Rensselaer City School District -

🎄 VRES Student Art Work - Part 1🎁

Celebrating the festive spirit through our students' amazing artwork! 🎅✨

We’re excited to share their festive spirit with you. 🎨❄️

🎄 VRES Holiday Doors - Part 3: Bluey🎁

Mrs. Thomas' amazing work!🎅✨

🎄 VRES Holiday Doors - Part 2: Spreading Holiday Cheer🎁

🎄 VRES Holiday Doors - Part 1: The Magic Begins🎁

Our amazing staff has gone above and beyond to uplift holiday spirits with their creative door decorations! 🎅✨

We’re excited to share their festive spirit with you. 🎨❄️

🏅 Senior Athletes Sports Banner 🏅

Attention Senior Athletes: RJSHS is covering the cost of senior sports banners, but we need your information ASAP!

Deadline: All required information must be submitted by NOON on Friday, December 20. If you miss this deadline, you are not guaranteed a banner.

Senior Banner Picture Details 📸

• When: January 8 (afternoon)
• Where: RJSHS

How to Register:

Email Coach Spath at wspath@rcsd.k12.ny.us with the following information:

• Subject Line: Senior Sports Banner
• Your full name
• The sport uniform you plan to wear for the picture
• Do you currently have the uniform?
• Do you have early dismissal on January 8?

Very few students have responded, so don’t delay—this is your chance to secure your senior sports banner!

Submit your information by December 20 at noon! 🕛

🏀 Winter Sports Updates 🏅

Winter sports are in full swing! ❄️ Check out the schedule of events coming up this week:

• Monday, December 16:
  • Modified Basketball Home Games:
    🕓 Boys 4:30 PM | 🕕 Girls 6:00 PM
  • Modified Wrestling @ New Lebanon 🤼
• Tuesday, December 17:
  • Boys JV & Varsity Basketball Home vs. Maple Hill 🏀
    🕔 5:00 PM | 🕡 6:30 PM
  • Bowling Home vs. Coxsackie 🎳
    🕓 4:15 PM
• Wednesday, December 18:
  • Boys & Girls Modified Basketball @ Catskill 🏀
    🕓 4:30 PM | 🕕 6:00 PM
  • JV Boys & Girls Basketball @ Hudson 🏀
    🕔 Girls 5:00 PM | 🕡 Boys 6:30 PM
• Thursday, December 19:
  • Bowling Home vs. Watervliet 🎳
    🕓 4:15 PM
  • Varsity Wrestling Home vs. Coxsackie 🤼
    🕕 6:00 PM
• Friday, December 20:
  • JV & Varsity Boys Basketball @ Watervliet 🏀
    🕔 5:00 PM | 🕡 6:30 PM
• Saturday, December 21:
  • Varsity Boys Basketball - Coaches vs. Cancer Event at Union College 🏀
    🕜 1:30 PM | Admission: $10

Let’s go, Rams! 🐏💪 Show your support and cheer on our athletes! 🎉

💙 Thank You, Mrs. Wright & the Rensselaer Alumni Association! 💙

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Wright and the Rensselaer Alumni Association for your generous donations to the BackPack Program and Strengthening Families Program. 🎒🤝

Your kindness and support make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and families. Thank you for strengthening our community! 💛🐏

.🎓 Attention Families of Seniors. Save the Date: College Planning Night🎓

Are you the parent or guardian of a senior planning to attend college next year? Join us for an important event to help you navigate the college financial aid process!

• Date: Thursday, December 19th
• Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
• Location: Large Instruction Room (LGI)

How to Register:

Contact your child's assigned school counselor:

• Last Names A-K: Mr. Cenci
• Last Names L-Z: Ms. Gardenier

💡 What to Expect:

Financial aid experts will be available to assist families in completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

What to Bring:

• ✅ Completed 2023 Federal and State tax returns
• ✅ W-2 and 1099 statements
• ✅ Bank and checking account balances
• ✅ Social Security Numbers (for parents and students)
• ✅ Your FSA ID (a username and password for FAFSA)

Create your FSA ID in advance here: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

We look forward to supporting you in planning your student’s next steps! 🌟

🎁 Alternative Education's Holiday Store 🎄

We’re off to a fantastic start for the AltEd Holiday Store! 🎉 Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’ve already received wonderful donations and are excited to see what comes in next. 🛍️✨

Our students are thrilled to earn good choice points and participate in the spirit of giving! 🌟💝

If you’re interested and able, please consider donating a gently used or new item so our students can experience the magic of giving to their loved ones. 🎁⛄️

Reach out to Joleen Loliscio-Drescher, lolisciodrescher@rcsd.k12.ny.us if you have something to donate, and I’ll be happy to coordinate getting it to the school. Your support means the world. Thank you! 🤍🤍

🎅 Crafts, Cocoa, & Claus! 🎄

Let’s get into the holiday spirit tonight at 6:00 PM at our PTA event. ❄️

We will be in the High School Cafeteria creating some fun crafts. 🖌️🎨

📸 Don’t miss a photo opportunity with our North Pole visitor! 🎅✨

☕️ Hot Cocoa will be served. 🍫❄️

Check out the PTA's announcement: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17DN86mqZr/

🎓 Attention Families of Seniors: Financial Aid Assistance for College 🎓

Receive assistance completing the Financial Aid Forms for College online (FAFSA/TAP).

