Rochester School District

A big thank you to the Thurston County Sheriff's Community Service Unit (CSU) for their generous donation of 100 backpacks filled with school supplies for our students! It was a pleasure meeting Sgt. Dave Odegaard, Capt. Cyndi, and Lt. Diane during the delivery earlier today. We’re so grateful for their continued support and kindness toward our schools and families. Thank you for being amazing partners in student success!

Recent Rochester High School graduate Alondra Uribe and her family visited Eastern Washington University for a new student orientation last week taking an exciting step toward her college journey!

Thanks to support from our GEAR UP program, the Uribe family was able to cover travel, meals, and lodging, making this meaningful trip possible. Alondra shared, “I’m now at the orientation. The campus is so beautiful.”

We’re proud of Alondra and thrilled to see her embracing this next chapter with her family by her side. This is a great example of how the GEAR UP program will help make college more accessible for Rochester students and families.

This August there will be two vaccine clinics where required and recommended school immunizations will be provided free of charge: Weds, Aug 13 @ Thurston County Resources Hub – 929 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Olympia, WA 98502 from 11:00AM – 4:00PM and Thurs, Aug 21 @ ROOF-10140 US-12 SW, Rochester, WA 98579 from 10:00AM – 3:00PM. These clinics are a great opportunity to make sure your child is up to date on their vaccinations before the new school year begins.

Calling All Rochester Alumni! July 19 -- The annual Rochester Alumni Reunion is happening!! You’re invited to be part of a full day of connection, celebration, and community pride!

- Start your morning with the Blueberry Pancake Breakfast at the Gate City School House. 8-11 am
- Reminisce and reconnect at the Alumni Potluck & History session at Rochester Middle School. 10-2 pm
- Tour the Old Grand Mound School and revisit where it all began 2-4 pm
- Wrap up the day with the Big Rock Potluck BBQ complete with classic cars, games, and good company back at the Gate City School House. 5-9 pm

All classes and staff are welcome. Bring your stories, your appetite, and your Rochester pride. Let's make a day of it!

Surplus Auction Now Live! We’re currently holding a surplus auction through July 28! Browse and bid on a variety of items by visiting: https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/rochestersd,wa/list/current?orgid=188254 Take a look—you never know what you might find!

A huge thank you to PARR Lumber for their generous donation, which will allow us to purchase brand-new play clocks for the upcoming football season! Your support means so much to our student-athletes and fans. Thank you for your investment in Warrior Athletics and can’t wait to see the play clocks in action!

A big thank you to Lincoln Creek Lumber for their generous donation of plywood for a project at Rochester High School! Their support is helping extend our baseball dugout to include much-needed storage space. We’re grateful for our local lumber store and their commitment to our schools. We can’t wait to see the finished product!

#RochesterPride #CommunitySupport #WarriorBaseball

This year, 13 Rochester High School students earned the Washington State Seal of Biliteracy, recognizing their ability to speak, read, and write in two or more languages.

This accomplishment highlights their dedication, cultural knowledge, and global readiness.

Five of these outstanding students are pictured here. Congratulations to all 13 recipients! Your hard work and language skills open doors to a world of opportunity.

One month ago today, we celebrated the incredible Class of 2025 as they crossed the stage and stepped into their next chapter.

As we reflect on that day, we are proud to share that our graduates were offered more than $1.9 million in scholarships!!!

This remarkable achievement is a testament to their hard work, resilience, and the support of our community, staff, and families. We can’t wait to see all they accomplish next. 💙💛

Breaking News! Rochester High School is making waves on the national stage! 🏆 Drone Team – Zach Hubbard and David McConnell placed 2nd in the Nation at the SkillsUSA National Competition!!! Robotics Team – Took home an impressive 6th place finish! Welding Fabrication Team – Earned a strong 18th place in the nation! We are incredibly proud of these outstanding students who competed at the National level for their dedication, skill, and hard work. Way to represent RHS and the Rochester community with excellence! 💙💛

District Office Summer Hours: Monday – CLOSED to Public Tuesday - Thursday – 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Friday – CLOSED to Public Thank you for planning ahead and enjoy your summer!

Even during summer break, our educators are learning! This week, a dedicated team of nine Rochester RPS & GMES teachers completed GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition Design) training , a research-based model of instruction that supports language development and academic achievement for all students, especially English learners. We’re proud of their commitment to professional growth and are excited to see these strategies come to life in classrooms this fall!

Congratulations to Grand Mound Elementary School! We’re proud to share that GMES has been recognized by the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) as a 2025 School on the Rise! This award celebrates schools where students and adults collaborate to improve culture and amplify student voice. AWSP and its Foundation support these schools with resources and opportunities. These schools foster inclusive and equitable environments. This incredible recognition is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between staff and students, our Student Leadership Team, and the focused efforts to close achievement gaps. Way to go, GMES — your commitment to creating a positive and inclusive school culture continues to shine! #RochesterWA #GMES #SchoolOnTheRise #StudentLeadership #WarriorPride

Even with the rain, Swede Day was a success! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit us before the parade. It was great to see so many Rochester students and staff in the parade, from the bands to the Swede Day Princesses, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and more. We’re proud that Rochester is home to this special community tradition. It’s a great day to celebrate where we live and the people who make it such a strong and connected community!

Join us at Rochester’s Swede Day Mid-Sommer Festival this Saturday! The fun kicks off with the parade at 11:00 am down Hwy 12 in front of Rochester Middle School. Before the parade, stop by the middle school parking lot from 10:00–11:00 am. We will be there with activities for kids, balloons, swag, a School Bus to visit, and information about our schools! Timberland Regional Library will also join us. And as always, you’ll see RMS Principal Mr. Maus at the parade, just like every year. He is retiring, but he won’t miss the parade! Hope to see you all on Saturday!

Please join us in thanking Joey Easley for her many years of dedication to the Rochester School District. From the classroom to her role as an Intervention Specialist at both RPS and GMES, Joey has spent well over a decade making a difference in the lives of our students and families. Her care, commitment, and steady presence have helped shape a strong foundation for so many learners. As she moves on to a new chapter, we want to express our deepest appreciation for her time, talent, and heart. Joey, your impact in Rochester will not be forgotten. We wish you all the best in the journey ahead! #ThankYouJoey #OnceAWarriorAlwaysAWarrior

After 19 years of creating harmony in our schools, Francie Ishler is moving on to a new adventure. From her time in the classroom to leading the way as our beloved music teacher, Francie has left an unforgettable mark on Rochester. She’s inspired students to find their voice, helped them hit the right notes, and brought rhythm and joy to countless school days. Her passion for teaching and love for music struck a chord with everyone lucky enough to learn from or work alongside her. As she turns the page to a new chapter, we want to thank Francie for the melody she’s added to our district. You’ll be deeply missed—but your song will echo through our halls for years to come. #ThankYouFrancie #OnceAWarriorAlwaysAWarrior

We are saying goodbye to another beloved member of the RMS family—Andrea Friedman. After more than 11 years of dedicated service as the Rochester Middle School counselor, Andrea is moving on to a new chapter. Her compassion, support, and commitment to our students and staff have made a lasting impact, and she will be deeply missed. Thank you, Andrea, for everything you’ve given to RMS. We wish you all the best in your next adventure!