Como Park Senior High Newsletter

February

12- NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day) 9:30 AM- 11:15 AM

14- Missing/Murdered Indigenous Relatives March 10:30-2:30

19- No School (President's Day)

20- Family/Community Mural Painting Event 3:15-7:30

22- Family/Community Mural Painting Event 3:15-7:30

27- Get Ready Augsburg Field Trip 9:00-12:50

27- AVID Field Trip to University of St. Thomas 9:30-1:00

March

3-8- Close-Up Washington DC trip

4- Parent Advisory Council 6:00 PM (Virtual)

6- Travelers Field Trip

12- ACT

Please check out our athletic events coming up: https://sppscomoparkhighschool.rschoolteams.com/

SPRING SPORTS REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Now you can register online for spring sports using this link: https://spps-ar.rschooltoday.com/

Spring sports are starting very soon! Does your child need an updated sports physical before the season starts? Your school’s Health Start clinic is the perfect place to get it done! We accept all insurance and there is never a copay. Students can stop by the clinic, located near the nurse’s office, anytime to get the necessary forms and make an appointment.

ATTENTION ALL JUNIORS AND ANY SENIOR WHO DID NOT TAKE THE ACT LAST YEAR AT COMO!

ACT registration will be held in the library during periods 2, 3, and 4 on Wednesday February 28th.

Last Name ending in A-H...9:55-10:25

Last Nam ending in I-Q...11:10-11:55

Last Name ending in R-Z...1:45-2:15

Any questions? Ask Ms. Hoffman or email at jamie.hoffman@spps.org.

Would you like to become part of Como Park's History and help paint a wall mural reflecting Como students and community? Please use QR code to sign up for a half hour slot or more on dates provided. It is $5 per person for a half hour or pay what you can to help raise funds for our annual Family Fun Night in May. Here is a picture of what you'll be painting on a wall approximately 8ft by 27ft. Photo includes the faces of Como as well as community attractions like Como Lake, Conny's Creamy Cone, Como Conservatory, and things like the new MN State flag and "Community" translated in languages represented by our students. Drawing created by our very own art teacher, Ms. Veszi. Just bring yourself! Paints and supplies are provided.

Talk about a “win-win,” now your daily cup of inspiration can help support a great cause! Order sustainably farmed, fair-trade Velasquez Family Coffee delivered right to your door and 29% of the purchase price will go to support Como Park HS Booster Club!

1. Visit vfamilycoffee.com/collections/fundraiser

2. Choose from a variety of roasts and flavors—whole bean or ground—to fill your cart.

3. At checkout, select Como Park HS Booster Club from the fundraiser pulldown menu, then enter your payment information.

You’ll enjoy delicious Honduran coffee delivered right to your door and get an extra-warm feeling with every sip knowing 29% of the purchase price goes toComo Park HS Booster Club!

Make a one-time purchase or start a subscription—you’ll get great coffee delivered every month while providing ongoing support for Como Park HS Booster Club!!

NEW COMO PARK SPIRIT WEAR ITEM!!

MEN'S & WOMEN'S FLANNEL PANT WITH POCKETS IN BLACK/GOLD WITH COUGARS LOGO ON LEG. See order form below or pay with Venmo.

Would you like to meet our Superintendent, Dr. Joe Gothard and the Mayor of St. Paul, Melvin Carter? Would you like to learn more about Black History and see our student-led assembly? Come to Como on February 12th from 9:30-11:15 and help celebrate National African American Parent Involvement Day!

Attention Juniors and your families! Please see the attached flier for a wonderful paid internship opportunity with GenesysWorks!

GenesysWorks cont...

Apply now for Summer Jobs, through Right Track!! Available for ages 14-21!

Scan the QR Code in the attached poster and/or see Mr. Zamacona, in room #1603, if you have any questions

Updates from the Counseling Department and the Career Pathway Center (CPC)

The CPC is Open! The Career Pathway Center (CPC) at Como is open Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-4:00pm in room 1304 (across from the Counselor’s Office). Students can email Ms. Aisha (amohamed.ach@spps.org), check out the Career Pathway Center website, drop into the CPC, or sign up for an appointment for information on student career opportunities, college planning, and scholarships and check out the Como Park page under “Student” and then “Career Pathway Center”. Also look through the student newsletter (Como CPC Update)!

