Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Como’s State Swim Meet qualifiers at the U of M (left to right): Kai Sackreiter, Ethan Napierala, Gabe Napierala, Sig Isaacson, Soren Sackreiter, and Mark Remuto.

As students returned to in-person learning on April 14, the spring sports season was already entering its third week. During distance learning, Como winter sports teams kept competing with many … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 4/14/21

HOPE breaks ground

HOPE Community Academy and Hmong community leaders broke ground on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 on a 60,000-square-foot building expansion at 720 Payne Ave. HOPE is expanding from a K-8 format to include … more

2/11/21

Debate to State!

The Como Park debating duo of Chikamso Chijioke and Sam Skinner concluded their junior year of competition as participants in the Minnesota State High School League Tournament. They’ve made … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 2/11/21

Student Engagement and Advisory Board Member Kalid Ali said, “I take every opportunity that comes my way as if it were the last one, for the betterment of myself and for others.” (Photo submitted)

Achievement gap growing

The first quarter grades for this year are in for St. Paul Public School students, and it appears that racial disparities are growing worse with distance learning.In 2019, Minnesota ranked 50th when … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21

Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria with wife Nubia Espara and children Isabelle, Giselle and Santiago Sanchez-Espara. (Photo submitted)

Up close with local families

ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL Meet Seng Fields and her family. She’s a nurse at Abbott Northwestern who works four days a week, while her husband teaches for St. Paul Public Schools and has … more

Compiled by Tesha M. Christensen | 1/14/21

Como seniors Kalid Ali has taken an active role in promoting political participation as interns with the League of Women Voters. (Photo submitted by Eric Erickson)

Teens serve as election judges

During the intensity of the 2020 General Election, many Como students took it upon themselves to participate in our democracy. Very few high school students are eligible voters, the exception being a … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 12/9/20

What it takes to make a partnership

Lizzy Carson, Bethel University sophomore nursing major and reconciliation minor, was recently named a 2020 Newman Civic Fellow for her community engagement on Bethel’s campus and in the … more

By Maddie Christy, Callie Chase and Laura Osterlund | 11/11/20

Students make blankets

Elizabeth Wegner, who teaches at King of Kings Lutheran School in Roseville and doubles as Jehovah Lutheran music director, led her fifth- and sixth-grade students in a project making nine … more

11/11/20

Tabitha Wheeler named Social Worker of Year

The Minnesota School Social Workers Association proudly announces the selection of Tabitha Wheeler as the Minnesota School Social Worker of the Year for 2020. Wheeler has been a school social … more

11/11/20

The Como Park Cougars celebrated their season-opening “W” against Highland Park. Como had a record of 3 wins and 0 losses as the Monitor went to press. (Photo submitted by Eric Erickson)

Spirit week goes virtual

Distance learning has entered its third month of the 2020-2021 school year. St. Paul Public Schools announced that high schools will continue with the format until at least January.One of many … more

by Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 11/11/20

CONNECTING WHILE DISTANT

The Como Marine Corps JROTC held a socially-distanced outdoor ceremony to celebrate recent awards and the changing of the guard to the class of 2021’s senior … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 10/17/20

Distance learning for all

New signs are ready to welcome Como students back – whenever in-person classes are deemed safe by state metrics and SPPS. (Photo by Eric … more

By Eric Erickson | 9/18/20

Murray Middle School scholarship winner

John Mbanda (left), a former Murray Middle School student and 2020 Highland Senior High School graduate, is the first recipient of the $1,000 e2 Jon Schumacher Scholarship Award. He was nominated by … more

9/18/20

Join us once a month

Hamline Midway Early Learning Coalition By Jessica Kopp earlylearning@hamlinemidway.org Hi neighbors! We are a group of residents and organizations who work to address the needs and … more

By Jessica Kopp earlylearning@hamlinemidway.org | 9/18/20

Mississippi River connects teachers from ‘The Headwaters to the Delta’ despite COVID-19

The Virtual Mississippi River Institute blends online and hands-on outdoor learning Last February, more than 30 educators from Minnesota and Louisiana were looking forward to a special river journey. … more

9/18/20

Why they love homeschooling

Kathy Oaks As COVID-19 forces educational changes, some parents are considering whether online schooling through their district or homeschooling on their own will work better for their … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 8/18/20

Talking dyslexia with U of M

Starting with the 2020 school year in Minnesota, all students not reading at grade level by the end of kindergarten through second grade must be screened for dyslexia. Students in third grade and … more

8/18/20

We’re thinking of how to best care for our families

By JESSICA KOPP, Saint Paul Public School board member Jessica Kopp jessica.kopp@spps.org At four in the morning on March 13, the first teacher strike in St. Paul in over 70 years ended. … more

By JESSICA KOPP, Saint Paul Public School board member, jessica.kopp@spps.org | 8/18/20

Chauntyll Allen’s big work

Chauntyll Allen By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN What is our collective responsibility of ending gun violence? That’s a driving question for Chauntyll Allen, who joined the St. Paul School … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 7/15/20

Maxfield students, teachers wrestle with COVID-19, George Floyd’s murder

I Am Somebody Maxfield Elementary School Principal Ryan Vernosh had just four days to lead Maxfield into a completely different learning environment. AT RIGHT The poem ‘I Am Somebody’ is said … more

By CHLOE PETER | 7/15/20