As we conclude Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we want to highlight one of the resources we offer to our high school students year-long. Our Student Resiliency Specialists serve as the first point of contact for students in the high school setting. They provide individual and group support to students and facilitate connections with the other providers. Depending on the situation or school, resiliency specialists also work with families and communities. At several schools, they also give oversight to peer support programs. If you want to learn more about your high school’s Student Resiliency Specialist(s), please contact your building principal for further information.
about 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Amanda Burget photo and quote
RPS is seeking approval of a capital projects technology levy to generate $10,150,000 annually for a period of 10 years. When compared to other school districts, Rochester is well behind when it comes to local tax support. Currently, $7 million dollars from our general fund is allocated for technology. This levy would allow us to reallocate those funds to keep class sizes at their current levels. The levy would also provide an additional $3 million per year to transform how we use technology and support our strategic plan. This investment would bring transformative technology that accelerates learning, supports teaching, and enhances school safety for the next decade. Find out more about the referendum at https://rochesterschools.org/referendum. Make sure to vote on or before November 7. Early voting is happening now! Find your polling place here: https://pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/
about 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Referendum graphic that states "RPS is committed to securing our district’s financial future. Over the past two years, we’ve cut over $20 million dollars in expenses while making crucial operational decisions."
Qualifying breakfast and lunch meals for students are now free! Thanks to the Minnesota Free Meals Program, students attending RPS in person can receive one qualifying breakfast and one qualifying lunch at no cost, each school day. To learn more about this program, visit our page at www.rochesterschools.org/mnfreemeals
about 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Rochester public schools free meals information. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. At lunch, a student must choose at least 3 components to be considered a reimbursable meal. At least 1/2 cup serving of fruit or vegetable must be included as 1 of those items. The 5 components are protein, fruit, vegetable, grain, and milk. Image shows tray with grain, fruit, milk, protein, and vegetable. Logo for Rochester public schools.
Happy Yom Kippur to those who celebrate!
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Image of person blowing into an instrument. Text reads Yom Kippur, September 24 - 25. Rochester Public Schools Logo.
On Wednesday, RPS Indigenous families gathered at Dakota Middle School to plant medicinal botanicals. These plants are beneficial to the Indigenous communities that inhabit Minnesota. The Medicine Garden at Dakota is being built with the support of The Native American Employee Resource group from the Mayo Clinic and Rochester's Master Gardeners. We can't wait to continue to watch this garden grow and develop over the years!
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Family getting ready to place plant into the ground
Families gathered around different planting sites in the Dakota Medicine Garden.
Family digging a holes to place new plants.
What better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as our students learn about the History of Mexico and the independence days of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize. Gloria Torres-Herbeck, John Marshall Spanish teacher, brings culture to the forefront of her Spanish lessons, especially during Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month. Gloria is a teacher at Rochester John Marshall High School and, in her spare time, serves on ACHLA, The Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics, and Latin Americans. ACHLA is a long-standing nonprofit that has served Rochester Since 2004. She is passionate about educating the community and her students in her Spanish classes. As we listen to her lesson on the History of Mexico, she tracks back to the Aztec homeland of Aztlan and then forward through history, utilizing the murals of Diego Riveria to help students identify key turning points in the History of Mexico. The artwork sparks conversations among students on their own culture, heritage, and understanding of history as they use their native language to connect with one another. With Hispanic Heritage Month kicking off around the start of the school year, these foundational lessons bring together students' curriculum and cultural heritage in her Native Spanish speakers course.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Gloria Torres-herbeck in front of a trifold poster in her classroom.
Flags of Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Chile
From Conquest to 1930 by Diego Rivera
Early voting in Minnesota begins today! For more information on how to vote early in-person or by mail, visit https://referendum.rochesterschools.org/voting-information.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Early voting starts today September 22
School Board clerk, Karen MacLaughlin, gives a short summary of some of the highlights from the September 19th school board meeting. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/mrcNhqu4S_o.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Meet Intisar Khan, Community School Site Facilitator at Franklin Elementary School! Instisar completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Florida International University, received an ESOL endorsement, and recently completed her Master’s degree in School Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. She taught for eight years across three states, where she worked with diverse communities to enhance learning opportunities for all children. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and exploring the outdoors. Though she’s just starting her first year, we’re very excited to have her join the RPS Community Schools team!
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - Meet Intistar Khan, Why were you interested in becoming a community school facilitator? The community school model is of interest to me due to its focus on educating the whole child. In addition to strong academics, community schools focus on the physical, emotional, and social well-being of students, recognizing that these factors can affect a student’s ability to learn and succeed. Providing these holistic supports and resources students need in specific communities helps address disparities in resources and opportunities.
Meet Eric McRae, Community School Site Facilitator at John Adams Middle School! This year is his 12th year at John Adams and second year as Community Schools Site Facilitator. Eric enjoys being active year-round and spending time in the sunshine on a lake in the summers. Eric fully believes in the mission of building relationships and investing in the students and families of the JA community.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - What perception would you like to overcome as a community school? Community Schools are accessible by everyone and for everyone. If you've ever stepped into a puddle and walked around with wet feet, you know how nice it is to have a pair of warm dry socks. It doesn't matter if you only have one pair of socks or 100, the comfort you feel from a new pair is like a warm embrace that can change your entire day. Meet Eric McRae,
Meet Julie McLaren, Community School Site Facilitator at Gage Elementary School! Julie is Minnesota-born and raised and is a mom of two children. She loves learning with and from others, and in her spare time, her hobbies are hiking, crafting, and reading. If you ask anyone about Julie, they’ll say she’s an all-star, ambitious staff member, and an amazing person.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - Meet Julie McLaren, What does the community school model bring to your school? We're the Gage family. We love each other, hold each other accountable, and help each other grow. We're able to offer deeper learning experiences and broader perspectives with the partnerships we've developed. We help each other overcome barriers because we know no one can do it all alone. There's an energy at Gage that comes from this culture of belonging that you can feel when you're with us.
