🔧 CTE Summer Camp 2025: Discover Trades & Build Your Future 🔧
Spark your career interests this summer! Designed for rising 8th-10th graders, our CTE Summer Camp offers hands-on learning in welding, construction, electronics, and CAD design.
Collaborate on an amazing project to display at your school, connect with industry pros from local businesses, colleges, and Questar III, and explore career pathways at our state-of-the-art facilities—all for $59 per camper.
Option 1: July 14-18, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, 35 Colleen Road, Troy, NY
Option 2: July 21-25, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM, 131 Union Turnpike, Hudson, NY
Learn more & register: questar.org/CTESummer
🎉 2025 RCSD Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony 🎉
The Alumni Association of Rensselaer City School District proudly presents our 2025 Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday, April 26, from 5:00–9:00 PM at Franklin Terrace Ballroom.
We’re honoring these distinguished inductees:
- William Brooking Jr. (Class of 1993)
- Michael Burch (Class of 1970)
- Raymond Frankoski (Class of 1961)
- Jennifer O’Neil Haggerty
- Zachary Holden (Class of 2000)
- J. David Jackson Jr. (Class of 1980)
- Patricia Jackson (Class of 1960, Posthumous)
- Kim Jones (Retired Faculty)
- Mark Lanni (Retired Faculty)
- Anthony Nardacci (Class of 1977)
- +Debra Sklar (Staff/Faculty/Board Member)
- +Laurie Britton-Smith (Staff/Faculty/Board Member)
- Richard Van Leuven (Class of 1965)
Join us to celebrate their legacy and our RCSD community!
🌉 Mrs. Fountain’s 6th-Grade STEM Class Builds K’NEX Bridges! 🌉
Mrs. Fountain’s 6th-grade STEM students at Rensselaer Jr. Sr. High School spent this week designing and building bridges using K’NEX.
Today, they put their creations to the test, demonstrating engineering know-how, creativity, and collaboration.
Fantastic work by our future innovators—check out their bridge-testing action in this Canva presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGhEKryaH8/Rb4PbIavvOhWYvpY1jqlaQ/edit?utm_content=DAGhEKryaH8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
🍀 Jr. Sr. High School Yearbook St. Patrick’s Day Special 🍀
Get ready for a one-day offer!
On Monday, March 17, 2025, the yearbook price drops from $70 to $60—cash only.
Visit Mrs. Tamburrino in Room H215 to order your copy or send her an email at btamburrino@rcsd.k12.ny.us.
Act fast—this deal won’t last!
📢 February Recap: A Month of Achievements & Celebrations! 🎉
- 🏅 Science Olympiad Success! Seven Jr. Sr. High School students competed and brought home several awards—way to go!
- ❤️ National Wear Red Day was celebrated on February 7th in honor of American Heart Month.
- 🎷 Rensselaer Jazz Band scored an impressive 87.5 at their first jazz competition, earning a Silver rating—just shy of Gold!
- 🤝 Universal Skills students teamed up with Mrs. Lane's Kindergarten class for hands-on learning experiences.
- 📚 Ms. Leonard's 8th grade class explored literature through engaging literary circles.
- 🎓 National Honor Society welcomed its newest members—congratulations!
- 📐 Mrs. Tamburrino’s class created Geometry dictionaries and art, blending creativity with math.
- 🎭 Mr. Higgs’ class took an exciting trip to Shakespeare & Company to watch Macbeth.
- 🏆 Congratulations to Coach Mike Quinn for receiving the Jeff Blatnick Inspiration Award for wrestling!
- 🎓 High School Math Teacher Jackie Schacht was honored with the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association's Outstanding Educator Award—well deserved!
- 🥎 Thank You, Rensselaer Fire Department! Your generous support helped purchase new softball equipment for our athletes.
🏀 RCSD Shines at Hoops for Hope! 🏀
Rensselaer City School District is thrilled to celebrate the success of our Hoops for Hope event!
The student versus faculty basketball game raised an impressive $1,780 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community.
Special recognition goes to Adrina and Payton for their outstanding efforts in organizing this memorable evening.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our staff and students who volunteered their time—taking photos, donating concessions and raffle items, coaching, playing, and refereeing.
The night ended with a nail-biter: our students pulled off a last-second victory, winning 48-45 over the staff!
Congratulations to our team—our RCSD family truly shines.
📢 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
📢 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
🌟 Bring Home a Little Luck! 🌟
Make your community feel lucky this March!
