Como Park Senior High Newsletter

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For ကညီ, Soomaali, Hmoob, and Español, click here.

January

19- No School (MLK Jr.)

20- No School (Teachers prep for Hybrid learning)

21- No School (Teachers prep for Hybrid learning)

22- Ice Fishing Field Trip @ Como Lake

29- End of Quarter 2

30- No School (Grading Day)

30- HOSA Field Trip to Luther College, Decorah, IA

February

6- MCJROTC Drill Competition at Cretin Durham Hall HS

9- NAAPID (National African American Parent Involvement Day)

11- 10th grade 3DE Field Trip to University of St, Thomas

11- Construct Tomorrow Field Trip 9:10-11:15

13- Red Cross Blood Drive

Please check out our upcoming athletic events: https://www.comoparkcougarsathletics.com/

SPPS is streamlining support for our families during this difficult time. Como Park families, neighbors, parents, and community members, please check out the following links:

1) Families in Need of Food Delivery Request Form :

https://form.jotform.com/260102349257048

2) Families in Need of Ride Request Form:

https://form.jotform.com/260102931164042

3) Sign up to Volunteer:

https://form.jotform.com/260104997848065

4) Donate at GiveMN:

https://www.givemn.org/story/CougarsCare

School Patroller Training and Monarcha observer training RSVP

https://form.jotform.com/260125575997065

Hello Como families! We would love your feedback on our question of the month: What is most important in your child's education right now? https://forms.gle/9BqWTyz4zwqkJRg37

Como Park Senior High School Graduation

Wednesday June 3rd

Roy Wilkins Auditorium

6:00 PM

State and federal laws require that all English Learner (EL) students are assessed yearly to measure their English reading, writing, listening and speaking progress.

Minnesota uses the WIDA ACCESS test as its annual assessment. EL students who receive special education services and who meet certain guidelines may take the WIDA Alternate ACCESS test instead.

These tests are used to see if students meet the WIDA English Language Development Standards and if a student is ready to exit from SPPS’s EL program.

All SPPS EL students in grades K-12 will be given the WIDA ACCESS or WIDA Alternate ACCESS tests between January 26 - March 19, 2026.

If you have questions about your student’s participation, please reach out to your child’s principal.

For more information on English language proficiency assessments and the MDE Parent/Guardian Participation Guide and Refusal form, please go to:

• ACCESS Family Test Information website: spps.org/about/departments/research-evaluation-assessment/test-coordination/access-family-information

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

Please reach out to Jamie Hoffman if you have any questions at jamie.hoffman@spps.org.

Español, Hmoob, Soomaali, ကညီ

Your Adventure Awaits—Don’t Miss Out!

We’d love for you to be part of this incredible journey! But here’s something important: tour prices will increase on January 1st. Enrolling now means:

• Locking in the current lower price before the increase
• More time to pay, making monthly payments easier
• Utilize the holidays to help pay off your tour balance!

The holidays are the perfect time to make this happen—share your fundraising page with family and friends and let them help you give yourself the ultimate gift: travel and adventure. Instead of physical presents, invite loved ones to contribute toward your dream trip!

Don’t wait—prices go up soon, and spots are filling fast. Enroll today!

Spain 2026: www.eftours.com/2786073EZ

The Alps and the Mediterranean Coast 2027: www.eftours.com/2945484TC

This is happening tonight!

FAFSA!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open for seniors and current college students planning to attend college next school year. Students can make an appointment with Phia if they need support starting or completing their FAFSA. Parents/Guardians will also need to complete the contributor section for their dependent student(s) to receive student aid.

Check out this FSA ID Creation Guide to create your account

Check out this FAFSA walk-through to see how to complete your FAFSA!

Student Scholarship Opportunities Spotlight:

Wallin Education Partners Wallin Education Partners selects students with high potential and financial need to receive a combination of financial aid and scholar services. This unique program results in over 90% of scholars graduating from college. Not only do you get money for college, but the tools and resources to help you make the most of the experience.

***Can only be used at colleges in MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, or HBCUs

Due February 2, 2026

Travelers EDGE Program: 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.

Due January 16, 2026

Español, Hmoob, Soomaali, ကညီ

Registration for the Bilingual Seals Assessment is January 31st!

AP exams are coming up in May!! Remember...

• Arrive on time

• No leaving early

• NO PHONES OR YOUR SCORE WILL BE CANCELLED

Direct any questions you have to your student's AP teacher or the AP coordinator (amelia.feest@spps.org)

Over winter break many NHS (National Honor Society) Como students volunteered at Feed My Starving Children.

