CPA Tiger Talk

CPA families, please click this link to complete the Annual CPA Family Survey by May 17. This survey should take 10-15 minutes to complete.

We are very interested in your opinion about your experience with Community of Peace Academy. If you have more than one child attending CPA, please give answers that reflect your overall experience. Your answers will be confidential.

Please read each question carefully. We appreciate you taking the time to do the survey.

If you drop your students off at CPA, they must be dropped off at Door E on Jessamine (by the RGA).

Please do not drop students off in the bus zone on Magnolia prior to 7:55am.

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

-Alexander Graham Bell

Saturday May 11: CPA Walk/Run at Phalen Lake Picnic Pavilion (see below)

Saturday May 11: CPA HS Prom (see below)

Monday May 13: Board of Directors Meeting, 6pm

Thursday May 16: CPA Annual Meeting & Spring Concert

Monday May 27: Memorial Day (No School)

Friday May 31: Last Day of School for PreK and 12th Grade

Tuesday June 4: Last Day of School for Kindergarten

Wednesday June 5: Last Day of School for Grades 1-11

Wednesday June 5: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 12:30pm)

Monday June 10: Board of Directors Meeting, 6pm

Wednesday June 19: CPA Closed in Honor of Juneteenth

Thursday August 22: 2024-2025 All School Meet the Teacher Day (11am-2pm and 4-7pm)

Free Breakfast is available to all students 7:40-8:30am every day.

Please encourage your students to arrive on time and eat a free breakfast!

New this year: all Minnesota students will receive a free breakfast and lunch every day!

Students who wish to purchase a second lunch may do so. Students or staff can add money to their lunch account using the SchoolPay system.

Current breakfast and lunch menus can be found on the CPA website.

Make sure you are following CPA on social media to see all the amazing things that are happening at our school!

Follow CPATigers on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to Rusty the CPA Tiger on Youtube!

Community of Peace Academy has partnered with Saint Paul Public Libraries (SPPL) to issue all CPA students a virtual library card, providing free library access in the classroom and in Saint Paul’s public libraries, called Library Go.

Library Go participants do not receive overdue fines, and SPPL staff will work with students who have lost materials to read down any fees. Students who already have a SPPL card will be issued a new card and their old card will remain active. For more information, please visit www.librarygo.org.

In Minnesota, the following information about students is directory (public) information:

• Name
• Birth Dates
• Grade
• School

Additionally, the following information is designated as directory information only for Minnesota State Libraries:

• Address
• Home Phone
• Unique student ID#
• School email address

Families have the choice to opt out of this program if they do not want us to share their data with the SPPL system. If you would like to opt your students out of this program, you can do so by completing this google form or by completing the paper form that will be sent home with your child by the deadline of May 13.

Please contact CPA Librarian Kim Michalak (kimm@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4544) with any questions.

High School Student Council presents High School Pop Ups!

Pop Ups are opportunities for students and staff to build community while exploring topics of interest. Pop Ups currently on the calendar include:

• STEM with Ms. Singer, May 7 from 3-5pm
  

• Arts & Crafts with Ms. Bokman, May 10 from 3-5pm

Additional Pop Ups will be shared with students as plans are finalized. There are limited spots available for each Pop Up, and students must sign up in advance. Student Council will share the sign-up process with Ethics classes. For more information, students should connect with their Student Council Reps.

This year's prom will take place on Saturday May 11 at CSPS Hall. Tickets cost $40 each and must be purchased online.

Contact Ms. A (anna.almsted@cpapk12.org) with any questions or to get involved!

Mark your calendars! The 2024 CPA Walk/Run will take place on Saturday May 11 at the Phalen Lake Picnic Pavillion! Check-in begins at 8:30am and the Walk/Run begins at 9:10am.

The CPA Walk/Run is a fun and free event where CPA families and staff gather for fresh air, physical activity, and fun. The event features a 5K Walk/Run, free food, and door prizes. So mark your calendars and join us for the 2024 CPA Walk/Run!

8th grade students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

S-EBT is a federally funded program that provides families with school-aged children who qualify for free or reduced eligibility with $40 per child (up to $120) during each of the the summer months to purchase healthy foods while school is not in session. More information about the program is available through MDE.

All CPA families who completed the Application for Educational Benefits this year and qualify for free or reduced price lunches will automatically be enrolled in the S-EBT program. Please make sure that household contact information is up-to-date in Parent VUE, including parent or guardian name, address, and phone number. Contact Bonnie Johnson (bonniej@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4587) if any updates are needed.

If you did not complete an Application for Educational Benefits this year, you can do so by visiting SchoolPay or by contacting Bonnie Johnson to request a paper copy (bonniej@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4587). You will receive a letter after approximately 10 business days letting you know if your child qualifies.

Attention CPA families! Summer is just around the corner, and there are many programs available for kids and teens in our area, including day camps, classes, athletics, and jobs for teens. Check out these opportunities to see what might be a good fit to keep your child engaged this summer! Please note: CPA is not in charge of any of these programs, and CPA staff will not be present.

Programming Opportunities:

• 30,000 Feet Arts & Reading Summer Camp 30,000 Arts and Reading Summer Camp is a free daytime program for K-3rd grade youth that will include reading help, arts training, and field trips. For more information contact Vanessa at 651-210-3454.

• SPPS Summer Learning Programs SPPS Summer Learning Programs help students strengthen academic and social emotional skills, discover new talents, and recover high school credits. All programs are free and include academic support and enrichment, breakfast and lunch, and transportation. Registration is open.

