Principal's Newsletter
South St. Paul High School Weekly: February 9, 2024
From the Principal's office!
Happy Friday Packer Families,
Did you see the snow today? The flurries? I love winter and I love snow! I grew up on the East Coast, mostly in the state of Virginia, and after living here for almost 30 years, I have become accustomed to, crave, and love winter. And now I am missing winter. Funny, because last year, at this time, I wrote in the Principal's Newsletter that: "You know what was awesome? Having students and staff back in the building today. After the last two days of e-learning (which I rapidly remembered why I do not like it) hearing the students talk and laugh in the hallway was fantastic. Just watching everyone reconnect in person was just great! To think we did e-learning for a longer periods of time is mind-blowing!" Do you remember all the snow we had last year? Do you remember those E-Learning days? Yeah, maybe I don't miss winter that much.
For Your Information: We are rapidly closing in on the end of Trimester 2. There are only 17 school days left in Trimester 2. That's right, 17 school days left in Trimester 2. Can you believe how fast the year is going? With only 17 days left in Trimester 2, 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 weekend?
- What do you need to do to finish the trimester strong?
- How can I support you?
If your student needs any additional support to complete Trimester 2 successfully, please make sure to send them in on W.I.N. (G.S.D.) Wednesday or have them stay after school for Homework Help (see below).
Last, I would like to highlight a Free Educational Conference for Parents and Caregivers of Children Living with Mental Illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness will be providing a free workshop on Saturday, February 10th (more details in the link). This is a great opportunity for any parents/caregivers of children living with mental illness to learn more about childhood grief and loss, suicide prevention, trauma, and more. Below you will find the link to more information. Link to NAMI Free Educational Conference Information
Have an awesome weekend! Thanks for all the support you give your student and the school! 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
Packer Pride: Today. Tomorrow. Forever.
National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID)
As part of our observation of Black History Month, South St. Paul High School will be celebrating National African American Parent Involvement Day on Monday, February 12th. This event is intended to provide parents with an opportunity to learn more about their student’s academic experience and to become increasingly involved with their education.
Our observation of this day at SSP High School will include:
- 10:15-11:00 AM- student presentations in the media center classroom
- 11:00-11:54 AM- shadow students in their class
- 12:01-12:30- Lunch with the Principal in the media center classroom
All parents of African American students are encouraged to join us in our celebration!
Durable Minds
Attention Parents/Guardians of all Students Involved in Athletics and Activities
The South St Paul Activities department is excited to announce an exciting opportunity for our students that participate in athletics and activities. The Activities Department, through the Education Foundation, has secured a partnership with Durable Minds to provide mental health training to our students. Durable Minds believes in “linking an athlete's mental game to their physical game”.
It is no secret that Mental health concerns in students that participate in athletics and activities are more prevalent now than ever before. Many students connect their self-esteem and self-worth to their playing time, ranking, and success. Students that participate in athletics and activities are under tremendous pressure as they are constantly evaluated by coaches, advisors, judges, scouts, teammates, and rival organizations. This pressure leads to increased levels of anxiety on and off the field.
The activities department will be offering an initial Durable Minds Foundation Workshop. In the Foundations Workshop, We empower students to be aware of the Factors that may be productively or destructively Influencing their performance, provide each student with tools to self-regulate under the stressor of competition and to assist them in building an ever evolving behavioral commitment plan that helps ensure successful outcomes.
REGISTRATION
National Honor Society
If you have a junior or senior with a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or above and if they are interested in becoming a member of the National Honor Society, the student must attend one of the two NHS informational meetings being held on Thursday, February 9th in the Stock Exchange. The meetings are at 7:15 AM and 2:35 PM. Current NHS members do not need to reapply.
FYI – NHS Application Requirements
In order to apply for the National Honor Society, the following criteria must be met:
- Must be a junior or senior with a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or above
- Important: If your cumulative GPA drops below 3.000 due to late entered grades for SSP coursework or PSEO semester classes, you will not meet the academic eligibility requirements for NHS membership and are no longer eligible to apply.
- No chemical/conduct violations
- Must be of good character
- 50 hours of documented community service during the school year, which does include the summer prior to the start of the school year.
- Approximately one page typed paper documenting prior and present leadership responsibilities.
- Three letters of recommendation from non-family members that attest to your character. One letter must be from a non-school employee.
COVID-19 update
Reminder - Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least 5 days from the onset of symptoms or test date (asymptomatic) and can return when fever free for 24 hours (without fever reducing medication). Following symptom improvement and return, individuals must wear a mask (not shield) for days 6-10 OR individuals may remove their mask sooner than day 10 with two sequential negative antigen tests 48 hours apart. See MN Department of Health Guidance for further details.
Not receiving updates from the high school or district?
Please make sure to update your contact Information.
In order to receive important information regarding school closings and family messages, make sure your contact information is correct in our student information system, Infinite Campus- Parent Portal. To do so:
Log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account
Click on the user menu icon in the upper left hand side of the screen
Click on Settings
Click on Contact Preferences
Check to make sure all information is correct and preferences are updated
ParentSquare Communications
South St. Paul Public Schools uses ParentSquare for school to home communications. When the need for an emergency school closing arises, this is the system that will alert you.
One of the best ways to receive these alerts is by downloading the app from the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store
Look in your ParentSquare account settings and be sure you HAVE NOT turned off notifications from your student’s school or the district, directions here
Check your phone settings and be sure you are not blocking unknown calls, or you can add SSPPS as a contact in your phone 651-457-9400
If you have not been receiving school texts, you many have accidentally opted out from receiving them, to start them back up send the word "START" to 66458 to opt back in
New Information and updates about the 23-24 yearbook
Here is some new information about due dates.
- Senior baby photos have been extended to February 2nd!
These are an additional $40.00 and include:
A baby photo of your senior published in the yearbook
A personalized note to your senior to be published alongside the baby photo
You will be asked to place a "recognition ad"
- Yearbook orders are open until February 29th!
Each book is $65.00
For an additional cost, families can personalize their yearbooks and purchase additional accessories to help commemorate the school year.
As of 1/23, we have 10 yearbooks left. Order by Friday to make sure you get one this year!
- Athletics and Activities Photo submissions open!
There is now a drop-box for families, coaches, and advisors to submit photos for the yearbook
Have a great photo of your student participating in a school activity? Submit it to our dropbox and we may feature it on one of our pages!
- Links: Links are also available on the district website under the yearbook tab
*Please reach out to Hannah O'Brien with any questions at hobrien@sspps.org
Important upcoming dates:
February 12- NAAPID Celebration
- 10:15-11:00 AM- student presentations in the media center classroom
- 11:00-11:54 AM- shadow students in their class
- 12:01-12:30- Lunch with the Principal in the media center classroom
February 14- W.I.N .WEDNESDAY
February 19- NO SCHOOL
February 21- W.I.N .WEDNESDAY
February 28-W.I.N .WEDNESDAY
March 6- W.I.N .WEDNESDAY
March 7- End of Trimester 2
March 8- No School
Weekly Activity HOME Schedule
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
If your family is experiencing homelessness...
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/
Need to contact me?
Email: cochocki@sspps.org
Website: https://www.sspps.org
Location: 700 2nd Street North, South Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-457-9402
