The AGAPE Times
a newsletter for students and families - 22/23 Vol 10
AGAPE High School will be closed for a Teacher Grading day on Friday, January 27th! Head Start Childcare at AGAPE will ALSO be closed, plan accordingly!
Important Dates Coming up in January and February!
- End of Quarter 2 - Thursday, January 26th
- Secondary Staff Grading Day - Friday, January 27th - No School for students
- Quarter 3 begins - Monday, January 30th
- President's Day - Monday, February 20th - No School
Testing Updates!
ACCESS TESTING
2022-23 ACCESS Test for English Learners
State and federal laws require that all English Learner (EL) students are assessed annually to measure their proficiency and progress in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English.
SPPS uses the ACCESS 2.0 (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State) test as its annual assessment. EL students who receive special education services and who meet certain guidelines may take the Alternate ACCESS test instead. These tests are used to see if students are meeting the WIDA English Language Development Standards and determine if a student is ready to exit from SPPS’s EL program.
All SPPS EL students in grades K-12 will be provided the ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS tests between January 30-March 24, 2023.
If you prefer that your student not participate in the ACCESS or Alternate ACCESS testing, please provide a written note indicating that choice or complete the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Parent/Guardian Participation Guide and Refusal form and send this communication to your child’s principal.
For more information on English language proficiency assessments and the MDE Parent/Guardian Participation Guide and Refusal form, please go to:
SPPS Family Testing Information website: spps.org/Page/33916
MDE Family Testing Information website: education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/tests/
Please reach out to Ms. Voeks, AGAPE's testing coordinator, or Mrs. Weir, AGAPE administrator, if you have any questions.
Translations of this information are available (click the buttons below)
Ms. Sparkman's Space
Ready, Set, FAFSA Announcements
Additional Languages can be found here
Option #1: Free financial aid events are available to Minnesota students and families via Zoom. The series, running on Tuesday evenings, February 7th through 28th, is intended for current high school students and will cover general information about the financial aid process, details on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Minnesota Dream Act for undocumented students, and other ways to pay for college. All sessions will have interpretation in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong. Attendees can ask questions in the chat and have them answered during the event by financial aid experts. Students who attend any of the sessions will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 scholarship (one entry per session attended). Space is limited so register soon! These sessions are offered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, Minnesota Department of Education, ECMC The College Place and Minnesota Goes to College. For session dates, topics and to register: bit.ly/readysetfafsa. Contact tpribnow@ecmc.org with any questions.
Option #2: Need help understanding the financial aid options for college? Attend free virtual sessions for high school students and families offered by a collaborative of financial aid experts starting February 7. All sessions will have interpretation in Spanish, Somali and Hmong. Students who attend any of the sessions will be entered into a $500 scholarship drawing. For session dates, topics and to register, visit bit.ly/readysetfafsa. Contact tpribnow@ecmc.org with any questions.
Quarter 2 is ending on 1/26/23! Remember, there will be a drawing for a $150 gift card which will include all students who receive attendance awards and/or honor roll awards during Q2!!!
Health and Wellness
Upcoming AGAPE Birthdays
AGAPE High School
Email: lois.vosika-weir@spps.org
Website: agape.spps.org
Location: 1037 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-744-7970
Twitter: @AgapeSpps