The United States Department of Education released revisions Title IX the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Read more about the new Title IX regulations and their impact on FPS in this Cabinet Column by FPS General Counsel Tara Brandner.

During Mental Health Awareness Month this May, Fargo Public Schools' commitment to fostering an environment that supports the mental well-being of its students, staff, and families remains a top priority. This month is a vital opportunity to educate our community about mental health, understand the early warning signs, and reinforce the network of supports available both locally and nationally.

Read more about Mental Health Awareness Month in this Feature Column by FPS Assistant Director of Educational Justice Dr. Jennifer Sahr.

School Lunch Hero Day is tomorrow, Friday, May 3, 2024! School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the hardworking food service staff working in our buildings each day, serving more than 150,000 meals a year.

This day, celebrated annually since 2013, was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series. School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to nearly 30 million of America’s students each school day.

Thank you to all of Fargo Public Schools' American Sign Language Interpreters! National Interpreter Appreciation Day was celebrated yesterday, May 1. FPS has nine interpreters

whose responsibility is to promote communicative autonomy between ASL and spoken English. They work hard to ensure deaf/hard of hearing students have equal access across their school environments.

Teacher Appreciation week is next week, May 6-10. Fargo Public Schools thanks all of our educators for their hard work and dedication to fulfilling FPS' mission of "educating and empowering students to succeed" this Teacher Appreciation Week! Please show your appreciation for our educators next week! Educators provide impactful foundations for students to grow, and they have the ability to leave lasting impacts both in academics and citizenship. Their work changes lives on a daily basis.

Congratulations to South High School's Charlie Kesler on being selected as the runner-up winner of the National Road Safety Foundation's Drive2Life contest!

The Drive2Life contest aims to promote road safety awareness among young drivers through creative mediums. It empowers students to inspire positive change in road safety behaviors through video, art, music and more.

Congratulations to Davies High School student Elsa Axtman on being selected as the North Dakota and Overall winner of the Western Governor's Foundation Celebrate the West Art Contest! Axtman's painting, Grandma's Table, is also up for the People's Choice category being voted on now.

Grandma's Table provides a glimpse into a shared North Dakotan heritage by portraying a meal at her Grandma's featuring foods special to North Dakota. The painting includes knoephla soup, beets and pickles, a salad made fresh from the garden, and a newspaper from her dad's hometown.

Congratulations to North High School junior Kaden Liedberg on being chosen to attend the Air Force Academy ROTC Flight School at Purdue University for the Summer 2024 Program!

Nationally, 170 students were selected to receive a full scholarship to receive their pilot's training in this summer-long intensive program. Liedberg was the only student chosen from North Dakota.

Congratulations to McKinley Elementary School's Ellie Oberholtzer and South High School's Ethan Thiseth on having their artwork selected to be included in the 2024 North Dakota School for the Blind Foundation note cards! Their art will be included in a pack of 15 cards being sold for $20, with all proceeds benefitting individuals with visual impairments in North Dakota. Oberholtzer painted a whimsical lantern and Thiseth photographed a windmill at sunset. To purchase the note card packs, contact Julie M. Anderson or Kristi Thiseth.

South High School's HOSA Club donated $668.59 to Sanford Children's Hospital on Wednesday, April 24. The club held a bake sale during lunch runs for four days, selling treats including Oreo bon bons, Rice Krispy bars, chocolate covered pretzel sticks, and cookies. About 20 students visited Sanford Children's to present the check and received a tour of the facility.

Parents, we want to hear from you! Please help Fargo Public Schools improve how we are serving our students, staff, and stakeholders by taking our culture survey. The survey data will guide District decision making, parent engagement, District and school improvement, and influence Strategic Plan decisions.

If you are a parent of a student enrolled in FPS, please click here to complete this survey. You may complete the survey for each student enrolled at FPS. The survey is anonymous and demographic data is optional.

Registration for the Trollwood Mentorship Program, opening this fall for students in grades 9-12 is open. Visit Trollwood's website to learn more and fill out the commitment form.

The Trollwood Mentorship Program, a partnership between Trollwood Performing Arts School and the FPS Virtual Academy, was designed to maintain the flexibility of the virtual academy while giving them hands-on, to follow an artistic passion with specialized, hands-on training.

