Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256

Current and future students placed handprints on banners at the RWPS booth at River City Days 2024 with Superintendent Bob Jaszczak's help. He's been on the job a month, and the RWPS booth at the community festival was one of the first opportunities students and their families had to meet him.

Left: School Board member Terese Bjornstad and Director of Teaching & Learning Emily Seefeldt (left photo) and teacher Demi Brunkhorst (right photo) applied washable paint so students could place their handprints on RWPS banners during River City Days 2024. A couple dozen staff, administrators and high school students worked the booth over two days.

Red Wing Public Schools welcomed lifelong learners of all ages to enjoy activities and learn about the district during River City Days.

People were invited to place a handprint and their name on a "We are Red Wing Public Schools" banner Aug. 2-3 at Bay Point Park. Current students added their grade, alumni added their graduation year and the pre-K crowd listed their age.

Six banners in all will hang at local schools.

The booth's educational materials included information about extracurricular activities, the 18 classes at the high school that simultaneously earn college credit, and the Red Wing College Promise, which is a tuition-free program to attend Minnesota State College Southeast.

The booth was a hub of fun, too. There were bracelets, bubbles, balls and more for the young and young at heart, while adults could pick up a coupon to secure a pass through Community Education to walk the hallways before and after school.

Anyone 60 and older also could receive a pass to attend activities and sports contests free of charge. Those passes will be available at the ticket counter and through the Activities Department once the school year begins.

Key Club members Nora Hanson, Eli Hanlin, Graiden Mueller, AJ Mikkelson and Emilee Korder pose with Bingo cards after their shift on Saturday, Aug. 3.

In addition to helping with the Red Wing Public Schools booth (see the Spotlight above), Red Wing High School Key Club members made their presence felt elsewhere during River City Days.

Photo: Key Club member Mary Ellen Robertson calls the numbers for a packed tent of Bingo enthusiasts Saturday, Aug. 3.

Key Club assisted the Dawnbreakers Kiwanis Club with Bingo again this year. Their advisor is Tammy Mikkelson.

Wondering where you might catch Red Wing High School students on Sunday, Aug. 4, at River City Days?

Look for them to appear with multiple organizations during the 1 p.m. parade and then support their classmates and friends competing for the three Red Wing Royal Ambassador crowns at 5 p.m. at the Sheldon Theatre.

Please join Red Wing Public Schools and a host of cosponsors Wednesday, Aug. 7, in preparation for the first He Mni Can Wacipi, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 14, on the Red Wing High School grounds. The informational session will start at 6 p.m. in the Red Wing Public Library Foot Room.

The He Mni Can Wacipi will be a vibrant celebration of Dakota culture and heritage.

Red Wing High School will hold picture day during the back-to-school open House on Aug. 29.

This is a big change -- so students, please come ready for your school portrait to be taken. The photos will be used for student identification badges as well as the yearbook.

In addition, the day will be an opportunity for students to pick up class schedules, visit with their teachers and, for those new to Red Wing and/or the high school, get familiar with the building.

There also are some annual forms for parents to complete.

Open house details

Red Wing High School

Thursday, Aug. 29

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (lunch break for staff noon to 1 p.m.)

Eighth grade orientation will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 14. This event is for students only; they will be provided lunch.

SOAR members in grades 11 and 12 will lead activities. SOAR stands for Success, Opportunity, Achievement and Recognition.

In preparation for the orientation, SOAR members will participate in training exercises and activities earlier in the month.

Homecoming will be Sept. 20 this year.

If your student is interested in wearing a T-shirt specific to their grade to show their school spirit, you can place an order through Carlson's online store. You must place your order by 11:50 p.m. Sept 4.

T-shirts will be distributed during lunches the week of homecoming starting on Sept. 17. Please click on the link below to place an order.

Shirts are intended for high school students only.

Red Wing students are encouraged to register for fall sports as soon as possible. This helps coaches with planning. Most teams will begin practicing on Monday, Aug. 12.

