RCSD News
January 2024
Dear Rochester City School District Families,
Happy New Year! We hope this message finds you well and that you had a joyful holiday recess. This new year brings us much excitement as we continue our focus on excellence and academic achievement.
We are also excited about some new beginnings for our Board of Education. Please join us in welcoming Jacqueline Griffin and Isaiah Santiago to the RCSD Board. Both are proud RCSD graduates who bring dedication and passion for education to our District. The Board is committed to the success and well-being of our students, and we look forward to working together to create a positive and thriving learning environment for all.
In reflecting on the past year, we celebrate the achievements and resilience of our incredible students, the unwavering dedication of our educators, and the steadfast support of our parents and community members. Together, we have grown stronger as One RCSD, exemplifying the true spirit of unity.
Student excellence remains at the forefront of our collective vision. We are immensely proud of the accomplishments of our students, both in and out of the classroom, and are excited about the transition we are undertaking. Thank you for being our partners as we Invest in Tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Elliott, Board of Education President
Dr. Carmine Peluso, Superintendent of Schools
i-Ready Assessments
The administration of the second i-Ready Diagnostic assessment of the school year will begin next week. Students in grades K-8 will take these in their classes sometime between January 8 – 26, 2024.
i-Ready is an online mathematics and reading program that helps determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. The program allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.
To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic assessments, encourage them to try their best on each question, try not to rush, and understand that they will not know the answer to every question. You can also support your child’s learning by discussing their progress and celebrating their learning and growth.
If you have any questions about i-Ready, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school. You can also learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter.
January Regents Exams
This month, students in grades 9-12 will take the NYS Regents Exams, which will be administered January 23 – 26, 2024. During these four days, students in grades 9-12 will only come to school if they have a Regents or midterm exam. The January Regents schedule is posted below. If you are unsure of your children's exam schedule, including the exam start times at your school, please reach out to their school counselor.
Help Us Name Our Schools
What is in a name? Honor, Heart, Promise, History, the Future…
We are hosting a community forum on naming several schools as we plan for the next school year and invite you to join our Invest in Tomorrow vision. Your input as our partner in this transformative work is vital.
Please join us on Tuesday, January 16, at 5:00 pm at the District Central Office, located at 131 West Broad Street. To sign up to speak, please email publicforum@rcsdk12.org or call 585-262-8378 by noon on January 16.
Your voice matters to us, and we hope to see many of you there!
This past summer, the District launched the Strategic Planning Process to develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan that will identify key District goals to guide decision-making and resource allocation over the next five years. Thus far, feedback has been gathered from various stakeholders via a survey to help draft priorities and goals. The survey generated 959 responses and was presented to the steering committee for their feedback.
Now, you are invited to participate in a focus group via Zoom to share the results of the survey and gather your feedback on finalizing the District’s priorities and goals. Below is a list of the dates and times for the family, student, and community focus groups. For more information, including the Zoom links to participate, visit www.rcsdk12.org/strategicplan.
- January 9: Parents, 5:00 – 6:00 pm
- January 11: Parents, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
- January 18: Students, 5:00 – 6:00 pm
- January 22: Community members, 5:00 – 6:00 pm
The steering committee has worked diligently over the last few months and looks forward to your feedback!
Scholarship Opportunities for High School Seniors
Rochester Area Community Foundation
The Rochester Area Community Foundation common scholarship application is now open! Students can apply for several local scholarships using one application. Click here for more information.
RIT Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars Program
Students interested in attending RIT are encouraged to apply for the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars Program, which provides full-tuition scholarships to eligible full-time first-year students from the RCSD. The student’s total annual family income (including taxed and untaxed income) must not exceed $75,000. Interested students should see their school counselors for assistance with the application process. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024. More information is available on the RIT website.
Links to Other Scholarships
Update on the New FAFSA Form
The 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is now open with significant delays. The form will be available for short periods of time while the site performance and form functionality are monitored. There will be pauses initiated for site maintenance and technical updates as needed to optimize a better experience. If you do not complete your form during the soft launch, there is no need to worry – the deadline to submit is June 30, 2025.
The FAFSA helps students determine what types of funding they may qualify for to help them pay for college, such as federal grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. Additionally, many states and colleges use FAFSA information to determine eligibility for state and school aid. Any high school senior interested in applying to college or has already applied must complete this process.
FAFSA Fests
Need help applying to college, figuring out how to pay for it, and making the best choice? Get free help at a FAFSA Fest! Visit www.rochestercan.org for information on upcoming events, where you can get free help from experts to fill out your financial aid forms and more.
January Parent Group Meetings
Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC)
Winter Celebration
- Thursday, January 11, Monroe High School, 5:30 -7:00 pm
- The meeting will focus on the School-Based Planning Teams Policy
General Membership Meeting
- Thursday, February 8, 6:00 pm
- Email plac@rcsdk12.org for the Zoom link
- PLAC website
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
- Monday, January 22, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
- Email rcsdsepac@gmail.com for the Zoom link
- SEPAC website
Bilingual Education Council (BEC)
- The next monthly meeting is Tuesday, February 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- Trent and Pamela Jackson R-Center, 485 North Clinton Avenue
- Interpretation, dinner, and childcare provided
- Email bec@rcsdk12.org or visit the BEC website for more information
Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC)
- Tuesday, January 16, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
- 30 Hart Street, room 208
- Interpretation and lunch provided
- Email mpac@rcsdk12.org or visit the MPAC website for more information
Support Our Athletes!
The athletic schedules for all RCSD schools can be found on the Rochester City Athletic Conference webpage. In order to attend RCSD-hosted games, student spectators from the home and away teams must show a valid school ID. Students from any other schools must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 25 years old with a valid ID. Minors must be accompanied at all times.
PowerSchool Parent Portal gives real-time access to class schedules, attendance, assignments, grades, and contact information for teachers. High school parents can also monitor their child's progress toward meeting graduation requirements. For more information on downloading the app and creating an account, including a how-to video, visit www.rcsdk12.org/parentportal.
Custodial caregivers of RCSD students can opt in to receive text messages from us. All you need is a mobile number on file with your child’s school. Simply text Y to short code 67587 to begin receiving text messages. For more information about text messaging, visit www.rcsdk12.org/text.
What's on the Menu?
The January breakfast and lunch menus for elementary, middle, and high school students can be found here!
Feeling Sick? Stay Home!
Staying home when sick helps to lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Students with respiratory or gastrointestinal infection symptoms, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home.
Here are some good reminders for everyone:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
- When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands), and then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Stay up to date on the seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
Moving? New Phone Number?
If you move or change your phone number, please notify your child's school. It is very important that we have current email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers (home/mobile) on file for your family to ensure you are receiving communications from your child's school, teachers, and the District.
School Closings for Inclement Weather
In the event of a school closure or delayed opening due to inclement weather or other emergency condition, the District notifies all families via robocall and email. Announcements are also shared with local television and radio stations and posted on the District’s website and social media pages.