Como Park Senior High Newsletter

December

4- Parent Advisory Council (PAC) 6:00 PM

25-Jan. 5- No School (Winter Break)

January

8- Students Return to School

Please check out our athletic events coming up: https://sppscomoparkhighschool.rschoolteams.com/

Dear Como Park Senior High School Families,

We are pleased to inform you that Como Park Senior High School students who meet transportation guidelines will have yellow bus transportation when school resumes after winter break on Monday, Jan. 8. We have additional drivers available making this change possible.

Your student must turn in their Metro Transit student pass beginning Dec. 22, the last day before winter break. If your student lives out of district, or in the district but outside of your school’s attendance area, they can keep the Metro Transit student pass. If your student would like a Metro Transit pass for a qualified reason, please fill out this online Google form. Students must be logged in to their Google account to access the form. Families can also buy a Metro Transit pass for $97 per quarter by contacting the school office. Also, check to see if your family is eligible for the Transit Assistance Program which offers $1 rides for all household members: metrotransit.org/tap-riders.

Students eligible for a yellow bus will receive information about their route, bus stop and pick-up/drop-off times in the mail during winter break. Please watch for a yellow postcard.

Parent pickup will look different after winter break. We will communicate further details on this. Additionally, if students need to leave campus during the day for any reason, they will not be able to get a bus pass to return.

Thank you.

Attendance is taken within the first 10 minutes of class.

Any student that comes to class after the bell is marked TARDY.

Any student who comes to class after 30 minutes is marked ABSENT.

Teachers will add to the notes if a student is marked absent but came to class.

Do you know how to check your student's attendance or grades?

Go to spps.org/families. You will see links to login to both Campus and Schoology. You can check your student's attendance in Campus and grades/assignments in Schoology. Parents/guardians can also look up their own username or reset their password if necessary. If you have questions or need help, please contact Jamie Hoffman at jamie.hoffman@spps.org.

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, December 4, 2023

6:00 PM Room 1208

AGENDA:

Upcoming Dates

Attendance

SCIP Review

Student Climate Survey Results

Mental Health Awareness/Suicide Prevention

Busses at Como

Is there something you want to address with our admin team? Do you have questions about your student's academics? Are you looking for more information about Como? Please contact Jamie Hoffman at jamie.hoffman@spps.org with any ideas, suggestions, or concerns you would like discussed at our next meeting.

On the Same Page. Everyone.

A uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school. The benefits of SRP (Standard Response Protocol) become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.

For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill. For communities, it leverages the growing adoption of the protocols from residents of all ages. For first responders, the common vocabulary and protocols establish a greater predictability that persists through the duration of an incident.

People easily understand the practices and can reinforce the protocol. Additionally, this protocol enables rapid response determination when an unforeseen event occurs.

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Interested in purchasing tickets ahead of time? Email traci.buckle@spps.org

Dear families,

We were so overwhelmed with the positive response our 2024 Barcelona and Madrid trip received, that we would like to make our following year’s trip more accessible through longer payment plans (the further out we plan, the smaller the monthly payments!). We will be traveling to Costa Rica in Summer 2025, and your student is invited!

When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.

Save your spot by registering here: www.eftours.com/2695442ND

There are limited spots on this trip, save your spot by registering now!

Thanks,

Leah Deiman
leah.deiman@spps.org

Order your 2023-24 yearbook today!

The cost is $50.00

Yearbook code is: 14933024

Attention juniors and any senior who did not take the ACT last year at Como:

ACT.org Free Test Prep

ACT.org Information for Examinees

MyACT

MyACT Quick Start Guide for Students

Preparing for the ACT Test

Taking the ACT Test

SPPS: College and Career Readiness - ACT

Website

Please welcome our new Karen Language Teacher, Pawku Hser

My name is Pawku Hser and I am the Karen Language Teacher at Como. This is my first year at Como but second year teaching Karen language.

I used to teach Karen Language at one of the elementary schools and transitioned to being an in-house substitute teacher last year. This year I decided to go back to teaching Karen language because I am always passionate about teaching my language. The love of my own language and culture is strong enough for me to give back to my community and support the future of the next generation even though I know it's not going to be an easy journey for me and the students.