Visit Hannaford at 9 Lord Ave, Troy, NY, and pick up a $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag.
For every bag sold, the RCSD Backpack Program receives a $1 donation to support local kids!
hannaford.2givelocal.com
⚾ Rensselaer Girls Softball Registration Now Open! ⚾
Registration for the upcoming season is officially underway!
Visit the Rensselaer Girls Softball website: www.rensselaergirlssoftball.com to sign up.
We’re excited for a fantastic spring season—let’s hit the field running!
🏀 Hoops for Hope: Teachers vs. Students! 🏀
Join us for an exciting evening of basketball at Rensselaer Jr-Sr High School’s Main Gym!
Watch our teachers take on the students in the annual "Hoops for Hope" game on Monday, March 3rd at 6:00 PM.
- Admission: Adults $5, Students $3
- Extras: Concession stand, raffles, and amazing raffle baskets!
📰 Mrs. Alonzo's 5th Grade Afterschool Newspaper Club Publishes February Edition! ✨
Check out the incredible work from our talented 5th-grade journalists! The February edition is now available—don’t miss out on their creativity and dedication. 🎉
https://enewspaper.makemynewspaper.com/3c73d78a067161/2025-02-26-february-2025
Great job to all our young writers! 👏
🌿 New Peer Support Groups at The Family Room! 🌿
The Family Room is excited to announce our next round of Youth Peer Support Group topics and introduce our new Drop-In Support Group for Parents!
📢 Parent Drop-In Support Group
Starting Monday, March 3rd, 2025, parents, guardians, and caregivers are invited to join us every Monday from 5:00-6:00 PM at The Family Room. This group provides a supportive space to:
✔ Connect with others facing similar challenges
✔ Share experiences and gain valuable resources
✔ Exchange advice and emotional support
✔ Discuss ways to advocate for your child's well-being
💬 Youth Peer Support Group
Our free, walk-in Youth Peer Support Groups continue with engaging topics such as:✅ Understanding & Managing Anger
✅ Planting Seeds of Confidence
✅ Letting Go of the Winter Blues
✅ Game Nights
...and more! Each week brings new discussions based on group interests and needs.
Both groups are free and open to all—no sign-up required! We believe in the power of community and hope these groups will provide a space where everyone feels heard, supported, and empowered.
📍 Location: 1023 State Street, Schenectady, NY (Parking in rear; entrance on side off Waldorf Place)
📞 Phone: 518-831-8700
🕙 The Family Room Hours: Monday - Friday | 10 AM - 6 PM
🕔 Drop-In Support Group for Parents: Mondays | 5 PM - 6 PM
Check the attached flyers for full details. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ellis' Family Room: https://www.ellismedicine.org/services/mental-health.aspx.
📚 Read Across America Spirit Week! 🎉
Get ready to celebrate the joy of reading! Read Across America Spirit Week will take place from Monday, March 3rd, to Friday, March 7th. 📖✨
Join in the fun by dressing up for each themed day:
Monday: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish – Wear red or blue!🐟🔴🔵
Tuesday: Cat in the Hat – Put on your favorite hat & add red + white stripes! 🎩❤️🤍
Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday – Wear your clothes inside out, backwards, or mismatched! 🤪👕
Thursday: Thing 1 & Thing 2 – Show us your craziest hairstyle! 💙👀
Friday: Oh, the Places You'll Go! – Rep your favorite college team! 🏈🏀
Stay tuned for more details. 📚🎨👓
🎬 Screenagers Under the Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age 🚭🍷
Join us for a special Family Movie Night—a free screening designed for teens, tweens, and their families! This powerful film explores the evolving challenges of substance use in today’s digital world and provides insights on how to empower young people to make healthy, informed choices.
📅 Date: March 19th
⏰ Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Hudson Valley Community College (Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium)
80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY 12180
This event is proudly offered by the Rensselaer County Department of Mental Health & The Prevention Services Team. Don't miss this opportunity to start an important conversation with your family! 🎥💬
We hope to see you there! 👏
REMEMBER: Pre-K Registration at Van Rensselaer Elementary!
Is your child turning 3 or 4 by December 1, 2025? If you're a City of Rensselaer resident, registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens February 24th!
Please complete the online pre-registration form at https://schooltool7.neric.org/SchoolTool_RENS/OnlinePreRegistration/, and download the required paperwork. For 3-year-olds, use the 3UPK forms; for 4-year-olds, use the Pre-K Application. Forms can be mailed if you don't have access to a computer.
