Principal's Newsletter

Happy Black History Month and Happy Groundhog Day Packer Families,

February 1st was National Freedom Day, commemorating the date in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln signed what would later be known as the 13th Amendment which ended slavery. February 1st is also the beginning of Black History Month. Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded Black History Month in 1926 as a way to ensure the contributions, power, brilliance, and resilience of Black people are never forgotten. Years before Dr. Woodson helped center Black history as a national narrative to better educate the public; he garnered philanthropic and intellectual support to share, teach and send out Black histories to groups around the country. He had been barred from being a dues paying member of the American Historical Association in 1915 and watched many other African American scholars' contributions to their respective fields be overlooked, ignored, suppressed and outright erased. In response he started his own historical scholarly journal and association focused on the history and culture of African American life. In addition, he wanted to ensure that anti-literacy and laws criminalizing Black education were not successful. These efforts led to him being known as the "father of Black history" and what would eventually become Black History month in February in honor of Abolitionist Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays.

Groundhog Day Update: Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow which means the groundhog has predicted we will have an early spring this year (did we have a winter?)

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! 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.

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!

ACCESS testing began this week and will continue through March 22. We are committed to serving our EL students with language development support at their level and ACCESS testing provides us with important data to support instruction and program design.

The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is meeting on Monday, Feb. 5 from 5:00-6:30 pm at Central Square.

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.

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.

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

Here is some new information about due dates.

1. Senior baby photos have been extended to February 2nd!

   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

      3. You will be asked to place a "recognition ad"

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. As of 1/23, we have 10 yearbooks left. Order by Friday to make sure you get one this 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

February 7- W.I.N .WEDNESDAY

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

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, 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