A message from your friendly principal, Ms. Cearns
Dear RPS Families,
We are so excited for Tuesday! We are also thankful to all our families who attended the connecting for success conferences held this week. We loved having kids back in the building and having this time to get to know our incoming classes. Our school district's promise is "to know, value and support every student, ensuring they graduate with confidence and skills for a successful future." And these conferences are a big reason why we will achieve it!
On Tuesday, September 2nd we will welcome all of our first and second grade students. We will also welcome our kindergarten and TK students whose last names start with A-L.
On Wednesday, September 3rd, we will welcome our kindergarten and TK students whose last names start with M-Z.
On Thursday, September 4th, we will welcome all of our TK-2 students!
Our preschools will start on Monday, September 8th.
The 25-26 school year is going to be the best ever!
Have a great weekend,
Ms. Cearns
New Morning Drop-off and...MORNING RECESS!!!
Did you hear at your conference? RPS is adding a morning recess to our schedule.
What that means for you-
We will only be dropping students off at the front of the school (no longer on the backside of the gym).
You will still need to "zipper in" to one line to round the front of the school. A staff member will be present to help with this. This means one car moves forward from the inside lane, then one car moves from the outside lane and it rotates back and forth.
Cars dropping off will pull all the way forward to the last blue pole.
Once cars are stopped, students will exit to the sidewalk
Students then walk to the gym. Those that need breakfast will go into the gym. Those that don't, will go out to recess. If a student goes to the playground and does not get breakfast, they will not have the opportunity to eat after the bell has rung.
To help with this process please have your student ready to exit the car quickly. That means back pack on and ready to go. It also helps if parents remain in their vehicles. Mrs. Kupfer will be greeting everyone just like always :)
Just a reminder that parents cannot come indoors to drop students off at class. This includes our incoming kindergartners. We have staff ready to assist all students in getting to the correct location. We appreciate your understanding as we ensure our campus remains secure and safe for our staff and students.
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After School Pick Up
Family Pick Up
RPS has 2 pick-up locations.
Pick Up Zones-
The Library (front of school)- Red Zone
The Gym- Green Zone
Please make every effort possible to familiarize yourself with this process. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our pick up procedure becomes more fluid as the year progresses.
Route:
The entrance to RPS pick up is furthest west (at GMES). GMES students who have siblings at RPS will be picked up from the RPS gym (the green zone).
For families picking up students from the RPS library (Red Zone), please line up in the inside lane (closest to RPS). For families picking up students from the RPS gym (Green Zone), please line up in the outside lane (closest to James Road).
Cars will follow the parking lot lane nearest James Road. Please let the buses pass through. This is easiest if gaps are left in the lines at the entrance/exit areas in the parking lot.
Green Zone- Once you have driven around the gym and picked up your child(ren), you will travel along the fire lane behind the portables. Then turn right at the end of the fire lane and portables and take the maintenance road out to Rochester High School.
Red Zone- Once you have picked up your child from the front of the school, exit through the opening in the pick up line back out to James Road.
To help this process move quickly, please review the following reminders-
Adults stay in the car unless your child needs assistance
In both zones, the sign holder will signal you to move your car- please DO NOT move until then
If a vehicle does not have a pick-up placard, please have your ID ready (If you need a pick up placard, please get one from our front office.)
Our goal is to create a dismissal procedure that is safe and efficient.
RPS Hours
RPS is open to receive students at 8:30. On full days (Monday-Thursday and the first/last Friday of the school year) we dismiss students at 3:30. Students will leave their classrooms at 3:30 to either go to a bus or go to a family pick up area. Our goal is to capture as many learning minutes as we can. That means we are instructing until 3:30. Arriving late to school and being picked up early from school counts towards absences. Please do your best to schedule appointments outside of the school day. Thank you.
Join FAST!
RPS is supported by a wonderful organization called FAST. FAST stands for Families and School Together. This group works hard to enrich the basic school experience for all children by organizing funding for special activities and fostering an increased sense of community and pride in RPS.
Our group meets monthly on the first Tuesday at 6PM. The meetings have been on zoom, but may be changing to 'in person' this year. Their next meeting will be September 9th, 6pm in the RPS Library. Please join us! rpsfast@gmail.com https://www.rpsfast.com/
RSD Back to School Bash
Mark your calendar for Friday, September 12, from 5-7pm for the 2025-2026 Back to School Bash. This district event will take place at GMES and the Reptile Man is back by popular demand!
RPS Building Security
Intercom System at Entry
As a reminder, our entry system brings an extra layer of security by allowing us to keep our school doors locked and monitor who enters our buildings. When school is in session, you will need to follow a few steps to enter one of our schools. At the entrance, you will see the video intercom system. After pressing the intercom button, please be prepared to:
Thank you for being a partner in helping to ensure a safe teaching and learning environment for all students and staff.
Add the RSD App
This year, the Rochester School District will no longer be using REMIND. We are switching to a program called ROOMS. Your student's teacher will be inviting you to use ROOMS soon. Just like REMIND, you will be able to message our nurse and front office staff as well. You will learn more about this at your child's conference. To get started, please download our school district ap.
You can also find important information about RPS on our website. Check it out!
RPS Website
Upcoming Dates
September 1 - Labor Day NO SCHOOL
September 2 - First Day of School for TK and K students with last names starting with A-L, first grade and second grade
September 3 - First day for TK and K students with last names starting with M-Z
September 4 - Everyone comes to school
September 8 - First Day of Preschool (REIP)
September 5 - Full day of school (not an ACT Friday)
September 12- ACT Friday's Begin: Release at 2:15pm, Back to School BASH 5-7 on GMES playground
September 15- International Dot Day! Wear your dots.
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Equal Opportunity Employer
Rochester School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, the use of a trained guide dog or service animal, or any other basis prohibited by law. We also provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights Coordinator: Jennifer Bethman (360) 273-9242, jbethman@rochester.wednet.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Kelsey Lincoln (360) 273-5958, wmaus@rochester.wednet.edu; 504/ADA Coordinator: Laura Staley (360) 273-5536, lstaley@rochester.wednet.edu. Address: 10140 Highway 12 SW, Rochester, WA 98579.
