Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Good Morning Students, Parents and Staff!
Follow us on Twitter @RJHS78
**Bring a water bottle to school everyday**
Early dismissal /SIP Day - September 24 12:15 Dismissal
Rochester Literary Program
Attention students! Are you interested in acting, public speaking, or improvisation? Then the Rochester Literary program is for you! The program will run much more normal this year, with in-person rehearsals and a contest currently scheduled for November 13th at RJHS.
A virtual parent information meeting will be held TONIGHT, September 22nd, at 7:15pm (after the homecoming parade) to cover all the additional information you will need to get signed up! Please use the following link to access the meeting:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pny-kxqv-dgo
Or dial: (US) +1 402-545-0337 PIN: 984 950 296#
Also, information can be found on the following document, along with sign up links and contest information.
Literary Program Information Document
If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Parker at cparker@rochester3a.net
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held for RJHS on Wednesday, September 29, Wednesday, October 13 and Wednesday, November 3 from 3:30 - 8:30 p.m. Conferences will be held VIRTUALLY this fall. Parents should use their Skyward Family Access to schedule 15-minute virtual appointments with their student’s teachers that they would like to visit with through our video conferencing platform.
After scheduling your conference(s), parents will be sent a link by the teacher for each meeting via their email. Directions on how to schedule a conference can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact Christie Jones at 217-498-9761, Ext. 1002 or cjones@rochester3a.net.
Rocket Football Information
Rocket Football Fan information
Gates to Rocket Booster Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m.; fans may re-enter only if they have their hand and ticket stamped prior to exiting the stadium.
The following items are banned from Rocket Booster Stadium: balls, open drink containers, and noise makers that interfere with game play (whistles, air horns, etc)
All elementary and intermediate students (grades K thru 6) must be accompanied by an adult to enter the stadium and attend the game.
Tickets can be pre-purchased online at the following link:PURCHASE ONLINE TICKETS . Online tickets sales will run through Friday at 12:00 p.m. Due to limited cell phone service at the stadium we ask that you either print or screenshot your tickets to ensure access to them at the gate.
Homecoming Spirit Week next week (Sept 20th-24th)
RJHS Homecoming Spirit Week 2021
Wild Wednesday: Wear mismatched socks, crazy hair and tie dye clothes
Fanatic Thursday: Dress to support your favorite superhero, sports team, movie character, etc.
Fun Friday: Wear Orange and Blue to show your school pride
**Who has more school spirit- 7th or 8th grade?
Homecoming Parade
This year’s Rochester High School Homecoming Parade will be on Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 pm. The parade will start at the Rochester Baptist Church on State Street, will turn left on Main Street, and turn right on North Walnut and will end in the back parking lot at the high school. This year’s theme is “Fairytales”. If you are interested in participating in the parade or need additional information, please contact Deena Powell at (217) 498-9761 ext. 3122 during the school day or you can email at dpowell@rochester3a.net. Parade entries should fill out a form at this link Entry Form. All parade entries need to have adult supervision and will not include political entries. We would love to see area businesses participate in our parade! There will be monetary prizes for the best parade entries that follow the parade theme displaying school spirit. (Businesses are not eligible for prizes)
ALL sports/activities/businesses not directly connected to the Rochester Schools will need to fill out a Waiver of Liability Form and return to Deena Powell dpowell@rochester3a.net no later than 3:15 pm on Tuesday, September 21. (Just take a picture of your completed form with your phone camera and email to me) The head/owner of each group (President, Owner, etc) can sign the waiver for the entire group if your have your own liability insurance. Example: the head of JFL will sign for all the JFL entries. I do NOT need waivers signed from each individual parent unless there is not an individual who is able to sign for the entire group. This form takes liability away from the Rochester School District. Click here for Waiver of Liability Form
Picture Retakes
If you/your child missed pictures the first day of school or just did not like the pictures, retakes are on Monday September 27th from 8-11 in the back of the auditorium.
Safe2Help
Safe2Help is a 24/7 program for students, staff, and families to share school safety issues, find resources to get help, and find encouragement to help others. Anyone can call to talk to a trained staff member about abuse, bullying, depression, self-injury, or suicidal thoughts for themselves or other students. You can access Safe2Help by calling 844-4-SAFEIL, texting SAFE2(72332), or emailing help@safe2helpIL.com.
Hazel Heath
We’re launching our health services program for this school year, and we want to make sure your family has access to these services all year long. Our district is hosting a Consent for Care Drive to ensure 100% of families learn about our student health services from Hazel Health. With Hazel, students can immediately speak with a Hazel doctor right from school or at home.
On-demand health services include:
Medical treatment: For stomach aches, headaches, sprained ankles, asthma concerns, and everything in between
Medication: Prescriptions written or over-the-counter provided at school when needed
Coordination: With family physician and return to school communications
Parents - Please sign the Consent for Care form to ensure your child has access to these services: my.hazel.co/rochester3a
If you have already completed the form, thank you! You can help us reach 100% of families this week by reminding your fellow Rochester CUSD 3A families to opt-in to this service during our drive.