• SPPS Community Education Summer Camps & Classes Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education offers a variety of programming opportunities, including full day summer camps, aquatics, drivers education, STEM, Arts and Music, and more.

• St. Paul Parks & Recreation Summer Camps & Activities Saint Paul Parks and Recreation offers summer camps and activities at parks and recreation centers throughout the city.

Teen Employment Opportunities:

• St. Paul Parks and Recreation Summer Jobs Saint Paul Parks and Recreation has many full and part time positions available at parks, rec centers, pools, golf courses, athletic complexes, Phalen Park Beach, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory and more. Entry level positions are available for ages 15 and up.

• Tree Trust Youth ages 14-21 are able to earn and learn through hands-on experience working on outdoor construction and landscape projects in local parks and green spaces.

• Summer Youth Corps Summer Youth Corps is an overnight, residential summer work program for youth, ages 15-18, led by AmeriCorps members, ages 19-35. Crew members live, work, and play together based at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN from early-July to mid-August. In addition to paid work to conserve natural spaces and improve parks throughout Minnesota and neighboring states, youth receive environmental education and professional development skills training.
  

Families, educators, and students (grades 8–12): Do you have ideas about how the statewide assessment results, like the MCA, could be shared with the public and school and district staff?

The Minnesota Department of Education is beginning the process of redesigning the statewide assessment reports. This includes evaluating how student results are organized and communicated (including the labels like "does not meet” or “exceeds" the standards, and what the reports will look like for new academic standards). The redesigned reports will be seen for the first time in summer and fall 2025.

Please take the survey to share your experience. It should take no longer than 15 minutes. The survey is now open for submissions until May 19. Responses are completely anonymous.

tinyurl.com/state-testing-survey

Your voice is important to this process. We appreciate your time and consideration.

Please reach out to mde.testing@state.mn.us with any questions or concerns about the survey or feedback process.

Mark Your Calendars: CPA students and families are invited to join us for CPA's 2024-2025 All School Meet the Teacher Day on August 22 between the hours of 11am-2pm and 4-7pm!

This is an opportunity to meet teachers and staff, explore classrooms, connect with classmates, purchase uniforms, and ask any questions you have about athletics, transportation, special education, lunch, chaperoning field trips, volunteering, or anything else related to the 2024-2025 school year. See you there!

Plan ahead so your family is ready for fall 2024! Before attending school, students in preschool, kindergarten, 7th grade, and 12th grade must have certain documentation on file in the CPA office.

• Families of preschool and kindergarten students must submit proof of a Birth Certificate, an Early Childhood Screening, and an Immunization Record.
• Families of 7th grade students must submit proof of an additional Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) booster and a Meningococcal immunization.
• Families of 12th grade students must submit proof of a second Meningococcal immunization.

If you have questions, please contact the school office.

The CPA Board of Directors approved and published the 2024-2025 Calendar. You can access the calendar here or by clicking on the download below.

CPA students are expected to in uniform every day for school. Families, please help ensure your children are wearing proper uniform clothing each day.

All students must wear:

• A CPA shirt as the outermost layer
• Blue, Black, Khaki or Gray Solid Color Pants or Shorts
• OR Girls’ Navy Uniform Jumper, Skirt or Skort (elementary only)

Please review the full uniform policy in our Family Handbook for further details. Thank you!

The CPA Athletics Department has new shirts for sale in the CPA office!

The shirts feature the CPA Athletics logo and cost $20 for adult sizes and $15 for youth sizes. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go toward the CPA Athletics department. Thanks for your support! GO TIGERS!

CPA uniform shirts can be purchased through the office. Anyone who is interested in additional uniform clothing options is encouraged to visit CPA's Online Spiritwear Store to personalize and order CPA apparel and accessories. Discount codes change frequently but are visible on the spirit store website.

Please Note: Names on any student apparel must be your last name only. If the name on your apparel is not your last name, the item is considered out of uniform and you will not be allowed to wear the item during the school day.

CPA now partners with SchoolNow to contact families with important updates, including school cancellations, weather alerts, event reminders, Tiger Talk newsletters, and more. SchoolNow is the best way to stay engaged with your child's CPA experience!

Visit the SchoolNow website (https://www.schoolnow.com/get-started/comofpeace) and sign in with your email address or phone number. You can also download the SchoolNow app to stay even more connected!

Please let us know if your child is absent from school. Families can report absences in any of the following ways:

• Elementary School Attendance Line: 651-280-4534
• Middle School Attendance Line: 651-289-3740
• High School Attendance Line: 651-280-4535
• Email: CPAAttendance@cpapk12.org
• Attendance Online Form: Available through the CPA Website

CPA is partnering again this year with Every Meal to provide weekend food bags for interested students/families. The Every Meal program is available to everyone, regardless of income. You can register by filling out this form or contacting Sadie Fischer at sadief@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4564.

This newsletter can be auto-translated using the buttons on the top right of the page.

If you prefer, our liaisons will be happy to translate or explain any announcements in Tiger Talk or answer any questions you have about CPA. Contact Maikao Lee at 651-280-4545 (Hmong), Mariana Majil at 651-289-3742 (Spanish), or Paw Nay Bu at 651-280-4591 (Karen) for support.

Teaching Peace. Building Community. Developing Character.

Email: connect@cpapk12.org
Website: cpapk12.org
Location: 471 Magnolia Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-776-5151
Facebook: facebook.com/CPATigers