64 SECONDS to Learn Up To  25 THINGS about St. Louis Park High School
November 20, 2018

1:   From the Principal

This week's edition will be shorter as we enter into our long weekend.  Although we only had two days this week, there was still a lot going on here at the High School.  I started my week visiting teacher classrooms and was very excited to join some chemistry students preparing for their upcoming exam.  Thank you, Mr. Polk, for the opportunity to relive my science teaching days with some discussion of single and double replacement reactions.
 
I also had the opportunity to meet with many stakeholders to study our school start times.  It was a good first meeting to set our norms and expectations for future meetings.  I look forward to our collaborative work together.  I have confidence our data and collective perspectives will help lead us to informed decision making about our start times district-wide.

Scott Meyers
Principal
2:  Natural Helpers

Natural Helpers is a student group committed to making St. Louis Park High School students feel welcome and supported at our school. They are dedicated to helping peers in need of a friend, a listener, support, or encouragement. Student members recently participated in a full day of training working on effective leadership, healthy communication, and active listening.
3:  I-Time: Who Is Your Champion?

Andy Carlson facilitated the "Who Is Your Champion" I-Time with his 10th grade English classes this week. This I-Time helps to build student support, boundaries, expectations and positive identity.  
4:  Auditions for the Winter Play
Auditions for the Winter Play will be held November 28 and 29. To find out how to join the cast or technical crew, students should attend the theatre interest meeting on Monday, November 26, after school in the auditorium. Those who cannot attend can pick up info packets in Room B324 on Tuesday.
5:  November is National Scholarship Month
Scholarship Search by Sallie Mae is the free way to get access to more than 5 million college scholarships worth up to $24 billion. 

Here's how it works:  
  • Students register for free.
  • They answer a few questions about themselves, creating a custom profile.
  • Scholarship Search serves up scholarships based on the student's skills, hobbies, interests, and more.  
  • Students can receive email alerts when new matches are posted and update their profile any time.
During November, in honor of National Scholarship Month, students who  register for Scholarship Search  can enter Sallie Mae's $5,000 Sweepstakes.*  Registering is fast, easy, and free - and there's no essay required!

6:  Academic Supports
Click here to see days, times and locations for academic support at St. Louis Park High School.
7:  Free Online Practice Tests 
Practice for free! Online test prep for ACT, SAT, PSAT, various AP tests, TOEFL and more is available in the Learning Express Library - a free resource through the Hennepin County Library website at hclib.org You will need your HCL library card number to access the Learning Express Library. Need a library card? Either stop by any public library in Hennepin County, or apply online.
 
Students at Edina High School raised their AP scores by utilizing the test prep in Learning Express Library. See article here.
 
You get to the Learning Express Library by going to  hclib.org   - "Browse" - "Online Resources" - "Learning Express Library" (it's a long, alphabetical list). You will login to the resource with your HCL library card, then click on "College Admissions Test Preparation"
 
You will see a variety of test prep and practice test links for the ACT, SAT, PSAT and various AP tests by subject area. You will need to create an account the first time - which will keep track of your practice progress. You can sign in to your Learning Express Library account and resume practice at a later time; it will keep track of your progress.
8:  Colleges Visit SLP High School
Attention Juniors & Seniors
The following colleges will be visiting St. Louis Park High School.  Please sign up in the Counseling Office.

Bemidji State College - November 26

The following colleges will be visiting soon:
UW-Superior
St. Cloud State U
Rochester Inst. of Technology-NY 
Northland College
Bemidji State College
MSU-Moorhead
9:  Yearbook News
Yearbook Sales:
2019 yearbooks are currently on sale for $70 on slpechowan.com.  You can also pay with cash or check (made out to Balfour) in room B229 during all three lunches.

Senior Baby Ads:
Parents and Guardians of Senior Students,

Baby ads are due December 14th!   Three things you will need to submit:
  1. An adorable baby photo of your student (JPEG or PDF)
  2. A message of at most 140 characters
  3. Payment of $45, cash or check made out to SLP Echowan
One way you can submit a baby ad is through the Echowan website:
Fill out the form and submit.  Your student will then turn in the payment of $45 and the picture in person to room B229.

