Red Wing Public Schools ISD 256
Sept. 1, 2024
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome students and families back to Red Wing Public Schools. Activity has definitely been increasing over the course of the last few weeks and it was great to see so many students and their families at mini-conferences Wednesday and open houses on Thursday. It is always fun to see teachers and other staff greet students they have not seen over the summer. The end result is a lot of smiles.
Even though there is excitement, many students are nervous about the start of school. It will get better with time but here are some tips to help your kids navigate the beginning of the year.
Set a routine. This tends to be easier with younger children, but it may be even more important for teens.
Get enough sleep. This ties very closely to the routine. Going to bed and getting up at a consistent time is very important.
Put the electronics away. I strongly encourage parents to restrict their kids’ access to electronics at bedtime. This includes game consoles, cell phones, and televisions. If they depend on their phone for an alarm, get a basic alarm clock and put it on the other side of the room. You are likely to get strong resistance, but it is worth the effort!
Limit intake of caffeine and energy drinks.
Bob Jaszczak
Superintendent of Red Wing Public Schools
First Student, Red Wing Public Schools’ transportation provider, will again be using FirstView, a bus tracking and communications app for your smartphone or desktop.
Coverage will begin the first day of school, Sept. 3, 2024. The app will be up to date with the latest information and able to track your student’s bus.
Please note that no personal identifying information is required or shared -- student name, grade, address, etc.
The district code for 2024-2025 is 7MM5.
The code works for all schools.
The features include:
- Live tracking
The FirstView app screen shows you the location and direction of your student’s bus, for both morning and afternoon trips.
FirstView provides caregivers with confirmation when the trip is complete.
- Customization
Notifications -- When the bus enters a specific area -- for example, four blocks from the bus stop -- you will receive an email or alert. The app calls this alert area a “geofence.” The size and alert times are customizable, so parents control their notifications.
Multiple users -- You may choose up to three email accounts to receive these alerts. This is a great feature for grandparents or caregivers.
Multi-stop view -- The buses for all your children can be tracked with FirstView. Using individual colors for each student, the bus assigned to each student’s route appears on the app map in the same color as the student for easy viewing.
- Simple, secure access
FirstView requires a code for app set-up. This way only you can view your student’s stop.
- Customer support
Whether you are having trouble getting started, not seeing correct data or have an idea to make FirstView better, contact FirstView Monday-Friday (English only at this time):
- Call the toll-free phone number 888-889-8920 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
- Email support@firstviewapp.com, or
- Use the in-app “✉” button.
For more information and to download the app, go to www.firstviewapp.com.
Homecoming T-shirt orders are due Sept. 4
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.
Students won't succeed in physical education -- or get the exercise they need to motivate their brains -- if they don't have proper foot attire.
But did you know that some of our students lack the means to acquire quality gym shoes?
The community is invited to help. Please consider dropping off gently used or new athletic shoes at the Twin Bluff office or making a monetary donation. (Make checks out to ISD 256 and write "TBMS shoes" in the memo line.
Why sneakers and tennies?
Twin Bluff Middle School requires students to wear proper tennis shoes in P.E. for these important reasons:
- Safety. Run, jump, skip, pivot. These motions and more are part of gym class. Students are continually on the go and moving quickly. Tennis shoes, aka gym shoes, are vital. Hard-soled shoes, sandals, open-toed shoes or socks with no shoes simply aren't safe in P.E.
- Development: Movement and skills are a part of every lesson. Students cannot give their best effort if they aren't properly attired. Students can move more quickly to hit, kick or catch ball, for example, when they are wearing tennis shoes.
- Gym floor wear and tear: In addition to being slippery, hard-solved shoes can scuff and damage the floor. Refinishing is expensive. Gouges and rough spots create hazards.
Please ensure that your child either wears tennis shoes or brings a pair to school on P.E. days.
Breakfast will be served upon arrival
In years past, Sunnyside students have had some time to play outside at arrival until the first bell rang. This year, students will instead come directly into the building upon arrival.
This is necessitated by how Nutrition Service regulations require that breakfast be served to students. Upon entering the building, students who want breakfast will first stop in the cafeteria to grab a breakfast and have the barcode tags that will be attached to their backpacks scanned, before then heading directly to class with their grab-and-go breakfast.
For the first several days, kindergarten classes will travel together to the cafeteria after the bell rings so that teachers can familiarize students with the layout of the building and breakfast procedures.
Parents are welcome to walk with their child to the cafeteria and/or the classroom during the first week of school. After that, we ask that parents plan to drop off outside the building so that students can build independence.
The years from birth to the start of kindergarten are an important time of rapid learning and growth. Early childhood screening is required for entrance in Minnesota’s public schools and must take place between age 3 and kindergarten.
Please call 651-385-8000 to sign up for a screening date/time for your child. Screening is offered monthly at Colvill Family Center throughout the school year. Dates are:
2024 -- Sept. 12 and 26; Oct. 10 and 24; Nov. 14 and Dec. 5.
2025 -- Jan. 9 and 23; Feb. 6 and 20; March13 and 27; April 10 and 24; and May 14 and 15.
Screening is a quick, no-cost check of a child's vision and hearing, height and weight, immunization record and a review of health care coverage. Screeners also look for risk factors that may impact learning, such as use of large and small muscles, thinking, language and speaking skills. The screening includes a parent/guardian report of social-emotional development and a summary meeting.
Early childhood screening provides the best opportunity for any health or developmental concerns to be found early.
About our district
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
