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Middle school students in chef hat during cookoff
Cooking up great cuisine

Out of 30 applications, eight middle school teams were selected to compete in the Chartwells Discovery Kitchen Cookoff. Teams had 75 minutes to prepare their own delicious signature dishes that included: shrimp scampi, paneer manchurian, an Indo-Chinese cheese appetizer with tangy sauce; chapati flatbread rollups and mango lassi; teriyaki tuna bowls with nutty noodles; discada nortena, a northern Mexico meal prepared with bacon, spicy sausage, sirloin steak and chorizo; Brazilian cherry lemonade and blueberry cheesecake bites; Taiwanese pork dumplings and Irish butter potatoes; and handmade pesto pasta with lemon arugula salad. Congratulations to our talented chefs!

Math class with Mr. Rizzi and students
Newly approved classes meet student needs
The Board of Education has approved the addition of four new high school courses that expand advanced academic opportunities for Rochester Community Schools students. Options include two new college-level math electives and two advanced placement courses in cybersecurity and business/personal finance.
Mastering math
Two new math electives, Calculus 3 and Differential Equations, will be offered for dual enrollment credit through Lawrence Technological University, with a major location perk. Classes will be taught by an RCS teacher within our high schools during the regular school day, making dual enrollment more accessible by eliminating concerns about afterschool scheduling conflicts.
“There are many benefits to this partnership with Lawrence Tech and the onsite availability of college-level classes for RCS students,” said Jill Gumz, district high school math coach. “Because they are offered during the school day, students don’t have to choose between extracurriculars and academics; they can do both. In addition, classes offer college credit before high schoolers graduate, and at no cost for students or families.”
In alignment with the RCS strategic plan, this initiative supports high-achieving and high-ability students. “These courses provide a rigorous, nationally recognized option for students seeking academic challenge, ensuring equity in access to high-level math coursework,” said Taylor Antoski, district Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) coach.
As an added benefit, Lawrence Technological University will train RCS educators, providing all textbooks and resources, including math liaison support, with LTU scholarship funding available to students who continue their college careers at LTU after high school.
Advancing business opportunities
Future business and computer science professionals may be interested in two new advanced placement courses, AP Cybersecurity and AP Business with Personal Finance, which offer college-level preparation for career readiness. 
“Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in the global job market,” said Michelle Reckling, computer science teacher at Rochester High School. “Exposure to material about information technology, network protections, risk assessment, threat detection and response/recovery builds career competence for aspiring professionals.”
Furthermore, this work supports state and national education priorities by expanding learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), CTE (career and technical education) and computer science.
Addressing another high-demand college major and field of study, the new business class offers several advantages. “Students seeking to build business skills now have an AP option that adds college-level academic rigor in high school,” said Lorie Hand, Rochester High School business educator.
“The AP Business with Personal Finance course supports careers in business, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship, providing practical experience that colleges and employers like to see,” said Karen Malsbury, CTE and career readiness director. “We are educating career-forward students prepared for the future.”
Making college-level classes more accessible
All four new course selections reduce barriers to college-level learning. Dual enrollment options are typically offered outside regular school-day hours on local college campuses, like Oakland Community College and Oakland University.
“RCS learning options are designed to advance academic offerings, support workforce readiness, meet students where they are and align with emerging state graduation requirements,” said Pasquale Cusumano, assistant superintendent of secondary and adult education. “We are proud to see our students taking advantage of the rich, rigorous, high-quality education offered across Rochester Community Schools.”
New course offerings will begin in the 2026-27 school year.
Making sense of number corner, elementary student in classroom
Making sense of math through Number Corner
Math workouts are taking place in elementary classrooms across the district as students gather for Number Corner exercises each school day.
A key component of the Bridges in Mathematics curriculum is Number Corner, which focuses on hands-on engagement with math concepts through five daily activities including calendar grid, calendar collector, computational fluency, problem strings and solving problems.
