SchoolTalk
FPS e-Newsletter for May 30, 2024
Cabinet Column - Celebrating the Conclusion of the 2023-24 School Year
As the 2023-24 school year concludes, Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi says he is filled with immense gratitude and pride for the efforts and accomplishments of FPS' students, staff, and community partners. This school year has been a testament to their collective dedication to providing a quality education and ensuring the success of every student.
Read this Cabinet Column by Dr. Gandhi for a celebration of FPS' collective accomplishments this school year and a look ahead to summer.
Feature Column - Title IX Promotes Gender Equity
Originally intended to prohibit sex discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance, Title IX has become synonymous with promoting gender equity and leveling the playing field in academia. Its impact extends far beyond the realm of sports, its most visible domain, touching various facets of educational life.
Read more about the importance of Title IX and see announcements of Title IX certification of staff in this Feature Column by FPS Director of Compliance Dr. Patty Cummings.
State Track and Field Champions
Congratulations to all of the state champions from Fargo Public Schools at the NDHSAA Class A State Track and Field Championships last weekend in Bismarck! View the full results from the state championships.
South High School
- Jaylen Runnels, Justin Zulu, Oscar Barbot, Austin Zulu: Boys 4x400 Relay
- Jaylen Runnels, Justin Zulu, A’Johntez Moore, Austin Zulu: Boys 4x200 Relay (New State Record 1:25.87)
- Axumite Wren James: Girls High Jump
Davies High School
- Kate Laqua: Girls 100-meter Hurdles, 300-meter Hurdles
- Thomas Schreiner: Boys Long Jump
North High School
- Trey Knoke: Boys 110-meter Hurdles
- Owen Sondag: Boys 3200-meter Run
State Track and Field Coach of the Year
Congratulations to South High School Track and Field Coach Cameron Dockter on being named the 2024 North Dakota High School Coaches Association Subway State Coach of the Year for Class A Boys Track and Field. Dockter was recognized with the award at the NDHSAA State Track and Field Meet in Bismarck.
Red Nose Day Donation
The students of Ms. McNutt’s second-grade class presented a donation of more than $800 to YWCA Cass Clay on Wednesday in honor of Red Nose Day. Jill DeVries from the YWCA attended to receive the donation.
The students and staff at Eagles raised the money for the donation with a penny war during the week of May 20-24. Each class competed to see which class could raise the most money in their jars, with the winning class earning the right to choose what organization would receive the donation. Ms. McNutt’s class won the penny war by raising $211 and presented the award to YWCA and had an ice cream party. In previous years, Eagles has donated money to the Great Plains Food Bank and Down Home.
Games for Good
The three Games for Good events have now raised more than $2,000 combined with donations benefitting the International Relief Organization, Down Home, and Feed the Children.
Battle of the Books Champions
Congratulations to McKinley Elementary School fifth graders Nora Reuter and Nathan Fiskum on winning the 2024 Fargo Public Schools Battle of the Books!
Battle of the Books is a nationwide reading incentive program. Students were challenged to read at least 10 of the 20 book titles included in this year’s competition. Each of the participating schools held competitions to determine a school champion, and these teams advanced to the District level competition.
Graduation Ceremony Livestream Links
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2024! Fargo Public Schools graduations are coming up this Friday and Sunday. To accommodate those who are unable to attend, FPS will livestream graduation ceremonies at these links:
Dakota High School, May 31 at 7 p.m.
South High School, June 2 at noon
Davies High School, June 2 at 3 p.m.
North High School, June 2 at 6 p.m.
FPS Job Fair - June 27
Fargo Public Schools seeks paraeducators, facilities staff, nutrition services staff, and bus drivers to join our dynamic team for the 2024-25 school year. A job fair will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Thursday, June 27 at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School, 1601 13th Avenue South. Those interested should apply online to FPS prior to the fair. Interviews will be conducted at the fair. Candidates selected for employment will receive job offers within 48 hours after their interview. Walk-ins are welcome.
Climate & Culture Survey
Parents, we want to hear from you! Please help Fargo Public Schools improve how we are serving our students, staff, and stakeholders by taking our culture survey. The survey data will guide District decision making, parent engagement, District and school improvement, and influence Strategic Plan decisions.
If you are a parent of a student enrolled in FPS, please click here to complete this survey. You may complete the survey for each student enrolled at FPS. The survey is anonymous and demographic data is optional.
Kindergarten Registration
Going to kindergarten is important for children. It helps them build upon all the learning that they have done so far. In kindergarten, children will learn skills they will build on throughout their formal education and throughout life. It is important to register early to allow FPS enough time to plan ahead for the school year to give students the best experience possible.
Kindergarten Registration for Fargo Public Schools is now open online. If your child turns 5 by July 31, 2024, they are eligible to attend school in the fall. Visit fargo.k12.nd.us/registration to learn more about the registration process.
Virtual Academy
The Virtual Academy offers asynchronous learning opportunities to students in Grades K-12, allowing them the flexibility to complete lessons and coursework from their device at any time, while also providing daily teacher support. Virtual Academy utilizes Imagine Edgenuity and the North Dakota Center for Distance Education. High school students also have options for hybrid in-building learning, dual credit courses through the North Dakota State College of Science, and Advanced Placement courses. Fully online learning is best suited for students who are independent, self-motivated, have a solid support system at home, and are physically able to handle extended screen time.
Those interested in attending the Fargo Public Schools Virtual Academy for the 2024-25 school year should fill out this Google Form to indicate their plan for attendance. More information about the Virtual Academy can be found on its website.
Self-Directed Academy Registration & Hiring
Registration for the Fargo Public Schools Self-Directed Academy, opening next fall for students in Grades 6-8, is now open.
