Principal's Newsletter

Happy start to Thanksgiving Break Packer Families,

Just a reminder that there is no school for our students on Wednesday (11.22), Thursday (11.23), or Friday (11.24). To help us celebrate the start of our Thanksgiving Break, the girls hockey team will be celebrating all that have served our nation. Tonight (11.21.23) is military appreciation night at the girls hockey game. All current and former military personnel will get in free.

Trimester 1 is almost over! After the Thanksgiving break we will start final exams. I have included the final exam schedule below so you can have a conversation with your student about preparing for their finals. I tried to simplify the schedule by separating the exams by date, grade level, and class.

Remember, if your student is going to be absent, please (651) 457-9415 to let us know. We would really appreciate it.

Have a fantastic weekend, Happy Thanksgiving, and 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.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is all about counting our blessings and sharing a meal with loved ones. It is not about presents and shopping and commercialism. In our plugged in, high-tech world, Thanksgiving is a time when we can focus on the truly important things in life: spending time with those we love and taking stock of all we have to be grateful for. It is a time to embrace traditions, both old and new, and to celebrate our families, both the ones we are born into and the ones we choose. Many families choose to use Thanksgiving as a time to bless others who are less fortunate, by sharing their own bounty. While living our busy day-to-day lives and dealing with the problems that our too common in our society, a poor economy, unemployment, or health issues, it's easy to forget about the good things in our lives: our families, our friends, our pets and our homes. There are precious few days in a year when we can simply spend time with those we love. Thanksgiving offers the perfect moment to pause and reflect on all that's happened through the spring and summer and to enjoy the warmth of those who will see us through the coming year.

November 22-24: NO SCHOOL- Thanksgiving Break

November 27-30: Final Exams

November 30: End of Trimester 1

December 1: NO SCHOOL- Staff Development/Teacher Grading Day

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11/27/23

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12th grade:

IB Chemistry 2

Combination of grades:

FACS 9/10 Day 2

IB Analysis & Approaches SL1

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11/28/23

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9th grade:

Honors Intro to Lit 9/Intro to Lit 9

10th grade:

Intermediate Algebra

American Lit 10/Honors American Lit 10

US History

11th grade:

IB Spanish SL

IB French 4

Chemistry-Kaufman's classes

12th grade:

Personal Finance

Sports Marketing

Accounting

IB visual arts

Combination of grades:

FACS 9/10 Day 1

IB Business

Store Management

French 2

EL: 1, 2, Newcomers

Ceramics 1

Multimedia Arts

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11/29/23

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Combination of grades:

PE

Human Performance

Team Sports

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11/30/23

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9th grade:

Geometry

Spanish 2

Western Civ

10th grade:

Spanish 3

US History

Biology

11th grade:

IB Modern European History

General Chemistry- Rock's class

IB Chemistry 1

Global Studies

12th grade:

IB 20th Century World History

Survey of Math Topics & IB SL 2

Civics & Economics

English 12 and IB 2

Combination of grades:

Culinary 1

Physics

Advanced Algebra

IB Biology

Anatomy & Physiology

Heritage Spanish

Advanced Algebra

Painting and printmaking

While we seem to be in a nice fall weather pattern these last few weeks, it’s still important for you to review the information listed below so you are prepared in the event an emergency closing is declared for South St. Paul Public Schools. All this information can also be found on our website at www.sspps.org/newsroom/emergency-closing. If you have any questions, please contact your school office.

• Policy 307 - Emergency Closing of Schools - Every effort will be made to make school closing or late start decisions by 5:30 a.m. with communication to staff and families following shortly after. All unscheduled school closings, late starts and early dismissals due to severe weather or other emergencies, will be communicated with staff and families through the district’s:

• Messaging system (email, text, and voice if necessary);

• Website (sspps.org);

• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

• WCCO-AM Radio (830)

• WCCO (Channel 4)

• KSTP (Channel 5)

• FOX 9 KMSP; and

• KARE 11

To ensure your family is receiving important messages from SSPPS, please login to your Campus Parent Portal to review and update your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.) and other preferences (i.e. primary language). Families needing to create a Campus Parent Portal Account, click here. Families having trouble accessing their Campus Parent Portal Account, contact the SSPPS Tech Help Department at ParentTechHelp@sspps.org or (651) 457-9458.

