BRUIN BRIEFING

Happy New Year!

In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” I am extremely proud of the South High students, teachers, staff, counselors, and administration who continue to bring their best each and every day. It is my pleasure to say thank you to our parents and guardians for all their support, encouragement, and hard work. Our Bruin community continues to Strive for Excellence every day!

As the New Year begins, so does the task of building the class schedule for the 2024-2025 school year. South High, CBE, and Discovery Counselors will meet with students in grades 8 – 11 during January and February to distribute registration materials, discuss course selections, and review graduation requirements.

Registration Timelines and Highlights

January 18 - Counselors met with current EL students – will select classes on February 15

January 23 - Counselors met with current freshmen – will select classes on Jan. 31 or Feb. 1

January 29/30 - Counselors met with current sophomores – will select classes on Feb. 7, 8, & 9

February 13 - Counselors meet with current juniors – will select classes on Feb. 20, 21, & 22

As course selections are chosen for the 2024-2025 school year, it is important to consider the following points:

It is a top priority to assist your son/daughter in choosing appropriate classes. Students in grades 9-11 are required to register for a minimum of 6.0 credits and 5.0 credits for seniors. Students will register for classes in which they will make a commitment -Year-long classes are year-long commitments.

• The master schedule is determined by student requests. From these requests, sections are determined, and teachers are contracted. The schedule is built with the goal of maintaining appropriate class sizes. To avoid disappointment of not being able to add or DROP a class, it is imperative that accurate course selections are made.
• Students are encouraged to meet with their counselors, visit with instructors, peers, or administrators regarding course selections. Also, students are directed to review course information in the Program of Studies booklet or the Registration Special.

Thank you for your assistance in determining your son/daughter’s course selections for next year and preparing an appropriate plan of study. If you have any questions prior to course selections, please contact your son/daughter’s counselor. A well-planned course of study now may save disappointment next year when a desired class change may not be possible.

The staff and students have enjoyed a very successful first semester and I look forward to the good work continuing for the balance of the school year. I encourage you to connect with South High School by accessing our school website at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/south, twitter accounts - @fshactivities and @fargosouthhigh or by calling the main office at 701-446-2000. We appreciate your continued support and partnership.

In-Person Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th from 4:00 - 8:00. See below for more information.

Spring is just around the corner!

Dr. Todd D. Bertsch

Principal

Parent teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th from 4:00 - 8:00.

Teachers will meet with parents in the dome gym. Please bring a copy of you son/daughter’s teachers.

We share a number of traveling teachers with other school and their conference times are listed below.

FAFSA is now available for the 2024/2025 school year. The FAFSA website is found here: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. On their website, you will find the application, how to fill out the application and frequently asked questions. If you would like assistance, we are holding a FAFSA night at South High on Tuesday, March 5th from 4:30pm – 7:30pm in room C30. Here is what you need to bring to this event:

• Verified account username and password (FSA ID) – you can do this before on the website or we will help you at our event.
• Parent or spouse contributor name, date of birth, Social Security number, and email address
• Income and asset information (if applicable)

Some students and families don’t bother to fill out the FAFSA because they think they simply won’t be eligible. The fact is most of the students qualify for some sort of aid—even upper-middle-class families with high EFC. Filling out and submitting the FAFSA is a simple way to discover federal aid you could potentially receive. Many other forms of aid—like scholarships and grants (including through your college)—might also request you to file the FAFSA for need evaluation.

You’re likely to get something when you apply for financial aid. It may not be enough to cover the entire cost of attendance for a college, but every little bit helps.

On January 31st, all Bruin students will take the State required Cognia Student Engagement survey. The survey contains 21 items, each comprising a statement or a question and six possible responses. Students select the one response that best represents their perception or opinion. The Student Engagement Survey, unlike assessments of academic learning, does not have right or wrong answers. Rather it has responses that are related to more and less desirable attributes or characteristics associated with engagement or disengagement in behavioral, cognitive, and emotional domains. The survey results are used as part of our annual accountability score. Additional information regarding the purpose, design and validity of the Cognia® Student Engagement Survey is available at: www.nd.gov/dpi/student-engagement.

Listen up, folks! Skipping school is like skipping a crucial step in building a bright future. But since the pandemic hit, students across the country are struggling to show up. So, let's give them a little nudge in the right direction with a reward program!