Right from the start, students are eager to share their thoughts: “I see a pattern. I think the next angle will be acute. Those shapes are congruent. The numbers are increasing, like the date. That’s the inverse of the shape before it. The digits double each day.”
With students gathered around the calendar, each daily square presents a shape or structure for discussion. Depending on the grade level, items in the calendar grid may include a series of dots, shapes, angles, fractions or Egyptian numerals, for example. Over time, students make observations and predictions about how the patterns and concepts are related.
“Differentiated activities for kindergarten through fifth grade provide engaging, real-life application of math concepts,” said Mike Gittner, elementary program consultant. “Manipulatives like cubes, sticks, shapes, coins, or data markers help students practice counting, computation and solving problems. Number lines, ten frames and grids may help with visual interpretation of abstract concepts.”
Each day involves some sort of data collection that gets added to a cumulative data set. Students may measure the volume of liquid, or weight of objects. They may use a spinner to add numbers and complete graphs or charts. They may even cheer when a pie chart is filled or a number grid is completed.
“It’s empowering for students to talk about math and make personal connections to their world,” said Kim Mroczek, elementary program consultant. “We’re normalizing questioning, conversing and diving deep into mathematics. Through these collaborative classroom routines, students gain confidence and become leaders in their learning.”
As one third grader eagerly volunteered, “Hey, hey. I figured it out. Can I tell you what I think?”
Each day is new opportunity to make math connections through engaging Number Corner routines in RCS classrooms.
AP capstone raises the level of academic rigor, high school teacher with student
AP Capstone raises the level of academic rigor
When offered the opportunity to challenge themselves academically, highly driven Rochester Community Schools students continue to enroll in the research-intensive AP Capstone Diploma program in increasing numbers each year.
RCS launched the nationally recognized, two-year AP Capstone program in 2018, with its first graduates in 2020. The number of participants has increased consistently, with 75 students completing the diploma program in 2025. Since it began, a total of 181 students have earned an AP Capstone diploma, after completing one year of AP Seminar and one year of AP Research.
Now, five years of data indicates that RCS AP Capstone students and alumni have excelled in college-readiness and academic achievement. As one indicator of the program’s success and popularity among students, mentorship opportunities have formed between AP Seminar classes, AP Research classes and AP Capstone alumni at all three RCS high schools.
“Students embrace the work and have established their own community of scholars,” said Rochester High School educator Kara Sears, who has taught the program since its inception at RCS. “It’s really gratifying to see such significant motivation and learning growth in these young adults.”
A more flexible alternative to an International Baccalaureate program, AP Capstone is a two-year College Board research program that offers high school students two rigorous yearlong courses that develop skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, presenting and college-readiness.
“It focuses on learning skills, rather than one particular content area,” said Tony Lafferty, Stoney Creek High School teacher. “That innovative shift means AP Capstone teaches students how to study, rather than what to study, making the work more personal and engaging.”
The project-based nature of the curriculum allows students flexibility to explore their own passions through scholarly research, choosing topics that are meaningful.
“It’s really impactful,” a group of seniors agreed. “For starters, we’ve developed a framework for research that helps us in all our classes. But additionally, we have discovered effective ways to use our ideas and voice to make a difference.”
Subjects under investigation this year include: nuclear energy expansion in the United States, child marriage in southeast Asia, factors motivating volunteers in nonprofit organizations, lowering the voting age to 16, optimizing water efficiency, true crime media consumption, food waste and more.
“The ability to collect and analyze data is critically important,” said Adams High School teacher Allie Danielson. “But what’s equally important, is that students develop soft skills for the real world: time management, leadership, communication and resolution management, just to name a few.”
According to Aden Barghouty, a recent RCS graduate who now attends the University of Michigan, “No class or high school activity prepared me better for college than AP Capstone. I am grateful for the long-lasting benefits of this program. The skills I learned continue to serve me well.”
 

