Mid-year activities energize Como High students

By ERIC ERICKSON

• The Como Robotics Team is 45 members strong this season under the leadership of teachers Donna Norberg and Mike Fisher, with assistance from community experts and dedicated parents. The team is working on developing its robot in preparation for the FIRST Robotic Competition. (FIRST is the acronym “For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology.”) The building process is a long, sustained effort that concludes with a tournament in mid-February, followed by the regional competition at Williams Arena in early April. Elected captains are senior Evan Hulick and junior Marie Wulff. Safety captains are seniors Chrys Sowards and Garrett Yzaguirre.

• AP Government students will be making a road trip to Iowa after school on Mon., Feb. 1 to be political observers of the Iowa Caucus. After studying presidential politics, and the significance of the early caucuses and primaries, students will be able to get a first-hand view of the democratic process by attending both the Republican and Democrat caucuses in Mason City, Iowa. Students will return from the whirlwind political adventure late Monday night and have a unique experience to share during the presidential campaign and beyond.

• The Como Park Choirs sang for over 2,000 students at the five Area E elementary school buildings: Chelsea Heights, St. Anthony Park, Como Park, Galtier, Hamline and Je Ming Elementary. The singers enjoyed performing for the young and attentive audiences, and the elementary school students and staff enjoyed the music and performances from the Como Pops Concert.

• The Como Park Bands and Orchestra will perform a concert in the Como Auditorium at 7pm on Mon., Jan. 25. The concert will feature the intermediate band, concert band, jazz band, and the orchestra. Musical selections will include Mozart’s Symphony No. 6, arrangements from Vivaldi’s Spring, famous marches, as well as an improvising ensemble. The community is invited to join students, staff and parents at the concert.

• The Lady Cougars’ Girls Basketball Team sponsored its first annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night. The successful event was an opportunity for the Cougars’ to give back to the community, raise awareness, and honor victims and survivors of breast cancer. Many fans wore pink Lady Cougars basketball shirts, and the team was also decked out  in pink. They won the game over Bloomington Kennedy, continuing a climb in the state rankings. After winning their bracket of the Rochester Rotary Club Tournament over winter break, the team is ranked #5 in Minnesota’s Class 3A.

PHOTOS: The Como Park Girls’ Basketball program hosted Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Dec. 18. The Lady Cougars defeated Bloomington Kennedy 65-54. The team is pictured (photo top) with Alana M. Wright-Carrington, Founder and President of the Carrington Cares Foundation. The team also honored breast cancer survivors and Como staff members Barb Schmidt and Maryhelen Tapio (photo bottom). (Photos by Leigh Adams)

• Prospective students who are interested in experiencing a day of Como Park High School are invited to shadow a current student. Opportunities for shadowing are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in January and 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 Sandy Kestner (651-744-3997), who serves as a Parent Coordinator.

• Como’s Showcase Night for prospective students and families is an opportunity to learn more about Como’s academic offerings and extracurricular activities. Those interested in attending Como are invited to visit the school on Thur., Feb. 4, 6-7:30pm. Students, teachers, staff, and community members will be present to show a sample of programs, answer questions, provide tours, and highlight what you can choose to do as a Como Park Cougar.