DAVIES HIGH SCHOOL

I hope this letter finds you well and that you enjoyed a restful and joyous Thanksgiving Break with your loved ones. As we enter the festive month of December, it is my pleasure to reconnect with our vibrant Davies HS community through this monthly newsletter. I continue to consider it an absolute honor serving in the capacity of Principal at Davies High School.

Reflecting on the achievements and successes of the past year, I am continually inspired by the dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and parents. The Fall Activities season has recently concluded, and our student-athletes have showcased their talents and sportsmanship across various fields, courts, pools, golf courses, and cross-country courses. Their achievements not only bring pride to our school community, but also serve as a testament to the values of teamwork, discipline, and commitment that we strive to instill in our students.

Our Student Congress and Musicians have demonstrated commendable diligence, showcasing the positive outcomes of hard work and dedication. Likewise, our Theater Arts & Musicians have treated us to outstanding performances, leaving us in awe of their talents. As we embrace the winter season, attending competitions and events is an excellent way for us to come together, support one another, and cheer on our fellow students. It's worth emphasizing that students who engage in extra-curricular activities, whether through sports, clubs, or other groups, often experience higher levels of success and take great pride in our school. It helps to build a sense of belonging into each one of our students.

Turning our attention to academics, as we approach the end of the calendar year, we also approach the conclusion of the first semester. With approximately 24 days remaining, I encourage students to utilize our EAGLE HOUR period (8:05 am – 8:40 am) for additional support, test retakes, individual teacher meetings, and collaborative projects. EAGLE HOUR has proven to be a valuable resource, with several students taking advantage of this dedicated time to enhance their proficiency levels. Our goal is to continue expanding this initiative, helping students recognize the positive impact EAGLE HOUR can have on their learning journey. The data is quite clear, those students who take advantage of this time increase their success inside of the classroom.

In the realm of academic advancements, we are steadily progressing toward the full implementation of Evidence Based Reporting (EBR) in the Fall of 2025. Many of our teachers and classes have already embraced this transition, utilizing the 4 pt. EBR grading scale. This system involves collecting student evidence towards proficiency in identified skills, with a conversion back to the traditional letter grade at semester's end. For those seeking more information on EBR, please explore the "Everything EBR" folder through THIS LINK.

I would like to draw your attention to important dates ahead:

• Winter vacation: Begins with an EARLY OUT Day Friday, December 20th – Wednesday, January 1st.
• SCHOOL RESUMES Thursday, January 2nd
• 8th Grade Orientation and Activity Fair: Monday, January 13th, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• End of the 1st Semester: Friday, January 16th
• No School: Friday, January 17th (Teacher PD day)
• No School: Monday, January 20th (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• Final Parent-Teacher Conference Night: Wednesday, February 19th, 4:15 pm – 8:15 pm

*For a complete list of Important Dates for the remaining of this year, CLICK HERE.

As we approach the holiday season and the end of the year, let us continue to foster a sense of community, support one another, and celebrate the achievements that make Davies High School a truly special place. We strive for strong partnerships with our families. If you have any questions or we can help you out in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful December.

Warm regards,

Troy Cody

The 2024 North Dakota High School Activities Association Class A Volleyball State Tournament was held November 21-23 at the FARGODOME. The girls lost in the opening round to Bismarck Century who then went on to win the state championship. On Friday they beat WF Horace 3-0 and on Saturday beat Bismarck High 3-0 to take 5th Place in State.

Fallen Passanante, Jr. was voted to the All-Tournament Team.

EDC All-Conference players were Fallen Passanante, Jr and Quinn Skari, Jr. Coach, Stephanie Oliver was named EDC Coach of the Year.

Congrats Davies Eagles Volleyball!

Davies Football played in the Championship game on November 15th at the FARGODOME. They fell 24-14 to West Fargo Sheyenne. The 2024 North Dakota High School Coaches Association (NDHSCA) Division AAA All-State Football Team has been named. Congratulations to Malachi Werremeyer, Sr., RB and Gus Werremeyer, Jr., OL, First Team Offense and Jason Hunter, Jr., DL, Gunnar Majerus, Sr., DL, Wilmot Matadi, Jr., LB, and Liam Wicklow, Sr., DB, First Team Defense who were voted on by the state’s Division AAA football coaches.

