According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, it wasn't until two years after President Lincoln emancipated ensalved Africans in America that Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, TX on June 19, 1865, with the news of freedom. More than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state learned of their freedom that day. This day became known as #Juneteenth, a federal, and now Minnesota state holiday. Learn more at: https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth
All Rochester Public School District and Community Education programs and buildings will be closed Wednesday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. All programs, summer meal locations, and buildings will resume standard operating hours on Thursday, June 20.
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers, stepfathers, grandpas, foster dads, late fathers, future dads, bereaved fathers, hopeful dads, those with estranged relationships with their dads, and fatherly figures. Thank you for your contributions to our students, families, and communities.
According to VA.gov, Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.
Happy Shavuot to those who celebrate.
Thank you to all of our 2023-2024 retirees for your years of dedication to the students of Rochester Public Schools. You have made a difference in their lives! Wishing you a happy retirement.
Summer meals are back! Starting next Monday, June 10, free meals will be available for children ages 1-18. Meals for adults are also available at a small cost ($3 for breakfast and $5.25 for lunch). For locations, dates, and operating hours, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LKdY6RFqNy9Mf4fLmIzKrksSv6eaTLVf/view
Yesterday, Rochester Alternative Learning Center held graduation ceremonies for their Day and Night School Graduates of 2024, respectively.
Congratulations, class of 2024! 🎓
A huge thank you to Autumn Ridge Church for filling 45 summer food boxes for our ALC families. Appreciate the efforts to coordinate this massive undertaking and to deliver the boxes.
As we near the end of the school year, read a year in review memo from Superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel. He writes about:
➡️ The Academic Agenda
➡️ Supports for Learning
➡️ Family Engagement
➡️ Improving the Organization
➡️ School Start Times and Transportation
➡️ Referendums and Reductions
➡️ What’s Ahead
Read the full memo at: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1624433
The RPS School Board voted unanimously to put forward an investment plan to Ignite Student Learning through a referendum. Voters will decide on November 5. View this Q&A to learn more about the Referendum: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1621656
We love celebrating our students and staff! Our STRIVE mentorship students had a successful year with their volunteer Rotary Club mentors. Each received a scholarship and $150 cash! Schuyler was this year's recipient of the Exchange Club scholarship and received $1000! Congratulations, Schuyler! We also celebrated our 4th Quarter Students of the Month and our ALC staff, too. It's been a great year! (Special shoutout to Caribou for donating coffee mugs to giveaway to our staff, and to Firehouse Subs for donating free sub cards.)
On Memorial Day, we celebrate, honor, and remember those who gave their lives for our country. Thank you for your service!
The Night School staff put on an AMAZING end-of-year family celebration for all of their students. A HUGE thank you to all of the businesses and organizations that donated fun prizes - over 140 prizes were given away!
Graduation is an accomplishment for all of our seniors, but for our Indigenous students, their celebration began at our annual American Indian Education Powwow on May 4th, 2024. At the powwow, seniors received an eagle feather to recognize their education milestone and to reflect the honor the graduate brings to their family, community, and tribal nations.
Learn more about the eagle feather ceremony: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1614534
Reminder: There is no school on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day. Enjoy your three-day weekend!
All District buildings will be closed on Monday, May 27, and will reopen under normal operating hours on Tuesday, May 28!
Our students have been busy! Check them out in action here! Students visited Sekapp Orchard and Sheehan Sheeknoll Farms, fished at Chester Woods, rode horses with RideAbility, learned about beekeeping, planted berries and marigolds in our community garden, took bikes out on trails, and worked with preschoolers at Hoover and Mighty Oaks! Phew! Lots of new experiences and opportunities. We love our community partners!
Happy Vesak Day to those who celebrate.
A HUGE shoutout to Pinnacle Catering (Joe & Nick Powers) for generously donating lunch for our Day School/APEX/Success Lab graduating seniors and families yesterday. It was a wonderful gathering, and in ALC style, we held a circle (led by our counselor, Marshall Kading) to help close out the students' years at the ALC. (We're looking forward to the Night School family celebration later this week!)
At last night's School Board meeting, the Board voted to place a referendum on the November 5 ballot seeking $19.4 million annually to protect and enhance educational programs and student services. The referendum would support the district’s new investment plan to “Ignite Student Learning.” Guided by feedback from residents, this plan was developed to stabilize our operating budget, strengthen our curriculum, and support the programs that will ensure our students are ready for life after graduation. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1611885
