Due to additional snowfall, Rochester School District will operate on a 2-hour delay on Tuesday, January 27.
Please allow extra time for travel and use caution on roads and sidewalks.
🧤 Stay warm, stay safe!
Due to weather conditions, Rochester School District schools will be CLOSED on Monday, January 26th.
Please stay warm, stay safe, and stay inside if possible.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
📌 Updates will be shared as needed through our official channels.
A message from the
Rochester School District Health Services
EXTREME COLD WEATHER ALERT
Friday Night through Monday Night
According to the weather report, dangerously cold temperatures are expected all weekend. Wind chills and extreme cold can make it feel even colder and exposed skin can freeze in minutes.
What This Means
Frostbite can occur on exposed skin (face, ears, fingers) in 10–30 minutes
Hypothermia is possible even with short outdoor exposure
Cold is especially dangerous for young children, older adults, and pets
STAY SAFE TIPS
Children
Cover all exposed skin: hats, scarves, gloves, face coverings
Avoid outdoor play unless absolutely necessary
Keep trips outside short and supervised
Pets
Bring pets indoors at all times. Paw pads, ears, and tails can freeze quickly
Do not leave animals in garages or outside shelters
Families
Avoid going out Friday night through Monday unless necessary
Dress in layers if travel is unavoidable
Homes
Protect outdoor faucets and exposed pipes
Let faucets drip slightly to prevent freezing
Check heating systems and space heaters for safety
Vehicle Safety
Never Leave children or pets in cars. Cars lose heat quickly.
Extreme cold can be dangerous if you are stranded or delayed.
Avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, especially Friday night–Monday
Make sure your car has a full tank of gas, working heater and keep an emergency kit in your car (blanket, flashlight, snacks, phone charger)
If you get stuck stay in your car, run heater 10 minutes per hour and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
Bottom Line
If you don’t have to go out — stay in.
If you do go out — cover up completely.
Stay warm. Stay safe.
📅 Reminder: Next Friday, January 30
Friday, January 30 is a Teacher Workshop / Professional Development Day.
👉 There will be NO SCHOOL for students in the Rochester School District.
🏢 Central Office will be open regular hours.
Rochester Parks & Rec - Winter Festival, previously scheduled for Saturday, January 24th has been postponed due to the forecast cold weather. Rec staff and event partners agree that the low temperature will pose a danger to both participants and volunteers. A new date will be announced shortly. We hope everyone stays warm this weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone on the rescheduled date.
Information about Recreation and Arena programs can be found at Rec.RochesterNH.gov or by calling 603-332-4120.”
📢 School Bus Safety Reminders for Families
School mornings can be busy—especially on cold, winter days ❄️. Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our students safe, calm, and on time.
Please remember:
Be ready and waiting on time at your child’s assigned bus stop
Stay at the designated stop so routes can run smoothly
Make sure students are out of cars and homes and standing at the stop when the bus arrives
Keep eyes on the road and surroundings while waiting
Listen to and follow directions from bus drivers and school staff
While we understand the temptation on cold mornings, please do not flag down buses or ask drivers to make extra stops. Sticking to assigned stops helps keep everyone safe and buses on schedule.
📞 Questions? Contact the Bus Transportation Manager at 603-509-2904
🌐 Bus schedules: https://www.rochesterschools.com/page/bus-schedules
Thank you for helping us keep transportation safe for all students!
Have a day with the children - here are some ideas to fill this year's MLK Day (or any day) with messages and lessons on kindness, sharing, fairness and dreams!
Kindness Jar
Write acts of kindness on slips of paper (help a neighbor, include someone, say thank you). Pick one to do together on MLK Day.
“Fair or Unfair?” Conversations
Share everyday scenarios (taking turns, sharing supplies, playground rules) and talk about what’s fair, unfair, and why fairness matters.
Read & Reflect Together
Read a short, age-appropriate book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or kindness. Ask: How can we show these values every day?
Compliment Challenge
Each family member gives at least three genuine compliments to others during the day—focusing on effort, kindness, and character.
Service at Home
Do a small service project together: donate clothes, make thank-you cards for community helpers, or help a neighbor.
Kindness Walk
Take a walk and look for ways to help—holding doors, picking up litter, smiling at others, or saying hello.
“I Have a Dream” Family Talk
Ask children to share their own dreams for a kinder, fairer school or community. Write or draw them together.
Inclusion Check-In
Talk about what it means to include others. Ask: How can we help someone feel welcome at school or on a team?
Acts of Kindness Plan
Create a simple plan for one kind action to do each week after MLK Day—turning learning into action.
Gratitude & Growth Reflection
End the day by sharing one way each person showed kindness and one way they want to do better moving forward.
Our district urgently needs families to complete the Free & Reduced Meal Application. Even if you believe you may not qualify, every application helps support funding for the 2026–2027 school year.
