SchoolTalk
FPS e-Newsletter for December 12, 2024
Feature Column - Emergency Drills for School Safety
Read more about the importance of emergency drills in this Feature Column by Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator Josh Smith.
Staff Recognition Program Nominations Close Tomorrow
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. More information can be found at this link.
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
Nominations will be accepted online through 4 p.m. tomorrow Friday, December 13.
North Musical: Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge - Opens Tonight
North High School presents the play Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge this weekend December 12-15 in the North High School Theater.
Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge is a musical twist on Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. Follow Mrs. Cratchit as she tries to escape her dreary life, only to be thrown into a series of unpredictable encounters with Scrooge, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and an ensemble of eccentric characters.
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.
Community Friends Preschool Program Application
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 Mainstage Musical
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.
Police Navidad Winter Clothing Drive
Now through next Thursday, December 19, the Fargo Police Department is supporting the students of Fargo Public Schools with the Police Navidad Winter Clothing Drive. Your contributions of new or gently used winter gear will make a difference in keeping kids warm during the chilly months.
FPD is collecting coats, jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, snow pants, winter boots and other warm weather clothing. New items are preferred to ensure durability and hygiene, but gently used items in excellent condition are also welcome.
All youth donations will be delivered to the Husky Hutch at Clara Barton Elementary School and teen and adult items will be donated to The Source at Dakota High School.
To donate, drop off items at the following locations:
- FPD Headquarters - 105 25th St. N. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Midwest Communications - 1020 S. 25th Street Fargo 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Board Column - Negotiations Committee Update
Although the Fargo Board of Education Negotiations Committee has not yet formally begun negotiations, the committee has been meeting and has been busy at work preparing for the 2025-2027 negotiations season.
Read more about the preparations of the committee in this Board Column by Negotiations Committee Chair Melissa Burkland.
School Board Schedule & Links
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 December 10 regular meeting of the School Board.
Bell Ringers
Washington Elementary School first graders are ringing in the holiday season before school. The first graders are learning the power of giving as they ring bells for the Salvation Army in the school's front lobby. For many of the students, this is their first experience with a donation program. (Photo courtesy Sandra Sterling)
Door Wars
The staff at Clara Barton Hawthorne Elementary School are opening the door to the holiday season. The staff have decorated their doors and are competing to see whose door is the best. Staff voted on their favorite doors last week and this week, the students get to vote. (Photo courtesy Sadie Farquhar)
Honor Band
The Discovery Middle School Honor Band traveled to Concordia College on December 5 to work with Dr. Peter J. Haberman and his students. The middle schoolers learned new skills to improve their performance, listened to college and faculty perform on their instruments, and ate at the Anderson dining service. (Photo courtesy Verlene Stotts)
Dress Like a Student
Staff at Centennial Elementary School participated in Undercover Spirit Week last week. Theme days included "Black on Black on Black" and "Patterns Galore." But perhaps the biggest hit was "Dress Like a Student Day," as the staff donned the latest trendy fashions to the delight of the students. (Photo courtesy Chris Hayden)
Holiday Heroes
Fargo Police Department officers visited Clara Barton Hawthorne Elementary School as part of its Police Navidad program. The officers delivered candy canes to students as holiday music played. The students then surprised the officers with stockings full of goodies and thank you cards to show their appreciation for their service to the community. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Folden)
CBH Holiday Store
Dental Screenings
Horace Mann Roosevelt Elementary School hosted dental hygiene students from M State to conduct dental screenings and administer fluoride varnish for students. HMR students with dental concerns were screened and recommended for future dental work. (Photo courtesy Missy Tedford)
Jefferson Holiday Shop
Jefferson Elementary School students beat the rush at the shopping mall as they went to school for the Jefferson Holiday Shop. Students purchased gifts for loved ones for $1 per item. The items were all donated to the shop or purchased by the Jefferson PTA. (Photo courtesy Beth Olson)
STEAM Night
Eagles Elementary School hosted a STEAM night for its families on December 5. Students went on an adventure as they had the opportunity to build a variety of modes of transportation, including a Lego car, a wooden airplane, a balloon-powered car, a hot air balloon, and a paper aiprlane. (Photo courtesy Dr. Jennifer Jung)
Band Performance
Virtual Author Visit
McKinley Elementary School fifth graders participated in a virtual author visit with renowned children's book author Gordon Korman. McKinley was one of three spotlight schools for the event that was joined by more than 4,000 students from more than half the states in the U.S. Two McKinley students asked Korman questions live. (Photo courtesy Stephanie Newland)
Student Council Conference
The North High School Student Council attended the North Dakota Association of Student Councils state conference in Bismarck. North's Drew Burris was elected to serve as the 2024-25 NDASC Vice President. (Photo courtesy Rachel Consdorf)
Blood Drive
South High School Key Club held a Blood Drive on December 6 to help ensure there is blood available for patients this holiday season. Thirty-one individuals volunteered to donate, 25 were able to donate and donated whole blood. There were 17 first-time donors. (Photo courtesy Brenda Koppy)
Fargo Public Schools - SchoolTalk
Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000