We want to end this week by giving a shout out Laura, one of our fantastic educators recently nominated for Education Support Professional of the Year with Education Minnesota. She didn't win the nomination, but we are extremely proud of her work at RPS. Laura works with many of our elementary school teams as a BAMH ESP. She objectively observes students to gain insight into the nuances of their behavior and provides behavioral support for special education teams, training to ESPs, assists in the implementation of BAMH interventions, and collects data on student behavioral outcomes. Thanks for all you do, Laura!
Happy Bodhi Day to those who celebrate!
Do you have a degree in general education? Have you ever considered looking into special education but are concerned about the training to enter that field? Did you know you can be a special education teacher on a variance?
Join us at our Walk-In Hiring Event tomorrow, December 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, go to www.rochesterschools.org/apply
Check out this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oClYbOa2q1U
Wishing a Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!
How early do you think students wake up to study? Well, last week, Superintendent Kent Pekel went to Mayo High School to investigate and ran into the students of Mr. Johnson's AP Calculus class.
Check it out: https://youtu.be/W3bBRTUDv0M
For those who are in need of food, here are some immediate and long-term food support resources. Thanks to Channel One Regional Food Bank for helping to put together this resource.
You can view the Attendance Options Redesign Boundary Locator page on our website to see where the proposed boundaries would be: https://rochesterschools.org/aor-boundary-locator. Please read through the content on the page before using the boundary locator, as it explains how to best utilize the map.
Once you’ve viewed the proposed boundary, you can estimate which Transportation Zone you are in by following the instructions on our website. For reference:
Walk Zone
-> 1.25 miles from elementary school
-> 1.5 miles from middle school
-> 2 miles from high school
RPS Transportation Zone
-> Beyond the walk zone listed above to the edge of the school's boundary.
Self Transportation Zone
-> If you live anywhere outside of the school's boundary.
Disclaimer: Once boundaries are confirmed, we will accurately identify walk and transport zones within each attendance area and communicate that with families in the spring.
You can tune in to the Study Session live tomorrow at 5 p.m. via our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535.
Did you know that you can be a teacher if you have a 4-year degree? Or that you can be a teacher even if you don't have a degree in education?
Check out this video to learn more about teaching opportunities in Special Education for Rochester Public Schools here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyVDNYcZ9o
Tonight's Board Meeting is an informational meeting where Superintendent Pekel will present the proposal. The Board will not vote on this proposal until January 23, 2024. There will be several opportunities for analysis, information, and feedback between today and the vote in January. A survey will be available next week. If you have feedback in the meantime, please email redesign@rochesterschools.org. More information about the timeline can be found at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign. If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535. Note: If you would like to speak at a future regular session school board meeting during the Comments to the Board portion of the meeting, you must submit a written request by email to the Assistant School Board Clerk at the following email address: asb@rochesterschools.org before 5:00 p.m. on the day before the School Board meeting. The written request must state: (1) the individual’s name, (2) whether the individual has a child attending school in the School District, (3) whether the individual is employed by the School District, (4) whether the individual is a student in the School District, and (5) whether the individual is a local property taxpayer to Rochester Public Schools. The assistant school board clerk will follow up.
If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535. The regular session starts at 6 p.m.
Tonight's Board Meeting is an informational meeting where Superintendent Pekel will present the proposal. The Board will not vote on this proposal until January 23, 2024.
There will be several opportunities for analysis, information, and feedback between today and the vote in January. A survey will be available next week. If you have feedback in the meantime, please email redesign@rochesterschools.org. More information about the timeline can be found at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign.
If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535.
Note: If you would like to speak at a future regular session school board meeting during the Comments to the Board portion of the meeting, you must submit a written request by email to the Assistant School Board Clerk at the following email address: asb@rochesterschools.org before 5:00 p.m. on the day before the School Board meeting. The written request must state: (1) the individual’s name, (2) whether the individual has a child attending school in the School District, (3) whether the individual is employed by the School District, (4) whether the individual is a student in the School District, and (5) whether the individual is a local property taxpayer to Rochester Public Schools. The assistant school board clerk will follow up.
At tomorrow's School Board meeting, Superintendent Pekel will be speaking in detail on the Attendance Options Redesign proposal, a comprehensive strategy for changing school attendance options, attendance boundaries, and the transportation system in RPS. The proposal includes 10 points:
1. Redesign School Attendance Areas
2. Discontinue Districtwide Transportation for Districtwide Option Schools (DWOs)
3. Expand the School Age Child Care (SACC) Program
4. Expand the Newcomer Program for Multilingual Students
5. Close Schools to Adjust to Declining Enrollment
6. Reconfigure Churchill and Hoover Early Learning and Elementary Schools
7. Move Lincoln K-8 School to a New Location and Expand Enrollment
8. Adopt a Traditional Calendar at Longfellow Elementary and Expand the School to Grades K-8
9. Create a Middle School ALC
10. Maintain Support for Students with Disabilities
You can view more information about each point as well as opportunities for analysis and input on our website: https://www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. Wishing you a restful and Joyful Holiday!
Rochester Public Schools offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. Regular hours resume Monday, November 27, 2023.
Reminder: There is no school Wednesday, November 22, to accommodate a Professional Development day for our Secondary staff and allow for an End of Trimester work day for Elementary staff. Longfellow Elementary students also have no school due to a Flexible Conference Day.
Edison Administration Building and Northrup Education Center will still operate under normal business hours.
Our substitute educators are educational bridges for our students when teachers need to be out of the classroom for any reason. We're grateful for their willingness to step in and help with continuity in the classroom. Thank you to all of our substitute educators!
Our substitute educators are educational bridges for our students when teachers need to be out of the classroom for any reason. We're grateful for their willingness to step in and help with continuity in the classroom. Thank you to all of our substitute educators!
Way to go Eagles! You hit the next fundraiser goal of $4,000!! Your reward.... Mr. Willman wearing a wig and makeup. Check out Panda Bear Rock Star Willman!
Wishing a happy Diwali to those to celebrate!
Honoring all who served. Thank you, Veterans.
Way to go Elton Hills Eagles! You have raised over $3,000 for our Kindness Fund Raiser! Since you met that goal, Mr. Willman had the "privilege" of wearing a duck costume today! Next challenge.... hit the goal of $4,000 and he will wear a wig and makeup. Keep on being kind and watch for more updates.
