The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) is coming up at SPPS Online School in April 2025! You will be getting more information via US postal and email. Testing is done in-person at Como Park Elementary from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Your child is required to attend testing! Please complete the Parent Response Google Form to verify whether your child is or is not attending MCA testing.

Parent Response Google Form: Please, click here to access the Google Form

To help your child prepare for MCA testing, you can use the link(s) below:

• https://srt.testnav.com/mn/mn-srt.html

• https://minnesota.pearsonaccessnext.com/readiness-tools/

If your child does not come for testing, please complete the Non Participation Refusal Form for each child and email it to sppsonlineschool.testing@spps.org.

Non Participation Refusal Form:

Once the Parent response Google Form is completed and/or the Non Participation Refusal Form is completed we will stop communicating with you to complete these required forms.

If you have any questions, you can contact Belinda Vang at 651-744-2081 or email sppsonlineschool.testing@spps.org.

Dear OES Parents,

Conferences Update

• March. 7, 2025: NO School Conference Prep

Conference Dates

• Thursday March 27th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

• Friday March 7th. 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Please make sure to attend your child's conferences online. It is a wonderful time to learn how your child is doing in the Online School. Teachers will contact you to schedule a meeting so you can discuss your child's development..

Testing

It's possible that our opinions on testing differ. All of these opinions are valued. We believe that in order to understand how the educational process and learning are occurring, we must assess kids. Once we know how each student is doing, we may design something more difficult for those who are doing well and provide some support for those who need it.

Please send your child for MCA testing.

The Importance of Testing Math, Reading, and Science for Students, Parents, and Teachers

Educational Testing Importance

• Assesses student academic progress.

• Provides parental feedback.

• Guides teacher instruction.

• Serves in math, reading, science.

• Benefits students, parents, teachers.

Tests as a Student's Learning Pathway

• Measures understanding and skill mastery.

• Provides clear academic standing.

• Highlights strengths and areas needing focus.

• Boosts student confidence and engagement.

• Serves as a wake-up call for better study habits.

• Guides students through their learning journey.

Parental Engagement in Education

• Tests provide insight into a child's academic progress.

• Helps parents understand preparedness for future challenges.

• Enables meaningful engagement with a child's education.

• Reinforces learning at home in areas of struggle.

• Facilitates conversations between parents and teachers about student progress and curriculum effectiveness.

• Fosters a supportive learning environment at home and school.

Teaching Benefits of Testing

• Provides data for guiding instructional strategies.

• Identifies student performance trends.

• Tailors teaching methods to diverse student needs.

• Differentiates instruction by creating targeted interventions.

• Evaluates effectiveness of teaching curriculum and methods.

• Enables necessary adjustments to enhance student learning.

Standardized Testing in Education

• Upholds educational standards in math, reading, and science.

• Maintains accountability within the education system.

• Offers benchmarks for schools, ensuring quality education.

• Plays a vital role in educational reform, informing policymakers and guiding resource allocation.

Essentially of Testing in Education

• Provides insight into students' understanding and mastery.

• Serves as a tool for engagement and support.

• Offers valuable data for instruction and accountability.

• Leads to improved educational outcomes.

• Enhances learning experience for all involved.

John Osorio

Assistant Principal

651-744-6368 / john.osorio@spps.org

It is important for your child to show up to class on time everyday. If your child will be absent from class please contact Belinda Vang via phone or email at your earliest convenience.

Attendance Line: 651-744-4707

Attendance Email: oes.attendance@spps.org

How to report an absence:

• Student Name

• Parent Name

• Student # or DOB

• Date(s) of Absence

• Reason for being absent

New newsletter for February and March: 2/20/25 - 3/22/25 Newsletter

Our Kindergarten newsletter shares our theme, the lessons and goals we have throughout the theme, and important dates. It also has links to the Big Skills Document, where you can see exactly what your child should have mastered at this time and a link to our Kindergarten Weekly Photo Drops. Please reach out with any questions, comments or concerns to 651-447-8866.

Check out our First Grade Newsletter here. There is new information on this link weekly!

Click here for the Second Grade Running Newsletter. There is new information on this link weekly!

Dear 3rd Grade Families,

This week in math, we began working with counting money. We reviewed coins and are practicing making change. Practice counting different values of coins with your student at home. In reading, we are working on nonfiction text features such as headings and sidebars. Lastly, we are finally at the last stage of our opinion writing. We had our Publishing Party on Friday to celebrate the end of the writing unit! Here is the link to all published work.

With conferences and Spring Break nearing, we want to make sure that our students stay focused with learning as their goal. Please support your child by checking that they are attending class on time, turning on their cameras, actively participating, and turning in their assignments on time. Also, providing a quiet space that is free from distractions will help your child do their best learning.

Thank you, as always, for supporting your child in their learning.