 

Unified basketball program with six students
Unified Basketball program inspires authentic inclusion

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that this basketball team is changing the high school experience for students,” said Rebecca Gibson, a Rochester Community Schools teacher consultant and coach of the Triple Threat Unified Basketball team.

A new Unified Sports initiative brings together athletes and partners from all three Rochester Community Schools high schools, where students with and without disabilities work together to build social relationships and most importantly, authentic experiences.

Gibson explained the importance of making this a true high school sports season, with uniforms, practices and games played in the school gym in front of classmates, parents and fans. “Our athletes love coming to practice, having their names and nicknames announced when they score, and wearing their team shirt to school on gamedays, just like the JV and varsity athletes in the building,” she said. 

“Game days are my favorite,” said Whitney Batey, a Rochester High School student athlete. “I get to be with my friends.”

When asked if the other team had a chance of winning, Adams athlete Jacob Robinson confidently said, “Not on my watch.”

Lucy Meteyer, an Adams High School student and Triple Threat partner, said what’s most important to her is the opportunity to build true relationships that extend beyond the basketball court. “We’ve become friends,” she said of her teammates and classmates. “We say hello in the cafeteria. We talk outside classes. We hang out between games. Basketball has connected us with students we may not have known otherwise.”

Unified Sports is a collaboration between Special Olympics Michigan and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to promote meaningful social inclusion through sports training and competition. The RCS Triple Threat team plays against six other Oakland County programs. A highlight during this inaugural season was playing during the RCS Crosstown Showdown on a big stage at the Oakland University O’rena.

RCS has launched its program as a recipient of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools grant which challenges schools to improve their culture by embracing inclusive sports, inclusive youth leadership opportunities and whole school engagement.

"We embrace a participation model so that all students have the same opportunities for engagement. Students are able to meaningfully connect with each other through their shared interests and experiences,” said Amanda Sawka, special education supervisor. “Our goal is to build equitable, authentic experiences that form a foundation for school sports and the school culture overall. In this way, everybody wins.”

Two high school orchestra students
Michigan Music Conference honors RCS musicians
Showcasing talented students and excellent music education in Rochester Community Schools, the Rochester High School wind ensemble, under the direction of David Uhrig, and the Stoney Creek High School symphony strings program, under the direction of Brandon Ulrich, were invited to perform at the 2026 Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids.
RCS musicians were honored as two of only eight student groups selected statewide to perform.
Rochester Community Schools continues to build upon a rich history of musical excellence. For the 11th consecutive year, the district has been recognized as one of the 2025 Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. With a well-rounded curriculum and outstanding instruction, RCS offers world-class band, choir, and strings programs. Bravo to everybody who brings outstanding music education to our students.
2026-27 school calendar highlights listed
2026-27 school calendar highlights

We have received inquiries about the 2026-27 school calendar so families can plan accordingly. Dates for the district calendar are determined through a collective bargaining process between Rochester Community Schools and the Rochester Education Association. Major holiday breaks for the 2026-27 school year are in line with the Oakland County Common Calendar.

  • Teachers' first day: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
  • First Day of school for all students (half day): Monday, Aug. 24, 2026
  • Holiday Break: Monday, Dec. 21, 2026 – Sunday, Jan. 1, 2027
  • Winter Break: Feb. 15 – 16, 2027
  • Spring Break: Friday, March 26 – Sunday, April 4, 2027
  • Last Day of school for all students (half day): Wednesday, June 9, 2027

We anticipate being able to communicate the complete 2026-27 calendar by late March.

2026-27 school calendar highlights

 

 

e Two students with cellos at orchestra concert
Continuing as leaders in music education

With a rich curriculum and outstanding instruction, Rochester Community Schools has again been recognized as one of the 2025 Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. This is the 11th time the district has earned this designation for its commitment to music education as an integral part of a well-rounded education for all students. Thank you to our instructors for providing this passion and foundation across the district.

e Two students with cellos at orchestra concert

 

National Merit Scholars class of 2026
Congratulations RCS National Merit Scholars!

Congratulations to the 14 Rochester Community Schools seniors who are semifinalists for the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. These outstanding students qualified for this honor based on exceptional scores on the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). They now have the opportunity to advance to the finalist award level. We also congratulate the 46 RCS students who were named as commended scholars. We are proud to recognize the Class of 2026 for their outstanding achievements.

 

RCS National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists

Britta Anderson, AHS

Aidan Arthurs, AHS

Mark Chernolutskiy, AHS

Samuel Edwards, RHS

Choyeon Kim, AHS

Ananya Kumar, RHS

Greta Lyons, RHS

Eda Nguyen, AHS

Ryan Ni, AHS

Elizabeth Phillips, RHS

Siddh Sheth, SCHS

Yueyang Wu, AHS

Anthony Xie, AHS

Aiden Zhang, AHS

 