Practicing a relevant skill! Making splints in anatomy and physiology (biology elective) while we learn about the skeletal system.

The Como Park Chapter of HOSA-FHP (Future Health Professionals) had their mid-winter MN competition on January 7th. Newer members had a chance to get to know how FHP competitions run and got to view health care presentations like this (Dr. NB loves her Barbies and had to take a photo of this!)

Eleanor Kerr (12) placed 1st place in Clinical Laboratory Science and Melanie Thao (9) placed 7th in Respiratory Therapy. Both students were new to HOSA-FHP this year! We are so proud of them!

CIS Government class to U of M

55 seniors who are taking the University of Minnesota political science 1001 course at Como, American Democracy in a Changing World, participated in the university’s field day on January 6. The day on campus is part of the College in the Schools (CIS) programming.

Students discussed the positions they developed for their research paper on the Unitary Executive Theory: Blessing or Curse for American Democracy? After deliberation in jury panels composed of students from multiple other high schools, representatives reported back to the large group assembled in Willey Hall on the West Bank.

The CIS Government course at Como is new this academic year, replacing the traditional AP Government class. In CIS, students are dually enrolled at the U of M and Como with the grade earned appearing on both their college and high school transcript.

MCJROTC NEWS

Community Service. Mentorship! The cadets volunteered with Senior Cadet First Sergeant Rihanna Said's Leadership to help the JA BizTown equip and empower elementary school students explore and work in a JA BizTown building in downtown Saint Paul where elementary school students had the chance to discover careers, build financial skills, collaborate with classmates, exercise civic duties, invest in the community, and much more! With this in-person opportunity alongside these High School MCJROTC Cadets, the confidence by practicing valuable skills such as leadership, patience, verbal communication, and problem-solving were accomplished. Ooh Rah!

Marines have conducted successful nationwide Toy for Tots campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. The initial objective that remains the hallmark of the program today is to “bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children”. The Como Park MCJROTC cadets volunteer every December to help carry on this legacy. Semper fi!!!

MCJROTC Cadets Canaan Abebe (11), Johavani Weni (12), Hafsa Aden (11), and Wyatt Glad (12) march alongside Johnson's AFJROTC cadets in support of today's newly elected Saint Paul Mayor, Kaohly Vang. She was sworn in at The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University as the first woman and Hmong American to lead St. Paul as mayor. Honorable, well done.

Blast from the Past. Thay “TACO” See from SY22-23. Currently attending the Indian Hills Community College in Iowa on a Wrestling Scholarship. Indian Hills Community College recognized our past MCJROTC Cadet Thay “Taco” See for excelling in the classroom. He is enrolled full-time and was honored on the school’s President’s List for those students with a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the term. Congratulations to “Taco” on the Fall 2025 President's List! His past accolades at CPSHS also include Competing on the CPSHS wrestling team under coaches Tijl Van Der Wege and Roy Magnuson all four years, MCJORTC for all four years, Two-time Twin Cities Wrestling Champion, soccer team, track and field team, and also previously attended St. Cloud State University. OOH RAH “Taco”!

https://www.indianhillsathletics.com/sports/wrest/2025-26/bios/see_thay_dhtw?view=bio

Power Rangerette Post! Hope is still alive. Sophomore Cadet Corporal Kaydence Chang. Her talent reaches way beyond our JROTC world. Off campus perseverance she is pictured here with her Celestials Hmong Dance Team. Along with her dedication to good grades, moving to new home midyear, and MCJROTC she has accomplished more than ten national level dance competitions (Wausau Hmong Festival, Oshkosh Hmong New Year, Lacrosse Hmong New Year, Eau Claire Hmong New Year, Wausau Hmong New Year, Madison Hmong New Year, Milwaukee Hmong New Year, Green Bay Hmong New Year, Oklahoma & California). The team performs emotional and storytelling Hmong dances. Celestials were formed in 2018, but during COVID, the team stopped performing because of the virus. As a result, they decided to disband. However, in 2024, Celestials returned and became a great team once again. OOH RAH Kaydence Chang and Celestials Hmong Dance Team.

Give Kids a Smile is offering free dental care for kids 18 and under on February 6th and 7th. Please check out this website to sign up! https://www.mndental.org/events/give-kids-a-smile/find-a-participating-clinic/