Principal's Newsletter

Happy Friday Packer Families,

13 is the magic number (and Taylor Swift's lucky number). 13! As I shared with students this week, there are only 13 school days left in Trimester 2. That's right, 13 school days left in Trimester 2. Can you believe how fast the year is going? With only 13 days left in Trimester 2, please check in with your student and ask them the following questions?

• How has this trimester gone for you?
• Are you happy and/or satisfied with your grades?
• Is there work you could be doing over the long weekend?
• What do you need to do to finish the trimester strong?
• How can I support you?

Together, we can/will get our students across the Trimester 2 finish line!!!

If your student needs any additional support to complete Trimester 2 successfully, please make sure to send them in on W.I.N. (G.S.D.) Wednesday or have them stay after school for Homework Help (see below).

Remember that there is no school on Monday (President's Day) so have an awesome long weekend! Thanks for all the support you give your student and the school! 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.

Instilling healthy habits and routines (adequate sleep/nutrition) and consistent attendance ensures a student’s success in school even as early as kindergarten. We know that too many absences/tardies, for whatever reason, can cause children to fall behind both academically and socially.

To help ensure healthy habits consult with your health care provider regarding well-visits and immunizations, as well as maintain good personal hygiene. Also:

• Get the appropriate vaccines.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Stay home if you are sick (so you do not spread the illness to other people) (do not return to school until fever free for 24hrs without use of medication or 24hrs after last time vomited).
• Use a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand and turn away from other people.
• Use single-use tissues. Dispose of the tissue immediately.
• Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or using tissues.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands (viruses can enter your body from unwashed hands).
• Do not share cups, glasses, dishes, cutlery, or cellphones.

The school district will follow the guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health for recommended exclusion and notification for vaccine-preventable diseases including mumps, measles, rubella, pertussis, diphtheria, viral hepatitis, chickenpox, and meningitis. Families will not be notified, and students are not excluded for lice, mononucleosis, pink eye or strep throat.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me:

Rick Moore BSN, RN, PHN moorer@sspps.org

651-457-9449

This movie night is the same night as the choir concert. If your student is in choir, they can watch the movie on their own and still complete the reflection for extra credit. All reflection forms are due by Sunday, 2/25 at midnight.

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.

Attention Parents/Guardians of all Students Involved in Athletics and Activities

The South St Paul Activities department is excited to announce an exciting opportunity for our students that participate in athletics and activities. The Activities Department, through the Education Foundation, has secured a partnership with Durable Minds to provide mental health training to our students. Durable Minds believes in “linking an athlete's mental game to their physical game”.

It is no secret that Mental health concerns in students that participate in athletics and activities are more prevalent now than ever before. Many students connect their self-esteem and self-worth to their playing time, ranking, and success. Students that participate in athletics and activities are under tremendous pressure as they are constantly evaluated by coaches, advisors, judges, scouts, teammates, and rival organizations. This pressure leads to increased levels of anxiety on and off the field.

The activities department will be offering an initial Durable Minds Foundation Workshop. In the Foundations Workshop, We empower students to be aware of the Factors that may be productively or destructively Influencing their performance, provide each student with tools to self-regulate under the stressor of competition and to assist them in building an ever evolving behavioral commitment plan that helps ensure successful outcomes.

REGISTRATION

Foundations Workshop | All Female Athletes Register Here

Foundations Workshop| All Male Athletes Register Here

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.

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 February 29th!

   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 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/

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