
SUPPORT the JM Band Monday, Dec 4th 4:30-8:00pm at the Pizza Ranch fundraiser in Stewartville 1580 2nd avenue NW!


The latest edition of Principal Podcast being recorded today. Watch for it to air soon!


A rousing game of badminton in PE today!




Did you know that you can be a teacher if you have a 4-year degree? Or that you can be a teacher even if you don't have a degree in education?
Check out this video to learn more about teaching opportunities in Special Education for Rochester Public Schools here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbyVDNYcZ9o

Coming soon....JM Blood Drive. Sign up by December 1.


SENIOR PICTURE DEADLINE for the 2023-2024 yearbook is today! Please submit a jpg file to https://bit.ly/JM2024SeniorPhotos.


Attention students who ordered a 2022-2023 yearbook (last year's yearbook) - especially graduated 2023 Seniors and current PSEO students. If you ordered a yearbook but did not receive the additional SPRING INSERT, they are available for pickup at the Attendance or Main Office. If you call ahead we can have one ready for you to pick up at Door 1 so you do not need to enter the building. (Att: 507-328-5410 or Main: 507-328-5402.)

These three were busy reading and working on Physics during their open hour (and admittedly a little winter shopping 😆)... Louis, Caden, & Adam


Soliya was spot on explaining sentence structure and parts in Ms.Welsh's freshman English class.


Support our FCCLA Club at Culvers.


Tonight's Board Meeting is an informational meeting where Superintendent Pekel will present the proposal. The Board will not vote on this proposal until January 23, 2024. There will be several opportunities for analysis, information, and feedback between today and the vote in January. A survey will be available next week. If you have feedback in the meantime, please email redesign@rochesterschools.org. More information about the timeline can be found at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign. If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535. Note: If you would like to speak at a future regular session school board meeting during the Comments to the Board portion of the meeting, you must submit a written request by email to the Assistant School Board Clerk at the following email address: asb@rochesterschools.org before 5:00 p.m. on the day before the School Board meeting. The written request must state: (1) the individual’s name, (2) whether the individual has a child attending school in the School District, (3) whether the individual is employed by the School District, (4) whether the individual is a student in the School District, and (5) whether the individual is a local property taxpayer to Rochester Public Schools. The assistant school board clerk will follow up.
If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535. The regular session starts at 6 p.m.


Tonight's Board Meeting is an informational meeting where Superintendent Pekel will present the proposal. The Board will not vote on this proposal until January 23, 2024.
There will be several opportunities for analysis, information, and feedback between today and the vote in January. A survey will be available next week. If you have feedback in the meantime, please email redesign@rochesterschools.org. More information about the timeline can be found at www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign.
If you would like to watch tonight's meeting, it will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@ISD535.
Note: If you would like to speak at a future regular session school board meeting during the Comments to the Board portion of the meeting, you must submit a written request by email to the Assistant School Board Clerk at the following email address: asb@rochesterschools.org before 5:00 p.m. on the day before the School Board meeting. The written request must state: (1) the individual’s name, (2) whether the individual has a child attending school in the School District, (3) whether the individual is employed by the School District, (4) whether the individual is a student in the School District, and (5) whether the individual is a local property taxpayer to Rochester Public Schools. The assistant school board clerk will follow up.


At tomorrow's School Board meeting, Superintendent Pekel will be speaking in detail on the Attendance Options Redesign proposal, a comprehensive strategy for changing school attendance options, attendance boundaries, and the transportation system in RPS. The proposal includes 10 points:
1. Redesign School Attendance Areas
2. Discontinue Districtwide Transportation for Districtwide Option Schools (DWOs)
3. Expand the School Age Child Care (SACC) Program
4. Expand the Newcomer Program for Multilingual Students
5. Close Schools to Adjust to Declining Enrollment
6. Reconfigure Churchill and Hoover Early Learning and Elementary Schools
7. Move Lincoln K-8 School to a New Location and Expand Enrollment
8. Adopt a Traditional Calendar at Longfellow Elementary and Expand the School to Grades K-8
9. Create a Middle School ALC
10. Maintain Support for Students with Disabilities
You can view more information about each point as well as opportunities for analysis and input on our website: https://www.rochesterschools.org/attendance-options-redesign


“I just love putting myself out there, especially as a really young player,” Daing said. “A lot of people don’t know me and I’m just starting to build a name for myself. I’m just very thankful that I’m in the position I am now.” -Post Bulletin
The future is now for young Rochester basketball standouts Mills, Williams and Daing https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/prep/the-future-is-now-for-young-rochester-basketball-standouts-mills-williams-and-daing

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. Wishing you a restful and Joyful Holiday!


Photos: Century/John Marshall, Red Wing girls hockey on Nov. 21, 2023 https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/prep/photos-century-red-wing-girls-hockey-on-nov-21-2023

Rochester Public Schools offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. Regular hours resume Monday, November 27, 2023.


Dr. Moynihan and Bernie (and the pups) are back for some Rocket Love today as we send our students & staff off for Thanksgiving Break.




Reminder: There is no school Wednesday, November 22, to accommodate a Professional Development day for our Secondary staff and allow for an End of Trimester work day for Elementary staff. Longfellow Elementary students also have no school due to a Flexible Conference Day.
Edison Administration Building and Northrup Education Center will still operate under normal business hours.


SRO Scott Gilbertson came to talk with Ms Erickson's Earth & Planetary Science classes today with his police drone. He's a certified drone pilot and shared the technology and gave a brief demo to the class. Tomorrow the students that completed their FAA Trust Certifications are leading teams to fly smaller drones with the class. We are using them to discuss how science is used in fun and important ways.


