Rochester Memorial Minute
August 27, 2023
New Year, New Beginnings!
Each year, we look forward to meeting our students and their families and this year isn't any different. Our custodians have worked all summer to prepare our school for opening day. Our teachers have been diligently preparing their classrooms for the start of the school year and I am sure you are anxious to meet your teacher and visit your student's classroom. The first day of school is August 30th for our 1st through 6th grade families. Kindergarten will have orientation on Thursday, August 31st. Please know letters were mailed home to our kindergarten families outlining more specific information. Please see the link below for the Kindergarten welcome letter.
Updating Forms in PowerSchool
Also, please be sure to log into your PowerSchool account to update any and all forms, especially your email and contacts and phone numbers. PowerSchool link can be found on our school webpage under the Families and Students tab at the top of the page. https://rms.oldrochester.org/
Here is a link on how to access and use PowerSchool from our Middle School Principal Silas Coellner that you may find helpful, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z54nos-gLRY
RMS Welcomes New Teachers and Paraprofessionals😊
Teachers:
Project Grow: Ms. Alexia Pacheco
First Grade: Ms. Katie Staier & Mrs. Leigh Beson
Fifth Grade: Miss Lauren Harper & Miss Bridget Houlihan
Sixth Grade Special Education: Miss Caitlyn Coelho
School Psychologists: Ms. Jacquelyn St. Thomas
Paraprofessional:
- Ms. Erin Sharp (Project Grow-Preschool)
- Grade 3 Paraprofessional-To be determined
Important Dates
First Day of School for RMS students in 1st through 6th grade: Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Kindergarten:
Screenings for new students only, Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Orientation Day for all incoming kindergarten students, Thursday, August 31, 2023
1st Day of Kindergarten, Friday, September 1, 2023 which is an Early Release Day
Please note all kindergarten families will receive a specific letter in the mail regarding Kindergarten Screenings and Kindergarten Orientation times
Open House:
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM
Please enter through the main entrance and join the administrators in the cafeteria for a brief presentation. Then, parents/guardians will visit the classrooms.
School Committee Meeting:
- Thursday, August 31st at 6:30 PM held at RMS-enter through the back of the school
Early Release Day:
- Friday, September 1, 2023
Early Release Day Schedule is 8:50 AM to 12:30 PM (Breakfast is served 8:30-8:50 AM)
Parent Pick-up at 12:25 PM (back of school) and Bus Dismissal at 12:30 PM (front of school)
PTO Meeting:
- Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 3:15 PM
Arrival - Dismissal Information
Bus Routes:
If you have not checked yet, our bus routes are posted on our school home page; just scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the transportation icon. Here is the direct link: https://www.oldrochester.org/families-students/transportation
Typical School Day:
Instructional Day is 8:50 AM to 3:00 PM and students need to be in class no later than 8:50 AM.
Arrival: 8:40 AM-8:50 AM Breakfast is served from 8:30 AM- 8:45 AM
- When the busses arrive, students having breakfast will be dismissed from the busses at 8:30 AM
Dismissal: 2:55-3:05PM Parent Pick-up (Back Parking Lot) & Countryside Daycare
3:00 PM Students Load Busses, Front of School
Breakfast & Lunch Information
Breakfast and Lunch Information:
Although one lunch each day and one breakfast each day are free this year, we still need families to complete the free and reduced lunch application forms. These forms need to be completed every year. The online forms can be found by using this link: orrschoolmeals.com
Breakfast is served each day starting at 8:30 AM
One breakfast and one lunch are free for all students this year.
Additional milk, drinks or snacks can be purchased for a fee.
Snacks range from $1.00 to a $1.50
Milk costs .65 cents (Please note that students will need to pay for milk if they bring their own lunch.)
Assorted Drinks range from $1.00 to a $1.75
2nd Breakfast: $1.75
2nd Lunch: $3.50
Just a reminder that students do have a snack each day. The snacks need to be packed separately from their lunch and need to be free from peanuts/tree nuts. All school lunches are peanut free and we do have an allergy table in the cafeteria. If you have any questions regarding allergies, please reach out to our school nurse, Mrs. Murphy.
Rochester Memorial School's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Our school’s PTO is an active organization that supports many school initiatives. This is a great organization that meets monthly. The PTO President, Kirstin Jimenez, will have a table set up during Open House. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our PTO and to become a member. Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 3:15 PM. The first meeting is Tuesday, September 12th.
School Council Members Needed
Every year, each school has a School Council Committee that meets once a month. The role of the School Council is to review the school budget and write the school improvement plan. We are looking for three parents/guardians to serve on this committee.
Massachusetts Law states that there needs to be equal members of educators and parents/guardians on the committee. If interested in serving on the School Council for the next two years, please stop by the PTO table during Open House. There will be a signup form to complete if you are interested in serving on the School Council. If we have more than three parents/guardians interested in serving, then a ballot will need to take place where the school families vote. If you have any questions regarding the School Council, please reach out to Principal Letendre at heidiletendre@oldrochester.org
After School Programs at RMS
Mr. Woodward, our school's physical education teacher, organizes our After School Activities for students. The programs that will be offered will be posted online by Friday, Sept. 1st, and student registration will be due on Monday, September 12th. Each course runs about 8 weeks.
Once the program is finalized more specific details will be shared with our RMS families. So be on the look out for more information.
Welcome to our school community where everyone CARES!
Rochester Memorial School welcomes you to our PreK to 6 school. Our student enrollment is just under 500 students and are school is filled with dynamic faculty and staff who are excited to teach every day.
Rochester Memorial School ~ C.A.R.E.S
Cooperation, Assertiveness, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control
We seek to demonstrate these values in all that we do!
Rochester Memorial School
16 Pine Street
Rochester, MA 02770
508-763-2049 ext. 2000