Ms. Moua

612-564-9783

baokou.moua@spps.org

Dear 4th Grade Families,

Our Regions Research Publishing party was a huge success, and I am so grateful for all of you who attended and celebrated your child and our class together! We will be working on narrative writing and story telling for the next few weeks, and I look forward to seeing our 4th graders express their imaginations and creativity!

In math, we have started talking about decimals and writing fractions as equivalent decimals! Now is a great time to start talking to your child at home about working with money, saving, spending and comparing different amounts of dollars and cents written as decimals and fractions. Tools such as fraction flash cards, a place value chart and a multiplication chart are very helpful for students as they work. I also have videos attached to their assignments in Seesaw if you’d ever like to help them review what they learned from home.

We spent this week exploring Mexico and learning about the culture and history of our southern neighbor! Next week, we will spend our afternoons talking about the genre of Historical Fiction. If you have any books in this genre you’d love to share, let me know!

Our two upcoming field trips

April 9th: We will have MCA Testing at Como in the morning followed by a special lesson from 1-:2:30pm where students will create their own fishing pole to take home with them!

May 14th: We will meet at Como from 8:30-1pm and we will have a 60 minute science lesson in the Planetarium as well as other learning activities with myself and other staff. Lunch will be provided.

Please let me know if your child will be attending so I can give accurate numbers to the school by March 7 so they can order lunches.

Please contact me any time:

612-314-9961

michelle.smith2@stpaul.k12.mn.us

Hello 5th grade families!

This week students have been working hard on multiplying fractions! New reading groups have started and we are in the middle of our poetry unit.

Please be checking seesaw in the “to do” and “in progress” folders to make sure they are empty by the end of school on Friday!

THIS WEEK is our field trip on THURSDAY March 6th, and there is no school on Friday March 7th. Please make sure students who are attending the trip are joining us at Como park elementary at 8:30 am. Please check your email on Monday for more information.

Ms. E

jackelyn.doyle@spps.org

‪(651) 456-8606‬

This week in 2nd grade students learned about the Brave Bessie Coleman as the first African American Woman and First Native American to hold a pilot license. In honor of Bessie bravery, 2nd graders engineered airplanes. Check out 2nd Graders Work

We also read To Be A Drum by Evelyn Coleman, students created their own drum beat and rhyme using Garage Band.

5th Grade continued to prepare for their BizTown field trip next week. This week we discussed profit, revenue, and advertisement.

Kelly Jenson

Kelly.Jenson@spps.org

‪(651) 764-8082‬

First grade artists are creating works from nature this week. They are learning about how artists use a theme and how artists use the primary and secondary to create “mood” in their art. We created Rainbow Fish using all of the colors in patterns. Also, we created Sun and Moon art using “warm” and “cool” colors.

Fourth grade artists worked very hard on their tree house designs. We practiced using Form and Value to make our tree houses have more depth. We also worked on adding details to our art including a foreground and a background. These tree houses are so much fun! The 4th graders really love to draw!

Ms. Haug

jenna.haug@stpaul.k12.mn.us

612-568-5355

It has been a joy teaching PE Class this year to the Online Elementary School! The students are a joy to have! This week we had the 2nd Graders and the 5th Graders in PE Class. We have been doing our workouts and fitness to improve our strength, endurance, balance, and coordination! This upcoming week I will have the 1st Graders, and the 4th Graders in class.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at 651-603-4652 or shaw.wiczek@stpaul.k12.mn.us

Contact me:

Dr. Magalenn Cotton

magalenn.cotton@spps.org

612-615-2145

Hello families! A reminder that special education services with Ms. Deacon are provided in the morning (before lunch) - having your child on time and present is the best way to maximize resource room services. Ms. L. also provides support throughout the afternoon, with homework support from 2 - 3 using the same code as services. Progress reports on IEPs will be shared in November around conference time. brooke.deacon@spps.org

Click here for the class newsletter for February: Zallaps' New Class Newsletter

Ms. Claudia Perez Inzunza (Ms. P.I) and Ms. Sherri Silva work with all English Language Learners in OES Kinder- 5th grade. If you or your child needs support, please contact them via email, calls or text at claudia.perezinzunza@spps.org 651-419-6605

sherri.silva@spps.org 651-252-4470

The OLS MLL Team is continuing to administer the Spanish Language Proficiency evaluation: STAMPS to LCD eligible Spanish speaking students at OES in person at Como Park Elementary School.

Hello everyone! I’m Ms. Steph and I support families that work with Ms. Zallaps and Ms. Deacon. Please call, text or email me with any questions: stephanie.abbas@spps.org or ‪(612) 548-1841‬

Reading groups are in full swing! If your 3rd - 5th grader has a reading group with me, please help them attend daily.

