RALC is offering a Teens with Stress Group every Monday evening from 5:00pm-6:00pm. This group is open to any RALC student. Please contact Lacey Olson at laceyolson@rochesterschools.org to sign up and to receive the group log-in link.

Please join us on January 13th at 6:00pm for a free virtual event for high school families.

Tips and tricks will be shared to reduce your stress and help keep your student motivated and organized during distance learning. This event if open to students and families at:

https://meet.google.com/zkm-dhvm-zrx

Congratulations to our December Students of the Month. Thank you for all of your hard work at RALC!

Grace Hodenfield

Aaliyah Taylor

Kamarion Knowles

Amanda de Leon

Chloie Flowers

Preston Anderson

Nerariah A Burton

Connor Delfs

Azia Pomsyda

Want to access school meals? The district has continued the opportunity to pick up a five day meal kit for your student. Times are now updated to include late afternoon pick-up options. Daytime pick-up is now on Fridays only.

More info here: https://www.rochesterschools.org/sy2021/student-meals

More info here: https://share.peachjar.com/flyers/1078428/districts/11606

Salvation Army is offering a free winter coat distribution on Wednesday, January 13th from 9:00-3:30.

The pick-up location is 115 1st Avenue Northeast, Rochester, MN.

Having trouble with your RPS iPad or other device? District technical support is now available.

• Tech Helpline for Students (M-F 7am-7pm 1-800-789-0051)

• Support for standard software like Microsoft Office, Adobe, G Suite

• Support for some hardware like printers, Internet and Wi-Fi Connectivity

Does your family need basics such as hygiene items or winter outwear? The school district has a system in place to deliver free items to your home at no cost. Please contact your students advisor or support team worker to have a delivery arranged. Questions can be directed to Nicole Wibstad at 507.328.3962 or niwibstad@rochesterschools.org

Rochester Public Schools recognizes that we are all

experiencing increased stress and worry during this time.

In response, RPS is now providing free virtual consultations to

help address worries you might have about your child’s

mental wellness.

Visit https://rochestermnschedule.as.me/ to schedule a 45

minute appointment with a trained mental health provider

to discuss your concerns.

These consultations can help you clarify what help your child

might need and think about next steps. The mental health

provider you meet with can connect you with resources for

help. What is discussed during the consultation is confidential.

Find your emotional and mental well-being team at

rochesterschools.org/wellbeing
We have a great opportunity for students and families and in being able to offer free mental health consultations for students.
Sessions will be 45-minute slots via phone or ZOOM. The goal of the session is to clarify student’s needs, talk about next steps and connect the student with resources such as School Linked Mental Health services (school-based therapy).

Ski/Snowboard Club is the newest addition to after school programming! Lift tickets and rentals are at no cost to students. Contact Mr. Lynch or Ms. Sloan for more information.

After school programming (including extra homework help, music class, and Dungeons and Dragons) has again started. There is also an option to have activity kits dropped at your home.

This program is partially funded with a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) using federal funding, CFDA 84.287, 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This program does not necessarily represent the policy of the federal Department of Education or MDE and you should not assume endorsement by the federal or state government.

Need a no cost to families appointment? Need basic care including help with sexual health?

Contact Kris at the clinic to set up an appointment.

Call 328.3967 or email krnelson1@rochester.k12.mn.us

Clinic hours: Tues & Wed 8 - 11:30; Thurs 1 - 4:30

***NEW***: Students are able to schedule appointments themselves by clicking here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/selfsched?sstoken=UUFXVHk4alNvX1g1fGRlZmF1bHR8ZDNhYjMxYjU5MWY5Nzc3ZTU3NzIwOTRhZmM0OWNhMmI

Our community resource room at RALC is still open! We currently are fully stocked, and thankful for the generosity of the community.

-We are limiting acceptance of clothing donations at this time due to lower usage during distance learning. Please contact Nicole at niwibstad@rochesterschools.org or 507.328.3962 prior to donating.

The annual Diversity Council of Rochester's MLK Jr. Student Poetry Contest is back. Deadline is Jan. 11, 2020 by midnight. Contest is open to students in grades 3-12. More info is available at Diversity Council facebook page.

Any students that have not yet received their chromebook can contact the office at 507.328.3999 to arrange pick-up. Students must exchange a district iPad (if they have one) to receive the chromebook.

Community partner, Her Drive, is a nonprofit organization that collects bras, menstrual care, and general hygiene products for people who need them. Donations are being collected in bins outside and inside of 125 Live, and other donations bins will be available at Forager Brewer, Burn Boot Camp, Little Thistle Brewery, and TerraLoco starting Friday, January 15th. If donors are interested in a contactless pickup of the donations, follow this link to a sign-up for a pickup time slot.

https://forms.gle/BE5Tmvcxgn3ZByNi9

All donated items will go back into the community through Project Legacy, The Landing, Family Service, and public school resource rooms.

RALC is collecting HyVee receipts this school year. Receipts can be mailed to school or dropped at our main entrance. Thank you for supporting RALC students through this program.

School flu immunization programs have been canceled this school year, however community resources are available. Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center are again offering shots locally. If you have questions, call our RALC Health Clinic at 507.328.3967.

We will be posting more frequent updates including student activity opportunities on our facebook page. Some current opportunities open to students include:

Diversity Council Poetry Contest

Homework Help

You can also contact Nicole at niwibstad@rochesterschools.org or 507.328.3962 for more information.

Looking to connect with a Support Team Member?

Kelly Crawford, School Social Worker

507.328.4336

kecrawford@rochesterschools.org

Amanda Meyer, School Social Worker

507.328.4319

ammeyer@rochesterschools.org

Marshall Kading, School Counselor

507.328.3995

makading@rochesterschools.org

Megan Wilgenbusch, Chemical Health Specialist

507.328.3988

mewilgenbusch@rochesterschools.org

Elsa Salazar, Housing Specialist

507.328.4291

elsalazar@rochesterschools.org

Nicole Wibstad, Community School Site Facilitator

507.328.3962

niwibstad@rochesterschools.org

RALC Full-Service Community School Leadership Team is meeting monthly to continue to address student needs during our distance learning model. The team includes alumni, parents, community partners, staff, and administration. During December's meeting, the team analyzed existing supports gaps in service for our two top identified needs:

1. Mental Health

2. School Climate

In January the team will work on planning circles, advisory, family engagement, scheduling, and clubs in order to support these top two needs.

Each week, advisors for day school students and night school students connect on a phone call or google meet. In addition to covering attendance and academic goals, advisors have been working on helping students with social emotional skills. Some of the weekly questions from the past months have included:

1. Have you met your academic goals for the quarter?

2. Is there anything you need to get back into a school routine now that we have returned from break?

3. What is one thing that went well this quarter? What is one thing you would like to improve in quarter 3?

The questions could also be used as tools for families to connect with their student. Support team members are also available to connect with students and families.