According to Excelsior University, National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later was ratified as the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Lincoln signed the Amendment abolishing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not ratified by the states until later.
Are you looking for plans for your kids to run off energy this weekend? Check out our Open Gyms for pre-K through secondary students!
Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed the week of January 21–27, 2024, as Education Support Professionals (formerly known as paraprofessionals at RPS) Recognition Week. Our ESPs support our teachers in the classroom, help with SACC, transportation, in the lunch rooms, and more! We are grateful for their commitment to meeting the needs of our students. Thank you, ESPs! We appreciate you!
RPS families - It's the end of the quarter, which means there is no school tomorrow, Friday, January 19 for most schools. Longfellow Elementary is still in session. Staff will be participating in a PD day. Stay warm, and we'll see the rest of you students on Monday!
Today we celebrate, remember, and reflect on the incredible life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - "Life's most persistent question is: What are you doing to serve others?"
Happy Makar Sankranti to those who celebrate!
Happy Orthodox New Year to those who celebrate!
Activities, games, programs, and practices on Saturday, January 13, will continue as scheduled. Please allow extra time for travel. Reach out to your coach or activities director with additional questions.
Reminder, there is no school on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
1 p.m. update: All activities and practices for this afternoon and evening are canceled.
RPS will be closed today, January 12, 2024, due to inclement weather.
➡️ School Age Child Care (SACC) will be open 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Northrop Education Center (201 8th St. NW).
➡️ All PAIIR, Preschool Age Child Care (PACC), Preschool, and Community Education daytime and evening classes, for early childhood, youth, adults, and adults with exceptional abilities are canceled.
➡️ Hawthorne Education Center is closed.
➡️ All community building reservations are canceled.
➡️ All Professional Growth Academy classes are canceled.
➡️ All high school, after school athletic and activities practices, performances, and games will continue to be evaluated and a final decision will be made by 3 p.m. We will communicate these decisions via our website, social media channels, and an email to high school families.
➡️ No supper meals will be provided.
Wishing a happy Orthodox Christmas to those who celebrate!
Welcome back, everyone! We hope you had a wonderful winter break and have a fantastic start to the year!
Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!
Happy Kwanzaa to those who celebrate! Wishing you light, happiness, and peace in the coming year!
Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Remember that RPS Winter Break is December 22- January 2. We hope you enjoy some time off with your family and friends and can't wait to see you in the new year!
Today, the Mayo Clinic announced a gift of $10 million to Rochester Public Schools to enable the school district to sustain the implementation of the district’s strategic plan for academic transformation. As a result of the gift, Dr. Pekel has made important changes in the Attendance Options Redesign proposal that incorporates insights gained from the extensive feedback that the school district has sought on the proposal since the release of the first draft of the Redesign. View the updated proposal here: https://www.rochesterschools.org/attendance‑options‑redesign
We are postponing the Attendance Options Redesign Information Sessions scheduled for in-person tonight, Monday, December 18, at 7 p.m. and tomorrow, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, virtually at 12 p.m. and in-person at 7 p.m., to provide school district staff with additional time to prepare an updated version of the Attendance Options Redesign proposal that we plan to announce in the coming days.
You are welcome to continue providing feedback via the feedback forms on our website at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign.
Rescheduled dates will be announced soon.
The Attendance Options Redesign proposal feedback forms are available on our website at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign. These forms are available in English, Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, and Chinese. You are invited to submit feedback via the forms if you haven't already done so via email. The forms will be available until the end of the day on December 22, 2023.
