Inclusive Schools Week, observed from December 4-8, 2023, is a time to celebrate the power of inclusion in education. This week holds particular significance for students with disabilities, highlighting the importance of creating learning environments that cater to the diverse needs and abilities of every learner.

Read more about Inclusive Schools Week, the importance of inclusive education, and strategies for including and celebrating students with disabilities in this Feature Column by Assistant Director of Standards-Based Instruction and Special Education Shelby DiFonzo.

Congratulations to Fargo Public Schools Director of Standards-Based Instruction Dr. Liann Hanson on being named a finalist for the 2024 Women in School Leadership Award in the "Central Office / Principal" category! The winner of the award will be announced on stage at the AAASA Conference in February.

Sponsored by the School Superintendent Association and Horace Mann, this award acknowledges exceptional talent, creativity, and vision demonstrated by outstanding women educational administrators in public schools.

Congratulations to Bennett Elementary School Assistant Principal Julie Frank on being the first FPS administrator to receive the Catalyst Whole Group Certification!

The Catalyst Approach is a comprehensive professional development and implementation model based on observation of more than 50,000 classrooms and school-wide common spaces. It aims to accelerate deep implementation of skills that lead to the creation of improved classroom and school leadership, relationships, and culture.

Fargo Public Schools has been selected to participate in a groundbreaking program offered through The Jed Foundation (JED) and The School Superintendents Association (AASA). The District Comprehensive Approach (DCA) is a transformational program that guides districts across the country to enhance systems of support for the emotional well-being of students. Based on JED’s proven approach, the DCA is an evidence-based framework that combines expert support, best practices, and data-driven guidance to protect mental health and prevent suicide for millions of students. To learn more, visit JED's website.

Congratulations to North High School's Charlie Kalbrener on signing his National Letter of Intent to continue his athletic career in college. Kalbrener will play baseball at Iowa Western University.

Community members are invited to nominate a deserving Fargo Public Schools teacher, administrator, or support staff member for the annual Staff Recognition Program. The program honors FPS staff members who serve our students with excellence. Online instructions, forms, and the application process can be found on the FPS website. Nomination forms will be accepted online until 4 p.m. December 15.

Fargo Public Schools deeply values the nearly 2,000 staff members who ensure our students receive a high-quality education in a safe learning environment. To honor our employees, the District annually awards the following:

• Teacher of the Year Award − awarded to a certified staff member
• Administrator of the Year Award − awarded to a principal, assistant principal, director, or coordinator
• Support Staff of the Year Award − awarded to an educational support staff member, custodial/maintenance department staff member, or nutrition services staff member

Fargo Public Schools is seeking input regarding future investments in our District’s facilities. Please complete this Long-Range Facility Planning survey to help FPS prioritize major capital investments such as new construction and major renovations across the next five to 10 years. The survey closes at midnight on Sunday, December 3.

At the Fargo Board of Education regular meeting on November 28, Board members approved an updated calendar for the 2024-25 school year, as proposed by the District’s calendar committee. The updated calendar included the following changes:

• Moved the 2-hour early release day from October 16 to October 10
• Moved the 2 non-contact days from October 17 and 18 to October 11 and 14
• Moved the professional development day on January 20 to January 17
• Updated January 20 to a non-contact day
• Moved the professional development day from June 5 to June 6
• Updated June 5 to a student contact day
• Designated June 19 as a non-contact day (summer school)

The calendar is available at this link.

North High School theatre presents the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood on December 7-10 at North High School.

Based on Charles Dickens’ final unfinished novel, this hilarious whodunit invites the audience to solve its mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. The tale is presented as a show-within-a-show, as the Music Hall Royale - a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company - presents Dickens’ brooding mystery.

Thursday-through-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets are available at the Fargo Public Schools Box Office.

Trollwood Winter Academy returns this January with Musical Theatre Audition Prep classes for high school and middle school students in Grades 5-12. Registration is now open for these classes that will ensure students are prepared for their next audition. Trollwood Winter Academy classes are from 3-6:15 p.m. on Sundays from January 14 to February 11. Register online at trollwood.org.

