It’s not every day you get up close and personal with a bird of prey — but Dakota Middle School students did just that!
Earlier this year, Dakota Middle School students teamed up with Quarry Hill Nature Center and the Mayo Clinic Peregrine Falcon Program to learn about wildlife conservation by building a bird box right behind their school! They’ve been able to watch parent American kestrels hunt and nest for months, and now a few students and their science teachers got up close and personal with the kestrel chicks.
A Quarry Hill staff member came by to weigh the five new kestrels in an ice cream bucket and add leg bands for tracking. He’ll share this data with the U.S. Geological Survey to help researchers better understand kestrels and the challenges their population faces.
Holiday Reminder: All Rochester Public Schools buildings and offices, including summer meal and SACC locations, will be closed this Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. All district operations will resume during normal business hours on Friday, June 20, 2025.
Ever wish you could glimpse into the future? Middle schoolers from Rochester Public Schools — alongside students from surrounding districts — got that chance at the Middle School Career Academy! During this four-day summer experience, students explore a variety of careers by choosing from eight pathways: Agriculture, Health Scientist Careers, Culinary/Hospitality, Public Safety/Emergency Response, Manufacturing, Construction, Information Technology, and Transportation. Industry partners, including the Rochester Fire Department, Mayo Clinic, and Hormel Institute, team up with classroom teachers to provide hands-on, real-world experiences that help illuminate potential futures.
Looking for a quick and nutritious summer meal? Visit one of our summer meal locations for breakfast or lunch! Meals are FREE for children 18 or younger and a small fee for adults. Check out our menus, locations, and meal times online: https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/summer-meals
Please note that meals must be consumed on location and that all summer meal locations will be closed for Juneteenth and reopen on June 20 at locations that operate Monday through Friday.
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: Retiree Recognition, Long-Term Budget Strategy, Policy Committee Recommendations, Math Curriculum Purchase and 2025-2026 Budget Proposal
At the end of the school year, Deeper Learning teams from across the district came together for the RPS Deeper Learning Summit to share stories, reflect on two years of learning and growth, and envision what's next. From classroom innovation to systemwide change, deeper learning is becoming how we do school in RPS.
Join us in congratulating Carrie Mosby, Danielle Lyons, Megan Peterson, and Veronica Holton—four incredible individuals in our RPS SpEd Pipeline Scholarship Program! 👏 Thanks to funding from the Minnesota Department of Education, the Rochester Public Schools (RPS) SpEd Pipeline is helping passionate educators on their journey to becoming licensed Special Education teachers. We commend Carrie, Megan, Veronica, and Danielle for their unwavering commitment to serving and supporting students with diverse learning needs. Your dedication inspires us all!
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 study session is: Community Budget Advisory Council Conversation
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.
"By challenge, I mean doing things that aren’t easy. Challenge means being pushed, stretched, and sometimes uncomfortable. By support, I mean having people around you who help you complete tasks and achieve goals. Support means feeling like you matter, that you're not alone, and that someone believes in you." Watch Superintendent Pekel's speech to the graduating classes of 2025 at last week's ceremonies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDb5DvfTktg&t=1s
Our pioneering class has completed the Phlebotomy Preparation Program through Rochester Public Schools' partnership with the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. The curriculum includes a blended classroom and online learning schedule, hands-on labs, and clinical experiences completed right on Mayo's campus. Some of these students have already been hired by Mayo Clinic as phlebotomists!
Phlebotomy is the process of inserting a needle into a vein to draw blood. This course will be offered again next year for Rochester Public Schools students. If you're an RPS student and interested in this program, learn about it, along with all our Bridges to Careers programs at www.rochesterce.org/page/bridges-to-college-and-careers.
What an incredible 2024-2025 school year! As we close the books on another year, we want to thank our amazing students, staff, and families for making it so special. Your hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm made this year truly memorable.
We've loved every moment of learning, growing, and achieving together. While we're sad to see it end, we're already looking forward to continuing the adventure with all of you next school year!
What a week of celebrations for our youngest graduates! Our preschool students from Hawthorne, Hoover, Northrop, and Mighty Oaks are officially ready for Kindergarten. To all our graduates and their families, congratulations on reaching this wonderful milestone and beginning a brand new journey. We're so proud of every accomplishment and thrilled to have you as part of the RPS Family!
We forgot to mention a big accomplishment from this school year: the passing of the 2024 Ignite Student Learning Referendum! Watch this brief video from Superintendent Pekel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQK9P5NxpZU
Last week, the sound of the bell echoed with triumph as our Rochester Alternative Learning Center (RALC) Class of 2025 graduated! Each ring marked the end of one journey and the exciting beginning of another. To all our graduates: you worked incredibly hard, and we have no doubt that success awaits you on whatever path you choose. Congratulations!
As the 2024–2025 school year comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the highlights from the past ten months. This list doesn’t capture everything great that happened in our schools, but I hope it gives you a sense of the extraordinary work we’ve done together. Everyone connected to Rochester Public Schools (RPS) should feel proud of what we’ve accomplished—and even more excited about what lies ahead. Read Superintendent Pekel's End Of Year Review: https://bit.ly/end-of-year-review-2025
The Rochester Academy for Independent Living (RAIL) graduated its class of 2025 last week!
RAIL helps young adults with disabilities integrate into the community and career settings. The program's goal is to assist the development of independent living and social skills needed to become active, productive, and integrated members of the community. Congrats to our graduates!
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 the Cell Phone Procedure Review, the Year in Review, and the Cradle2Career Partnership Update.
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.
For those unable to attend the Century High School (11 a.m.), Mayo High School (3 p.m.), or John Marshall High School (7 p.m.) graduation ceremonies in person at the Civic Center, we are glad to offer a live stream on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/ISD535. Tune in at the scheduled ceremony times to share in the excitement from wherever you are!
The Project Search Class of 2025 students mark the tenth cohort of graduates from the program. We're so proud of these students who got incredible work experience through Mayo Clinic.
It’s time for our 2025 Phoenix grads to soar! Congratulations to our hardworking 2025 graduates. Your perseverance has paid off, and your bright future awaits.
Rochester Phoenix Academy is a supportive K–12 setting that nurtures personal, academic, and emotional growth for students with disabilities and complex needs through high expectations and compassionate, individualized care.