RCS National Merit Scholarship Commended Scholars

David Ahn, SCHS

Leslie Bahk, SCHS

Kendall Barnes, AHS

Arya Birje, RHS

Elijah Chang, RHS

Adit Chathakudath, AHS

Aidan Chen, AHS

Johnson Chen, AHS

Judy Cheng, AHS

Michael Cho, AHS

Aarya Devali, RHS

Mackenzie Doyle, AHS

Melvin Du, AHS

Santiago Escoto, AHS

Joshua Fernandes, AHS

Hailey Graunstadt, RHS

Isaac Hacker, RHS

Aden Hassan, AHS

Anupama Iyer, AHS

Ryan Jom, RHS

Jayden Joseph, RHS

William Kirkness, AHS

Katherine Lick, SCHS

Scarlett Locke, AHS

Saaheeba Mann, RHS

Jacob Martincic, AHS

Adam Maxwell, AHS

Peter Milne, AHS

Shivaen Myneni, RHS

William Newport, RHS

Brenden Niu, AHS

Aarush Phadke, AHS

Caden Phan, RHS

Basaam Rathur, RHS

Jacob Scott, RHS

Eric Seo, SCHS

Gaeun Shin, RHS

Chirag Shivakumara, AHS

Anahita Sinha, AHS

Victoria Sotomayor-Losoya, SCHS

Charlotte Stringer, SCHS

Spencer Sun, SCHS

Anthony Trybus, AHS

Yang Wang, AHS

Alexander Weisenstein, SCHS

Lagion Yang, AHS

National Merit Scholars class of 2026

 

Merit Scholars
Merit scholars 2

 

Student and school employee reading a book with a iPad and headphones
Special education supports all learners

RCS continues to grow its special education programs to support all learners. For the 2025-26 school year, the district will open a new high school classroom for students with severe and multiple impairments. This program will give students important opportunities to learn and build friendships alongside their peers, while still receiving the personalized support they need.

RCS is also expanding its autism programming at the elementary level to better support students who benefit from more specialized academic, social and behavioral services within a highly structured learning environment.

As one of the largest districts in Oakland County offering a wide range of special education options, RCS is committed to helping students get the support they need in their home district.

Student and school employee reading a book

 

Chartwells employee and student with lunch
Chartwells honored as national leader

The Chartwells K-12 food service team at Rochester Community Schools has been honored as the Chartwells National Account of the Year!

During the 2024-25 school year, the Chartwells staff served 1,549,381 meals for RCS students, including 1,217,850 lunches and 331,531 breakfasts.

In addition, the team of 130 staff members provided 27 Discovery Kitchen learning events, four Global Eats celebrity chef visits, three farmer’s markets, one Discovery Kitchen cook-off and many other healthy eating learning opportunities across the district.

Special thanks to Marsha Dziewit and the RCS Chartwells team for providing outstanding service to our students.

Chartwells employee and student with lunch

 

Three runners holding their medals
RCS Foundation Hometown Hustle celebrates 20 years

The Rochester Community Schools Foundation enhances academics, arts and athletics for students in Rochester Community Schools.

On Sept. 20, the Hometown Hustle 5K celebrated its 20th anniversary and a longstanding commitment to education. With more than 1,400 participants, this year’s Hometown Hustle was a record-breaking event to support students.

Special thanks to Chief Financial Credit Union, longtime partner and premier sponsor of the Hometown Hustle, and the many volunteers, participants and business partners who had fun raising funds to enhance programs and services for RCS students.

To learn more about giving opportunities, please visit the RCS Foundation at: rcs-foundation.org.

Girls at the Hometown Hustle color run

 

Male teacher with female student and chromebook
RCS students personalize learning using AI tools

When utilized properly, artificial intelligence (AI) tools have the power to personalize learning, build lifelong critical thinking skills and guide students to use their voices more effectively.

“We are better students because of AI,” said a group of Stoney Creek High School seniors. They explained how their experiences with AI have prompted them to improve their arguments with evidence, enhance their writing, prepare personalized review materials, identify content areas where they need more practice, and share their voice.

SchoolAI is one of the tools approved for use in Rochester Community Schools. After interacting with SchoolAI in several classes, students say they have learned to structure their study habits more effectively. “AI has taught me to write something and then evaluate it, add more detail, provide examples, consider other perspectives and think more deeply about my work. It helps me identify and refine my own ideas and voice,” one senior said.

As schools, businesses and people around the world adapt to AI, a team of 26 RCS educators spent the last year developing generative AI guidelines and approved tools for the district. “RCS recognizes the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and is committed to fostering a learning environment where innovation thrives alongside the purposeful and ethical use of AI,” said Pasquale Cusumano, assistant superintendent of secondary and adult education. “Our students and teachers are using AI as another tool to enhance teaching and learning.”

AI tools should primarily serve to enhance student learning experiences, promote personalized learning and empower students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Current RCS-approved tools for teachers include Gemini, NotebookLM, Canva Code and others.

By adapting curriculum materials, AI can provide more student-centered, personalized learning strategies. At the middle school and high school levels, many early-adopter educators have uploaded the lesson plans they created over the years and applied AI to suggest creative new ways to present and review the content.

“Teachers can feel confident that students are getting the same, reliable foundation, but with additional ideas for interactive lessons, group activities, discussion prompts, review materials and visually appealing resources and guides,” said Bryan Lindstrom, Adams High School economics teacher. “AI tools help refresh and update my lessons, without compromising the integrity of the information. Additionally, AI can tailor the material for different learners and present content in a variety of meaningful ways.”

