Principal's Newsletter

Happy Wednesday of M.E.A. Break Packer Families,

I know, your thinking that this newsletter is always at 3:00 PM on Friday, what gives? Today is the last day of the school week because of the M.E.A. Break and I will be taking a couple of vacation days to hang out with my family, hence the early addition of Principal's Newsletter.

You may know (or not know) that I create a video for our Tuesday Connections class. The videos, called Tik Takie with Ochocki, are often created around items that are happening in school and are designed to help us focus on our task at hand; doing school.

This past Tuesday's Tik Takie with Ochocki introduced a contest for our 1st hour classes. I shared with the students that in the first 27 days of school we had 679 tardies. That is not okay! We want and need our students in class on time. It is one of our major goals for this school year (see below for more details).

So we are hosting a competition between 1st hours classes. The 1st hour class with the statistically least amount of tardies for the two week period (10.23.23-11.2.23) will win a breakfast. Staff and students seem really excited about this competition. In fact, students were already talking about what they want for their breakfast.

Starting on Monday, please do not be surprised if your high school student is in the car and ready to go because they want to help earn the breakfast party with their 1st hour classes. If you want to watch the video, here is the link to watch the Tik Takie with Ochocki . Thank you for supporting your student and the school, I always appreciate it.

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 LONG 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.

October 19-20- NO SCHOOL; M.E.A. Break

October 25- W.I.N. Wednesday and Late Start- doors open at 9:15 AM

October 26- Fire Drill #5 at 8:00 AM

October 26- Empowering Families Workshop (see below for more information)

October 27- Lockdown Drill #4 at 1:40 PM

October 30- Lockdown Drill #5 at 7:55 AM

One of our goals this year is to lower the total number of students that are tardy to class. We have shared with the students the importance of being to class on time by sharing our Lesson Design with them. The Lesson Design calls for an opening activity for each class. This opening activity is meant to prepare the students for the learning that is going to take place by stimulating the brain. In addition to the activity, the opening, the Lesson Design model we created (see below) calls for the students to activate prior knowledge around the learning, preview knowledge and to tie the opening activity to the learning target. All of this provides a roadmap of the lesson. It is a lot to cover in the first couple of minutes of class and that is why it is so important to have students in class when the bell rings.

How can you help? We have noticed a reduction in students tardy to class for class periods 2-6, when the students are in our building. We have not been able to reduce the number of tardies for period 1 for the students that are dropped off or drive themselves. The school doors open at 7:15 AM (on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) with 1st period starting at 7:50 AM. The doors open at 9:15 AM (on Wednesday) with 1st period beginning at 9:30 AM.

If you are dropping your student off please make sure to drop them off with enough time to grab breakfast, stop at their locker, and make it to class on time. If your student drives, please remind them to leave for school with enough time to grab breakfast, stop at their locker, and make it to class on time. I really appreciate your support. I do not want any of our students to miss the very beginning of the class because it sets up the entire class period.

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

Dakota County Technical College TRIO Upward Bound along with Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College are hosting a FREE Empowering Families Workshop to our school communities. The event is primarily designed for current high school students and their parents/guardians, but it is open to all ages.

The event includes:

• Family-friendly activities
• A Parents Preparing to Pay for College workshop
• Information sessions on TRIO Upward Bound, help completing our online application and scheduling an intake interview
• Door prizes
• Dinner

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