You can also send all three together in an envelope to:
Julianne Herbert
St. Louis Park High School 
6425 West 33rd Street
St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Or bring in the envelope with all three together to room B229.

IF YOU SEND A HARD COPY OF YOUR PHOTO WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL GET YOUR PHOTO BACK!
10:  CLASS OF 2019: ORDER YOUR CAP AND GOWN
It's time for the members of the Class of 2019 to order their cap and gown for this year's commencement ceremony in June.

Students can simply text the word "SENIOR" to 25827 or go online to  www.gradsmn.org/st-louis-park and then fill out the necessary information. 
11:  "Funky Sock" Fundraiser
Hello! As a school, we believe that IB will be the best preparation for life outside of school as it prepares critical thinkers who strive for intercultural understanding. Our district is incredibly generous in covering the majority of the costs for IB exams, but some families that do not qualify for free/reduced lunch find their portion of the registration fee to be a burden on their family. We would like to have a fund for assisting families with extenuating circumstances with their IB exam registration fees. Please help us build this fund by buying some socks! These socks are so cute they will make great holiday presents!


Thank you so much for your support!
12:  Mindfulness Mondays
 "An intentional Monday can start your week off on the right foot. What sorts of things will you schedule in to reward yourself, do something you love, make you look forward to, act a little silly, and connect with important people in your life?" -ProjectHappiness

Join Mrs. Magdal on Monday mornings at 8:00 in room A308 to start your week off right with a mindfulness practice!
13:  Driver's Ed Parent Meetings
Driver's Ed Parent Meetings (Optional)
Fall Meeting: Tuesday, November 27 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Spring Meeting: Tuesday, April 23 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Location: SLPHS Room B112, located across from the gym, 1st floor

Information:
 
*Attendance at this meeting will reduce your son/daughter's required supervised driving hours from 50 hours to 40 hours.
*Students do not need to attend the meeting.  
*Parent/Guardian will receive a certificate of attendance for attending the meeting.
 
RSVP: to Bill Wodarski, Driver's Ed, Inc. Program Coordinator, billwodarski@gmail.com or 651-621-5649.   Limit: 25 seats
14:  Driver's Ed Course Sections
SLP Driver's Education Information
       
Section 2:  Nov. 26 - Dec. 13 - FULL                             
Section 3:  Jan. 28 - Feb.14 - 16 seats available                        
Section 4:  Feb. 25 - Mar. 14 - 22 seats available                  
Section 5:  Apr. 22 - May 9 - 28 seats available
Section 6: June 17-28, 8:00-11:00 a.m. - 27 seats available
Section 7: June 17-28, 11:00- 2:00 p.m. - 29 seats available
Section 8: July 15-26, 8:00-11:00 a.m. - 29 seats available
Section 9: July 15-26, 11:00- 2:00 p.m. - 30 seats available
 
More information available: Click here.
15:  Winter Weather Closing/Early Dismissal
Are you prepared for a school closing, late start or early dismissal due to bad weather?  St. Louis Park Public Schools will do our best to make a decision about a late start or school closing by 5:30 a.m.  Early dismissal and decisions regarding after-school and evening athletics, events and activities will be made by 2:00 p.m.

Please see the attached flyer for more information in English, Spanish and Somali.
16:  Athletics
Winter sports are starting!
 
Monday, November 12th - Boys Hockey, Girls Basketball, Gymnastics, Boys & Girls Nordic Skiing
Monday, November 19th - Boys Basketball
Monday, November 26th - Boys Swimming
 
To be able to participate you must be fully registered.  Registration includes having an up-to-date sports qualifying physical on file, completed registration forms turned in, and the participation fee paid. 

Go to gopark.org for athletic event information and sports registration.
17:  Upcoming Dates
November 21,22,23  - No School, Thanksgiving Break
December 3 - Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 4 - Band 9/Jazz Band Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 7 - No School, Professional Development
December 18 - HS Chiors Winter Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 20 - Orchestra Alumni Concert, 7 p.m., Auditorium
December 24-January 4 - No School, Winter Break


St. Louis Park  High School
6425 West 33rd St., St. Louis Park, MN 55426
Phone: 952-928-6100 *  Fax: 952-928-6113
www.gopark.org ( Go Park - SLP Athletics Website)
Click here for the Districtwide Calendar