Teachers notice that students are becoming stronger writers as AI provides suggestions for clarity and improvement. “At RCS, we don’t allow students to use AI tools to generate content,” said Sarah Millard, Stoney Creek teacher. “Instead, the tools analyze the work a student submits, then AI can make suggestions and prompt the creator to refine it. The tools do not replace human interactions or judgment, so the personal learning process remains intact.”

Rachel Mainero, instructional technology specialist, agrees. “Our tools don’t allow students to simply find the answer and fill in the blank,” she said. “Instead, AI resources enhance the process of learning and meet individual needs, so students can think deeply and understand how they arrived at the answer.” 

Thanks to spell check, Siri, Google maps and other common tools, AI is already embedded in our daily lives, and many people don’t even realize it. This year, teachers are introducing AI to elementary students, so they understand what it is and how it works in the classroom.

Brooklands teachers Andrew Krupp and Jennifer McKay say their students benefit from AI tools to help make lessons more engaging. For example, each year, fourth graders write a biography on an interesting individual, using resources from the media center and online to conduct research. With new AI tools, students can activate a character chatbot to have a “conversation” with their subject and ask questions, like sharing Thomas Edison’s “voice,” speaking from colonial times.

In the same way, elementary teachers benefit from AI tools that help personalize information to meet diverse student needs. For example, teachers may level the text in a passage, use audio overviews and videos, or create visual planners for various instructional and learning preferences. “It remains student-centered. That’s what counts,” Krupp said.

As technology evolves, RCS will continue to provide professional development and adapt AI guidelines to help students and staff navigate a diverse, interdependent and changing world.

“Ultimately, the goal is to foster AI literacy and equip our school community with the skills to navigate AI while upholding academic integrity,” Cusumano said. “We are using innovative tools to deepen student learning and elevate student voice.”

Falcon Frenzy 2025
Extracurriculars enhance school communities

Students and families have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities that appeal to diverse student interests and talents. From innovative STEM clubs to creative arts programs and competitive sports, these activities build community and provide enriching experiences beyond the classroom.

RCS was proud to host three communitywide fall tailgate events at our high schools. Families, friends and neighbors were able to enjoy some free fun activities and celebrate our schools through the Rochester High School Falcon Frenzy, Stoney Creek Celebration at the Creek and Adams Gold Rush.

The full district calendar, along with news and upcoming events, can be found on the RCS website.

ParentSquare logo
Connect with RCS community groups

Rochester Community Schools recently launched ParentSquare as its official communication platform to share information with students, staff and families. 

Community members may sign up for RCS community groups through the ParentSquare app to receive districtwide information. This self-sign-up feature is available for the following groups: 

  • districtwide general updates
  • employment opportunities
  • enrichment activities
  • RCS Foundation
  • retired employees
  • high school alumni 

Users who choose to sign up for a group will be prompted to create a free ParentSquare account. CLICK HERE to join a ParentSquare community group.

Hometown Hustle promo pic, 2025
Hometown Hustle 5K celebrates 20 years

All RCS schools benefit from the community’s support

The Rochester Community Schools Foundation is celebrating the 20th annual Hometown Hustle 5K and Color Run on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. This beloved, family-friendly tradition benefits all RCS students. Participants can choose a timed 5K route and/or a more casual 1-mile color run/walk, both beginning at the site of our generous sponsor, Chief Financial Credit Union, in downtown Rochester. To learn more, visit: www.rcs-foundation.org.

Hometown Hustle promo pic, 2025

 

Excellence in Education 2025 recipients photo
Honoring excellence in education

The Excellence in Education Award was created to recognize exemplary performance throughout the district. Through a generous donation from Michelle Beitelshees of the Pino Insurance Agency, in a partnership with the RCS Foundation, the Excellence in Education Award has been sustained for more than 18 years. During that time, more than 135 employees have been recognized and awarded over $70,000 to support our schools. Award dollars are used by the recipients to purchase materials or services that will enhance a school classroom, facility, program or service.

Congratulations to the 2025 Excellence in Education Award recipients!    

Lucinda Salmon

Long Meadow teacher, recognized for her contagious and enthusiastic energy, joyful approach to teaching, and attention to helping children learn life skills to calm their minds and bodies.

Jeff Zurkan

Hart choir teacher, honored for teaching valuable lessons in music and life, sharing kindness, making learning fun and caring about student well-being.

