Como Park Senior High Newsletter

Prefer a language other than English? You can open the newsletter link and click the button on the top to have it translated into many different languages. Please know that the translation function may be inaccurate or incomplete. If you have any questions, please call us at 651-293-8800.

For Karen, Somali, Hmong, and Spanish, click here.

March

6- Shoe Drive Fundraiser Ends

7- No School (Professional Development)

11- ACT

11- Booster Club Meeting 6:30-8:00

13- Karen Night 4:00-7:00

20- Chamber Concert 6:00-8:00

20- Iftar Dinner 7:10

21-Late work is due

25- CIS Writing Studio Field Day @ U of M 8:30-2:30

28- End of Quarter 3

31-Apr 4- Spring Break

April

7- Family Engagement Meeting 6:00

8- Booster Club Meeting- 6:30-8:00

10- Incoming Freshmen Night- 5:00-7:00

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

JUNIORS AND SENIORS

Sign up and pay for your prom tickets using the QR code or link:

Como Park High School Prom 2025 - Class Registration v3.0 - Saint Paul Public Schools

ATTENTION SENIORS!

Please make sure that your first and last names are spelled correctly in Campus as that will be the name put on your diploma. THE DEADLINE FOR NAME CHANGES ON SENIOR DIPLOMAS IS APRIL 7TH, NO EXCEPTIONS.

Contact Maria Silva at maria.silva@spps.org if there are any misspellings.Thank you.

GRADUATION TICKET REQUEST AND GRADUATION POLICIES

For graduation ticket information, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSTBZZ3D3KjJ9syj9eLR_rMSU5eYgwP9wuc6W_wEhvrIcH3w/viewform?usp=header

SPPS Graduation Policies and Guidance

Link also provided: https://forms.gle/o2BmU7f6B4cNScnA6

Help provide great memories for our seniors!

Link also provided: https://www.givemn.org/story/Comoseniors

March 20th, 7:00

Admission: $5 or pay what you can

This will be a concert featuring band, choir and orchestra students, performing in chamber ensembles or solos.

MCA & MTAS/Alt MCA Testing 2024-2025

Each spring, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) or the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are provided to students in mathematics (grades 3-8 and 11), and reading (grades 3-8 and 10). The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) or the Alternate MCA is provided to students in science (grades 5, 8 and in high school upon completing biology). Most students take the MCA; however, some students who receive special education services and meet eligibility requirements take the MTAS or Alternate MCA. These tests provide a snapshot of student learning of the Minnesota Academic Standards. The MCA and MTAS/Alt MCA are used to meet federal and state legislative requirements. The Minnesota Department of Education and SPPS can use results to look across student groups, schools and districts to evaluate equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Assessments are designed to provide information about student learning, but there is no single assessment that can provide the full perspective of what a student has learned. These assessments provide one data point that should be considered in the context of additional evidence of student learning.

Students will take the MCA or MTAS/Alt MCA between March 3 - May 9, 2025. If you have questions about your student’s participation in statewide assessments, reach out to your school’s principal.

For more information on the MCA and MTAS please go to:

• SPPS MCA & MTAS/Alt MCA Family Testing Information website: https://www.spps.org/about/departments/research-evaluation-assessment/test-coordination/mca-family-information

• MDE Family Testing Information website: education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/tests/

Click here for Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Karen.

If you have any questions or need support, please contact your student’s counselor:

9th-12th (Alphabetical by last name):

A-Fr Holly Moser, holly.moser@spps.org, 651-744-4664, (https://calendly.com/holly-moser)

Fu-Ma Kia Thao, kia.thao@spps.org, 651-744-8170 (https://calendly.com/msthao)

Mc-Reh Farah Abuqalbeen, farah.abuqalbeen@spps.org, 651-744-1141 (https://calendly.com/farah1)

Rei-Z Choua Vang, choua2.vang@spps.org, (https://calendly.com/choua2-vang)

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”.

For the latest updates from the counseling department and the Como Career Pathway Center, click here.

U of M Twin Cities PSEO Virtual Information Session

• Wednesday, March 26: 5:30–6:30 p.m. (Zoom)

• Session info and registration: z.umn.edu/pseoinfo

• Join via Zoom to hear from current students and program staff about the U of M Twin Cities PSEO program and the 2025-26 academic year admissions process.

Attention registered juniors and seniors,

The ACT will be administered March 11th at 8:30am in the gym and fieldhouse. Please arrive to school on time. Students who arrive after testing starts will not be allowed to take the test. Students need to bring their student ID, a calculator, and a water bottle. Snacks and pencils are provided, but calculators are limited. No cell phones are allowed. If a student accesses their cell phone during testing, their test will be invalidated.

The ACT is not required and completely voluntary.

On Friday February 21st, 3DE had their Case 9.4 Culminating Event. Below is the slideshow with the award winners. Congratulations to our students especially our top team from Mr. Salonek's 1A class: Jimmy DeLuca, Alyssa Pham and Eh Lar Paw. Jimmy, Alyssa and Eh Lar Paw recorded their presentation and will be entered into the national case competition this week. The student progress from our first case to now has been remarkable!

