RSD Community Newsletter

Dear Families and Community Members,

I hope you had a restful summer, enjoying adventures and cherished moments with loved ones. As we embark on the 2023-2024 academic journey, we are excited to welcome back our 2,000+ students to our school community. This upcoming year holds abundant opportunities for growth, learning, and discovery.

Our dedicated educators and staff has worked to establish an engaging and nurturing learning environment, where each student can thrive. Throughout August, school administrators and staff engaged in professional development, focusing on literacy strategies for all students, the Ukeru trauma-informed conflict resolution system, and standards-based learning. We are excited to witness the remarkable achievements and growth of our students this year.

Cultivating an inclusive atmosphere that fosters growth and success for ALL students and a strong partnership between home and school is essential for students success. We value your involvement in your child's educational journey. Together we can help our kids create lasting memories while they prepare for their future.

During the summer, maintenance and custodial teams have had uninterrupted access to our buildings and campuses facilitating cleaning and upgrades. We deeply appreciate their dedication and teamwork, benefiting us year-round. Despite challenges with aging mechanical systems, our goal as stewards of public facilities remains unwavering, striving to provide well-maintained schools that support academic growth and achievement. A huge thank you to the team!

I hope you can join us at the Back-To-School Bash this Friday, 5-7 pm at Grand Mound Elementary School and explore community resources, engage with booster parents to learn about how you can be involved, enjoy kid-friendly games & activities, and enjoy a visit from Reptile Man! Following the Bash, head to RHS to cheer on the Warrior Football team at 7 pm.

As parents and community members, your support is invaluable to our kids and programs. Your contributions make Rochester an exceptional community. We thank you for entrusting us with such outstanding young individuals. Here's to a fantastic school year filled with limitless possibilities!

Go Warriors!

Jennifer Bethman

Superintendent

On Thursday (9/7), the RMS team is inviting all RMS families to the annual Howdy Family Night. There will be games, music, line-dancing lessons, and a free hot dog meal for the entire family. Join at 5:00 and stay the whole time or drop in for a short stay between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. All kids must be escorted by their parents.

Don't miss it! All Rochester School District families are invited to join us for the 5th Annual Back to School Bash on Friday, September 8th, from 5pm to 7pm at the Grand Mound Elementary playground. It's a community celebration you won't want to miss! Our dedicated community partners will be on hand with tables of valuable information about resources for families. The Thurston County Fire Department will bring their impressive fire truck for everyone to explore, and the Book Mobile will be there to distribute books and spread the joy of reading. Exciting door prizes including Warrior gear and gift baskets await lucky winners. A delicious dinner will be provided for all attendees. The evening will be filled with entertainment, including a performance by the RHS band and an engaging show by the reptile man to close out the event. This event is open to all our families and is the perfect way to kick off the school year. We encourage families to stick around and attend the season opener of Warrior football afterward for even more fun! See you there!

We are looking forward to a great year, with students in classes and ready to learn every day. We have set a goal that every student in our district attends regularly (has nine or fewer absences in a year). We will monitor each student’s attendance throughout the year and work with families when the number of absences puts a student at risk.

Families play a key role in making sure students access learning opportunities and understand why attendance is so important. for success in school and on the job. Here is how you can make school attendance a priority:

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
• Scheduling a consistent bed and wake up time.
• Help your teen maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework, work, activities, and getting a good nights sleep.
• Try not to scheduled dental and medical appointments during the school day.
• If your learner must stay home because of sickness, ask teachers for resources and materials to assist them in learning during and after their absence.

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

Middle and High School students who have not been approved for free or reduced-priced meals, may purchase breakfast and lunch at school.

• Breakfast costs $1.55
• Lunch costs $2.90.

Check your child's meal account information through Skyward Family Access; it may be time to make a payment.

Sixth (6th) graders who have not completed and been approved from Free or Reduced meals will need to pay for their lunch.

If you feel as though your child may qualify for Free or Reduced meals please complete the Free/Reduced Meal Application. Click here for the Free Meal Application

Free meal applications are due by October 1.

All students at RPS and GMES will receive FREE breakfast and lunch because those building qualify for Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP). Parents will be asked to complete a Family Income Survey to support our communities continued eligibility for free meals at RPS and GMES.

Because RPS and GMES qualify for CEP, in July or August all families with students in those school received a letter from DSHS informing them they were eligible for CEP funds to assist in paying for summer food. For more information contact DSHS.

Bus routes are in Skyward and posted on the Rochester School District webpage. If you have any questions about routes please call First Student directly at (360) 273-0292 or (360) 273-5055.

As our students and families return to bus stops and walking routes this week, we can all work together to maintain safety for all of our students, families and staff on the way to and from school. If you have a young driver in your family, please consider reminding them to watch out for students walking or biking to and from school – and to stop for school buses when the “stop” paddle comes out and the red lights are flashing.

We are thrilled to announce the completion of a greatly-enhanced safety and security measure at the entrance to all our school buildings. A voice and video intercom system has been installed.

The system brings an extra layer of security by allowing us to keep our school doors locked and monitor who enters our buildings. Beginning this fall, when school is in session, you will need to follow a few extra steps to enter one of our schools. At the entrance you will see the video intercom system. After pressing the intercom button, please be prepared to:

• Give your name
• State your purpose for the visit
• Show your photo ID

Thank you for being a partner in helping to ensure a safe teaching and learning environment for all students and staff.

Volunteers are welcome in our schools. We need volunteers as field trip/dance/activity chaperones, supervision, classroom supports, cafeteria monitors, etc... If you'd like to volunteer talk with your child's building principal or assistant principal to learn about where assistance is needed.

As outlined in state law, Rochester School District requires a Washington State Patrol background check for all volunteers. If you would like to volunteer in your child’s school, you must fill out the volunteer form, background questionnaire. Please return forms to your child’s school or the district office. Allow at least two weeks for completion of the background check. All adults must have a background check each year and it must be on file before volunteering.

Stay connected to our community by reading the PeachJar flyers when they arrive in your inbox. You can also check them on the Rochester School District webpage Peachjar Flyers. If you want to sign up to have them emailed directly to you click on this link: Sign up for PeachJar

Did you know we have an Air Quality Sensor in Rochester? Last spring Purpleair.com installed an air quality sensor at Grand Mound Elementary School. It is wonderful that we have an air quality sensor in our own community.

Access the PurpleAir website to see Rochester Air Quality.

Consider becoming a substitute in our school district! Teachers On Call—our partner for substitute talent—offers steady work or flexible schedule options. This is an opportunity to do work you can feel good about within our own community. To apply nosw, visit teachersoncall.com/talent/apply-now

Questions? Contact our Teachers On Call Recruiters:

• Megan Gibson at megan.gibson@teahersoncall.com | 800.713.4439 ext.18777
• Michael Burkhardt at michael.burkhardt@teachersoncall.com | 800.713.4439 ext.17253

Rochester School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, the use of a trained guide dog or service animal, or any other basis prohibited by law. We also provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights Coordinator: Jennifer Bethman (360) 273-9242, jbethman@rochester.wednet.edu

Title IX Coordinator: Will Maus (360) 273-5958, wmaus@rochester.wednet.edu

504/ADA Coordinator: Laura Staley (360) 273-5536, lstaley@rochester.wednet.edu

Address: 10140 Highway 12 SW, Rochester, WA 98579.

Rochester School District is an Equal Opportunity School District. If you need interpretation of this document, please call the RISE Center at 360.858.1818.You can also select the Translate option at the top of the page to select a language for translation.