District News: An E-Newsletter for Roseville Area Schools Staff and Families

News for September 8, 2021

From the Superintendent
September 8, 2021
Good afternoon Roseville Area Schools families,
What a joy it was to visit schools this sunny morning and see students, families and staff greeting each other in front of our buildings! Even with masks on, you could see and feel the excitement and enthusiasm spread across faces. As the rest of our students join us in the coming days and routines develop, I am sure our schools will quickly feel like the familiar, safe spaces that we are all accustomed to.
Our staff has just finished an exceptional week of workshops and professional learning, and we are ready to welcome back our students and families with open arms—albeit minus the hugs—for a year full of relevant, purposeful, and energized learning. I began our staff workshop with the message that our students and families expect and deserve excellence and equity in all we do. I am confident that our dedicated staff is ready to meet these high expectations, and create an atmosphere that supports every student's educational and social-emotional needs.
If you haven’t had a chance to get familiar with our COVID-19 webpage, I encourage you to visit it and see the latest health and safety measures we have in place to address the ongoing pandemic. This is the third school year to be impacted by the virus, and we understand that it can be difficult keeping up with changing guidance. The health and safety of our school community continues to be our top responsibility, and we are so grateful for everything you do to make our schools great places to be.
Sincerely,
Jenny Loeck, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Back to School!
Masked students on the playground
It's Back to School This Week!
Students are heading back to school this week! Here are some important dates to remember:
  • Today: First day for grades 1 - 6, Parkview Center grades 7 - 8, RAMS grade 7, and RAHS grades 9 -10.
  • Thursday, Sept. 9: First day for kindergarten, RAMS grade 8, FAHS and RAHS grades 11 - 12.
  • Monday, Sept. 13: First day for prekindergarten.
Find Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Health/Safety Measures
Are you wondering what happens when a student tests positive for COVID-19? Or maybe you've asked, if there is a positive case in a classroom, will the entire class have to quarantine as “close contacts” like last year? 
We have answers to these questions and many others on our COVID-19 FAQ page. The FAQ will be updated regularly as we receive additional questions from families, students and staff. 
Save the Date: State of the District Address
Join Superintendent Jenny Loeck and district leaders for a special address to the community on the state of the Roseville Area School district at 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, in the Roseville Area Middle School Auditorium.
Dr. Loeck will share highlights of notable achievements and challenges over the last school year, and an update on how the district continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Loeck will also provide an update on the construction projects made possible through the community's generous support of our 2017 bond referendum. She will outline goals and our vision for this school year, and an overview of the upcoming operating referendum that will go before voters on November 2, 2021. 
There will be time for questions from the audience, and the event will also feature student speakers. 
Getting kids vaccinated for COVID-19 is the best way to keep them in school. Minnesotans 12 years of age and older are eligible.
Students Ages 12 and Up Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine
We strongly encourage all students ages 12 and up to get the Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible. Getting students vaccinated will help protect those who are not yet able to be vaccinated, like younger siblings. Minnesota's Vaccine Connector will help you find a location to access a vaccine and answer questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccine. 
Referendum November 2
Roseville Area Schools Operating Referendum Video
Learn About the Levy in Three Minutes!
School district residents will vote this fall on whether to increase funding for our Roseville Area Schools. You can get the facts in just 3 minutes by watching this video. To learn even more, visit the referendum website at www.isd623.org/levy2021.
School Nutrition Information
Meals will be Free of Charge all Next School Year, but families Should Still Complete the Application for Educational Benefits form
Even though meals are free through June 2022, all families are encouraged to complete an Application for Educational Benefits, often referred to as the free and reduced-price meal form. You can complete the application online at frapp.isd623.org, or you may request a paper copy. Online applications are available in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong. You can fill out a new form any time your family’s income changes.
This form not only determines benefits for students and families such as no-cost meals at school, but also provides free bus cards, discounted internet service, discounted/no-cost early childhood classes and scholarships for summer camps ad childcare centers, discounted field trips, standardized test fee waivers, and sports team scholarships and fee waivers.
It also impacts your school’s funding and the district’s budget including state and federal dollars that may be used for administration, social workers, family liaisons, and more! The results of these applications are crucial to funding for things like Title 1, compensatory revenue, and summer and non-school day meals.
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