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

November

24- Winter Athletics Dinner 6:00

25- Red Cross Blood Drive 8:00-2:00

27/28- No School (Thanksgiving Break)

December

1- Parent Engagement Meeting 6:00-7:30

4- Winter Choir Concert 6:00-8:00

11- Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:00-7:00

12- MCJROTC Toys for Tots all day

16- Hyland Ski Resort Field Trip 9:00-2:45

18- MCJROTC Ski training/Winter Festival

18- Band & Orchestra Winter Concert 6:00-8:00

19- MCJROTC Toys for Tots all day

22-Jan. 2- No School (Winter Break)

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

Hello Como families! We would love your feedback on our question of the month: How welcomed do you feel at Como? Describe a time when you felt welcomed by our school.

Como staff wants to make sure we are addressing the concerns and issues that are important to students and families. Please check the boxes of the topics you would like to see communicated at staff professional development trainings.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTXbaaK8p4MiRq5aWLhUda_UUMwjXxkYOyTCheDoawCfO4Gg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=111352336796782835865

Winter Weather Plan

It’s time to remind you about Saint Paul Public Schools’ Winter Weather Plan (full details are available at spps.org/weather). The first two days SPPS cancels school for inclement weather (-35 below wind chill projected at 6 a.m., or snow/ice makes it too difficult for our students and staff to safely get to school) will be non-instructional days. Students should not report to school, and there will be NO e-learning. After two non-instructional days due to weather during the school year, the decision to use an e-learning day or a non-instructional day is at the discretion of the Superintendent. The district uses phone calls, texts and e-mails to notify families about school cancellations, so it is important your information is up to date in Campus (spps.org/families).

Español, Hmoob, Soomaali, ကညီ

Open to all Families and Como Community!

November 25th

8:00-2:00

Expand your generosity and support Como Park Senior High School during Minnesota's giving holiday. We have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for and because of your donations and community and school involvement, we were able to provide amazing experiences for our students. Please donate so we can continue our efforts. Thank you!

https://www.givemn.org/organization/Comoparkhighschoolboosterclub

Dear Parents,

As a token of appreciation, Lifetouch is offering discounts on school photography!

• 50% off a purchase of $50+ with code 50THANKS
• 40% off a purchase of $40+ with code 40THANKS
• 30% off a purchase of $30+ with code 30THANKS

Valid through 12/01/25

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account, find your student and order using your student's student ID number (if available at your school). Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card!

More about the Smilesafe program here.

Thank you!

Parent Engagement Meetings 25-26

All Parents are Invited

Come learn more about what Como has to offer and provide feedback

Our next meeting is:

December 1, 2025

6:00-7:30 PM Room 1208

AGENDA:

School Continuous Improvement Plan

Career Pathways

Mental Health & Teens

Do you know families that are undecided about which high school to send their student? Look no further than Como Park Senior High School! Come and talk with our admin and staff members at the School Choice Fair!

• ACT.org Free Test Prep
• Free ACT Preparation Resources
• Preparing for the ACT test
• ACT Game Time

FAFSA IS OPEN!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now 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 student 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!

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

Thank you to everyone that helped out with making our trip to the Landmark Center a success yesterday! We had 180 students attend! Our top groups presented their solutions outlining a non-profit Ramsey County should partner with to increase their talent pipeline. A huge congratulations to Ms. Hartzell and Mr. Ocama's group for coming away with the win. If you see Tre McCarty, Sofia Mortensen, Nas'zir Dawson- Turner or Melanie Thao, give them a big congratulations as well! Click here to see the other award recipients for Case 9.2 .

We have officially wrapped up Case 10.2 - Black Men Teach with our 10th grade students! Our winning group selected by our judges and representing Mr. Zamacona and Mr. DiVita's 4A Career Seminar class was: Nga Meh, Jasmine Sisomphan, Oliver Brooks-Shirey, Poe Lern Moo, and Ruweyda Abdisalam!

Our community winner with 48 votes and representing Mr. Youle's 1B AVID 10 class was: Jeseh Oo, Jaiden Yang, Te'Yani Miller, Evelin Martinez-Serrano! Thank you to everyone who voted! Click here if you would like to see the full list of award recipients and the winning infographics.

Next up is our 10.3 Wells Fargo case focused on cultural agility.

Ayesha is an 11th grade exchange student from India. She did a presentation for her U.S. History class at Como Park about her culture and country for International Education Week. She also shared some music from India and showed students how to dance:) To view her presentation, click here.

State Highlights from the Amazing Fall Sports Season

To read more, here's the link to the article in The Monitor: https://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/stories/comos-spectacular-fall-sports-season,132943

Braided Journeys from Como and Johnson attended Native American Student Visit Day at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Native student groups as far away as Bemidji attended this fun and information-filled day.

Thank you Central Campus for hosting another great Drill Meet. Seven schools competed today in PT and all facets of close order drill. Another great day for the Como Park Cadets. Congratulations. We love ❤️ our brotheren Des Moines MCJROTC. Dialed in today shows the sacrifices all of you made perfecting your craft. Congrats. Ooh Rah.

9 cadets braved the chilly November weather to support the Twin Cities annual Hot Choco Fun Run. Thank you Junior Cadet Corporal December Moe. Mmmmm good hot cocoa! 😋

Happy Birthday to our beloved Corps tonight. 250 romping, stomping years. Como Park MCJROTC Cadets celebrating it at our favorite venue, Herbie's on the Park in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. Grateful to the Ol' Lincoln High School Marine Instructor guest of honor speaker, Sergeant Major Bakken. Ooh Rah.

SPPL online help: https://sppl.org/resources/homework-help/

SPPL in-person homework help: https://sppl.org/homework/

Service Alert

Due to a lack of funding caused by the federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) food benefits will not be issued for November until the shutdown ends. Learn more .

Please contact one of the Como Park High School Social Workers or Counselors, if you need additional assistance in accessing programs. Here is a list of resources to support you and your family.

Get help finding or affording food

• Minnesota Food HelpLine | 888-711-1151 Monday - Friday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

• Ramsey County Navigators | 651-266-8500 (Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) | Interpreters available. Get help navigating Ramsey County services including financial assistance services, social services, employment assistance and property tax.

• United Way: United Way 211 can be reached 24 hours/day for food support questions by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone or by texting your zip code to 898-211.

• Free Meals for Kids App: The Free Meals for Kids app allows you to locate additional free food resources, including days and times they are open. It can be downloaded on both Apple and Android devices and provides distance and directions to the locations.

• Hunger Solutions: Hunger Solutions provides information and advocates for hunger relief across the State. Visit the Hunger Solutions website or call their Minnesota Food Helpline on weekdays during business hours at 1-888-711-1151 to learn more. To find meal sites near you, access the Hunger Solutions search tool to locate free meal sites, as well as food shelves and other food resources near you. Please contact the organization to confirm schedules.

• Findhelp.org: Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.

• Feeding America’s Online Search Tool

• SPPS Nutrition Services Community Food Resources

Guides

Find general food resources and those available in your neighborhood. Guides are available in multiple languages and are updated quarterly. Please call locations before visiting to be sure information is up-to-date.

• Find food and basic supplies near you - English
• Encuentre alimentos y suministros básicos en su área - Español
• Nrhiav tau cov khoom noj thiab khoom siv nyob ze koj - Hmoob
• Hel cuntada iyo kheyraadka Aasaasiga ah ee kuu dhow - Soomaali
• Nyaata fi dhiyeessii murteessoo nannoo kee jiran barbaadi - Oromoo
• Find food and basic supplies near you - Vietnamese