RPS teachers and staff put their heads together during Curriculum and Development (CAD) Day yesterday. At Folwell Elementary School, Principal Kristin Smith and her Folwell staff analyzed their MCA reading data for strengths and areas to grow, reviewed their Fastbridge progress monitoring data, and prepared for parent-teacher conferences. Way to go, Folwell, for living out our value of ensuring excellence through evidence!
At Rochester Public Schools, we go beyond convention by fostering extraordinary level of opportunities, classes, and experiences, and our ability to offer this to our students, is due to our amazing staff.
Anne Marie Griffin, RPS Library Media Specialist, was awarded by the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) for her exceptional professionalism, generous mentorship, advocacy for libraries, and commitment to supporting her colleagues while maintaining excellence in teaching and database management, making her a deserving recipient of this honor. The award was presented at the 2025 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference.
Celebrate Anne with us! Congratulations on your accomplishment; we're proud to have you serve our students!
Anne Marie Griffin, RPS Library Media Specialist, was awarded by the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) for her exceptional professionalism, generous mentorship, advocacy for libraries, and commitment to supporting her colleagues while maintaining excellence in teaching and database management, making her a deserving recipient of this honor. The award was presented at the 2025 Minnesota Library Association Annual Conference.
Celebrate Anne with us! Congratulations on your accomplishment; we're proud to have you serve our students!
This Wednesday, RPS high schools are serving up Chicken Shawarma Wraps—a brand-new menu item inspired by your feedback! Juicy marinated chicken, zesty pickles, and major flavor… all wrapped up for you. Don’t miss it!
October is Bullying Prevention Month. At RPS, we work to prevent bullying by actively building belonging and connection. We celebrate differences and embrace individual perspectives to cultivate a vibrant community. This culture of respect allows us to better support the whole student, nurturing their social skills and emotional well-being so they can flourish.
Did you know that Rochester Public Schools has five community schools? Gage, Riverside, Franklin, John Adams, and John Marshall are home to our community schools and supported by our community school site facilitators. Their focus is to bring together academics, health, social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. When all these factors work together, the data shows improved student learning, stronger families, and healthier communities. The work being done within our community schools is just one of the ways that Rochester Public Schools works to ensure each student can flourish in their own path.
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 Special Session is: Field Trip Fees. On the agenda for tomorrow's Regular Meeting is: Attendance Data and Initiatives Update, Philanthropy Strategy, Course Registration Guide, and Policy Committee Recommendations.
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.
Congratulations to Brian Ihrke, John Marshall High School's Activities Director, on being voted the Region 1AA Activities Director of the Year by his peers. A well-deserved honor for his leadership and dedication to the Rockets!
Yesterday, we gathered to celebrate our urban Native community, enjoying delicious food, cultural dances, and meaningful conversations that honor the resilience, culture, and history of Indigenous people. This event offered our community the opportunity to highlight our American Indian Education program, which provides cultural and academic support to students with Indigenous heritage specifically with state and federally recognized tribes. Minnesota is home to 11 sovereign nations, and Rochester Public Schools are situated on ancestral lands of the Dakota people. We acknowledge and honor the Dakota Nations and the sacred land of all Indigenous peoples.
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: Religious Holidays and 2027-28 RPS Calendar Design and World Languages Plan.
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.
Happy Apple Crunch Day! RPS students were treated to fresh apples from Howling Moon Orchard, which are grown right here in southeastern Minnesota. Washington Elementary students found them delicious (and nutritious)!
It's HOMECOMING WEEK, and our high schoolers brought the homecoming celebration to Lincoln K-8! Drums, Kickline, and Touchdowns made Lincoln's lunchtime celebration even sweeter.
As part of our Attendance Matters initiative, we are sending all families an attendance update today. This message will provide a current snapshot of your student’s attendance record for the year so far. Our goal is to keep you informed and partner with you to support your student's learning. You can always view up-to-the-minute attendance data in Skyward. Learn more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-matters
Did you know our early childhood screenings are on the go? This week, our team will be out at SPARK on Thursday, October 9. Appointments are required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv0wWUoEAsTkg4KqchvagTln-EucDpsSHdn4-soyujLx6foA/viewform. All children are required to be screened before starting kindergarten, but can be screened as early as three years old to provide you with insight into your child's learning development. Join us at SPARK and make your screening part of the fun!
Join us on Monday, October 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Dakota Middle School to share, learn, and celebrate with our community. We plan to host a vibrant gathering featuring delicious food, cultural dances, and meaningful conversations that honor the resilience, culture, and history of Indigenous people. We hope to see you there!
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: Enrollment Update, Newcomers Programming Update, Superintendent Evaluation for 2024-25: Outcomes Component Report, Language Access Plan, Approval of Mission, Vision, and Values, Authorization to Close and Sell Friedell, Mighty Oaks, and Skyline.
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.
Your student might qualify for extra benefits! Fill out the Application for Educational Benefits to find out! Bonus: filling out the application will benefit the entire school district. Fill the form at rochesterschools.org/page/application-for-benefits
Mighty Oaks Early Learning School officially celebrated its new location, bringing new energy to the former Pinewood Elementary building. This new location brings our early childhood programming to a more centralized location. It features an extra special addition—a brand-new traffic garden where kids can ride scooters and bikes while also learning about pedestrian safety.
Thank you to all who joined us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony! Congratulations to our Mighty Oaks Early Learning students, staff, and families!
It was a perfect morning for Walk to School Day! Pinewood Elementary students hopped off the bus at Bear Creek Park, then walked the rest of the way along Marion Road—practicing safe walking skills with friends and crossing guards. Mayor Norton, the Rochester Police Department, the School Board, Superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel, and even Slider from the Rochester Honkers joined in as well!
This school year is off to a great start with higher-than-expected student enrollment numbers! Superintendent Kent Pekel shared the preliminary data during his monthly radio appearance with KROC. For more details on what this means for our district, listen here: https://krocnews.com/rochester-public-schools-higher-enrollment/
75 years and counting! Jefferson hosted its 75th anniversary celebration on Saturday with all the festivities to be expected! Congratulations on the historic milestone Jaguars, and here's to all the years to come.