Get Ready: Postsecondary Support for 10th-12th Grade For juniors, and seniors seeking postsecondary support, please contact Get Ready Pathways Coordinator Mai Chue Moua (mmoua.getr@spps.org) and Ka Siab Yang (kyang@getready.k12.mn.us).

NACAC's Spring 2024 National College Fairs start in January! Register now for the opportunity for you and your students to connect with hundreds of colleges and universities all in one place, as well as take advantage of our free College MatchMaking™ program that matches students with the schools that meet their criteria. 2024 Schedule and Registration Information

In-Person National College Fairs

NACAC is offering 22 in-person National College Fairs this spring, with hundreds of colleges and universities from across the globe already signed up to exhibit. Have students interested in studying STEM or the performing and visual arts? NACAC will be offering special areas focused on STEM and performing and visual arts at our college fairs in greater Los Angeles, New Jersey, Houston, and Boston.

Virtual College Fairs

NACAC Virtual College Fairs are a great opportunity to connect with colleges and universities from the comfort of your own home. Have a quick video chat with a rep, drop-in on a virtual presentation, send a question through the chat — make a connection your way.

FAFSA is finally OPEN! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is being postponed and will open December 1st and is for students planning to attend college next year. Check out the Paying for College page on the CPC website to learn more about how to complete the FAFSA. Make an appointment with Ms. Aisha if you need support starting your FAFSA - there will be workshops before and after school available to families and students (email to schedule a time). Check out the 2024-25 FAFSA FAQ YouTube Series to answer questions about the changes.

Email Ms. Aisha (amohamed.ach@spps.org) or sign up for an appointment if you have any questions with the FAFSA application process.

Juniors! ACT Prep All juniors will take a FREE ACT in March -- start preparing today! There are resources available on the act.org website and free prep material in the Career Pathway Center!

Seniors! Wallin Scholarship Due February 1st The Wallin Scholarship program offers $4,000/year ($16,000 over four years!), targeted advising, and paid internship opportunities. CLICK HERE to check out a 1-min video, review eligibility requirements, and to APPLY starting November 1! Contact Ms. Aisha (amohamed.ach@spps.org) with any questions.

COMO SCHOLARSHIP! Travelers EDGE Program: $12,500 (if attending a four-year college) $6,250 (if attending a two-year college). Travelers EDGE® – Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment – is an innovative educational opportunity developed by Travelers. The program provides college students with financial, academic, professional development and mentoring support while preparing students for a career at Travelers or the insurance and financial services industry.

• Planning to attend Augsburg, Metropolitan State, or St. Paul College
• Plan to enroll in a course of study relevant to insurance and financial services

o Accounting, economics, math, business, finance, marketing and more

o 3.0+ GPA

o US Citizen, Permanent Resident or DACA Status

Click HERE for more information on College Resources + Events, Student Career Resources, Family Resources, and Paying for College

Also check out the CPC Update sent to all class years weekly!

CONTACT US

Counseling Department Website

Como Park Career Pathway Center Website

Please welcome our new Teaching Assistant, Aazha'Rae Jackson

Aazha'Rae is a Como alum from the class of 2017! She earned her BS in Psychology at the University of Minnesota in 2023. Prior to coming to Como, she worked at St. Paul City School. Aazha'Rae is also a DJ and enjoys listening to music. She likes spending time with her family and plays basketball with her friends.

Aazha'Rae loved being a Como student and is excited to be back. She feels Como is a united high school; a family. She thinks there are great opportunities for students here like AOF, sports, Robotics, etc. She felt she earned a great education as a Como student and is looking forward to pushing students to strive for success.

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2024!

