Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Dairy Families award Kaposia Education Center with $10,000 grant to support nutrition and physical activities within schools

The Minnesota Vikings, Midwest Dairy Council and Fuel Up to Play 60 showed their continued commitment to child health and wellness by awarding Kaposia Education Center with a $10,000 ‘Hometown Grant’ to support healthy nutrition and physical activity programs at the school. The ‘Hometown Grant’ program developed by Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL provides the organizations with the opportunity to identify deserving schools in their area and award them with $10,000 to help meet their health and wellness goals. In its fifth year, the Hometown Grant program allows each of the 32 NFL Clubs, Fuel Up to Play 60 and local dairy representatives to provide funding to schools throughout the country.

Superintendent's Message about return to school on Nov. 26, 2018

As was shared with all families and staff last week, the South St. Paul Police Department (SSPPD) located the individual responsible for the threat of violence made against South St. Paul Public School (SSPPS) on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018. The individual, who was found to be “in an apparent mental health crisis,” was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The SSPPD has since shared with district administration that there is no credible threat against the district at this time. As such, we look forward to returning to a normal routine for school tomorrow.

District Statement about school threat and cancellation (Nov. 21, 2018)

Following an early morning notification from the South St. Paul Police Department (SSPPD) indicating a threat against one of the district’s elementary schools, Superintendent Dave Webb notified students, families and staff that he was canceling classes and activities for all South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS). While the SSPPD was not certain of the credibility of the threat, the decision to cancel school for the day was made out of an abundance of caution.

Congratulations to Coach Palmquist and the Girls' Hockey Team

Congratulations to SSP girls hockey team and Coach Dave Palmquist on achieving its 500th win this weekend with a 2-1 victory over Fergus Falls. SSP continues its reign as the winningest team in the state, with Palmquist, who also teaches physical education at SSP Secondary, serving as the program’s first and only head coach in the team’s 25-year history.

District seeks input from families of current, future and former students in upcoming telephone survey

What courses and experiences do students need to be successful in a global world? How should South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) use its limited resources to maximize student learning? What kinds of programs and offerings are students and parents looking for in their local schools? To answer these and other strategic planning questions, SSPPS annually reviews various data sources to inform future strategic decisions. Data may come in the form of best practice research around instructional strategies or brain development, from focus groups and study teams, or from casual conversations with students, staff and families. Periodically, South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) also conducts surveys and polls in an effort to assess constituent attitudes and beliefs about the operation of the school district.

Congratulations to the newly-elected School Board Members

Unofficial results reveal residents elected the following four 4-year term South St. Paul Public Schools School Board members in the Nov. 6 General Election: Wendy Woods Felton, Chris Walker, Linda Diaz and Bill Arend. Election Results will be certified at the Nov. 13, 2018 school board meeting.

Partnership seeks to build “adventurous eaters” through more healthy, homemade school meals

The shift has been gradual, but the move toward more scratch-made foods and healthy options is becoming more common in the cafeterias of South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS). As part of a multi-year effort in partnership with the Minnesota School Food Initiative, the SSPPS’s Nutrition Services Department has focused on creative ways to not only bring healthier meal options to students, but also to help teach students how to make healthier choices that will impact them long-term. As part of this initiative, SSPPS staff are receiving training and resources through a partnership with the Chef Ann Foundation and the Life Time Foundation, which in turn will help SSPPS maximize the nutrition of the food it serves, remove potentially harmful ingredients, and make meals that students love.