Como Park Senior High Newsletter

April

8-12 No School (Spring Break)

16- Booster Club Meeting w/parents 6:30-7:30

17- Como Career Trade Fair 11:10-1:40

17- Murray MS Incoming Freshmen Registration Night 5:00-7:00

24- Get Ready visits St. Olaf College 8:30-12:30

24- Black American Art Exhibit @ MIA 9:15-12:30

24- Chamber Music Concert 7:00-8:00

29-May 3- Bilingual Seals Testing

May

6- Parent Advisory Council 6:00

6-17 AP Testing

8- Band/Orchestra/Jazz Concert 7:00-8:00

10- Family Fun Night 5:00-8:00

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

SPPS will not be serving meals during Spring Break week, April 8-12. Free meal resources are available throughout the Saint Paul area, including hot meals and snacks. Please see the linked Google document for a list of participating locations.

Registration for SY24-25 for Murray Middle School

WHEN: April 17th

TIME: 5:00-7:00 PM

WHERE: Como Park Cafeteria

Tickets are:

$50 per person

$90 per couple

This is the link to pay online through SPPS:

https://spps.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/getclass/category_id/518/program_id/16

Tickets will also be sold during lunches

Hello all! We love our Como Cougars. One of the ways the Como Booster Club can support the many activities at Como is to sell Como Spiritwear! We could use your help.

What will you do? Help sell spirit wear. You may also help set up or put away the spritwear during the time. It's a fun way to meet people in and around our Como community.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A48AAAF2DA4FB6-48051352-sell

Chamber Concert April 24th at 7:00 PM

The Chamber Concert is a night for students in the music department to perform chamber works - solos, duets, quintets, etc. This small group setting allows musicians to showcase their skills in a more intimate way compared to their normal ensemble. Students will increase self-confidence and gain independence from their conductor through this experience.

The concert will begin at 7:00 in the Como Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the door: $5 for students, $7 for adults, or pay what you can (cash/check). Proceeds help us raise funds to support our growing music program!

We need volunteers to make this event successful! Please sign up to volunteer!

• Activities sign-up https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Cqk3cK77_PVaB-afJcLk1kLz3KndLUD7O_gP60YZ6wI/edit?usp=sharing

If you'd like to help in another way, you can donate a basket for our raffle. We will accept themed baskets, gifts, gift cards/certificates to places in the surrounding area, etc.

Thank you!

Earn Free College Credits with PSEO (9th-11th graders) Post Secondary Enrollment Option, or PSEO, allows 10th-12th grade high school students to take classes at local colleges and receive both college and high school credit. 9th-11th grade students must notify their school counselor by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the 2021-2022 school year.

College Application Information: Many final deadlines are January 1st! Don’t worry there are more deadlines throughout the 23-24 school year. Students should figure out their college list, work on their essay (if required), and get organized (here’s a helpful spreadsheet for that)! If they are already working on the Common Application, use this guide to answer some frequently asked questions. Students should make an appointment with Ms. Aisha if they have not completed the senior survey or need support applying to college!

Como CCC Website: Scholarship Page Seniors, there’s still time to apply for scholarships.Check out the Scholarship Page on the CCC website for scholarship resources. Seniors, there’s still time to apply for scholarships. Contact Ms. Aisha @ amohamed.ach@spps.org for scholarship application assistance

FAFSA is 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.

Featured Scholarship: Wallin 2-year Scholarship - $6,000 - Deadline: May 15 This program supports students headed to community college in the Twin Cities and provides two pathways based on where you choose to attend school. Apply today!

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

College Possible is hosting some virtual Zoom info sessions for 10-11th grade students and families over the next few months. Below are the dates and times of these info sessions and the Zoom link to join.

Zoom Link (the link will be the same for all sessions): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86305462760

• Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00pm

• Wednesday, April 17 at 4:30pm
• Wednesday, May 1 at 4:00pm

• Monday, May 13 at 6:00pm

• Thursday, May 30 at 4:00pm

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2024!

Upcoming Dates & Reminders

May 28th- Senior Awards and Dedication- 6:30 PM in the Auditorium

During this evening, we will distribute graduation academic and club chords, graduation club stoles, as well as celebrate achievement during the school year in our academic departments, within programming and extra curriculars, athletics, Cougar awards and other accomplishments. This will be an evening dedicated to our senior class.

May 31st- Senior Picnic-11:00-2:00- Softball Fields

Students will pick up their cap and gown at this time. 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😊

June 5th- Graduation at Roy Wilkins Auditorium- 8:00-10:00 PM

There are only 8 tickets per family for the graduation ceremony at Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

The Como Park MCJROTC snowman competition during the March snowstorm battles on. Our junior and sophomore "PT" Classes went outdoors to encounter these harsh conditions to build the ultimate "Frosty the Snowman." Morale and motivation was high as we endured good ol' Minnesnowta weather in late March. OOH RAH!

Como Park Cougars hold their annual female symposium today in which several of our female cadets were mentored and advised by pillars of the community and active-duty service members. A broad array of subjects was covered that touched upon the social issues facing young ladies today. Activities and bread breaking together over pizza helped strengthen our program and the Como Park School Environment. Thank you, Junior Cadets Nawal Guled and Emily Kue, for putting this event together.

Orienteering Season has started strong for the Como Park MCJROTC Cougars. Fifteen (15) cadets endure the muddy trails of Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, Minnesota to cache/navigate map reading in search of their way points. Kanchi (Mascot) jumps in the Lebanon lake to polar plunge & chase geese. What a great day for all of us to be outdoors.

Semper Fi.

The Como HOSA (Medical Careers Club) and Youth Service Bureau were invited to attend a medical careers exploration event at Allina Health. Students heard from a panel of medical professionals and were able to engage in hands on medical activities. This was an incredible experience for our BIPOC students who are considering a future in the healthcare industry.

Celebrating the end of Quarter 3 with a staff vs. seniors basketball game!

Our annual staff vs. seniors basketball game is always a hit! So much energy and so many laughs, as staff and seniors show off their skills and lack thereof 🤣 It is always entertaining with crazy antics from the staff and seniors showing off their slam dunks. Staff almost prevailed with a final score of 76-69. Maybe next year...

Check out this short clip

Flyer available in Español.

Learn more about the Youth Violence Prevention Summit...

Saint Anthony Park Branch Library Association is hosting a neighborhood author, Mia Nosanow, and her new book:

The College Student's Guide to Mental Health: Essential Wellness Strategies for Flourishing in College

When: Thursday May 9, 6:30-8:00

As Como students head off to school, and their parents consider the needs of their kids, this book and the conversation around it should be a great interest to all families.

For more on Mia:

• Mia Nosanow, MA, LP is a licensed psychologist and mental health therapist who specializes in college students. For 20 years, Mia worked as a mental health counselor at Macalester College, seeing thousands of students for individual and group counseling. Mia is passionate about helping young adults understand themselves and to find resources so that they can thrive in their worlds. She holds a BA from Carleton College and an MA in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She and her husband live right in St. Anthony Park and raised two sons here.

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