Como Park Senior High Newsletter

September

27- Homecoming Dance 7:00-10:00 PM

28- Homecoming Football Game (Staff vs. Students) 1:00 PM

October

3- No school (Professional Development)

7- Parent Advisory Council 6:00 PM

8- PSAT

10- Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00 PM

15- Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00 PM

17-18- No School (MEA)

29- Picture Retakes

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

School Expectations

*School begins promptly at 8:30.

*Students are expected to be in their assigned class at all times. This is how we can ensure students are safe and learning.

*PSEO, Self Directed, and Online Learning students can spend this time out of the building or working in the library.

*During school hours, students are not allowed to have food delivered to the school or leave the premises to get food. No food will be accepted that is delivered from Door Dash, GrubHub, Uber Eats etc. This plan is crucial in maintaining a positive learning environment, as it prioritizes student safety and minimizes disruptions during school hours. Outside food conflicts with SPPS Nutrition Services pledges to end hunger, focusing on increasing food security and improving nutrition over the next ten years by providing reliable and convenient access to no-cost meals for all children in Saint Paul. We appreciate your collaboration and patience.

Absences/Attendance

Please make sure to ALWAYS report your student’s absence by 9:30 AM. You can do this by calling the Attendance Line at (651)744-5343. If no contact has been made by a parent/guardian regarding your student’s absence, please send a note with the reason for the absence with your student when they return to school. Please contact the main office (651-293-8800) for the process to follow when taking an extended trip.

Any student that comes to class after the bell is "tardy".

Any student that comes to class after 30 minutes is "absent".

Attention Parents!

The Como Park Leadership Team is seeking a parent member who is able to attend our meetings every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 3:15-4:15. Our next meeting will be October 14th. Parents on our leadership team can help identify issues and influence decisions to improve education for all students. The parent on our team will be our "voice" for Como families providing ideas, concerns, and feedback. Please fill out this form if you're interested in becoming part of Como Park's Leadership Team. Thank you.

Attention All Student Drivers

If you don’t have a parking permit, please see Ms. Lor in the main office to get one. Be sure your vehicle is displaying your permit sticker. Student parking is the area closest to Como Lake across from the football field. All students should stay out of reserved and visitor parking spaces. The parking area will be monitored, so please follow the rules or violators may be towed. Thank you for your cooperation.

At Como Park Senior High School, we support our students in using technology for real-world life and especially as a learning tool. We are not allowing cell phones to be used in school during instructional time between the hours of 8:30-3 pm. To view our cell phone policy, click here.

Also available in Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Karen

TWO NIGHTS FOR FALL PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Thursday October 10th from 4:00-7:00pm
FREE FLU/COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE NIGHT

Tuesday October 15th from 4:00-7:00pm

Need transportation? Contact Jamie Hoffman at jamie.hoffman@spps.org or 651-744-5529 for more information.

Cougars Abroad!

Leah Deiman (Spanish teacher) is leading a trip to Costa Rica in Summer 2025, and Spain in Summer 2026, and your student is invited!

We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity: https://rsvp.eftours.com/wxpf6cp

Those who register for the meeting will be eligible to receive a $200 tour scholarship for Spain and $100 for Costa Rica and be eligible for Risk-Free Enrollment if they enroll on tour!

For Karen, Spanish, Somali, or Hmong, click here.

PARENT’S RIGHT TO KNOW TEACHER AND PARAPROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. Parents who would like to receive this information should write to the Human Resource Department, Attn: ESSA Teacher Qualifications, Saint Paul Public Schools, 360 Colborne Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102-3299. You have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teacher(s).

• Information about whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
• Information about whether the teacher is teaching (subjects or content) in which proper certification is held by the teacher.
• Information about whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Click here for other languages: Hmong, Somali, Spanish, Karen

Learn more about Como Park Senior High School's Academic Performance: MDE Report Card

Did you know that required school documents can be translated upon request or interpreters made available? For more information please contact Jamie Hoffman at jamie.hoffman@spps.org or 651-744-5529.

Dear Como families,

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number.

All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the SmileSafe program here.

Picture retakes at Como Park will be on October 29th.

If you have any questions or need support, please contact your student’s counselor:

9th-12th (Alphabetical by last name):

A-Fr Holly Moser, holly.moser@spps.org, 651-744-4664, (https://calendly.com/holly-moser)

Fu-Ma Kia Thao, kia.thao@spps.org, 651-744-8170 (https://calendly.com/msthao)

Mc-Reh Farah Abuqalbeen, farah.abuqalbeen@spps.org, 651-744-1141 (https://calendly.com/farah1)

Rei-Z Choua Vang, choua2.vang@spps.org, (https://calendly.com/choua2-vang)

The CPC is Open! The Career Pathway Center (CPC) at Como is open Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-4:00pm in room 1304 (across from the Counselor’s Office). Students can email Ms. Aisha (amohamed.ach@spps.org), check out the Career Pathway Center website, drop into the CPC, or sign up for an appointment! for information on student career opportunities, college planning, and scholarships and check out the Como Park page under “Student” and then “Career Pathway Center”.

For the latest updates from the counseling department and the Como Career Pathway Center, click here.

ALL PARENTS ARE INVITED

Come learn more about what Como Park has to offer

We meet every 1st Monday of the month. The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) works together to provide input regarding school policies and school improvement. Parents are an integral part of developing our Family Engagement Plan, School Compact, and School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP). PAC also helps organize school events such as Family Fun Night and the Senior BBQ. For more information, contact Jamie Hoffman at jamie.hoffman@spps.org or 651-744-5529.

Our first PAC meeting is: October 7th at 6:00 PM in room 1312. Please email me with suggestions, topics, concerns, or questions to be discussed at the next PAC meeting.