Congrats Davies Football on an outstanding year!

On November 7th and 8th, the Davies Student Congress team competed at the North Dakota State Capitol building, debating issues that many of our legislators debate—mental health care mandates, tuition-free college educations, and pharmaceutical advertising. After two days of debate, the Davies team finished in second place. Congratulations!

The following individuals placed at the state tournament:

Jannie Yang – 8th place in House 5

Mckenzie Freier – 8th place in House 3

Rose Ali – 8th place in House 3

Cady Wang – 6th place in Senate

Isabella Veo – 5th place in House 6

Ashley Hsu – 4th place in House 3

Dannie Yang – 3rd place in House 4

Bianca Nathan – 3rd place in House 5

Kendal Hauck - 3rd place in House 2

Melisa Cuevas-Perez – 2nd place in House 6

Karena Thurlow – 1st place in House 4

Bruce Lin – 1st place in House 2

Setiya Hamidi – 1st place in House 1

Congratulations to 6 of our students who signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their education and athletic careers at the next level.

Mason Klabo - Basketball - Illinois State

Ashton Rinas - Baseball- NICC

Caleb Christianson - Baseball- Northern State

Kate Laqua - Track- NDSU

Nora Benson - Golf- Concordia

Leighton Roberson - Soccer- NDSU

Vern from Matt's Automotive came to Davies on November 21 to teach the Living On Your Own students about car care. Students were able to ask questions and learn about weather changes and driving along with basic maintenance.

Five 1st year UND medical students, all Davies high school graduates, (Hannah Krier, Annika Mogck, Nishita Gaba, Nate Hensel and Mya Winjum) visited with Anatomy, AP Biology, and AP Chemistry students about their journeys from high school to medical school on November 26th. Students enjoyed hearing from former graduates on their experiences and were thankful to them for sharing their advice!

This student-led event started in 2007 and focuses on collecting donations and raising awareness surrounding the issue of hunger. Area students come together each year to collect food to fill the entire floor of the Fargodome that gets distributed through the Great Plains Food Bank supporting the Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding areas.

On November 25th + 26th, 2024 Davies High School Student Council students once again helped 'Fill the Dome' for this amazing event that helps the fight to end hunger.

Now celebrating the 18th year of the event, Fill the Dome has collected more than 2.5 million pounds of food and more than $840,000 to help feed children, seniors, and families facing food insecurity.

Find more information or get involved by visiting the Fill the Dome website.

Senior, Cady Wang has been chosen as one of two delegates to represent North Dakota for the U.S. Senate Youth Program. Not only will she receive a $10,000 scholarship, but she will be meeting with the political leaders of the United States; representing not only Fargo Davies High School but North Dakota as well. Congratulations Cady!

ACT Registration

• The ACT will no longer be paid for by the state of North Dakota and will not be administered at Davies.
• If students would like to take the ACT they can register online at www.act.org for one of the National Test Dates
• Information on cost: ACT Fees
• ACT Fee Waiver Program (Check with your school counselor to see if you are eligible to apply)

The 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open.

Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete the FAFSA form. Colleges and career schools will use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid students are eligible to receive. Not all financial aid is based on family income. It takes most people less than one hour to complete the FAFSA form.

Students will need to create a StudentAid.gov Account (FSA ID) before you can start your FAFSA form online. Also, any contributor to a student’s FAFSA form, will need to create a FSA ID. Click here for a link with more information about creating a FSA ID. It can take 1-3 business days for your information to be confirmed by the Social Security Administration before you can use your FSA IDs and complete the FAFSA.

Click here for a link with more information about how to determine who is a contributor on your FAFSA form.

Click here for a link with more information about the types of financial aid: loans, grants, and work-study programs.

Click here for a link to the FAFSA online form.

If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid office at the college or career school you plan to attend.

Seniors met with our Josten Rep., Tom Babcock on December 2nd. During the meeting he talked about the graduation cap, gown, and tassel order process along with other items that can be purchased through Jostens.

