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RCSD News
May 2024
Dear Rochester City School District Families,
As we move forward from the New York State 3 – 8 English Language Arts assessment, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for your unwavering support in nurturing your children’s educational journey at home. With May upon us, our calendar is once again filled with assessments and important milestones.
Next week, students in grades 3 – 8 will be gearing up for the NYS mathematics exams, while our K – 8 students will begin their final i-Ready diagnostic assessment later in the month. Additionally, some of our high school students will be taking Advanced Placement exams, and all our students classified as English Language Learners will be participating in the NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Test.
Amidst these assessments, we find ourselves immersed in the budget season. Final deliberations are underway, culminating in a special Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, to adopt the 2024–2025 budget. Following this, City Council’s vote will take place in June. I encourage you to visit www.RCSDK12.org/budget for the latest updates, key dates, and presentations.
Thank you once again for your continued dedication to the education and well-being of our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carmine Peluso
Superintendent of Schools
Last Day of School Change
The last day of school for students in grades PreK-8 is now Friday, June 21, 2024. This change will provide our staff additional time to pack their rooms for reconfiguration and complete mandated training.
May Dates to Remember
- Friday, May 17: Superintendent's Conference Day (no school for students)
- Thursday, May 23: half-day for students (check dismissal times here)
- Friday, May 24: recess day (no school for students)
- Monday, May 27: all facilities closed for Memorial Day
Reading Support at Home
The District is again partnering with Amira Learning, an online digital reading tutor that can read with your child in English and Spanish. Students in grades K – 5 are given reading practice for use at home or in after-school programs.
Amira is available to students by logging on to ROConnect using a computer or tablet. Amira helps facilitate meaningful data that teachers can share with parents. We hope you will take advantage of this valuable resource to support your children’s reading! Families can learn more at www.rcsdk12.org/amira.
Bright Spots
May Parent Group Meetings
Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC)
- You are invited to the Third Annual PLAC Party! Thursday, May 9, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at RISE Community School No. 106, 279 Ridge Road West. Bring the whole family and register here!
- The next leadership team meeting is Tuesday, May 7, at 6:00 pm. Email plac@rcsdk12.org for the Zoom link. Parents can opt-in HERE to be a part of the PLAC Leadership Team, which is the steering committee for PLAC.
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
- Monday, May 13, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
- Email rcsdsepac@gmail.com for the Zoom link
Bilingual Education Council (BEC)
- Tuesday, May 14, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- Trent and Pamela Jackson R-Center, 485 North Clinton Avenue
- Interpretation, dinner, and childcare provided
- Email bec@rcsdk12.org for more information
Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC)
- Tuesday, May 21, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
- 30 Hart Street, room 208
- Interpretation and lunch provided
- Email mpac@rcsdk12.org for more information
The last 2024-25 budget deliberation is May 1, and the special Board meeting to adopt the budget is May 7. Please visit the budget webpage to learn more.
Get College Ready!
If you need help preparing your child for college and beyond, then look no further – visit www.rcsdk12.org/collegeready today! This website is a one-stop shop designed to help support students with the whole college process, with information on community events, college applications, scholarships, and more. Check back regularly, as this information is continually updated.
Also, if you haven’t checked out Naviance with your child, ask them about it! There are many great college and career-readiness activities to help prepare students in grades 7-12 for the next step in their educational journey. As always, students should reach out to their school counselor for assistance. For a complete list of school counselors by school, click here.
Free Summer Opportunities!
Interested in a career in nursing? Check out the Cardinal Nurse Camp at St. John Fisher University for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Learn about the nursing field from faculty, alumni, and current Fisher students. The camp runs July 8-12, at the Wegmans School of Nursing. The deadline to register is May 15, so visit Fisher's website today!
Start planning summer now with a free summer camp for RCSD high school students through the University of Rochester. Learn more at the link below.
Photon Camp-Institute of Optics
Dates: June 24- 28
Application Deadline: May 15
Still in search of a summer job? Applications for the Rochester Summer Youth Employment Program are being accepted now until all positions are filled. Work permits are processed and issued at your child’s school – see www.rcsdk12.org/workpermit for more information.
Support Our Athletes!
The athletic schedules for all RCSD schools can be found on the Rochester City Athletic Conference webpage. In order to attend RCSD-hosted games, student spectators from the home and away teams must show a valid school ID. Students from any other schools must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 25 years old with a valid ID. Minors must be accompanied at all times.
PowerSchool Parent Portal gives real-time access to class schedules, attendance, assignments, grades, and contact information for teachers. High school parents can also monitor their child's progress toward meeting graduation requirements. For more information on downloading the app and creating an account, including a how-to video, visit www.rcsdk12.org/parentportal.
Custodial caregivers of RCSD students can opt in to receive text messages from us. All you need is a mobile number on file with your child’s school. Simply text Y to short code 67587 to begin receiving text messages. For more information about text messaging, visit www.rcsdk12.org/text.
Moving? New Phone Number?
If you move or change your phone number, please notify your child's school. It is very important that we have current email addresses, mailing addresses, and phone numbers (home/mobile) on file for your family to ensure you are receiving communications from your child's school, teachers, and the District.