64 SECONDS to Learn Up To 25 THINGS about St. Louis Park High School
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May 27, 2021
Important Websites for High School Families
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1: From the Interim Principal
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Greetings SLP Families,
The end of this incredible year is right around the corner. The last day for seniors is Friday, June 4 and the last day for the rest of our students is Thursday, June 10. Our 2021 Commencement Ceremony is planned for Tuesday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. on our stadium field and essential information for seniors and their families is located in this link: 2021 GRADUATION INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES. Tickets are required, and each senior receives eight tickets when they get their caps and gowns throughout the day on June 2.
We have had a great week at SLP High School! Our students demonstrated their brilliance, accomplishments and courage in many ways. It was truly amazing to finally get the opportunity to gather with parents and loved ones as we celebrated with some of our students, and it was awesome to see many of our students show up as impactful leaders.
On Tuesday, our Students Organized Against Racism, (SOAR), hosted a student-led memorial event for George Floyd in our auditorium. So many students participated that we had to place additional students in the cafeteria and coordinate a live stream at the last minute so more people could hear the amazing voices of our students. Hundreds of students respectfully engaged in open discussions about how they have been affected by the murder of George Floyd and past events, and then participated in a moment of silence for 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
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On Wednesday morning, we celebrated our Valedictorians, National Merit Commended Scholars, and National Merit Finalists. It was wonderful to celebrate with a light breakfast together with their families, Superintendent Osei, and three of our Board members; Mary Tomback, Anne Casey and Laura McClendon. Each student eloquently shared words of gratitude to recognize several teachers and other adults who supported and inspired them throughout their school years.
Today, several staff members attended the second of two student-led mental health panels in our auditorium after school. Students shared their experiences and offered strategies to administrators and teachers as to how students experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders can best be supported at school.
Tonight, Bobby Otto, National Honor Society advisor, together with the NHS officers, have planned an NHS Induction ceremony in our auditorium, recognizing both the juniors and the seniors inducted to NHS. Our current seniors did not get to participate in an induction last year, due to Covid. It was only recently that we were even given the opportunity to allow visitors to gather at school, so planning for several events has been done very quickly.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, June 1 and 2, our student-created yearbook, The Echowan, will be distributed during all lunch periods. On Tuesday, they will be distributed in the entryway by the auditorium doors and on June 2, they will be distributed in the auditorium.
Lastly, as we approach the end of the year, students are returning their devices to school. On Wednesday, June 2 and Wednesday, June 9, students will be asked to continue their attendance check-in with teachers during Park Connections.
If students have a personal device and Internet access they may continue to login to connect with their teachers as usual. If a student does not have a device or Internet, teachers will reach out to connect with students in another way. PLEASE NOTE: These connections are REQUIRED for attendance.
Very Kindly,
Wendy Loberg
Interim Principal
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2: Success in the Oriole's Nest
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Muna Sharif is an outstanding person, who looks out for others and leads by example. I have had the pleasure of knowing Muna for two years, and I would argue the community will lose a little bit of wonder when she graduates and moves on. Whether being the one in lunch ready to have a conversation, whether making healthy fun of her friends and sister, or whether striving for academic excellence, Muna brings a joie de vie AND earns respect. From a difficult year scholastically as a sophomore, to getting straight A’s this past semester, Muna has tested and proven her mettle. It is an educator’s pleasure to come to know such young humans, and watch them elevate their peers and themselves at the same time.
What do you find helpful for you at school?
When the school had clubs open to students of color or clubs where students’ voices are heard overall. As well as shows like Black History Month and Cultural shows.
What would you advise other kids to do as they grow up in SLP?
Speak their mind. Say what you gotta say. Don’t be silenced.
What has helped you do so well at school in such a hard year?
Ms King was very, very helpful this year for me as a senior, and being a senior was a motivator with graduation coming. It was hard, but I did it.
What’s your future plans?
MCTC for two years, then transferring to Augsburg, getting a nursing degree and eventually becoming an anesthesiologist while still working as a nurse.
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Olivia is a moral, singularly powerful person. She has almost clairvoyant intuitions on truth and fairness, and as she matures, she makes stride after stride toward a command of these powers that is going to take her wherever she wants to go. Olivia is able to plant her feet, and see to the core of things, whether it be a critical reading of a poem or an emotional interaction with another person. Knowing Olivia for three years has afforded me the privilege to work with her, which has made my life and that of many others more full. I get to see Olivia grow her responses to stressors, implement new tactics of study, and position herself into the situations she desires. Olivia is having the finest academic semester of her high school career thus far, and it surprises nobody. Olivia is an example for younger kids, and a burgeoning leader. Sky’s the limit.
What do you find helpful for you at school?
Coming into school on Wednesday and working in Aaron’s room. It was a lot easier with the Nest as well, because I felt good going there when I needed help with anything.
What would you advise other kids to do as they grow up in SLP?
To take any and all opportunities that are available and offered to you, because that can increase your chances of getting your grades and achieving your learning goals. School can be what you choose.
What has helped you do so well at school in such a hard year?
The Nest with Aaron and Mitch. Aaron kept on me to do my work and Mitch helped me understand and learn it, and helped me get it turned in.
What’s your future plans?
I don’t have a set goal about plans for my future. I just want to seize all the opportunities that I can find.
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3: Congratulations SLPHS Band Students MN ALL-State
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Please join SLPHS Bands in congratulating Olivia Brown, Isaiah Klepfer and Kris Moe. Olivia Brown (grade 11, clarinet) and Isaiah Klepfer (grade 10, tenor saxophone) have successfully auditioned into the 2021-2022 Minnesota All-State Band. Kris Moe (11th grade, tuba) was chosen as an alternate (like an understudy in theatre) for having a score extremely close to the cut-off. They will be selected if another tubist cannot accept. This is akin to a football or synchronized swimming team making and winning state. In an average year, Park has one band student in the All State program, but during a pandemic to have this success is incredible.