Meet Nick Schrandt, Community School Site Facilitator at Phoenix Academy! Nick was born and raised in Rochester. He takes pride in his two children who are both students at Century High School (Go Panthers!). In his free time, Nick enjoys golfing, exercising, and hanging out/traveling with family. This year marks his 17th year as an educator, after 10 years in Physical education and DAPE in Stewartville and the last six years as an EBD teacher.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - What is your favorite memory as a community school facilitator? During my short time as a Community School Site Facilitator, Mr. Scripture asked if I could find some Kwik Trip gas cards for a homeless family in need. Within three hours we had $105 in gift cards to gift this family. The mom was so grateful for the generosity of our community. It's amazing to see how people can come together and support those in need. Meet Nick Schrandt,
Meet Erin Vasquez, Community School Site Facilitator at John Marshall High School! Erin is a Rochester native, so she always feels very connected to the community in many ways. She loves being outside, traveling with her extended family, and running around to activities with her own kids (including attending LOTS of JM events).
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - Meet Erin Vasquez, What does the community school model bring to your school? Our Rocket Community Room is the hub of our Community School at JM, but the supports extend well beyond the walls of that room. So many kids and families are just amazed when they arrive at JM that their child can access all of these supports and resources at their school, and you can tell what a sense of relief it provides to those families. I think our students just feel really cared for.
Meet Lisa Becker, Community School Site Facilitator at Riverside Elementary School! Outside of school Lisa is a practicing artist and enjoys being outdoors all year long with her husband and two teenagers. She loves the abundance of fresh produce that we get in the Midwest during the summer and fall, and has been enjoying them so far this year!
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - Meet Lisa Becker, Why were you interested in becoming a community school facilitator? Before joining Riverside I was a secondary art teacher for 21 years. My work as a teacher has definitely informed my work with Community Schools, especially when it comes to creating opportunities for our students. I've enjoyed the challenge of bringing the community into our school to engage, provide real-world experiences, and to just simply give joy and fun learning opportunities to our students.
Meet Sweta Patel! Before becoming a Community School Site Facilitator, she served as an English teacher at the Rochester ALC for 15 years. She’s passionate about finding ways to re-engage youth in school. When she’s not teaching, she’s running from dance practice to soccer practice and watching her kids grow in what they love doing. Sweta is always on the lookout for opportunities that can spark that same kind of joy for something in our ALC students too.
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week - Meet Sweta Patel, What is your favorite memory as a community school facilitator? In my three weeks in this role, I loved taking students out to our community garden to pick vegetables. After, staff and students took home nearly 100 pounds of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. One student returned the next day and shared photos of her mom and siblings cooking up the veggies for dinner that night. (Our science class grew those tomato plants from seeds under grow lights last spring. It was truly a "from seed-to-table" communal moment.)
RPS has seven embedded community schools at Gage, Franklin, and Riverside Elementary Schools, Phoenix Academy, John Adams Middle School, John Marshall High School, and Rochester Alternative Learning Center. Every Community School Site Facilitator deserves a high-five and a gold star for everything they do for their school communities!
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
RPS Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week
September 17-23, 2023 is Community School Site Facilitator Appreciation Week! We appreciate our Community School facilitators who diligently serve our students and families. So what is a community school?
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
What is a Community School? A community school is both a place and a set of collective partnerships between Rochester Public Schools, United Way of Olmsted County, an individual school, and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health, social services, youth and community development, and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families, and healthier communities. A full-service community school has components engaging instructions, expanded learning opportunities; college, career, and citizenship; health and social support; community engagement; early childhood development; family engagement; and youth development.
Drive for First Student and RPS! We are reaching out to parents and the community to help us get our students to and from school by being bus drivers. No experience is necessary to become a First Student bus driver. Benefits include: $3000 sign-on bonus* $24/hr pay* Flexible Schedule Work-life balance No nights or weekends Great work for parents Child ride-along program* To apply, text "BUS" to 52345, scan the QR code in the image above, or visit www.WorkAtFirst.com. *Conditions apply
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
bus image with QR code
Today is National IT Professional's day. We would like to thank all of our amazing IT professionals at RPS for everything they do! What a year it's been and we are incredibly proud of all they've done!
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Rochester Public Schools Logo. Image of hands typing on keyboard. Text reads National IT Professionals Day September 19, 2023.
What qualifies for a free meal under the Minnesota Free Meals Program? In order for a student to receive a free meal, their meal must meet certain criteria. The meal must contain three components. A protein, grain, milk, fruit, and vegetable are all considered components. One of these three components must be a fruit or vegetable. Learn more about free meals for students at www.rochesterschools.org/mnfreemeals
over 1 year ago, Rochester Public Schools
Rochester Public Schools Free Meals Information, this institution is an equal opportunity provider. At lunch, a student must choose at least 3 components to be considered a reimbursable meal. At least 1/2 cup serving of fruit or vegetable must be included as one of those items. The five components are protein, fruit, vegetable, grain, and milk. Image shows tray with protein, grain, fruit, milk, and vegetable. Rochester public schools logo.