Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256

The Young Peoples' Summer Theatre Intensive program opened in the Hobgoblin Barn last week and will culminate with two productions Friday, July 19, at Twin Bluff Middle School.

Community Education & Recreation's two week Young Peoples' Summer Theatre Intensive program will conclude Friday, July 19, performances at 4 and 7 p.m. in the Twin Bluff Middle School auditorium.

In addition to acting in the performance (and possibly lending musical talents to the show), young people learn and grow in their knowledge and experience of the many aspects of stage production. Students in grades 5-12 are responsible for the set design, costumes, props, backstage crew, sound, lights and publicity.

Julie Martin, a Red Wing teacher, is supervising and directing.

Tickets to Friday's shows are $5 for adults and free for students.

Red Wing Water Park reopened July 11 -- just in time for the heatwave -- after nearly three weeks of being closed due to high Mississippi River water levels.

Community Recreation operates the facility through a joint powers agreement with the City of Red Wing.

"Our trained lifeguards as well as concessions and front desk staff members are ready to welcome you to open swimming from noon to 6 p.m. daily," coordinators said.

Upcoming classes

July 29-Aug. 2: Red Wing Arts Youth Summer Camp, ages 5-10, 1-4 p.m.

Aug. 5-26: Puppy Life Skills, Mondays, 5:45 p.m.

Quick Manners for Dogs, Mondays, 7 p.m.

Aug. 7-28: Henna Basics, ages 10-15, Wednesdays, 1 p.m.

Office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

Phone: 651-385-4565

Kids Junction's older group, which comprises those in grades 3-6, spent Friday at Feed My Starving Children based in Eagan. During the annual field trip they assembled 11,880 meals that filled 55 boxes.

Families with children entering kindergarten through grade 5 should start looking for classroom/teacher placement letters in the middle of August.

Staff for Sunnyside, Burnside and Twin Bluff schools hope to coordinate letters this year so most students receive information at roughly the same time.

Please note that kindergarten registrations sometime lag, so early completion and submission of all paperwork is greatly appreciated. (See related item below.)

Congratulations, you have a child eligible to start kindergarten in September 2025!

The transition to kindergarten is an exciting step into lifelong learning, and we're pleased you've chosen Red Wing Public Schools.

Kindergarten registration began in February. If you haven't completed the process, now is the time to do so.

All children who are at least 5 years of age by Sept. 1, 2024, can be enrolled in kindergarten. For more information about this requirement, visit the Minnesota Department of Education website.

Find the enrollment forms online or pick up a packet at the District Office, 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Door No. 36.

If your child enrolled and attended classes last year in another district – including 5RiversOnline – but plans to return to Red Wing Public Schools for the 2024-2025 school year, you must re-enroll that child with RWPS Student Services.

Note: This is a state requirement.

Find the enrollment forms online or pick up a packet at the District Office, 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Door No. 36.

For more information, contact Melinda Johnson at majohnson@rwps.org or call 651-385-4520.

Red Wing Public Schools and First Student, our transportation provider, are working on bus routes.

Please act on any of the following areas that apply to your family. Do not wait until the start of the school year, because bus routes are being assigned now.

Address Changes: If you have recently moved, please contact Melinda Johnson, District Student Services at majohnson@rwps.org or call 651-385-4520. NOTE: There are address limitations -- parents must select one address for transportation pick-up and drop-off between home and school.

Private child care: If a child’s home and child care are different, you must complete a transportation form.

Grade 11-12 reminder: If your student is going into 11th or 12th grade and wishes to ride the bus, you will need to complete a Transportation form.

Download transportation forms below:

Technology specialist Nathan Stout prepares the last of 400 Chromebooks for the 2024-2025 school year.

Students have the summer off, but work is well underway to prepare for their arrival Tuesday, Sept. 3.

This fall Red Wing High School students in grades 8 and 10 will be assigned a new district-issued Chromebook, which is intended to stay with them through graduation.

(The exception might be any student who received a new device last year.)

The District has implemented a purchasing cycle, so students entering grade 8 in subsequent years also can anticipate new devices.

Because students take the devices home each day, using them for homework and e-learning days as well as in class, families are encouraged to purchase the district's protection plan. Information will be available closer to the start of the school year.

Chromebooks are primarily housed at school for younger students, who rely on traditional textbooks, pencils and paper for daily instruction.

Supply lists are available for elementary and middle school students.

High school students, who use school-issued Chromebooks for most classes, will learn what they need when the school year begins.

The fall sports season is less than a month away. Sign up today at gowingers.com.

Red Wing School Board members will hear an update on the Red Wing College Promise when they meet at 6 p.m. Monday, July 15, in Red Wing High School room J110.

Minnesota State College Southeast President Marshal Danielson will explain how the tuition-free program for Red Wing High School graduates worked this past year. This initiative is made possible through the Jones Family Foundation.

Also on the BoardBook agenda are:

• Finance & Operations Director Lisa Rider will provide an update on the 2024 fiscal year budget, which concluded June 30. She will have information through May 2024.
• Adoption of long-term facilities maintenance plans for RWPS as well as Goodhue County Education District. These plans outline projected 10-year expenditures and revenues.
• Approval of numerous RWPS policy updates to reflect actions by the 2024 Minnesota Legislature.

The business meeting will be recorded and streamed on the RWPS YouTube channel.

District calendar

Monday, July 15: District leadership and School Board retreat, 2 p.m.

School Board meeting, 6 p.m., Red Wing High School J110.

Tuesday, July 30: School Board candidate filing period begins.

Monday, Aug. 5: School Board, 5 p.m. workshop, 6 p.m. meeting, Red Wing High School J110.

Tuesday, Aug 13: School Board candidate filing closes at 5 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 19: New teachers report.

School Board, 5 p.m. workshop, 6 p.m. meeting, Red Wing High School J110.

Thursday, Aug. 22: All teachers report.

Monday, Aug. 26: All-staff kickoff, 8 a.m., followed by activities and workshop; school offices closed. A quorum of School Board may be present.

Important links & information:

District Office

2451 Eagle Ridge Drive

Red Wing, MN 55066

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-385-4500

Website: www.rwps.org

If you are planning a visit to a school, please be aware that hours vary and some schools are closed during the summer.

Summer office hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

Phone: 651-385-4700

Webpage: Red Wing High School

Summer office hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. lunch closure) and 7-11 a.m. Friday.

Phone: 651-385-4530

Twin Bluff webpage

June-August: Kids Junction summer child care, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kids Junction phone: 651-385-4587

Sunnyside main office is closed during the summer.

Sunnyside webpage

For information, call the District Office, 651-385-4500.

Burnside webpage

For information, call the District Office, 651-385-4500

Colvill office is closed.

For information, call Community Education & Recreation, 651-385-4565

Colvill webpage

Red Wing Public Schools strives to provide an innovating and meaningful educational experience that fosters curiosity; pursues and applies best practices; embraces diversity by respectfully engaging all students, families, and staff; and connects and partners with our community. We serve pre-K through grade 12.

Website: www.rwps.org
Location: 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 385-4500