#RPSinfo New year, New bell times! At the start of the school year, we’ll transition to our new school bell time schedule.
• RPS Preschool - Morning session: 8:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
• RPS Preschool - Afternoon session 12:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
• Elementary schools: 7:55 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
• Middle schools: 8:35 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
• High schools: 8:50 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Phoenix Academy, RAIL, and Right Fit: 8:20 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.
Visit https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/school-bell-times or print our 2024-2025 School Directory and Bell Times document.
Did you see an RPS student overcome a challenge? Has an RPS staff person gone above and beyond to help you? Do you want to acknowledge an RPS colleague for their work? We're kicking off an initiative to #CelebrateRPS! Share your stories with us so we can share them with the RPS community. Share your positive stories at https://www.rochesterschools.org/celebraterps and we'll highlight them!
Mark your calendars and save the date for our inaugural State of the District on Monday, September 16. Superintendent Pekel will be joined by voices and performances from RPS students. Stay tuned—more information will come!
RPS faces a $19.4 million budget deficit that could force school closures, larger classes, and major cuts. This Nov., voters will consider a levy increase on the ballot to stabilize our budget and “Ignite Student Learning.” Visit RochesterSchools.org/referendum to learn more.
As the school year approaches and we see big yellow buses around town, here are some reminders for our motorists to help keep our students safe. Always be prepared to stop for school buses, especially during pick-up and drop-off hours.
Drivers must:
🛑 Stop for a school bus with its flashing red lights activated and the stop-arm extended.
🛑 Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus.
🛑 Remain stopped until the stop-arm is retrated and the red lights turned off.
There is a minimum $500 fine for stop-arm violations, and the buses RPS uses are armed with cameras.
Free meals will continue for our students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, but it's important to share that funding for the MN Free Meal Program was only allocated for two school years. You can help show the need for this program by completing an Application for Educational Benefits: https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/application-for-benefits
Have you visited www.RochesterSchools.org/referendum yet? Come learn about why our district is proposing a referendum to voters this November, how the "Ignite Student Learning" plan would support students, and how you can make your voice heard on Election Day.
Meet Me in the Middle is a program designed to help ensure a calm and supportive orientation experience for all students new to RPS middle schools.
• Students new to middle school will meet teachers, learn the lunch and locker routines, and navigate the building and transportation with fewer peers in attendance.
• Meet me in the Middle is August 26, 2024.
• The first day of school is August 27, 2024.
Beginning in Fall 2024, middle school students across Rochester Public Schools will use Xello, a new online platform, to:
- Match Careers with Personal Strengths and Interests
- Build Future-Readiness Skills
- Take Steps to Achieve Life and Career Goals
In our middle schools, this program will be led collaboratively by school counselors and 7th/8th grade Integrated Technology and Careers (ITC) teachers. Caregivers can expect to receive information about Xello Family Account Access in September.
To learn more about supporting your student’s Xello experience at home visit https://help.xello.world/en-us/Content/Get-Started/Xello-Families/GS_Families.htm
Join Superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel on Monday, August 12, from 7 to 7:45 p.m. in the Rochester Public Library Auditorium to hear more about Rochester Public Schools' 2024 referendum.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and parking is free after 4. p.m. The event will also be livestreamed and recorded by the Rochester Public Library on the library’s YouTube channel. That link will be available on the LWV Rochester website lwvrochester.org.
In-person audience questions will be taken. Questions can also be submitted up to 24 hours in advance by emailing them to LWVRochester@lwvmn.org, or by leaving a voice or text message at 507.722.0615.
Join us tomorrow, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW) for our Hiring Event!
Open positions include:
- Special Education Teachers
- Education Support Professionals
- Health Office Staff (Nurses)
- Substitute Teachers & Staff
- Secondary Math Teachers
- Secondary Science Teachers
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
and more!
Walk-ins are welcome! Join us at the Edison Board Room, 615 7th St SW, Rochester, MN.
Good afternoon parents, we want to clarify an important detail regarding Picture Day. If you receive and email from Lifetouch Portraits with a link to add Picture Day to your calendar, please do not add it, as the times listed are incorrect.
We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. Please note that Picture Day will take place during Meet the Teacher Schedule Pick-Up.
Thursday, August 22nd
3:30-6:30pm
Thank you for understanding!
Are you ready for the school year? Mark your calendars with important dates, breaks, and more. Print your school calendar and special calendars online: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OjDjRZSj_Ywx1dCr809H6_pH4tTaIH7W?usp=drive_link
Welcome to the Spartan Shack
Spirit Wear!
The Spartan Shack is the school store run by the Mayo High School Booster Club. All all profits from the Shack go toward supporting Mayo students and staff.
This fall, they have added new items which you can view through the Spartan Shack link
https://linktr.ee/SpartanShack
The Shack will be open a few times . Here are the hours:
Wednesday, August 14 - 10 am - 5 pm
Thursday, August 15 - 10 am - 5 pm
Monday, August 19 - 10 - 11 am
Tuesday, August 20 - 7:45 - 8:15 am
Willow Creek Middle School
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, August 14th, 2024- 12-5pm. Optional Meet and Greet & Tour for any new students attending Willow Creek. This will take place on the hour every hour.
Thursday, August 22nd, 2024- 3:30-6:30pm -Meet The Teacher Schedule Pick- Up. Lifetouch portraits will be taken on this day.
Monday, August 26th, 2024- Meet Me in the Middle 1st day of school for 6th grade only.
Tuesday, Augusut 27th, 2024- 1st Day of School , all middle school students report.
Bussing for students is only guaranteed for students within the boundary of their school. In Rochester, students in grades K-5 living more than 1.25 miles, grades 6-8 living more than 1.5 miles, and grades 9-12 living more than 2 miles are provided transportation; to view the school's boundaries, visit the Find Your School map (https://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=RPS25TZQPEOIT).
Bus route information will be delivered in the mail in mid-August; please verify that you have completed a registered rider form(https://rochesterpsd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WfdaSRQfEOGrGu) to ensure your student is on the correct route.
If you have questions about your transportation route, please email our transportation department or call 507.328.4260.
School Meals: Here's what you need to know - For the 2024-2025 school year, all in-person students can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day due to the MN Free School Meals Program. Each meal must contain a fruit or vegetable serving to qualify as free, and a student must take three of the five meal components (fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, and milk).
• Students still need meal pins.
• Families still need a PayPams account or cash to cover a la carte items.
• Families are still encouraged to complete an application for education benefits.
Willow Creek Middle School SAVE THE DATE Wednesday, August 14th, 2024- 12-5pm. Optional Meet and Greet & Tour for any new students attending Willow Creek. This will take place on the hour every hour. Thursday, August 22nd, 2024- 3:30-6:30pm -Meet The Teacher Schedule Pick- Up. Lifetouch portraits will be taken on this day. Monday, August 26th, 2024- Meet Me in the Middle 1st day of school for 6th grade only. Tuesday, Augusut 27th, 2024- 1st Day of School , all middle school students report.
The countdown is here; we are less than one month away from the start of school! Fill your student's backpack with supplies that will set your student up for success. Find your school's list: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1azTzTLLURXs6Pq7R2kurK83gXfQMB99E?usp=drive_link
Mark your calendars and save the date for our inaugural State of the District on Monday, September 16. Superintendent Pekel will be joined by voices and performances from RPS students. Stay tuned, more information to come!
