Como students dive into the middle of the school year

News from Como High School

Compiled by ERIC ERICSON, Social Studies Teacher

Photo right: Como Park’s Academy of Finance (AOF) students met with Federal Reserve Bank employees who led breakout sessions as part of Financial Literacy Day on Oct. 25. (Photo submitted)

• Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon visited Como during the school-wide mock election held on Oct. 25. Over 900 Como students voted at the polling place which was stationed in the Como Auditorium. AP Government and Politics students served as election judges, administering a registration table, and distributing official ballots for the presidential election provided by the Secretary of State’s Office.

Several local media outlets covered the event at Como including KSTP, KARE11, the Pioneer Press and the StarTribune. Seniors Eli Freberg, Joe McCune-Zierath, Chong Xiong, Divine Uchegbu, Rachel Ruskin, Jackson Muehlbauer, Lizzy Larson, Hannah Rhee, Trenton Phillippi, Marie Wulff and Minna Stillwell Jardine were all interviewed or quoted in the news stories, expressing intelligent and thoughtful ideas about the democratic process and this election season.

• The Academy of Finance (AOF) continues to thrive at Como with 300 students in the magnet program across all four grades this academic year. A Financial Literacy Fair was held at the school on Oct. 25 with twenty volunteers from the Federal Reserve Bank leading breakout session with students. On Nov. 3, AOF juniors attended a field trip to the 3M campus as part of the BrandLab Marketing internship program.

Other recent AOF highlights included seniors Titi Yusef and William Toney representing Como’s AOF in a meeting with U.S. Senator Al Franken in St. Paul on Oct. 19 as part of an exploratory education visit the Senator conducted as part of his work on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Senate Committee. Several AOF juniors also attended the Carlson School of Management college visit and tour on Oct. 27.

• The Como Robotics Team participated in the Minnesota Robotics Invitational at Roseville Area High School on Oct. 15. Como’s BEASTBot did well in a challenging set of qualification matches and proved their adaptability to many competitors. In Robotics, alliances are formed with other teams, and the first place team from qualifying matches chose Como as an ally.

In the end, Como’s BEASTBot worked together with Irondale’s KnightKrawler team and Central’s MinuteBots to triumph as the tournament champions. Coaches Donna Norberg and Mike Fischer said the team was proud to collect a first-place tournament trophy, and are excited for the regular season to start next January.

• Students in Ms. MaryClare Bade’s Health classes participated in the National “Kindness in Chalk” Day on Oct. 31. The Kindness in Chalk activity is an anti-bully movement which was started a couple of years ago in Minnesota. The Health classes decorated the sidewalk in front of the school with positive messages reinforcing positivity, acceptance, respect and support for their peers.

• The Como Marine Corps JRTOC Ball will be held on Nov. 11 at the St. Paul Hotel. The event coincides with Veteran’s Day and celebrates the 241st birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Como’s cadets will dress in their formal attire for the plated dinner in the Promenade Ballroom. Retired USMC Colonel Paul Adams will be the Guest of Honor.

• Como Park High School’s Advanced Placement (AP) Night is Tues., Nov. 22 from 6-7:30pm. AP Night is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to learn more about Como Park Senior High School’s AP program from staff, parents, and a student panel. Middle school students and families interested in learning more about Como’s award-winning AP college prep curriculum will be able to visit with current AP students and teachers and ask questions about the AP experience. The event will take place in the school library, and refreshments will be provided. No reservation is required, but any questions can be directed to Como’s AP Coordinator Molly McCurdy Yates at 651-744-5354.

• Como boys’ basketball coach John Robinson and colleague Donnell Gibson, assistant coach and Gibson Foundation President, are implementing the Saturday Breakfast Club and Basketball Clinic for their team. The coaches wanted to send a clear message stressing the importance of academics coming first. “We want to equip our young men with the tools necessary for them to succeed at the next level,” said Robinson. Gibson went on to say that, “the young men who show up consistently every Saturday are demonstrating their commitment to not only creating opportunities for themselves but for building a strong team.”

In addition to having a home cooked meal, compliments of Robinson, participants receive tutoring and academic advising from Como school counselor Michael Grant. The academic session is followed by a basketball skills clinic led by the Rip City basketball staff.

• The Como Park Booster Club is encouraging the community to support Como on “Give to the Max Day” on Nov. 17. Please give generously to help support extracurricular activities at Como Park High School. Student programs and clubs including music, athletics, robotics, student council, yearbook, math club, and more are aided by the Booster Club based on grant requests. If you are interested in finding more information about the Booster Club or desire to make a donation, please go to givemn.org/organization/comoparkboosterclub.