Activities
- BAND
- DEBATE
- KEY CLUB
- KNOWLEDGE BOWL
- MATH TEAM
- ROBOTICS & LEGO LEAGUE
- SPEECH TEAM
- STUDENT LEADERSHIP & AFFINITY GROUPS
- STUDENT COUNCIL
- THEATRE
- VOCAL MUSIC & SHOW CHOIR
- YEARBOOK
BAND
South St. Paul High School Band
The Director of Bands is John Devine. If you have questions about our program, feel free to contact Mr. Devine.
John Devine
Band Director (6-12)
(651) 457-9443
jdevine@sspps.org
DEBATE
SSP Debate PROGRAM
The head coach for Debate is Conrad Anderson. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Anderson.
Conrad Anderson has been coaching debate programs in Minnesota since 1986. Conrad debated at Brainerd High School, and then coached there for two years immediately after high school. In 1988, Conrad transferred to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he debated on the college team for two years, and at the same time coached the Fargo South High School Debate program for three years. After graduating from Concordia College in 1991, Conrad was hired at South St. Paul High School to teach Social Studies as well as coach the South St. Paul Debate Program. Conrad Anderson was selected as the 1997 and 1998 Section III Policy Debate Coach of the year, and in 2002 won the Minnesota State Policy Debate Coach of the Year Award.
Notable Team Honors
The South St. Paul High School Debate Team holds the state record for the most Minnesota State High School League-sponsored championships in Varsity Debate:
- 1944 - Emmy Lou Lindgren & Patricia Lanegran
- 1950 - Walter Nickel, James Sweson, Josephine Gridley, & Jean Wood
- 1951 - Josephine Gridley, Jean Wood, Ronald Brown, & Nic Trkla
- 1953 - John Arrowwood, Fred Mecklenberg, Joan Sevick, & Marjorie Malo
- 1954 - Sharon Schultz, Karen Seeger, Ken Homes, & Robert Rolle
- 1955 - Sharon Schultz, Karen Seeger, Gary Kuhn, & Robert Rolle
- 1956 - David Madis, Sharon Shultz, Anita Pampusch, & Karen Seeger
- 1958 - Jackie Tucci, Linda Leininger, Harold LeVander, & Phyllis Arnold
- 1982 - Kelly Kadera & Phil Voight
- 1986 - James Lansing & Carl Lehmann
- 1987 - James Lansing & Carl Lehmann
- 2005 - Bryan Beaudoin & Tiffany Wang
Other Recent Notable Accomplishments:
- 1996 - National Debate Tournament Qualifiers: Lindsay Francis & Sherene Judeh
- 1998 - State Debate Tournament Semi-finalists: Sherene Judeh & Sarah Topp
- 1999 - State Debate Tournament Quarter-finalists: Samantha Evans & Katie Lundquist
- 2000 - State Debate Tournament Quarter-finalists: Samantha Evans & Katie Lewsader
- 2002 - State Debate Tournament Runner-up: Samantha Evans & Haley Seaberg
- 2002 - National Debate Tournament—5th Place Finish: Samantha Evans & Haley Seaberg
- 2003 - Classic Debate Novice State Champions: Ivan Kowalenko & Micah Olson
- 2003 - Classic Debate JV State Champions: Bryan Beaudoin & Tiffany Wang
- 2006 - Classic Debate Novice State Champions: Erika Jensen & Michael Thury
- 2007 - National Debate Tournament Qualifiers: Haley Moore & Alexa Villaume
coaching staff
Conrad Anderson
Head Coach
(651) 552-5580, ext. 1374
canderson@sspps.org
KEY CLUB
Key Club
The advisor for Key Club is Jesse Arvidson. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact the Mr. Arvidson.
Sign Up for Key Club!
Click here to sign up and be part of the South St. Paul Key Club!
What does Key Club do?
Because Key Club is a service-based organization, the main goal of the club is to get students from South St. Paul Secondary to volunteer their time to help people in need. This volunteering ranges from raising money for an organization to helping out at a soup kitchen. Key Club feels that it is important that high school-aged children learn the importance of helping others and helping the community in which they live.
What is the Key Club planning in future?
