The beautiful winter weather is here, but so are some extra safety concerns. It might be time to adjust your student's walk to school routine. Here are eight tips for walking to school in the winter from RPS's Department of Transportation and Minnesota Safe Routes to School.
Wear shoes or boots that fit well and have good traction. Shoe grips or ice cleats can give you extra support.
Shuffle your feet and take short steps to reduce your chances of falling.
Wear multiple layers of light clothing to keep your body insulated and allow heat to circulate. Finish with a top layer of waterproofing to keep you dry.
Wear thick socks, gloves, and warm ear protection to keep your smaller body parts warm.
Spread your feet, slightly bend your knees, walk straight, and try not to lean forward. This will help stabilize your body.
Adjust your speed to the surface you’re walking on.
When possible, you should walk on the sidewalk rather than the road. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic for visibility and as far to the side of the road as possible.
Buddy up: Make the trip more fun! Walk with a friend or group for added safety and visibility.
Winter is officially here, which means some of us are thinking about the potential of snow days! Learn more about how we determine snow days and what to expect with school closings in the event of inclement weather: http://www.rochesterschools.org/inclement-weather
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Today, in an effort to meet every student where they are, our American Indian Education program is paving the way with enrichment, cultural learning, and student support in every RPS school. We partner with Native students and their families throughout their educational journey, offering monthly in-school programming and family engagement opportunities. These connections strengthen the school–family relationship and promote student success.
Join us for the Project SEARCH Student/Parent Information Night! Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities focused on competitive employment.
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: John Marshall High School
Register with the link: https://bit.ly/4pv0u0m
Watch the Project SEARCH information video: https://youtu.be/DhgZpCRjHHc
This is a reminder that there is no school on, Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28, for Thanksgiving Break. RPS will resume normal operations and hours on Monday, December 1. Enjoy the long weekend!
RALC families, due to an unexpected water main break resulting in a complete loss of water service to the building, the Rochester Alternative Learning Center will dismiss students early at 12:30 p.m. today, Friday, November 21. Please check your emails for more information.
If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view all full meeting agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.
Have you scheduled an early childhood screening appointment for your 3 year old? Early childhood screening is a play-based developmental screening for children three to five years old to provide information about your child's learning and development. Parents are welcome to observe, and this service is completely free to you! Book your Early Childhood Screening today: https://calendly.com/ecscreen/screening-appointment?month=2025-11
All children are required to be screened before starting kindergarten, but can be screened as early as three years old to provide you with insight into your child's learning development.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This legislation is the foundation of RPS's commitment to whole-student support spanning all forms of ability. RPS programs, such as the Rochester Academy for Independent Living (RAIL), exemplify this commitment in action. Help us celebrate the exceptional students and staff by checking out some of the photos from RAILs Fall Talent Show.
https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2535708
RPS teachers and staff put their heads together during Curriculum and Development (CAD) Day yesterday. At Folwell Elementary School, Principal Kristin Smith and her Folwell staff analyzed their MCA reading data for strengths and areas to grow, reviewed their Fastbridge progress monitoring data, and prepared for parent-teacher conferences. Way to go, Folwell, for living out our value of ensuring excellence through evidence!
Think about an RPS staff member who has truly made a difference for you or your student, someone who goes above and beyond every single day. At RPS, we call them the G.O.A.T. — the Greatest of All Time! And we would love to highlight them. We're looking for nominations for outstanding teachers and staff members. Tell us who your RPS G.O.A.T. is and what makes them so amazing using this form: https://bit.ly/RPS_GOAT.
Anne Marie Griffin, RPS Library Media Specialist, was awarded by the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) for her exceptional professionalism, generous mentorship, advocacy for libraries, and commitment to supporting her colleagues while maintaining excellence in teaching and database management, making her a deserving recipient of this honor. The award was presented at the 2025 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference.
Celebrate Anne with us! Congratulations on your accomplishment; we're proud to have you serve our students!
RPS families: This is a reminder that there is no school on, Tuesday, November 4, for our Curriculum and Development Day. RPS will resume normal operations and hours on Wednesday, November 5.
