RCSD News

Dear Rochester City School District Families,

Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope you had a joyful and restful winter recess. As we begin 2025, I am excited to see our schools buzzing with energy and focus, ready to start the year strong. I look forward to working together to ensure this new year is one of success, growth, and achievement for all our students.

As we move into the second half of the academic year, I want to remind everyone that middle-of-the-year benchmark assessments are just around the corner. These assessments are crucial in measuring our students’ progress toward grade-level standards and guiding instructional strategies. Additionally, Regents exams will take place later this month, providing high school students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in key subjects. Looking ahead to early spring, our students in grades 3–8 will be participating in New York State assessments, which play an important role in evaluating and enhancing academic outcomes.

Please take a few moments to complete three important surveys currently available to our families. Your feedback is invaluable and will help us better serve our students and support our school communities.

1. Digital Resources Survey: This survey is for families of students in Kindergarten – 6th grade and is required by the New York State Education Department. The nine-question survey will help us understand technology and internet access at home, enabling educators to better support students. The survey is open through January 16.

2. Family Engagement Survey: Parents and caregivers of students in grades PreK – 6 are encouraged to share input with the Office of Parent Engagement as they plan workshops to support academic success. Your feedback will help determine workshop topics and convenient scheduling. This survey is open through January 10.

3. Real Talk, Real Change: This anonymous school climate survey is open to all families from January 6 – January 31. Students in grades 5–12 are completing a similar survey in school. Your input will help us enhance the educational climate across the RCSD.

I also want to stress the importance of consistent attendance. Every day in school matters and absenteeism can significantly impact a student’s academic performance and progress. Together, we can ensure that our students are present, engaged, and ready to learn each day.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts via our current surveys and helping us make 2025 a fantastic year for our students and schools.

Warm regards,

Dr. Demario Strickland

Interim Superintendent of Schools

Dear RCSD Community,

It is with gratitude and optimism that I step into the role of School Board President. I want to acknowledge the dedication and resilience each of you brings to our District. Our collective commitment to the success and well-being of our students is the foundation upon which we build every achievement.

Differing perspectives are part of any robust dialogue and highlight a shared passion for our students and their futures. As your School Board President, I am committed to fostering transparency and accountability. I believe in creating spaces where every voice is heard and valued, ensuring our decisions reflect our community's diverse needs and aspirations. I invite you to join me on this journey as active participants, sharing your ideas, concerns, and dreams for the future of our schools.

To our students, know that you are at the heart of everything we do. Thank you to our families and community members for your steadfast support and engagement. And to our dedicated staff, your hard work and passion make all the difference in shaping lives and futures.

With warm regards and unwavering commitment,

Camille Simmons
President, Rochester Board of Education

It is also time for students entering seventh and ninth grades in September 2025 to choose a new school for the next school year. Visit the District website at www.rcsdk12.org/schoolselection to explore schools and complete the school selection application.

The deadline to participate in the school selection process is Friday, February 21, 2025, so visit the website today!

With Real Talk, we can make Real Change in our schools. Please participate in a quick anonymous survey to gather your honest opinions and experiences in RCSD schools. Results from this survey will help provide the District with a basis for understanding and improving the educational climate for all. This survey is completely anonymous and can be accessed from any device at www.rcsdk12.org/realtalk from January 6 - 31, 2025. Students in grades 5 – 12 will take a similar survey in school. Remember: Real Talk, Real Change!

Attention families of students in Kindergarten through grade 6!

It is not too late to complete this short online survey for each Kindergarten through 6th-grade student in your home! The survey closes on January 16, so visit www.rcsdk12.org/DRsurvey today!

The New York State Education Department requires all school districts to survey students and families about their technology and internet access at home. The data collected from this survey will be used to help educators better serve your children. Thank you.

The administration of the second i-Ready Diagnostic assessment of the school year will begin next week. Students in grades K-8 will take these in their classes sometime between January 6 – 24, 2025.

i-Ready is an online mathematics and reading program that helps determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. The program allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.

To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic assessments, encourage them to try their best on each question, try not to rush, and understand that they will not know the answer to every question. You can also support your child’s learning by discussing their progress and celebrating their learning and growth.

If you have any questions about i-Ready, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school. You can also learn more about i-Ready by visiting i-ReadyCentral.com/FamilyCenter.

Hello Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful break! My two weeks off were filled with rest and love, and I trust you all had a chance to recharge as well.

I want to remind you that the School Climate Survey opens on January 6! It is essential for all students in grades 5–12 and families to participate in this survey. Your input helps us understand the strengths and challenges within each school and allows us to offer targeted support where it is needed most. We truly value hearing about the positive changes happening across our District, and student voice is key in shaping these efforts.