*No soccer game, staff vs. students football game at 1:00 PM

* No charge for staff vs students game

Homecoming 2024 is around the corner. The dance will be on Friday 9/27 from 7-10. Students can buy tickets during lunches from September 16th - September 27th (No tickets will be sold at the door) . Tickets are $5. No refunds.

Students who attend must meet attendance expectations. This is detailed here.

If attendance expectations are not met, students will not be able to attend.

Attention all students interested in business and being an entrepreneur! See flier below for a terrific opportunity to develop business skills and to make some money.

Please welcome our new Health Assistant, Sonja Her

Hello! My name is Sonja Her and I am the Health Assistant at the Como Park Health Office.

· I started as a Health Assistant float and was at Washington Technology Magnet for the last 2 school years.

· I graduated from St. Catherine University.

· I love crafting with my Cricut Maker, spending time with my family and traveling!

· I am excited to be here at Como this year, change is always good. Although it may take me a while to get used to the school layout- I’m sure it will come to me in no time!

Please welcome our new School Psychologist, David Scheller

Hi! I've been a School Psychologist for St. Paul Public Schools for 8 years at various buildings throughout the district.

-In my free time, I like hockey, soccer, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

-I've enjoyed the sense of community that Como offers. It's great to work with colleagues who uphold the responsibility of keeping each other accountable to a high standard to best serve our students, families and surrounding community.

The Como Park MCJROTC Color Guard in action on 9.11.2024 at the Eden Prairie Community 9/11 Lemonade/Cookie Stand in remembrance of the tragedy that took place on our country on 9.11.2001. Thank you for your patriotism Cadets.

A blessed 🙌 Sunday it was to again support the Twin City Bike Tour Community Service. Nine (9) committed cadets awoke at 5am today to be Road Toads across the cities bike routes. Unselfish Cadet's Mo Mo (12), Say B . Paw (12), Luis Garcia (12), Saw Gay (12), Nolan Rognerud (12), Ya Min (12), Kaydence Brewer (9), Nay J. Moe (9), and lastly Cadet Joshua Klett (10) made it happen. We thank them for their commitment. Ooh Rah!

The Como Park MCJROTC Raiders are in training mode now for upcoming competitions this school year. Team is excited to travel and start the Raider Season off right. They'll be looking for even more schools to compete at this school year too. Ooh Rah!

Congratulations again Como Park MCJROTC. A seventh award straight for the prestigious National Naval Honor School Recognition. This distinguishes Como Park High School as one of the best overall programs in the country.

Because of this prestigious status, we will have the opportunity to send nominations to the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Military Academy at West Point. Boast to it on cadets college letters of recommendation. The award also provides students who have a desire to join a service academy the significant advantage of earning recommendation letters from their Senior Marine JROTC instructor who, under this award designation, carry just as much weight as a letter from a U.S. Representative or Senator.

JROTC is a successful program, making substantial contributions to students, schools, and communities which benefit greatly from its presence. The benefits of JROTC are reflected in metrics impacting all schools in the U.S. and the future of our society. Congratulations Como Park High School.

Congratulations to Como Park Senior High School’s Lynn Marie Peterson, who has been named the 2024 Health Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Society of Health and Physical Educators (MNSHAPE).

Mrs. Peterson began at Como Park in 2020 and teaches health education, stress management and medical career exploration. She previously taught at both Harding and Washington Tech. She’s a native of the East Side and received a gymnastics scholarship to Ohio State University.

Como Participates in National Voter Registration Day

Tuesday September 17 was National Voter Registration Day (NRVD)! The League of Women Voters of St. Paul (LWVSP) helped produce an event at Como as part of a larger initiative throughout Minnesota high schools to increase voter education and voter registration / pre-registration. At Como Park High School, Mr. Eric Erickson recruited 8 student volunteers to increase civic awareness and to help register / pre-register students. The student volunteers walked around to lunchroom tables with the QR code for the online voter registration form.

Due to a recent change in Minnesota law, eligible 16- and 17-year-old Minnesotans can submit a voter registration form and have their registration take effect on their 18th birthday. Minnesota is a national leader in youth engagement and getting young people to think of themselves as future voters is a key strategy towards a lifetime of voting.

In Minnesota, people who work at the polling place on Election Day are called “election judges”. 16-and 17-year old students can work as election judge trainees. They take the day off of school, receive training, and be paid for their work. It’s a great way to learn about elections and voting, and earn cash at the same time! For more information, link to Ramsey County Elections at: Election Judge Information | Ramsey County or call: 651-266-2171.

To all of the Como community, remember that election day is Tuesday, November 5. For more information on early voting, voter registration, or to check or change the status of your current registration, click on Minnesota Secretary Of State - Register To Vote!

Would you like to know what is happening around the Como Park neighborhood? Click the link for news and updates from your District 10 Como Community Council. View this email as a webpage

To volunteer at the Awareness Walk Fundraiser, please click here.

A weekly after-school program for kids 6th grade to 12th grade interested in learning the basics of sewing. We will begin with sewing a cubby basket to keep their sewing projects throughout the year. Over time, the kids will choose their own sewing projects from a selection of patterns made available by The Makery.

For students grades 6 - 12

Where: The Makery, 2230 Carter Avenue #8, St. Paul, MN 55108

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays , 3:30 - 5:30

Sep 17, 2024 - May 29, 2025

Learning Objectives:

• Familiarity with sewing machines, stitches, buttonholes, and zipper stitches

• Hand stitching techniques

• Upcycling thrifted items

Price: $225/month for both Tues & Thurs or $112.50/month for single day attendance

For more information, click this link: https://www.themakery.space/sew-squad