Last week, our Launching Emerging Adults Program (LEAP) held their graduation ceremony. Lots of happy tears were shed as we celebrated these hardworking students. We are very proud of all the work they've put in and the strength and resiliency they display each day!
Congratulations LEAP class of 2024!🎓
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!
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
Congratulations seniors on your last day of school! We are proud of you, and can't wait to see what you do next! #classof2024
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
Due to predicted severe weather, RPS is canceling all after-school practices and games.
Here's what this means:
- All sporting events and practices are canceled.
- All activity buses are canceled.
- All Middle School After School classes and clubs offered through Community Education are canceled. All other Community Education programs are on as scheduled unless you receive a direct message from Community Education to the contrary.
Please check with your schools about their plans for PTSA meetings, concerts, and other events. The School Board meeting will still occur at the Edison Building starting at 5:30 p.m. If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the board meeting at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535.
With the end of the year around the corner, you might be looking for a creative way to thank an RPS Staff member for the impact they've made on your family. Consider honoring a staff member by donating to the Rochester Public School Foundation: http://www.rpsf.org/HonorStaff.
Learn more about honoring a staff member: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1597578
Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2024 is the largest international pre-college STEM competition in the world and is currently taking place in Los Angeles, California, this week (May 11-17). Each year, Regeneron ISEF awards approximately $9 million in prizes. Four of our students, who are State Science Fair finalists this year, are currently in Los Angeles competing at Regeneron ISEF!
Ezra Weldegabriel from Mayo High School, Erik Hill from Century, and Ardashir Kocer from Century did a project where they made and applied a new type of high-capacity anode and an aluminum xerogel within a Lithium-Ion battery with the goal of making significant cost reductions and improved sustainability within Lithium-Ion batteries.
Dean Wang from Century strives to combat the drug epidemic that causes over 100,000 deaths in the US alone. He developed a framework that predicts interactions with certain drugs, such as methamphetamine, and their outcomes. He plans to implement a practical portal in all settings, streamlining prescriptions and improving drug safety to limit drug overdoses.
Good luck, you four! All of Rochester is rooting for you!
Last weekend, our community came together for our powwow celebration in honor of our RPS Graduates. Thank you to our American Indian Liaisons, Amelia and Tucker, who represent our American Indian Education program, and all of the AIPAC members who also helped make this celebration possible. Thank you to all the dancers, singers, drummers, volunteers, and community members who helped make this event a memorable celebration for our graduates!
If you did not pick up your yearbook from last year, please email Mr. Parker at daparker@rochesterschools.org
Our school nurses serve a vital role, working not only to address students' needs but also as advocates and liaisons to families and healthcare providers, improving health outcomes for both students and families. Thank you, school nurses!
Today, May 8 is National School Nurse Day. In Rochester Public Schools, our students and families are served by two different school nurse roles -- Health Office Nurses & Licensed School Nurses. A Health Office Nurse offers daily support within our schools to students who aren't feeling well, have an injury, need to take medications, need support with a medical device, or who need other types of medical support to remain as healthy as possible and participate fully in school. A Health Office Nurse must hold one of these certifications: Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse, or Registered Nurse.
A Licensed School Nurse (LSN) works closely with the processes of evaluation for special needs from the health perspective and care management of more complex health conditions. They advise Health Office Nurses when needed and work closely with families to establish plans to support students with complex medical needs. Licensed School nurses have earned licenses beyond those listed above in both Public Health Nursing and Licensed School Nursing.
The RPS Health Services team of approximately 50 nurses is led by Health Services Coordinator Chris Bjerke, RN; Licensed School Nurse Lead Emberlee Bremseth, MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN; and Health Office Nurse Lead Marni Shelley, RN.
Our school nurses serve a vital role, working not only to address students' needs but also as advocates and liaisons to families and healthcare providers, improving health outcomes for both students and families. Thank you, school nurses!
Today, we're kicking off one of our favorite weeks: Teacher Appreciation Week! We could not do what we do without them, and we're thankful for all that they do for our students day in and day out. Thank you, RPS teachers!
National PE and Sport Week is each year from May 1 to May 7!
This week celebrates the importance of including healthy habits such as staying active in your everyday life. Including physical education in our curriculum is vital to a well-rounded education. It helps students recognize and value the contributions of sound physical conditioning and experience activities that help maintain physical fitness.
Our principals are integral to the growth and education of our students and staff and show amazing leadership in their buildings. We are grateful for each of them. Celebrate your principal today for School Principals' Day!
Our principals are integral to the growth and education of our students and staff and show amazing leadership in their buildings. We are grateful for each of them. Celebrate your principal today for School Principals' Day!
Our principals are integral to the growth and education of our students and staff and show amazing leadership in their buildings. We are grateful for each of them. Celebrate your principal today for School Principals' Day!
During May, we're celebrating Speech-Language-Hearing Month to raise awareness of communication disorders in children through adults. Learn more about this by watching this video from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhp83mZ6bLI
They're often the first faces you see when you walk into a building, and they're always ready and willing to help. Our schools and buildings wouldn't be the way they are without them. Thank you to all of our administrative professionals!
April is National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month and a time to celebrate the linguistic diversity that bilingual and multilingual students and families bring to our school community. As a school district, we support our multilingual families with the help of multilingual and bilingual specialists who help break language barriers and strengthen communication between our staff, students, and school communities.
Meet our school's bilingual specialists in the photos on this post! Our bilingual families are invited to connect with our bilingual specialists for support with translations, interpretations, and connections with school and District administration to help enrich their students' education.