Remote Instruction is provided only to those students who are under quarantine.
If your child is under quarantine, please have them email their teachers to set up google meets and also check on Canvas to see what the teachers have put on there for work.
Pick-ups
If you need to pick up your Jr High student during the school day please contact Mrs. Jones in the office at 217-498-9761 ext. 1002 or cjones@rochester3a.net. This way we can try to get your child out to you in a timely manner. When you do pick up your child, you will pull up to the front of the Jr High and call the phone number above. Your child will be walked to your car, so you may sign them out of the building.
Few reminders about RJHS:
The doors at RJHS open at 7:45.
The tardy bell rings at 8:05 which means that students should be in class, ready to learn by 8:05.
School is dismissed at 3:05.
Lunch is 12:22 - 12:52
Students should bring a plastic water bottle (with a lid). Water fountains are not available, although we do have bottle filling stations.
Parent drop-off & pick-up is on the NORTH side of the building, near the auditorium doors (across the parking lot from the football field). Buses will drop-off & pick-up on the SOUTH side (route 29 side) of the building.
Please make sure your student's chromebook is charged and ready to go tomorrow morning!
Student phones should be turned off and out of sight during the school day, although students are allowed to use them at lunch time. Airpods/earbuds/headphones are only to be used in class when directed by the teacher such as when students are independently watching videos for instruction.
Students should report directly to their first period (Learning Lab) class upon arrival.
Lockers will only be used before school, at lunch time, and after school.
No gaiters, please use a mask.
Dress Code – Dress for Success
Rochester Junior High School is committed to preparing students for the next steps in their lives such as high school, college, career, and postsecondary life success. Part of navigating the world is understanding the importance of context. Choosing the right attire for different contexts is an important life skill. Clothing shall not be of a style nor shall it contain words or depictions that create a clear and present likelihood that it will cause a material and substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities. Words or messages that are so offensive to any individual or group as to create an immediate reaction disruptive to the orderly operation of the school or school activities are prohibited. The “Dress for Success Norms” encourage students to keep their focus on learning, maintaining age-appropriate expectations, and providing an environment that allows students to feel comfortable and to express their individuality appropriately. Rochester staff have taken great strides to ensure that these straightforward Dress for Success Norms apply equally to both male and to female students. We strive to enforce these rules respectfully and without judgment.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS WHAT TO WEAR:
All students must follow these norms at school and all school-sponsored events. This includes, but is not limited to, school activities, field trips, and school-sponsored afterschool programs.
Students should dress appropriately for school, wearing clothing that is well-suited for a school environment.
Clothing will completely cover torso through top of chest, including backside in non-see-through materials.
The front and back of a shirt (or top of any kind) must be connected by at least 2 inches of fabric over both shoulders
Clothing must cover all undergarments.
Head and face will be uncovered. Appropriate headgear may be worn for warmth and protection outdoors and inside for religious reasons or special circumstances.
Clothing, accessories, and visible tattoos that display or promote negative messages are not permitted. These could include, but are not limited to, illegal or prescription drugs, gangs, weapons, alcohol, or tobacco-related information, obscenities, putdowns, stereotypes, sexual innuendo, plainly offensive subject material, or disruptive activities.
Safety is paramount. Footwear (sneakers, boots, sandals, etc.) must be worn at all times. State law specifies that safety glasses must be worn in shops and labs when working with machinery and/or chemicals. Pierced jewelry that presents a safety hazard, spiked apparel, spike accessories, animal collars, or chains that can be used as weapons are prohibited.
OUTSIDE THE NORMS:
When a student’s outfit does not meet the Dress for Success Norms, he or she will be asked politely to address the issue. This can be done in whatever way the student feels works best for him or her. Options include, but are not limited to, the following:
Adjusting the fit of the clothing (if possible to do so and meet the guidelines)
Putting on something else that is already at school (PE uniform, jacket, etc.)
Calling home and requesting a change of clothes R
Rochester staff will address noncompliance with the Dress for Success Norms in a respectful and professional manner; our intent is not to shame individual students for their wardrobe choices. We would expect that no student should need to be asked more than twice, in one year, to adjust their attire to meet the norms. Having to ask more than twice becomes an issue of disrespect rather than an issue about dress.
We appreciate parent and student cooperation in our efforts to make our Dress for Success Norms and their enforcement fair, balanced, and gender-neutral.
Lunch Menu:
Wednesday
Rocket Line - Popcorn Chicken Bowl
Corner Crust Pizza - BBQ Chicken Sriracha
Custom Bros Grill - Bosco Sticks
Salad Bar - Fried Chicken
Thursday
Rocket Line - Meatball Sub SW
Corner Crust Pizza - Pepperoni, Sausage & Onion
Custom Bros Grill - Bacon Cheeseburger
Salad Bar - Cobb