Principal's Newsletter

Happy Friday Packer Families!

Earlier this week I was surprised by the snow that was on the streets, sidewalks, and my car. I was caught a little off guard because the weather has been anything but normal. That all said, the snow will start to fall again, the weather will turn cold again, and the decision to have school during weather emergencies will have to be made. If we need to cancel school for an emergency (for weather) we do not have snow days (like in the past 😪), instead ,we have Emergency Flexible Learning Days.

Emergency Flexible Learning Days

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.

I hope that we never need to use the Google Meet schedule, I do hope that it snows again sometime soon, and I hope you 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.

Just to let you know, winter break will be a No Homework Break. Our teachers are planning on having their classes complete all necessary tasks/assignments/assessments on or before December 22. Like us, our students also need a break. A time to rest, recharge, and re-energize.

December 13: Late Start, NO W.I.N .WEDNESDAY

December 20: Late Start, NO W.I.N .WEDNESDAY

December 25-January 2- Winter Break- No School

January 3- Late Start, NO W.I.N .WEDNESDAY

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 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

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