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.

January

27- No School (Grading Day)

29- Wrestling Alumni Night 5:00

29- Murray Parent Forum at Como 6:00-7:00

February

6- Parent and Youth Substance Abuse Assembly 5:30-7:30

10- NAAPID Celebration 10:00-12:15

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

13- Red Cross Blood Drive 9:00-3:00

17- No School (President's Day)

18- Karen Night 4:00-7:00

19- College Knowledge Night 4:00-7:00

23-28- Washingtion DC Trip

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

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

Greetings,

In order to keep the structure of the school day for all students, we would appreciate if you decided to pick up your student prior to 3:00 to pick them up in the office. We understand the effort to avoid the traffic of the buses, however, if you would like your student to meet you outside, you will need to pick them up at parent pickup which starts at 3:00 when the school day ends. Buses typically leave the school around 3:07, coming after that time to avoid the bus traffic is allowed as long as your student is picked up before 3:15. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your support with this matter.

Respectfully,

Dr. Brown

2024-2025 ACCESS Test for English Learners

All SPPS EL students in grades K-12 will be given the ACCESS for ELLs or WIDA Alternate ACCESS tests between January 27 - March 21, 2025.

If you have questions about your student’s participation, please reach out to Jamie Hoffman at jamie.hoffman@spps.org.

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/

Also available in Karen, Spanish, Somali, and Hmong.

LIBRARY NEWS!

Ms. CJ has been in partnership with the Student Council to get feedback from you about our library. I hope you took time to fill out the survey in Seminar. Your voices have been heard! Changes are being made and there is some exciting news about upcoming events.

1. We’re looking for more TA’s to support the library. We need at least 2 TA’s every period.

1. During any period when we have 2 TA’s, the Rotunda will be available for student seating. We’ve re-arranged the space to allow for individual seating and still have room for book selection. This will be a space for individuals to work quietly in a book nook.

1. We will put out a Peer Tutoring poster with a QR code that informs you of when we have tutors in the library and for which subjects. We will print a copy for every classroom.

1. The library has received 3D printers and Cricut machines! After set-up, and tutorials, they will be available for student use. There will be a fee for materials.

1. Did you know that there’s a beautiful Chess table in the library? Ms. CJ is getting everything you need to master Chess. If you and a friend are caught up in class, get a Campus Smart Pass to come play a game.

1. Ms. CJ will be hosting a variety of events in the library that teachers can sign-up for and bring their classes to. We will start with Book Talks and Speed-Dating with a Book.

1. The library will also host a Bookmark Contest. There will be an announcement when blank bookmarks are available. You can come pick one up, create your best design, and the students will vote on the winner. We will print the winning bookmarks for the library.

1. Finally, storytelling. We want to learn and value the cultural stories from your family and to honor the keepers of those stories. Ms. CJ is asking you to speak to your family's story keepers. This is an invitation for them to come into the library to share a legend, a story, a fable from your culture. Classes would be invited to sign-up to come and listen.

P.S. Ms. CJ appreciates all your feedback. Sadly, she still has to make sure you have permission to be in the library and will send you back to class when you don’t. She will continue to show you HOW to use the library and not just get the books for you. Lastly, although she’d love to have essential oils in the library, this is not allowed by SPPS. 😀

Attention Como Families and Community!

Please RSVP to this great event! There will be food and prizes!

Danelle@continuumcarecenter.com or 651-621-0418

Please RSVP!!

Shoe Drive Fundraiser starts January 6th! We need your shoes, Como community!

ATTENTION SENIORS!

The time to submit cap and gown measurements for graduation is NOW.

Please complete the following link Cap and Gown.

If you need to paste into a browser:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYwdeGx2OnNHC5m1TBg_OsDW0OrI2bm_LmYEjgeJ4yDTqDKA/viewform?usp=sharing

This must be completed by January 31st, no exceptions.

Link also provided:

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/18uPcSRv0R_XAzjSV7aVi9ySpA58PnZ64KJS2J3u25RM/viewform?edit_requested=true&pli=1

You're Invited to the Biggest Como Park Wrestling Alumni Night to date!

