South St. Paul High School Weekly

Happy Friday Packer Families,

One more week! One more week! I am so excited about having all our students in the building. I cannot wait.

The Back to School Days at SSP High School were very successful with over 2/3 of all students attending. If you were not able to attend, do not worry. We will have a picture make-up day in the first couple weeks of the year. If your student did not pick up their Chromebook, do not worry. We will get their Chromebook to them in the first couple of days of school.

Come meet your student's teachers at one of our High School Family Connect Time. This time is very much like an open house; you can put items in your student's locker, meet their teachers, see their classrooms, and walk their schedule. The only structured piece of the High School Family Connect Time is my presentation on the SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 school year. I will be presenting on the hour (3:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 6:00 PM) on 8.30.23 and on the hour (9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM) on 9.2.23. Presentation will take place in the lecture hall (across from the Counselor's office) and will last no longer than 20 minutes.

It was great to see so many of you at the Back to School Days, I look forward to connecting with you at our activities, and I plan to see all of you at the High School Family Connect Time.

Have a great weekend! Go Packers!

Sincerely,

Chuck

Mr. Chuck Ochocki

South St. Paul High School Principal

700 2nd Street North

South St. Paul, MN 55075

(651) 457-9402

cochocki@sspps.org

Packer Pride: Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

August 30: High School Family Connect Time from 2:30-6:00 PM

• 3:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation
• 4:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation
• 5:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation

September 1: High School Family Connect Time from 9:00a - 1:00PM

• 9:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation
• 10:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation
• 11:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation
• 12:00-SSP High School Expectations and Changes for the 2023-2024 presentation

First Days of Schools

• September 5, First day for grades 1-5, 6, 9, and students new to SSPPS
• September 6, First day for grades 7-8, and 10-12
• September 7, First day of Kindergarten
• September 11, First day of Preschool

The South St Paul Packers High School sports season is underway. While we welcome and encourage younger Packers from the elementary and middle school to support our Packer high school sports teams, we would also like you to be aware of our guidelines for student attendance.

In order to attend high school events, elementary and middle school students:

• Must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times
• Are expected to sit with the parent or guardian they arrived with and to be supervised at all times
• All SSP students are expected to sit on the home side of the bleachers
• No backpacks will be allowed

Please discuss these expectations with your student.

Tickets for events ($8 for adults/$5 for students) purchased online only. NO Cash Transactions.

Want to see our students and staff in action? Come watch them at a home event. Here is the link to this weeks schedule: Weekly HOME Schedule

Want some new Packer Spirit Wear to wear at our events, around town, or just at home?

Here is the link: https://shop.game-one.com/minnesota/south-saint-paul/south-st-paul-packers

Password is: packers

This fall there are changes to the traffic flow near the Secondary Building. Due to the construction of the new library adjacent to the high school, traffic flow on 7th Ave N and 2nd St N will change. The 100 block of 7th Ave N between Marie Ave and 2nd Street N will change to one-way traffic. One-way traffic will continue on the curve to 2nd St N (yellow arrows). The one-way traffic will end when 2nd St N meets 8th Ave N (red arrows). See the diagram below.

Be cautious when traveling around the school due to an increase of pedestrian traffic, students and Central Square/library patrons. The City of South St. Paul says the road will reopen before school begins, with a tentative final completion date of September 15.

South St. Paul Public Schools uses ParentSquare for school to home communications. If you have an email address registered with the school district, then you have a ParentSquare account ready for you. If you activated your account last year, there is nothing you need to do this school year. If you did not activate your account last year or you are new to the district, you will receive an email invitation at the end of August to verify your information. If you do not verify your information, we cannot confirm you will receive communications. Verifying your information allows you to ensure the information is correct in our system.

The best way to receive school alerts and communication is to download the app to your smartphone.

• iOS App - Apple Store
  
• Android App - Google Play Store
  

Visit the SSPPS ParentSquare webpage for more information on customizing your account. If you have trouble accessing your account or do not receive a ParentSquare email invitation at the end of August, reach out to communications@sspps.org.

School to family communication is a critical component of a student’s success. SSPPS uses Campus Parent Portal as our district-wide database for family contact information and preferences. To ensure your family is receiving important communication from SSPPS, please login to your Campus Parent Portal account to review and update all contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) and other preferences like the primary language you would like to receive your communication. Families needing to create a Campus Parent Portal Account, click here. Families having trouble accessing their Campus Parent Portal Account, contact the SSPPS Tech Help Department at ParentTechHelp@sspps.org or (651) 457-9458. Families needing help with specific information within their Parent Portal account, such as legal documentation, should contact their school office directly.

If your family is experiencing homelessness, such as staying in a shelter, hotel or temporarily with others, we can help make sure your child has stability in their education through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act. For help in accessing these services, please contact Candace Burckhardt, Special School District #6 Homeless Liaison/Local Coordinator.

For more information please look at the resources at the following link: https://www.sspps.org/departments/student-services/special-education

Additional resources can also be found at https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/PublicAssistance/Housing/Pages/default.aspx or MDE's website: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/ESEA/home/

Reminder to families who qualify for District-Provided transportation to complete the short survey in the email you received from the District on July 12. The survey is asking families to accept or decline their student’s transportation for the 2023-24 school year. If you did not receive an email and believe you meet the District-Provided transportation guidelines (elementary students living 1.0 miles or more from assigned school and 1.5 for secondary students), visit our website at www.sspps.org/departments/transportation to view the qualifying boundaries and/or contact our transportation office at eryan@sspps.org.

Safe-Way Bus Company is offering Pay-to-Ride transportation on a first-come, first-served basis for students who are not eligible for District-Provided transportation. Pay-to-Ride space is limited so interested families should complete the Pay-to-Ride Registration form located on our website at www.sspps.org/departments/transportation. Families should also make alternate plans as Pay-to-Ride availability may not be determined until October 1 or later when all District-Provided transportation obligations have been met. Families will be notified when a transportation space becomes available.

Getting ready for the school year is easy with the SSPPS School Year Information Webpage. On there you can find school supply lists for all schools, the most up-to-date handbook, and calendars with all of the back-to-school dates to remember.

Minnesota Revenue offers two valuable tax benefits for parents who purchase school supplies for their K-12 students, the K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction. These benefits can reduce parents’ taxes to increase their refund, but is only available for those who keep their receipts.

Purchases for most school supplies, field trips, and musical instruments for school band are eligible. Most Minnesota parents qualify for the K-12 subtraction, which reduces their taxable income. Parents under certain income limits may also qualify for the K-12 credit, which can refund up to 75% of their costs – even for parents who don’t owe any taxes. Visit the Minnesota Revenue website for details. Click here to learn more.

We're looking for people interested in part-time work with the school district. Flexible, daytime hours for you to work while your student is in school. We are currently hiring for a variety of positions including, but not limited to: Lunch room, maintenance, student supervisors, paraprofessionals, and more. Click on the link below to view all openings and to apply.

View Open Positions and Apply

Email: cochocki@sspps.org
Website: https://www.sspps.org
Location: 700 2nd Street North, South Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-457-9402