Principal's Newsletter

Happy Frigid Friday Packer Families,

Today was a real reminder of what winter in Minnesota can be like. Cold...real cold! With the winter weather forecast, I think it is a great idea to remind all families about our Emergency Closing Procedures and to make sure we can get in contact with you.

Emergency Closing Reminders

With the predicted cold weather and possible snow in the coming days, it’s important for families to review South St. Paul Public Schools Emergency Closing Procedures and ensure we are able to contact you in the event of a closure.

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

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. In the event of an emergency closing, all students in grades PreK-Adult Education have flex learning plans available on the Flex Learning Plans Webpage (or see below for the high school plan).

Have a nice long weekend (No school on Monday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), stay warm, 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.

Please look for an email on Tuesday, 1.16.24, from teachers inviting you to our winter Student/Family Connect (conferences). We will be using ParentSquare to sign up for conferences so please make sure contact information is correct. Thank you!

The High School Mental Health Team would like to share with you that the National Alliance on Mental Illness will be providing a free workshop on Saturday, February 10th (more details below). 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​​​

Kindergarten Registration Night is coming up Tuesday, January 23 at 6:00 pm. Families can register their student on-site, ask questions, and learn more about the school, administrators, and teachers. Bring your kindergartener to see the classrooms, meet their future teachers, and play with friends.

Click here for more information.

In order to keep Yearbook prices down this year we had to pre-order a number of books. We only have 34 Yearbooks left at the $65.00 cost (the pre-order price). Order now to get your yearbook at the lowest cost possible.

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

January 15- No School- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 17- W.I.N .WEDNESDAY

January 24- W.I.N .WEDNESDAY

January 25- Student-Family Connect (conferences) from 3:30-7:30

January 26- Digital Learning day for grades 9-12

W.I.N. Wednesday will start this week. Wednesday is NOT a late start. Doors will open at 7:30 AM and first period will starting at 7:50 AM.

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.

9th and 10th grader students must come to school if they are earning a C or lower in any class. 9th and 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 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

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

Emergency Flexible Learning Days will occur when the district or a specific school must close due to inclement weather. Students will learn from home through a variety of lessons posted and communicated through the student’s teacher(s).

If an Emergency Flexible Learning Day is called, SSP High School will do the following:

1. Teachers will have assignments ready and released at 9:00 AM.

2. Emergency Flexible Learning day assignments will be linked in the agenda/in a folder/on calendar.

• Assignment needs to be completed by the end of day (3:00 PM)
• Attendance will be determined based on the assignments completed by 3:00 PM

3. Teachers will hold office hours 10:00- 12:00 PM and monitoring/responding to emails and Schoology messages until 3:00 PM

If we need to call three or more consecutive Emergency Flexible Learning Days students will attend school virtually via Google Meet (details below).

• Google Meets Code: Can be found in the Schoology folders for each class
• Day 1/Day 2: Classes will continue to be every other day
• Attendance: will be taken by teachers in the Google Meet
• Google Meet schedule can be found below.

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