Spring Lake Park High School
Panther Families,
I hope everyone had a great fall break! We are back in action at the high school.
It was wonderful to see so many families at conferences. As a few parents were leaving, they asked about Schoology and other resources available to support their students. Our Technology Tools, Resources, and Logins webpage has several helpful resources, including support for logging in and accessing our digital tools. You can also always ask your student to show you.
We are six weeks into Trimester 1. If you haven't already, take some time to check in with your student and their progress in Schoology. If you have questions, reach out to their teachers or join us at one of these upcoming conference opportunities.
- Thursday, October 22: Conferences, drop-in 4-7 p.m.; by appointment 7-8 p.m. | Sign up for Conferences
- Thursday, November 5: Stay tuned for additional conference details.
If you haven't noticed, the parking lot between Able Street and 81st Avenue now has new fencing around it for our Construction Trades program. Students aren't building a house this year; instead, they're constructing several smaller structures.
I recently watched a group of students installing Tyvek, the house wrap, on a tiny home. As I watched, Mr. Wicklund shared something that really stuck with me. While some of our students will pursue careers in the trades, many more will own a home someday. The skills they're learning now will be incredibly valuable as they become homeowners. This course is helping them better understand, maintain, and improve their homes.
It's exciting to see our students developing practical skills that will serve them well long after they graduate.
Proud to be a Panther,
Megan Jahnke
Principal
Early Childhood Event for Ages 0-5: Fall Family Carnival
Know of a friend or neighbor with children ages 0-5 who are not yet part of our SLP Early Childhood community? Send them an invite to join this fun event and check out programs:
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Time and Location: 10 a.m.–Noon at Centerview Elementary
- Cost: Free event, no registration required
- What to Expect: Games, arts & crafts activities, food and family fun
Who: All are welcome!
Current Early Childhood students/families are invited to attend
Not yet part of our SLP Early Childhood community? Come join the fun + check out what programs might suit your children ages 0-5!
Parent learning and feedback session: State and district standardized tests
The Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Advisory Council (CIAAC) invites parents and caregivers to learn about state and district reading and math tests and share their feedback. These tests help measure student progress. At this session, you’ll learn how the tests have changed over time, including recent changes under Minnesota’s READ Act. We’ll also discuss how tests vary by grade level and how schools use the results. This includes Spanish immersion programming across grade levels and schools. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, learn how these tests compare with the assessments students take in class, and share your thoughts.
- Date: Thursday, November 12
- Time: 5:30–7 p.m.
- Location: District Services Center
Reserve your seats for the Parent Learning and Feedback session. Please register so we can plan for seating, small-group discussions and refreshments.
National Signing Day, November 11
The fall National Signing Day is on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:30 a.m. in the SLPHS Panther Gym. Please let our athletics and activities office know if your student-athlete will be signing a letter of intent to play at the collegiate level. This signing day is only for athletes signing Division I, IAA, II, or NAIA.
Future Signing Dates are:
- December 2 - D-1 Football only
- February 3- Division I, IAA, II, or NAIA.
- April 27 - all athletes (including Division III and JUCO)
Technology with Purpose: Supporting Learning in a Digital World
Technology has changed a lot since our schools began providing a device to each student in 2012. The tools available to students and how we use them continue to change, so we’re taking a fresh look at how digital tools support learning in our schools.
The goal is simple: Make sure technology has a clear purpose, supports student learning, protects student privacy and safety, and helps students develop necessary digital skills and healthy habits.
“We hear from parents, teachers and community and industry partners that technology is necessary, and it’s important for children to develop healthy digital habits alongside the skills they need for the future,” says Melissa Olson, Director of Learning Design and Student Engagement. “But it’s also concerning. People are thinking about the pace of change, challenging digital habits and the overall role of technology in children’s lives.”
Spring Lake Park Schools is taking a closer look at how we use digital tools through project work connected to the district’s annual Operational Plan.
“We’re looking at what teachers need now to make the best use of digital tools – from devices to apps – as they focus on designing more engaging student work and learning experiences,” says Melissa. “Purposeful use is the focus to enhance learning and support the development of those digital skills and habits.”
The work acknowledges that sometimes technology is the best tool for the job. Other times, a conversation, hands-on activity, book or another approach may better support a learning goal. Often, a mix is best. Read the full Technology with Purpose story.
"Our Town" opens this weekend
The small town of Grover's Corners will come to life in a minimalist theater-in-the-round setting during Spring Lake Park High School Theater's fall production of "Our Town" October 23-24 and October 30-31. The play follows the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as they love, marry, and eventually, die.
“I believe the audience will enjoy the seating in the round. To most audience members, it will be a new experience to watch theater. It allows the audience to see perspectives that they normally don’t have the ability to see. The audience becomes fully immersed in the scene, feeling like they’re an actor there themselves.” - Evelyn Stusynski, junior
Live on 65: We3 + 1, November 16
Join us for the first Live on 65 performance of the season! A celebrated Arizona trio known for their captivating blend of jazz, swing, blues, and timeless classics, "We3 + 1" is coming to the Fine Arts Center on Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m.
Since their debut performance in 2016 at The Nash, "We3 + 1" has wowed audiences with sold-out performances across the Valley and beyond, including appearances in Paris, France. Featuring powerhouse vocalist Renee Grant Patrick, acclaimed violinist Suzanne Lansford, and renowned pianist Nicole Pesce, "We3 + 1" brings unforgettable energy, elegance, and musical artistry to every performance. Buy tickets for "We3 + 1"
Panther Foundation Sweepstakes winner
Our SLPHS Panther Sweepstakes winner was Brandon! Brandon got a $50 gift card to the Panther Store and will get to choose how to spend the $500 for our school from a list of ideas and projects generated by our staff.
Thank you so much for participating in the 2026 Panther Foundation Trivia Sweepstakes. There were 101 families who participated and provided 702 answers to the four questions.
Questions and Answers:
- Question 1: How many students engaged in Spring Lake Park Schools' Career & College Pathways programming in 2025-26? 1,100 Students
- Question 2: Last year the Panther Foundation's Panthers for a Purpose Event raised $145,000 during the Week of Giving. How much was raised specifically for the Fund A Dream, supporting Career & College Pathways? $36,000
- Question 3: 835 K-4 Students identified PLAY as their spark in their learning.
- Question 4: What toppings are on Parker's favorite pizza? The people have spoken! Pepperoni is Parker the Panther's clear favorite. Cheese came in second, followed by pineapple and sausage. And, of course, a few Panther fans got creative with their answers with – Bengals; Garage pizza; Gazelle, extra cheese, and the tears of rival mascots; Cheeseburger chicken ranch
