CPA Tiger Talk

There is no school on Monday January 2 in observance of New Year's Day. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday January 3!

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches."

~Karl Menninger

As we know, many people teach children: parents and family members, mentors, role models, and yes, classroom teachers. At a time when there is so much focus on what’s being taught in the classroom and how successfully it’s being taught in terms of high-stakes testing, it can be easy to lose sight of other priorities. In the midst of all the pressure, we might underestimate the importance of being the kind of human beings we want our children and students to be.

If you think back to the people who impacted your life most, you will probably remember something special about their character: they never lost patience; they were always fair; they kept her word; they never gave up on you. These are the things that matter most.

Tuesday January 3: First day back to school from Winter Break

Monday January 9: Board of Directors Meeting, 6pm

Tuesday January 10: CPA Winter Concert RESCHEDULED (see below)

Monday January 16: No school in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday January 18: College Knowledge Night & Active Citizenship Night, 5-7pm (see below)

Friday January 20: Last day of semester 1

Monday January 23: No school for students (Staff grading & reporting day)

Tuesday January 24: First day of semester 2

Wednesday February 1: 2023-2024 New Student Enrollment Deadline

Thursday February 2: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 1pm)

Saturday February 4: CPA Carnival (see below)

It is important that all CPA families compete the Application for Educational Benefits Packet so that CPA receives support and resources for all students, and so that individual families have access to community programs, including free and reduced price lunches.

If you haven't already done so, please complete the application as soon as possible. If you prefer a paper copy, please contact the CPA office.

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 Winter Concert has been rescheduled! Please join us on Tuesday January 10 at 6pm in the RGA for this special event. There will be performances by Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd grade, and Middle & High school music students. The concert is free and open to all--so come get into the winter spirit by hearing some beautiful songs!

Student performers: Kindergarten, 1st grade, and second grade students should arrive in the RGA between 5:30-5:45pm and find their teacher. Middle and high school performers should arrive at Door D at 5:15pm and report to Ms. Emily's classroom.

Join us on Wednesday January 18 from 5-7pm for College Knowledge and Active Citizenship Night in the RGA! This is an opportunity to visit with representatives from local colleges, get information about the FAFSA, explore community resources, learn about CPA programming, and experience all things college!

CPA juniors will also be presenting the Active Citizenship Projects, so come ready to hear about the things they have studied and they way they are getting involved in making their community a better place.

This event is designed with 5th-12th grade students and their families in mind, but it is open to all! Come join in on the fun!

Mark your calendars--the CPA Carnival is back!

Join us on Saturday February 4 from 11-2 for the CPA Carnival! This exciting event is a fundraiser for CPA's programming and will feature games and prizes, a silent auction, a raffle, an inflatable, crafts, and more!

If you would like to help out as part of the planning committee or as a volunteer during the carnival, please contact Sadie Fischer at sadief@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4564!

The Carnival planning committee is currently looking for donations of items that can be used as prizes in our raffle or silent auction. If you are interested in making a donation, or if you have a connection to a local business you could reach out to on CPA's behalf, we would greatly appreciate it!

Examples of donated items from previous years include themed gift baskets, handmade crafts, gift certificates, and tickets to local events.

If you would like to make a donation or if you have any questions, please contact Sadie Fischer at sadief@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4564. Thank you!

School Closure due to Snow and/or Ice

School will be canceled if heavy snow and/or icy conditions make it extremely hazardous or impossible for school buses to travel their routes and for employees to get to work safely. The decision to close school will be made by 6:00 a.m. the morning of a cancellation, and earlier when possible.

School Closure due to Cold

School will likely be canceled if the wind chill is forecast to reach -40°F or colder at 6:30 a.m. The decision to close school will be made by 6:30 p.m. the evening prior.

Attention high school students! Do you want help with finding the right college for you, visiting campuses, and applying for admission and scholarships? Check out TRIO ETS!

TRIO ETS is now recruiting CPA students in grades 9-11 who would like support with all things college. TRIO ETS works with students on Mondays and Tuesdays in the high school library during the school day. They are accepting applications until the end of the semester.

If students and families would like more information, they can reach out to Ben Xiong by email at xiong49@stolaf.edu. Students are also encouraged to stop by the library and chat or get an application!

Staff, students, and families! Ms. Michalak would love to have your best photos for the CPA yearbook!

If you have pics of CPA students in action, please share them! Think class projects, field trips, athletics, dances, and more. Ms. Michalak didn't become the yearbook editor until after the fall sports seasons, so we especially need soccer and volleyball photos.

Submit your photos at https://community.lifetouch.com/invite?code=CPATIGERS-23 or email them to kimm@cpapk12.org and include date, names, and grades. Thanks for supporting the CPA yearbook!

EARLY PICK-UP:

If you are planning on picking up your student(s) early from school, the office must be notified by 2:00 PM. Please call 651-776-5151 to notify the office of your plans.

CHANGES IN TRANSPORTATION:

Call the transportation line at 651-280-4588 by 2:00 PM to change your student’s arrangements (either from bus to pick-up OR from pick-up to bus). Any permanent or recurring changes to transportation should be sent to chouak@cpapk12.org or 651-280-4588.

After 2:00 PM, staff are attending to students for end-of-day procedures and are unavailable to deliver messages to students. We want ALL of our students to receive the optimum learning environment and appreciate your understanding in this matter.

CPA values using every possible moment to help our students learn and grow. Parents are discouraged from picking up their children ten or fifteen minutes before dismissal time. This is a valuable time when teachers are putting closure to the day and it is disruptive to the children when the classroom receives phone calls to have students sent to the office.

As we know, Minnesota weather can change quickly, and this time of year we see drastic swings in temperature and other weather issues. Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing to be comfortable and safe throughout the day, including at arrival, recess, and dismissal. Thank you!

Are you looking for an easier way to make payments at school? Create a SchoolPay account!

SchoolPay accounts make it easier to process any payments you need to make to the school, athletics department, or cafeteria. Families can complete the application for free and reduced price lunch through School Pay, and families who receive free or reduced price lunch can also print their determination letter, which can be used to receive discounts at museums, MTC, and more!

Visit the CPA website to learn more and get started!

CPA partrners with Every Meal to provide weekend meal 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 completing the paper application that was sent home with your child.

If you have any questions or need support, please contact the social work team.

CPA is a tight community where relationships are valued. If you ever become aware of any threat to CPA, its students or staff, please contact us immediately. Your cooperation and partnership are key to ensuring a safe school environment. CPA has a Safety Tip Line that anyone can call at 651-280-4609 to anonymously report a safety concern.

CPA is still accepting enrollment applications for the 2022-2023 school year. We have openings in Kindergarten and 5th Grade.

If you have any family or friends who are looking to join a new school community, please encourage them to apply and send them this link! Thanks for your support.

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