Fifth grade music registration is now open! Review the school visit dates before registering your fifth grader for band. Registration is due March 7, 2025.
https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1943928
At last night's School Board meeting, we welcomed Stephanie Whitehorn, who took the oath of office along with re-elected incumbent board members Don Barlow and Karen MacLaughlin. Congratulations to our school board members!
Calling all preschool parents! Are you looking for a school experience that grows with your family? RPS Preschool is hosting open houses where your family can ask questions and learn about our classes, high-quality licensed teachers, and three school locations.
Find out more about the opportunities RPS Preschool has to offer your family by saving the date or signing up for a virtual open house today: https://preschool.rochesterschools.org/o/pre/page/open-house
Upcoming Open Houses:
• Virtual: Monday, January 13, from 6-7 p.m.
• In-Person at Hoover Early Learning School: Tuesday, January 14, from 4-7 p.m.
• Virtual: Thursday, January 16, from 12-1 p.m.
Welcome back, students! We hope you had a restful break. We're excited to see all the growth and learning that will happen in the remainder of the school year!
Ready to jumpstart your healthcare career? The Fast Forward to Work: Phlebotomy Training Program is FREE for high school seniors passionate about laboratory sciences and healthcare!
This program offers clinical experience and hands-on training at Mayo Clinic's downtown campus, running from late August through early June. Transportation is provided from Mayo, John Marshall, and Century High Schools! 🎓
Thanks to a partnership between Rochester Public Schools and the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, this opportunity comes at NO cost to students!
💡 Information Sessions for the Fast Forward to Work Phlebotomy Training Program:
🔹 Virtual Session: Jan 7 at 6:30 p.m.
🔹 In-Person Session: Jan 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Edison Building, 615 7th Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902
This is your chance to take the first step toward a rewarding career in phlebotomy!
🔗 REGISTER NOW for the info session! https://airtable.com/appdynln57F04Nqyp/shraFUgT5YbTiyKlL
#FastForwardToWork #PhlebotomyProgram #HealthcareCareers #HighSchoolSeniors #FreeProgram #MayoClinic #RPS #RochesterPublicSchools #FutureHealthLeaders
We're ending the year on this high note: We are so proud of our high school students who raised a combined $121,826.18 for local organizations through their end-of-year fundraisers! Congratulations to our students, who are doing amazing things day in and day out.
#CelebrateRPS
RPS offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, in observance of New Year's Day. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday, January 2.
The RPS Department of Equity and Engagement is hosting a Xello Course Planner Information Night for high school course registration and future planning. Parents and caregivers are invited to join this virtual information session to learn how Xello can aid the class selection process for 8th - 11th grade students. Scan the QR code to join the virtual session on January 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
The final iteration of the best of series is dedicated to RPS students. Congratulations to a great 2024, and we can’t wait to see what you do in the years to come. Here are just some of the best student moments of 2024:
Students across the RPS district participated in the Minnestoa State Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Minnesota. https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid02EnaCcQ3Yeq7VGQVMf7tbAJjHf3qypu8GLJRCqNckDa9jUrxGkPr47eU8a33ocq8rl
Elliot McPike made it to Honolulu where he competed in the 2024 Pokemon World Championship. https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid02B3gXo8nEkcsCRWWy3BdhDsQ3MprbVmzSTY5ccFrpbAHeWux7YBdFK9cmge9Pjqpyl
Dr. Kent Pekel finds out what students really think about the cell phone ban. In the first Supt in the Halls of the 2024-2025 School Year. https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid07vBB3XJyEMKcP9ESppDb7VWK7BUEeoKKSWTS79dyEuwuWCA2v35EjSXNA225c4SVl
Our alliterative principals at Longfellow Elementary and Pinewood Elementary do an exceptional job of running their two schools under the same roof.
Read last week's #CelebrateRPS and make a submission for next week's installation—releasing Monday morning!