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 @ Como Park

Match Details:

• Opponent: Humboldt
• Time: 5:00 PM
• Recognition: Join us for a brief senior and alumni recognition before the match.

After the match, please join us for social time at Gabe’s by the Park.

We want to ensure that every decade of Cougar wrestling is well represented on the 29th.

Murray and Washington Senior High wrestlers are also invited!

Please share this invitation with fellow alumni. For questions and RSVPs, contact:

Roy Magnuson

Email: roywmagnuson@gmail.com

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.

The counselors will be hosting a PSEO Workshop on Monday, February 3rd. The workshop will be held in the media center during seminar. Students who are interested in learning more about PSEO, or applying for PSEO should attend the session.

Here is our timeline for School Year 2025-2026 registration:

Our course catalog will come live on Feb. 5th.

For Karen, Somali, or Spanish, click here.

Attention Como Students

Do you speak more than one language? It is time to be recognized and earn up to 20 FREE semester college credits per language!

What? A Bilingual Seals assessment is a language proficiency test. The test includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Earn your Minnesota Bilingual Seal or Certificate with a qualifying score!

Where? Como Park High School

When? April 29, April 30, May 1, 2025 / (calendar link to all schools)

Curious? Have a look at a sample test HERE or HERE.

Register today! Registration ends January 31, 2025.

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

Districtwide Career Pathways Program at the 3M Advanced Training Center

Are you an SPPS student interested in taking college courses that match your interests and career goals? We invite you to review the course offerings and signup during your high school's course registration process. Students enrolled in this program are exploring high demand, high wage careers. They will spend mornings at their home high school and afternoons at the Districtwide Career Pathway Center, located on the campus of Saint Paul College, completing career-related college courses. Students need to meet the college eligibility requirement for the PSEO course(s) of interest.

*Note - Counselor's approval is needed for final enrollment into the program to ensure students can stay on-track to graduate.

Course Descriptions and Schedule: SPPS Districtwide Career Pathways Program

The Como Park Girls Basketball Program would like to say thank you to everyone that had a hand in helping make the trip to Beloit, WI to compete. For those that may not know this is the first time in history that the girl's basketball program has been able to travel out of state to play basketball. Such an amazing opportunity for our program!

Shoutout to Ms. Sia Lor, Mr. Anthony Minus, Transportation, our Athletic Directors Koua and Brandon! You all worked hard to make this happen and we are forever grateful! The young ladies played hard and represented Como Park to the fullest! I have attached some of the photos from our trip. This is what it looks like when the Como community supports their student-athletes!

A Day at the Guthrie

The girls' and boys' basketball teams had a fantastic experience attending a play at the Guthrie yesterday, and they extend their heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Mann and Alexis Mann for providing them with this wonderful opportunity.

This field trip supports the team's leadership development and fosters teambuilding, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and growth both on and off the court.

What is Youth in Government. Sixteen (16) Como Park High School students/cadets participated in a hands-on-civic learning program where all of them become legislators, lawyers, judges, lobbyists, the media, or cabinet members and spend four days running a state model government in the Capitol Complex. These young leaders in YIG aren't spectators; they lead, organize, speak, and make decisions. But it is not all work. Students/cadets spend three nights at The Minneapolis Hilton Hotel and enjoy supervised great meals in the skyways and fun evenings of activities including movies, trivia, bingo, crafts, karaoke, and a talent show. Again, YIG is an experience like no other that will build one's self-confidence, improve your public speaking skills, and set you apart on college applications and job interviews. Leadership!

Thursday evening a Como Park High School Freshman squad, led by the Executive Officer Senior Emily Kue, supported the Como Park Elementary Open House on Thursday, January 16th! The cadets did an amazing job engaging with their students, participating in activities, and lending a helping hand to the entire school staff. The Como Park Elementary was so grateful for thier dedication and teamwork—it made the event even more special. We thank all of them again for being pillars of the community.