📅 Online deadline for giveaway: January 14
🎁 Apply online by January 14 to be entered into a donated gift card giveaway plus it goes into our 2026-27 school year state funding points!!
🔗 Apply here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/
Thank you for supporting our students and schools.
📌 Reminder to Rochester Families
Our district urgently needs families to complete the Free & Reduced Meal Application. Even if you believe you may not qualify, every application helps support state funding for the 2026–2027 school year.
📅 Online deadline: January 14
📄 Paper deadline: January 13
🎁 Apply online by January 14 to be entered into a gift card giveaway!
🔗 Apply here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/
Thank you for supporting our students and schools.
The weatherman is predicting snowy and icy conditions for tomorrow morning, Wednesday, January 7th. Therefore in order to give our facility team time to get things cleaned up and to ensure the roads are safe for travel, there will be a 2 hour delay for the Rochester Schools Wednesday Jan 7th.
Have a good night.
-Mr. Fulgoni
New Elementary Permanent Bus Route Changes – Beginning January 5, 2026
Dear Elementary School District Families,
We are writing to share some important updates regarding bus transportation for elementary students. These changes are being made to help improve safety and manage bus capacity more effectively. The changes only impact students on the R19 and the soon-to-be restored R4 routes as detailed below. All other routes will remain the same.
New Elementary Permanent Bus Route Changes – Beginning January 5, 2026
Starting Monday, January 5, bus routes will be adjusted as follows:
R19 will be split into two routes.
R4 will serve students in the Pine Street area only.
R19 will continue to serve elementary students on Charles Street.
Riders from the Pine Street bus stop will move to Route R4.
Pine Street bus stop will move to the Duvall Park stop (near North Main Street see map below).
A new Cove Court bus stop will be added so students will not need to cross Main Street.
Bus Route information has been updated on the District's website at https://www.rochesterschools.com/o/rsd/page/bus-schedules
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to the bus company at 603-509-2904.
Holiday break offers families a chance to reconnect and reflect together. The Rochester School District has created “7 Days of Little Moments, Big Learning”, a one-page family resource designed to spark meaningful conversations between parents and children during the break.
Each day includes a simple discussion prompt or activity that helps build important skills such as communication, empathy, creativity, critical thinking, and goal-setting — all without worksheets or added pressure.
These family chats are meant to fit naturally into your day and support learning beyond the classroom.
Cold weather is here—make sure your little ones stay safe, warm, and healthy as temperatures drop.
Here are a few quick tips:
🧥 Layer up. Several thin layers work better than one heavy coat.
🧣 Protect extremities. Hats, gloves, and warm boots are essential.
⏱️ Limit time outdoors in extreme cold or wind chills.
🚗 Car seat safety: Avoid bulky coats under harnesses—use blankets over the straps instead.
💧 Stay hydrated. Kids need fluids even in cold weather!
Learn more winter weather safety tips for children:
👉 CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter
👉 American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html
👉 Save the Children: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/cold-weather-tips
Stay warm, stay safe, and help protect the little ones in your life! ❄️💙
📅 Wednesday, December 3, 2025
🕖 7:00–8:00 PM
📍 Rochester Middle School
47 Brock St, Rochester, NH 03867
#RochesterNH #RochesterSchoolDistrict #HolidayConcert #StudentMusicians #ElementaryBand
🚍 Updated Bus Route Schedule Information Now Available!
The Rochester School District is pleased to announce that our new, easy-to-navigate Bus Route Schedules Information page is now live! Families can quickly find updated bus schedules to help plan for the school year.
🔗 Visit the page directly here: Bus Schedules https://www.rochesterschools.com/o/rsd/page/bus-schedules
or access it anytime through the Bus Schedules Update button on our district website
We encourage all families to check the schedules for the most accurate and up-to-date information on routes and times.
The countdown is on! Join us for the Start Strong: Back to School Event 🎉
📅 Monday, August 25, 2025
🕚 11 AM – 2 PM
📍 Rochester Rec Center, 150 Wakefield St
✨ Free haircuts for kids & teens
✨ School supplies & giveaways
✨ Youth activity sign-ups
✨ Connect with school staff & family resources
💛 Families enrolled in Rochester School District, let’s kick off the year together—because we’re stronger when we start together!
#RochesterNH #BackToSchool #StartStrong
Join Rochester School District for our Back to School Event
Monday, August 25, 2025
Foley Community Center
11 AM – 2 PM.
✅ Youth activity sign-ups
✅ Giveaways
✅ Family resources
✅ A supportive & energized start to the year!
📍 150 Wakefield St, Rochester, NH
Free for families of students enrolled in Rochester School District.
💬 "We’re stronger when we start together!"
#RochesterNH #BackToSchool #StartStrong #CommunityEvent #FamilyFun