Read last week's #CelebrateRPS: https://bit.ly/4gOHxBm
Submit for next week: https://www.rochesterschools.org/celebraterps
RPS also had some especially memorable moments with staff. Here are a few staff moments that stood out as truly special:
Mayo High School's "Whitney Stadium" announcement: https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid0WZ6KHmDiyj63txKnGhv3pg8RLvKbiHRNuaW8SbvVMTevxyLEjmHKjHiajJFzZydJl
Mr. Franko's legendary school photo track record: https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid05oJmZHihhjeeZ49fA9wZpw9kS5dE5fNCXEtMrpWkWjRZHaMLTV4jPQwJMi2axX6il
Jeff Kapper's retirement after 30+ years: https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid026E6bRJnUrQgJUo5RqA2W16TbY6kkgGZw9YupPQxiSr9Zp655VhCJxrC16DL7fNorl
RPS offices will be closed from Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday, December 26.
KIMT3 News awarded our very own Karen Colbenson at Gage Elementary, the Teacher of the Month Award! Ms. Colbenson was nominated for her kindness and hard work. Yesterday she received a pizza party for her students and school supplies for her classroom. Join us in congratulating Karen!
Winter break is here! There is no school from December 23 through January 3 (Longfellow students, your break is through January 10). We hope you have a great winter break and we will see you students in the New Year!
RPS is beyond fortunate to have outstanding staff, faculty, and students throughout the district. Some members of RPS are so remarkable that they were awarded with recognition from outside organizations. Here are just some of the extraordinary awards that RPS community members were bestowed:
School Board Chair, Cathy Nathan - Minnesota School Board's Association All State School Board https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid02s11D8YdLZ6M7111WbR9nXM4FEDjGpMytw6cxModQ52fV5S6KwTescbpg8PABqufUl
Superindendent, Dr. Kent Pekel - Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid02x1HTC15CKXu664vC8Utv4yJ7U93VZZMfyPRMTuHtisKLAdyxWwMyruMnzjFAePRql
Rochester Mayoral Medal of Honor Awards to Deb Las and Madison T. https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid0BV1gF9GJTB5R3hJTnTL93WXXCvikXgtizvbGLEuMxRAzaHzyyRLDv5r2rj82JvMBl
Thank you to Joe Ahlquist with the Post Bulletin for the photos!
Support from the community of Rochester is what makes this city so remarkable. With your support, the Ignite Student Learning Referendum passed on Nov. 5. With its approval, RPS can provide quality and sustainable education.
At last night's School Board meeting, Superintendent Pekel awarded two amazing people our inaugural "RPS G.O.A.T Awards." Dr. Jess Garcia has served as a school board member for the last few years and last night was her final meeting before her term ends. Lori has served as the assistant School Board clerk and executive assistant for Superintendent Pekel and will be shifting roles in the district. We are grateful for the work Jess and Lori have done for the district and wish them the best in their next endeavors.
Keep an eye out for more RPS G.O.A.T Awards in the new year!
(These goats were 3D printed by RPS parent Justin Ross.)
RPS hosted and was part of some amazing events from 2024. Thank you to the entire Rochester community for supporting public education! Here are some of our favorites:
Celebrating 50 years of ECFE and PAIIR: https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid0QonNyDmZbZg4fqM91zXX5kGyFefUjj7n2oBKtobC5dDJmUQdEqTwvo9AvguMhCCtl
RPS high school homecoming parades:
John Marshall High School: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1045089017321724&set=a.492650492565582
Century High School: https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid02uZkUFX8nMD3jJcdHwehRwogL1M6PR67wLiJKSfXwBtR1HbguGurnT2C4tB24Umcnl
Mayo High School: https://www.facebook.com/ISD535/posts/pfbid02ZXyPyYGJMVPEuLyifnXpaP5SMeqDJLQwe5ooUURUfWgBPXeWgqj8taGPzvdFywCnl
RPS had an amazing 2024! Thank you to all who were a part of this transformative year for our school district. We'll be highlighting some of our favorite moments from 2024 over this entire week, so follow our social media accounts to see the highlights!
Sarah Taraba is a kindergarten teacher at Sunset Terrace Elementary. Sarah is a former RPS student who attended Sunset Terrace Elementary, John Adams Middle School, and John Marshall High School. Read her story here: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1904309
