Raider Reader | October 2, 2024

🚴‍♂️ 🚴‍♀️ At Central Park Elementary School, students in grades 5 and 6 had an amazing opportunity to learn valuable bike safety skills through a program supported by the Bike Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN.org). A big shoutout to teacher Anders Johnson, who completed a walk/bike safety curriculum training, allowing the school to borrow bike trailers from the organization for these lessons!

With many students walking or biking in their neighborhoods 🌳 or to school 🏫, the program focuses on equipping them with the skills they need to travel safely 🦺🛑. According to teacher Carly Herra, the lessons align with Minnesota’s Active Transportation Education requirement, which mandates pedestrian and bicycle safety education for students in grades 4-8. "The students are always eager to participate 🥳," she explains, "and one of the most rewarding parts is watching those who don't know how to ride gain confidence and join their peers by the end of the week."

🎉 It’s Spirit Week at Roseville Area High School, and the energy is off the charts! 🌅 From the magical Senior Sunrise to the epic Powder Puff football and Powder Buff volleyball battles, RAHS students are showing their Raider pride in every way possible! 🏈🏐 Pajama Day and Toga Day? Done! ✅ And there's so much more fun to come. 🎊 Whether dressing up, cheering loud, or showing off their school spirit, our students are embracing every moment of this exciting week! 💥

Dear Families,

Homecoming is always such an exciting time in our district! It's wonderful to see Raider pride and spirit in full display across our schools, from the halls to the fields. A gentle reminder to encourage your students–now and always–to make safe and positive choices. We want them to take pride in their school community AND enjoy this special time responsibly.

I also want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible Roseville Area Schools Foundation (RASF) fundraiser on September 26. It was heartening to see so many community members and staff come together in support of the vital initiatives that benefit our students. Special thanks to Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten for her thoughtful remarks, and a huge expression of gratitude to outgoing RASF Chair Kezia Reeder, whose dedication has strengthened the foundation’s presence in our community. Kezia’s efforts have truly helped others understand the important work the foundation stands for. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to this wonderful event!

In Partnership,

Dr. Jenny Loeck

Superintendent

🧹✨ Happy National Custodian Appreciation Day! 🎉 Today, we celebrate and thank our incredible custodians across Roseville Area Schools who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our schools clean, safe, and welcoming for students and staff every day. 🏫 Your hard work, dedication, and attention to detail make a huge difference! 🌟👏 #CustodianAppreciationDay #ChooseRoseville ❤️ 🩶 🖤

In most of our elementary schools, kindergarten classrooms embrace the wonderful tradition of celebrating Color Days to build community and teach students their colors. Each day, kindergarteners and their teachers dress in a specific color, inviting the entire school to join in!

Katie Leseman, a kindergarten teacher at Falcon Heights Elementary School, shared, "Traditions are the epicenter of how we help our new kindergarteners get acclimated to our school. It provides a fun event each day for them to feel that they are important and a big part of our community. "

: The photo captures Falcon Heights kindergarteners on Black Day , proudly wearing their Class of 2037 shirts!

Starting Monday, October 21, 2024, Roseville Area Schools will enforce the Minnesota immunization law. This is crucial for maintaining healthy and safe school communities. Here's what you need to kno

• Students must meet one of the following criteria to continue attending school:

• Have received all required immunizations

• Have a scheduled immunization appointment

• Have submitted a notarized exemption form

• Starting October 21, 2024:

• Students who do not meet the immunization requirements will be instructed to stay home until the requirements are met.

• These absences will be marked as unexcused.

• Why this matters:

• This policy helps protect our most vulnerable students, who are unable to receive vaccines.

• It minimizes the time students miss due to disease outbreaks, as those not immunized may be required to stay home per the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

If your student is missing any immunizations, you will receive a notice from the school's health office. Please respond promptly to ensure your student can remain in school. For questions or concerns, contact your school’s health office.

WE ❤️ OUR RAIDER FANS! But a reminder that as we approach the Homecoming game on Friday night 🎉 🏈 , please remember that all children 8th grade and younger are welcome but MUST be accompanied by an adult at all Roseville Area High School athletics and activities events. No exceptions. #raiderpride#rosevilleareahighschool #chooseroseville ❤️ 🩶 🖤

National Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated on October 14, is a time to honor the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native peoples. In Roseville Area Schools, we recognize this day to celebrate the heritage and history of our Indigenous students, staff, and community members. By fostering understanding and respect, we aim to create an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and connected to their roots.