I enjoy traveling, watching K-drama, and writing poems and children's short stories in Karen language. I am thankful that Como Park Senior High School has allowed us to learn our language and keep our culture alive when we cannot even learn the language in our own country. I am also really grateful for all the support and encouragements I have received in the school/community.

Please welcome our new Medical Careers Pathway Coordinator, Heather Norton-Bower

• My official position at Como Park High School is working as our new Medical Careers Pathways Coordinator. This year I’m teaching “Intro to Medical Careers” (a career and technical education course), Biology, and a new district class for supporting 9th graders called “Freshman Focus.” I also am helping assist Gail Grogan with a Wednesday Seminar “Medical Club” and this is also my first year coaching nordic skiing at CPSHS.

• I was a small animal veterinarian for about 20 years before transitioning over to teaching. My time coaching nordic at Central High School for 8 years, being a Teacher’s Assistant and then a Reading Corps Tutor at JJ Hill Montessori, and volunteering as a Trailside Guide at Warner Nature Center (formerly the Science Museum’s nature center before it closed) convinced me to make the leap into teaching. I’m so glad I made that leap because I find teaching incredibly rewarding!

• I don’t have as much time for hobbies these days, but when I’ve had more time in life I’ve enjoyed a lot of outdoor time–my family loves to cross country ski, run, mountain bike, hike, canoe, and do wilderness camping trips to the BWCA. I was crazy enough about 4 years ago to run a 100-miler ultra running race on the Superior Hiking Trail. My family also has helped raise and train two assistance dogs for Can Do Canines, an organization that works hard to change the lives of people living with challenges.

• When I was offered my job at Como Park this past summer, I remember telling Dr. Brown that it was like a dream come true. I feel so lucky to be able to work and serve others in my community, to work together towards a more equitable future for ALL, to share my love of all things science, and to get to know all these amazing young people that I will see walk across the stage at graduation over the years as they complete their Como journeys. Thank you for welcoming me into your lives–I so appreciate you all!

Even though the weather was frightful, our brave students spent time in the natural beauty of Belwin Nature Center. They learned about local birds that spend the winters in our part of the world. Students learned bird calls, the foods that different species eat and how they survive year round in Minnesota.

The MCJROTC cadets continue to spend countless hours perfecting their craft this school year for multiple competitions before and after school and Saturdays. Good luck JROTC!!!

The Como Park's MCJROTC 79R's is an elite group of cadets that sacrificed 7 days and more than 9 hours each day in the sweltering heat of the 2023 Minnesota State Fair MCJROTC Fundraiser. The twelve of them were awarded the coveted 79R sweatshirt for their unselfishness and leadership.

Colleges, Apprenticeships, and Jobs... OH MY!

44 Como seniors were able to participate in the Get Ready Postsecondary Conference at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities on Tuesday, November 28th. This was a first-time experience for many of the students. Presentation topics included "What is a GAP year?", "Careers in Construction", "Balancing Academics and Social Life in College", "Labor Market: What Employers Are Looking For", and more. Panel discussions with college transfer advisors, military/ROTC officers, and current college students provided an opportunity for students to engage in discussions and ask their questions. Many thanks to Ms. Boyer and Ms. Mathieu for supporting their students in English 12 to participate in the conference. Many thanks to Ms. Janna Brayman for her help in chaperoning this field trip.

Also available in Hmong, Somali, Español, and Karen

FOOD RESOURCES

• Minnesota Food Helpline Call 888-711-1151 for assistance, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Ramsey County Food Resources
• Interactive Food Locations (food shelves, groceries at low or no-cost, farmer's markets, meals at no-cost)
  Customer Contact Center 651-266-8500 (Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm)

NEW! Compassion Roseville HEALTH CLINIC, location: 1910 County Road B West, Roseville MN 55113, Services provided at no cost, first come first served, Services: Dental: Fillings, Extractions, Cleanings, Medical Exams: Kids and adults, Vision: Checks and Free Glasses, Social Services, and Physical Therapy

NEW! Merrick Community Services Holiday Share Program registration opens November 6th. Go to Merrick’s link: https://merrickcs.org/holidayshare/

Flyer available in Español, Amharic, Hmong, and Karen. Click here for multiple languages.

Available in other languages such as: Hmong, Spanish, Karen, and Somali. Click here.