PAIIR - Parents Are Important in Rochester

Join Rochester Public Schools at our Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community Mixer for an evening of community, conversation, and connection as we prepare to launch American Sign Language (ASL) at our high schools in the 2026-2027 school year.

Come meet ASL teachers and district staff, learn more about our ASL program, and share ideas, perspectives, and community voice. This event is open-house style, and light refreshments will be provided.

The last day of school might have been yesterday, but we're still reminiscing and celebrating our graduation ceremonies! Last week, our youngest graduates celebrated their big transition from preschool. We are so proud of these little learners and can't wait to watch them thrive as they head to elementary school this fall!

The ECFE Little Inventors designed egg protection units, and on the last day of class, they conducted their experiment. Ms. Jill dropped their inventions from the roof of the Northrop building, and the inventors rushed to see if their eggs survived the fall!

There were cheers, suspense, and a few cracked eggs along the way, but every student showed incredible imagination, problem-solving, and teamwork. Future engineers in the making!

After more than a decade of supporting fathers and families through ECFE, Ann Eberhard taught her final Dad & Me Yearlong class on Wednesday, and it came with a special surprise! Several alumni dads returned to celebrate the incredible impact she has had on their lives and families over the years.

Since 2014, Ann has created a welcoming and supportive space where dads could connect, learn, ask questions, and grow in their parenting journeys. Through her guidance, encouragement, and compassion, she has empowered countless fathers and built lasting relationships with families throughout our community.

Thank you, Ann, for the care, wisdom, and dedication you brought to every class. Your impact will be felt for generations to come.

Happy Retirement, Ann!

We’re excited to welcome the Kiwanis Club of Rochester, MN to each of our preschool sites over the next few weeks as they spend time reading with our students! Even more exciting, each student will get to choose a book to take home and enjoy. Thank you to Kiwanis for helping inspire a love of reading and supporting our young learners one story at a time!

Join us for a fun-filled family fishing trip at Chester Woods Park - Olmsted County, Eyota, MN! This event is primarily designed for families with preschool-aged children, but all families with kids 18 and under are welcome.

No fishing license, prior experience, or equipment is needed thanks to the support of the Minnesota DNR. Just show up and enjoy the experience while Chester Woods Park and DNR staff take care of the rest. Register at bit.ly/rochecfe-fishing

We had a great morning with Rochester Family Literacy!🚌

A huge thank you to our many visitors, volunteers, and community partners who helped make our 32nd Annual Transportation Fair such a success! The weather may have been a little chilly, but the smiles were as warm as ever.

We are so grateful to have been part of your year and hope you and your families had just as much fun as we did. Thank you for helping us create another wonderful community event!

Our preschool and ECFE families had a blast petting the animals when the Red Barn Learning Farm mobile petting zoo recently visited Northrop! We learned that donkeys love to eat dandelions, rabbit fur is very soft, and llamas purr when they are happy!

This activity was sponsored by the ECFE/SR Parent Advisory Council.