Online High School Happenings

Our teachers and staff will be sharing classroom highlights, student celebrations, helpful resources, and important information via this newsletter every month. We hope you enjoy reading about all of the amazing things happening at the Online High School!

Main Phone Line: 651-325-2588

Address: 780 W Wheelock Pkwy, Saint Paul, MN 55117

SPPS high schools utilize Schoology as their learning platform. To access Schoology and view your students' progress, please follow the steps in the Family Guide to Schoology.

Please report all student absences to the attendance line by calling 651-744-4711 or emailing oss.attendance@spps.org

Starting in January, we are partnering with EveryMeal to provide an option for families to pick up a bag of food with shelf staples on Fridays at Como Park Elementary between 11-2 at the small parking lot entrance of Door 6. Families must fill out this survey to be eligible to pick up a bag of food. Bags will not be available other days of the week unless there is an appointment scheduled with an SPPS Online staff member. Please call Stephanie Abbas at 612-548-1841 with questions.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) is coming up at SPPS Online School in April 2025 for students in grades 10, 11, and Biology! You will be getting more information via US postal and email. Testing is done in-person at Como Park Elementary from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Your child is required to come for testing! Please complete the Parent Response Google Form to verify your child’s attendance for MCA testing.

Parent Response Google Form: Please, click here to access the Google Form

To help your child prepare for MCA testing, you can use the link(s) below:

https://srt.testnav.com/mn/mn-srt.html

https://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/readiness-tools/

If your child does not come for testing, please complete the Non Participation Refusal Form for each child and email it to sppsonlineschool.testing@spps.org.

Non Participation Refusal Form:

Once the Parent response Google Form is completed and/or the Non-Participation Refusal Form is completed, we will stop communicating with you to complete these required forms.

If you have any questions, you can contact Belinda Vang at 651-744-2081 or email sppsonlineschool.testing@spps.org.

We are thrilled to announce that three of our outstanding students—Jeff Vang, Mariah Angon, and Kelly Yang—have been selected as finalists in the prestigious ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge! This incredible competition, which is open to students in grades 3-12, offers participants the opportunity to create innovative solutions to real challenges faced by zookeepers and staff at the Minnesota Zoo.

This year’s challenge focused on developing enrichment or exhibit design solutions for the white-cheeked gibbons at the zoo, blending science, math, creativity, and problem-solving skills to come up with unique designs.

Out of over 4300 students and 1370 design solutions, only 121 projects were chosen to be presented to Zoo staff and engineers from Flint Hills Resources. We are incredibly proud to share that our students’ designs have earned them a spot among the best of the best!

Winners will be chosen on March 7 during the ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge Exhibition Week. Best of luck to Jeff, Mariah, and Kelly—we are rooting for you!

Students in Spanish are competing in the international Locura de Marzo music competition. Each day students listen to two songs and vote on which they would like to see advance. Music connects all cultures and languages. It also gives students individual connection, passion and excitement for language learning.

Click these links to access the playlists: Spotify Playlist & YouTube Playlist

Before we know it, it will be time to register for classes for 25-26. Business classes are always practical and relevant where students learn concepts and skills that will prepare them for the work world after high school. This month’s spotlight will be on Entrepreneurship and Marketing!

In Entrepreneurship, students will look at needs in their community and brainstorm business solutions for those needs. Students will go through the creation of a business model from ideation to funding to finding suppliers and identifying customers. Students will learn about all the aspects of starting and running a business–whether that is starting a boutique on the corner or developing the next hottest phone app.

In Marketing, students learn how businesses find customers and keep them. Students learn from real businesses about product development, pricing, packaging, advertising, and where to sell their products. We will develop store floor layouts that entice customers in and help make the sale! We will create ads for print, video, and social media. We will create unboxing experiences for online shoppers and how to launch a new product.

Strength & Fitness Training is the required Physical Education course for graduation at our school! If your student is in this class, they need to be exercising 3 days per week, for at least 30 minutes each day. This can be done through a combination of in-class workouts, Exercise Club, and choice activities (sports, walking, going to the gym, etc.). Consider joining your student once per week for their workouts!

Every month, SPPS Online High School teachers and staff nominate and select one Student of the Month from each grade level. Students can be selected based on a variety of criteria, including:

• Academic excellence and/or improvement
• Positively supporting and assisting peers
• Embracing a growth-mindset
• Completing particularly creative, insightful, and/or meaningful projects
• Helping build a welcoming school climate

Congratulations to our January Students of the Month; we appreciate you!

• 9th Grade: Zion Hoskins
• 10th Grade: Ariana Thao
• 11th Grade: Mariah Valtierra
• 12th Grade: Sincere Mason

Congratulations to OHS senior Jordan Sweeney for winning his third SPPS conference wrestling title! Jordan represents Harding High School in competition.

Did you know that SPPS Online Students can participate in SPPS athletics? Students participate with their home brick-and-mortar school. CLICK HERE to access the contact information for the SPPS Athletic Directors, and contact the correct person based on your student's home school.

Spring Sports Registration is upon us! Check out the flyer below for the sports that are offered and more information about how to register. Please contact Ms. Malmer (alyssa.malmer@spps.org) if you have any questions.

Bus Info: The bus will pick students up at from Como Park Elementary (Online School Offices) and drop off students at 1:00pm. All students are responsible for transportation to and from Online School Offices: 780 W Wheelock Pkwy #1315, St Paul, MN 55117

Classes: Students will miss a day of class and will need to make up the work.

Lunch: We will provide Domino’s Pizza

Meet the Team

Showing up is often the hardest part, but it's also the most important. Life doesn’t always reward you for being the best or the smartest, but it does reward you for being present and taking action. Every small task you complete, every time you show up, is a step forward. It’s the consistency and commitment, even on the days that feel tough or unimportant, that ultimately moves you toward your goals. Progress isn’t always linear, but when you keep showing up, you create momentum that pushes you toward the success you want to build. Your actions, no matter how small, shape your future and make all the difference. So keep showing up, keep doing, and trust that each step counts. Effort matters and you get zero points for everything you don’t submit!

Don’t forget you have built in help during Student Academic Support on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays!

Physical Activity Ideas

Many young people lack access to in-person physical activity and/or experience discrimination and intimidation in these spaces.

Through their research and conversations with young people, Assistant Professor Sarah Kaja, PhD, and her team concluded that free, online exercise videos could offer fun and safety for all. Yet, many health professionals don't like to recommend typical exercise videos to their adolescent patients because they perpetuate harmful norms pertaining to gender, ability, race, and body size.

Designed with and for young people, the Move + Thrive physical activity videos break new ground by prioritizing inclusivity and diversity. Plus, they're fun!

The program is a partnership of the University of Minnesota's Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health (Medical School), Children's Minnesota, and Indiana University School of Medicine.

iPad Help Form

Do you have additional tech questions? Contact Joshua using one of the methods below:

612-699-4161 / joshua2.thao@spps.org‬

Request an in-person appointment with Joshua

• March 5: Conferences
• March 7: No School (Teacher Professional Development Day)
• March 13: Minnesota History Center Field Trip
• March 31-April 4: No School (Spring Break)