RED WING HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR

Monday, Aug. 12: Fall sports practices begin.

Thursday, Aug. 22: Teachers report.

Thursday, Aug. 29: Open house and photo day, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: First day of school.

Friday, Sept. 13: American Indian education day in preparation for communitywide wacipi at RWHS.

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

The Minnesota Department of Education is in the final stages of reviewing Red Wing Public Schools' application to operate Tower View Alternative High School again starting with the 2024-2025 academic year.

After having been under the auspices of the Goodhue County Education District for several years, the Tower View alternative learning program will soon be back with RWPS.

There will be an open house 11 a.m. to noon and 1-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29.

Tower View students are encouraged to swing by Red Wing High School during the open house there to have a school portrait taken. The photo will be used for student identification badges and, if students choose, the yearbook as well.

Open house details

Tower View

Thursday, Aug. 29

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (lunch break for staff noon to 1 p.m.)

TOWER VIEW CALENDAR

Thursday, Aug. 22: Teachers report.

Thursday, Aug. 29: Open house 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (staff lunch break is noon to 1 p.m. )

Tuesday, Sept. 3: First day of classes.

Important links and information

Tower View webpage

154 Tower View Drive

Office: 651-388-8963

Office hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Twin Bluff Middle School staff discuss how each grade's team will work to connect with every student.

Twin Bluff's designated leaders for BARR -- Building Assets, Reducing Risks -- spent the last week of July preparing to implement this educational model in the coming school year.

Through BARR, which was developed in St. Louis Park, Minn., staff improve their particular school's education system predicated on two pillars: relationships and data.

The program is designed to create strong schools and communities by empowering students, teachers, and families with data, so that schools can re-align existing resources. This in turn nurtures a unified culture to support every student, both inside and outside of the classroom, according to the BARR Center.

Red Wing Public Schools began implementing BARR last year in grades 8 and 9. Staff at the high school said they already have noticed improved student engagement and declining disciplinary referrals for these grades.

Families with students entering grade 5 can expect classroom/teacher placement letters between now and Aug. 16. Please keep an eye on your mailbox.

TWIN BLUFF MIDDLE SCHOOL CALENDAR

Monday, Aug. 5: Band lessons begin.

Thursday, Aug. 29: Open house/mini conferences.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: First day of 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

Burnside's classrooms and common spaces have a fresh feel. The 30-year-old school has new carpeting for the 2024-2025. We look forward to seeing our students walk our hallways and fill the air will voices raised in excitement for a new school year!

Families with children entering grades 2-3-4 should expect classroom/teacher placement letters to arrive by the middle of August.

Burnside's back-to-school event will take place Wednesday, Aug. 28. Look for information in your child’s classroom placement letter on how to sign up for a 15-minute mini-conference with your child’s teacher.

BURNSIDE CALENDAR

Thursday, Aug. 22: Teachers report.

Wednesday, Aug. 28: Mini-conferences.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: First day of school.

Important information and links:

Burnside webpage

Phone: 651-385-4700

Kindergarten registrations are due now.

Children must be 5 years or older by Sept. 1 to be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.

Enrollment forms are available:

• In print at the District Office.

• Online at www.rwps.org

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

Families with children entering kindergarten and grade should expect classroom/teacher placement letters to arrive by the middle of August.

Sunnyside's back-to-school event will take place Wednesday, Aug. 28. Look for information in your child’s classroom placement letter to sign up for a 15-minute mini-conference with your child’s teacher.

SUNNYSIDE CALENDAR

August: Kids Junction summer child care, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Aug. 29.

Thursday, Aug. 22: Teachers report.

Wednesday, Aug. 28: Mini-conferences.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: First day of classes for grade 1 and half of kindergarten.

Wednesday, Sept. 4: First day of classes for half of kindergarten.