Officer Amy Drehmer

Rochester Police officer and RCS school resource officer, honored for being a role model, mentor and caring community leader who has made a lasting impact on students and staff over the past 18 years.

Lucinda Salmon photo
Jeff Zurkan photo
Amy Drehmer photo
Excellence in Education 2025 recipients photo

 

Strategic Plan photo: Learning
Strategic Planning 2024-29, Year 1 highlights

Year 1 strategic plan highlights

LEARNING

· Structured literacy

· Differentiated learning strategies

· Responsive teaching practices

· Student-to-teacher feedback

TEACHING

· Innovative educator networks

· Safe, secure environments

· Onboarding processes

· Technology audits & refresh

· Behavioral response support

· Foundational multi-tiered systems of support strategies

LEADERSHIP

· Districtwide collaborative inquiry

· Shared mission and vision

· Comprehensive recruitment and retention

· Meaningful professional development

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

· Systemic approach for initiative roll-outs

· New teacher orientation, training and mentoring programs

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

· Two-way communication and stakeholder feedback

· School transition support

· District website updates and enhancements

To learn more about the RCS strategic plan, scan the QR code or visit the district website at www.rochester.k12.mi.us.

Strategic Plan photo: Learning

 
   
Strategic Plan photo: Teaching
Strategic Plan: Leadership
Strategic Plan photo: Professional Development

 

RCS staff with Centegix badges
RCS advances safety with Centegix platform

Rochester Community Schools remains committed to enhancing processes that empower staff members to act effectively during an emergency. To that end, the district is adopting the Centegix safety platform, an incident response solution that supports emergencies, from everyday situations to the extreme. 

“Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students, staff and community. In an emergency, every second matters. We will do all we can to strengthen district processes that support emergency preparedness and response in our school buildings, on the playgrounds, parking lots or athletic fields,” said Superintendent Nicholas Russo.

The Centegix safety platform leverages digital mapping, real-time locating capabilities, and an easy-to-use wearable panic button to support a faster response for safety situations.

“Every adult member of our team has been issued a breakaway lanyard that holds a crisis alert badge. Using the Centegix system, staff can call for help anywhere on school grounds, simply by pressing a button. Once activated, support teams will know exactly where the incident is taking place and can provide an immediate response for help,” said Dr. Neil DeLuca, deputy superintendent.

The Centegix platform provides two types of alerts. The “I need help” alert immediately notifies on-site staff of a localized situation on campus, such as a medical emergency or altercation on school property.

“Response times can impact the outcome of a situation. For example, if there’s an accident on the playground, our teams can call for help without delay. We anticipate that the vast majority of our alerts will originate from these types of day-to-day interactions,” said DeLuca.

For more extreme situations, a campus-wide alert, or lockdown, may be required. Here, the system not only notifies on-site personnel of the emergency, but also central office administrators, 911 dispatchers and first responders.

“New and innovative technologies are constantly emerging, so we did our due diligence to make sure the platform would provide a lasting benefit, is secure, easy to use, easy to install, accepted by local law enforcement and integrates with our current systems,” said Jeff Frankowiak, technology director.

“An intentional focus on training ensures that school resource officers, first responders and nearly 2,000 district employees have the knowledge to support the alerts and respond quickly,” said Frankowiak.

When the badge is activated, school communities receive visual and auditory alerts. A strobe light flashes; an intercom message provides verbal direction; and mobile and desktop computer alerts indicate the location of the emergency on a map.

“The Centegix safety platform does not replace other safety measures that are currently in place in the district. It is meant to enhance operations,” said RCS Safety Consultant Steve Schettenhelm, former Rochester Police chief. “This multi-layered approach to safety includes districtwide emergency response protocols, emergency radios, cameras, CPR and first-aid training and other strategic investments that make the crisis response for the district even better.”

Additional benefits of the Centegix partnership include a comprehensive visitor management system that will be installed in all 25 Rochester Community Schools buildings in the fall 2025. The system alerts staff if an individual has a background that could jeopardize a safe environment and provides building administrators with the ability to see if visitors are entering restricted areas. It also offers greater efficiency by providing a self-service kiosk for visitors, while eliminating the need for manual clipboard and check-in sheets.

“A visitor management system improves security for our staff and students. Knowing who is in the building, along with their purpose, will also improve our ability to account for and assist our guests in the case of an emergency situation,” said DeLuca.

