School Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:25 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Before 8:25 a.m., students should enter Doors 1 or 15.

After 8:25 a.m., all building doors will be locked. Students arriving at school after that time must enter Door 1 and should be prepared to show their ID.

What an amazing first day back! The excitement was in the air as students and staff eagerly explored our newly updated facilities, from enhanced classrooms and cafeteria spaces to upgraded technology. The energy and enthusiasm laid the foundation for a fantastic school year. Our special pizza lunch added to the joy of the day, giving everyone a chance to relax, reconnect, and celebrate the start of a new school year. We’re looking forward to many more great days ahead as we continue building a positive and vibrant learning community!

Take care, be well, and GO PARK!!

LaNisha Paddock

Principal

On Friday, September 6 ALL students should report directly to their Period 1 class by 8:25 a.m.

***Please remember to bring your chromebooks fully charged!***

We will be on our Wednesday Park Connections Schedule on these two days.

St. Louis Park High School Prides itself on creating a safe environment for all community members. This includes our campus drop-off and pick-up areas. Please practice safe driving and remain aware of your surroundings.



NEW 24/25:

Parents and caregivers please drop off and pick up students on Dakota and 33rd to Edgewood (pictured below). Students should access the building using Doors 1 or 15. DO NOT DROP OFF OR PICK UP DIRECTLY AT DOOR 15.

After school drop off and pick up is prohibited in the south lot in front of the athletic entrance (Door 15). Use of this lot disrupts our ability to effectively transport students to athletic events and competitions because it causes congestion and buses cannot pass through. 

For questions, reach out to AP Parks at parks.alonzo@slpschools.org. Thank you for your cooperation.

Cell phones have become a way of life, and a technological convenience that has impacted all of our lives in one way or another. However, in the school environment, cell phones have become a distraction/interruption impacting learning. The ringing of the cell phone during class or text-messaging takes away from the valuable time needed for instruction and, most importantly, student learning.

This policy is intended to ensure that personal electronic devices on district and school property do not interfere with the learning, safety, and well-being of students and staff.



SLPHS Students may possess or use personal electronic devices on school property, on school buses, or at school-sponsored events according to the following guidelines:

• Cell phones/electronic devices/earbuds may be used:
• Before school until the beginning of the school day at 8:25 a.m.
• During a student’s passing time
• During a student’s assigned lunch period
• After school, beginning at 3:15 p.m.
• Personal electronics should be put away during instructional time. During class time electronics should be kept in your backpack, purse, or pocket and completely silenced.
• Students whose electronics are seen or heard during instructional time may have their devices confiscated.

All classrooms are equipped with a landline. There is no reason that a student should need to use a cell phone during the regular school day instructional time. We do recognize that cell phones can be a safety or security tool. In any instance requiring an emergency communication with a student, our school will immediately assist the student, a parent, or other responsible adult with that situation.

*This policy does not apply to school-issued Chromebooks. These are considered instructional tools for our 1:1 platform.

Couldn’t join us for the Meet and Greet? 9th Grade students that were unable to attend the Meet and Greet will receive their Chromebooks and student IDs in Park Connections on September 5th.

10th-12th grade students new to SLP will get their Chromebook in the At-Large Lab.

10th-12th grade students will pick up their IDs near the main office inside Door 1.

No ID? No problem. We’ll have a QR code available to sign up for a temporary ID.

If you purchased a parking permit they are available in the main office… don’t forget your receipt and valid driver’s license.

PowerSchool and Schoology are platforms that allow parents/guardians to view their student’s attendance, grades, class events and assignments online. 

PowerSchool, the St. Louis Park student information system, is the primary source for attendance and grades for accuracy and most updated. You can sign-up for PowerSchool by contacting the High School main office at 952-928-6100.  You are also welcome to stop by the front office during the school day, where you will sign the PowerSchool Guardian Access Policy Agreement. 

Schoology is the St. Louis Park digital classroom environment where course information, resources, information and assignments are posted regularly for students. 

• To access a previously created parent Schoology account, go HERE.
• To create a new Schoology parent account (for new families that do not have a previous SLP Schoology parent account) go HERE.