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5: Senior Class T-shirt Donations Needed
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Hello Class of 2021 Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
We are asking for families to donate at least $10.00 so your Senior and every Senior will receive a t-shirt!
Click the link below to go to the online School Store where we are collecting donations for T-shirts. We have 37 of the 371 T-shirts donated so far.
The Class of 2021 appreciates your consideration and we thank you in advance for your donations and for sharing this information with your family, friends, co-workers and community members so that all graduating seniors can receive a free Class of 2021 t-shirt.
This has also been a “real life” project for the School Store Operations class. Thank you again for showing your continued support for the STORiole.
The online store will be open for donations until Wednesday, May 26th. T-shirts will be delivered to the high school and available for pick up on June 2nd at the high school during cap and gown distribution. The second option is picking up a shirt at graduation practice on June 8th at 12 o’clock PM.
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Yearbooks are here! Get yours next week!
Date: June 1st and 2nd
Time: 12:15 - 1:35 pm
Location: outside the auditorium doors
Bring: a photo ID
There will be some extras to sell - the cost is $75, cash only.
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I am F.I.N.E.
Parenting adolescents is difficult. We often ask our young person, "How are you?" and get the typical response, "I am fine." However, based on tone, body language or instinct, we suspect otherwise. Hormones, peer relationships and pressures, busy schedules and school can create a vulnerability for teens to develop mental health and/or substance use difficulties. Parents find themselves desperate for guidance and support to help their loved one. This dynamic presentation will help you begin to identify when your adolescent is not fine and ways to intervene.
This class will be held in-person AND online through St Louis Park Community Education, so you can choose to attend however you prefer! Please select your preference when registering.
Register using this link:
Presented by:
Cynthia Doth has been with Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation since 2006 providing direct care to adolescents struggling with addiction in the Plymouth location. Her current role is the Youth and School Outreach Manager where she builds relationships with students, staff and families in local schools to provide chemical health screenings and supportive services to individuals in need. Cynthia helps educate others on chemical health difficulties, treatment services, co-occurring mental health concerns and related difficulties. Cynthia holds a Bachelor's degree in Community Psychology and has completed two Master's degrees from the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies.
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8: Strength & Conditioning: Registration is Available!
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Registration is NOW AVAILABLE for the 2021-2022 S&C session that will begin June 14th. Registration will cover the athlete through the summer and all of next school year.
Please complete BOTH steps to register:
About S&C:
Strength and Conditioning is a year-round program designed to support Oriole athletes both in and off-season. This program is a complement to an athlete’s sport skill training and specifically targets growth in the areas of strength, speed, agility, mobility and injury prevention. The program is carefully coached to keep all athletes safe while they work toward achieving their athletic goals.
This researched based approach will prepare athletes for sport in the safest way possible while under the supervision of coaches and in consultation with athletic training staff. Workloads will be carefully monitored and progressed appropriately for all athletes.
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9: Registration for Fall Sports is now open!
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If you plan on playing football, volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis, girls swimming, boys cross country or girls cross country, you can now register at :
Please remember that all fall sports begin Monday, August 16th. If you have any questions please contact Andy Ewald, Athletic Director, at ewald.andrew@slpschools.org, or 952-928-6118.
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10: Come Join the Football Family at SLP
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Come join the Football family at SLP!!!
Anyone that is interested in St. Louis Park Football please visit our website at gopark.org for all summer practice dates as well as summer Football camp at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Football equipment handout will be June 3-4 at the High School. Incoming 9th Grade equipment handout will be June 4th at 4:30pm at the High School. If you have any questions please contact me. Thank You / GO PARK!!
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11: School Nutrition Meal Pick Up
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Meal pickup schedule:
- Mondays & Wednesdays 11:45am-12:45pm
There will be no meal pick up on Monday May 31st due to Memorial Day Holiday. Our regular pick up schedule will resume Wednesday June 2nd.
Breakfast and lunch is available for students in the building daily.
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12: P-EBT Benefits are still available
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P-EBT Benefits are still available to Families who have students in grades K-12, if they complete the Application for Educational Benefits form. We are processing the applications until June 30th, 2021.
Please keep in mind the P-EBT Benefits are only for the School year 2020/2021, and benefits may retro back to September 2020, as long as they were in Distance Learning and in Hybrid. The Benefit levels for students may be reduced according to the School learning model, such as In Person.
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13: Booster does of meningococcal vaccine for 11th & 12th Grade
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Minnesota law requires that all students get vaccinated against certain diseases or have a legal exemption on file to enroll in school. Students entering 12th grade for the 2021-2022 school year need to have documentation, or a legal exemption, for the booster dose of meningococcal vaccine. Most children received the initial dose of this vaccine when they entered 7th grade.
Teenagers and young adults are at higher risk for meningococcal disease. This booster dose is important to make sure they are fully protected through their highest-risk years. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but college freshmen living in dorms are at increased risk and should get vaccinated. If your 12th grader has not gotten the booster and they are going off to college, please get them scheduled for it.
A person with meningococcal disease may become seriously ill very quickly. Antibiotics can treat meningococcal infections, but often can’t be given soon enough to help. If you plan to seek legal exemption for this booster, please do so before the start of the school year, as documentation needs to be submitted to the health office. If you need exemption information, the immunization form is available on the MDH website (www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/basics/imzform.pdf).
Should you have concerns about costs, ask your child’s healthcare provider about low-cost vaccinations or contact Central Clinic at 952-993-1100.
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