Inspiring Readers aims to empower Fargo Public Schools students to read to a better future by supporting quality book ownership. Donate to the program to provide books to students who may not otherwise have access.

Through its partnership with the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation, Inspiring Readers is getting books in the hands of students by providing books at school-based food pantries, providing books and materials for the Dakota High School family classroom, and providing reading materials for student reading mentorship.

Be the Leader They Need! Fargo Public Schools is now hiring full-and part-time support staff positions including paraeducators, custodians, and food service workers. Learn more about these great opportunities to impact our community's youth and apply for a position today at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/apply

Thank you to those who have donated to the Lewis & Clark Elementary School Winter Gear Come Here Store and the school's Gifted and Talented program!

The Winter Gear Come Here Store, which provides free winter gear to students, received a donation of $150 for new winter gloves from Kathleen M. Kramer, the grandmother of Lewis & Clark fourth grader Kaya Cooper.

The Gifted and Talented Program also received an anonymous $1,000 donation from an individual through the Bell Bank Pay it Forward initiative. A portion of the donation will be used to help purchase new books for the new Inchy Bookworm vending machine, for which Gifted and Talented Teacher Mrs. Anderson wrote a school grant last year, allowing all students access to a new book each school year. The rest of the funds will be used for new gifted services materials and curriculum to enhance student learning and creativity.

Fargo Public Schools Federal Credit Union is partnering with the Student Wellness and Family Facilitators of FPS to help district students and families in need with The Giving Tree.

Stop by either FPSFCU location (1609 32nd Avenue South or 415 4th Street North) and pick an ornament from The Giving Tree. Shop based on the tag you've chosen. Then wrap and return your presents with tag attached to either FPSFCU location no later than December 15.

If you don't have time to go shopping, visit the Amazon Giving Tree Wishlist, and purchased items will be delivered directly to the FPSFCU.

The Fargo Public Library has several events coming up for students and families, including a Family Trivia Night, Intro to Engineering for Kids, and Gingerbread House Decorating for teens.

• At Family Trivia Night at 6 p.m. on November 30 at the Main Library, families are invited to compete in a trivia competition with the topic Mario & Friends: Nintendo Characters and Games. Families are invited to pre-register.
• Intro to Engineering for Kids on Saturday, December 2 at the Northport Library is open to students in Grades K-6. Students will learn about the world of engineering through demonstrations of mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering presented by the NDSU Society of Women's Engineers.
• Gingerbread House Decorating for Teens is open to ages 12-18 at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 2 at the Main Library. Teens are invited to decorate a tasty gingerbread house. Pre-registration is required.

The Board of Education of the City of Fargo meets in regular session on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning at 5:30 p.m. To find Board meeting agendas and schedules, a broadcast link, an archive of past meetings, and more, visit the Board of Education webpages on the FPS website.

Read the Board Briefs from the November 28 regular meeting of the School Board.

South High School celebrated the accomplishments of current students and staff while remembering the legacy of the Bruin community at the South Spiritacular on November 28. The Spiritacular featured a "Parade of Banners" representing the activities at South, an AFJROTC color presentation, a performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” by South’s Belle Orso Voci choir group, a student video and song, and a presentation by guest speaker Gaelin Elmore. Students received Bruin Pride T-shirts from the South Parent Teacher Association.

Grand Forks Red River High School's Madrigals and Mixed Choir visited Davies High School's Vivace and Concert Choir for a choral exchange on November 24. Each group shared a couple pieces for each other. The choirs had a real-life Pitch Perfect moment where Vivace and Mixed Choir had prepared the same song, Time by Jennifer Lucy Cook, and combined across the choir room to give a joint performance.

This newsletter is published weekly on Thursdays during the school year when classes are in session. Material for publication is due by noon on Tuesday of the week of desired publication.

Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000