When: Thursday, December 19th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: Large Instruction Room (LGI)

How to Register:

• Contact your child's assigned school counselor via email:
  • bcenci@rcsd.k12.ny.us (Last name A-K)
  • sgardenier@rcsd.k12.ny.us (Last name L-Z)
• Financial aid experts will be circulating the room to assist each family.

Important: If these forms are not filled out in a timely fashion, your child’s maximum financial aid for college could be jeopardized!

What to Bring:

• 2023 Federal and State tax return (completed)
• W-2 and 1099 statements
• Bank account and checking account balances
• Social Security Numbers for Parents & Student
• An FSA ID

AAn FSA ID is a username and password that you can use to log into the FAFSA website. Each student and one parent will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA. We recommend creating your FSA ID before this evening. To create an ID, please use: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch.

This program will service those who are pre-registered. PLEASE contact your child's school guidance counselor to confirm your attendance.

📚👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free Virtual Parenting Education and Support Classes 🎉

The RCDMH Prevention Team is offering two FREE virtual opportunities for parenting education and support!

1️⃣ Active Parenting 4th Edition
For parents of children ages 5 to 12 years old.
🗓️ Thursdays: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Dates: 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6
📌 Sign up here: https://forms.gle/jtjKVTQf28Vonj3Q7
PDF of Flyer: https://5il.co/32rqs

2️⃣ Active Parenting Teens
For parents of teens and tweens (Middle and High School).
🗓️ Mondays: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Dates: 1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10
📌 Sign up here: https://forms.gle/pMz55GFpaWbCzWfq8
PDF of Flyer: https://5il.co/32rqt

📋 See attached flyers for more details! Don’t miss this chance to enhance your parenting journey.

🎁✨ Van Rensselaer Elementary Holiday Shop 🎄🎅

Today, our Holiday Shop was open to Van Rensselaer Elementary students! 🎉 Students had the wonderful opportunity to pick out special gifts 🎁💝 for their loved ones and spread holiday cheer.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers for making this event possible! 🙏💖 Your time and effort bring so much joy to our students and community.

The shop will reopen on Wednesday, and more photos will be shared later this week! 📸✨

🎊🎄🐏 Happy Holidays from the Rensselaer City School District! ❄️🎅🐏

🎁 Holiday Gift Sale for Rensselaer Jr/Sr High School Alternative Education Students 🎁

The Alternate Education Program at Rensselaer Jr/Sr High School is holding a Holiday Gift Sale for students in grades 7-12 on December 19th and 20th!

Students will be able to use points earned from good choices to purchase gifts for their loved ones at home. We are asking for donations of new or gently used items, such as:

• Games
• Jewelry
• Candles
• Soaps
• And more!

Any items not “purchased” by students will be donated. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

🎶 Rensselaer Music Students Shine at the Train Station 🎶

Today, Rensselaer’s Middle School and High School Choruses, along with the High School Jazz Band, performed at the Rensselaer Train Station. They did a fantastic job, showcasing their talent and representing our school with pride!

📺 Keep an eye out for a special spotlight on us in the news tonight! We’ll update you with details as soon as they’re available.

Engaging and Interactive Lessons at VRES

• 🎓 Mr. Johnson, our school counselor, presented a "Too Good for Violence" lesson to kindergarteners in Mrs. Wanko's room (left).
• 📚 Miss Cooley led small group instruction using the new Really Great Reading program (middle).
• 🌈 Mrs. Darby taught the calming technique Rainbow Breathing to kindergarteners in Mrs. Wanko's room (right).

We’re proud of the dedication shown by our team in fostering both academic and social-emotional growth! 🌟

🎄 Special Thanks to Our Kitchen Staff! 🚂❄️

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible kitchen staff for bringing the magic of The Polar Express to life and spreading holiday cheer for our VRES students. Your creativity and dedication make the season extra special!

🎄🎉 Cafeteria Holiday Pajama Party – December 2, 2024 🎉🎄

Get ready to cozy up and bring your holiday spirit to the Cafeteria Holiday Pajama Party on December 2, 2024! 💤🎅 Wear your coziest sleepwear and join us for a day of festive fun! 🎁✨

Enjoy delicious treats including hot cocoa ☕, cookies 🍪, candy 🍬, and more! It's the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with fun, food, and friends!

Don’t forget to wear your favorite pajamas and get ready for some holiday cheer! 🎄🎉

🎭 Come Support Our Amazing Drama Club! 🎭

Join us for tonight’s performance of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child at 7:00 PM and the grand finale on Sunday at 2:00 PM!✨

The cast had an incredible opening night—don’t miss out on the magic!