By Eric Erickson
AP Government class in action
Como seniors studying AP Government facilitated a school-wide mock election for federal offices on the ballot.
More than 700 students reported to the school auditorium to cast their votes. The results of the presidential race were: Kamala Harris 55% of the votes, Donald Trump 30% and the remaining 15 percent for all other candidates.
Fifteen AP Government students served as election judges at precincts throughout the city on Nov. 5. Students were trained in the nonpartisan role by Ramsey County Elections staff.
Eighteen of the students in the class are preparing for a week of study in the Close Up Washington D.C. program during the last week of February.
For fundraising, participating students bagged groceries for customers at the Larpenteur Avenue Cub Foods on Nov. 23 and will do so again on Dec. 14.
More JROTC success
The Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers ‘Training Corps, or JROTC, followed up their national recognition (as reported in last month’s Bugle) with a win in a local drill competition.
The Como cadets took first place in the North Branch Viking Challenge, which was the first big event of the year.
On Nov. 7, the cadets gathered for the Marine’s Birthday Ball at Herbie’s on the Park in downtown St. Paul. Several alumni and Como staff joined the formal affair which celebrated the 249th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
AVID Wilderness Inquiry
Ninth grade AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students spent a warm October day outdoors at Como Lake to experience canoeing, water quality testing and team building games.
The AVID classes partnered with Wilderness Inquiry, a local non-profit that connects people to the outdoors. Learning to paddle together in large, 10-person canoes was an example of AVID’s emphasis on collaboration.
Theater shows in December
The Como Park Theater Department is presenting two plays with upcoming performances on Dec. 7 and 8 in the Como Auditorium. Showtimes are noon and 7 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 7 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Â
      Visit comoparkhs.brownpapertickets.com for tickets.
      The plays will be Property Rites by Alan Haehnel and The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet by Peter Bloedel. The cast and crew are working hard, learning the processes of rehearsing and set design.
Como junior Lila Kopp is the stage manager. Teachers Michael Youle and Huy Tran are the co-directors.
Eric Erickson is a social studies teacher at Como Park Senior High School.
Photo caption: Como students cast their votes in the mock election held in the Como Auditorium on Oct. 30. Photo by Eric Erickson
