The AGAPE Times
January 2024 - vol 6
Important Dates and Events at AGAPE
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 15th. AGAPE and HeadStart childcare will both be closed in honor of Dr. King's memory.
- Thursday, January 25th is the final day of Quarter 2
- Friday, January 26th AGAPE will be closed for a Secondary grading day. HeadStart childcare WILL be open but there will be no SPPS transportation - plan ahead!
- Monday, February 12th AGAPE will be celebrating NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day) with all of our students, staff and families at 8:30am. Kenna-Camara Cottman will be joining us for this event - we are so excited to welcome Kenna back to AGAPE!
NAAPID Event at AGAPE - Monday, February 12th, 2024 8:30am
Transportation Updates
AGAPE Transportation Reminders
As the temperatures get colder and road conditions get more difficult, SPPS Transportation staff would like to remind AGAPE students and families about a few key items;
- It's importation that the carseat used on district transportation is safe and appropriate for your child's size. There are resources available if you need a larger carseat to accommodate your child, check with Ms. Shannon or Andrea, AGAPE's school nurse or in the office.
- All students and children must be outside waiting for their transport 5 minutes before the expected pick up time. If you are in need of warmer outdoor gear for baby or yourself, please check the AGAPE school store when it is open or check with any trusted AGAPE staff member and they will help direct you to someone who can help. Please note SPPS' Winter Weather Plan is also available for families to review at any time and provides clothing guidelines for different temperatures.
- If you are waiting outside for your van for 5 minutes past your van's arrival time and it has not come, please call AGAPE right away. If you are unable to reach anyone at AGAPE, you can also call SPPS Transportation at 651-696-9600. Please note that delays might occur for all drivers if there are tricky road conditions and the district and AGAPE lines may be busy. Families can also text Mrs. Weir at 651-335-9145.
- All students (on Rift Valley vans only) and babies on the buses and vans must all be buckled in for safety. If you need a little longer to buckle your baby in, you have the right to ask the driver to wait a moment until baby is secure.
- Transportation times change regularly at AGAPE. Changes will usually be on Wednesdays. Bus/Van times are posted on our all-school Schoology group, they are on the bus bulletin board at AGAPE, and up to date pickup/drop off time information can be viewed in Campus Parent and clicking the 'Transportation' tab. (Login information can be obtained/changed by calling AGAPE or in One Stop.)
- As always, students or families are welcomed and encouraged to let us know about anything they would like to speak with someone about and about any potential safety concerns. Please contact AGAPE or SPPS transportation with this information.
Counselor's Corner - Updates and Info from Ms. Sparkman, AGAPE's counselor
- Ms. Sparkman is working hard on Q3 schedules for students - please sign up to make an appointment in Calendly if you would like to discuss your class schedule, credits and/or grad plan!
Senior who are on Track to graduate in June or Summer of 2024 please bring your acceptance for college letters and scholarship awards to the office please so we can celebrate all your wonderful achievements.
Also if you need help applying to colleges or scholarships please make an appointment to see me at:
- Use Xello and continue applying to colleges!
Virtual FAFSA Sessions for Students and Families
The following evening zoom sessions are free to all Minnesota students and families. Please help us promote these events in your school and/or community.
1.Ready, Set, FAFSA Series – Starting January 9, 2024 @ 7 p.m.
With upcoming 24-25 FAFSA changes, Ready Set FAFSA sessions will assist students and families with creating a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, completing the FAFSA or the MN Dream Act applications and understanding award letters. For 12th grade students and their families; four Tuesday evenings in January.
•Registration is open! Information for families about registering for the January series is
available here: https://sites.google.com/view/minnesotagoestocollege/for-students/attend-a-
virtual-event
•All sessions will have simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Somali, Hmong – we are hoping
to add Karen as well.
•Students who attend a session or watch one of the recordings will be eligible to win a $1,000
scholarship! From our October series, two seniors won $500 scholarships from ECMC – one
from Farmington High School and one from Mounds View High School!
•These sessions are a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Office of Higher Education,
Minnesota Department of Education, ECMC The College Place and Minnesota Goes to
College.
Earn As You Learn: Career Certification Opportunities!
Are you in 9th-12th grade in SPPS? Are you interested in earning money from home? Do you have some extra time? Do you have 30-40 hours to expand your financial literacy skills, learn about possible careers, gain skills to prepare you for future jobs/careers, and earn certifications to bring you closer to those careers?
SPPS is offering an opportunity for students to earn a $300 stipend to learn financial literacy skills, earn a certificate and/or credential to show work readiness. Students complete the work asynchronously.
Please see this website to learn more about the program and certifications being offered. It'll likely take between 30-40 hours to complete the work depending on the certification you select and your work style. The program can be completed in English and/or Spanish.
Some certifications include:
- First Aid/CPR/AED
- OSHA General, Construction, Agriculture, Automotive, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and or Public Safety (EMS)
- Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and/or Excel
- Others
If you'd like to participate, please complete the Student Interest Form.
Check in with your EHS (Evening high school) and APEX teachers regularly in Q2!
Upcoming Birthdays
Title I Documents and Information at AGAPE
SCIP Implementation Meeting
SCIP Implementation Meeting - Virtual or In Person
Tuesday, Jan 16, 2024, 01:00 PM
RSVPs are enabled for this event.