64 SECONDS to Learn Up To 25 THINGS about St. Louis Park High School
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December 18, 2020
Important Websites for High School Families
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1: From the Interim Principal
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Holiday Greetings SLP Families,
What a year this has been! The last day of school before this long-awaited winter break is next Tuesday, Dec. 22. Every student I have talked to in recent days has told me how excited they are to not have to log into Zoom and do school work! Trust me, the adults can’t wait for some time away from computer screens, too. The news of two approved vaccines has certainly uplifted some spirits, but it is going to take time before Covid becomes a thing of the past.
I trust you heard the Governor’s updated news regarding Covid and schools. SLP elementary students will be returning to school on January 19, starting with the youngest learners, but the Governor did not recommend changes for Middle or High School students, who will remain in distance learning based on current COVID-19 case counts in Hennepin County. Governor Walz did announce that high school athletics will be allowed to resume practices on Monday, January 4.
Please remember that at the high school, we welcome students every day in our Oriole’s Nest Study Hall and virtually by appointment. The students who attend, even one day a week, are making great progress. Our semester ends on Jan. 28, so after break, remember that any student wanting a quiet, safe place to learn with excellent internet, supportive adults, and free meals are welcome! Strict safety measures are required, and appointments must be made to work in teachers’ classrooms. Check out this link for details.
Here’s wishing you a wonderful holiday season, and a safe and happy new year~
Wendy Loberg
Principal
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2: Success In the Oriole's Nest This Week
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Tony Schrepfer, 10th Grade GLC asked senior Makala Balsimo, “Looking back through your time here at SLP I've seen that you've been a pretty solid student academically. When thinking about how last spring finished and how this school year has started, beginning with distance learning, moving to hybrid learning and then back to distance learning, what has kept you academically motivated and why do you like coming into the Orioles Nest Study Hall?”
Makala responded with, “What keeps me motivated academically is my future, I want to be successful when I'm older and be able to live as much of a free life as I can. During March 2020 I was struggling and wasn't motivated. I didn't know what I wanted for my future so I did as little as I could to pass. This year I finally got a good Idea of what I want to do and it keeps me going. I like attending Orioles Nest Study Hall because it allows me to go somewhere and get into a routine. At home I would get distracted or just want to go to sleep, but the Orioles Nest Study Hall allows me to have a space where I can be focused and motivated.
When we met up with Makala, she was in the Learning Lab filling out college applications. Keep up the great work, Makala!
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3: All Winter Sports Will Begin on Monday, January 4
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Boys basketball, girls basketball, boys hockey, girls hockey, boys nordic ski, girls nordic ski, girls gymnastics and boys swimming will all start practice on 1/4/2021. Please register at gopark.org.
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4: School Nutrition Meal Pick Up Over Winter Break
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School Nutrition will be providing meal boxes with 10 days of meals over winter break. They are available to pick up next Monday, December 21. We will be handing these out at our regular time outside the High School front door 11:45-12:45.
Regular meal pick up will resume after winter break on Monday, January 4 from 11:45am-12:45pm.
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5: PEAC (Parent Engagement Advisory Committee) Meeting Notice
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Save the Date! The next PEAC - Parent Engagement Advisory Committee - virtual meeting is Tuesday, January 12 from 7-8 p.m. Watch for topics that will be discussed early in the new year.
Lauren Weiser and Julie Yakes
PEAC Co-Chairs
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6: DECA Districts Wants You To Judge
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In these unprecedented times, DECA is rising to the challenge and finding ways for our students to compete at the District, State and International levels. It will look and feel very different this year, and we still need your help!
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7: Screenagers: Next Chapter Follow-Up Flyer
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Thanks again to Care Counseling for providing the opportunity to view the film Screenagers: Next Chapter, Uncovering Skill for Stress Resilience. There was a great conversation/Q and A following the film. The staff at Care put together the following tips that we wanted to share:
Feel free to subscribe to Tech Talk Tuesday if you wish to receive tips for having a weekly conversation about teen, screen and emotional wellbeing issues with family, students or friends.
