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 "Mission")
To provide a quality education in a caring atmosphere for students to attain the necessary skills and knowledge to become lifelong learners and contribute to a diverse, interdependent and changing world.
 "Points of Pride")
Ensuring a world-class education by focusing resources on developing and enhancing assets which include people, innovative partnerships, state-of-the-art technology and facilities.
 "Points of Pride")
Challenging students through dynamic cultural experiences to be empowered global stewards, and inspiring them to have a positive impact on their community, country, and world.
 "Points of Pride")
Developing innovative, self-directed learners who think critically, communicate effectively, and persevere to positively impact the world.
Superintendent's Spotlight
Great care and thought goes into making decisions that impact our 15,000 students and 1,500 employees. During inclement weather, we analyze all the facts, consult with the experts, and even travel the roads. With a district the size of RCS, there is no one solution to meet everyone’s needs, but we always keep our children’s safety at the forefront. To learn more about criteria for determining weather-related school schedules, please click on the following link. RCS weather-related school closing information.
NEWS & EVENTS
 "Grandparents and guests love to read")
 "Treats collected for troops")
 "Robotics teams compete")
 "RCS visits China")
 "Ribbon Cutting & Dedication Ceremony")
 "RCS students Paint the Plows")
 "We salute our veterans")
 "High school bands join forces")
 "Van Hoosen and Hart host Chinese visitors")
 "Walk and Bike to School Day")
 "RCS honors 29 National Merit Scholars")
 "ArtPrize features student work")
 "RCS Caring Steps Children's Center Officially Opens")
 "The RHS Community honors Ray Lawson")
 "Congratulations, newly tenured teachers")
 "Adult Transition students get a new home")
 "RCS offers Orchestra to students")
 "RCS observes 9/11")
 "Childcare enrollment open to nonresidents")
RCS Caring Steps Children's Center
NOW ENROLLING! For more information, please visit the Caring Steps webpage by clicking here or call 248-726-4800.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Inclement Weather School Closing Information
Many families ask about the criteria for determining weather-related school closings, delays or early releases. The foremost factor in the decision to cancel school is student safety. Influencers can include snow accumulations, weather forecasts, road conditions, and wind chill temperatures. RCS consults with grounds and maintenance crews, transportation, the National Weather Service and other area superintendents when considering altering schedules. District officials check road conditions by driving throughout the community, often at 3-4:00 a.m. Please keep in mind that the District is 66 square miles and has many subdivisions north of Dutton with dirt roads. These subdivisions send children to eight of our twenty-one schools. If road conditions are such that the district determines driving to be hazardous for buses and student or parent drivers, the district will be closed. We will also close school if temperatures are deemed to be dangerous for student walkers.
The district uses weather information from the AccuWeather Forecast at www.accuweather.com.
One of the alternatives to closing school for the entire day is a two-hour delay, which would allow time for conditions to improve. The benefit of a delayed opening is that the students would not miss a day of school. On the other hand, a negative aspect would be that if conditions do not improve within the two-hour period, the district may have to cancel for the entire day anyway.
Other alternatives to school closings have been suggested; however, at this time the district has not determined that these recommendations will be in the best interest for all students. One suggested alternative includes providing bus pick-up only at main roads, so buses would not have to travel icy or snow covered back roads. The concern here, though, is that students may have to walk further along snow covered roads to reach the bus where there may, or may not, be bike or walking paths. Student drivers and parents may also be forced to drive on roads that are considered too dangerous for buses. Another alternative is to keep school open without providing transportation if the roads are treacherous. This option would create a disproportionate attendance issue for those students who rely on bus service.
The State of Michigan allows public schools a six-day grace period, which can be used when the building cannot be opened for various reasons (weather, power outages, water, etc.) The district understands that for many parents, the cancellation of school causes scheduling and work problems. However, our decisions will keep student safety at the forefront. The district notifies parents of schedule changes through its School Messenger email services and places an automated phone call to parents using its emergency cancellation services. In addition, school cancellations are published on the district website at www.rochester.k12.mi.us, on local radio and television stations, and on our district social media site.
Community Messenger Self Signup
We are introducing a new opportunity for community members who do not have students in our schools to get information about news and events. Please note that if you are a parent in the district, you are already receiving this communication via Synergy and SchoolMessenger. No further action is needed at this time.
The district uses SchoolMessenger Self Signup to communicate with non-parent community members, alumni, former employees, and retirees. This is a free subscription service that sends district news and other pertinent communications to an email address. Click on the following link to subscribe. https://asp.schoolmessenger.com/rochesterschools/subscriber/.
Please click here for step-by-step instructions for SchoolMessenger Self Signup
2018-19 RCS School Calendar
For the convenience of our community members and staff, the revised complete 2018-19 Community Date List (school calendar) is attached below. Please note the changes are in red.