🎉 Show your spirit! 🎉 Every Wednesday, let's honor AVID in all of our schools by wearing gear from any post-secondary path – whether it's a 2- or 4-year college, a trade, the military, a tech school, and beyond! 🌟 Your gear can spark questions and inspire conversations about the endless possibilities ahead for our students. 🌍✨

Better yet, take a photo of yourself, with a friend, or with your family, and send it to communications@isd623.org! 📸💥 Give your college & career a shoutout while inspiring our students. 🎓🎯

What motivated you to serve on the school board? I firmly believe that the biggest factor in the strength of a community is access to great schools in a strong district that helps all learners achieve success. My major motivation is in contributing what skills I have to helping Roseville Area Schools continue to be a school district of choice for families.

What do you find most rewarding about your role? Two aspects of the board role that I find especially rewarding: seeing the progress of our students on their educational journeys culminating in the graduation ceremonies for RAHS, FAHS, and our adult learners; and the pleasure and privilege of working with such talented and dedicated staff and district leadership to help resolve all the questions and issues that arise through the school year.

What are your key focus areas for your work on the board? Working to eliminate disparate success metrics that are still predictable based on demographics. Progress has been made over the past several years, and I look forward to continuing to support the multiple initiatives underway to attack this problem.

What is one of your most memorable experiences during your time on the board? The COVID-19 years, which to the fullest extent that we knew how to do, and were able to do, was a success story. Specifically, I am proud of how the district weathered those years, made difficult decisions, supported our students, families and staff, were resilient, and finally are beginning to see a return to pre-pandemic outcomes in multiple areas.

What motivated you to serve on the school board? As an experienced educator, I was eager to deepen my understanding of a school board's role in ensuring quality education for all our students in a school district. It was an opportunity to expand my perspective on my life's work in educational equity and excellence.

What do you find most rewarding about your role? I continue to be inspired by the incredible capability, commitment and capacity of all our staff and educators to serve the entire RAS community. I am so grateful to be in a governance role to do what we can to support and elevate the important work happening on the ground on a daily basis.

What are your key focus areas for your work on the board? My focus as a board member is to collaborate with fellow board members and the superintendent to advance our district's equity vision while prioritizing responsible stewardship, engaging with the community and advocating for support for our staff and educators.

What is one of your most memorable experiences during your time on the board? I still tear up EVERY year during graduation ceremonies, especially those of FAHS and ABE. This past June, I was moved to tears (unexpectedly) when my graduating AVID mentee walked on stage and I gave him a hug. We were connected in the Fall 2020 ... In the thick of the pandemic. So proud of how much he has grown and how far he has come.

What motivated you to serve on the school board? I wanted to give back to the community that had given so much to me and my family. My children are products of Roseville Area Schools and I have never regretted sending them here.

What do you find most rewarding about your role? Board members can create and inspire real change in a district. From adding solar panels to our buildings, approving the LETRS training to help our kids learn to read, supporting the AVID program to better prepare students for college and/or career, supporting Social Emotional Learning efforts, and lifting up the great work of our teachers and staff.

What are your key focus areas for your work on the board? Increasing literacy rates, ensuring that students see themselves and their classmates in the curriculum, and making sure that our students continue to have numerous options for sports and activities. Other focus areas include supporting green initiatives like solar panels, the Farm to Schools, and Food to Hog Programs. Last but certainly not least allowing our teachers and the staff the freedom to innovate.

What is one of your most memorable experiences during your time on the board? Attending graduations from Roseville Area High School, Fairview Alternative High School, and the Adult Education Program

The last two Keystone Free Farmers’ Markets of the year are coming up in October! At these drive-through events, we will provide free fruits and vegetables to each household.

All are welcome. No registration is required.

Keystone’s October Free Farmers Markets:

• Friday, October 4: Roseville Covenant Church (2865 Hamline Ave N, Roseville 55113)
• Friday, October 11: Rice & Arlington Fields (1500 Rice Street, St Paul 55117)

Both events take place from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

While we design Free Farmers Markets for drive-through traffic, we are happy to serve those who walk or bike.