“Keeping our school community safe is a team effort. New processes and procedures may not always be convenient, but they are essential in this day and age. We remain grateful for our community members who partner with us to support the safety and well-being of each and every student, staff, family member, visitor and guest on school grounds,” said Russo.

RCS staff with Centegix badges

 

Orchestra event 2025, students playing instruments
RCS celebrates first orchestra graduates

Rochester Community Schools celebrates first orchestra graduates with the Class of 2025

On April 1, 2025, Rochester Community Schools hosted the debut performance of the districtwide RCS orchestra, featuring 540 musicians in grades 6-12. Among these students are the first 28 graduates of the orchestra program, which began in 2018 during their sixth grade year.

“We are proud to celebrate the growth of music education in Rochester Community Schools,” said Superintendent Nicholas Russo, Ed.S. “It is an honor to witness the talent and collaboration of these outstanding students who have developed their knowledge and skills to become accomplished musicians as the orchestra program has grown over the past seven years.”

All RCS orchestra musicians gathered in the Adams High School gymnasium this April to perform “A Woodland Chronicle” for the first time together as a group. The original musical selection was composed by Dr. Brandon Ulrich, Stoney Creek choir and orchestra director. It represents the growth of the RCS music program as it develops from a seedling into a strong oak tree that flourishes through the seasons and spreads into a vibrant forest.

With overwhelming community support, RCS orchestra instruction was first offered to sixth graders in the 2018-19 school year, in addition to existing band and choir opportunities. New violins, violas, cellos and double bass instruments were added to music rooms. The program attracted participants quickly and grew each time those initial orchestra students advanced to the next grade level. Today, the program features students from Hart, Reuther, Van Hoosen and West middle schools, and Adams, Rochester and Stoney Creek high schools.

For 10 consecutive years, Rochester Community Schools has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation. RCS is one of only 21 school districts in the state of Michigan to receive this honor and the staff remains committed to a curriculum and student experience that values rigorous academic and arts instruction.

The RCS music curriculum is well-rounded and begins early in each child’s educational journey, with an exploration of musical textures, forms and compositions. It advances from preschool through high school, to include musical understanding, evaluation, analysis, expression and performances.

“RCS is fortunate to have had longstanding leadership teams that value a high-quality music education program, committed to providing students with learning opportunities in vocal, instrumental and orchestral music, Russo said.

The district remains grateful to the Rochester Community Schools Foundation, a steadfast supporter of the arts for RCS students. The RCS Foundation helped establish the orchestra program with a $137,000 donation – the foundation’s largest gift ever awarded.

“As our inaugural orchestra students prepare to graduate and continue their education and training beyond high school, we wish them great success. We hope they reflect on the wonderful creative opportunities they have had at RCS, allowing them to flourish,” Russo said. “The orchestra program continues to thrive, enriching the music curriculum for RCS students and creating a legacy of pride in excellence.”

Orchestra event 2025, students playing string instruments
Orchestra event 2025, several students playing string instruments

 

two lower elementary students reading on a couch
Structured Literacy supports skilled readers

The district’s strategic plan indicates the need to implement Structured Literacy models in elementary classrooms.

Structured Literacy is a term that was adopted by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and describes the instructional approach for teaching foundational literacy skills based on how the brain processes print and language. While not a curriculum in itself, it refers to explicit, systemic and cumulative, diagnostic teaching.

Elements of Structured Literacy include phonology (the sound of spoken words); sound-symbol association (mapping sounds to printed letters in two directions); syllable instruction (unit of oral or written language with on vowel sound); morphology (the smallest unit of meaning); syntax (grammar and mechanics); and semantics (meaning).

The district is currently engaging all elementary staff in comprehensive professional development to support the use of Structured Literacy approaches in our classrooms. The goal is always to provide instruction that supports confident, skilled and joyful readers.

