FALSE ALARM: Today, maintenance crews accidentally set off the fire alarm at the High School and Junior High. Students were safely evacuated as a precaution but were in no danger. However, you may wonder what staff do to ensure your student's safety.
The first thing we do is make sure every student is safely evacuated. Each teacher has one of these clear backpacks that contain emergency items, including a class roster, so teachers can ensure that every student is accounted for. If a student is missing, administration are notified who then sweep the area where the student may be in the building. Meanwhile, all staff check their classes to see if the student accidentally became part of their group during evacuation.
The backpack also holds emergency items like work gloves, emergency blankets, a whistle, toilet paper, and an umbrella. This prepares staff for any condition they may face when forced to leave the building.
For this accidental trigger, Rochester Fire and Police responded and cleared the building per protocol before turning off the alarm. Once that happens, they notify staff that all is clear and that students are allowed back in the building.
We take the safety of our students and staff extremely seriously. While today's incident was a false alarm, we treat every incident like the real thing. Students and staff were out of the buildings today in record time, and each student was accounted for thanks to these wonderful emergency kits.
A shout-out to our staff who are being innovative in ways to keep your students and our teachers safe! It's a great day to be a Rocket!
Transportation update for 12/12/23.
https://5il.co/2aqli
Congratulations to Rochester High School Football Coach Derek Leonard and former Girls Basketball Coach JR Boudouris!
Derek Leonard is the Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Year!!!
JR Boudouris was selected to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame!!!
Transportation update for December 11th.
https://5il.co/2aohi
Transportation update for December 8th. Have a great weekend!
https://5il.co/2amgv
Nothing says holiday spirit like an ugly sweater! Staff donned their most beautiful ugly sweater and didn't fail to impress. We love the comradery this builds and how it helps break down barriers and encourage uplifting conversations with our students. Go Rockets!
Congratulations to our Illinois State Scholars at Rochester High School! We are VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!!!
Front Row (L-R): Molly Anderson, Sophia Njapa, Wil Kerwin, Collin Steele, Neve Wilber and Suna Tabag. Middle Row (L-R): Kaeley Kent, Morgan Hofferkamp, Katie Schleder, Livia Nieves, Ellie Gegen, Charlotte Beatty and Mairead Zuver. Back Row (L-R): Luke Gribbins, Simeon Ommen, Adan Nieves, Canon Bruce, Lemuel Chan and Curtis Roselle.
Transportation update for December 7th.
https://5il.co/2aj1f
Transportation updates for December 6th.
https://5il.co/2afx6
Transportation update for December 5th.
https://5il.co/2abng
Late Transportation Change
Daycare students
Silverleaf-run by bus 6 (Becky) P/U @ 3:00 Elementary Sidewalk by EC-1
Beginning Steps-run by bus 14 (Tracy) P/U @ 3:00 Elementary Sidewalk by EC-1
RIS students that go to:
Silverleaf or Beginning Steps will get on Bus 27 and will drop them off prior to going to the Transfer lot
Bus 27 will leave the RIS lot as soon as possible.
Bus 11's non-daycare students from all buildings will get on Bus 14 at the transfer lot.
Transportation update December 4th.
https://5il.co/2a4f7
RHS College Now and CACC students will NOT be required to attend classes on Friday, December 1st. You are excused due to Rochester CUSD Schools being closed today.
Due to a power outage at the schools with an unknown restoration time, all Rochester Schools will be closed on Friday, December 1, 2023. Have a great weekend!
Congratulations to our Outstanding Rocket Musicians who were invited to attend the ILMEA All-State Music Convention in Peoria this January!
All-State Band: Isaac Hicks.
All-State Chorus: Bailey Alexander, Jonathan Bailey, Tarkan Barutcu, Ella Burke, Sam Cere, Jayden Herren, Micah Hicks, Madison Miles, Carl Roselle, Paige Zemsky
All-State Honors Chorus: Josiah Anderson, Emma Buckles, Cooper Coker, Porter DeFrates, Emily Herren, Holden Nichols, Truman Schudel.
All-State Vocal Jazz: Mark McDonald.
All-State Honors Vocal Jazz - 1 of only 12 kids in the whole state - Claire Carley!
Congratulations to Derek Leonard and the Rochester Rockets Football Team on their STATE CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY over St. Laurence in the IHSA Class 4A State Championship last Friday night.
MADRIGAL PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - Tickets for this year's Rochester Madrigal Dinners and Teas will go on sale to the public beginning this Monday, November 20. Show dates are December 8, 9, and 10. All ticket sales are online only this year. Links to purchase tickets will be in the school announcements, the Choral Department Facebook Page, and on all of Mr. Spear's Canvas websites beginning Monday, November 20.
Good Luck to our Rocket Football Team!!! Rochester Football will play in the IHSA Class 4A Semifinals against Murphysboro on Saturday, November 18 at 3:00 p.m. at Murphysboro HS.
Rochester High School, Rochester Junior High School, and Rochester Intermediate School Band Concert is Wednesday, November 15 at the Auditorium. RIS at 4:30 p.m.; RJHS at 6:00 p.m.; RHS at 7:30 p.m.
Transportation update November 10th. Have a great weekend!
https://5il.co/28r3f