Schools and Community...

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The Rome Community and the Rome City School District are fortunate to have one of the fastest growing and most connected community schools initiatives in the country, with the Connected Community Schools initiative (formally Rome Community Schools). The partnership between the Rome Alliance for Education and the Rome City School District continues to blossom into more than anyone could have imagined. This initiative has expanded to many more school districts and communities throughout the Mohawk Valley, including the development of a CoSer through our BOCES system which will ensure sustainability for our students and community.  The Connected Community Schools group has developed a system to support students and families of our community, referred to as LINK. The LINK model provides access to our students and families to over 50 agencies that can support families in need of anything from basic accounting/banking issues to something as serious as access to mental health agencies. Through our school counselors, social workers, and the agency's caseworkers, LINK works to partner students and families with the resources that we have in our region to provide the support that is needed. Further, the LINK model is being presented throughout the country by the Connected Community Schools team as a premier model of community schools and connectivity to community resources. Rome is fortunate to have some of the most community-orientated and solutions-based people developing our community schools model. Not only do we have LINK to provide families and students access to resources that may be needed, but we also have a community food pantry which is one of the largest in the region. The food pantry can assist families and students with food security, as well as with clothing needs if necessary. Beyond the marketplaces, all of our schools work to have general needs for families and students. Access to anything that may be needed by a student or family can be found by speaking to your school counselor, social worker, or principal. From there, we will get a student or family connected to the best resource to fill the need. The menu of items that are available to our students and families is growing by the month, and we are fortunate to have the Connected Community Schools initiative in Rome! The group continues to receive national recognition and has become the flagship community schools initiative of the American Federation of Teachers. For more information, please visit their website here: https://connectedcommunityschools.org/ If there is a need that you or your family has, we can help! Please contact your school counselor for more information on what the next steps are to begin making the connections that you need.

AREA Community Conversation

Throughout the year, the Rome City School District will be hosting a series of community conversations to learn more about the needs and desires of our students and community in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The conversations will be held monthly in various locations throughout the district and will begin this coming Tuesday evening, September 21 at RFA. The session will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, including pre-registering your participation, please visit our website at: https://www.romecsd.org/news_page/you_re_invited__area_community_conversations_


Student Immunizations (non-COVID)

As a reminder, New York State has passed a law that no longer allows for the religious exemption for school vaccinations. Also, all laws that are applicable to school-related required vaccines are back in effect for the 2021-2022 school year. The link below will take you to the State Education Department website that outlines the required vaccinations. Please speak to your school nurse or family physician if you have any questions regarding any requirements. 

School Immunization Requirements

NYS School COVID Report Card

As a reminder, the Governor's office and the Department of Health released the New York State School COVID Report Card. The information found on the website is a collaboration of data that is received by the State from the school district and the Oneida County Department of Health. This link will take you to the website with the information for the Rome City School District: https://schoolcovidreportcard.health.ny.gov/#/districtData;bedsCodeId=411800

Rite Aid COVID Testing Program

Rite Aid has announced a "Back to School COVID Testing Program" for students and families desiring to get a COVID test during the coming weeks. The location at 405 Erie Blvd. in Rome is one of the locations offering free service. Families are required to pre-register for a time and appointment. Registration for a COVID test can be done at bioreferencelabs.bioreference.com/nyschooltesting.  For more information, please contact your local Rite Aid.

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