Schedule changes

While the youngest students in the St. Paul Public Schools (SPPS) returned to in-person learning during February, the majority of high school students continue with distance learning.
On Feb. 22, Como and all the other SPPS high schools began to provide on-site academic support for some ELL, special education, and credit-deficient students. Those sessions take place in the afternoons. Teachers continue to instruct online classes in the mornings.
A target date of April 14, coinciding with the start of the fourth quarter academic grading period, has been set for all willing and able students to be back in their classrooms on campus. That announcement from the district has provided hope and excitement, especially for Como’s Class of 2021 who are seeking camaraderie and closure to their high school experience before they graduate in June.

History Day regional qualifiers
History Day at Como featured the research and final products of 11th grade U.S. History students, and any students who desired to produce a history project in addition to their existing coursework. This year’s theme was “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.” Students advancing to St. Paul regional competition include the following:
Group Documentary – Paw Wah, Gay Nee Thaw, Kabao Xiong for The Stonewall Riots
Individual Documentary – Chaa Kong Vang for Alexander Graham Bell and the Invention of the Telephone
Website - Kai Sackreiter, Soren Sackreiter, Alice Wagner-Hamstad, and Zach Bollman “For the Love of Learning: MECC and Communication Through Educational Technology”
Virtual Exhibit - Kazaaron Tallman for Montgomery Bus Boycott, Tuan Dinh for Civil Rights Act of 1964, Taylor Fairbanks for A Fight for the People’s Land, Pang Xiong for Magna Carta, Shakyla Walker for Malcolm X.

Prestigious fellowship
Marie Wulff from Como’s Class of 2017, now a senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in electrical engineering, was selected as a recipient of the Brooke Owens Fellowship.
The fellowship includes a paid internship, mentorship, and a lifelong professional network for women seeking a career in aviation or space exploration. According to the Brooke Owens press release, over 800 talented and promising students applied from Ivy League universities, major research universities, liberal arts colleges, and major international universities.
After the competitive application process involving written and creative submissions, followed by multiple interviews, Wulff was selected as one of just 44 recipients. Her placement and work in aerospace will be at Planet Labs in San Francisco, California beginning this summer.

Active JROTC Cadets
From cross-country skiing and polar plunges, to service projects and academic competitions, the Marine Corps JROTC has been keeping busy.
Like an extra-curricular sports team, the cadets have been able to safely pursue activities following safety protocols and social distancing. The “P.T. Team” has done extensive physical training embracing activity in the outdoor elements.
The Junior Leadership Academic Bowl Team consisting of sophomores Alex Le, Sophia Moore, Jesiah Mason and junior Nayblut Kasuh are ranked in the top ten percent of over 250 JROTC programs across the country.