Debate Club, Iowa Caucus, Winterfest, FUNraiser, all in the picture

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Compiled by ERIC ERICKSON, Social Studies Teacher

• Sophomore Stephen Boler and freshman Peter Schik shined on the Como Park Debate Team this season, finishing their season as Como’s top duo and qualifying for the MSHSL State Tournament, held in January at the University of Minnesota. They competed in the Public Policy category, placing 15th overall in the state. With two and three years of high school debate in front of Boler and Schik respectively, the future appears quite promising for these skillful Como debaters.

• 47 AP Government and Politics students took a road trip to Iowa and back on Feb. 1 to be political observers of the Iowa Caucus. With all the media attention on Iowa’s first in the nation caucus, and with previous studies of presidential politics and campaigns, students were eager to be a part of the action and see how democracy works at a grass roots level.

Como High School Iowa CaucusPhoto left: Como Park AP Government and Politics students took a road trip to Mason City, Iowa after school on February 1 to witness the nation’s first caucus in the 2016 Presidential Election.

The students boarded a coach bus after school for the 140 mile trip to Mason City in rural, northern Iowa. After a stop for dinner at the Mason City Pizza Ranch, students spent an hour at the Republican Caucus as participants arrived. Students informally polled caucus goers to get a sense of which candidates were preferred, and why voters chose them. The bus then shuttled the students to the Democrat Caucus where they observed the process of voters standing for a candidate, which was an even split among Clinton and Sanders supporters.

The group headed back to St. Paul following the caucuses, arriving back at Como by 10:45pm. The whirlwind political adventure was described by Senior Jacob Barnard as “a really interesting and fun experience. It was cool to speak with the people in Iowa and to be there with so much national attention on the caucus.”

• Winterfest Spirit Week is taking place at Como from Feb. 8-12. Theme days include Cozy Monday (wearing pajamas), Red, White and Blues Day, Sports Day, Thorwback Thursday and Heritage Day. A coronation of the Winterfest King and Queen is a tradition accompanied by a Pep Fest to recognize the winter sports teams and student athletes. Spirit week concludes with the Winterfest Snowball Dance at the Midpointe Event Center, located on Pascal St. in the Midway, on Sat. night, Feb. 13.

• Two freshmen Intermediate Band students, Bridget Proper and Adina DeGaetano, were selected to participate in the Augsburg College 9th & 10th Grade Honor Band Festival on Jan. 23. The event was an all day affair culminating with an evening performance in Augsburg’s Hoversten Chapel. The concert was an impressive display of musical talents after a day of intensive training.

• Como counselors and representatives from College Possible and Upward Bound will be available to help students and families complete the FAFSA forms to apply for college financial aid on Feb. 11 and Thur., Mar. 10. Hands-on assistance and guidance will be available in Library Computer Lab from 5-7pm on the “FAFSA Nights.”

• Senior volleyball player Delilah Wolf has accepted a full scholarship to study and play volleyball at Division I Loyola University Chicago. Senior football player Kemari Davis was selected to represent the U.S. U18 Football Team in the International Bowl versus the Ontario U18 team in Dallas, Texas on Feb. 5. The game was played in AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and broadcast on ESPN3. Davis has not yet made his college choice.

• The Como Park High School Booster Club is sponsoring a family friendly ‘FUN’raiser at the Urban Growler Brewing Company on Sun., Mar. 6, from 4-8pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children. The price includes one meal and one beverage, plus a chance to win some high-quality prizes. Funds raised go to support extracurricular activities offered to Como Park High School students. Tickets can be obtained by calling at 651-744-3997, contact the booster club at comoparkboosterclub@gmail.com, or by visiting comosr.spps.org/booster_club for more details.

• Como’s Showcase Night was held Feb. 4. Prospective students who are interested in experiencing a day of Como Park High School were invited to shadow a current student. Opportunities for shadowing are on Tues., Wed., and Thur. through February. Interested prospective students who would like to shadow may register online at comosr.spps.org by clicking “Prospective Students and Parents” under Popular Links. Tours are also available upon request through Parent Coordinator Sandy Kestner. She may be reached at 651-744-3997.

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