The Self-Directed Academy puts each student in the driver's seat of their own education. With an instructional model built on self-paced learning, flexible scheduling, technology integration, STEM focus, and project-based learning, students determine their own educational path with guidance from educators serving as learning mentors who understand their needs and tailor supports to each individual. The Self-Directed Academy is best-suited for independent learners who benefit from in-person contact.
Fargo Public Schools is also seeking staff for the Self-Directed Academy. The SDA will be a fit for creative, innovative, collaborative staff members who want to try something new and break out of the regular mold to work at the Self Directed Academy opening next fall for Grades 6-8. Educators will work in collaboration with students and other teachers to serve the unique needs of each student. Apply at fargo.k12.nd.us/apply
United Way School Supply Drive
United Way of Cass Clay will be providing backpacks and school supplies to families in need with children attending K-12 schools in Cass or Clay Counties at the United Way School Supply Drive at the FARGODOME from Wednesday July 31 to Friday, August 2.
Each child will need a form of ID, such as a social security card, a school ID, or report card. And each family will need to complete a registration form prior to receiving a backpack.
Fargo Public Library Summer Reading Challenge
The theme for the Fargo Public Library's 2024 Summer Reading Challenge is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” The reading challenge runs from June 3 to August 17. Kids and teens can participate by registering and logging into the Fargo Public Library Beanstack app (pre-registration starts Monday, May 20) and completing reading activities and challenges to earn prizes. For more information visit the Fargo Public Library's website.
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 May 28 regular meeting of the School Board.
Cereal Drive
Bennett Elementary School students and staff collected 366 cereal boxes during the Bennett Cereal Drive to donate to the Husky Hutch food pantry, The Great Plains Food Bank, and the Olivet Food Pantry. Before donating the cereal, the boxes were set up like dominoes in the hallway and knocked over. (Photo courtesy Amy Balluff)
Camp Learned-a-Lot
The first graders at Washington Elementary School celebrated a year of learning at Camp Learned-A-Lot. Students participated in literacy, math, art, science and writing camp-themed activities during the week. They had sing-alongs, played games, completed art projects, and had camp-themed snacks. (Photos courtesy Rehan Amedi)
Mock Trials
Students in Bart Manson's Street Law class at Davies High School conducted mock trials to give the students experience in all roles involved in a criminal trial. Students played the roles of jurors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses, and more as they conducted realistic trials. (Photo courtesy Erin Sinner)
Swept Away
Fourteen teams from local high schools competed in the Spring Swept Away Robotics Competition at North High School. The students put their robotics engineering and piloting skills to use a robot to move as many foam balls as possible into their opponent's side of the field. North's Finnegan Kielty and Everett Olson went undefeated through the competition and won the championship. (Photo courtesy Patrick Sheldon)
Final Concert
Carl Ben Eielson Middle School Band Director Beth Ferguson conducted her last concert on May 21. Current and former students and staff showed their appreciation for the impact she made on CBE band students and congratulated her on her retirement. (Photo courtesy Mariah McKenney)
Family Fun Night
Lewis & Clark Elementary School hosted a Family Fun Night for its students, staff, and families on May 20. Guests enjoyed a dinner of taco in a bag and participated in activities including a scavenger hunt, raffle drawing, necklace crafting, and a bounce house. (Photo courtesy Danielle Lapos)
Raising a Reader
Centennial Elementary School kindergarteners received a Raising a Reader bag at their last library visit of the school year. The bags contain resources to help support summer reading. The students were also able to pick out a book to take home with them in their bag. (Photo courtesy Jessica Voss)
Drone Demonstration
Cass County Sheriff's Office drone pilots, Deputies Noonan and Boerboom, gave a talk and demonstration on drones to the South High School Drone Club. The deputies covered how the Sheriff's Office uses drones and how they coordinate with local police and fire departments. (Photo courtesy Ullrich Reichenbach II)
Character Quilts
Horace Mann-Roosevelt Elementary School students created a Character quilt during their final Spartan Spotlight of the school year. At the Spartan Spotlights, held once a month, students learned about the six pillars of character: caring, trust, responsible, fairness, citizen, and respect. (Photo courtesy Yolanda Wilde-Swenson)
South P.R.A.N.K. Day
The senior class at South High School celebrated academic achievements, revisited the origins of their educational journeys, enjoyed their time together as high schoolers for one of the final times, and offered support to the next generation of Bruins as part of their Senior P.R.A.N.K. (People Really Appreciation Nice Kids) Day on Tuesday. The seniors attended a scholarship ceremony, volunteered at events at South feeder elementary schools, enjoyed a barbecue lunch, and joined together for a bonding activity.
Day of Northside Pride
North High School hosted the Day of Northside Pride on Wednesday May 22. The celebration brought North's students and staff together one last time before the end of the school year. The Day of Northside Pride featured an academic banquet; a Technical Education Open House and grill out, showcasing what the tech ed classes have built this year; a sidewalk chalk contest; a Parade of Champions, recognizing all North activities state champions; a senior party; and schoolwide activities, including a dunk tank, video games, puzzles, four square, minnow races, cornhole, and more.
Bruin Bash
The students and staff at South High School celebrated the end of the school year with the schoolwide festival, the Bruin Bash, on Wednesday, May 22. The Bruin Bash featured an art show with art created by South students; a health science open house featuring an Anatomage Table, CPR mannequins, and choking vests; and a Cruz-In auto show featuring student vehicles, police vehicles, military vehicles, and industrial equipment. Students participated in activities such as a sidewalk chalk festival, badminton tournament, karaoke, board games, rock painting, spike ball, cornhole, and a teacher dunk tank. The day concluded with a students vs. staff dodgeball game.
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