📚 Van Rensselaer Elementary Yearbooks on Sale! 🎉
Van Rensselaer Elementary 2024-2025 Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Don't miss out on capturing this year's memories. Yearbooks are $25 each.
🔹 School Code: 2188425
📅 Online Order Deadline: HAS BEEN EXTENDED
Order online here: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob?utm_source=print&utm_medium=flyer&utm_campaign=PY23&utm_id=PY24" target="_blank 📖✨
Secure your copy today! 🎓📷
🎨 Save the Date – VRES Color-A-Thon is Coming! 🌈
Mark your calendars! Van Rensselaer Elementary’s annual Color-A-Thon is happening on Saturday, June 7th at 10:00 AM!
Get ready for a fun-filled morning of color, excitement, and school spirit! Teachers will be sending home Color-A-Thon packets this week—be on the lookout!
Reminder: Fundraising envelopes are due by May 12th.
We can’t wait to see our VRES students and families there!
#ColorAThon #VRESPride #FamilyFunDay
🧠 Project AWARE Newsletter – April Updates 🌱
Check out the latest issue of our Project AWARE Newsletter, filled with exciting updates and highlights from across our district and region!
This month’s edition features:
- 🌟 Student Program Updates
- 🎓 Student Spotlight & AWARE Influence
- 📊 AWARE Impact Across the Region
- 💬 Social-Emotional Learning Supports
- 📅 Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
- 🤝 Community Partner Spotlight
Stay informed, stay inspired—see how AWARE is making a difference!
#ProjectAWARE #MentalWellness #RCSDPride #WholeChildSupport
🎨 Student Artwork Featured in Questar III Juried Art Exhibit 🖼️
Congratulations to 9th grader Jessica Naing from Mrs. Kent's Studio Art class! Her piece, titled "Fused", was selected to be featured in the prestigious Questar III Juried Art Exhibit.
"Fused" is an oil pastel abstract nature drawing that showcases Jessica’s creativity, technique, and artistic voice. We are proud to see her talent recognized on a larger stage!
Check out her work and others from the Questar III region here: 2025 Questar III Juried High School Art Exhibit
Way to go, Jess!
#RCSDPride #StudentArtist #QuestarArtExhibit
Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High Shines at Model Bridge & Catwalk Competition
Rensselaer City School District is proud to celebrate the outstanding performance of our Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School students at the 45th Capital Region E-Week Model Bridge & Catwalk Competition, held on Saturday, March 22nd in Latham.This regional event challenged students’ engineering skills, and our Rams rose to the occasion!
Our Middle School team excelled in the Maximum Hold category. Kyle M and Carney B earned 2nd Place Load Held with 123 lbs, securing a $70 prize, while Breanna C took 3rd Place Load Held with 119 lbs for a $35 prize. Jasmine K also performed admirably, contributing to the team’s success.
The High School team was equally impressive. 10th grader Jasik W won the $500 grand prize for Maximum Efficiency—a remarkable achievement! 11th grader George K earned $200 for 2nd Place in Maximum Hold with 182 lbs and 3rd Place in Efficiency. Our talented team included John A, Donald B, Giomanni D, Taylor H, Aiden L, Desmond P-H, Samir P, Charlie M, Brent R, Mia R, Danlee R, Aiden R, Ryan S, St. T, Aalana T, and Aaron W.
A huge thank you to our dedicated Technology teacher, Mr. Bryden, whose guidance has been instrumental in Rensselaer’s continued success at this competition.
We’re incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and creativity!
Read more about the event https://www.news10.com/classroom-progress-report/capital-region-schools-face-off-in-model-bridge-competition/
Rensselaer Celebrates Model Bridge Success with Pizza Party
On April 1st, Rensselaer City School District celebrated our students’ incredible success at the 45th Capital Region E-Week Model Bridge & Catwalk Competition with our annual post-competition pizza party!Our Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School Rams put in a fantastic effort, and we’re so proud of their achievements.
Great job, team—we’re excited to see your continued success in the future!
VRES Pre-K Classes Celebrate Easter with Bunny Ears and Crafts
Ms. Mooney, Mrs. Parella-Forest, and Mrs. Chenot’s Pre-K classes at Van Rensselaer Elementary dove into the Easter spirit! 🥚 The students had a blast wearing festive bunny ears, creating vibrant Easter decorations, and decorating their own Easter egg bags.What a joyful way to welcome spring at VRES!