Como Case 9.4 Award Winners

The results are in, and the Como Park Cougar Cadets place incredibly well in every drill team event in their region. For the first time in thirty years, they will now be competing in the MCJROTC Drill Nationals against the top programs in the Marine Corps. The Championship Team will be awarded a trip to Daytona Beach, Florida in May, to compete in the All-Service Nationals. The institution, state, and your school are very proud of all of you. Our sincere congratulations to all the other impressive MCJROTC’s performances. Continued focus and good luck our Como Park Cougars!

Coach David Albornoz and his team of lifeguards (Como Park Boyz Swim Teamers) in action with our Como Park MCJROTC cadets. Priceless leadership in swimming can involve courage, setting goals, motivating teammates, and building a positive team culture. Learning how to swim in the State of Minnesota is crucial to our great lakes and river surroundings!

Swimmers/Cadets can develop leadership skills through teamwork, goal setting, and handling pressure. The Academy of Leadership Como Park MCJROTC we will continue to focus on these most valuable life skills the rest of the school year. Ooh Rah!

More great acts of kindness to the local community this weekend led by Junior Cadet Corporal Montez Adams at the El Rio Rec Centers annual craft show. As usual many satisfied customers. Great job all cadets who volunteered their Saturday to give back. Ooh Rah!

Students and staff from Unified participated in the Polar Plunge at Lake Nokomis on February 28th. Plungers were O'Mari Aldrich, Kaydence Brewer, Mr. Fischbach, Mr. Vruno, Mr. Tyler, and Mr. Minus. Mr. Minus, O'Mari, and Mr. Tyler even jumped twice!

Here is the video of our staff and students for you to enjoy:)

AP Government students visit Washington D.C.

18 seniors currently studying AP Government and AP Economics spent the last week of February in Washington D.C. as part of the national Close Up program.

Como student highlights included study visits to national monuments and memorials including Jefferson, FDR, Martin Luther King, Jr., Lincoln, World War II, Vietnam, and Korea. There were also study visits to museums of the Smithsonian, Arlington National Cemetery, and different Washington D.C. neighborhoods.

On Wednesday, February 26, Como students visited Capitol Hill for an unforgettable day. They observed the Senate Agricultural, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee discussing the impact of proposed budget cuts, with Senator Amy Klobuchar speaking as the Democrats’ ranking member.

After touring the U.S. Capitol building and rotunda, Como students engaged in a policy meeting with Senator Tina Smith who graciously responded to their questions and concerns. From there, the group was escorted through the Congressional tunnels and subway into the House of Representatives chamber for a viewing from the gallery. A brief stop in the Supreme Court allowed students to see the chamber for oral arguments, before a walk across Capitol Hill to Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s office.

The Congresswoman hosted a 45-minute policy meeting for the Como students. In response to a student question, McCollum shared her perspectives on the current situation in Washington and the federal government. Students were grateful for her insight, and how she addressed their inquiries about climate change, foreign policy, education, and the reduction of government resources.

The memorable day continued with a night at the National Theater where a Broadway touring company performed the Tony-nominated musical comedy “Shucked.”

Other peak experiences from the week included going to the top of the Washington Monument, the African American Smithsonian Museum, seeing the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution in the National Archives, and of course bonding with Como classmates during an educational experience that will never be forgotten.

Here is a screenshot of Congresswoman McCollum's newsletter about our visit with her:

On March 4th, 12 band and orchestra students participated in MSHSL Instrumental Solo/Ensemble contest! Students traveled to Stillwater Area High School to perform a solo or chamber ensemble piece for a judge, receiving constructive feedback as well as 'excellent' and 'superior' ratings. Way to go, Cougars! Congratulations!

Also in Karen and Spanish.

Wilder Community Mental Health and Wellness Clinic

451 Lexington Parkway N.

2nd Floor

Saint Paul, MN 55104 651-280-2310 wilder.org

· Alyssa Larson, Wilder Outpatient Clinical Manager

· Hafia Gray, Wilder Rehab Clinical Manager

Outpatient mental health therapy

· Individual therapy for children, youth, adults

· Family and couples therapy

· Can also provide assessments for substance abuse

Rehab services

· Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMS) – skills training for adults

· Children's Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) – skills training for children

· Peer support specialists – support for parents of children receiving therapeutic services

· Skills training includes things like setting and tracking a budget, planning and organizing a shopping trip, emotion regulation, healthy communication….

The best way to get started for all Wilder mental health services: Walk in!

Hours for walk in

· Mon – Thurs, 9am – 3pm

· Fri, 9am – 2pm

· Can also do “walk ins” virtually (call 651-280-2310)

Walk ins will get started right away with…

· General intake

· Insurance review and MNSure Navigation (if necessary)

· A mental health assessment

· Cultural navigators AND language supports available (Somali, Hmong, Karen, English, Spanish)

· If appropriate, schedule the first therapy appointment before you leave

Nobody seeking Wilder mental health services is turned away – Wilder utilizes MNSure Navigators and a sliding scale to ensure that all who seek supports can have them