
Free meals will continue for our students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, but it's important to share that funding for the MN Free Meal Program was only allocated for two school years. You can help show the need for this program by completing an Application for Educational Benefits: https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/application-for-benefits


Have you visited www.RochesterSchools.org/referendum yet? Come learn about why our district is proposing a referendum to voters this November, how the "Ignite Student Learning" plan would support students, and how you can make your voice heard on Election Day.


Join Superintendent Dr. Kent Pekel on Monday, August 12, from 7 to 7:45 p.m. in the Rochester Public Library Auditorium to hear more about Rochester Public Schools' 2024 referendum.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and parking is free after 4. p.m. The event will also be livestreamed and recorded by the Rochester Public Library on the library’s YouTube channel. That link will be available on the LWV Rochester website lwvrochester.org.
In-person audience questions will be taken. Questions can also be submitted up to 24 hours in advance by emailing them to LWVRochester@lwvmn.org, or by leaving a voice or text message at 507.722.0615.


Join us tomorrow, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW) for our Hiring Event!
Open positions include:
- Special Education Teachers
- Education Support Professionals
- Health Office Staff (Nurses)
- Substitute Teachers & Staff
- Secondary Math Teachers
- Secondary Science Teachers
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
and more!
Walk-ins are welcome! Join us at the Edison Board Room, 615 7th St SW, Rochester, MN.


Are you ready for the school year? Mark your calendars with important dates, breaks, and more. Print your school calendar and special calendars online: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OjDjRZSj_Ywx1dCr809H6_pH4tTaIH7W?usp=drive_link


Bussing for students is only guaranteed for students within the boundary of their school. In Rochester, students in grades K-5 living more than 1.25 miles, grades 6-8 living more than 1.5 miles, and grades 9-12 living more than 2 miles are provided transportation; to view the school's boundaries, visit the Find Your School map (https://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=RPS25TZQPEOIT).
Bus route information will be delivered in the mail in mid-August; please verify that you have completed a registered rider form(https://rochesterpsd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WfdaSRQfEOGrGu) to ensure your student is on the correct route.
If you have questions about your transportation route, please email our transportation department or call 507.328.4260.


School Meals: Here's what you need to know - For the 2024-2025 school year, all in-person students can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day due to the MN Free School Meals Program. Each meal must contain a fruit or vegetable serving to qualify as free, and a student must take three of the five meal components (fruit, vegetable, grain, protein, and milk).
• Students still need meal pins.
• Families still need a PayPams account or cash to cover a la carte items.
• Families are still encouraged to complete an application for education benefits.


The countdown is here; we are less than one month away from the start of school! Fill your student's backpack with supplies that will set your student up for success. Find your school's list: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1azTzTLLURXs6Pq7R2kurK83gXfQMB99E?usp=drive_link


Mark your calendars and save the date for our inaugural State of the District on Monday, September 16. Superintendent Pekel will be joined by voices and performances from RPS students. Stay tuned, more information to come!


Our Spanish immersion second graders have the opportunity to learn traditional dance. To celebrate our time at Gage, our students were asked to perform multiple times this year. They took it on with pride and knocked it out of the park every time. None of this would be possible without Maestra Martinez’ passion and dedication to teaching our students not only language but culture.
Thank you to Amber H. from Gage Elementary for this #CelebrateRPS submission.
Submit your #CelebrateRPS moments at www.rochesterschools.org/celebraterps


We're hosting a hiring event next Wednesday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Open positions include:
- Special Education Teachers
- Education Support Professionals
- Student Nutrition Services
- Health Office Staff (Nurses)
- Substitute Teachers & Staff
- Secondary Math Teachers
- Secondary Science Teachers
- Speech Language Pathologists
- Occupational Therapists
and more!
First Student and Kids on the Go will also be in attendance.
Walk-ins are welcome and virtual interviews are available at bit.ly/july-31-virtual-interview. Join us at the Edison Board Room, 615 7th St SW, Rochester, MN.


Come out and support the JM Football Program!


Did you see an RPS student overcome a challenge? Has an RPS staff person gone above and beyond to help you? Do you want to acknowledge an RPS colleague for their work? We're kicking off an initiative to #CelebrateRPS! Share your stories with us so we can share them with the RPS community. Share your positive stories at https://www.rochesterschools.org/celebraterps and we'll highlight them!


We know our students are still enjoying summer, but for those who like to plan ahead, we have our back-to-school information ready for you! A big change this school year is the school bell times! Check out https://www.rochesterschools.org/back-to-school for more info.



The Post Bulletin is accepting applications from high school students interested in being a teen columnist for the 2024-25 school year. All high school students in southeastern Minnesota are eligible to be considered.
What do columnists do? Teens write 500- to 700-word personal essays or columns published Tuesdays in the Post Bulletin Life section. Typically, 10 teens are selected and scheduled to write columns once every five weeks.
What do you need? Send your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, year in high school, high school you attend and age.
Please include a cover letter telling us why you want to be a teen columnist and why you should be selected. Also include three examples that show your writing ability.
Deadline? Extended one week to July 22.
How? Send information via email to Jeff Pieters, Post Bulletin editor, at jpieters@postbulletin.com, or via USPS to Jeff Pieters, RE: Teen columnists, 1700 Greenview Drive SW, Rochester, MN 55902. If you have questions, call 507-285-7748.
What’s next? We’ll let everyone know whom we’ve selected by early August. Writing will start in September.


We're in the heat of summer, but stores are already starting to roll out their back-to-school supplies sales. Consider getting an early start on your school supplies while the sales are heating up!
Find your school's list: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1azTzTLLURXs6Pq7R2kurK83gXfQMB99E?usp=drive_link


Five John Marshall students attended FCCLA (FAMILY, CAREER, COMMUNITY LEADERS OF AMERICA), National Leadership Conference in Seattle, WA from June 28-July 4, 2024. There were over 8000 middle and high school students in attendance with over 700 advisors from all states across the nation.
John Marshall students Will Tran, who happens to be a State Officer for Minnesota, competed in Professional Presentation presenting on the Health Care Crisis in America. Will received a Silver Medal for his Presentation. Manal Mahamoud, local President and Area Officer received a Silver Medal for her project on Leadership. Kya Lee participated in Professional Presentation and received a Silver Medal for her project on the Day Care Worker Crisis. The other two members that attended were local officer, Layla Massey and Briana Cuenca Rojas. We are so proud of all of them! They attended under supervision with their Advisor, Shelly Spallees Hansen, Family and Career Education Instructor at John Marshall High School.








Like many school districts, RPS has had to make difficult budget cuts in recent years that have impacted student services, reduced staff, and prompted potential school closures. On Nov. 5, voters will consider an operating levy increase to address these challenges. Learn more: www.RochesterSchools.org/referendum


RPS offices and buildings will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. All summer meal locations and SACC sites will be closed on July 4 and 5.
Offices will resume normal operating hours on Friday, July 5, and all meal locations will reopen on Monday, July 8.


RPS offices and buildings will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. All summer meal locations will be closed on July 4 and 5.
Offices will resume normal operating hours on Friday, July 5. All meal locations will reopen on Monday, July 8.