With your help, we'll be cheering on students with short-term prizes along the way to graduation, like a shot of caffeine from a local coffee shop, a quick bite from a fast-food joint, or a grocery store haul. How do you win? Just show up! Students with good attendance or who are working hard to improve can win these sweet rewards in drawings held every three weeks.

There are a couple of ways you can help:

1. Donate by clicking the link below and gifts cards will be purchased and delivered for drawings.
2. Click here for the sign-up link and you can purchase and deliver needed cards for this program.

Let's help kids stay on the track to success!

https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=aN64jK

https://bit.ly/FSAttendanceRocks

Fargo Public Schools will release students two hours early from school on February 16 to support the professional development of teachers. The last release days for the school year is April 19.

The early release days allow teachers to gather in an extended Professional Learning Community (PLC) to focus on the students they serve this school year. During these early release days, teachers will analyze data and plan lessons to support students who have yet to grasp current standards and challenge students who have.

The district is committed to providing high-quality education for all students and believes investing in teacher professional development is critical to achieving this goal. By providing teachers with dedicated time to collaborate and learn from one another, Fargo Public Schools is taking an important step toward improving student learning outcomes.

FPS understands that early release days may cause some inconveniences for parents and guardians. However, this is an important step towards improving our teaching practices and benefiting our students' learning outcomes.

Parents are encouraged to contact the school for more information about the early release days and how they will affect their child's schedule. Students will have the opportunity for both breakfast and lunch on the early release days.

The season of winter storms is upon us, and I want to reaffirm our mutual commitment to the safety of your school children. We maintain close communication with the U.S. Weather Service. When storm conditions develop, we must make the decision as to whether school will be held or not. This decision is based on the general conditions which exist for the majority of Fargo students. Weather conditions and distance to school will vary however, and parents should use their own judgment in determining if the weather is suitable for their children to make the journey to school on any particular day. If school is in session and it is your decision that your child should remain at home, that decision will be respected by the school.

If school is called off, the local radio and television stations will be notified as early as possible. School closing notices will also be posted on the internet via FPS and the weather section of In-Forum. In addition, you should receive a connect ed phone call from the district office with the information. If storm conditions develop during the day and it is determined that an early dismissal is in the best interest of the students, the media will be notified and principals will proceed with an orderly dismissal. Elementary principals will dismiss students consistent with the instructions provided by parents on the emergency/weather school closing form.

If it is announced that school will be starting late, we will begin the school day at 10:35. Students will report to their period 3 upon arrival.

We appreciate your continued cooperation and understanding in this important matter. Be assured that the well-being of your children is of utmost importance to us.

1st Semester

June 4 - 27

2nd Semester

July 1 - 25

PE classes are June 4 - July 25

Vacation from July 3 - July 5

Registration begins February 5.

Contact your school Counselor for more information.

June 2, 2024

Noon

Fargodome

Graduation Practice

Thursday, May 30

2:45 @ Fargodome

4 credits of English

• English 1 or Honors English 1
• English 2 or Honors English 2
• English 3 or AP English 3 Lang/Comp
• English 4 or AP English 4 Lit/Comp

3 credits of Math

• Algebra 1 or Algebra 1-Intro/Conclusion
• Geometry or Informal Geometry
• Additional Math beyond Geometry

3 credits of Science

• Physical Science
• Biology
• Additional Science

3 credits of Social Studies

• Western Civilization/AP European History
• US History/AP US History
• Economics/AP Economics
• Government/AP Government

1.5 credit Physical Education

0.5 credits Health

3 Credits of World Language, Fine Arts, or Career and Tech Ed.

6 credits of Elective classes

24 total credits

Pass the Civics Test

Nearly every day new scholarship opportunities arrive at South High. Students and parents should recognize that there are a wide variety of criteria used to award scholarship dollars. These include, but are not limited to: financial need, community service, extra co-curricular activities, academic ability, talents/interests, ethnicity, military affiliation, apprenticeship, and 2-year schools.

Where do I look?

South High Resources:

Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/south

• Click on Counseling Center
• Click on Scholarships
• Scholarship listings are also posted in the Career Center and on the website regularly

Outside Resources

• Internet (see a listing of other websites at our website)
• Books
• Businesses
• Organizations
• School you plan to attend (admissions or financial aid office)

Applications for scholarships are usually online; others can be found in the Career Center. Timelines and deadlines for scholarships vary, please watch them closely.

SEE YOUR COUNSELOR for more information!

