Rochester Alternative Learning Center

Thank you to Minnesota Treads for donating to our ALC Resource Room! We rely on the kindness and generosity of community individuals, businesses, and organizations to help keep our shelves filled. Access to basic hygiene supplies and clothing helps our students to stay in school. Minnesota Treads - Thank you for thinking of our school!

ALC students did some ice fishing this week! Thank you to Public Health for organizing this Nature Rx experience!

Lori from the History Center led a jewelry-making art class for our night school students ! We love when community partners are able to bring their talents and expertise to our school!

ALC students attended the "Discover Healthcare -- Student Career Exploration" event! Thank you to Southeast Service Cooperative for hosting this hands-on learning opportunity.

We're so fortunate to partner with the Rotary Club's STRIVE program. Each month, seniors meet with volunteer Rotary mentors to help stay on track for graduation and to plan next steps.

A big thank you to TerraLoco for donating over a dozen new sneakers for our students in need. Grateful to be a #community school!

Looking for soemthing to do with students during winter break? Help Mayo Clinic name their cranes. Between now and 2030, 13 tower cranes will rise above Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campuses. To celebrate, Mayo Clinic is launching a community-wide “Name the Crane” contest, inviting the Rochester community to help name these icons of progress. Submit your idea and be part of the story as we build our city’s future together! Learn more: https://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester-construction/cranes

As we wrap up 2025, read Superintendent Pekel's end-of-year letter to see all that we've accomplished in our district: https://rochesterpsmn.edurooms.com/engage/rochester-public-schools/newsletters/superintendent-pekel-s-end-of-year-update.

As we wrap up 2025, read Superintendent Pekel's end-of-year letter to see all that we've accomplished in our district: https://rochesterpsmn.edurooms.com/engage/rochester-public-schools/newsletters/superintendent-pekel-s-end-of-year-update.

It was Service Day at the ALC! 💙
Students signed up to support local organizations throughout Rochester, giving their time and talents back to the community.

Service projects included:
➤ Volunteering at a horse farm
➤ Making holiday treats to deliver to area businesses
➤ Random acts of kindness (rock painting and card making)
➤ Creating homemade dog toys and delivering them to Paws & Claws
➤ Creating winter decorations and interacting with children at the Jeremiah Program
➤ Mentoring elementary students at Ben Franklin Elementary and creating string art gifts
➤ Spreading positivity by making holiday cards for the Ronald McDonald House
➤ Creating birthday cake kits for the school food pantry
➤ Baking cookies to donate to 12-step meetings around Rochester

We are proud of our students for making a meaningful impact and showing the true spirit of service! 🌟

Students enjoyed kick sledding with Nature Rx! The class is taught in partnership with Public Health, where students experience time in nature for well-being.

Thank you to our ALC Health Clinic RN, Megan, for hosting December's monthly wellness event! Students created DIY cold/heat packs out of socks and rice. As a reminder, students can access the Health Clinic on Mondays/Wednesdays (1-4:30pm) and Tuesdays/Thursdays (8-11:30am). (Insurance will be billed, but students and families will not be charged for services completed on site.)

We are so thankful for the community support that allowed ALC staff to pack 70 family holiday bags this winter! Every item was donated and packed specifically for that family.

At the ALC, one of our priorities is building reading skills and growth in our students. Teachers have been using a tool called Diffit to help provide reading material at each student's individual reading level. This year, our Diffit stats show that students have spent 68, 751 minutes reading!

Thank you to Winona State University Social Work student, Catharine Rose, for leading a project that culminated in a donation of 17 diaper boxes! These went straight to the ALC daycare, into the hands of our students/families.

ALC students have been working on their ice skating skills each week at the Rec Center! We're thankful for this partnership and opportunity for our students to stay active and learn something new. Their teachers have observed students supporting one another, growing, and having fun along the way.

Each month, ALC staff select students they feel have demonstrated a high level of engagement and leadership. Congratulations to our December Students of the Month!