RCSD News

Dear Rochester City School District Families,

Thank you for helping us start the school year strong. I have had the opportunity to visit many schools since opening day, which has allowed me to interact with students, families, and staff. The smiles are contagious!

As we begin our second month of school, I want to remind everyone that we are here to support you and your children. Please remember the best point of contact is your child's school. Another resource is the Office of Parent Engagement, which serves students and families in support of academic success for all students. I encourage you to engage with your child’s school. There are many ways to get involved, whether you volunteer in a classroom, attend school events, or join one of our parent groups.

I have a special message for the families of our high school students. We are actively providing opportunities for students in grades 9 – 12 across the District to take the PSAT and SAT exams free of charge. These exams will be given on Wednesday, October 12, right at school, during the school day.

The PSAT is a great way for students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades to practice the SAT, and the SAT is the admission test that is widely accepted by most colleges. It allows 12th-grade students to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that colleges care about. Both exams open up scholarship opportunities to students, connecting them to organizations that offer millions of dollars annually in scholarship money. These are important steps to take prior to graduation.

Working together as partners, we can create school-wide cultures that students, families, and staff can be proud of, making positive impacts and celebrating the bright spots. I have seen some of you sharing these moments on social media using the hashtag #ONERCSD. Keep the positive posts coming!

Sincerely,

Dr. Carmine Peluso

Interim Superintendent of Schools

Last month, we introduced a new format for family communications using Smore. We are fortunate to have so many different languages and cultures represented in our RCSD community. One benefit to using the Smore platform is the “translate” function, as it allows the newsletters to be translated into more than 100 languages using the Google translate function. Please note that while extremely useful, this feature may not always be 100% accurate. Our goal is to provide equitable and timely communications to all of our families.

Past newsletters are posted on the District's website here.

A great way to engage with the RCSD and be an advocate for your child is by joining one of the District's four parent groups. We invite you to explore what each group has to offer and attend a meeting to see what the group is all about and learn more.

Parent Leadership Advisory Council

If you are the parent or caregiver of an RCSD student, then the Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC) is for you! Send an email to plac@rcsdk12.org to become a member.

PLAC general membership meetings take place quarterly on the third Wednesday of the months of September, November, February, and May. Leadership team meetings happen on the second Wednesday and fourth Monday of each month of the year. The next general membership meeting is Wednesday, November 16, at 6:00 pm. Click here for the full schedule.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is a group of parents with special needs students in the RCSD. Together, this group works to provide a supportive environment for students, families, and educators who help each student achieve their potential.

SEPAC is seeking parents to join. All meetings are open to parents of children receiving special education services in the RCSD. SEPAC general meetings are held monthly to discuss parent concerns and collaborate with the District and outside agencies to discuss and resolve those concerns.

If you are interested in applying to be a SEPAC Parent Representative or would like additional information, please email RCSDSepac@gmail.com. The next general membership meeting is Monday, October 17 at 6:00 pm via Zoom. Email rcsdsepac@gmail.com for the Zoom link and meeting information.

Bilingual Education Council

The Bilingual Education Council (BEC) advises the Superintendent on matters related to bilingual education, including curriculum, instructional materials, and cultural issues. 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.

For more information on joining BEC, please email bec@rcsdk12.org. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 11, at 5:00 pm, at the Trenton and Pamela Jackson R-Center, 485 North Clinton Avenue, 14605.

Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee

The Multilingual Parent Advisory Committee (MPAC) is a vehicle for parents of scholars who are learning English as a new language. The purpose is to collaborate in the areas of problem-solving, program enhancement, communicating with parents, and recognition of student achievement. The purpose of MPAC is to encourage and support parental involvement and participation in English Language Learners’ programming and academic achievement.

The next meeting is Monday, October 17, at 3:30 pm, at the Office of Adult and Career Education Services (OACES), 30 Hart Street, 14605.

We are excited to welcome Keisha Hollomon, the new Director of the Office of Parent Engagement. With more than 22 years in the RCSD, Ms. Holloman served as a Coordinator of Student and Family Support Services and most recently as a RocRestorative Coach. She understands the importance of effective communication and relationship building. She is committed to serving students, families, and community partners and looks forward to working collaboratively to best support you.

