‘More normal year’ coming?

After hosting summer school classes for students from across the St. Paul Public School district, Como Park High School welcomed new and returning Cougars into the building at the start of September.
Como staff members kicked off the 2022-23 academic year on Aug. 29 with a week of workshops and seminars to prepare for what they anticipate will be an even “more normal” year than 2021-2022, while also implementing new initiatives.

New schedule
St. Paul Public Schools are utilizing a block schedule of classes at every high school this year. Students will have four classes a day that meet for 80 minutes each. Then students will have four different classes the next day for 80 minutes each.
Collectively, students attend eight classes over two days, so it’s called an “8 over 2” schedule and will be organized by “A” days and “B” days. Como students will also have a grade-level academic seminar that meets every day for 35 minutes.
School leaders are confident that students and staff will adapt and quickly find comfort within the new system. Many teachers are looking forward to longer chunks of time together.
“I think it will benefit our students, create more engagement, encourage deeper discussion, and stimulate more critical thinking,” said social studies teacher Justin Mann.

New bleachers
Athletic director Koua Yang successfully secured a second set of bleachers for Como’s turf field. Rising nine rows and stretching along 20 yards of the field, the additional seating will allow visiting fans to have their own section while Cougar fans can congregate together in the original set of bleachers.
The Como turf is scheduled to host 20 varsity games for soccer and football this fall, plus over a dozen junior varsity and lower level games. Physical education classes frequently use the space during the day, and many community groups and partners take out permits to utilize the space as well.

Homecoming on Oct. 1
Spirit Week at Como is set for the last week of September, culminating with a Cougar homecoming tripleheader on Saturday, Oct. 1.
The Como girls’ soccer team will host St. Croix Prep at 10 a.m. The football team will face Highland Park at 1 p.m. followed by the boys’ soccer team versus Minneapolis Edison at 4 p.m.

JROTC busy as ever
Committed cadets in the Marine Corps JROTC program had an active summer. In late June, they embarked on a four-day (3,300 mile) road trip for their annual Leadership Orientation Camp.
Twenty-nine students had a whirlwind adventure that included Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry, Gettysburg National Park, Constitution Hall in Philadelphia, Tun Tavern (the birthplace of the Marines) and New York City sites such as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 Museum, Central Park and more.
Back home, cadets volunteered at several events, and spent many days working at the State Fair in order to raise funds for the upcoming school year.