Superintendent's Brief 04.16.21
Dr. Lesli Myers-Small
Important Message About '21 - '22 School Year

Beginning September 8, 2021, the Rochester City School District will return to school five days a week for in-person learning following three feet of social distancing restrictions.

All students in grades Pre-K – 12 will receive direct instruction from their teachers five days a week, as Wednesdays will no longer be asynchronous.

We are offering a 100% remote learning option to accommodate families who do not feel comfortable sending their children back to school in person.

If we do not hear from families by May 7, 2021, their children will automatically be enrolled as in-person students. Families who want their children to take part in 100% remote learning must respond by May 7.
United Way Campaign

Every year we partner with the United Way of Greater Rochester to provide basic necessities to people in need in our community. Each year, dedicated District employees take the lead in coordinating our campaign to collect funds for the United Way. This year, our campaign officially began this week with a video message and an online pledge form. It is our sincere hope that you will continue to support our students through the 2021 United Way campaign, as your participation makes a lasting change.

RCSD Student Selected for Scholarship to Learn Overseas

A Rochester City School District student has earned the opportunity of a lifetime to study abroad thanks to her exceptional work ethic in the classroom.

Tiketa Thomas, a sophomore at Rochester Early College, has been selected to receive a 2021 – 22 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. 

This U.S. government overseas language program will allow Ms. Thomas to study abroad in Taiwan learning Mandarin Chinese and the diverse culture of Asia. 
RCSD Students Get On Their "Soapboxes" for Youth-Driven Civic Engagement Event

Students in grades 7 – 12 participated in a citywide “Project Soapbox” speech showcase that encouraged student voice all across the District. 

On Wednesday, April 14, five students participated in a live Zoom event, where they delivered a two-minute call-to-action speech on issues that have impacted their lives and the lives of their families, such as mental health, racism, or the environment.

This winter, more than 300 students got on their "soapbox" in classrooms (both in-person and virtual) to prepare for citywide speech showcase. Teachers worked with students who learned about the structure of a speech, how to make it more interesting, and how best to deliver it. Teachers uploaded student speeches to a Vimeo page.

On Wednesday, as students delivered their speeches, members of the District’s Teaching and Learning Department provided feedback along with prominent community members, such as Dr. Marilynn Patterson Grant from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation. 

This Project Soapbox event was done in collaboration with the Mikva Challenge, which is a nonpartisan organization that develops youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who promote a just and equitable society.  
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