Gage Elementary School - Rochester, MN

This is a reminder that there is no school on Monday, March 30 through Friday, April 3 for Spring Break. Additionally, our Registration and Records Department and Human Resources Department at the Edison Building will be closed that week.

Join us in celebrating the amazing people who make our schools a place where every student thrives in school and in life. As a small gesture of gratitude, we're continuing our annual tradition by inviting you to share a few words of encouragement with a staff member who has made a positive impact on you or your student. Your message can go a long way in brightening someone's day and reminding them just how appreciated they are. This year's cards are a nod to Rochester landmarks.

Visit https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/staff-appreciation and choose a card (or two) to send a brief, heartfelt message. We'll make sure your words are delivered to staff members during the week of May 11-15. Submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10.

RPS is canceling school tomorrow, Monday, March 16, in anticipation of the blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service.

Here's what this means:
- Due to the anticipated severity of the storm, this is a complete district building closure. We will not be clearing parking lots until the storm has passed.
- School Age Child Care will be closed.
- All PAIIR, Preschool Age Child Care, Preschool, and Community Education daytime and evening classes for early childhood, youth, adults, and adults with exceptional abilities are canceled.
- Hawthorne Education Center is closed.
- All community building rentals are canceled.
- All Professional Growth Academy classes are canceled.
- All after-school activities and athletics are canceled.

The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and it felt like spring had officially sprung... but the inbox tells a different story. Ever since Jaycob took over "Snow Day Training" a few weeks ago (see the video here if you missed it: https://youtu.be/jPwjsoXBMy4?si=JZ9a1_58bleNVRNg), he’s been flooded with dozens of emails from students (and maybe a few parents 😉) asking for one thing: SNOW DAY.

Even our tiniest lobbyists are getting involved! Check out this video of Ms. Heil's kindergarteners making their formal plea to Jaycob: https://youtu.be/sIDZXtotrkA

Now, with a "historic winter storm" potentially hitting this Sunday into Monday, the whole district is asking the same question: WHAT WILL JAYCOB DO?

Stay tuned... the forecast is looking interesting...

As we close out celebrating Public Schools Week, we want to highlight that our commitment to our families goes far beyond the school building. Every day, our buses travel 12,250 miles to bring our kids together. These miles represent our vision that every student thrives in school and in life. No matter where they live in our community, we are here to provide the connection they need to succeed. You can learn more about our transportation options at www.rochesterschools.org/transportation.

At Rochester Public Schools, our Vision is that every student thrives in school and in life—and that journey starts early. Last year, we welcomed 1,223 young learners for their Early Childhood Screening.

By checking in on vision, hearing, and development after a child's 3rd birthday, we are living out our Value of Supporting the whole student. These free, fun screenings help us paint a picture of a child’s unique skills while connecting families with the resources they need.

Learn more about Early Childhood Screenings at https://www.rochesterce.org/early-childhood-screening

Rochester Public Schools is the heart of a community focused on lifelong learning. Whether you are three years old or eighty-three, we believe in investing in our community's future by providing exceptional opportunities for everyone to grow.

➡️ We help our youngest learners flourish through 177 Preschool Enrichment classes, 105 Early Childhood Family Education classes, and 26 RPS Preschool classrooms.

➡️ Our youth students stay engaged and inspired through 767 Youth Enrichment and 21st Century programs designed to help them find their spark.

➡️ Learning doesn't stop at graduation. We host 655 Adult Enrichment classes, 241 Adults With Exceptional Abilities classes, and 116 unique offerings at Hawthorne Education.

Our value of ensuring excellence through evidence means we use data and proven practices to help our students grow. To date, 90% of RPS 8th graders have used Xello to discover careers connected to their personal interests. By using these tools, we are investing in our community’s future and preparing the next generation of thinkers and doers. Discover more about how our students use the Xello tool at www.rochesterschools.org/xello.

At Rochester Public Schools, we want every student to be “Challenged to Strive and Supported to Thrive.” With more than 120 extracurricular options for our secondary students, we live out our Value of building belonging and connection. By offering a wide variety of activities, we ensure every student can find a place where they belong, helping them develop the social skills and confidence needed to pursue a fulfilling path. Learn more about our mission at www.rochesterschools.org/about.

To help our students flourish, we focus on our value of supporting the whole student. This includes their physical well-being, which is why our nutrition team serves over 16,000 meals every single day. Meeting these basic needs is essential to our mission: to equip every student with the resilience to pursue a fulfilling path. Learn more about our Student Nutrition Services Department at https://www.rochesterschools.org/student-nutrition.

We are proud of our vibrant school communities! Building belonging and connection is a key RPS Value. With 87 languages spoken by our students, we have much to celebrate. Embracing these perspectives creates an environment where every student feels at home and ready to learn. Learn more about our values at www.rochesterschools.org/about.

This week, we're celebrating Public Schools Week! At the heart of Rochester Public Schools are the 4,063 staff members who show up every day for our students. One of our core values is providing exceptional opportunities to succeed, and it starts with a dedicated team willing to help every student find their unique path. From our classrooms to our front offices to our central offices to our grounds crew, we are here to ensure there is more than one path to success for every child. Interested in joining the team? Learn more at https://www.rochesterschools.org/employment.

Join us throughout the week as we spotlight the people, programs, and successes that make our public schools the heart of our community!