Save the date for the senior picnic on May 31st from 11:00-2:00. You won't want to miss the last chance to hang with all of your high school classmates at once. There will be plenty of food, drinks and outdoor activities. It will be a moment to remember😊

The Student Council is collaborating with the Ronald McDonald House Charities to provide a charity opportunity to the Como Community. Below you will see a number of items that the Ronald McDonald House Charities needs donated to their houses. Please feel free to bring a bag of the items to the front office and have it be brought to Ms. Mohamed's room in 2728. You are also welcome to donate money directly to the charity to support all their needs through the QR code in the flyer below. Our students at Como Park will also be participating in providing these products to the charity as well and you are welcome to drop off donations with them. Thank you for your support in providing food for the Ronald McDonald House Charities! Please donate or drop off items by February 29th! Note: All proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

There was a restorative circle held between Como Park and Johnson High Schools at a neutral location. The purpose was to address the misunderstanding surrounding student athletes and their competitive nature on 1/23/24. Coach D (Gibson) from Como and Coach Moore from Johnson worked together to organize this event, providing a safe space and a plan for our student athletes to mend the harm they may have caused. The ultimate goal is to rebuild and rebrand the face of St. Paul athletics, while strengthening the sense of community. I am sharing these pictures in the hopes that it will showcase the power of true St. Paul strength and love.

Coach D.

CONGRATULATIONS MS. ROMERO!

She is one of 158 candidates chosen for 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Semifinalists will be announced in the next few weeks, with the statewide winner to be announced in May. What a well-deserved honor and a proud moment for our Como community.

The Como Park Cadet Cougar Archery team in action at Johnson High School's AFJROTC on Friday 1/26/2024. Como Park's High shooters go to Junior Cadet Mohammed "MoMo" Mohammed (203) & Sophomore Cadet Jayden Eagan-Crowley (202). Avenger Hawkeye wanna be . . .

In MCJROTC News. Congratulations! The cadets practice perfecting the craft, and their sacrifices and discipline have been proven this weekend at their Biggest Drill Competition of the school year in Indianapolis, Indiana. Six of the eight drill teams competing placed 2nd place or higher. Two cadets placed in Armed Knockout. Junior Cadet Soe Thoo's Armed Regulation Drill Team was #1. Como Park MCJROTC all female Cougarett's are the 2nd Place Overall Unarmed Drill Team Champions in another MCJROTC Region! The cadets will find out soon of they have qualified for Nationals in Virginia in February. Good luck! Be very proud of what you all have accomplished this year, cadets. Congratulations MCJROTC!

Como Park MCJROTC Cougar Cadets at their norm again (Winning Drill) at the Cretin Durham Hall Upper Midwest Drill Competition on Friday 2/2/2024. Spectacular unit leadership by Sophomore Cadet Nally See and her team winning Unarmed Regulation again this year. Pride in their step, discipline, professionalism, and sportsmanship. Ooh Rah!

Our 7th grader is all grown up and now a senior: Mason Aarness accomplished a rare feet: he scored his 1000 pt during the game vs Highland.

We're proud of you Mason and congratulations!

Following a voting period with a deep pool of tremendous athletes, We are excited to share with you all that our 2024 Athena Award winner is Ellery Tennison. Please congratulate her on this outstanding achievement. Below are some highlights of her academic and athletic accomplishments.

Cumulative GPA (weighted): 4.66

Volleyball

- 4 years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

- Letters x4 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

- Captain x3 (2021, 2022, 2023)

- Conference Champions x1 (2022)

- Section Runner-Up x2 (2022, 2023)

- All Conference x2 (2022, 2023)

- All Conference Honorable Mention x1 (2021)

- Offensive MVP (2023)

- MVP x1 (2022)

- Academic All State (2023)

Track & Field

- 3 years (2021 2022, 2023) *2024 season too

- Letters x3 (2021, 2022, 2023)

- Captain x2 (2022, 2023)

- Conference Champion x2 (2021, 2023)

- All Conference x2 (2021, 2023)

- All Conference Honorable Mention x1 (2022)

- Section Champion x1 (2023)

- State Participant x1 (2023)

- MVP x3 (2021, 2022, 2023)

Girls Basketball

- 2 years (2021, 2022)

- Letters x2 (2021, 2022)

- Conference Champions x2 (2021, 2022)

- Section Champions x1 (2022)

- Section Runner-Up x1 (2021)

- State Participant x1 (2022)

- 3rd Place State (2022)

Como Park Wrestling's Will Stiles emerged as a double champion at the Twin City wrestling tournament at Minneapolis Roosevelt on Saturday February 3rd. First, Stiles won the Saint Paul schools championship, and then when the two cities had a traditional dual meet with each cities champions at each weight class meeting, Stiles defeated the Minneapolis champion from North High to cap off a perfect, two championship day.

Flyer available in Español, Amharic, Hmong, and Karen. Click here for multiple languages.