Principal's Newsletter

Happy Friday Packer Families,

I hope you enjoy the long weekend. The end of Trimester 3 is just 8 days away. With only 8 days left in Trimester 3 (and the school year), please check in with your student and ask them the following questions?

• How has this trimester gone for you?
• Are you happy and/or satisfied with your grades?
• Is there work you could be doing over the upcoming long weekend?
• What do you need to do to finish the trimester strong?
• How can I support you?

Together, we can/will get our students across the Trimester 3 finish line!!! If your student needs any additional support to complete Trimester 3 successfully, please make sure to send them in on W.I.N. (G.S.D.) Wednesday.

In this week's newsletter you can find more information regarding:

• Senior Schedule for their last week of school,
  

• The Journey Begins: Embracing the Pathway to Packer Promise,
  

• Final Exam Schedule for Grades 9-11,
  

• Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT),
  

• Summer Lunch information,
  

• and many more topics. Make sure to check the newsletter out.

Thanks for all the support you give your student and the school! Have an fantastic 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.

5/27- No School- Memorial Day

5/28-

5/29- W.I.N. Wednesday

5/30-

5/31- Final Exams in periods 4, 5, 6

6/3- Final Exams in periods 1, 2, 3. Students check-in to period 4, return devices, senior picnic on the competition field.

6/6- Graduation Practice at 11:00 AM, Graduation Ceremony at 7:00 PM

As we sunset the International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Middle Years program at the end of this school year, SSPPS is thrilled to announce our new academic strategic plan, Pathway to Packer Promise. Our mission with the Pathway to Packer Promise is to ignite a passion in every learner to inquire, continuously improve, and engage in positively changing our world. This plan is dedicated to preparing each and every student for their future through high-quality, individualized programs, services, and personalized learning tailored to every stage of their educational journey. Covering early learning, elementary, middle, and high school experiences, this comprehensive plan provides students with opportunities to explore real-world experiences, interactive discussions, guest speakers, enriching field trips, and flexible curriculum options, allowing students to fully engage with their learning paths. The development of the Pathway to Packer Promise is the result of extensive feedback from our stakeholders, ensuring it aligns with the collective goals and values of our learning community. Visit our website to learn more about the Pathway to Packer Promise experience!

6/03/24 (Day 1)

• Honors/Intro to Lit
• General Chemistry
• IB French
• PE
• Health
• French 2

6/04/24 (Day 2)

• IB Math: Applications and Interpretations #1
• Health
• PE
• IB Biology
• Chemistry-Kaufman
• Anatomy & Physiology

6/06/24 (Day 2)

• Geometry
• US History and Honors US History
• American Literature 10
• World Literature
• Spanish 2
• Store Management
• IB Business Management
• French 1
• Advanced Algebra

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program provides families with eligible school-aged children $40 per month per child (up to $120 maximum) during the summer to purchase healthy foods using EBT cards.

For Families Already Approved for Educational Benefits:

• Log-in to your Campus Parent Portal account to ensure your household contact information is up-to-date with the district, including parent or guardian name, address, and phone number.

For Families Who Have Not Yet Applied for Educational Benefits:

• Complete an application for Educational Benefits online via SchoolCafé. You will receive a letter informing you if your child qualifies. You will need to reapply in August to qualify for 2025 benefits.

• Log-in to your Campus Parent Portal account to ensure your household contact information is up-to-date with the district, including parent or guardian name, address, and phone number.

S-EBT benefits will be distributed by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Human Services during the summer months. For more information, visit the MDE website or check out the MDE FAQ document.

This summer, South St. Paul Public Schools is partnering with The Open Door again to serve more students free meals in our community. The Open Door picks up meals and brings them to designated spots in the community and serves kids, ages 18 and under, where they are. Meals must be eaten onsite.

Free meals will be served June 17-27 and July 8-25, no meal service June 19th and the week of July 3-7. Visit the website for times and locations

SSPPS is excited to partner with STOPit Solutions to bring HELPme, a 24/7/365 technology platform, into our school community. HELPme is an app or web based program designed to provide assistance to our students, families, and staff in the areas of:

• Basic needs (food, shelter, clothing)

• Mental Health and Stressors

• Victims of Bullying

• Suicidal Ideation

• Abusive Households

No personal information is needed to use the program and all interactions are private and confidential. SSPPS believes this resource will complement our existing support systems seamlessly. Together, we can make sure everyone in our community gets what they need to thrive. For more information on the HELPme program and how you can download the app, visit our website at https://www.sspps.org/departments/student-services/helpme.

The high school Summer Strength and Speed program has a long tradition of fostering athletic excellence and healthy behaviors for grades 6-12. This program starts with safety, technique, and peer-to-peer support, and grows into highly competitive, intense summer workouts preparing student-athletes for physical fitness and varsity athletic success. See the attached flier to find the summer morning session that fits students’ goals and experience. Note the affordable cost ($90 for the whole summer): coaches are committed to ensuring access for the entire community. The teams and friend groups that work out together, find support AND excellence! Reach out to Tim Kennealy (tkennealy@sspps.org), Manuel Spreigl (mspreigl@sspps.org), or Tyler LaRose (tlarose@sspps.org) with questions.

• May 27- No School for Students
• May 29- W.I.N. (G.S.D.) WEDNESDAY

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 Schedule

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/

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