I cannot stress enough how important it is for our students to engage with this survey. Last year, our participation numbers grew significantly, and we are excited to see an even stronger response this year! Remember, with Real Talk, we can make Real Change in our schools. You can take the survey here: www.rcsdk12.org/realtalk.

Looking ahead, I am also excited about one of my favorite events of the year: the Legislative Breakfast, which will take place on February 8, 2025. For the first time, the Student Leadership Congress and the Superintendent (aka: my bestie!) will collaborate on a joint presentation. We are all looking forward to this opportunity to share our work with the community.

I would also like to shout out everyone (parents, guardians, counselors, community partners, etc.) who has been helping high school seniors with FAFSA, TAP, and college applications. We see you, and you are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

Hazel Roberts

President, RCSD Student Leadership Congress

To learn more about SLC, please contact Carl Parris, RCSD’s Director of Youth Engagement & Cultural Relations, at carl.parris@rcsdk12.org or 585-825-9575.

SIGN UP TODAY! 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, visit www.rcsdk12.org/parentportal.

This month, students in grades 9 – 12 will take the NYS Regents Exams, which will be administered January 21 – 24, 2025. During these four days, students in grades 9 – 12 will only come to school if they have a Regents or midterm exam. The January Regents schedule is posted here. If you are unsure of your children's exam schedule, including the exam start times at your school, please reach out to their school counselor.

The 2025-2026 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is open, and we want to ensure that our students complete the FSA ID process now. The FAFSA is essential for any senior planning to attend college or career school, as it determines eligibility for a variety of financial aid opportunities, including:

• Federal Grants
• Work-Study Programs
• Federal Student Loans
• State and School Aid (based on FAFSA data)
• Private Aid Providers (who may also use FAFSA data)

Please encourage your child to complete their FSA ID as soon as possible. Students and their families need to create an FSA ID, which is required to access and complete the FAFSA form. This is an important first step to streamline the process, as FSA ID authentication can take up to three days.

We also hope you will attend a FAFSA event, where you can receive free assistance with the FAFSA and apply for financial aid for college. For a list of FASFA Fest events, please visit this link.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students access the financial aid they need for their education and future success!

Explore the official RCSD Flickr account, where you will find photos capturing the vibrant experiences within our District. We love showcasing the successes of our students, educators, and families!

Read more

Click here for more Bright Spots!

Attention All Students!

• 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.

The athletic event schedules for all RCSD schools can be found on the Rochester City Athletic Conference webpage.

Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC)

All RCSD parents are welcome at all PLAC meetings! The next leadership meeting is Tuesday, January 7, and the general membership meeting is Wednesday, February 12. Both meetings are at 6:00 pm and virtual via Microsoft Teams. Email plac@rcsdk12.org for additional information, including the Microsoft Teams link.

Bilingual Education Council (BEC)

BEC is made up of parents, community organizations, students, teachers, and administrators of the RCSD who have demonstrated their concern for the development of bilingual education. The next meeting is Wednesday, January 8, at 5:00 p.m. at the David F. Gantt R-Center (700 North Street, Rochester, NY 14605). BEC will be celebrating Three Kings Day. Email bec@rcsdk12.org for more information.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

All parents and caregivers of RCSD students with an IEP or 504 plan are invited to join SEPAC. The next meeting is Monday, January 13, at 6:00 pm via Microsoft Teams. Email rcsdsepac@gmail.com for the Microsoft Teams link, meeting information, and additional information about SEPAC. (MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED)

Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MPAC)

MPAC supports parental involvement and participation in the English Language Learners’ programming and academic achievement. All parents and guardians of international and multilingual students are encouraged to attend the monthly MPAC meetings. The next meeting is Monday, January 13, at 11:30 am, at OACES, located at 30 Hart Street, in the cafeteria. For more information, email mpac@rcsdk12.org.

Check out the January breakfast and lunch menus for elementary, middle, and high school students here!

If you are a custodial caregiver of an RCSD student and you have a mobile number on file with your child’s school, you can opt in to receive text messages from us. Simply text Y to short code 67587 to begin receiving text messages. For more information about text messaging, visit www.rcsdk12.org/text.

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. We want to make sure you are receiving communications from your child's school, teachers, and the District.

The complete list of RCSD schools and programs, including bell times, building addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and administrators, is posted on the District website.

www.rcsdk12.org
131 West Broad Street, Rochester, NY 14614, USA
585-262-8100

communications@rcsdk12.org