Student Talent Mentor Shawn Brekke will connect students with specific artistic mentors from the area to work on specific skills in the areas of their interest. If they desire, students will have the flexibility to build a hybrid schedule, incorporating both virtual instruction and classes at their home school.

Registration for the Fargo Public Schools Self-Directed Academy, opening next fall for students in Grades 6-8, is now open.

The Self-Directed Academy puts each student in the driver's seat of their own education. With an instructional model built on self-paced learning, flexible scheduling, technology integration, STEM focus, and project-based learning, students determine their own educational path with guidance from educators serving as learning mentors who understand their needs and tailor supports to each individual. The Self-Directed Academy is best-suited for independent learners who benefit from in-person contact.

Fargo Public Schools is also seeking staff for the Self-Directed Academy. The SDA will be a fit for creative, innovative, collaborative staff members who want to try something new and break out of the regular mold to work at the Self Directed Academy opening next fall for Grades 6-8. Educators will work in collaboration with students and other teachers to serve the unique needs of each student. Apply at fargo.k12.nd.us/apply

North High School presents A Midsummer Night's Dream tonight through Sunday, May 2-5 in the North High School theater. Thursday to Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance at 2 p.m.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the story of the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, king of Athens, and Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Puck, their fairy jester, functions as a liaison between the two parties, as Oberon orders him to use a love potion to make Demetrius fall in love with Helena. Oberon’s plan backfires, and sets of a fantastical chain of events.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and are available at the Fargo Public Schools Box Office.

Going to kindergarten is important for children. It helps them build upon all the learning that they have done so far. In kindergarten, children will learn skills they will build on throughout their formal education and throughout life. It is important to register early to allow FPS enough time to plan ahead for the school year to give students the best experience possible.

Kindergarten Registration for Fargo Public Schools is now open online. If your child turns 5 by July 31, 2024, they are eligible to attend school in the fall. Visit fargo.k12.nd.us/registration to learn more about the registration process.

AD-Ventures is a District publication intended to help families find activities for their children throughout our community. It is published on the first of each month during the school year (September through May).

AD-Ventures for Kids is for youth in grade levels K-5.

AD-Ventures for Teens is for youth in grade levels 6-8.

In an effort to proactively support students' overall well-being, Fargo Public Schools is partnering with ParentGuidance.org to deliver monthly webinars developed by licensed therapists.

The next webinar is at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, May 7 with the topic "Effects of Screen Time." Research shows a direct link between an increase in device usage and a spike in anxiety and depression. The session will cover how to talk to children about screen time and mental health, and provide strategies to protect their mental health. Register here.

The series features three upcoming sessions:

• May 7 - Effects of Screen Time
• May 21 - Understanding Video Game Addiction

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. See the full list of Trollwood summer programming in this newsletter special edition.

North High School hosted its first ever home track meet on Tuesday, April 23 with a dual competition against South High School. The school did not have its own track and field complex until the completion of the new facility south of the school, which began construction in 2022. In previous seasons, North's track teams had to travel to other area schools to practice and never had homefield advantage for a competition.

The Fargo Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will hold its year-end Change of Command at 10 a.m. this Saturday, May 4 in the South High School gym. The current AFJROTC Cadet Commander will pass their position on to the newly selected cadet who will take over the Cadet Squadron for the following year. The event will include a military parade and performances by the Armed and Unarmed Exhibition Teams. This will be the final Change of Command for Col. Steven Muhs, who has served as the Senior Aerospace Instructor for the last 14 years.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Fargo Public Schools is participating in the Be Seen in Green photo challenge, celebrating the spirit of hope, strength, support, and encouragement that green symbolizes in mental health awareness. To participate, wear green on May 16, gather your colleagues for a group photo, and send the photo to Jen Sahr by May 17 and include your organization's name. Each submission will be included in a video montage in the May 23 edition of SchoolTalk. To learn more, expand the image to the left or view the flyer.

After a long winter, spring blooms with hope. Parent coaching can be that breath of fresh air that guides you to sunnier days. Parent Coaching is a free and confidential resource provided by your school district that connects you with a coach and content created by therapists. All coaching correspondence is HIPAA protected. Register for on-going support from a coach.

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