Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi announces that at the end of the 2024-25 school year, he will be stepping down as Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools.

“This decision was not made easily, and I hope the community feels, as I do, the deep sense of connection that has grown between us since my family arrived here in 2018,” Dr. Gandhi said. “This community has welcomed us, supported us, and shown us what it means to be a part of Fargo. Serving here has been more than a role: it has been a privilege, a calling, and a source of inspiration."

Click here to read a full message from Dr. Gandhi about his decision.

As Fargo Public Schools continues to enhance student safety and security during school bus operations, we would like to share important reminders and updates about our bus scanning procedures for all students. The safety and security of our students during transportation remain our utmost priority.

Read more about the updates to the bus scanning procedures and actions required of staff to ensure the proper implementation of these procedures in this Cabinet Column by Associate Superintendent Missy Eidsness.

November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month and National Homeless Awareness Month. It is the month to raise awareness for children and families experiencing homelessness and identify ways to help students.

To raise awareness and make it applicable to Fargo Public Schools students, the following question was posed to parents and students: If you could let the people at school know anything about being homeless, what would you want them to know?

Read the responses to this question and learn more about ways to support McKinney-Vento students in this Feature Column by Homeless Liaison Jan Anderson.

In late fall of 2023, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction released the ND-ELA Alternate Assessment Standards. This document aligns the North Dakota State Content Standards and the Dynamic Learning Maps Essential Elements to assist districts in developing curriculum, scope, and sequence for students with the most significant disabilities.

Read more about the Alternate Assessment Standards as well as information about the STAR and LINKS curriculums in this Feature Column by Special Education Coordinator Cassie Jorgenson.

There will be NO SCHOOL next Monday, November 11 due to the Veterans Day Holiday. Classes will resume as normally scheduled on Tuesday, November 12.

Davies High School presents the play Antigone this week, November 7-10 at Davies High School.

The tragedy, written by Sophocles in the fifth century B.C.E., explores the tension between personal morality and the laws of the state, the nature of justice, the role of fate in human life, and the danger of excessive pride. The central character is Antigone, who displays an unwavering commitment to her familial duty and to the gods, even in the face of opposition from the state. Her character challenges the audience to consider the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of resistance from authority. The complicated relationship between personal conscience and law, tackled within the play, has enshrined Antigone as one of the most famous Greek tragedies.

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.

Mark your calendars for November 19 at 5:30 p.m. The Fargo Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) invites all parents, students, staff, and community members to come together in support of its mission to foster inclusion, respect, and understanding for all children with special needs. This meeting is a valuable opportunity to share feedback and help shape the quality of special education policies and programs across our district. A TEAMS link will be available here.

Fargo Public Schools' Early Childhood Special Education program is seeking Community Friends to join its preschool classrooms. Community Friends are typically developing peers who will join the ECSE classrooms alongside the students with developmental delays or disabilities. Students must be 4 years old by July 31 and pass a developmental screening to be eligible for the program. The program is free of charge for families, but parents must provide transportation. The ECSE sessions are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Click here to apply for the ECSE Community Friends program.

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.

Trollwood Performing Arts School's 2024 Mainstage Musical is Mamma Mia! Performances are set for July 22-26 and July 28-August 2 at Bluestem Center for the Arts. Visit trollwood.org for more information. Group ticket sales, for groups of 10 or more, are on sale now, and regular tickets will be on sale in May.

Cast auditions will be held February 22-26. Orchestra auditions will be held in March. Students may sign up for an audition slot by calling 218.477.6500 or emailing trollwood@fargo.k12.nd.us. Students may also participate as a run crew member or technician by registering for summer programming.

Thank you to the Fargo Elks Lodge for the donation of $2,400 to the Open Door at North High School! The Elks Lodge received grant money this year to donate within its community and selected the Open Door as one of three organizations to receive a donation.

Thank you to the South High School Class of 2004! Their generous $600 donation to South High School will have a major impact through the Critical Needs Program. This support will provide essential items like health supplies, meals, winter gear, clothing, and hygiene products, helping create a positive environment where everyone can thrive.

As the leaves change and autumn settles in, Fargo Public Schools and Parent Guidance are dedicated to providing parents and caregivers with the support and resources they need to nurture their children. Parent Coaching pairs caregivers with a coach and therapist-created resources to help navigate the challenges of parenting. Click here to register.

The Salvation Army, with Slumberland Furniture and other community partners, are pleased to be accepting electronic applications for “Homes for the Holidays." This program will offer a twin sized mattress/box spring, a bed frame, sheets and a quilt to children ages 13 and under, living in the Fargo-Moorhead area, who are in need of a bed.

If you are aware of a family that would benefit from this program, please have them complete the application. Applications are open through tomorrow, November 8.

North Dakota families have the special opportunity to take part in a series of free, virtual events designed to support and inspire our community, and are especially geared toward teens and young adults. Developed by the creative team behind Rugrats, The Simpsons, and The Wild Thornberrys – My Life is Worth Living tells powerful stories of seven characters overcoming mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts.

Presented by the Cook Center for Human Connection, these family-friendly events will be hosted monthly from September 2024 to May 2025. The next event is November 13 at 5 p.m., covering the topic of struggling with feelings of inadequacy and despair. View more information and register.

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