Flexible Learning Plans - South St. Paul Public Schools will utilize Flexible Learning Days to provide continuity of learning in the event of inclement weather, emergency closings and other preplanned circumstances. When an emergency closing occurs, your child’s school will communicate specific details around the learning plan for that given day

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

1. Senior photos are open until December 15th!
1. Senior portraits can be submitted through the link attached to this letter.
1. Requirements for senior photos are included in the attached link

1. Senior baby photos are open until January 20th!
1. These are an additional $40.00 and include:
1. A baby photo of your senior published in the yearbook
2. A personalized note to your senior to be published alongside the baby photo
2. Yearbook orders are open until January 26th!
1. Each book is $65.00
2. For an additional cost, families can personalize their yearbooks and purchase additional accessories to help commemorate the school year.
3. Athletics and Activities Photo submissions open!
1. There is now a drop-box for families, coaches, and advisors to submit photos for the yearbook
2. 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!
4. Links: Links are also available on the district website under the yearbook tab
1. Purchase the 23-24 yearbook
2. Submit Senior Photos
3. Submit Baby Photos
4. Submit Activities and Athletics Photos for the 23-24 Yearbook

Please reach out to Hannah O’Brien with any questions at hobrien@sspps.org

There is a vaping epidemic in this country, especially among teens. This is not only an SSP High School problem, but in every high school in America. I believe it is such an issue because our youth do not understand the true dangers of vaping. In fact, every day over 3,500 youth start vaping. In 2018 alone, the number of high school students who vape nearly doubled.

Please check out the videos (they are short).

Vaping 101: What Parents/Guardians Need to Know- part 1

Vaping 101 What Parents/Guardians Need to Know- part 2

Vaping 101 for Parents/Guardians Need to Know- part 3

Vaping 101 for Parents/Guardians Need to Know- part 4

As the cold weather starts to become the norm, I want to remind you about some of the practices we have at SSP High School about dropping your student off before school and picking your student up after school:

• The doors to the building open at 7:30 AM (on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday) and 9:15 AM on Wednesday. 7:30/9:15 is when our staff is ready to assist and supervisor your student.

• Students need to be dropped off on 2nd street at door 4.

• If you are picking up your student, please understand that our doors are locked at 2:45 PM and that your student will need to be picked up by 2:45 PM. Please plan on picking your student up on 2nd Street.

Students who are earning a C or lower will need to attend W.I.N. Wednesday and come into school to get help in their classes. Students who are earning a C+ and above may work from home if they have their parent/guardian permission to work from home. You may always send your student to school.

All 9th graders will be required to come to school for every W.I.N. Wednesday for Trimester 1, regardless of their grades. Wednesday is still for additional support or extensions, but we really want to teach the 9th grade students how to be students.

10th grader students must come to school if they are earning a C or lower in any class. 10th grade students that are coming in for W.I.N. Wednesday must attend all their classes, no matter their grade in their classes.

11th/12th grader students must come in for the class/es that they are earning a C or lower in. Depending on their class schedule and the time of their classes, 11th/12th grader students that choose to come late or leave early must sign in and out of the high school attendance office if they choose not to attend the entire day (this is only for W.I.N. Wednesday).

Teachers will create 2 W.I.N. Wednesday folders for each week: C and lower (for Additional support), C+ and higher (extension) so your student will have work they need to complete both at home or in school.

Want some new Packer Spirit Wear to wear at our events, around town, or just at home?

Here is the link: https://shop.game-one.com/minnesota/south-saint-paul/south-st-paul-packers

Password is: packers

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/

We're looking for people interested in part-time work with the school district. Flexible, daytime hours for you to work while your student is in school. We are currently hiring for a variety of positions including, but not limited to: Lunch room, maintenance, student supervisors, paraprofessionals, and more. Click on the link below to view all openings and to apply.

View Open Positions and Apply

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