The school doors open at 7:30, with the first class beginning at 7:50. We dismiss the bus students at 2:35 and the students who travel by car at 2:40.
The kindergarten size has been 12-16 students, and there are about 25 students in each of the classrooms for the other grades. We currently group two grade in each classroom. levels. For example, since grades three and four are together in a room, the math 3 would be taught while grade 4 works on homework, and then grade three students would work on their math assignment while grade four has math. Our growth plans are to add a 1/2 time teacher per grade level annually until we have one grade per classroom.
We have an application form for newly enrolling students. Call the school office at 285-9735 for a copy. Your basic contact information is requested, along with the school name, contact information, and records (if transferring) . In order to best serve you and your child, we also ask for the opportunity for a visit between the student and the classroom teacher.
Resurrection Lutheran School is supported by the three area Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod churches. These congregations value Christian education for their children so much that they provide much of the approximate $4700 cost per child; members are charged a $750 tuition fee. We also wish to make our education affordable, so we offer about a $1000 reduction in tuition costs for others; the 2004-2005 rate is $3750. In addition, we also have a tuition assistance program for qualified families. Click here for the tuition assistance form, or call the school office at 285-9735 for a copy.
In addition to the high standards academic curricula offered, there are opportunities for participation in soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, and softball for grades 5-8; a special track day for grades 1-8; a band program for grades 5-8; a yearbook staff for eighth graders, and many opportunities to volunteer and serve in our school and church. Each year three classrooms put together a play for our school families, and work on an annual learning fair project.
Five of our six staff members has a B.A. degree in education, two hold masters degrees in education, and one holds a state teaching license.
Resurrection Lutheran School uses an eclectic approach to curriculum choices. There are usually two opposing thoughts when it comes to instructional resources and methods, each with some merit. We study both and take the best from each. Some examples:
Reading:
Most kids learn best using a phonics approach; some learn with a sight word approach. Some are able to learn in a group setting; and some learn best in a small group or individually. There is a structure to a reading textbook that covers all the important facets of learning to read, and a more natural feel to using a class set of a fiction book from the library. Our program uses each of these.
In order to see how well our eighth graders compare to other students in Rochester, they take the Minnesota Basic Skills Test in reading and math (state-mandated tests for public schools).
Edit: I would recommend attaching a PDF with the test scores here.
[see more details at education.state.mn.us under Education Programs - Assessment & Testing - Basic Skills Test - Downloadable Data
Resurrection Lutheran School began in the fall of 1970 as a one room school with thirteen students from kindergarten through grade five. The school was blessed with continual growth, with grade eight being added by 1973, and a second full-time teacher by 1975. In 1977 the school enrollment was 54. The fall of 1985 saw the opening in the new school building with 3½ teachers and 77 students. Just three years later, another teacher was added to the staff to serve the 105 students. We moved into our beautiful new school addition in January of 2002 with five classrooms and about 120 students.
Resurrection Lutheran School is part of the fourth largest parochial school system in the United States. We are one of over 360 schools with a total enrollment of about 30,000 pupils taught by 2,000 teachers. Resurrection Lutheran School is closely associated with the other schools of the Minnesota District and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod through conferences and school activities.
About half of our students use car pooling or parents to travel to and from school. Another half use Rochester School Bus, the same bus system used by Rochester Public Schools.
We recognize that not all students learn the same way. Some are exceptional gifted, and so our teachers have been trained to offer alternate methods of determining if the student has mastered the content, which can free up time for them to explore their areas of interest. Some students are also exceptionally challenged, and so we have begun to build up alternative resources to help students learn especially math, reading, but also social studies, and science. We also have about 35 hours worth of teacher assistants who are able to help a teacher meet the student's individual needs.