When a student is struggling to attend school, there's often more to the story. Good attendance isn't just a school issue; it's a community effort. Families, schools & community partners all play a role in helping students overcome barriers & stay connected to learning. When a student is struggling to attend, the question isn't simply, “Why aren't you here?” It's also, “What is getting in the way, and how can we help?”

Bloom Elementary celebrated its Walk-A-Thon with a fun block party! Students enjoyed games, dancing and snacks while families and staff joined in. It was a joyful way to welcome the new school year and wrap up summer!

Sometimes the smallest moments of connection give students a reason to keep showing up & can make a BIG difference.
Attendance is about more than being in a seat. It's about connection, belonging & knowing that your presence matters.
Every student deserves to know they are missed when they're gone and valued when they're here.

Apple for the Teacher Day! Golden Apple Foundation will deliver apples & nomination forms to teachers, kicking off nominations for the 2026-27 Golden Apple Award. Nominate a PreK-5 teacher by October 15! https://goldenappleofrockford.com/golden-apple-teacher-awards/nominate/

It’s happening today! Join us at East HS Cafeteria for A Conversation with Dr. Huff. Hear his vision for RPS 205 & share your ideas for the future of our district.

5-5:30 p.m. | Meet & Greet
5:30-7 p.m. | Presentation & Q&A

Enter Door FH8. Spanish & ASL translators available.

Absences Add Up

Did you know? Missing just two days of school each month can add up to chronic absence over the course of a school year.

Every absence, excused or unexcused, means time away from learning, relationships and the routines that help students succeed.

The good news? It’s never too late to build stronger attendance habits. If getting to school regularly is becoming difficult, reach out to your school. We’re here to help!

All RPS 205 schools & buildings are closed today in observance of the federal holiday.

September is Attendance Awareness Month! Every day at school gives students opportunities to learn, build friendships, connect with caring adults & discover what they're capable of. Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing why attendance matters because every student brings something important to our schools.

Join us Wed., Sept. 16, at East High School's Cafeteria for A Conversation with Dr. Huff. Hear his vision for our district.

5-5:30 p.m. | Meet & Greet
5:30-7 p.m. | Presentation & Q&A

Enter Door FH8 on the west side of the building.

Spanish & ASL translators available

rps205.com/page/a-conversation-with-dr-huff

Meet RPS 205's Superintendent Dr. Larry Huff! Hear his vision for our district, & share ideas at A Conversation with Dr. Huff on Wednesday, September 16, from 5-7 p.m. at East High School.

Meet & Greet 5-5:30
Presentation, Q&A 5:30-7

The event is free & open to the public.

Bloom School students got the first recess on their newly renovated & relocated playground at Bloom Park! Students & the community helped choose the winning design, then celebrated with a ribbon cutting and Kona Ice thanks to the Rockford Park District.

Bloom School playground, the spray pad & portions of the northeast corner of the park are temporarily closed as construction begins on a brand new playground! It's expected to wrap up in late August. Please respect all closures & posted signs to help keep everyone safe.

The first day of school is about 8 weeks away for the 26-27 school year. Here is our academic calendar as well as our start & dismissal times so that you can prepare and plan ahead.

REMINDER: Early Childhood wraps up today with its normal schedule. The last day for K–11 students is tomorrow, but it's a shortened day. For more information on times at your school, check out the 205 VIBE: https://www.rps205.com/article/2813047

Bloom Families,
Sky Carp ticket order forms are due tomorrow! Every student who participated in the Sky Carp Reading Program is eligible for a complimentary ticket to the game on Sunday, May 31. St., provided the ticket order form has been completed and returned. Discounted tickets are available for family or friends who may also want to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!

RPS 205's Family & Community Engagement Department is hosting its final PTO Coffee Chat of the school year. This is a space to connect, share ideas, and strengthen partnerships across schools. Join us on Thursday, May 11 from 11:30-12:30 at the Administration Building!

Join the Bloom Bulldog COIN WAR. While we read The One and Only Ivan as a building, we are also having a coin War to adopt a gorilla and an elephant. The winning classrooms this week will get to symbolically name our adopted animals through the World Wildlife Fund. Keep reading along on the adventures of Ivan and help us improve the well-being of an elephant and a gorilla in the wild!

PLAN AHEAD: The last day of school for K–11 students is Friday, May 22. It’s a shortened day. Early Childhood wraps up Thursday, May 21. High school seniors get out on Friday, May 8. Check out this 205 VIBE post for more details about the schedule: rps205.com/article/2813047

Enjoy! See you back on Monday, April 6!