The vision of the Office of Parent Engagement is REACH: Respond to the needs of parents; Encourage partnerships; Advocate on behalf of parents; Collaborate with community partners; Help support parents with their child's academic success.

Please visit the website to learn more about what we do and how we can assist you. If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, contact us any time at 585-324-9999 or parentcenter@rcsdk12.org.

Have you moved or changed your phone number recently? It is very important that your child's school has a current email address, mailing address, 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.

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 student’s progress toward meeting graduation requirements. Parents will need a unique access code to add each student to their account. For more information on downloading the app and creating an account, including a how-to video, visit https://www.rcsdk12.org/parentportal.

The District is offering free PSAT and SAT exams for students in grades 9 - 12. These exams will be provided at all of our high schools during the school day on Wednesday, October 12. Students in grades 9 - 11 will take the PSAT, and students in grade 12 will take the SAT.

The PSAT and SAT tests are important steps for any student thinking about college. They give colleges a snapshot of a student’s skills and knowledge and also provide access to scholarships and national merit awards that can be utilized to help build a student's college enrollment portfolio.

For more information, including ways to prepare, visit www.rcsdk12.org/collegeready. Your child's school counselor is also a great resource! Contact information for each school is available at www.rcsdk12.org/schools, and the school counselor directory can be found here.

Students who plan to attend college are invited to join us at an upcoming FAFSA Fest event, where you will get free help from experts to fill out your financial aid forms. We will help you apply to college, figure out how to pay for college, and make the best college choice. Students and families are also invited to attend an information/education session about FAFSA and the process of applying to college on Wednesday, October 19, at the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center (REOC), located at 161 Chestnut Street, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm. FAFSA Fest events are listed below.

Monday, October 17, 3:30 – 6:30 pm

East High School
1801 East Main Street, 14609

Saturday, November 19, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Edgerton R-Center

41 Backus Street, 14608

Saturday, December 10, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Trent and Pamela Jackson R-Center
485 North Clinton Avenue, 14605

Each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. During this time, our students are learning about literature, arts, music, culture, and food, as we honor the contributions of the Latino community.

The District’s culminating event honoring students for their academic achievement and community members for their contributions to the District will take place before the October Board of Education Business meeting at 5:00 p.m. on October 27. You are invited to join us at our in-person celebration at 131 West Broad Street, in conference room 3A/B.

RCSD students and families are invited to schedule an in-person meeting with Board of Education President Cynthia Elliott on Monday evenings at the Community Place, 57 Central Park, 14605, beginning on Monday, October 3. Sign up for a 30-minute time slot now!

Check out the October breakfast and lunch menus for elementary schools and high schools here.

Student spectators from the home and away teams must show a valid school ID to attend RCSD-hosted games. Students from any other school must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 25 years old with a valid ID.

Athletic event schedules for RCSD high schools can be found on the Rochester City Athletic Conference webpage.

Click here for the 2022 - 2023 RCSD school calendar and the one-page At-A-Glance calendar. Printed calendars are being mailed to students' homes next week. If you do not receive a school calendar in the mail, please contact your child’s school to confirm that we have your correct mailing address.

As a reminder, staying home when sick helps to lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Students who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home. Testing is required for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin. Families can use at-home test kits – please contact the school nurse with positive and negative results.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must stay out of school for days 0 – 5. Families can use at-home test kits to show a student’s negative result. Upon return to school, they must wear a mask on days 6 – 10. For more information, please contact your school nurse. Test kits are available at every school upon request.

Here are some good reminders for everyone:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands), and then throw the tissue in the trash.

On August 22, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York State Education Department (NYSED) released guidance for K – 12 schools regarding COVID-19, which closely follows the most recent CDC Operational Guidance. This includes an FAQ for schools (updated September 8, 2022) and an FAQ for parents and caregivers.

The District will continue to post a weekly summary of positive COVID-19 cases in our schools and buildings on our website. These updates will be provided every Friday afternoon to the greatest extent possible. This is live data, including confirmed and unconfirmed cases, and the numbers may change as cases are confirmed.

Email: communications@rcsdk12.org
Website: https://www.rcsdk12.org
Location: 131 West Broad Street, Rochester, NY 14614, USA
Phone: 585-262-8100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RCSDNYS/
Twitter: @rcsdnys