Lean. Lead. Inspire. Making connections through joyful learning. Teacher with two students
Making connections through joyful, meaningful learning
Making connections through joyful, meaningful learning
“What a joy it is to see children connect their knowledge to the world around them,” said first grade teacher Laura Kirklin. “When learning becomes meaningful, students can be fully engaged critical thinkers who make important contributions in their daily lives.”
As educational programs continually evolve, research shows that student-centered, inquiry-based instructional strategies help students develop skills related to learning, literacy and life.
“Meaningful learning is a process of connecting new knowledge to prior understanding,” said Pasquale Cusumano, assistant superintendent of secondary and adult education. “Meaningful learning is active, constructive and long-lasting. It allows students to be fully engaged in the learning process.”
Fostering positive learning environments
A peek into Mrs. Kirklin’s classroom shows first graders participating in reading and writing workshop activities where students work together to develop decoding, phonics and comprehension skills. Importantly, these academic lessons take place within a climate of trust—and they are focused on students sharing their opinions, ideas and knowledge.
Students read with buddies; record their ideas in daily gratitude journals; have pen pal companions at a local senior center; share reviews with their favorite local businesses; and create their own Kidland game with unique characters to make phonics fun and interactive.
At the end of a word game similar to musical chairs, a student immediately responded, “That was so fun! Can we play again?”
“Especially at the elementary level, play-based learning is personal and deeply rewarding, because children are engaged in meaningful activities that they truly enjoy with people they truly care about,” Kirklin said. At morning meetings, young students say hello in different languages, shake hands, support one another through struggles and build respectful, inclusive relationships.
“Our districtwide Positivity Project builds character traits and challenges young learners to reflect on how they can contribute to a better classroom, school, local community and world,” Kirklin said.  
Prioritizing relevant, relatable learning
Meaningful learning involves a true understanding of how all the pieces of an entire concept fit together, beyond memorized answers to fixed questions. In this way, students are able to transfer and adapt their knowledge to solve new problems, examine new situations and build their skills.
As an example, to personalize lessons on plant life, weather and ecosystems, elementary students have created community gardens. To deepen their understanding of history, middle schoolers engage in role-playing activities to imagine themselves prioritizing issues as authors of the U.S. Constitution. To examine math and physics data related to traction and speed, high school students partner with traffic experts to reconstruct vehicle accident scenes.
“We connect content to the real world,” said Brandon Shurter, Advanced Placement (AP) environmental science teacher. Using local parks as their nontraditional classroom setting, high schoolers step into waders before entering the Clinton River to collect water samples and analyze dissolved oxygen levels that affect the macroinvertebrate population. “These field studies give students a hands-on look at the health of our stream ecosystems,” Shurter said. “This experience provides a lens to think about global environmental issues as well. Their learning builds and adapts and can be applied to new bodies of knowledge.”
Additional class activities with practical applications include personal home energy audits to assess the energy consumption in students’ households; experiments to calculate power generated from photovoltaic cells and spinning turbines; and harvesting lettuce grown on indoor hydroponic garden towers.  
One student said the class inspired her to join the Green Club so she could put her knowledge to better use. “It wasn’t until I volunteered for the Green Club that I truly understood the impact of reducing, reusing and recycling,” she said. “This opportunity to lead recycling efforts at school affected my family’s practices and habits at home too. I’m even looking at environmental science as a possible career. The more I learn, the more I care about taking care of our natural resources. We sponsor an annual tree planting program, recycle holiday lights and participate in Earth Week initiatives. Hands-on work with my peers extends my educational success beyond a report card or exam.”
Uncovering the joy of discovery
“Learning is enhanced when students feel a sense of passion and excitement about the subject matter,” said information literacy specialist Jennifer Lin. “We give students freedom and flexibility to learn about issues that are important to them.”
Lin collaborates closely with language arts teacher Eva Hensley to implement the eighth-grade research project. This requires students to use databases for their research, evaluate sources for credibility and relevancy, synthesize information in a written paper and present their findings to peers, families and community members.
“While students are held to high academic standards, what makes this project meaningful and personal is that the content is student-directed, down to how they want to share the knowledge,” Lin said. “In years past, students have chosen to present their findings beyond PowerPoints. They designed and created call-to-action pins and stickers, recorded podcasts, made and distributed infographics and brochures, and one group even put together a puppet show.”
Lin said, “Students select their own personal passion projects. They have academic expectations to meet, but choosing the subject matter puts them in charge of their own learning experiences. Their learning is deeper and more complex than if we had assigned random topics.”
This semester, middle school students have chosen research subjects including social media’s impact on teens, immigration, substance abuse, anxiety, air pollution and gang violence. When asked why they selected their topics, one group of students responded, “We want to be involved in repairing the world. These are the things we wonder about and care about.”
With a commitment to students’ personal growth and success, Lin also ensures that her media center offers a wide variety of STEM activities, 3D printing, coding, inclusive books with diverse characters and stories, a makerspace club, technology-enhanced learning and other timely, creative outlets that students to enjoy.
“I am proud that Rochester Community Schools celebrates the creative ideas, voices and gifts of all students at all grade levels,” Cusumano said. “Every single day, we are inspired by meaningful, joyful learning that motivates students to reach their fullest potential.”