The RPS School Board on Tuesday, October 20, approved RPS 2030, the district's new strategic plan. The plan sets the direction for the district's work over the next four years and is organized around four priorities: Challenging Learning, Purposeful Pathways, Supportive Communities, and Organizational Excellence. Read the full plan: https://www.rochesterschools.org/rps-2030
A new look to our main entrance! Thank you National Fleet Graphics!
This week is also UNITY week, check out our dress-up days to show off your school pride!
Congratulations to:
K: Alonzo, Gwieth, Paisley, and Kai
1: Lincoln, Elby, Imran, and Yaqub
2: Roy, Odiel, and Josiah
3: Harriet, and Yonatan
4: Avery, Aisha, Randal and Phaedra
5: Alex, Amelia and Maddox
Another successful Sunset Terrace Color Run to cap off our Kindness fundraiser. Total amount is still being counted. Great work with a lot of great fun! Congratulations to all who participated, but especially to our top 5 fundraisers: Tommy, Maddie, Grace, Salma and Sofia!
Family Fun Night on Thursday from 5-7p.
Color Run on Friday from 1-2p.
Joe "Joe(Y)" Christenson
Justin M. Cook
Pat "Pot" Farmer
Ana Folpe
Flora Howie
Josh Koestler
Joe LaForge
Jean Marvin
Cathy Nathan
John Peck
School board positions will be listed on the back of the ballot. More information about each candidate can be found on the Secretary of State's website: https://myballotmn.sos.mn.gov.
Did you know that every public school student in Minnesota is part of a trust fund? Minnesota owns state public lands that generate revenue from timber, mining, and land leases. That money is placed into a protected investment trust dedicated strictly to supporting public school districts across the state. Due to investment growth, the fund has expanded from $675 million in 2010 to more than $2.3 billion today, but distributions have not kept pace because of outdated constitutional restrictions. This November, Minnesota voters can vote to increase the fund.
What does this ballot question change?
Sends more money to classrooms: Current constitutional rules limit payouts primarily to interest and dividends, restricting how much money reaches schools. The amendment modernizes the formula to increase the annual distribution from 2-2.5% to 4.5% of the fund's total value, significantly increasing payments to all Minnesota public schools.
Zero tax increase: It does not raise property, income, or sales taxes. It uses money already sitting in an existing investment fund.
Bipartisan agreement: The update was unanimously recommended by a nonpartisan task force and received strong bipartisan support in both the Minnesota House and Senate.
Under Minnesota law, a constitutional amendment must receive approval from a majority of all voters. Skipping the question has the exact same mathematical impact as actively voting against it. To support the amendment, you must vote "YES." Leaving the question blank counts as a "NO" vote. You can learn more about this at www.mnpsfamendment.org.
Join us for our Fall Family Fun Night!
Reminder: there is no school on Wednesday, September 23. RPS staff will participate in a Curriculum and Development (CAD) Day to plan instruction and engage in professional development. We will see students back in school on Thursday, September 24.
Grade K - April, Olivia, Ryan and Lynken
Grade 1 - Vanessa, Layan, Lennon and Belfina
Grade 2 - Alejandro, Clara and Eleanor
Grade 3 - Adhieu and Jes'siah
Grade 4 - Riyan, Floratine, Aulis, and Wes
Grade 5 - Ayden, Deng, and Arya
The school year is in full swing, and so is your chance to grab some RPS gear! Our Apparel Shop is open through Friday, September 18, 2026, and items will be available for pick up at your school at the end of October. Shop here: https://rps26sunsetterrace.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Reminder: there is no school on Friday, September 4, for all schools except Longfellow Elementary, which will have a regular school day. Additionally, there will be no school, and RPS offices and buildings will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
