Today, students at Lincoln Elementary School were in for a surprise! This afternoon, we honored a group of student winners who helped us qualify for a $10,000 grant to improve our physical education program and help our students stay active! Congratulations to our award winners and Lincoln Elementary School.
Thank you, American Heart Association and Minnesota Vikings, for investing in our students' future!
Thank you, American Heart Association and Minnesota Vikings, for investing in our students' future!
Rochester Public Schools utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to manage safety and emergency situations within our school buildings. The SRP provides a consistent, clear language for students, staff, and first responders to use during an incident. Learn more about what the SRP is and how we communicate with families at www.rochesterschools.org/standard-response-protocol
Bamber Valley community - The school year is in full swing, and so is your chance to grab some RPS gear! Our Apparel Shop is open through Friday, September 18, 2026. You can order a tee for everyday comfort or a cozy crewneck for the cooler days ahead. Shop here: https://rps26bambervalley.itemorder.com/shop/home/. Orders are open through Friday, September 18, and will be available for pick up at your school at the end of October.
September is Minnesota School Board Recognition Month, and Rochester Public Schools is proud to join the Minnesota School Boards Association in recognizing the dedicated public servants who help ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.
School board members volunteer countless hours to lead one of our community's most important responsibilities: equipping every student with the knowledge, independence, and resilience to pursue a fulfilling path. Their leadership helps create learning environments where every student thrives in school and in life. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/3120072
School board members volunteer countless hours to lead one of our community's most important responsibilities: equipping every student with the knowledge, independence, and resilience to pursue a fulfilling path. Their leadership helps create learning environments where every student thrives in school and in life. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/3120072
Local grown apples delivered straight to home grown students! Rochester Mayor Kim Norton and Director of the Southeast Minnesota Food Rescue and Redistribution Program, Lisa Schutz, visited Riverside Otters to announce the new partnership that brings fresh food to our classrooms. The Apple a Day program connects local growers with RPS classrooms, allowing students to learn about local farms and enjoy Minnesota-grown apples!
Reminder: there is no school on Friday, September 4, for all schools except Longfellow Elementary, which will have a regular school day. Additionally, there will be no school, and RPS offices and buildings will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
Rochester Public Schools is expanding access to advanced coursework so more of our students get the chance to take on college-level work while still in high school. We've been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Social Mobility Leadership Network, a partnership led by the Aspen Institute and College Board working to move 1 million students nationwide into AP, IB, and dual enrollment courses by 2029. We're proud to be one of more than 20 districts across the country taking part and excited about what this means for our students' futures. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/3107179
RPS Community - help shape the future of Rochester Public Schools!
Over the past year, RPS has gathered input from students, families, staff, and community members to shape the priorities of our 2030 Strategic Plan — and a final draft will head to the School Board in October.
The plan is built around four priority areas:
✅ Strong Academics
✅ Student Navigation
✅ Supportive Communities
✅ Systems for Improvement
Each includes specific projects that will guide our work over the next four years — and we want to hear from you before it's finalized.
Share what you like, what concerns you, ideas you have, or questions you want answered. You don't have to weigh in on every area — just where you have something to add. Complete the form at this link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8979622/RPS-2030-Feedback-Form
The feedback form closes end of day September 10.
Over the past year, RPS has gathered input from students, families, staff, and community members to shape the priorities of our 2030 Strategic Plan — and a final draft will head to the School Board in October.
The plan is built around four priority areas:
✅ Strong Academics
✅ Student Navigation
✅ Supportive Communities
✅ Systems for Improvement
Each includes specific projects that will guide our work over the next four years — and we want to hear from you before it's finalized.
Share what you like, what concerns you, ideas you have, or questions you want answered. You don't have to weigh in on every area — just where you have something to add. Complete the form at this link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8979622/RPS-2030-Feedback-Form
The feedback form closes end of day September 10.
Last Friday, Hoover staff and students snuck into the gym to pull off a giant surprise celebration for Mr. Denny, who was named the Minnesota Educational Facilities Management Professionals Association Minnesota Facility Worker of the Year! From his tireless work ethic and dedication to keeping our school safe to the constant joy and encouragement he brings to our students and staff every day, Mr. Denny represents the very best of our community. Thank you to everyone who helped pull off the surprise, and a huge congratulations to Mr. Denny on this incredible, well-deserved honor!
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Back to School Update, World Languages Update, Report on Superintendent Evaluation - Leadership Component.
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.
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.
It's day 3 of our back to school adventures and the whole town is in motion as we begin the new school year. Today was the beginning of new routines, friends made and reunited, transitions to new classrooms or even schools, and the start of an amazing school year. Welcome back, we're so glad you're here!
And they’re off! Excitement was at an all-time high this morning as our 6th–12th graders officially kicked off the new school year. We can't wait to see all that this year has in store for our secondary crew! Next up - Elementary students!
We're thrilled to welcome our crew back for the 2026-2027 school year! Today, we welcomed back our 6th- and 9th-grade students, as well as our specialized programs at Phoenix, Middle School ALC, and RAIL. Across the district, our dedicated elementary staff greeted families at Step Into Learning to ensure every student is supported to thrive this school year.
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Plans to Practice.
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.
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.
It's almost here! Don't forget to double-check your calendar for the First Days of School!
Monday, August 24
• Step Into Learning (Elementary)
• Meet Me in Secondary (6 & 9 Grade only)
• First Day of School for RAIL and Phoenix Academy
Tuesday, August 25
• Step Into Learning (Elementary)
• First Day of School for all Secondary
Wednesday, August 26
• First day of school for Elementary
Monday, August 31
• First day of school for Early Childhood
Monday, August 24
• Step Into Learning (Elementary)
• Meet Me in Secondary (6 & 9 Grade only)
• First Day of School for RAIL and Phoenix Academy
Tuesday, August 25
• Step Into Learning (Elementary)
• First Day of School for all Secondary
Wednesday, August 26
• First day of school for Elementary
Monday, August 31
• First day of school for Early Childhood
The RPS School Board will meet tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW). On the agenda for tomorrow’s regular meeting is: Launching the Office of Learning Environments, School Board Committee Assignments, 2026-27 ABCD Approval, and 2027 School Board Meeting Dates.
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.
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.
Don't let the Superintendent drive (or yell, or throw things on) the bus! We're so excited to see you for the upcoming school year, and bus schedules are coming soon! But you need to get to school safely before you can start learning. Learn all the rules of the school bus with Dr. Kent Pekel and some of his friends from Longfellow Elementary in the RPS Bus Safety video.
Back to School isn't just for students! Are you joining us today? Join our free virtual Family Engagement Workshops this August, in partnership with Fernbrook Family Center. Learn simple, effective strategies to build strong connections with your child and boost their confidence with positive self-talk before school starts.
Space is limited—reserve your spot now: https://forms.gle/ya1LHcRTpHfWR8Rc7
Space is limited—reserve your spot now: https://forms.gle/ya1LHcRTpHfWR8Rc7
These kids are on the ball! Washington Elementary's PTA-led T-ball league practiced throws, ball retrieval, and teamwork. Kids and parents alike enjoyed the fresh air and community.
Riverside families! Cara Felderman will be joining Riverside as our next Assistant Principal. Ms. Felderman is currently the instructional coach at Gage and brings 18 years of experience as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. She taught here at Riverside for six years, so this is a bit of a homecoming! Please join us in welcoming Ms. Felderman to the Otter family
