be met to enable a young person to learn, develop, and achieve their full potential. In his first State of the School District Address, RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel will answer that question and provide an engaging overview of how Rochester Public Schools is working to meet those three essential psychological needs for more than 17,000 young people in our community. The event will also feature performances and observations from RPS students on the state of our schools, our school system, and our city. Thanks to a generous donation, the evening will conclude with frozen treats from La Michoacana Purepecha.
Whether you are a parent or caregiver who seeks to help your children succeed or a member of the Rochester community who wants to help all children succeed or both, please join us for what promises to be an important and enjoyable evening. See you at 7 p.m. at the John Marshall High School auditorium (1510 14th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901).
Meet Connie ! She's our Youth/Family Housing Specialist here to help ALC students and families. If you'd like to meet with her, you can complete this form and she'll reach out to you. https://tinyurl.com/housing-alc
Make your voice heard about the referendum to support RPS. Early voting starts on Friday, Sept. 20! You can learn more about the "Ignite Student Learning" plan to provide financial stability that will support our students by visiting RochesterSchools.org/referendum.
A student group -- the E-Cigarette Prevention Initiative Youth Action Council (EPIYAC) -- is dedicated to a Vape-Free Generation. They're hosting a FREE teen event this Saturday, Sept 14, 4-7:30pm at Skyline Raceway. Please help share far and wide!
Mrs. Rojas' class and our ESP/Master Gardner Natalie have been busy! They picked apples and carrots from our school garden, learned different methods for preserving apples, and followed a recipe to cook up delicious apple-carrot muffins! #schoolgarden #experientiallearning
If approved by voters this Nov., funding from the school referendum will eliminate our budget deficit and provide the financial stability we need to continue inspiring, challenging, and empowering all students to reach their full potential. Find out more: RochesterSchools.org/referendum
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay At Rochester Public Schools, we recognize the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being. Let's take this opportunity to break the stigma around mental health and support each other. Whether it's checking in on a friend, practicing self-care, or seeking professional help, every action counts. Let's work together to create a community that values mental health and provides support to those who need it.
Find Resources Below:
➡️ 988 Suicide & Lifeline Call or Text 988 (24/7)
➡️ Crisis Response for Southeast Minnesota (CREST) Call 844.274.7472
➡️ National Sexual Assault Line: 1.866.656.4673 (24/7)
➡️ RPS Staff and Student Mental Health Sessions: https://ffcstaffconsults.as.me/schedule/d07eafa8
Why is RPS presenting voters with a referendum to increase the school operating levy this Nov.? We are facing a $19.4 M budget deficit that, if not addressed, will lead to:
❌School closures
❌Cuts to teachers and staff
❌Increased class sizes
Learn more: RochesterSchools.org/referendum
To avoid school closures and $19.4 million in cuts, we are asking voters to consider an operating levy increase on the ballot this Nov. that would allow us to build on our progress in helping every student reach their full potential. Learn more: RochesterSchools.org/referendum
Thank you @Jessica On The Radio and @Townsquare Media Rochester for spotlighting the ALC and our Resource Room & Food Pantry! We appreciate the radio time and write-up to help our community learn about our school and needs. https://y105fm.com/where-donate-rochester-alc-community-room/
ALC Families - One of our priorities is to help our students make reading and math growth. All students will be taking the FastBridge Reading/Math tests in the coming weeks:
* Day School (9/4 Reading, 9/11 Math)
* Night School (9/16-9/19)
* Success Lab (first week of school)
* APEX Recovery School (week of 9/2)
Please encourage your student to take their time so their score best represents their skills, to get rest the night before, and to eat breakfast the day of. We'll be asking students to take the assessment again in Winter and Spring so we can track student growth. Thank you for your support!
What are the three psychological needs that need to be met to enable a young person to learn, develop, and achieve their full potential? In his first State of the School District Address, RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel will answer that question and provide an engaging overview of how Rochester Public Schools is working to meet those three essential psychological needs for more than 17,000 young people in our community. The event will also feature performances and observations from RPS students on the state of our schools, our school system, and our city. Thanks to a generous donation, the evening will conclude with frozen treats from La Michoacana Purepecha. Whether you are a parent or caregiver who seeks to help your children succeed or a member of the Rochester community who wants to help all children succeed or both, please join us for what promises to be an important and enjoyable evening.
The ALC school garden is THRIVING under our ESP Natalie Kocer's green thumb! With the help of our science teachers last school year, students grew a variety of flower and veggie plants under growing lights. When the ground was ready, students helped to shovel and transplant them in the school garden. This year, 350 pounds of food have been harvested! This includes potatoes, beets, radishes, tomatoes, 5 types of peppers, red onions, basil, and squash. The students even elected to plant raspberries that will be ready to pick later this year!
September's meal menus are ready! Download your copy to plan for next month:
https://www.rochesterschools.org/documents/school-meals-and-menus/493023
There will be no school on Monday, September 2 in observance of Labor Day. Additionally, all RPS offices will be closed. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 3.
RPS families: This is a reminder that except for Longfellow Elementary, there is no school tomorrow, Friday, August 30. RPS is also closed on Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend, and we will see you next Tuesday!
Results on the 2024 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) indicate that RPS has reversed a multi-year decline in the percentage of students who score at the proficient level or above in math, science, and reading. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1736885
Today is the first day of school for elementary students, and we expect some delays in bus transportation, especially as our bus drivers learn the new route structure with the changeover from transporting elementary students home and turning around to pick up our secondary students.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this and continuously work to improve our processes.
Families using Transportation can download the First View app to see where their student's buses are. The district code for the app is M6QE.
