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.
📢 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.
Good afternoon SFS Families! We have seen an increase of students bringing in personal devices this week. A friendly reminder, to minimize distractions and promote full engagement with the school experience, the RSD Cell Phone policy restricts student use of personal communication devices during the school day. We ask that students refrain from using their Smart Watches as well as cell phones during the school day. These devices should be stored in their backpacks and turned off. A letter was sent this fall from Superintendent Fulgoni outlining the new state law and how this will impact our schools. To review this letter, please click on the link below.
Thank you for everyone's attention to this matter.
https://bit.ly/4bxbNkC
📌 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.
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.
❄️ Keep Kids Safe This Winter! ❄️
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 children 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
https://collinssports.chipply.com/salmonfallsschool
It's hard to believe that we are nearing the end of October! With that said, Halloween is around the corner. On Friday, 10/31, students will be allowed to wear their costumes to school.
Please note, for everyone's safety, the following are NOT allowed.
- Masks
- Inflatable costumes
- Pretend weapons
- Face paint
-Gory/scary costumes (we don't want to scare our little ones)
- Adult themed costumes
Please contact your child's teacher with any additional questions.
Thank you!
Please be aware that any student whose family has not submitted a Free & Reduced Meal Application for the 2025–2026 school year will be reverted to paid meal status effective October 16, 2025.
As a reminder, students’ free or reduced eligibility from last year carries over for the first 30 school days, which will end on October 15, 2025.
Thank you
Don't forget to join us tonight for our Open House tonight from 5-6pm! Please remember, parking on Ida Circle and in front of the emergency road way is prohibited. Thank you!