Kaposia receives $4,000 grant for health and wellness initiatives

This year, students at Kaposia Education Center will have even more resources to help them stay healthy and active. Last week Kaposia learned that it had been awarded $4,000 to support healthy eating and physical activity initiatives as a part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, which encourages students to eat healthy, be active and implement positive changes in their schools and communities. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council, Midwest Dairy and the NFL in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture.

South St. Paul Secondary receives 2019 Cultural Jambalaya Diversity Award celebrating student affinity groups and staff advisors

South St. Paul (SSP) Secondary School’s affinity groups and their faculty advisors were recently honored at an event last night as a 2019 Cultural Jambalaya Diversity Award. The award honors those who have made a positive difference by advancing multiculturalism and ethnic diversity in their Minnesota communities. SSP was recognized for promoting conversations around the school’s increasingly diverse student population.

Kaposia, Lincoln Center receive grants from Action for Healthy Kids® and Cargill to advance student health and well-being

South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) is proud to announce that both Kaposia and Lincoln Center are among a small group schools to receive 2019-2020 Game On grants of $1,000 each from Action for Healthy Kids® (AFHK). The grants are provided through funding from Cargill to expand student access to physical activity and healthy foods in school, improve knowledge and behaviors around physical activity and healthy eating, and engage parents in activities that reinforce healthy habits at home.

Board approves new listening session format to increase dialogue and engagement with the community

At its meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, the South St. Paul School Board approved a new format for its listening sessions with the goal of encouraging more authentic engagement with parents and community members. The new listening session format will start at the Board’s next meeting on Monday, Oct. 14.

Board approves preliminary tax levy at maximum while working to reduce overall increase and ease burden on property owners

At its meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, the South St. Paul School Board approved the preliminary tax levy for 2019 payable 2020. In keeping with past practice, the Board approved the maximum of the proposed levy with the intent of continuing to review levy categories for possible adjustments. District officials said that they are working with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to reduce the overall increase and ease the burden on property owners.

District’s purchase of River Heights Professional Building to provide better learning environment for Community Learning Center and adult programs

Since 1997, the Community Learning Center (CLC) has been housed inside Woog Arena. Prior to that, the CLC, which was established in 1990, has been housed in various non-school locations in the South St. Paul (SSP) community. Throughout its nearly 30 year history, the CLC has operated in facilities leased by the district, as there has not been available and appropriate district-owned space for the school. But starting in Fall 2020, the CLC and other district adult learning programs will have a new place to call home thanks to a recently approved purchase agreement for the River Heights Professional Building at 710 19th Avenue North.

Amanda Kelly, Benjamin Path named National Merit Commended Students

South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) is pleased to announce that Amanda Kelly and Benjamin Path have been named Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.

SSPPS seeks community representative to serve on the Central Square Community Center Advisory Board

South St. Paul Public Schools is accepting applications for community members interested in serving as a school district representative on the Central Square Community Center (CSCC) Advisory Board. The position is a 3-year term beginning in November of 2019. The board normally meets on the third Thursday in the months of January, March, May, August, and November.

South St. Paul’s John Deneen named National Merit Semifinalist

South St. Paul Public Schools (SSPPS) is pleased to announce that John Deneen, SSP Secondary senior, has been named a 2020 National Merit Semifinalist. Deneen, who last year earned a perfect score of 36 on his ACT, is among an elite group students from across the country for the distinction, a group that includes less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.