Remember: all required forms must be submitted at your appointment in March. Missing information will affect your registration.
Placements will be determined by lottery.
For more details, please refer to the PDF link with full hyperlinks or contact us if you have any questions! https://5il.co/36nkt
📢 Now Enrolling 3-Year-Olds for Universal Pre-K! 🎒✨
Looking for an engaging and supportive early learning experience for your little one? CEO’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) & Head Start programs at Rensselaer Family Resource Center help children develop the skills and confidence they need for kindergarten success!
✅ Eligibility:
📍 Location:
1641 3rd St, Rensselaer, NY📞 Questions?
Contact Rachel Lassiter at (518) 272-6012 ext. 206📲 Apply Now!
https://ceocap.mycopa.com/familyPortal/childCare.eplSpread the word and give your child a great start! 🎉👧👦 #PreK #EarlyLearning #RensselaerNY
h3>✊🏾 Celebrating Black History Month: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future 📚
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the remarkable achievements, resilience, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. It is also a time to set high expectations for the future, inspired by the greatness that has come before us.
We honor leaders like Booker T. Washington, who championed education and economic empowerment, and W.E.B. Du Bois, who fought tirelessly for civil rights and social justice. We remember the courage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream of equality continues to guide us, and Harriet Tubman, whose bravery led countless individuals to freedom. We celebrate innovators like Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire, and George Washington Carver, whose scientific breakthroughs transformed agriculture.
We recognize the groundbreaking work of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, who dedicated his life to justice and equality. We acknowledge the activism of Julian Bond, a lifelong champion of civil rights who co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and served as chairman of the NAACP.
The greatness of the past lays the foundation for an even brighter future. As a school community, we commit to fostering an environment of excellence, unity, and ambition. Let us continue to learn, grow, and lead—just as these trailblazers have shown us.
Black history is American history. Black history shapes our present and inspires our future.✨
Black History Month is a time to reflect on the remarkable achievements, resilience, and contributions of African Americans throughout history. It is also a time to set high expectations for the future, inspired by the greatness that has come before us.
We honor leaders like Booker T. Washington, who championed education and economic empowerment, and W.E.B. Du Bois, who fought tirelessly for civil rights and social justice. We remember the courage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream of equality continues to guide us, and Harriet Tubman, whose bravery led countless individuals to freedom. We celebrate innovators like Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire, and George Washington Carver, whose scientific breakthroughs transformed agriculture.
We recognize the groundbreaking work of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, who dedicated his life to justice and equality. We acknowledge the activism of Julian Bond, a lifelong champion of civil rights who co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and served as chairman of the NAACP.
The greatness of the past lays the foundation for an even brighter future. As a school community, we commit to fostering an environment of excellence, unity, and ambition. Let us continue to learn, grow, and lead—just as these trailblazers have shown us.
Black history is American history. Black history shapes our present and inspires our future.✨
💙 Spreading Hope and Kindness with Sweethearts & Heroes! 🤝✨
Today, our Rensselaer Jr. Sr. High School students in grades 6-8 had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Sweethearts & Heroes program with Rick Yarosh and Thomas Murphy. This powerful presentation focused on empathy, resilience, and the importance of spreading HOPE (Hold On, Possibilities Exist).
As part of the HOPE, students learned how small actions can make a big impact. Rick, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant and wounded warrior, shared his inspiring journey of overcoming adversity, while Thomas delivered a message of empowerment and action, challenging students to be everyday heroes in their school and community.
Our students were engaged, moved, and motivated to make a difference. Thank you to Rick and Thomas for bringing such a meaningful experience to Rensselaer! 💙👏
Let’s keep the message alive—hope, action, and kindness can change the world! 🌍✨
🚨 CAUTION! Graffiti Takeover in 7th Grade English! 🎨📚
Miss Craig’s 7th grade English class unleashed their creativity with a graffiti-inspired project! Students transformed key elements from their independent reading books into vibrant, one-of-a-kind graffiti walls. But don’t worry—no spray paint was involved! Just imagination, attention to detail, and a whole lot of hard work. 🎨✨
Check out their literary masterpieces!
🎶 Rensselaer Jazz Band Shines at First Competition! 🎷
The Rensselaer Jazz Band scored an impressive 87.5 at their first jazz competition, earning a Silver rating—just shy of the 89 needed for Gold! 🏅🎶 It was an amazing experience, and our students represented Rensselaer with pride.
If you see any of our talented musicians today, be sure to congratulate them on their achievement! 👏🎷🎺
