Welcome Back!

Dear Rochester City School District Families,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well and enjoying a restful summer. As we embark on a new academic year, I am deeply honored to serve as your Interim Superintendent of Schools. I find it a privilege to lead our District, and I am deeply committed to working with you to ensure our students receive the highest quality education.

One of the cornerstones of student success is strong family involvement. We want to be sure that you know you are truly a partner with us in your child’s success. PowerSchool Parent Portal is one means that you can use to support your child’s learning in school. This valuable tool lets you stay informed about your child's grades, attendance, and assignments, helping you support their learning journey effectively. You can sign up or access your existing account here.

Attendance is another critical factor in student success. Students should be in school every day and on time! Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of school days, significantly impacts a student’s academic performance. Studies show that chronically absent students are more likely to fall behind in reading and math, have lower grades, and are at a higher risk of dropping out of school. We are committed to reducing chronic absenteeism and ensuring every student is engaged and ready to learn in the classroom.

Together, we can create a supportive and thriving educational environment for our children. I look forward to a productive and successful school year of growth, learning, and achievement.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Sincerely,

Demario Strickland

Interim Superintendent of Schools

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.

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.

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.

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.

There is still time to schedule a health examination with your child’s physician. Health exams/physicals are mandated in grades PreK, Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and for all new entrants. A dental exam form is also requested but not required at these same times.

The required NYS Health Examination Form is available on the District website if it is needed by your healthcare provider. Completed school health examination and dental exam forms may be faxed to 585-324-5924, emailed to Erin.Graupman@rcsdk12.org, or submitted to the nurse at your child’s school in September.

Please be sure your child is up to date on all vaccinations. Per NYS immunization requirements for school, all students must be compliant within the first 14 calendar days of school to avoid any lost instruction time. Please reach out to your child’s primary care practice if you are unsure of their vaccination status. For more information about immunization requirements, click here.

The following procedures are in place for the 2024-25 school year.

Grades PreK – 8

• Students will keep their Chromebooks at school stored in carts in their classrooms.
• Students who still have a Chromebook at home should return it to their school’s main office as soon as possible.

Grades 9 – 12

• Students will take home their Chromebooks and bring them to school fully charged each day unless otherwise communicated by their school.
• Students who are new to the District will have a Chromebook automatically sent to their school.
• Returning students with a Chromebook in need of repair should contact their teacher or main office, and the school will create a ticket for the repair.
• Students with a lost or stolen Chromebook should contact their classroom teacher or main office.

Any RCSD student who does not have internet access at home is eligible to receive a free T-Mobile hotspot. To request a hotspot, please click here. The hotspot will be shipped to the student’s school, and families will be notified when it arrives to arrange for pickup.

U.S. military recruiters, colleges, and external agencies, entities, or parties may request directory information on students. Information that the District may share with these groups includes the student’s name, address, phone number, date and place of birth; grade level; enrollment status; major field of study; height and weight of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees and awards received; photographs; and the name of the previous school the student attended.

The law allows parents/guardians and high school students over 18 to say no to disclosing this information. If you do not want information shared, please make sure you complete a Student Opt-Out Form for the 2024-2025 school year. These are available at each school and on the District website.

The District partners with local law enforcement and fire/medical agencies to respond effectively and efficiently to any situation. Should a critical or emergency arise, the appropriate response will be initiated. Please be advised that students WILL NOT be released during any emergency response.

Schools will conduct 12 emergency drills each school year: eight evacuation drills and four lockdown drills. Six evacuation drills and two lockdown drills will be held between the first day of school and December 31. The remaining two evacuation and two lockdown drills will be held between January 1 and May 1. Families will be notified in advance of any emergency drill.

School safety is everyone’s responsibility! The single most effective preventative tool regarding school safety and security is the “If you see something, say something” protocol. It is critically important that if students see or hear something that is concerning, they say something to a trusted adult.

Click here to view a comprehensive guide for specific emergency situations.

The safety of students and staff is a top priority of the District, and we want to make visits to school buildings pleasant and welcoming experiences in a safe environment for everyone.

Upon arriving at school, visitors should report to the main office, sign in, and obtain a visitor’s badge to wear while in the school. Visitors will need to show identification and be screened through the Raptor Visitor Management System, which is an online tool that enhances school security by screening and registering every campus visitor. The system works by reading a visitor’s driver’s license (or other approved government-issued ID) and comparing it to a database that contains registered sex offenders in all 50 states. Once cleared through the system, a visitor badge is produced that includes a photo, name of the visitor, date, time, and destination in the building. This system replaces the traditional paper sign-in and is especially useful during emergencies to know exactly who is on campus.

i-Ready is an online mathematics and reading program for students in grades K – 8 that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction.

Throughout the year, your child will take a series of i-Ready Diagnostic assessments to help us best support your child’s learning. These will be administered in September, January, and May. i-Ready Instruction provides students with interactive lessons and provides strategic support to keep your child engaged as they learn.

What can you do to help?

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.

Consider joining one of our parent groups this school year! By becoming an active member of a parent group, you will play a vital role in helping to shape the educational experience of your children and others in our school communities. Parent groups serve as a platform for collaboration, fostering a strong sense of unity and creating a positive learning environment for students. Your ideas, experiences, and contributions are invaluable. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students!

Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC)

All RCSD parents are welcome at all PLAC meetings! The general membership meetings are held quarterly, with the next one on Wednesday, September 18, at 6:00 pm. Please visit www.rcsdk12.org/plac for more information.

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, September 11, at 5:00, at the Trent and Pamela Jackson R-Center, located at 485 North Clinton Avenue. For more information, email bec@rcsdk12.org.

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, September 16, at 6:00 pm via Microsoft Teams. Email rcsdsepac@gmail.com for the Microsoft Teams link, meeting information, and additional information about SEPAC.

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, September 9. Email mpac@rcsdk12.org for more information.

RCSD families with children who currently receive special education services or who may be in need of services are invited to our second annual Special Education Resource Fair hosted by the Special Education Parent Advisory Council and the Office of Special Education.

Join us on Saturday, September 14, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at School No. 33, located at 500 Webster Avenue. Learn about special education resources while enjoying a light breakfast and fun activities for the whole family. Activities will be happening throughout the event so come early and stay as long as you can, with visits from the ZooMobile, therapy dogs, a magician, and even an ice cream truck.

For more information, including the link to register, visit www.rcsdk12.org/sepac.

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!

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

Click here for the 2024–2025 RCSD school calendar and one-page At-A-Glance calendar. Printed school calendars were mailed to families’ homes earlier this month.

The athletic event schedules for 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.

RCSD is seeking passionate educators and support professionals to join our dynamic community. From teachers and paraprofessionals to clerical, safety, food service, custodial, and transportation workers, great jobs are open now!

If you or someone you know wants to play a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders and change-makers, our Office of Human Capital staff would love to discuss with you the benefits of working for the Rochester City School District. Find current job postings and recruitment events at www.rcsdk12.org/careers.

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

communications@rcsdk12.org