Thank You BoE...

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The week of October 21, 2019 is dedicated in New York State as Board of Education Recognition Week. On behalf of the entire school community, I say thank you to the Rome City School District Board of Education members, including all past members, who have given their time, energy, and passion to helping the students, staff, and families of the Rome community.  It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and the women and men of our board devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child learn at a higher level. They make the tough decisions every month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountability our citizens expect. The key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by: Creating a shared vision for the future of education, setting the direction of the school district to achieve the highest student performance, providing accountability for student achievement results, developing a budget that aligns district resources to improve achievement, supporting a healthy school district culture in which to work and to learn, and much more!! Despite popular belief, the responsibility thrust onto a person who volunteers to serve the school community brings with it a tremendous amount of pressure. There is a myriad of laws to wade through, levels of bureaucracy with both federal and state government that has to be accounted for, and the pressures of constituents to push certain agendas that makes the job of a board members ever more challenging. Beyond all of that, maintaining the ability to focus on ALL students within a community is vital to their efforts. The vast majority of board members throughout our communities in New York State have little to no educational systems experience prior to becoming a community servant. The patience, understanding, perseverance, and effort of all board members everywhere is unmatched and for that, we are grateful for your service. Once again, on behalf of the entire District staff and community, thank you to our nine Board of Education members who devote many hours to our children each week!! 

October 25 - No School

Just a reminder to all that Friday, October 25 is scheduled as a Superintendent's Conference Day and there is no school for all students, pre-k through twelfth grade. Classes will resume as scheduled on Monday, October 28.

Screenagers Film Showing

Strough Middle School is thrilled to present SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age, a documentary about the biggest parenting issue of our time. SCREENAGERS addresses the most pervasive parenting issue of our time head on—depicting teen struggles over social media, video games and internet addiction. The film empowers kids to best navigate the digital world and provides practical resources to help them do it. The showing will take place on Friday, November 1, 2019 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Strough Middle School. For more information, please visit https://www.eventcombo.com/e/screenagers-film-presented-by-strough-middle-school-36455


Oneida County Youth Services Council
As part of New York State’s Access to Childcare initiative, The Child Care Council received a grant to collaborate with the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council to survey child care needs as they affect our business and employer community in the Mohawk Valley.  This survey is meant to be taken by ANYONE, regardless of if you have children.  So please take it!  The survey aims to get real-time data on child care needs in the Mohawk Valley workforce – right now we use census data to generate statistical assumptions about child care needs. The council is asking for two things: Takes the survey yourself and send the link along to anyone else you know that may not have access. The survey will be open until November 1 and the survey can be found at this link:


Trunk or Treat Event
Trunk or Treat is all about safe, family fun and don't forget the candy! It's a holiday themed community tailgate party and it's completely free. You can expect bouncy castles, games, popcorn, cotton candy, prizes giveaways, and candy. The group will be awarding one lucky family 100 pounds of candy!! Plan on dropping by the Redeemer Church in Rome between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. on October 31. For more information, please visit www.redeemer.tv/trunkortreat or call 315.792.4748. Trunk or Treat will take place at 129 N. Washington St. in Rome.


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