The Schedule Change Request form will remain open until 3pm on Wednesday, September 11th.  This is the last day to ADD a new class. (extended due to school starting later.)

YOUR REQUEST WILL START TO BE VIEWED/PROCESSED THE WEEK OF AUGUST 19TH.

Students can see their schedule in POWERSCHOOL (do not use Schoology) starting Tuesday, August 27th.

Thank you!

Counseling Office Staff

The St. Louis Park Public Schools Transportation Bus Schedules will be available in the Traversa Ride 360 app, now called My Ride K-12 (click here for directions). This information will include bus number, stop location, and stop times. If you have any questions or concerns please call the SLP Transportation Department at 952-928-6052.

Lifetouch will take school pictures for Grades 9-11 on September 6th in the small gym during their English class. You can purchase pictures online at mylifetouch.com and enter code: EVTXT9G4M. If you choose not to purchase a photo package, you should still have your picture taken in order to receive your student identification badge and to be included in the yearbook. If you are unable to get your picture taken, there will be make-up pictures on October 10th. 

The Echowan staff is dedicated to ensuring every student’s name is listed in the yearbook in a way that honors and affirms their identity. 

When you order pictures:

• Please use your student’s preferred name
• Fill out the SLP Name/Gender Change Request Form if a change on the student’s profile is needed
• Students with name changes should inform the photographer at the time of their photo – this is to ensure that LifeTouch has their correct name

Seniors:

• Submit your photos
• The Echowan staff will regularly communicate to seniors and families about the senior photo deadline via our Instagram account (@slpechowan), the 6425 News, and school messenger. 

Seniors will be submitting their own photos, from either a senior photo shoot or a recent picture that they select of themselves. If you have your photos now, use the link above. The picture does not have to be professional, but it should be school appropriate. Once school starts, you can go to hs.slpschools.org/students/echowan and where you can find links to submit seniors photos or to purchase a yearbook and/or baby ads. 

Reminder - your school picture will appear in the yearbook. Please dress accordingly.

If your student doesn’t have a school picture:

• Their name will be listed on the class portrait page as “not pictured”

The creation of our yearbook is a long process that starts before the beginning of the school year. There are several hard deadlines between our staff and Josten’s printer throughout the year. The class portrait pages are typically one of our first packages with a hard deadline to the printer. Because of that, we ask that any name changes be made by December 31st to make sure preferred names are listed in the yearbook. 

If a name change is needed at any time after LifeTouch photos have occurred, please reach out to the Echowan advisors Kelsey Hanson (hanson.kelsey@slpschools.org) and Tony Vandeneide (vandeneide.anthony@slpschools.org). 

Park Connections advisory teachers will be reviewing the Student & Family Handbook during the first week(s) of school. The handbook is available now on the SLP High School website. Students are encouraged to review the handbook with their Families and will be required to sign an acknowledgement form during the first week of school.

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ATTENTION: CLASS OF 2026-2027

PSAT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test

NMSQT: National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

The PSAT/NMSQT measures students’ reading, writing, language, and math knowledge and skills. This test measures reasoning and critical thinking skills. It focuses on what students have learned and what they need to succeed in college and future careers. It is not a memorization test. 

Who Takes it?

The College Board recommends that Juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sophomores may take the PSAT as practice for the SAT but are not eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

SAVE THE DATES

Registration will open on August 1, 2024 - please watch your email in late July for the registration information.

Register by September 1 (August 15 for those needing to apply for accommodations).

Test Date: October 8, 2024. The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered during the school day at St. Louis Park High School.

Cost: $30

If you’d like to know more about the PSAT exam visit:  PSAT

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

Minnesota Free School Meals Program

The Minnesota Free School Meals program provides state reimbursement to schools that participate in the National School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program. Our schools already offer healthy meals each day. All in-person students can get one breakfast and one lunch Free of charge while at school - no application is required.

What is Not Included in the Minnesota Free School Meals Program?

Single item purchases. Some examples include:

A second carton of Milk

Snack Items

Second Entree’

A Second Breakfast or a Second Lunch

Ala carte Items

For your student to purchase these items you will want to open an account through Wordware/Edutrak or PowerSchool and deposit funds into your student’s meal account.

