RSD Community Newsletter
March 2023 - Graduation Date Correction
March 6 - Kindergarten Registration for fall 2023 Opened
March 22 - Board Meeting, 6:30 pm at the District Office
March 28-31 - Half Days, Parent/Teacher Conferences
April 3-7 - No School, Spring Break
May 29 - No School, Memorial Day
June 11 - Graduation
June 13 - Last Day of School (Updated due to 2/23 Snow Day)
The last day of school has been moved from June 12 to June 13 as a result of school being cancelled on February 23 due to inclimate weather.
The graduation date in the newsletter sent March 12 was incorrect. Our seniors will graduate on June 11 at Saint Martins University. The ceremony will begin at 2:00 pm.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Imagination Library is an initiative led by Dolly Parton that provides books for children who are under the age of five. After registration, a free book will be mailed to them every month. Rochester kids, ages 1-4, are eligible. Parents may sign up for this opportunity through a short application at Imagination Library.
Time for Non-Resident Students to submit Transfer Request
The time is now! Non-resident families who choice their children into Rochester School District need to complete a transfer form for the 2023-2024 school year. The transfer request needs to be completed annually in the spring. Applications received by March 31 will receive first priority.
Use the Washington State Choice Portal to complete a non-resident transfer request. See the Rochester webpage/Choice Non-Resident Enrollment for more information.
Text "YES" to 67587 to Opt In
The Rochester School District utilizes the SchoolMessenger system as one tool to communicate with families. This is the system used to provide families with important information such as events, school closing and safety alerts. The system allows us to send phone calls, emails and text messages.
If you would like to receive a text message, you need to opt in. To opt in send a text message of "Y" or "YES" to 67587
Access Skyward for Academic Information
Skyward is the system where you can access your child's important academic information. Parents/Guardians have their own login information. If you have forgotten your username or password, select "forgot your login/password" and submit your email address associated with your Skyward account. If that doesn't work, the front office of your child's school can assist you.
K-5 Tech and Cyber Safety - Watch the Recording Now
Technology is something children are growing up with and it is all around them and us. Setting up boundaries and expectations early with technology can help avoid issues as students get older and start to have more independence. The Rochester School District partners with Linewize to do content filtering of district devices. Linewize not only filters content but also provides a Cyber safety Hub and training as part of our partnership. The Cyber safety Hub can be especially helpful for parents to check out reviews on apps that students may be asking for at home. Check out the Cyber safety Hub at https://rochester.onlinesafetyhub.io/.
There is a short informational/training with Linewize for K-5 Parents/Guardianthat that was recorded from an earlier session. Teodora Pavkovic at Linewize provided the information/traiong. She is a Psychologist by trade that specializes in digital wellness for students and parent coaching. Below is a description of the webinar.
The webinar for K-5 parents shared practical strategies for setting up healthy boundaries and expectations around children's technology use and address some of the critical online safety risks children face today. She will also walk you through your district's Online Safety Hub for parents.
The recorded webinar is available by using this link.
Limiting Internet on the School Chromebook
Parents and Guardians now have access to turn the internet on or off for students on school devices. This can occur between the hours of 4pm and 7am the next day. Linewize our partner in internet content filtering is providing our district parents with an app called Qustodio. The Qustodio parent account will allow a parent turn off or back on the internet access for their student on a school Chromebook. The hours it will function is between 4pm and 7am the next day. The Qustodio app will also allow parents to add a personal device free of charge that will be able to be controled 24 hours a day.
Beyond being able to control access to the internet the Qustodio app will show you a report of the internet categories where your student is spending time on the internet with their school device. Below is a link to get started with the app. In order to access this app for free you will need to use the email address that you provided to the school district.
If you have any questions or need help troubleshooting please reach out to Tara Johnson at tjohnson@rocheste.wednet.edu or call 360-273-5536.
The Rochester School Board held a regular meeting Wednesday, February 22. Topics included a presentation by the district's assistant principals on the proactive, positive behavior supports implemented throughout the district, a budget extension for a capital budget project that will replace building intercom systems to support security measures, report on current enrollment and an update on RSD's current budget.
The next school board meeting is on March 22, 2023, at 6:30 pm. A recording of the February 22 meeting and other previous meetings can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-mrEr2O9h2loBhFq_fLIA.
Budget Process
During a January School Board Work Session the board of directors outlined there priority areas and Guiding Principles for the 2023-2024 budget development. The budget committee, consisting of 35 stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, classified staff, administrators and custodial/maintenance) have used the priority areas and guiding principals as they spent four evenings learning about the budget and preparing budget reduction recommendation for the board. The current deficit is at least $1million, and was caused by a number of factors, including declining enrollment, the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic paired with a relatively low amount of federal relief funding (COVID Funds), increasing inflation, cost of living increases approved by the Legislature, unfunded mandates and more.
Volunteers are Welcome
If you are interested in volunteering in a school your help is always appreciated. You could read to students, assist in the cafeteria, monitor hallways, support students at dismissal time, and much more. Call a school office if you are interested. The volunteer handbook can be found on the RSD website. Volunteers need to complete a background check prior to being in a school. Background check forms are also found on the RSD website.
Free Tutoring for Middle and High School Students
PAPER is a tutoring and homework-help service that Rochester middle and high school students can access. They provide academic support to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The tutors are trained educators, so students can log in, ask questions, and work through problems in real-time. All middle and high school students have been provided the information needed to log into this resource. Information about PAPER.
The universal free lunch program provided in past years ended for students in grades 6-12 at the start of this school year. Students who have not been approved for free or reduced-priced meals, may purchase breakfast for $1.55 and lunch for $2.90. Check your child's meal account information through Skyward Family Access; it may be time to make a payment.