Virtual Academy: Grades K-12

Congratulations to our high school students who finished courses quarter one and are well on their way in new classes! Keep up the great work!

Our newsletter has many important details to keep you informed. Please read it thoroughly!

Attention Sophomores! The Health, Tech, and Trades Career Expo is being held on Tuesday, December 3 at the Fargo Dome. This activity is a great way to learn about various careers available to students and practice some hands-on activities. This is one of the required in-person opportunities required for our students along with all sophomores in the Fargo School District. Our group is scheduled to participate in a STEM session with a local business from 9-10:20 am and then will have time to tour all the exhibitors on the floor of the Fargo Dome from 10:30 to 11:30 am. We will be taking a bus from the District Office with plans to leave by 8:45 am. Please plan to arrive at the District Office between 8:30 -8:40 am that morning. We will return by 11:45. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mrs. Boehm at boehmv@fargo.1k2.nd.us.

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a test that is required by Fargo Public Schools of students as a measure of ND Choice Ready standards. In addition the being a Choice Ready activity, the ASVAB also offers valuable information related to a student’s strengths which can be combined with an interest inventory for students to use in helping them make decisions about potential careers and any post-secondary requirements (if any) needed for those careers. The ASVAB is being held at the District Office on Wednesday, December 18 at 8:30 am in Room 87. All juniors are required to take this test as well as any seniors who have not taken this test yet. Students should bring their school issued PLD with them that morning as this is a web-based test. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mrs. Boehm at boehmv@fargo.k12.nd.us.

December 18 will be a busy day! In addition to the ASVAB being held that day, Virtual Academy is also hosting a CPR certification event. Any student in grade 9-12 that is interested in earning their certification in CPR should contact Mrs. Boehm at boehmv@fargo.k12.nd.us to sign up. Training will be held on December 18, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the District Office. This is a great opportunity as we are offering this service FREE of charge for our students. CPR certification also meets a ND Choice Ready requirement. Space is limited, so please sign up soon.

The Virtual Academy started Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) for our students in the spring of 2024. This year, students in grades 6-9 participate in weekly iTime meetings to connect with teachers and with one another through a variety of online activities. Middle school students (Grades 6-8) meet Tuesdays at 11:30AM, and 9th Grade students meet Wednesdays at 11:30.

Virtual Academy is proud to partner with Jostens for our graduating seniors to be able to order their cap and gown for graduation. Any student that plans to graduate at semester time should order their cap and gown ASAP to ensure it will be here in time for the semester 1 ceremony. Students graduating semester 2 should place their order no later than January 2, 2025. No matter what school you will be walking at for ceremonies, you can order the appropriate cap and gown at the site located here: https://view.vidreach.io/q/AHWofTnx .

**Note that you do not have to order one of the packages to walk and only need to order the cap and gown package which can be found by scrolling down lower under graduation on the webpage.

Aside from cap and gown orders, any student can also place orders on the Jostens site to order class rings as well as VA clothing or other items.

• November 27, 28, 29: No School
• December 3: Career Expo
• December 18 : ASVAB Testing
• December 18: CPR Certification
• December 23 - January 1: No School Winter Break
• January 2: Classes Resume
• January 13-16: Homecoming Week
• January 16: End of Semester
• January 16: Proficiency Day for Quarter 2

Virtual Academy staff would like to express our appreciation to all of our students and families for a job well done during quarter one of the 2024-25 school year. We have already reached record enrollment for this time of year and our high school students completed over 301 classes for credits earned during the first quarter. Great job!

We had many students that were nominated for our Quarter 1 Student of the Quarter and after voting, the following students were selected.

Elementary Student: Quynci Richard

Middle School Students: Liam Houston and Anya Meyer

The mental health series calendar is linked below and tailored to the needs of Fargo Public Schools. The calendar provides specific information in helping your child succeed.

November Mental Health Calendar - English

November Mental Health Calendar - Spanish

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: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

Our students have been busy in their classes; keep up the great work! Also, remember that we have teachers to help support you in grades 6-12. (Elementary students can contact their NDCDE teacher directly for support.)

• Matthew Dahmen (Science) dahmenm@fargo.k12.nd.us (701) 446-8606
• Madelyn Moore (Math) moorem@fargo.k12.nd.us (701) 446-8607
• Laura Qualey (English) qualeyl@fargo.k12.nd.us (701) 446-8609
• Rachel Schroeder (Social Studies) schroer1@fargo.k12.nd.us (701) 446-8632

Don't forget about GSD/WIN days for our students. This year our counselor and teachers will be spending time onsite at Trollwood Performing Arts in Moorhead for students to receive in-person assistance in their courses.

Staff will be available at Trollwood on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 to 3:30 this year. Trollwood is located at 801 50th Ave S in Moorhead, MN. This service is open to any student in Edgenuity courses in grades 6-12. Students who fall behind pace in their courses will be required to attend at least one day each week. Families will be responsible for transporting students to and from Trollwood.

The November and December schedule is listed below.

As you know, FPS switched to a new mass communication system for the 2024-25 school year called Bright Arrow Mass Communication and you MUST opt-in to receive text messages from FPS.

This is also true for student cell phones! If you want your student to receive text messaging about events in VA, please have them opt-in anytime by texting the word "YES" to 79041.

Vanessa Boehm - boehmv@fargo.k12.nd.us

Student Wellness and Family Facilitator:

Katie King - kingk@fargo.k12.nd.us

Email: fiechth@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/virtualacademy