Family Engagement Plan

Family Partnerships

Our school-parent compact establishes the shared responsibility for student success between the school, families, and students. The Compact was developed with parents, Parent Advisory Council, and Admin, and The CPSHS Family Engagement Committee.

Copies of the compact are available: The Compact will be available at Open House and Conferences. The Compact will also be posted on the school website. Copies will also be available in the Parent Resource Center and Main Office. 

• The compact will be updated:  Spring 2025 with families, staff, and students

There are many opportunities for families to build connections to the school and to each other.

• Title I Annual Meeting where we will share information about school programs will be held in November 2024     
• Ninth grade information meeting for parents will be held on Open House Night
• Senior Class Information Night
• All-school Open House will provide Title I and school information to all Como families
• The Parent Advisory Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6:00 pm
• Como Park Technology Night in September
• Parent meetings will be held in Somali, Spanish, Hmong, and Karen with interpreters
• Como Booster Club will meet monthly to build parent relationships and to support CPSHS
• Family Fun Night in Spring, 2025
• National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) will be in February 2025
• Parent Outreach Coordinator is available to assist parents with school needs
• Chaperoning events such as prom, senior picnic, field trips, etc.
• Como Culture Nights such as Knyaw Night, Iftar Dinner, Culture Showcase, etc.          
• Home Visits - Provided by Social Workers to families in need

We work to make these meetings and events available for every family in the school.

• Invitation postcards are translated and automated calls are made in Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and Karen
• Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings will provide interpreters for non-English speaking parents
• SPPS  provides Lyft for parents who needs transportation to meetings, events, and conferences

Our school supports families as advocates and provides opportunities for parent leadership

• Families should contact their student’s teacher through phone call or email if there are concerns about student learning
• Two staff development trainings on family engagement will be held during 24-25 school year
• The Parent Advisory Council will be a resource for information about school and a place for family involvement. All parents are welcome to be a part of Parent Advisory Council
• The Family Engagement Plan and the School/Family Compact is developed with parents of the PAC.
• We are working toward family leadership in our cultural parent groups
• Parent Outreach Coordinator will coordinate needed parent seminars with admin team
• Como Booster Club- parent-led group supporting athletics and clubs at Como 

Teaching and Learning

Our school shares information about state standards, assessment and student achievement with families in multiple ways

• Report cards and progress reports are available online    
• Parent-Teacher conferences are held in the fall and spring    
• Parent Portal/Schoology provides up to date information on student progress in all classes
• Graduation status letters are emailed to seniors in the fall and second semester in English and translations
• Credit status letters are emailed to 9th-11th graders second semester in English and translations
• Parent Advisory Council will address student achievement and SCIP (School Continuous Improvement Plan) goals during monthly meetings
• Student achievements will be highlighted  in the biweekly email newsletters, on the school website, on the Co,o Park Facebook page, and in the Park Bugle and Midway monitor
• Good News postcards will be mailed to students/families to inform them of student achievements

Our school will engage in personalized learning as a key strategy to accelerate student achievement. Parents can get more information using many tools.

• Parent log-in information can be accessed at spps.org/families  or by asking the school clerk
• Families are encouraged to use Parent Portal/Schoology weekly to keep up on student grades and attendance
• All students use iPads and technology assistance is available at Como Park Senior High School
• Language interpreters will assist families in activating and using Parent Portal/Schoology
• Students are encouraged to use Student Portal/Schoology on a regular basis to keep track of schoolwork and grades
• Como Park Technology Night provides assistance to families and guidance to access online tools such as Schoology, Campus Parent Portal, SPPS app, etc.

