CPA Staff Tiger Talk

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.

"From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness." ~Dalai Lama

The apple has long been a symbol for teaching and learning. It’s interesting because one of the primary functions of any fruit is protecting the seeds inside its core, the seeds which will one day create more fruit. And isn’t that what parents and teachers do… plant seeds?

So what’s at the very core of your being? What core values do you hope to plant in the young people in your life? Your contentment may very well depend on protecting and nourishing those core seeds so you can truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Monday, September 19

• PreK-8 FAST Reading/Math Screening begins this week. Please see email from Aaron Tepp for details.

• Grades 7-12 will build Pinwheels for Peace in Ethics class today and tomorrow for International Day of Peace. See email communication for details.

• K-5 Specialist Day 3

• 6-8 Specialist Day 1

• Happy birthday to Sadie Fischer, Communications and Community Engagement Specialist! 🎉

Tuesday, September 20

• K-5 Specialist Day 1

• 6-8 Specialist Day 2

• 7:30am Elementary Child Study Meeting in the Special Education Conference Room

• 2:40pm Heart and Soul

• 3pm ELD PLC in Room 2270

• 5pm Varsity Soccer Game vs Hmong College Prep Academy @ HCPA

• 5pm JV Volleyball Match vs Hmong College Prep Academy @ CPA

• 7pm Varsity Volleyball Match vs Hmong College Prep Academy @ CPA

Wednesday, September 21

• Today is International Day of Peace! Students will plant a garden of Pinwheels for Peace. See email communication for the schedule and locations to plant the pinwheels.

• K-5 Specialist Day 2

• 6-8 Specialist Day 1

• 7:30am Middle School Child Study Meeting in the Special Education Conference Room

• 3pm PLCs

• Happy birthday to Maija Kittleson Wilker, 7th Grade Math Teacher! 🎉

Thursday, September 22

• K-5 Specialist Day 3

• 6-8 Specialist Day 2

• 7:30am High School Child Study Meeting in the Special Education Conference Room

• 8:30am Fire Drill

• 2:40pm Heart and Soul

• 7pm Varsity Soccer Game vs Avail Academy @ National Sports Center

• Happy birthday to Erin Fiege, PreK-4 Instructional Coach! 🎉

Friday, September 23

• Fridays are CPA Spirit Days! Join us by wearing your CPA Swag!

• K-5 Specialist Day 1

• 6-8 Specialist Day 1

• 10th Grade Class Retreat to Camp Ihduhapi

Sunday September 25

• 2:20pm: Middle School Soccer Game vs St. Agnes @ Visitation High School

Wednesday September 21: International Day of Peace

Friday September 30: Early Release Day (Dismissal at 1pm)

Monday October 10: Board of Directors Meeting, 6pm

Thursday October 20 & Friday October 21: No School (MEA Break)

Tuesday November 1: Picture Day (Retakes will be December 1)

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!

All CPA staff members are invited to show their CPA pride by wearing CPA gear every Friday for CPA Spirit Days. Please join us!

Thanks for helping us promote CPA pride throughout our school community!

PreK-8th grade students will participate in FAST Reading/Math Screening beginning this week. Students will be screened over a two week period in grades preK-4. Grades 5-8 will be screened in Reading on Tuesday, September 20th and in Math on Thursday, September 22nd.

Thanks for helping ensure your child is in class and ready to do their best!

CPA celebrates International Day of Peace each year. This year, our students are creating Pinwheels for Peace depicting their interpretation of this year's theme: "End Racism. Build Peace." Students will plant their pinwheels in the lawn around our building as a peaceful display for our community.

The following passage is quoted from the United Nations' website as an explanation of International Day of Peace and this year's theme of "End Racism. Build Peace."

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

But achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race.

As Secretary-General António Guterres has said: “Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”

As conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, causing people to flee, we have seen race-based discrimination at borders. As COVID-19 keeps attacking our communities, we have seen how certain racial groups have been hit much harder than others. As economies suffer, we have seen hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities.

We all have a role to play in fostering peace. And tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute.

We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech – both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and reparatory justice.

The 2022 theme for the International Day of Peace is “End racism. Build peace.” We invite you to join the efforts of the United Nations as we work towards a world free of racism and racial discrimination. A world where compassion and empathy overcome suspicion and hatred. A world that we can truly be proud of.

The 2022-2023 athletics season is underway. Any students who are still interested in joining the soccer team can register online on the CPA website. Students must be registered before they can join practice.

Please note that there are ongoing scams from companies that claim to stream athletic events online, then ask for your credit card information to access it. CPA does not stream our games online, and you should not give your credit card information to these scam companies.

Are you interested in helping out at CPA as a volunteer or helping to chaperone field trips? If so, we would love to have you! Click here to access the Volunteer Handbook, which contains an application. The application must be done each year in order for you to continue serving as a volunteer or chaperone. Please send completed applications back to CPA through your student's teacher, or send it directly to the Volunteer Coordinator, Sadie Fischer, at sadief@cpapk12.org.

CPA is partnering again this year with Every Meal to provide weekend food bags for interested students/families. All families who registered last spring will be automatically enrolled in the program this year (you do not need to reapply).

The Every Meal program is available to everyone, regardless of income. You can register by filling out this form or completing the paper registration that will be coming home with your child.

We expect to begin distributing weekly bags of food to enrolled students at the end of September.

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!

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.

CPA is still accepting enrollment applications for the 2022-2023 school year. We have openings in Kindergarten, 5th Grade, and 10th-12th 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.

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