Welcome Message from Dr. Willhite

Dear RCEP Students and Families,

On behalf of the staff at RCEP, I am happy to welcome you to the 2020-21 school year! Although 2019-20 ended with unexpected events, we are excited to start our year and meet our students and families. Here are some important reminders:

1. RCEP has a NEW school day of 9 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. This is to support limited bus and transportation capacity for our hybrid model.
2. September 8-11 is our first week of school and it will be all distance learning. Also during this week, your family will have a personal orientation conference with one of our teachers.
3. For students in our hybrid program, the in-person mornings are from 9-11:45 a.m. on Tuesdays or Thursdays. If numbers allow it and we can schedule both days for your child, we will. This program begins the week of September 14.
4. Student schedules, devices and other materials will be handed out at your scheduled meeting time with a teacher during the week of September 8. A teacher or staff member will be calling you next week to arrange this meeting.

We are looking forward to productive partnerships with you to ensure that all of our students can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our students need and deserve strong school and family partnerships. Families are students’ first and most important teachers, and our partnership will make a great difference in your student’s education. As productive partners, we share the responsibility for success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities.

I am very proud of the RCEP students and teachers, and I look forward to meeting each of you as we partner for success!

Thank you,

Dr. Kasya Willhite
Director of MLL and RCEP

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Open House

There are no large gathering open house events. Rather, one of your teachers will schedule an individual orientation conference with your family for the week of September 8. Parents, guardians and family members are invited to attend our open house meetings either virtually or in-person (in-person conferences are limited to three attendees). These meetings will provide you with an opportunity to meet one of your teachers and learn more about our hybrid schedule and advisory hour.  

Action Needed

Parents and guardians in primary households are expected to complete the Application for Educational Benefits Form. This form will assess family qualification for free and redacted priced lunch as well as bring additional academic and education funding to Richfield Public Schools. Even if you believe you won’t qualify, this is an important form for ALL families to complete each year. You can apply online at https://www.nlappscloud.com/ or download a paper application on the Nutrition Services web page.

Schedules

Student schedules will be available at your individual meeting with your teacher the week of September 8. 

Chromebook Pick Up Schedule RHS

Chromebooks and devices will be handed out during the week of September 8 at your scheduled individual meeting with a teacher. 

Families Experiencing Homelessness

If your family is currently experiencing homelessness, such as staying in a shelter, hotel or temporarily with others, we can help make sure your child has stability in their education through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act. For help in accessing these services, please contact your school Social Worker, Jill.Carlton@rpsmn.org or Cassie.Acostacano@rpsmn.org. 

Transportation/Bus 

Transportation will be provided to our building on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Students who are within walking distance or on the RHS bus route will continue to walk or take the bus to the high school. Once at the high school, students will then get on a shuttle at 8:55 a.m. (more information coming) to bring them to RCEP by 9 a.m. A shuttle will return students at 11:50 a.m. to the high school on the hybrid, in-person Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  

Absences/Attendance

Please make sure to ALWAYS report your child's absence by 10 a.m. You can do this by calling the RCEP office at 612-243-3045, texting 612-412-4183, or emailing Hildalizeth.Alcala@rpsmn.org. In order to document your child’s absence as excused, please follow our attendance reporting procedures.  

Breakfast/Lunch

This year, breakfast and lunch will be pre-packaged for safety. Breakfast is FREE for all RPS students. Lunch costs are as follows:

• High school: $2.95
• Double entree: $2.00
• Milk: $0.60

Parent Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures

When dropping your student off at school, please familiarize yourself with the following procedures.

Drop Off: Students should not be dropped off before 9 a.m. Due to bus unloading procedures, all families are expected to use the Door 9 entrance within our main parking lot. In order to maintain safety and social distancing, please do not use another entrance. If you need to enter the building (essential meetings only), DO NOT leave your vehicle parked in the drop off lane. You can park in the adjacent parking lot or on the street.

End of In-Person Morning Pick Up: Bus dismissal will begin at 11:45 a.m. Students are NOT ALLOWED to ride the shuttle back to RHS if not assigned to them. 

Early Pick Up: Students needing to leave school early due to appointments should call the RCEP office at 612-243-3045, text  612-412-4183 or email Hildalizeth.Alcala@rpsmn.org by 10 a.m.