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 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.
This is a reminder that there are no classes from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2. RPS classes will resume Monday, January 5 (Longfellow will resume Monday, January 12). Enjoy your Winter Break!
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!
Thank you, Lauren and Planned Parenthood, for hosting an education table for World Aids Day this week!
Monica Eggert - ALC ESP - Official Education Minnesota ESP of the Year! Education Minnesota presented her with a check and iPad gift and Rochester Public Schools recognized her achievement during yesterday's School Board meeting. Congratulations!
Winter is officially here, which means some of us are thinking about the potential of snow days! Learn more about how we determine snow days and what to expect with school closings in the event of inclement weather: http://www.rochesterschools.org/inclement-weather
FREE eye exams, optical care, and glasses! Saturday, December 6, 12:30-3:30pm, Christ United Methodist Church - 400 5th Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902
Each week, students have been going over to Coach Corey's gym for boxing lessons! They're gaining confidence, learning new skills, and benefitting from Corey's mentorship. Appreciate this partnership!
ALC students signed up to volunteer to help set up for the Festival of Trees! Working hard and giving back... We're proud of this group!
Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations in the community who donated toward our Food Pantry this month. We not only stocked our pantry, but created 23 shelf-stable food bags to give to families. Each bag was paired with a Hyvee-donated meal bag ($15 coupon for a turkey/substituted item, potatoes, cookies, Jello, and vegetables). With all of the food donations, we'll be able to create another 30 bags to distribute to families before winter break. #grateful #communitysupport
This is a reminder that there is no school on, Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28, for Thanksgiving Break. RPS will resume normal operations and hours on Monday, December 1. Enjoy the long weekend!
RALC families, due to an unexpected water main break resulting in a complete loss of water service to the building, the Rochester Alternative Learning Center will dismiss students early at 12:30 p.m. today, Friday, November 21. Please check your emails for more information.
