Como Park’s Marine Corps JROTC cadets continued their tradition of volunteering for Toys for Tots during the holiday season. Cadets collected, sorted and distributed brand new and unwrapped toys as Christmas gifts for families in need.
Sgt. Major Kirkland noted that the U.S. Marine Corps has supported Toys for Tots for the last 75 years. Collectively, over 627 million toys have been distributed to more than 281 million children.
“This success stems from great partners, sponsors and volunteers such as the Como Park cadets,” Kirkland said. “Without their help this program would not be as successful as it is!”
Como’s effort in this year’s Toys for Tots drive was led by 11th grade cadet Thierry Tetevi.
Debate
Como students participating in the Minnesota Urban Debate League have been improving and gaining confidence this season. Like other activities at Como, all students are welcome and appropriate competitive levels are offered. Many students brand new to debate have developed skills and are now thriving in the league’s “Novice A Division.”
At the year-end city meet, Como juniors Sundus Ali and Gudon Mohamed advanced to the semifinals. Junior Angie Jimenez-Valerio and freshman Lisa Aigner advanced to the finals and finished as the runner-up team.
Jimenez earned the additional honor of being selected the Novice A Top Speaker, while Aigner was awarded the Novice A Runner Up Speaker.
Como’s debate coach is social studies teacher Joshua Lincoln.
Theater and Choir
Forty-five Como students had the privilege of experiencing the Ordway Theater for a matinee performance of “Beauty and the Beast” on Dec. 13. For many participants, it was their first time seeing a live theater show.
Members of the choir toured local elementary schools, a nursing home and the Radisson Blu at MOA on Dec. 9 to perform holiday songs and carols.
Spirit Week
The final week of school in 2022 was a spirited one with thematic dress-up days for Como students. Monday’s theme was “Zoom-Fits” (professional on the top, pajamas on the bottom.)
Tuesday was Dress Like a Teacher Day, Wednesday was Ugly Sweater Day, Thursday was Disney v. Nickelodeon characters, and Friday was Class Colors Day. The class colors theme carried over into the gym at the end of the day for the first-ever “Battle of the Classes Futsal Tournament.”
Embracing the World Cup competition that ran through December, students from each grade signed up to represent their class in the popular version of soccer played on hard surfaces with a low-bounce ball.
Fans in the stands cheered on their classmates as the freshmen took on the sophomores, followed by the juniors versus the seniors. The sophomores and juniors met in the finals with the sophomores from the class of 2025 winning the title (and then defeating the Como staff team!)
The spirited competition was a fun way to conclude classwork for 2022 and kick off winter break.
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