Many before- and after-school enrichment and support opportunities are available for students

• Anime
• Asian Culture Club
• Athletics- MSHSL
• Braided Journeys
• Chess Club
• College Possible
• Como Student Council
• Como Outdoors
• Cougar Journal
• Cougar Yearbook
• Credit Recovery
• Ell Extended Day Program
• E Sports Club
• Futsal
• Future Farmer Association
• GSA-Gender and Sexual Alliance
• HOSA
• Jazz Band
• Knitting Club
• Knowledge Bowl
• MCJROTC- various clubs
• Musical-Spring
• National Honors Society
• Robotics
• Table Tennis
• Teachers post after school hours for academic help
• Theatre- Fall
• TRIO Upward Bound
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Youth in Government   

 

The achievement gap, or rather the “opportunity gap,” between students of color and white students in Saint Paul Public Schools is unacceptable. Our school is working to change practices and systems by identifying the barriers that make it harder for students of color to succeed and for their families to support their learning.

• For more about our work on racial equity, contact: Principal, Dr. Diana Brown
• Our Cultural Parent Nights are designed to build capacity of our parents to be involved in their children’s education
•  PBIS team and staff meetings help to identify student needs and address family barriers

Transitions between schools can be challenging, and we work to help families as their children start and leave our school. 

For new students and families, we support the transition by:

• Providing shadowing opportunities for students and tours for 8th grade students, as well as any incoming 9-11 grade transfer students
• Bring ELL students from Murray to shadow Como ELL students
• AP Advanced Placement Information night
• Showcase our school to highlight our academic programs and our extra-curricular opportunities
• Provide two registration nights for incoming 9th graders and their families- one at Murray and one at Como
• Student Council assists 9th grade students in transitioning comfortably to high school
• 9th grade orientation during 1st day of school
• School hosted workshops (Mental Health, Nutrition,Transition, Technology, Career Pathway Center (CPC)
• Focus on Freshmen classes

For students and families moving to the next school in their pathway, we support the transition by: 

• Day 1-9th grade orientation
• College in the Schools (CIS) and Advanced Placement (AP) classes
• Upward Bound, Achievement via Individual Determination (AVID), College Possible, Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
• Career Pathway Center
• National College Fair and Career and Trade Fair
• College Field Trips/College representatives visits to CPSHS
• Career Pathways
• Gateway to College
• Xello
• MN Association of Counselors of Color (MNACC) College Fair at CPSHS
• FAFSA Night (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• AVID Night (Advancement via Individual Determination
• NCAA Night (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
• MCJROTC   

Community Partnerships

Our school develops community partnerships to provide additional support for students and their families

• Partnerships with Colleges include:
  • Bethel College
  • Carlson School of Management
  • Century College
  • College Possible
  • Concordia University
  • Get Ready
  • Metro State University
  • Minneapolis Community and Technical College
  • Saint Paul College
  • TRIO Upward Bound
  • University of MN Mankato
  • University of MN Twin Cities
• Partnerships with Businesses:
  • Arby’s 
  • API Group
  • Army National Guard
  • Best Prep
  • Blaze Credit Union
  • Brand Lab
  • Certified Financial Accountants (CFA)
  • City of St. Paul Financial Department
  • Delta Airlines
  • Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
  • Grant Thorton
  • Junior Achievement
  • ProStart- Restaurant and Hospitality Industry
  • Prudential
  • Ramsey County WorkForce
  • Rock the Street, Wall Street
  • Saint Paul Public Schools Finance Department
  • Thomson Reuters
  • Thrivent Financial
  • Toby Madden- Independent Investor
  • Travelers Insurance and Travelers Edge Program
  • Truist Financial
  • US Bank
  • Wells Fargo
  • Xcel Energy
• Partnerships with Community Organizations:
  • ACE Program
  • Change Inc,
  • Como Park Elementary
  • Healthstart
  • Hmong American Partnership
  • HOSA
  • Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning
  • International Institute of Minnesota
  • Karen Organization of Minnesota
  • Nystrom & Associates
  • Project Lead the Way
  • Sembrando (Wilder Program)
  • St. Paul Library
  • St. Paul Youth Services
  • TRIA
  • Vietnamese Social Services
• Job Opportunities for Students:
  • Fresh Vibes
  • Genesys Works
  • Right Track
  • Various Internships
  • YWCA
  • 3M Step Program

 This plan is available as part of our school’s SCIP, or School Comprehensive Improvement Plan at spps.org/scip, is on our school website at https://school.spps.org/about/title-i, and printed copies are available in the office.