🥒Mr. Etter’s Pickle Adventure at VRES 🥒
Mr. Etter found himself in a pickle today at Van Rensselaer Elementary! He bravely tried his first pickles—a classic dill and a spicy “hot wiggle.” Verdict? He’s Team Hot Wiggle!THANK YOU MR. ETTER, for bringing fun and energy during your time here. Though short, your presence left a memorable mark on our VRES community. You’ll be missed!
Check out Mr. Etter eating a Wiggle for the first time: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q5VjiO6J7rRbs2j0DTV5lEhG1BkfxAWk/
Ms. Mooney’s Pre-K Welcomes Spring with Chicks and Crafts
Ms. Mooney’s Pre-K class at Van Rensselaer Elementary is embracing spring with open hearts! The students were thrilled to meet fluffy baby chicks, learning about them with wide-eyed wonder.They also unleashed their creativity, making vibrant Easter decorations to celebrate the season.
🩸 SADD Club Hosts Successful Blood Drive at RJSHS ❤️
Today, the Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School SADD Club proudly partnered with the American Red Cross to host a successful blood drive!
Thanks to the generosity of our students, staff, and community members, we collected 18 pints of blood—potentially saving up to 54 lives. From organizing sign-ups to volunteering and donating, our students played a vital role in making this event a success.
👏 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and supported this important cause. Your efforts make a real difference!
#RCSDPride #SADDClub #RedCross #GiveBloodSaveLives
Mrs. Lane & Mrs. Darby’s Class Joins Mrs. Mahar’s for Easter Cupcake Decorating
The Kindergarten class of Mrs. Lane and Mrs. Darby teamed up with Mrs. Mahar’s Child Development class for a fun Easter cupcake decorating session!The students enjoyed working together, and the excitement peaked with a special visit from the Easter Bunny.
🎉 Coach Quinn Honored by Rensselaer County Legislature 🏆
Congratulations to Coach Mike Quinn, who was recognized by the Rensselaer County Legislature as the 2024 recipient of the **Jeff Blatnick Inspiration Award**!
Coach Quinn has spent over 20 years inspiring student-athletes at RCSD with his passion, dedication, and leadership—making a difference far beyond the wrestling mat.
👏 Join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition!
#RCSDPride #JeffBlatnickAward #GoRams
Kids on Campus Summer Job Openings
Hudson Valley Community College’s Kids on Campus program is excited to announce hiring for a variety of summer positions! We’re seeking Camp Counselors and Assistant Coaches—great opportunities for students looking for a fun and rewarding summer job.Applications must be completed by 4/13, so apply soon!
https://www.hvcc.edu/hr/employment-opportunities.html#op-661655-camp-counselors-hvkoccounselor-s25.
📢 Free Student and Family Support Opportunity for Rensselaer CSD Families
Through the RCSD Project AWARE program, we are excited to announce our partnership with St. Catherine's to offer the Rensselaer Connects Program and the Family Engagement Specialist position as part of our comprehensive approach to supporting students and families.
The program aims to connect students and families with vital community-based mental health and social supports, including:
- Emergency support (food, heat, housing)
- Mental health counseling
- Referrals to additional community-based agencies
The services provided are completely FREE for any family with a child attending the RCSD Pre-K through Grade 12 school program.
Respectfully,
Jan Zadoorian
jzandoorian@rcsd.k12.ny.us
Project AWARE - Program Director
Rensselaer City School District
25 Van Rensselaer Dr.
Rensselaer, NY 12144
📚 Van Rensselaer Elementary Yearbooks on Sale! 🎉
Van Rensselaer Elementary 2024-2025 Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Don't miss out on capturing this year's memories. Yearbooks are $25 each.
🔹 School Code: 2188425
📅 Online Order Deadline: April 21st
💰 Payment Options: Make checks payable to VRES PTA.
Order online here: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob?utm_source=print&utm_medium=flyer&utm_campaign=PY23&utm_id=PY24" target="_blank 📖✨
Secure your copy today! 🎓📷
📢 March Recap: A Month of Excitement & Achievement! 🎉
- Special Shout Out: Kudos to Aalana, a 10th grader who recorded our March Recap Video. Please check it out: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGQT9_oxPg/yi7MvXjubT4JBI7cwlfjOA/view
- Basketball Game: On March 3, Adrina & Payton organized a student vs. faculty game that raised $1,780 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Congratulations to our students on their thrilling win!
- Modern Macbeth: Ms. Leonard and Mr. Higgs' Freshman Honors English class transformed Shakespeare's Macbeth into a 2025 version, complete with modern language, creative costumes, and props.