The total value of the scholarship is $6,000, disbursed $750 per semester or $500 per quarter. Recipients have up to six years following high school graduation to use the scholarship. To qualify for a disbursement, recipients must be enrolled full-time, as defined by the financial aid office at the institution, maintain the minimum cumulative GPA requirement of 2.75, and maintain progress towards degree completion requirements of the scholarship.

The scholarship can be used at any of the approved public, private or tribal colleges within the state of North Dakota. Eligible institutions must be regionally accredited and offer programs of study of at least 2 years in length.

The online application for the ND Scholarship can be submitted January 1, 2024 - May 30, 2024. Students can apply for this scholarship online at the ND Education Portal which can be accessed through their PowerSchool account or at https://www.nd.gov/dpi/parentscommunity/students/academic-and-cte-scholarship. Once approved, students have up to six years to access these scholarship dollars. Therefore, any student who qualifies should apply for this scholarship, even if not planning to attend a ND school in case plans change. This scholarship can also be applied to students who may return to ND for graduate school within 6 years of graduation.

NORTH DAKOTA CHOICE READY SCHOLARSHIP

For North Dakota Choice Ready Scholarship Information, click on link below:

https://www.nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/essa/accountability-support-improvement/choice-ready

All Sophomore students will be taking the NDSA - Science test on Thursday, April 4th.

All Freshman and Sophomore students will be taking the ND+ ELA and Math tests on Thursday, April 11th.

The ACT and SAT are college entrance tests required by most 4 year colleges. Students should check with the specific schools they plan to apply to for the test needed. These tests are generally taken during the latter part of a student’s junior year and during senior year.

South High School Code: 350-565

ACT Fee: $63.00

ACT with Writing: $93.00

Late Registration—add $36.00

website - act.org

South High School Code: 350-565

SAT Fee: $60.00

Late Registration: Add $30.00

website - collegeboard.com

The WorkKeys assessments are designed to allow students to demonstrate work readiness in the areas of Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. Students who score well may be eligible for a National Career Readiness Certificate. Students who score five (5) of higher on all three WorkKeys tests will have fulfilled one of the requirements for the North Dakota Career and Technical Education Scholarship worth up to $6,000. Talk to your counselor to see if you qualify! The date for the WorkKeys is February 8, 2024. The cost for all three tests is $37.50. Additional information about WorkKeys is available at: http://www.act.org/workkeys/index.html.

If students qualify for the free lunch program, there are opportunities available for him/her to receive fee waivers or cost reductions for some events. These may include fee waivers for ACT/SAT/PSAT exams; reduced price for AP exams; scholarships for ZAPS workshops. Please check with your counselor to make sure students access these opportunities.

High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors can now process transcript requests electronically through eTranscripts. Students request their transcript securely and at their convenience through their PowerSchool account.

1. Students log into their PowerSchool account and click on the icon with the arrow/box

2. Click ND Education Portal

3. Click tab with student’s name

4. Send Transcript

5. Choose college transcript needs to go to

Please allow 2 days for approval. If you have any questions, please stop by the Counseling Office or call Beth Phillips @ 446-2015.

Near perfect attendance is important because students are more likely to succeed in academics when school is attended consistently. If a student is recorded as being truant (unexcused absence) or is late to class, a detention will be assigned for each period of truancy and every third tardy.

An entry will be made in PowerSchool that will identify the date and period that the detention was earned. To access detention information, login to your PowerSchool account. There you will see the current detentions and how many have carried over from previous year(s).

At South High School, detention can be served Monday – Friday from 7:50am – 8:25am or Saturday mornings from 9:00—Noon. Detentions will be expected to be served within one week of the unexcused absence(s). Failure to complete assigned detentions, will limit a student’s ability to participate in extracurricular activities (athletic and nonathletic) and participate in graduation ceremonies.

Every graduating senior is allowed to submit a portrait photo to be used as their picture in the South High Yearbook. This photo must follow the guidelines and rules from school policy, dress code, and law. Not following these guidelines will result in the photo not being allowed in the yearbook and the student will be asked to submit a different photo.

1. Subjects including promoting the use of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, drug paraphernalia, guns, weapons, or depiction of violence may not be worn or shown in the photo.
2. Photos with accessories (i.e. hats, scarves, jewelry), props (i.e. sports equipment, musical instruments, cars), and domesticated pets are allowed as long as they do not promote or condone illegal activity.
3. The subject of the photo should be the student, not the props or background. (Yearbook staff prefers head and shoulder photos.)

