
ALC students had the opportunity to sign up for FREE senior photos this year! Thank you to Sejal Dave for volunteering her time and services... and for helping to capture this special moment in our seniors' lives!





We're halfway through Teacher Appreciation Week, and it's been full of joy! We have loved seeing all the celebrations, from a giant chicken outside a building to chalk art, treats, high fives, and hugs! RPS schools are showing huge love for our teachers! Thank you for everything you do for our students! We appreciate you!


Rochester Public Schools (RPS) today announced that the four-year graduation rate for the Class of 2024 reached 86%, according to data released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This marks a 2.0 percentage point increase from the Class of 2023 (84%) and represents the highest graduation rate the district has achieved in the past six years. Read more: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2196956


Heads up, students! There will be no school on Wednesday, May 7. Staff will be engaged in a Curriculum Adjustment Day. See you back on Thursday, May 8.


Check out our Spring ALC Newsletter for photo highlights and important graduation information. Cap and gowns are ready to pick up! https://secure.smore.com/n/nfb8t-ralc-spring-highlights

The Mayo Clinic Bloodmobile was at the ALC last week. We had 22 registered donors from the ALC and they collected 12 units. Just 1 donation helps save up to 3 lives – that's 36 people ALC staff and students helped save! Many of our students are first-time donors who go on to donate long after. Thank you, Mayo Clinic, for coming on-site!


Our Earth Science/English block class created May baskets today! Happy Spring!



Our YouthBuild students have been busy learning construction skills through real-world projects. Thank you, Workforce Development, for this opportunity!

Due to impending inclement weather this evening, ⚡ Middle school after-school activities are canceled. ⚡ All night school classes are canceled. ⚡ All activities at school sites must conclude by 6 p.m. Please make necessary arrangements and stay safe.


This week, students celebrated Earth Day by planting trees at Oxbow! Great work, team!






Thank you, Coach Corey, for providing boxing lessons for our students. You're helping to inspire a lifestyle of fitness, confidence, and personal growth.






University of Minnesota-Extension has been leading monthly education sessions around environmental conservation for our 9th grade students. This week, they practiced setting up and taking down tents in preparation of an overnight canoe and camping trip in May! This will be a first for many of the students. Grateful for this partnership!




Original artwork from two ALC students is hanging in our Superintendent's office! Thank you, Josie and Georgio, for showcasing your creativity.




We wouldn't be able to keep our ALC Resource Room and Food Pantry going without the generous help of our community partners. Families First (March) and Shorewood Living Center (April) ran monthly drives for us - thank you!




We loved hosting an SE Minnesota ALC basketball tournament! Thank you to ALC students for participating from ZED ALC, Owatonna, Mankato, Phoenix Academy, ALC Day School, and ALC Night School! Congratulations to ALC Night School for your first place win! Special shout out to Mr. Lynch for organizing.






The RPS School Board will meet today at 5:30 p.m. in the Edison Board Room (615 7th St SW).
On the agenda for tonight's study session is the SCIP 2.0 Success Measures and Process Recommendation. If you cannot attend in person, you can livestream the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/isd535.
You can view tonight's and other meeting's full agendas at https://rochesterschools.org/simbli.


We are excited to share that our University of Minnesota-Rochester partners wrote and received a $100,000 grant to expand our UMR-ALC partnership! Over the next couple of school years, our students will have an opportunity to interact with visiting professional artists. This will culminate in a student exhibition at the Rochester Art Center! Here are all of the community partners who will be involved in this project!


Rochester Public Schools wouldn't be the same without the dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking individuals who make a difference every day, whether they're teaching in classrooms, supporting students, or keeping our schools running smoothly behind the scenes.
As a small gesture of gratitude, we invite you to share a few words of encouragement with a staff member who has made a positive impact on you or your student(s). Your message can go a long way in brightening someone's day and reminding them just how appreciated they are.
Send a thank you card: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/2149885







Ms. Holmes' Geometry students worked together to explore math concepts outdoors! They worked with equations to launch the class into a new unit on "Distance Formula."





Abi and Luke represented the ALC well at Shorewood Senior Living Center. A group of 40+ nurses and teachers took time to learn about the ALC and our programs, but most importantly, listened to our students' personal experiences at our school. Our school is a special place because of the opportunity to create personal connections with our students, and to really get to know them.