ORDER HERE

All Cap, Gown and Tassel orders will be shipped to the school and distributed to students.

If finances are a barrier for obtaining a Cap, Gown or Tassel please reach out to your child's school counselor.

Other Items

Also, Jostens has many other items available for Seniors (ex: clothing, grad announcements, thank you cards, class rings, etc). If you would like to view those items please feel free to using this link. These items will be shipped to your home.

argo Public Schools will release students two hours early from school on December 20 to support the professional development of teachers. The other 2 release days for the school year are February 14 and March 14.

The early release days allow teachers to gather in an extended Professional Learning Community (PLC) to focus on the students they serve this school year. During these early release days, teachers will analyze data and plan lessons to support students who have yet to grasp current standards and challenge students who have.

The district is committed to providing high-quality education for all students and believes investing in teacher professional development is critical to achieving this goal. By providing teachers with dedicated time to collaborate and learn from one another, Fargo Public Schools is taking an important step toward improving student learning outcomes.

FPS understands that early release days may cause some inconveniences for parents and guardians. However, this is an important step towards improving our teaching practices and benefiting our students' learning outcomes.

Parents are encouraged to contact the school for more information about the early release days and how they will affect their child's schedule. Students will have the opportunity for both breakfast and lunch on the early release days.

Please make sure you are signed up to receive texts from Fargo Public Schools. This is for both parents and students! You need to Opt-in in order for anything to go through. This will be extremely important as we get into winter and possible delays or cancellations will be communicated out. Please take a second to do this today!

Fargo Public Schools maintains close communication with local and national weather agencies, local government, and neighboring school districts in order to make decisions regarding inclement weather and other emergency situations that are in the best interest of the safety of our students, staff and parents. The decision to hold classes is based on the general weather conditions which exist for the majority of Fargo students.

Each weather event is looked at individually with multiple sources of information consulted before making the final decision on whether or not to hold school due to inclement weather. The decision to keep schools open or to close them results for weighing factors including excessive snow, temperature or wind chill numbers, wind speeds, road conditions, and the safety of bussing students.

The decision to close school will be made and communicated in as timely of a manner as possible. Closing our schools has a tremendous impact on our parents and community. We strive to make the decision if needed with enough time for parents to make arrangements for supervision of their children. However, at times, a decision the morning of a school day may need to be made to see what weather materializes overnight; if a decision is made in the morning, the decision will be made by 6:00 a.m.

Parents, please keep the following in mind:

If school is in session, and a parent decides that a student should remain at home due to weather conditions, that decision will be respected by the school. Parents should use their own judgment in determining if the weather is suitable for their children to make the journey to school. It is always up to parents to make the final decision about whether or not to send their student to school if they believe weather conditions present a safety issue. The absence for the day would be considered an excused absence.

If school is called off, parents will be contacted via the automated phone, email and text system based on the contact information supplied to the school office(s). Parents are encouraged to update contact information with the school on a regular basis so we have up-to-date contact information. This can be done through PowerSchool or by calling the school office. School cancellation information will also be broadcasted via local media, and will be posted across our website and social media sites (Facebook, X, and Instagram).

If weather or a situation develops during the day, and it is determined that an early dismissal is in the best interest of the students, parents will be contacted via the automated phone, email and text system based on the contact information supplied to the school office(s). Parents are encouraged to update contact information with the school on a regular basis so we have up-to-date contact information. This can be done through PowerSchool or by calling the school office. School closure information will also be broadcasted via local media, and the information will be posted on our website and social media sites (Facebook, X, and Instagram).

What is Eagle Hour: Eagle Hour serves as a dedicated intervention period, where each teacher is available twice a week to provide extra help, offer retake opportunities, clarify difficult concepts, and answer any questions students may have. This time is specifically set aside for academic support and enrichment, giving students the chance to reinforce their learning, stay on track, and improve their performance. These sessions will be voluntary or made mandatory if deemed essential by the teacher for student success.