Kids Junction phone: 651-385-4587

Important information and links:

Sunnyside webpage

Phone: 651-385-4570

Attendance: 651-385-4580 or SESattendance@rwps.org

Kids Junction: 651-385-4587

COLVILL CALENDAR

Thursday, Sept. 5: First day of classes.

Important links and information:

Colvill webpage

Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 651-385-8000

The districtwide Hispanic Open House will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, at Twin Bluff Middle School. This is for any and all Hispanic families regardless of which school their child attends.

Watch the video above to learn how to complete the Educational Benefits application online.

Did you know that Minnesota families may get a tax break for the back-to-school supplies they purchase?

Families that save receipts for qualifying purchases might be eligible to claim K-12 tax benefits on their state income tax return, the Minnesota Department of Revenue says.

Two tax benefits can help Minnesota families pay expenses related to their child’s education:

• the refundable K-12 Education Credit (income limits apply) and

• the K-12 Education Subtraction (no income limits).

For details, go to K-12 Education Subtraction and Credit.

To qualify for either program, you must:

• Have a qualifying child attending kindergarten through 12th grade at a public, private, or qualified home school.

• Have paid “qualified education expenses” during the year for that child’s education.

For details, go to Qualifying Expenses for the K-12 Education Subtraction and Credit.

Supply lists are now available for the elementary, middle and high schools.

Updates to policies in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year will top the Red Wing School Board's agenda Monday, Aug. 5.

The board’s evening will begin with a 5 p.m. workshop in Red Wing High School room J108. Superintendent Bob Jaszczak will provide a financial update at that time. The workshop agenda also will include an explanation of how RWHS and Twin Bluff Middle School principals intend to address a 10 minute lag between bus transportation between the two buildings.

The regular business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in room J110. Board members are expected to act on a multitude of updated district policies as well as to approve the Red Wing Public School Student & Parent Handbook for 2024-2025. Policy and handbook updates are due to the many changes the Legislature made to public education law.

Find the board’s complete agenda online, which includes a detailed list of the policies. The public can access current policies using the link below.

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

The filing window for Red Wing School Board candidates opened July 30 and will run through Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Red Wing School Board has seven at-large seats, four of which are up for election.

Anyone interested in running should file an affidavits of candidacy at the District Office, 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Door No. 36.

For more information, call Lisa Steggarda at 651-385-4519 or lasteggerda@rwps.org.

Now through early November, people may access the page via the homepage navigation bar. Election results also will be posted there. Election Day is Nov. 5.

The program wraps up Aug. 8 at Red Wing High School, but Sunnyside will be serving breakfast and lunch weekdays through Aug. 29. Come dine with us!

DISTRICT CALENDAR

Monday, Aug. 5: School Board, 5 p.m. workshop, Red Wing High School J108; 6 p.m. meeting, RWHS J110.

Wednesday, Aug. 7: Agenda/personnel Committee, 9 a.m., District Office.

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

Monday, Aug. 19: New teachers report.

School Board, 5 p.m. workshop, Red Wing High School J108; 6 p.m. meeting, RWHS 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

UPCOMING YOUTH CLASSES

Wednesdays, Aug. 7-28: Henna Basics, ages 10-15, 1-2 p.m., four sessions.

Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 14-16: Creative Clay Sculpting and Hand Building for Tweens, ages 9-13, 1-4 p.m. three sessions.

Wednesday, Aug. 21: Fun on the Farm, ages 5-10, 9-11 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24: Fun on the Farm, ages 5-10, 9-11 a.m.

UPCOMING ADULT CLASSES

Wednesday, Aug. 14: One Stroke Painting Class, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15: August Floral Watercolors, 6-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday-Thursday, Aug. 21-22: MN Permit to Carry a Firearm, 5:30-9 p.m., two sessions.

Tuesday, Aug 27: The A, B, C, and D's of Medicare, 4-6 p.m.

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

Phone: 651-385-4565

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