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8: Dollars for Scholars Website and Newsletter
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Please see attached newsletter for information from your local Dollars for Scholars (DFS) program. DFS is a community based organization that raises money for scholarships for St. Louis Park High School seniors.
Check out their website here and see the attached winter newsletter.
If you wish to make a donation before the end of the year, on the website, you can click on the 'donate now' button or mail your donation to:
St. Louis Park Dollars for Scholars
P.O. Box 16403
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Any questions, please call Barb Nelson, SLPHS Counselor and Scholarship Coordinator
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9: Junior Fun Information
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Current questions from Juniors are around the ACT Test
Please view videos from Ms. Cosgrove (also on Schoology & in students’ Connections Folder)
Test date information. When to take? Registration & Deadlines
Test Fees. Writing vs non-Writing costs. Fee Waivers
ACT or SAT, and my opinion about scores during the pandemic
Includes a full-length ACT, as well as very detailed scoring procedures.
This includes a practice test and an online prep course that also has practice tests.
Registration link to register at ACT.org
Allow at least 30 minutes to complete the online registration.
SLP will give a full ACT at the High School!
Test optional growth since 2005 - 2020 (pandemic response).
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10: Virtual Career Expo January 8
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I am excited to announce we are having a 2021 Career EXPO! We have joined forces with multiple schools and a new platform called Elevate Futures to offer a virtual Career Expo. Please read over the information below and attached. SAVE the DATE - January 8, 2021! If you are available great! Once registered, you will receive detailed information on how to "create your booth" in the near future.
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When: Friday, January 8, 2021; 9:00am-2:00pm
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What: You are invited to participate in a Virtual Career Expo
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How: Host a virtual booth on the Elevate Futures platform. Elevate Futures is an interactive workforce development platform that links recruitment, skill building, and career navigation into one comprehensive system.
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Who: Students from eight secondary and two post-secondary area schools will attend to learn about industries, explore future careers, and get to now potential employers.
Register: Click here to register your business or organization and to create your FREE profile. For questions about setting up your profile contact Claudia Aurand at caurand@mplschamber.com.
Business/Organization Benefits:
- Gain exposure to more than 5,000 future employees or interns
- Increase company visibility and awareness
- Connect directly with educators for future engagement and volunteer opportunities
Virtual Booths Offer These Features:
- Publish a company profile that includes a video, company description and contact information so students can learn more about you
- Upload a personal message to visitors of your booth
- Upload multiple documents for your visitors to download and read
- Link to more than 1,000 existing career cards to showcase positions within your company
Our students are looking forward to an interactive and creative opportunity with this Career Expo!
Sincerely
Kara Mueller
Career & College Coordinator/CTE Coordinator
St. Louis Park High School
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11: Last Call for Senior Portraits for the Yearbook!
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LAST CALL for senior portraits! Seniors, submit yours now at www.slpechowan.com to be recognized in the 2020-2021 yearbook for your last year of high school. Submit your senior portrait FREE of charge on the google document linked to the website. Please be sure to follow the guidelines. If you do not submit a senior portrait, you WILL NOT be pictured in the yearbook!
The senior baby ad deadline has been extended! Seniors and parents, submit a cute baby photo and a message celebrating all your accomplishments! You must purchase your baby ad for $25 by December 22nd, and submit it by January 1st.
Requirements:
- Maximum 400 characters for the written message.
- The picture must be able to fit in a vertical space.
- Money, message, and picture must ALL be submitted by the due date in order for us to publish the ad.
How to Submit:
- Click the Balfour link above to purchase both a yearbook and baby ad.
- Check your email after your purchase for a confirmation from Balfour.
- Click the link in that email to submit your baby ad (message and picture).
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12: Purchase Your Yearbook Today!
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All students, purchase your yearbook today! Yearbooks provide a unique reflection of the school year, and this year is one to remember for years to come. For the 2020-2021 school year, yearbooks will only be sold online due to Covid-19 restrictions and distance learning. Books are sold for $70, but there will be a $1 transaction fee added to the cost. The last day to buy a 2021 yearbook is January 31, 2021. Sales will be closed after this day.