Why is Eagle Hour Important? If your student is struggling or not achieving the grades they should be, Eagle Hour is the first intervention teachers will suggest. It’s a proactive way to address academic challenges before they become larger issues. By attending Eagle Hour, students can catch up on missed content, strengthen their understanding of key concepts, and receive personalized support from their teachers. Regular participation in Eagle Hour can make a significant difference in a student’s academic progress and overall confidence.

TEACHERS EAGLE HOUR AVAILABILITY CAN BE VIEWED HERE

Are you interested in promoting your business, honoring someone, or recognizing family members? Davies will be doing another round of paver requests out at the football stadium in front of the concession stand. If you are interested in being part of this project, please fill out this interest form. Administration will contact you to provide more information.

2023-24 yearbooks should be picked up in the main office as soon as possible. If your student has not grabbed theirs yet, please relay the message to them to get that done :).

Orders for the 2024-25 yearbook can be made online when completing registration. They are $50 until February 1. After February 1, the price increases to $60. These yearbooks will be available for pick up in August 2025. Seniors will be mailed a postcard when they become available and ways they can be picked up.

Senior Pictures are due March 1, 2025. Seniors can submit either a color or black and white picture.

Senior pictures can be emailed to daviesyearbook@fargoschools.org. Make sure to follow the digital photo requirements found in the link below. You will receive a confirmation email when the picture is received.

• Hardcopy photos are accepted at a $5 charge. They can be submitted to the main office.
• A late fee of $10 will be charged to any senior picture received after March 1, 2025.
• Senior pictures will not be accepted after April 1, 2024.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Jenna Johnson Uphoff at 701-446-5751 or email at johnsoj3@fargoschools.org.

Get a seasonal flu vaccine for yourself and your child to protect against seasonal flu viruses.

Take everyday steps to prevent the spread of all flu viruses. This includes:

• Cover your nose and mouth or elbow when you cough or sneeze. And then wash your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Teach your child to take these actions too.
• Practice good health habits. Get regular exercise, get enough sleep, drink plenty of fluids eat a healthy diet and manage your stress.
• Avoid being in contact with others who are sick.
• Avoid crowds when the flu is spreading in your area.
• Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces, such as counters, light switches or doorknobs.

If you child does get the flu, here are some facts:

• The symptoms include fever, headache, chills and sweats, body aches, tiredness and weakness, dry persistent cough, sore throat and runny or stuffy nose.
• Remember the flu is contagious! The flu is spread when the person who has the flu, coughs, sneezes or speaks and sends the flu virus into the air.
• Drink plenty of fluids and rest.
• Stay home from school or any activity during the first days of the illness when the symptoms are the most severe and the infection is contagious.
• Children can return to school when the symptoms are improving and no fever for 24 hours.

11-2021 Reference Mayo Clinic

- Nurse Beth

The December Mental Health Series Calendar is found in the image to the right.

It includes:

• Key Dates: Schedule of live webinars for December, with each event starting at 6 & 8 PM CT.
• Topic Highlight: District-selected focus topic tailored to the needs of your students, families, and staff.
• Access Details: Instructions on how to join live sessions.

Upcoming is Ask a Therapist LIVE event on December 11th. This event takes place once per month and offers a unique opportunity for parents to engage directly with a licensed family therapist. Parents can ask questions anonymously and receive personalized answers in real time.

The Fargo Public Schools 2023-24 Annual Report is a summary of the District’s efforts to carry out its mission of “educating and empowering all students to succeed” during the 2023-24 school year. Read the report for an in-depth examination of the District’s students, staff, schools, departments, and programs and a celebration of their achievements. And view key statistics regarding staffing, budget, demographics, and assessment data. Thank you for supporting Fargo Public Schools and allowing the District to serve its students and families and provide an exceptional educational experience. Access the full document at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/AnnualReport

Scan or click the QR Code to view the Fargo Public School Districts website surrounding Standards-Based Learning.

Please view the link below to see additional videos and materials on EBR, provided by Principal Cody and Instructional Literacy Coach, Erin Sinner.

EBR Folder Link

Students will be using an online learning management system called Canvas to access their courses and assignments. Parents and guardians will be able to monitor their child’s progress with a Canvas parent account. From inside PowerSchool Parent, parent/guardians can click the Canvas icon on the left side navigation options, under the “Custom FPS Links” heading. From there, a page with additional login information will be provided on how to connect. Parents will then be able to access Canvas from a link within PowerSchool. Teachers and media staff will inform students about Canvas features after school begins.

