GORDON PARKS HIGH SCHOOL

April 22, Children's Dental Services at GPHS.
May 8, Prom at Minnesota Humanities Center. 7:00-10:30 PM.
May 20, Children's Dental Services at GPHS.
May 21, Awards Night and Conferences 3:30-6 in the GPHS gym.
No school May 25 - 27.
May 29, Last Day for Seniors
June 1, Graduation, Saint Catherine University, 7:30 PM.

Hello Students and Families!

Welcome to our 4th and final quarter of school year 25-26! This is the time of year that is over in a flash with a lot of things happening. On May 21st we will be having a student showcase and awards night where a light meal will be served. This is also a time to come and check in with your child's teachers as they push towards the end of the year. Graduating seniors will need to turn in all their work by May 22nd with the official last day being May 29th. Seniors who are not graduating need to have work turned in by May 29th. Graduation night is Monday, June 1st. Our 10th and 11th grade students' last day is June 11. We look forward to finishing this school year strong!

GPHS Prom is on May 8, 2026, from 7-10:30 PM at the Minnesota Humanities Center. The theme is Island Nights. Tickets cost $25 per person, $35 per couple. Contact Ms. Fountain with questions.

Clip art of a student awards celebration.

On May 21st, we will celebrate the success of our graduating seniors, as well as other students' academic successes this year. Please join us at school, from 3:30 to 6. Awards will be given, a light meal will be served. Interpreters will be available.

For returning families, there will be updates on the school improvement plan, as well as drafts of the Family Compact and Family Engagement Plan for the 2026-27 school year.

A cartoon illustration of a high school campus with a brick building. Above the building, a large teal banner reads, 'ACCESSIBLE DENTAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS'. A friendly cartoon tooth wearing a graduation cap and holding two toothbrushes stands on a central pedestal in the foreground, with trees and a bright sun in the background. The scene is enclosed by a stylized border with tooth and dental care silhouettes.

Children's Dental Services (CDS) will be offering dental care to students at Gordon Parks on Wednesday, April 22nd and Wednesday, May 20th . CDS takes insurance and offers reduced fees for services for uninsured patients. If you do not have dental insurance, they will help you sign up for insurance and/or help you complete a form to receive services on a sliding fee/reduced cost basis. Please pick up a consent form from Nurse Andrea as soon as possible so that you can complete any of the insurance/sliding fee paperwork before their visit.

Next week is Spring Spirit Week. The events for the week are:

Monday, April 20 is Pajama Day. Students are encouraged to wear school appropriate PJs.
Tuesday, April 21 is Twin Day, so come dressed up with your twin.
Wednesday, April 22 is Sunny Wear day. We'll have a quarter 4 kick-off assembly during 3rd period.
Thursday, April 23 is Pink Day.
Friday, April 24th is Floral Day. There will be a student/staff dodgeball game. Details will follow.

Please come and show your school spirit.

Quarter 3 Photography students have been working with studio lighting and effects. Here are some of the results of their work.

Lemon

Image of a lemon, with a shadow covering part of the lemon.

Bubbles

Bubbles on a background of color, graded from pink to orange.

Circle of Lights

Image of a person twirling something that is lighted, timed to show circles of light.

Congratulations to Photography student Pray R. who was nominated to the SPPS Honors Art Exhibition. Well Done!

Photograph of a shadow of a person in a window talking on the phone. This image was created by R.P.

Student trying out the new driving simulator.

It has finally arrived! Mr. Iliff wrote an Ecolab grant for a driving simulator and students have been busy learning to drive. If you are under 18 years old and want to get your driver's permit, talk with Mr. Iliff in room 1101. Mr. Iliff can assist in getting you into the program and earning your driver's permit.

We had 7 students recently get CPR and First Aid certified! Mr. Iwen, who is a certfied CPR and First Aid trainer, listened to student requests for this opportunity and made it happen. Students will have another opportunity to participate this year and should talk with Mr. Iwen to sign up.

Mr. Iwen instructing

Students practicing

Quick update: grade information is now available on the attendance dashboard. Follow the directions below to access your student's attendance dashboard, now with updated grade information.

If your student has to miss school or is working virtually, they should still be logging in to Schoology and completing work. This will help the school know that you are still engaged and working. Also, students should email their teachers and they can help answer questions.

Attendance Dashboard

Families are now able to track student's attendance at Gordon Parks with our new Attendance Dashboard. This provides you up-to-date attendance information for your student in one place.

STEP 1: Visit this site: tinyurl.com/397sa2h6
STEP 2: Click 'Make a Copy'
STEP 3: Enter your student's ID number
STEP 4: Review their attendance trends

Everyday the dashboard will update with new data.There is a strong correlation between attendance and graduation at Gordon Parks. Have conversations with your students about achieving their goals of graduation.

Image features the words "Title l" with the outline of an apple behind it.

Learn about the Gordon Parks High School Improvement Plan (SCIP), Family Engagement Plan (FEP), and School Compact with Families are available on the school website.

Please join us at our spring awards ceremony during conferences on May 21st from 3:30 to 6 PM. You will have the opportunity to influence our 2026-27 School Comprehensive Improvement Plan. We will also be gathering input on our 2026-27 Family Engagement Plan, and our 2026-27 School-Family Compact. Translators will be available and there will be a light meal served.

Translations are available upon request.

ትርጉሞች ሲጠየቁ ይገኛሉ።

tirigumochi sīt’eyek’u yigenyalu.

Kev txhais lus muaj nyob rau ntawm qhov kev thov.

Hiikkaawwan gaaffii irratti ni argamu.

Turjumaada la heli karo marka la codsado

Traducciones disponibles bajo petición.

Gordon Parks High School

Website: https://www.spps.org/gordonparks
Location: 1212 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-744-1212
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GordonParksHS/

GORDON PARKS HIGH SCHOOL