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If you ordered pictures from Lifetouch they are available for pickup just inside Door #1. The building is open Monday-Friday from 7:00 am - 5:00 pm. If you are unable to pick them up contact Kiki Christensen at christensen.kirsten@slpschools.org.
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14: 12th Grade College & Career Drop-Ins
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If you are interested in getting help with your college applications or any other college & career related question, please attend Ms. King's Thursday Zoom Help Sessions. |
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15: Seniors - Order Your Cap & Gown Now
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Please go to gradsmn.org to order your cap and gown now. There is no charge to families. We order our cap and gowns from Jostens and due to the situation with the pandemic, they need to have this information as soon as possible. If you have any questions contact Deb Muralt at muralt.debra@slpschools.org. |
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16: Unemployment Benefits for High School Students
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High school students who lost wages after January 27, 2020, due to the pandemic, can now apply for MN Unemployment Insurance Benefits. The benefits are retroactive, but the deadline is December 25th, 2020. More information & steps for eligible youth HERE.
Context:
- Previously, the federal law excluded high school students from being eligible for federal aid.
- Youth and advocates came together to sue the state of MN and won on December 1, 2020!
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All enrolled high school students who lost a job or suffered lost of income during COVID-19 can now claim Unemployment Insurance Benefits. Refer to https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid19-workers.jsp for more eligibility information.
What Eligible Youth Need to Do:
- Determine if your employment was impacted by COVID-19 since March (hours cut, laid off, business closed, etc.)
- Collect your Social Security Number, State ID/Drivers Lic., Employer information (Address, date of employment, pay rate)
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Beware of scams, only log into uimn.org and its extensions, make sure you see the MN Unemployment Insurance logo on the top left of your window and date on the top right.
- You can apply for unemployment to be retroactive even if you are back at work.
- YOU MUST APPLY BY DECEMBER 25TH, 2020
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Visit the MN Unemployment Insurance Benefits System at https://www1.uimn.org/ui_applicant/applicant/login.do
What's Next?:
- There will be a waiting period after you apply. Benefits will not be immediate if you qualify.
- Check your MN Unemployment Insurance Account for important messages or action items.
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Learn more about Unemployment Benefits at: https://www.uimn.org/applicants/videos/
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During this difficult time with the pandemic, we are aware of the increased need for food, essential items, and upcoming holiday presents. For those who are desiring and able, we invite you to drop off any type and amount of gift card to our main office. This could range from a $5 Starbucks card to $100 Cub gift card. Our SLP staff will distribute up until winter break. Any support is most appreciated! |
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18: Listen/Dear Cancer 2021 Teen Essay Contest
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Are you a teen living with cancer or a cancer survivor? Has someone you love experienced cancer? How has cancer shaped the life of someone you know? Gilda's Club Twin Cities is looking for honest, personal reflections and original insights by writers 13-18 years old who demonstrate an authentic ability to move readers by sharing their cancer experience. Deadline to enter is December 31, 2020.
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19: Change to Chill Hennepin County
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December Note - Achieving Balance
For students and adults alike, balancing life's to-do's with what is most important to you can be a struggle. The first step to finding more balance in life is to identify your values and compare them to the activities you spend your time doing to see if they match up. Start by having a conversation with your family about balance in life - discuss exercise, school work, self-care, alone time, family time, time with friends and whatever else your value items are! Then go through the Values Circle Chart activity to compare how you spend your time with those things that are most important to you.
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20: Relate Counseling Center
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Instead of meeting with a therapist at an outpatient office, your child can meet with a therapist in school or virtually during the school day. For information about school mental health services offered through Relate Counseling Center click here. |
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21: STEP Holiday Toy Program
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STEP is suspending its annual Holiday Toy Shop due to the pandemic. In its place, families will receive $30 Target gift cards for each eligible child. Registration for STEP’s Toy Program for infants through age 14 who live in St. Louis Park will be December 1-18th, or as long as our funding lasts. Please go to our website stepslp.org to register on December 1.
