It's time to come together to recognize and celebrate the dedicated staff of Fargo Public Schools! From 9 a.m. next Monday, November 25, through December 13 anyone in our community can nominate a deserving FPS staff member for one of our annual staff recognition awards. Whether it's an inspiring teacher, an exceptional administrator, or a support staff member who tirelessly contributes to the smooth running of our schools, this is the opportunity to shine a spotlight on their hard work and dedication.

Read more about the process of nominating the Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year, and Support Staff of the Year in this Cabinet Column by Communications Officer AnnMarie Campbell

National Education Support Professionals Day was Wednesday, November 20! On this day, we celebrated the contributions of our dedicated support staff, who play a vital role in shaping the learning experience of our students. Thank you for your hard work and commitment!

Congratulations to North High School's Addison Cerney on placing first in the 100-yard backstroke at the NDHSAA State Girls Swimming & Diving Championships, Saturday November 16 at Hulbert Aquatic Center in West Fargo! Cerney was also named the 2024 NDHSCA Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year as voted upon by the girls swimming and diving coaches.

Congratulations to the South High School Hall of Fame Class of 2024! South High School will hold an induction celebration for its 2024 Hall of Fame class on Tuesday, November 26 at South High School. The event will include a social at 5:30 p.m. followed by the induction ceremony and dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets for this event are available in advance for $15 by calling 701.446.2011.

The South High School Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes:

• Mark Askew – Class of 1972
• Michael Eberly – Class of 1992
• Angela Stoa-Lipp – Class of 1982
• Jessica Trautwein Myxter – Class of 2003
• Dave Weiler – Class of 1985
  
  

Read the inductee biographies to learn more about the South Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

On November 7-8, students from Davies, North, and South High Schools competed at the State Student Congress tournament at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck.

Approximately 180 students from eighteen schools participated. Students debated the same issues that many of our legislators debate, including mental health mandates, tuition-free college educations, and pharmaceutical advertising. Students researched and presented evidence on both sides of an issue and argued with students from across the state.

Davies High School placed second at the tournament. See results from each FPS high school.

Congratulations to all Fargo Public Schools students who signed National Letters of Intent to compete in athletics in college on November 14.

Davies High School students Nora Benson, Caleb Christianson, Mason Klabo, Leighton Roberson, Kate Laqua and Ashton Rinas (pictured to the right); and North High School students Trey Knoke, Olivia Kalbus and Carter Gephart signed last week.

There will be NO SCHOOL next Wednesday to Friday, November 27-29 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Monday, December 2.

Fargo Public Schools is seeking input from our entire community on the next steps for addressing the facility needs identified in our Long-Range Facility Plan. Over the past year, a team of parents, staff, students, and community members has worked together to develop a plan to improve and modernize the District's school facilities. We’ve heard from community members through committees, focus groups and meetings, and now we want to hear from you.

The Long-Range Facility Plan aims to support Fargo Public Schools’ mission by creating safe, inclusive, and effective learning environments that meet the needs of our growing community. This plan includes new school construction, consolidations, and updates to aging buildings to ensure each student has access to a supportive, modern educational experience and the same educational opportunities. Take the survey here.

The mission of the Fargo Public Schools is to educate and empower all students to succeed. Each day in the school year is essential to carry out this mission and provide instruction to our students. Fargo Public Schools makes every effort to keep schools open each day. Our first choice will always be to remain open, but at times the weather conditions within the city merit a school closing. Click here to read more about FPS' procedures for school cancellation, early release, and late start.

Please opt-in to receive text messages from Fargo Public Schools. FPS has switched to a new mass communication system for the 2024-25 school year and you MUST opt-in to receive text messages from FPS. If you do not opt-in, you could miss important information from our school or the District. You can opt-in at any time by texting the word “YES” to 79041.

South High School presents the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this Thursday to Sunday, November 21-24 in the South High School Theater.

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion. At least the losers get a juice box

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.

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.

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 12 to February 16. Register online at trollwood.org.

The NDSCA School Counselor of the Year award honors counselors in North Dakota who are running comprehensive school counseling programs at any level (elementary, middle, or high school), supporting student success and actively leading in their school district. If you know a school counselor that should be recognized for their work consider a SCOY nomination.

Click here to nominate a deserving school counselor. The nomination process is simple and takes only a few minutes.

The winner will be recognized at the NDSCA conference in February and will be submitted for the ASCA school counselor of the year. The nomination period closes tomorrow, Friday, November 22.

Award-winning author, engineer, and STEM educator Christina Soontornvat will be giving a presentation and signing books at the Fargo Public Library - Carlson Branch at 6 p.m. on December 11.

Soontornvat is a three-time Newberry Honor recipient, most recently for The Last Mapmaker, which was also named Best Book of the Year by the New York Times. Her many works for children include picture books, and the bestselling graphic novel, The Tryout.

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