Attendance Awareness Month may be ending, but our commitment to student attendance isn't. Supporting attendance is year-round work built on relationships, early intervention, problem-solving & partnership with families. If attendance becomes challenging at any point this year, reach out to your school. We want to work with you. Every month, Your Presence Matters.

When a student is struggling to attend school, there's often more to the story. Good attendance isn't just a school issue; it's a community effort. Families, schools & community partners all play a role in helping students overcome barriers & stay connected to learning. When a student is struggling to attend, the question isn't simply, “Why aren't you here?” It's also, “What is getting in the way, and how can we help?”

Sometimes the smallest moments of connection give students a reason to keep showing up & can make a BIG difference.
Attendance is about more than being in a seat. It's about connection, belonging & knowing that your presence matters.
Every student deserves to know they are missed when they're gone and valued when they're here.

Apple for the Teacher Day! Golden Apple Foundation will deliver apples & nomination forms to teachers, kicking off nominations for the 2026-27 Golden Apple Award. Nominate a PreK-5 teacher by October 15! https://goldenappleofrockford.com/golden-apple-teacher-awards/nominate/

It’s happening today! Join us at East HS Cafeteria for A Conversation with Dr. Huff. Hear his vision for RPS 205 & share your ideas for the future of our district.

5-5:30 p.m. | Meet & Greet
5:30-7 p.m. | Presentation & Q&A

Enter Door FH8. Spanish & ASL translators available.

Absences Add Up

Did you know? Missing just two days of school each month can add up to chronic absence over the course of a school year.

Every absence, excused or unexcused, means time away from learning, relationships and the routines that help students succeed.

The good news? It’s never too late to build stronger attendance habits. If getting to school regularly is becoming difficult, reach out to your school. We’re here to help!

All RPS 205 schools & buildings are closed today in observance of the federal holiday.

September is Attendance Awareness Month! Every day at school gives students opportunities to learn, build friendships, connect with caring adults & discover what they're capable of. Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing why attendance matters because every student brings something important to our schools.

Join us Wed., Sept. 16, at East High School's Cafeteria for A Conversation with Dr. Huff. Hear his vision for our district.

5-5:30 p.m. | Meet & Greet
5:30-7 p.m. | Presentation & Q&A

Enter Door FH8 on the west side of the building.

Spanish & ASL translators available

rps205.com/page/a-conversation-with-dr-huff

Meet RPS 205's Superintendent Dr. Larry Huff! Hear his vision for our district, & share ideas at A Conversation with Dr. Huff on Wednesday, September 16, from 5-7 p.m. at East High School.

Meet & Greet 5-5:30
Presentation, Q&A 5:30-7

The event is free & open to the public.

The first day of school is about 8 weeks away for the 26-27 school year. Here is our academic calendar as well as our start & dismissal times so that you can prepare and plan ahead.

The playground at Haskell will be temporarily closed for construction. It will be reinstalled at the completion of the project. We apologize for the inconvenience & appreciate your patience as we work together with the Rockford Park District to improve the shared space!

REMINDER: Early Childhood wraps up today with its normal schedule. The last day for K–11 students is tomorrow, but it's a shortened day. For more information on times at your school, check out the 205 VIBE: https://www.rps205.com/article/2813047

Sophomores in the Production Academy’s Engineering Pathway & Haskell STEAM students raced handmade cardboard canoes at Levings Lake! They designed, engineered, & built their boats using only cardboard & duct tape, then competed to see which was the fastest & stayed afloat.

Innovation & creativity were on display at Haskell's Fifth Grade Maker Expo! Students worked in teams to research, plan, & build carnival-style capstone projects using the engineering design process. They shared lessons learned, challenges faced, & real-world connections.

As Teacher Appreciation Week comes to a close, we’re shining a light on our amazing special programs teachers! Thank you to all of our educators for the impact you make every day. Today’s 205 VIBE celebrates the teachers who help every student succeed! rps205.com/article/2857311

STEAM Academy at Haskell has received recognition from PLTW as a 2025-26 Distinguished School! This recognizes schools across the U.S. for their efforts to provide broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through an elementary STEM curriculum. Congrats!

RPS 205's Family & Community Engagement Department is hosting its final PTO Coffee Chat of the school year. This is a space to connect, share ideas, and strengthen partnerships across schools. Join us on Thursday, May 11 from 11:30-12:30 at the Administration Building!