Click the image to access the site.

A detention will be assigned for each period of truancy and for every third tardy. Detention will be held on Monday through Friday 8:05 – 8:45am and from 3:05pm - 3:45pm. 3:05pm - 3:45pm detention can only be served if your student DOES NOT have an 8th period class. Detention will also be held on select Saturday’s from 8:00am - 12:00pm. View the list of Saturdays dates HERE.

Students who have detentions may NOT participate in selected school sponsored functions such as, homecoming dance, prom, and graduation ceremonies until all detentions are served.

The school MUST be notified when your child will be absent. There are 3 different ways to contact our attendance office which may be used 24/7.

1. Phone: 701-446-5611 for students last name A-J or 701-446-5610 for students last name K-Z.

2. Email: dhattendance@fargo.k12.nd.us

3. Text: 701-446-8471

For any appointments, a student should bring a note from the institution to the attendance office when they return to school.

Tom Glynn, is our MECA Sales Representative for letter jackets. Please review this order form for pricing. His contact information is: 651-341-2840 or email tglynn@mecasportswear.com.

If you or your family are in need of personal hygiene supplies, household products, food or clothing, the Student Services Office at Davies has a small variety of items. Students and families can access these items by contacting their school counselor. If you need additional community supports, the counselors are available to help connect you with additional supports to meet your needs.

The Fargo Public Schools uses electronic surveillance systems in order to help ensure that school premises and individuals on school premises are safe and secure. Any person entering a school facility, on school property, or at a school function, or riding a school bus is subject to being videotaped. Davies High School has over 75 cameras throughout it's facility.

The Insights.nd.gov is the state’s official source for information about public education across North Dakota. The information is provided by partner agencies through the Statewide Longitudinal Data System and is brought about through the collaborative work efforts of the following North Dakota agencies: Dept. of Public Instruction, Career and Technical Education, ND University System, Job Service ND, Dept. of Commerce, school districts and work force development programs.

Insights.nd.gov is intended to inform policy makers, agencies, researchers and communities on ND public schools and workforce development on many topics, including public education. The site is expected to contain more information as it becomes available.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO ACCESS THE DAVIES HIGH SCHOOL DASHBOARD

DAVIES MAIN OFFICE

Office Number..................... ............................ 446-5600

Troy Cody, Principal.................. ...................... 446-5604

Dr. Dale Miller, Asst. Principal (A-J)................446-5607

Sean Safranski, Asst. Principal (K-Z)..............446-5606

Lenny Ohlhauser, Activities Coordinator........ 446-5608

Kayla Dewey, Admin. Assistant....................... 446-5605

Kaity Dalzell, Activities Admin......................... 446-5609

Christina Hopper, Bookkeeper..........................446-5619

Yorrick Byers, Restorative Practices.................446-5629

STUDENT SERVICES

Amanda Brown, Counselor (A-C).................... 446-5612

Ashlyn Skolness, Counselor (D-Ha)….............. 446-5614

Beth Weiler, Counselor (He-L)…....................... 446-5626

Sarah Nereson, Counselor (M-Sa)................... 446-5613

Anita Mahnke, Counselor (Sc-Z)...................... 446-5615

Janessa Berndt, Registrar (A-J)....................... 446-5616

Nicole Peters, Registrar (K-Z)........................... 446-5617

Jody Jahner, Career Center............................... 446-5625

Emily Bitz, CIS Social Worker............................ 446-5656

Alexis Rinas, McKinney Vento Liaison............. 446-5627

Derek Johnson, SRO...........................................446-5624

ATTENDANCE

Cathy Pauly (A-J)............................................ 446-5611

Carrie Cacioppo (K-Z)..................................... 446-5610

Email............................dhattendance@fargo.k12.nd.us

Text............................................................701-446-8471

SCHOOL NURSE

Beth Kobbervig, School Nurse..........................446-5621

Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Davies
Location: 7150 25th Street South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-5600