Congratulations Cadet Corporal Wyatt Glad. You were selected as the top performing Junior in the MCJROTC Constitutional Amendments Oratorical Speech Contest. Your performance and attention to detail was noteworthy. The Roseville VFW will be awarding a $100.00 check for your patriotism. Great job!

Cougar Wrestling Team Update

The Cougar wrestling team was divided into Boys and Girls Varsity and J.V. over the weekend. Last Friday, our girls participated in the Inaugural St. Croix Lutheran Ladies Invitational, where they faced ranked competition in several weight classes, which was very exciting! Our team made history for Como, entering six of our seven girls due to injuries, and finished 3rd overall out of 12 teams. The first and second place teams had at least twenty girls or more, so our performance was impressive. A highlight of the evening was Noreah Chatman, who rose to the occasion and placed first. She has shown remarkable growth since winter break.

On Saturday, the team ventured to SCL, where Hser Poe, the top seed in his bracket, wrestled his way to first place in the tournament. His brother, Hseh Wah, also performed well, finishing 2nd for the second consecutive tournament. Additional placements this weekend included Htoo Htoo and Johnny Hudson!

The girls also competed again on Saturday, along with our J.V. Boys team. On this day, Sarah Dar, Makiya May, Jeremiah Saw, Boe Reh, and Noreah Chatman all placed first. Persephone Yang (8th grade), Joy Pyo, and Hser Da also earned placements. The Cougar medal count this past weekend was notable, reflecting the growth of our team and their performance.

The Cougars also received a generous donation from a communal organization. The funds will definitely support our team Thank you again!

This evening, your Cougars wrestled against Mpls Edison and BCCA, pinning their way to victory in both duals. This brings our team record to 6-11, marking the most team wins since 2020. This weekend, our wrestlers will compete in the South St. Paul Tournament and Hser Poe will work to reach 50 Career wins! Also, mark your calendars for Wednesday the 29th, which is senior night . Please come support our wrestlers!

Como Community, thank you for your continued academic and all-around support of the wrestling program. Please enjoy some pictures from these events.

Upcoming Events

SSP Tournament 1/25/25

Senior Night/ Alumni Night 01/29/25 @ Como

SCL/NSP/ TRI 2/6

SSP/Cretin/ Tri 2/7

Girls Section Tournament 2/7-2/8 Redwood Falls

Twin Cities tournament 2/8 @ Washington Tech

Would you like to know what is happening around the Como Park neighborhood? Click the link for the latest news and updates from your District 10 Como Community Council. View this as a webpage.

Also in Karen and Spanish.

Joseph’s Coat

1107 West 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102
Shopping Hours: Mon/Wed by appointment only 9am – 3pm Call 651-291-2472 to schedule; Must have a valid ID https://www.josephscoatmn.org

St. Thomas More Free Store

St. Thomas More School Basement, 1065 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105 Open from 10am – noon on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month https://www.morecommunity.org/free-store

FOCUS House Clothes Closet

550 Rice Street, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Open Monday, Wednesday, & Thursdays 10am – 2:00pm Call for appointment: 651-222-0712 https://www.focusmn.org

Kaitlyn’s Kloset

Saints Martha and Mary Episcopal Church, 4180 Lexington Ave S, Eagan, MN 55123 Open Mondays & Wednesdays 10am – 4pm, and Saturdays 11am – 2pm https://kaitlynsklosetmn.com

Hallie Q. Brown Clothing Closet

270 N Kent St, St Paul, MN 55102, Enter on MacKubin Street & come up the stairs Shopping by appointment only; Call for appointment: 651-224-4606 https://www.hallieqbrown.org

Alley Shoppe

Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, 1115 Greenbrier Street St. Paul, MN 55106 Tuesdays, 9:30 am – 1:00 pm, by appointment only
Call for appointment: 651-771-5501 ext. 100
https://ahlc-stp.org

Neighbors Clothes Closet

222 Grand Ave W, South St Paul, MN 55075
Based on need, certificates for free clothing and household items may be available for use in their non-profit thrift store. Call 651-455-5000 to request certificates. Monday through Friday: 9 am to 4 pm
https://www.neighborsclothescloset.org/