CPA Tiger Talk

It’s time to celebrate: Community of Peace Academy has been named a 2024 State School of Character!

State School of Character designation is not easy to obtain. The review team evaluated 228 applications from schools and districts across the country that are working tirelessly to create a culture of character. Only 87 schools and one district received the State School of Character designation for 2024.

Later this school year, CPA will be considered for Character.org’s highest distinction: National School of Character. Community of Peace Academy was named a National School of Character in 2003, 2014 and 2019.

Thank you to the staff, students, families, and community members who make CPA such a special place!

This coming Friday, February 2, is an Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm. Please plan accordingly to help us ensure a smooth dismissal and afternoon commute for all students. Thank you!

All are invited to join us for the CPA Carnival Fundraiser & Online Auction! The Carnival will take place in the CPA gyms and cafeteria on Saturday February 3 from 11am-2pm, and will feature games, prizes, an inflatable, cotton candy, food, face paint, an online silent auction, and more.

This event is a fundraiser, and generosity is appreciated, but there are fun free activities to participate in as well--so the excitement doesn't have to stop when your tickets run out! Elementary aged children and younger must be supervised while at this event.

Want to get involved? Sign up to volunteer with the carnival! We will need around 75 volunteers to make this awesome event happen. Volunteers will receive 10 free tickets to use at the carnival as a sign of our appreciation. Thanks for your support!

For more information, please contact Sadie Fischer at sadief@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4564.

We are currently in the process of enrolling students for the 2024-2025 school year. Student Intent to Return forms were due to the CPA office on January 16. If you did not yet turn in your form, please contact the CPA office as soon as possible to ensure we save your spot for next year.

If you have other students you want to enroll at CPA, visit our website to complete an application before the February 1 enrollment deadline. Thank you!

Have you visited the online auction for CPA's Carnival Fundraiser yet? Bidding is open now and closes at 10pm on Saturday February 3. Check it out at new.biddingowl.com/CPA2024!

This year's auction includes a variety of exciting items valued at nearly $5,000, ranging from gift cards to theatre tickets to gift baskets and more! Bidders can also browse through teacher wish lists and purchase items for CPA classrooms through the Fund-A-Need category.

Please bid generously and share the link with everyone you know who would like to support CPA!

A special thanks to our donors:

• JUCHE / k-lounge
• Conquer Ninja Gym
• Red Balloon Bookshop
• Due Spaghetti / Cara Quinn & Stefano Follega
• Carl Eller & Molly Eller
• Tinucci's
• Minnesota State Fair
• Urban Air Adventure Park
• Nico Zbacnik
• Trader Joe's
• The CPA Art Department
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• Minnesota Twins
• St. Paul Saints Baseball Club
  
• Minnesota Wild
• Actors Theatre of Minnesota/Laugh Camp Comedy Club
  
• Costco Wholesale
• Three Rivers Park District
• Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
• Stages Theatre Company
• Lake Monster Brewing Company
• King Coil Spirits
• Minnesota Zoo Foundation
• Science Museum of Minnesota
• Breadsmith
• Children's Theatre Company
• Total Wine & More
• Paintball Minnesota
• John Metcalfe
• Terry Moffatt
• And the list keeps growing!
  

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

-Anaïs Nin

Friday January 26: 3pm bidding opens for the CPA Carnival's Online Auction at new.biddingowl.com/CPA2024 (see above)

Thursday February 1: New Student Enrollment Deadline for the 2024-2025 School Year

Friday February 2: Early Release Day (dismissal at 12:30pm)

Saturday February 3: CPA Carnival Fundraiser, 11am-2pm (see below)

Saturday February 3: 10pm bidding closes for the CPA Carnival's Online Auction at new.biddingowl.com/CPA2024 (see above)

Monday February 5: New Student Lottery for the 2024-2025 School Year

Monday February 12: Board of Directors Meeting, 6pm

Monday February 19: Presidents Day: No School for Students and Staff

Free Breakfast is available to all students 7:40-8:30am every day.