- Volunteering at a Children's hospital.
- Working at a soup kitchen over the holidays.
- Come as You Are with Neighbor's Inc.
- The shoveling of sidewalks for elderly (maybe).
- Working with Habitat for Humanity.
When does Key Club meet?
The second and fourth Wednesdays of each month after school. All are welcome to attend.
ADVISOR
Jesse Arvidson
(651) 552-5580 l x1213
arvidsonj@sspps.org
KNOWLEDGE BOWL
SSP Knowledge Bowl
The coach for the 9-12 Knowledge Bowl is Conrad Anderson. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Anderson.
Lettering Criteria
Knowledge Bowl members will receive a varsity letter if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Be on one of the top two teams in at least two meets and successfully complete the season.
- Attend all the practices and all the meets and successfully complete the season.
- In special circumstances the coach can award a knowledge bowl participant a letter.
Coaching Staff
Conrad Anderson
Head Coach (9-12)
(651) 457-9454
canderson@sspps.org
TBD
Middle School Coach (6-8)
(651) 457-9462 c/o Activities Office
knihart@sspps.org
MATH TEAM
MATH TEAM
The head coach for the Math Team is Luke Olson. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Olson.
About Our Program
The high school math team offers students in grades 9-12 an excellent opportunity for developing their problem solving talents in a non-classroom setting. By competing in both individual and team events, students not only become more confident in their mathematics abilities, but also develop their ability to work cooperatively toward a common goal.
Math competitions also allow team members to meet and establish friendships with students from other schools. Math team participants will find our Math Team to be both a fun and rewarding experience!
Lettering Criteria
Math team members will receive a varsity letter if they meet one of the following criteria:
C.A.S. Points
Math Team participation hours can be applied to C.A.S. points for IB Honors.
- Earn a minimum of 12 points in individual events and successfully complete the season.
- Attend all the practices and all five meets and successfully complete the season.
- In special circumstances the coach can award a math team member a letter.
Coaching Staff
Luke Olson
Middle School Coach (6-8)
High School Coach (9-12)
(651) 552-5580 | ext. 2225
lolson@sspps.org
ROBOTICS & LEGO LEAGUE
Robotics & LEGO LEAGUE
The head coach for the Robotics Team is Tom Fields. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Fields.
Tom Fields
Robotics Senior High Advisor
(651) 457-9462
tfields@sspps.org
The coach for middle school Lego League is Ricardo Rivera. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Rivera.
Ricardo Rivera
Lego League Advisor
(651) 552-5580 x2117
tfields@sspps.org
SPEECH TEAM
Speech Team
Welcome to the South St. Paul Speech Program. The head coach for Speech is Ceil McDonald. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Ms. McDonald.
Lettering Criteria
Math team members will receive a varsity letter if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Register and compete in at least 6 meets* (invitational, subsection, section, state)
- Have an exemplary coaching record, which entails scheduling and fulfilling two coaching sessions beginning a week before the student’s first scheduled competition. One of the two coaching sessions may include the Thursday evening team meeting and practice.
- Assist at least two (2) hours in setting up for (or cleaning up after) one or more of the following events: Hilke Invitational, Parents’ Night, or the Speech/Debate Banquet.
* If a team member qualifies for the State tournament and meets criteria 2-4, he or she will letter even if she/he competed in fewer than 6 meets (an unlikely event!)
Note: Except in case of emergency, a team member who fails to attend a competition for which he/she has registered will not letter. Should the team member miss a second scheduled competition, he/she WILL be dropped from the team.
Advisor
Ceil McDonald
Advisor - Head
(651) 457-9462 in care of the Activities Department
cmcdonald@sspps.orgAdvisor
STUDENT LEADERSHIP & AFFINITY GROUPS
Black Pride Organization (BPO)
All Are Welcome & Every Voice Matters. The BPO mission is to address racial issues, stereotypes, and biases by increasing visibility in leadership roles, supporting African American students in education, and giving them a space for all to have a voice.
Contact Amber Gay at agay@sspps.org for more information.
Follow BPO on instagram at @ssp_bpo for events and updates.