STEP está suspendiendo su tienda anual de juguetes debido a la pandemia. En su lugar, las familias recibirán tarjetas de regalo de Target de $30 por cada niño elegible. La inscripción para el programa de juguetes de STEP para bebés de hasta 14 años que viven en St. Louis Park será del 1 al 18 de diciembre o mientras dure nuestra financiación. Visite nuestro sitio web stepslp.org para registrarse.
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22: Distance Learning and Student Assistance Information
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Daily Schedule
Student Support App
To sign up for a help session with a teacher or for the Oriole Study Nest click here.
Transportation
To sign up for transportation click here.
Other Supports are Available
Many supports are available including virtual support, tutoring, Learning Lab, math tutoring sessions, mental health supports and more. Check other supports available at the High School here. |
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For solutions to common technical problems that you may have with a student device, check out the St. Louis Park Schools Family Tech Help site which is located at https://slpfamilytechhelp.blogspot.com/.
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24: Parent/Guardian PowerSchool Help
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To learn how to set up a PowerSchool parent account click here.
Are you unsure of how to get the most out of your PowerSchool account? In-app help is available from a central online location in a simple, easy-to-use format. Once you are logged into your PowerSchool account, use the “Help” link in the upper right corner of the page to explore all of the things you can do in PowerSchool such as Review Class Information, Review Class Schedules, Email Teachers, View Grades and Attendance and more.
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Registration for Driver's Ed is now open!
Register and find more information here: Website
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26: COVID-19 Testing At Home
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Order an At-Home Test
Click here for Test Site Information
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is offering Minnesotans more and different options for COVID-19 testing by offering saliva testing in a growing number of locations across the state. The test is more comfortable than a nasal swab, and available at no cost to anyone who believes they need a COVID-19 test. Saliva testing is free and available to all Minnesotans who believe they need to be tested, with or without symptoms. Identification is not required. You do need to have an email address and phone number to receive your results.
Insurance is not required. If you do have insurance, you will need to show your card. The test is completely free whether or not you have insurance, and you will not receive a bill.
Saliva testing may not be right for those with low saliva production, such as children under age 4 or someone who has suffered a stroke.
Monday - Friday: 12-7 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
What to expect at the testing site
- Wear a mask or face covering if you can.
- If you made an appointment ahead of time, you can show either your confirmation email/text or tell staff your name, birthdate, and address. Plan to arrive close to the time of your scheduled visit.
- If you did not make an appointment ahead of time, you can register at the event.
- Bring your insurance card if you have health insurance. The test will be 100% free whether or not you have insurance. If you do, we may ask your insurance company to help pay for your test.
How the saliva test works
You must not eat, drink, chew or smoke anything for at least 30 minutes before taking a saliva test. A health care professional will tell you how to take the test, but you will do it yourself.
You will spit into a funnel attached to a tube. Producing the required amount of saliva usually takes 10-12 minutes. You will get your results in about 48-72 hours.
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27: Keep Your School Nurse Informed
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Our Health Services Team is here to support staff and students - even during distance learning. Public health agencies at the state and county levels are overwhelmed with the current number of positive COVID cases and may not be able to answer questions in a timely manner.
The Licensed School Nurse and Health Aide at the high school can answer COVID/illness related questions, work through guidance given by the MN Department of Health, provide information on COVID testing sites, and assist with contact tracing and investigating.
Do not hesitate to reach out with your own questions or to notify us of students who may need support at this time. Please call the Health Office at 952-928-6108contact Susanne Otos at otos.susanne@slpschools.org or Anjonette Scott at scott.anjonette@slpschools.org.
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The District released its Return to School Guide to families on August 14. This guide contains important information about the three potential learning models (distance, hybrid and in-person), health and safety guidelines and protocols, and other general information on a variety of topics including transportation, school nutrition, childcare, arts, athletics, and much more! Click here to download a PDF version of this document.
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