Please encourage your students to arrive on time and eat a free breakfast!

New this year: all Minnesota students will receive a free breakfast and lunch every day!

Students who wish to purchase a second lunch may do so. Students or staff can add money to their lunch account using the SchoolPay system.

Current breakfast and lunch menus can be found on the CPA website.

Make sure you are following CPA on social media to see all the amazing things that are happening at our school!

Follow CPATigers on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to Rusty the CPA Tiger on Youtube!

The CPA Board of Directors approved and published the 2024-2025 Calendar. You can access the calendar here or by clicking on the download below.

If you drop your students off at CPA, they must be dropped off at Door E on Jessamine (by the RGA). Please do not drop students off in the bus zone on Magnolia prior to 7:55am.

The City of St. Paul's Right Track Youth Employment & Training Program is now accepting applications! Youth ages 14-21 are encouraged to apply by the February 29 deadline.

Participants will received paid training and employment opportunities. Visit stpaul.gov/righttrack to learn more or to apply!

All CPA 11th Grade students have been registered to take the ACT exam on Tuesday, March 26th at CPA. The ACT is a standardized test used for college admission. You can find more information at the following links:

Create a MyACT.org account

ACT Practice Test

Does your family have gently used uniforms that you no longer use that you could donate to CPA?

If so, please bag them and bring them to the elementary office! Our greatest need is in youth sized shirts. We especially need size youth small. Thank you for your support!

The CPA Athletics Department has new shirts for sale in the CPA office!

The shirts feature the CPA Athletics logo and cost $20 for adult sizes and $15 for youth sizes. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go toward the CPA Athletics department. Thanks for your support! GO TIGERS!

CPA students are expected to in uniform every day for school. Families, please help ensure your children are wearing proper uniform clothing each day.

All students must wear:

• A CPA shirt as the outermost layer
• Blue, Black, Khaki or Gray Solid Color Pants or Shorts
• OR Girls’ Navy Uniform Jumper, Skirt or Skort (elementary only)

Please review the full uniform policy in our Family Handbook for further details. Thank you!

CPA uniform shirts can be purchased through the office. Anyone who is interested in additional uniform clothing options is encouraged to visit CPA's Online Spiritwear Store to personalize and order CPA apparel and accessories. Discount codes change frequently but are visible on the spirit store website.

Please Note: Names on any student apparel must be your last name only. If the name on your apparel is not your last name, the item is considered out of uniform and you will not be allowed to wear the item during the school day.

CPA now partners with SchoolNow to contact families with important updates, including school cancellations, weather alerts, event reminders, Tiger Talk newsletters, and more. SchoolNow is the best way to stay engaged with your child's CPA experience!

Visit the SchoolNow website (https://www.schoolnow.com/get-started/comofpeace) and sign in with your email address or phone number. You can also download the SchoolNow app to stay even more connected!

Please let us know if your child is absent from school. Families can report absences in any of the following ways:

• Elementary School Attendance Line: 651-280-4534
• Middle School Attendance Line: 651-289-3740
• High School Attendance Line: 651-280-4535
• Email: CPAAttendance@cpapk12.org
• Attendance Online Form: Available through the CPA Website

CPA is partnering again this year with Every Meal to provide weekend food bags for interested students/families. The Every Meal program is available to everyone, regardless of income. You can register by filling out this form or contacting Sadie Fischer at sadief@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4564.

This newsletter can be auto-translated using the buttons on the top right of the page.

If you prefer, our liaisons will be happy to translate or explain any announcements in Tiger Talk or answer any questions you have about CPA. Contact Maikao Lee at 651-280-4545 (Hmong), Mariana Majil at 651-289-3742 (Spanish), or Paw Nay Bu at 651-280-4591 (Karen) for support.

Teaching Peace. Building Community. Developing Character.

Email: connect@cpapk12.org
Website: cpapk12.org
Location: 471 Magnolia Avenue East, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-776-5151
Facebook: facebook.com/CPATigers