We love our partnership with ROCA! Students are learning new skills, gaining confidence, and encouraging each other along. Thank you to Ms. Holmes for writing a grant to help cover climbing fees. The ROCA Climbing Gym is one option our students can sign up for on our Student-Centered Learning Wednesdays. We bring enrichment activities right into the school day to open up opportunity and access for our students.
The ALC has partnered with the Rotary Club to bring the STRIVE program to our school. Seniors are matched with adult mentors and connect regularly to learn real-life skills, talk about future plans, and for life checks. Today, Mrs. Petersilie led participants in a "Let's Make a Deal" simulation, where students learned about decision-making. At the end, they reflected on how we make choices and take risks in our real lives. Grateful for this partnership and Mrs. Petersilie's leadership!
Tilson's Auto Repair is generously donating a portion of their January sales to the ALC. Funds will be used to support enrichment opportunities for our students, like boxing, self-defense, music, art, state park programs, and STEM activities. Tilson's does so much for this community. We appreciate this partnership!
Our Nature Rx students have been on new adventures with ice skating and fat tire biking! Thank you to Public Health for this fantastic partnership!
Welcome back, students! We hope you had a restful break. We're excited to see all the growth and learning that will happen in the remainder of the school year!
Ready to jumpstart your healthcare career? The Fast Forward to Work: Phlebotomy Training Program is FREE for high school seniors passionate about laboratory sciences and healthcare!
This program offers clinical experience and hands-on training at Mayo Clinic's downtown campus, running from late August through early June. Transportation is provided from Mayo, John Marshall, and Century High Schools! 🎓
Thanks to a partnership between Rochester Public Schools and the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, this opportunity comes at NO cost to students!
💡 Information Sessions for the Fast Forward to Work Phlebotomy Training Program:
🔹 Virtual Session: Jan 7 at 6:30 p.m.
🔹 In-Person Session: Jan 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Edison Building, 615 7th Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902
This is your chance to take the first step toward a rewarding career in phlebotomy!
🔗 REGISTER NOW for the info session! https://airtable.com/appdynln57F04Nqyp/shraFUgT5YbTiyKlL
#FastForwardToWork #PhlebotomyProgram #HealthcareCareers #HighSchoolSeniors #FreeProgram #MayoClinic #RPS #RochesterPublicSchools #FutureHealthLeaders
RPS offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, in observance of New Year's Day. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday, January 2.
The Gingerbread House Contest winners are in! Thank you to all of our community partners who served as judges. They took the time to write personal notes to students with their feedback as well.
It was really close, with just one point separating the first place and second place winners! Congratulations to Mrs. Goss' advisory!
RPS offices will be closed from Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday, December 26.
Winter break is here! There is no school from December 23 through January 3 (Longfellow students, your break is through January 10). We hope you have a great winter break and we will see you students in the New Year!
It was Spirit Week at the ALC that included Twinning Day and Jersey Day! We wanted to give a special shoutout to our wonderful ESP, Keith Bland. When he's not helping our students, he's out in the community bringing smiles to kids' faces as the one-and-only Homie Claus!
ALC students gave back to the community for Service Day!
* Channel One - assembling food bags
* Paws & Claws - making and delivering toys
* Jeremiah Program - creating holiday ornaments and decorations
* Ben Franklin Elementary - serving as mentors in a card-making and science activity
* ALC Food Pantry - assembling birthday cake boxes
Day School advisories are competing in a Gingerbread House Contest! Their designs are incredible! Eight of our community partners will be serving as judges today, and the winning advisory will be announced tomorrow! Stay tuned!
Thank you all of our community partners in making the holidays extra special for our students and their families. Autumn Ridge Church generously purchased gifts for 50 of our students (after learning their needs and wants). Then, our ALC staff were able to assemble 50 family holiday bags for each of those students' families. This was only possible with the help of our AMAZING donors:
* Autumn Ridge Church - 17 food boxes
* Rochester community - games donated during our Trunk or Treat event
* Zumbro Lutheran Church - 50 $10 Kwik Trip gift cards
* Scheels - $200 gift card for Scheels water bottles
* JoBeth Olson - 100 facial masks
* Christ United Methodist Church - a variety of brand new toys, sports equipment, and holiday items
* 125 Live Quilters - quilted blankets, quilted travel kits, and various holiday items
* Eagles - $275 donation for various holiday items
* GEOTEK - gift tote bags
* Brenda Wendt - homemade gift tags that read "Packed with love, by ALC staff"
We're grateful for our partnership with Corey Kline, USA licensed boxing coach. It has been amazing watching our students' confidence and skills grow!
It's Spirit Week at the ALC!
* Pajama Monday
* Twinning Tuesday
* Ugly Sweater Wednesday
* Jersey Thursday
* Flannel Friday
We love our new partnership with Early Childhood Education! Our students get to experience the world of preschool teaching. They're learning how to teach through play and to lead structured group activities.
Thank you, Annika, for hosting an education table about Von Wald over lunch and dinner! Our students learned about an important community resource for:
* Mental health support
* Respite care
* Substance abuse issues
* Truancy
* Homelessness
* Waiting for next placement
* Domestic violence/unsafe housing
* At-risk situations such as trafficking or sexual exploitation
Students in NatureRx (led by Public Health) hiked at Chester Woods, learned about fire-making, and enjoyed toasted marshmallows after! They experienced fat-tire biking too. Lots of outdoor adventures!
Congratulations to our current group of students who passed FYEX class! The "First Year College Experience" class is co-taught with RCTC. Students who pass with a "C" or better can go on to take PSEO classes for college credit while still in high school. They completed their 30-Day Challenge final presentations on campus at RCTC and shared letters to future FYEX students about the importance of the class. (The class is now offered to Day and Night School students. Grateful for this partnership with RCTC!)
