ALC students gave back to the community for Service Day!
* Channel One - assembling food bags
* Paws & Claws - making and delivering toys
* Jeremiah Program - creating holiday ornaments and decorations
* Ben Franklin Elementary - serving as mentors in a card-making and science activity
* ALC Food Pantry - assembling birthday cake boxes
Day School advisories are competing in a Gingerbread House Contest! Their designs are incredible! Eight of our community partners will be serving as judges today, and the winning advisory will be announced tomorrow! Stay tuned!
Thank you all of our community partners in making the holidays extra special for our students and their families. Autumn Ridge Church generously purchased gifts for 50 of our students (after learning their needs and wants). Then, our ALC staff were able to assemble 50 family holiday bags for each of those students' families. This was only possible with the help of our AMAZING donors:
* Autumn Ridge Church - 17 food boxes
* Rochester community - games donated during our Trunk or Treat event
* Zumbro Lutheran Church - 50 $10 Kwik Trip gift cards
* Scheels - $200 gift card for Scheels water bottles
* JoBeth Olson - 100 facial masks
* Christ United Methodist Church - a variety of brand new toys, sports equipment, and holiday items
* 125 Live Quilters - quilted blankets, quilted travel kits, and various holiday items
* Eagles - $275 donation for various holiday items
* GEOTEK - gift tote bags
* Brenda Wendt - homemade gift tags that read "Packed with love, by ALC staff"
We're grateful for our partnership with Corey Kline, USA licensed boxing coach. It has been amazing watching our students' confidence and skills grow!
It's Spirit Week at the ALC!
* Pajama Monday
* Twinning Tuesday
* Ugly Sweater Wednesday
* Jersey Thursday
* Flannel Friday
We love our new partnership with Early Childhood Education! Our students get to experience the world of preschool teaching. They're learning how to teach through play and to lead structured group activities.
Thank you, Annika, for hosting an education table about Von Wald over lunch and dinner! Our students learned about an important community resource for:
* Mental health support
* Respite care
* Substance abuse issues
* Truancy
* Homelessness
* Waiting for next placement
* Domestic violence/unsafe housing
* At-risk situations such as trafficking or sexual exploitation
Students in NatureRx (led by Public Health) hiked at Chester Woods, learned about fire-making, and enjoyed toasted marshmallows after! They experienced fat-tire biking too. Lots of outdoor adventures!
Congratulations to our current group of students who passed FYEX class! The "First Year College Experience" class is co-taught with RCTC. Students who pass with a "C" or better can go on to take PSEO classes for college credit while still in high school. They completed their 30-Day Challenge final presentations on campus at RCTC and shared letters to future FYEX students about the importance of the class. (The class is now offered to Day and Night School students. Grateful for this partnership with RCTC!)
Olmsted County 4H helped teach our students sewing skills! They learned the basics before moving into a choice project. Some chose to create stockings. Appreciate this partnership and the life skills our students are taking away!
Mrs. Rojas' night school students created beautiful art that's on display!
It's not too late! Ski Club registration will close soon and you still have time to register. Students in Grades 5-12 can hit the slopes with our upcoming Ski trips. Register today: https://rochester.ce.eleyo.com/course/24226/2025-winter-spring-youth/2025-welch-ski-club-coach-bus-optional-rental-gr-5-12#5600-century
The Rochester ALC Resource Room could use your help! Our students are in need of men's winter hats, men's and women's winter gloves, laundry detergent, and new women's underwear (all sizes). If you're able to help share in your personal/social media circles, we'd really appreciate it. Items can be donated in our main office, 8:30-4:30pm, any day school is in session. Thank you!
This month's wellness focus is Animal Therapy, and our students interacted with three therapy dogs today - Lola, Hugo, and Bernie! Thank you to their owners for helping to make this happen.
Our November lunchtime/dinner time activity featured the Rochester Public Library! A big shoutout to Sarah Joynt for bringing free books! Students also designed matchbox cards with pop-up messages as gifts. So creative!
RPS offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 2.
RPS offices will be closed, and there will be no school on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 2.
Hyvee and Salvation Army teamed up to provide over 350 Thanksgiving Meal Bags to Rochester Public Schools, including the ALC. Each bag can feed 4-6 people: They include a coupon for the price of a turkey or other food item, canned soup and veggies, a bag of potatoes, cookies, and Jello. We appreciate this extra help for our families during the holidays. Thank you!
Reminder: there is no school from Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29. Enjoy your fall break! We will see students back on Monday, December 2.
ALC students have been exploring opportunities for after high school! They recently attended a College Fair (at RCTC), a STEAM Fair (at Century), and a MN State Southeast Winona tour! In between, students can request specific job shadows for a one-on-one look at a career. One student toured Carpet Booth Studios, and another sat down with Marie, photographer and owner of https://dm-create.com/. Students and families can reach Amy Petersilie, our Senior Transition Coordinator, at ampetersilie@rochesterschools.org.