My contact information is: molly.brown@spps.org or 612-568-4212 (call or text).

Please contact Kim Stout for support around family, community, or school stressors. kim.stout@spps.org or (651)401-5595

I'm Maki Love, the school counselor. From now until spring break, students will be learning about colleges and careers.

Have a question or need support?

Email: maki.love@spps.org

Google Voice Text or Call: 612-405-8056

I’m Ms.McConnell, I’m the Navigational Intervention Specialist in the Online Elementary school. Check out my newsletter here.

If you have needs, and may not be sure where to go, contact me at 6126994177 or at Kiowona.mcconnell@stpaul.k12.mn.us.

I’m Ms. Shanaz, the onboarding specialist. If you have questions, please call or text me at (612)568-6624.

Have you ever heard of the “Five a Day” phrase? It is a phrase to encourage us to have at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day. MyPlate.gov reports that “People who eat fruits and vegetables as a part of an overall diet may lower their risk for certain diseases. (https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits).” One serving of fruit includes 1 cup of fresh fruit, ½ cup of dried fruit or 1 cup of fruit juice. You might think that fruit juice would be an easy way to get your serving, but remember to not drink too much because it doesn’t contain the fiber that your body needs. Also, make sure that the label says “100% juice.” One serving of vegetables includes 1 cup of fresh, frozen, cooked, or canned vegetables, 2 cups of leafy salad greens, or 1 cup of 100% vegetable juice.

Please contact Contact Nurse Jenny if you want more information on any other health related topic at 651-419-1219 or Jennifer.martineau@spps.org.

Parenting a child with a disability can feel isolating, and our peer-led virtual support groups provide a welcoming space for connection and understanding. https://familyvoicesofminnesota.org/parent-groups/

Twin Cities PBS is hosting a free community event – a Skillsville Premiere party. The Skillsville curriculum is about career readiness – and in every 11-minute episode, three 8-year-old animated characters learn to solve a challenge through a self-regulation strategy that enhances their executive function skill – all while trying out a new career.

The Skillsville Premiere Party will be at American Indian Magnet School (1075 3rd St E, St Paul, MN 55106) on Saturday March 8. The target audience is families with preschool-2nd graders, and we will watch an 11-minute episode, play executive function skills games, make breathing wands, and meet the characters for a photo op. Would it be possible to spread the word at Jie Ming? To learn more about Skillsville, the event, and to RVSP, click on the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pbs-kids-skillsville-premiere-party-tickets-1224216798399?aff=oddtdtcreator

1st and 2nd graders at OES have been using Skillsville throughout this past year!

RAMSEY COUNTY

• Saint Paul Eastside Payne Avenue – Salvation Army - Coats for Kids

Address: 1019 Payne Ave, St Paul, MN 55130, Phone: (651)776-2653

Serves: Residents in the area bounded by County Road B on the north; Burlington Northern Railroad tracks and Grove Street on the south and west; English Street and Johnson Parkway on the east

• Saint Paul West 7th - Salvation Army - Coats for Kids

Address: 401 West 7th Street Saint Paul, MN 55102, Phone: (651)224-4316. Call for an appointment for coats. Items will vary based on locations and availability. Visit a Twin Cities Salvation Army location during regular business hours for winter apparel.

If any additional needs, please reach out to Kim Stout our school social worker (651)401-5595 or kim.stout@spps.org

A reminder to families that SPPS Online has partnered with EveryMeal. You can pick up a bag of food with shelf staples once a month starting in March at Como Park Elementary between 11:00-1:30 at the small parking lot entrance of Door 6. Pick up will be the following days:

-March 14th

-April 25th

-May 16th

Families can fill out this survey at any time to be included. There are no requirements that need to be met. Food is available to all families. Bags will not be available other days of the week unless there is an appointment scheduled with an SPPS Online staff member. Below are photos and a list of items typically available in each bag.

For quick at home fixes, call

Joshua Thao, iPad Manager: ‪

612-699-4161 / joshua2.thao@spps.org

For in person appointments to change out or fix technology, make an appointment below. ‬

Title I: Online School Annual SCIP Meeting for Parents

Title I Resources and Important Links for Parents:

• Title I

• Family Engagement Plan 2024/25

• K-12 School Compacts 2024/25

• Parents Right to Know

• Online School SCIP Plan

• Needing Docs Translated?

• Resources for Parents

• Parent Volunteer Request

• MDE OES School Report Cards

Feel free to contact John Osorio at john.osorio@spps.org with any questions about Title I or any of these documents and services.

March 7 - No school

March 27th - Conferences from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

March 28th - Conferences from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

April 8 - Picture Day

April 8 - MCA Reading Test for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade

April 9 - MCA Math Test for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade

April 10 - MCA Science Test for 5th grade

March 31 - April 4 - No school, spring break

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