- The Ramblurr Edition: On March 17, a new edition of The Ramblurr was revealed featuring RamTok, Mrs. Kent's childhood characters mural, Senior Trip updates, and more!
- Mental Game Talk: On March 19, Brandon Saho, creator of The Mental Game and former ESPN/NFL reporter, spoke with grades 9-12 about mental health, resilience, and hope.
- DNA Models: Mrs. Boland's Living Environment classes built giant DNA models using K'NEX kits, demonstrating replication and genetic coding.
- School Spirit: Our Jr.-Sr. High students enjoyed dress-up days, an Iron Chef pizza war (Sophomores won), a Poster Contest (Juniors won), and a Ram Pride Pep Rally that featured a Dress-up Basketball Relay, Lip Sync, Hungry Hippo Time, and Tug-O-War—with the Seniors taking overall victory with 1,525 points.
- Gaming & Esports: On March 29, the Rensselaer Gaming & Esports Club hosted a Smash Ultimate tournament with 7 schools and a Rocket League matchup against Bethlehem High School.
- Drama Success: Broadway star Kerry Butler worked with our Drama Club on March 18, offering acting tips for Hairspray. The preview on March 24 and the full run from March 27-29—directed by Mr. Higgs and Mrs. Apunte—sold over 600 tickets and captivated the community.
March was a month of hard work, creativity, and school spirit. Congratulations to all our students, faculty, and staff for an outstanding March! 🚀👏
🥕 FREE Food Distribution – April 10! 🍞
The CEO Food Pantry is offering FREE produce, protein, and pantry items to Rensselaer County residents! 🥦🥩🛒
📅 Date: Thursday, April 10
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Community Resource Center, 2328 Fifth Ave, Troy, NY
✅ Open to all Rensselaer County residents
✅ No appointment needed—just stop by!
✅ Provides (3) days' worth of food per household member (while supplies list)
✅ Diapers available (limited sizes)
✅ Open to all Rensselaer County residents
Spread the word and help us fight food insecurity! 🍽️💙
📚 Exciting Events at Rensselaer Public Library! 🌟
Join us for fun, learning, and community connection! Check out what’s coming up this April:
🖥️ Drop-In Tech Help – Every Thursday at 11 AM
Got a tech question? Stop by and let Amber help! No appointment needed.
🤝 Friends of the Library Meeting – Thursday, April 17 at 6 PM
Looking for new members! Join us in person or via Zoom—ask for an invite!
🌱 Kickstart Your Garden – Thursday, April 10 at 6 PM
Master Gardener Marie will share tips for starting your garden this spring. Please sign up!
🎶 Preschool Music & Movement – Saturday, April 5 at 11 AM
Sing, dance, and play with Miss Lisa! For ages 2-6 with caregivers. Call or visit our website to save your spot!
⛳ Mini Golf After Hours – Friday, April 18 from 5-7 PM
Teens (ages 10+) can play through a 9-hole course inside the library! Pizza, drinks, and silly prizes for top players. Sign-up required!
📍 Rensselaer Library Information:
676 East Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144
📞 (518) 462-1193 | 🌐 https://rensselaerlibrary.org
🕒 Library Hours:
📅 MON: 12-5 | TUE: 10-5 | WED/THU: 10-8 | FRI: 10-5 | SAT: 10-3 | SUN: CLOSED
See you at the library! 📖✨
🎓 Attention Seniors & College-Bound Students! 📚
Don't miss the Spring 2025 HVCC CDCA/CASDA Regional College Fair! 🌟
📅 Date: Monday, April 7th
⏰ Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: McDonough Recreation Center, Hudson Valley Community College
Explore opportunities with over 120 vendors, including:
✅ Community Colleges
✅ SUNY Colleges
✅ Private Colleges
✅ Armed Services Representatives
✅ Unions
📄 Check the flyer for a full list of participating vendors!
This is a great chance to connect with colleges, ask questions, and plan your future! 🎓✨
See you there! 🚀
🏆 Learnin’ the Ropes: School Jump Off Success! 🎉
This winter, VRES students took on a global challenge in a worldwide jump rope competition, testing how many jumps they could complete in 30 seconds. 🏃♂️🔥
🌍 Total Participants: 16,588 competitors
🏫 Schools Competing: 153
🥇 VRES Ranking: 68th worldwide and 1st among all New York State schools! 🎉💪
Take a look at our Top 50 Finishers and celebrate their hard work and dedication! 🏅👏
Way to go, VRES jumpers! 🚀🐏