Comunidad de Latinos Unidos (CDLU)
CDLU is a Student Affinity Group open to all students grades 6-12. In CDLU, we celebrate our many different cultures as we strive for high academic success through education, real world discussion, and participation in a collaboration of community events. Meetings are held in the Stock Exchange (Fish Bowl) every other Monday after school.
CDLU es un grupo estudiantil de afinidad, y cada estudiante en grados 6 a 12 está invitado. La misión de CDLU es celebrar nuestras culturas distintas y lograr el éxito académico alto a través de la educación, conversaciones de temas actuales, y participación en una variedad de eventos comunitarios. Las reuniones son cada dos lunes en el Stock Exchange ("la Pecera").
Follow CDLU on instagram at @sspcdlu for events and updates.
Sexuality and Gender Awareness (SAGA)
SAGA’s goal is to create a safe place for people to express their sexual and gender identities as they are and to increase awareness for the LGBT community and their struggles. Students in grades 6-12 can join SAGA, which meets weekly. Some meetings are educational, where kids prepare and present information on LGBTQ+ issues, and other meetings are just getting to know one another, doing crafts and playing games.
Contact Elizabeth Zender at ezender@sspps.org or Allison Binder at abinder@sspps.org for more information.
Follow SAGA on instagram at @ssp_saga for events and updates.
Women’s Society
Contact Elizabeth Ritzer at eritzer@sspps.org for more information.
Follow Women's Society on instagram at @womenssociety_ssp for events and updates.
Native Youth Leadership Council - Equity Alliance, MN
Native Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) is a multi-district group of Native American high school students who meet three times monthly. NYLC exists to provide a collective voice and represent Native youth, create space for racial and cultural exploration, leadership development and build community.
Click here to learn more about the group
STUDENT COUNCIL
High School and Middle School Student Council
Meghan Schultz
Senior High Advisor (9-12)
(651) 457-9408 x2303
mschultz@sspps.org
Molly Timmerman
Middle School Co-Advisor (6-8)
(651) 552-5580 x1213
mtimmerman@sspps.org
2022-23 Cabinet Members
- President- Sarah Wincentsen
- Vice President- Maciek Francis
- Secretary- Lauren Bauer
- Treasure/Media- Anna Erickson
- Committee Chairperson- Olivia Bonk
THEATRE
SSP THEATRE PROGRAM
Welcome to the South St. Paul Theatre program. The Theatre Director is Eric Holsen. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Holsen at eholsen@sspps.org.
For additional information about SSPPS Theatre, please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/ssppstheatre/
Season AnnouNcement video 2022-23
Lettering policy
VOCAL MUSIC & SHOW CHOIR
Welcome to the South St. Paul Vocal Music program. The director for Vocal Music & Show Choir is Linden Kirscht. If you have questions about our program feel free to contact Mr. Kirscht at lkirscht@sspps.org.
YEARBOOK
High School and Middle School Memory Books
The advisors for the High School Yearbook are Teresa Tonda & Kris Weinfurtner and the advisor for Middle School Memory Book is Jody Sielski.
If you have questions about our High School Yearbook feel free to contact Ms. Tonda or Ms. Weinfurtner.
If you have questions about our Middle School Memory Book feel free to contact Ms. Sielski.
Photo Submissions
The yearbook staff needs your help! The staff can’t be everywhere, so we sometimes rely on students and parents to take great pictures. Think you have one? It could be your daily school routine at home, your study habits, you and your friends at school, or you and your friends at events.
Send them in to Mr. Tonda at ttonda@sspps.org.
- Include in each caption: Contributed by [your name], the names of each subject (person) in the photo, and the event/occasion
- Submitted photos cannot be retouched after uploading
- The Yearbook Staff will review all photos and determine final yearbook content. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be used in the book.
Thank you!
Advisors
Teresa Tonda
Yearbook Advisor
(651) 552-5580, ext. 2214
ttonda@sspps.org
Kris Weinfurtner
Yearbook Advisor
(651) 552-5580, ext. 1260
kweinfurtner@sspps.org
Jodi Sielski
Middle School Memory Book
(651) 552-5580, ext. 2313
jsielski@sspps.org