Apply for Educational Benefits Application

It is important for families to complete the Application for Educational Benefits (AKA Free and Reduced Price Meal Benefits Application), Applications Educational Benefits determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and supports. Additionally, families can qualify for other benefits, such as:

• Advanced Placement (AP) Tests for potential college course credit
• College Application Fees
• Internet Access
• Sports & Activities Fees
• Transportation

The application for Educational Benefits can be filled out in some different ways, including online through your Wordware/Edutrak account, The Parent/Student PowerSchool account, or by completing a paper application.

For all home High School athletic events where admission is charged:

• Any child in 8th grade or below must be accompanied by a paying adult who is responsible for them, their behavior and their whereabouts at the event. The student must be in the bleachers unless with the accompanying adult.  
• No bags, backpacks or outside food/drink will be allowed in at home football games and there will be no reentry.  
• All tickets must be purchased electronically, either in advance, or at the event. There will be no cash options available. No refunds.
• For football, entry will stop at the end of the third quarter.

Please purchase your tickets here: https://gopark.hometownticketing.com/embed/all

****For The 2024 Homecoming Football Game****

Friday, September 20th - 7pm

• Tickets will ONLY be sold online, no tickets will be sold at the game.
• Online ticket sales will end at 3pm on Thursday, September 19th.
• Any child in 8th grade or below must be accompanied by a paying adult who is responsible for them, their behavior and their whereabouts at the event. The student must be in the bleachers unless with the accompanying adult.  
• No bags, backpacks or outside food/drink will be allowed in at home football games and there will be no re-entry.  
• Entry will stop at the end of the second quarter.

Please purchase your Homecoming football game tickets here.

Contact: Andy Ewald. ewald.andrew@slpschools.org 952-928-6118

Parents and Caregivers, welcome to our first PEAC article of the 2024-2025 school year, and we’d like to thank you for all of your support! Here is our list of opportunities for your consideration. Be sure to read our article each week for the latest volunteer opportunities.

Our Parent Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) Mission:

We partner to create a collaborative and inclusive learning environment for students, families and educators that fosters and embraces the brilliance of the St. Louis Park community.

If you have questions, want to support one of our initiatives or would like to join the PEAC team, please send a note to slphsPEAC@gmail.com.

A special thank you from the staff!

Last week’s faculty lunch was a huge success because of you! Together we fed 130 hard working staff members - thank you for coming together to make this happen!

Ways you can help:

• Start your day off with Coffee with the Principal (CWTP) Meet at the High School front office at 8:30 a.m. to connect with the administration by asking questions, and sharing experiences. 
• Thursday, Sept. 12
• Tuesday, Dec. 3
• Friday, Mar. 7
• Attend the 3 PEAC meetings where the Principal team and key department stakeholders will share updates about our school community, culture and activities that impact students (e.g., academic progress and the good work of our students and staff, equitable learning environment, safety:
• Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. at the High School (ahead of the Orchestra Fall Pop Concert at 7:00p.m.)
• Monday, Jan. 13 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
• Thursday, April 10 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the High School
• Staff gift bags Prepare and distribute gift bags 2x a year ~ 2 hours each time (one volunteer in place - need one more to lighten the load)
• Ongoing needs throughout the year (Deliver your contribution to the front office (door 1)):
• Help staff reward great behavior. Donate student incentives (especially needed early in year) for staff to leverage as they catch kids doing good.  Best things to contribute:
• $5 Target, Cub or Holiday gift cards
• Candy bars, small box or bags of candy, (no nuts please)
• Individually wrapped chip snack bags
• Fruit Snacks
• K-Cups and/or coffee sweeteners for the Staff break room
• Donate 2-3 hours of your time for Staff Appreciation Week Lead a luncheon and snacks early in May.
• Share your expertise Set up a business Google account. 

Looking forward to a wonderful year of learning and fun! Fill out this form to get emails directly as needs/opportunities arise.

PEAC - Parent Engagement Advisory Committee

Roni Falck, Julie Yakes - Co-Chairs

Ben Schein - Treasurer

Communications - Jen Beach