Photos may be edited or not published if they represent or include any of the following:

• Violating school policies and behavior codes
• Displays of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, or weapons of any kind
• Inappropriate gestures, facial expressions, postures, or hand gestures
• Revealing, suggestive, or obscene clothing

All photos submitted must conform to school standards and policies and if needed, may be subject to review or approval by, but not limited to the yearbook staff, the yearbook advisor, and the school administration.

The yearbook staff reserves the right to edit or deny any submitted photo for publication and printing in the book.

The yearbook is a school publication, supervised by a student media advisor, and shall be reviewed by an administrator if the publication goes against school policy. (NDCC Ch. 15.1-19-25)

Digital Photo Requirements:

All photos must be at 300 dpi in resolution and at least 1.5 by 2 inches in size. Pictures need to be saved as a JPG file. Photos files must be named with the senior’s legal last name and then the legal first name (ex: Smith_William.jpg)

Senior Pictures were due January 31, 2024. Seniors can submit either a color or black and white picture. We suggest a face shot if possible and all photos must be portrait (vertical). Senior pictures must meet the requirements to be in the South Yearbook.

Pictures should be digital. Senior pictures can be emailed to fshyearbook@fargoschools.org.

• A late fee of $10 will be charged to any senior picture received after January 31.
• Senior pictures will not be accepted after March 1.

Thank you for your cooperation; we are working hard to make sure that all seniors are included in the 2024 Yearbook.

Reminder! Don’t forget to purchase your 2023-24 yearbook. Only $60.00. You can do this by logging into your School Pay account.

Don’t miss out on your memories of Fargo South High School.

Grad Ads for the 2024 Yearbook will be sold December 1 – March 31 (no exceptions). Order form and payment must be received to reserve your Grad Ad. We encourage ads that feature your senior in his/her younger years. We also encourage parents to consider sharing an ad with a group of seniors, like “Jazz Band Buddies.” The order form is listed below that includes sizes and prices. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Monsen @ fshyearbook@fargoschools.org.

April 6th

$ 40.00/couple

Grand March - 7:00 pm

More information to follow -

For Junior and Senior Students and their dates. All detentions must be served before you can purchase your tickets.

February 26

Girls Track - 3:50 Wrestling Room

Coach: Michael Grant 701-446-1743

grantm@fargo.k12.nd.us

Boys Track – 3:45

Coach: Cameron Dockter 701-730-2739

docktec@fargo.k12.nd.us

March 18

Baseball - 6:00 South High Gym

Coach: Nathan Sillerud 218-329-7947

sillern@fargo.k12.nd.us

Girls Softball - 4:00 Agassiz Gym

Coach: Molly Lundon 701-446-2041

lundonm@fargo.k12.nd.us

March 25

Girls Soccer - 4:00 Stadium Field

Coach: Dave Weiler 701-371-7925

weilerd@fargo.k12.nd.us

FargoSouthSoccer.com

April 1

Girls Tennis - 4:00 Tennis Courts

Coach: Samuel Burns

burnss2@fargo.k12.nd.us

April 8

Boys Golf - TBA

Coach: Kris Gillett 701-446-1835/701-200-4519

gilletk@fargo.k12.nd.us

Sports physicals are required each year, dated April 15, 2023, or later, and are required to be on file with South High trainers before practice is allowed. Physical forms can be found on the FPS website (www.fargo.k12.nd.us); click on the Activities link. Concussion Verification and HIPPA forms as well as the co-curricular meeting are to be completed online via the parent PowerSchool account (click on Forms).

Congratulations! The following fall activities have qualified for the Team Scholar Award offered by the NDHSAA by obtaining a cumulative team GPA of 3.2 or better. Certificates will be displayed in the trophy cases.

Boys Cross Country - Girls Cross Country

Girls Swimming - Girls Golf

Speech/Student Congress - Volleyball

GO BRUINS!!

Community Respiratory Virus Transmission

According to North Dakota Health and Human Services “respiratory disease attributed to both influenza, COVID-19, and RSV remains elevated” in North Dakota. Laboratory-confirmed influenza is highest in Cass County compared to the rest of North Dakota. Influenza | Department of Health (nd.gov)

To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

1. While sick, stay away from others as much as possible
2. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
3. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
4. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.
5. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
6. Influenza is a respiratory virus and a seasonal flu vaccine is available to help stop community spread of influenza.

