The first bell of the 2025-2026 school year is about to ring, and Rugby Public Schools are ready to welcome students with both familiar traditions and exciting new opportunities.

According to Dr. Mike McNeff Jr., superintendent of Rugby Public School District, two new certified staff members have joined the district this fall. Chauna Ihry steps in as a special education teacher, and Jessica Grove will serve as the district’s family supports coordinator, according to RPS information.

Their expertise and enthusiasm will be a great addition to the Bulldog team, McNeff said.

New faces aren’t the only fresh start this year, Rugby High School is launching its Relevance & Career Connected Learning (CCL) Practices initiative, a program aimed at making learning more engaging, meaningful, and tied to real-world opportunities. The effort began in early August, when 10 teacher leaders gathered for a retreat to prepare for the rollout.

Neff said this initiative blends a variety of strategies that connect classroom work to life beyond school. Students will take part in structured discussions that encourage them to explore ideas, debate perspectives and refine their thinking. Lessons will often begin with real-world challenges or thought-provoking questions to spark curiosity. In each subject, students will be guided to think, read, write and communicate like experts in that field. They’ll also participate in short activities that link academic content to specific careers, giving them a clearer sense of how what they learn now will matter later.

Within these lessons, activities such as Think-Pair-Teach, Mingle-Pair-Share and Mini Virtual Job Shadowing will help students strengthen communication skills, critical thinking, perseverance and awareness of different career paths, according to McNeff. Teachers will experiment with these practices through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) this year, reflecting on how they work in the classroom and refining them for the future.

McNeff said the district is also drawing on local businesses as partners, inviting them into classrooms to share their expertise and connect what students are learning with real-world applications. He said one highlight will be Professional Pathways Day, where students will spend time exploring career options through visits with professionals from the community and region. He said the goal is for every student to leave that day with a stronger vision of possible career paths and a plan for how to prepare for them during high school.

With new staff, innovative teaching strategies, and strong community partnerships, Rugby Public Schools are ready to make this school year one of the most engaging and inspiring yet, McNeff said.

Rugby Public Schools will begin Wednesday, Aug. 20.