An Invitation by Superintendent Michael Kelley

Email - kelleym@district195.org
 

The members of School District 195 Board of Education, teachers, staff, and administrators are proud of Randolph High School and Randolph Elementary School. We believe that southern Dakota County offers the best of two worlds – a rural lifestyle with metropolitan opportunities within easy reach.

We are grateful for the continued strong support of our school by district residents.

Persons considering moving into the School District are invited to visit the schools and to explore some of the opportunities available in the District.

The District

School District 195 is located in southern Dakota County. It is approximately 69 square miles in area and has the smallest public school population in the seven-county metropolitan area.

It offers the benefits of a peaceful, rural lifestyle within easy commuting distance of the Twin Cities and Rochester. It is a growing, vibrant community that has not lost touch with its history.

Its residents include farmers, teachers, skilled laborers, business owners, specialists, and other professionals.

The Schools

Randolph Schools demonstrate that small is better. The student teacher ratio is one of the lowest in the Twin Cities area. The small classes and co-curricular activities provide each student with the opportunity to develop individual talents and interests.

Teachers and staff know the students and their families. All students receive individual attention.

The Schools offer a full range of courses and community education opportunities. School District residents, teachers, and staff work together to enhance school programs. Students compete in conference, regional and statewide scholastic and other events.

Elementary School

The 456 students in kindergarten through sixth grade receive a broad education with creative teaching. The elementary teaching staff is supported with services of an accelerated reading and math program, psychologist, social worker, and dedicated paraprofessionals.

Elementary students have computer class twice a week in our Computer Lab. Randolph Schools uses Chromebooks and laptops to enhance learning.  Math club allows students to have fun with math and qualifying fifth and sixth grade students participate in the Minnesota Math Masters competition. Writing is an important part of our curriculum and aspiring authors attend the regional Young Writers Conference.

Specialized programs include Spanish, physical education, art, music, and media. Instrumental lessons and band rehearsals are scheduled during the day – an impossibility in most districts. Individualized instruction in speech, special education, and Title I opportunities are also available.

A three-day Lake Byllesby trip is a highlight of the social studies program. Sixth grade students camp out two nights and are joined during the day by fifth graders. As the students study fossils, botany, math, art, and physical education, they develop an understanding of the interrelationships of these fields.

Randolph Elementary obtained the Minnesota School of Excellence Award in 2016 & 2023. We were very fortunate to be one of six schools in the state to be honored.

Randolph Elementary School has an all day/every day Kindergarten program to enhance the primary learning years.

High School

A wide variety of opportunities are available for the 414 high school students.  The student/teacher ratio is 17 to 1, with a full range of classes.

Each year, our construction class builds a house within the Randolph School District. Students in this class take a hands-on approach to all aspects of residential construction. An interior design class selects and installs fixtures and wall/floor coverings in the house.

All students in grades 7-12 have their own laptops.

Co-Curricular Activities

About three-fourths of the high school and more than half of the junior high students participate in at least one co-curricular activity – percentages unequaled in other metropolitan schools.

Randolph High School is a member of the Gopher Conference and is competitive in all sports. Sports include baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, softball, fishing, and trap shooting, art, cross country, track, art, knowledge bowl. In addition, boys and girls may join with neighboring schools for wrestling, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and hockey, alpine skiing. Our softball team won the state tournament in 2021. Our baseball tournament won the state tournament in 2022.

Randolph is very proud of their FFA chapter. Members have held district and state offices and have been selected for the national chorus and band. They have received national recognition for their work as a chapter. They conduct an annual safety seminar for area farm families, and each year at the State Fair their petting zoos and safety programs are a favorite of young children. Members also enjoy working on the restoration of farm equipment. Our FFA students won the 2021 MN State Fair Premier Exhibitor Award in the FFA Livestock Show.

In addition, students have several other activities from which to choose. A major educational trip to Washington

D.C. and New York is offered every two years. Students publish the school yearbook, present several plays, enjoy speech competition, perform in the band, sing in the choir, knowledge bowl, compete in a math league, and have the opportunity to join the National Honor Society.

Community Education

Volunteers and a community advisory council make it possible for the Community Education Department to provide a full range of activities.

Sports and recreation activities encompass all ages. There are after school enrichment programs for kindergarten through sixth grade, Saturday recreation and summer recreation for youth and adults, and year-round sports.

Pre-school activities include early childhood, parenting programs, and pre-school screening. On-site childcare is a popular option for working parents.

Young Farmer classes attract 18 to 35-year-old farmers and persons working in agribusiness from Randolph and several surrounding communities.

Friends of Randolph Scholars members raise funds throughout the community to provide scholarships to virtually all graduating seniors who have declared their plans to attend a college or vocational school.

Metropolitan Opportunities

The community of Randolph is situated between two major metropolitan areas, the Twin Cities and Rochester. Residents of Randolph are within easy driving distance of:

• Professional sporting events at the Target Field, Xcel Energy Center, Target Center or US Bank Stadium
• Cultural and educational events at the Guthrie, the Children’s Museum, the Science Museum, the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, or any of the many theaters, museums, and performance centers

• World class medical centers
• Lake Byllesby and other park and recreation areas
• The Mall of America
• Two challenging 18-hole golf courses are nearby for the golf enthusiasts.
• Walker Art Center
• Minnesota Zoo

Many commercial and military pilots received their first flying lessons at the Stanton Airport, a privately owned public airport in the School District. Flight instructors offer training for small aircraft, sailplanes, or gliders. The Minnesota Soaring Club and Minnesota Skydivers’ Club are based at this airport.

Sports enthusiasts play baseball, softball, football, volleyball, basketball, golf and soccer on area teams.

We are very proud of our own Caleb Thielbar who pitches for the Minnesota Twins major league team!

Rural Benefits

Lake Byllesby Regional Park, located with the School District, provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, sailing, and water skiing, as well as picnicking and camping. The lake is a 1,490-acre reservoir, the largest body of water in the metropolitan area south of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

The Cannon River, which was dammed in 1910 to form Lake Byllesby, is one of Minnesota’s wild and scenic rivers and is a favorite of canoeists. A watershed partnership is working to conserve the river’s ecosystem.

Hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers of all abilities and ages enjoy the 20-mile trail that links neighboring communities. Because this exceptionally scenic trail follows an old railroad bed, its grades are gentle.

Agriculture remains an integral part of the Randolph community. Farmers in the area raise cash crops, feeder cattle, swine, and sheep. Large dairy operations and horse farms can also be found in the surrounding countryside.

The Randolph area is protected by an excellent volunteer fire department and rescue squad. These organizations are partially funded by the Randolph Chicken Barbecue, hosted every summer by the volunteers.

For additional information, call the District Office at (507) 645-4773 or (507) 263-2151.

Michael Kelley Superintendent