Treatment: What You Need to Know | CDC

Fargo South High PTSA Meetings

All meetings are held in the

South High Conference Room @ 6:00 pm

1st Monday of every the Month

March 4 & May 6

The esports season is at the halfway mark. We have several teams with strong prospects for making the tournament February 21, 22, and 23. Those teams are Frostbite for Valorant, FPS LoL for League of Legends, Goal Diggers for Rocket League. For chess, South has three competitors who are currently undefeated: Matthew King-Kester, Keyoumars Farrahmand, and Holden Heid. Colton Rau is at 3-1 and also has a good chance of making the tournament.

Our other teams (Whiff Kings, Harbringers, and Nightfall) will need to improve their records to earn a spot at the tournament.

It’s that time of year again to start thinking about the summer programs and getting registered for the Fishing Team.

Parents and students are welcome to contact me about the Lake Agassiz High School Fishing League. We will need Boat Captains. This is open to boys and girls, 7th -12th grades even through your graduation summer.

John Dockter (701) 371-3473

Juniors and Seniors participating in Feed My Starving Children at the Fargodome on January 9.

Student Council Conference in December

Trollwood Performing Arts School summer registration is now open.

Expect the Unexpected! Experience magic, explore passion, and expand potential at Trollwood Performing Arts School with summer performing arts classes and performance opportunities for students currently in Grades K-12. Trollwood summer registration is now open.

Trollwood offers a full array of classes, performing opportunities, and technical theater experiences for every skill level, from elementary to middle school to high school. Read more about everything Trollwood has to offer in this Feature Column by Trollwood Performing Arts School Executive Director Kathy Anderson.

• February 12 & 13 - ZAPS Workshop (ACT Test Prep)
  
• February 16 – Early Out
  
• February 19 - Vacation Day - No School
  
• March 4 – PTSA Meeting – 6:00
  
• March 5 – P/T Conferences – 4:00 – 8:00
  
• March 7-10 - Play
  
• March 11-15 - Spring Break - No School
  
• March 22 - End of Quarter
  
• March 26 – ACT testing for Juniors
  
• March 29 – Good Friday – No School
  
• April 1 - Storm Makeup Day if needed - otherwise No School
  
• April 6 – Prom
  
• April 8 – South High Honor Society Induction Ceremony
  
• April 17 - Career Day
  
• April 19 – Early Out
  
• April 22 - Storm Makeup Day if needed - otherwise No School
  
• May 6 – PTSA Meeting – 6:00
  
• May 13-24 - AP Testing
  
• May 27 – Memorial Day – No School
  
• May 30 – Last Day of Classes
  
• June 2 – Graduation – Noon @ FARGODOME
  

Dr. Todd Bertsch, Principal - (701) 446-2004

Greta Evenson, Asst. Principal (A-K) - (701) 446-2005

Dr. Shannon Mortrud, Asst. Principal (L-Z) - (701) 446-2008

Mike Beaton, Activities Coordinator - (701) 446-2006

Dode Bentson, Administrative Assistant - (701) 446-2010

Donna Lee, Activities Secretary - (701) 446-2011

Kris Haphey, Bookkeeper - (701) 446-2022

Troy Nielsen, SRO - (701) 446-2025

Student Services

Laurie Schlenker - (701) 446-2017

Dennis Miller - (701) 446-2019

MJ Andersen - (701) 446-2021

Adrienne Eider - (701) 446-2020

Beth Phillips, Registrar - (701) 446-2015

Stephanie Ramos-Ayala, Secretary - (701) 446-2016

Brenda Koppy, Career Center - (701) 446-2028

Christy Matlock, School Nurse - (701) 446-2034

Brittney Engelhard, SWFF - (701) 446-2018

Good attendance, whether at school or on the job, is very important. If a student must be absent from school, please call Tyann Schlenker @ (701) 446-2023.

Class attendance will be reported daily by period. It is the intent of the attendance secretary to contact parents at home or work the same day by phone to directly report any class(es) that have been reported as absent.

Parents would you remind your students that are leaving school early for ANY reason that they need to pick up their exit pass from the Attendance Secretary. We are not always able to deliver passes in a timely manner. If students are leaving early for an appointment or other reason, they need to pick up their pass prior to their appointment. Also – If your student is going to an appointment dentist, doctor, etc. they need to bring an appointment slip back from the doctor/dentist to attendance when they return to school to have the absence excused for an activity.

Greta Evenson, Asst. Principal

Dr. Shannon Mortrud, Asst. Principal

Mike Beaton, Activities Coordinator

Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/south
Location: South High School, 15th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-2000
Twitter: @fargosouthhigh