Dakota H.S. ~ Meadowlark News
February/March Newsletter 2021-2022
Dakota High School Mission Statement
Dakota High School will provide a student-centered alternative instructional program to allow students to obtain a high school diploma and to learn skills necessary to be productive, responsible citizens.
Dakota High School
David Burkman, Principal & EL Director
Jim Keal, Assistant Principal
Ila Hegg, Adm. Asst.
Arati Heath, Summer School & EL Adm. Asst.
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Dakota
Location: 1305 9th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-2800
Dakota High School ~ A Choice School
by David Burkman, Principal
Life is about the journey and the destination(s) and how you treat others along the pathway. The Dakota High School community pauses to reflect upon our current location of the journey through the first 100 days of the 2021-22 school year:
· 324 = The number of successfully completed classes this year. Way to go staff and students!
· 2.83 = Cumulative GPA of the 324 completions, which is also the North Dakota Choice Ready GPA to be ready for post-secondary. Excellent work students and staff!
· 14 = DKHS graduates to date. Yay!!
· Wednesdays. Workforce Wednesdays go National. Dakota HS and the Fargo Adult Learning Center are both housed at Agassiz and collaborated on a school to work initiative called Workforce Wednesdays. Local employers, Job Service and Trio bring their human resource team to Agassiz on Wednesdays to discuss employment opportunities with Dakota and ALC students. The success of the program is being duplicated across North Dakota and recently was shared at the National Governors Association meeting. Go team!
· 12 FAFSA. 12 students recently completed FAFSA paperwork. Studies show that students who complete FAFSA are much more likely to decide to try post-secondary. Dream big!
· 4 = The number of Dakota students who have completed a new Dakota course offering: Nutrition and Wellness is a class that combines a digital course with 5 required food labs and 5 required wellness labs. Innovation.
· 1 change = We are pleased to welcome Loretta Wellentin to the team in semester 2 who is replacing Sean Ritchie; best wishes to Mr. Ritchie in his new adventures.
· 130 = DKHS current enrollment = the number of great kids (young adults 😊) we have at Dakota.
Revisiting our name-change that happened this school year…
Dakota High School continues the rich history of Woodrow Wilson High School and its motto and mission to be… the safest, most welcoming and accepting school on planet earth. The motto aligns well with the “friend-friendly-ally” meaning of Dakota and the state’s recognition as The Peace Garden State. The culture and character of the school community are guided by values including hope, kindness, respect and responsibility. Similarly, the Grandfather Teachings are a set of core values/teachings of Dakota and other Native American tribes: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth. These universal values are celebrated in the Red River Valley, North Dakota and throughout families, cultures and faiths around the world.
Thank you for choosing Dakota in your pathway to a bright future.
Finish strong!!
Attention Graduates ~Jostens Senior Meeting Invite
There will be a “Getting Ready for Graduation” meeting for seniors with Jostens on Feb. 15, from 10:45-11:15 am in Gym 2. This meeting will be a question & answer session regarding order packets for cap, gown, tassel, and other graduation items.
Parents are welcome, but it is not mandatory that they be there.
The deadline for these orders will be March 15, 2022.
**More information regarding the graduation ceremony on May 27 will come out later.
Community Resources for Counseling
School counselors and staff are available during the school day to assist students. After hours and during weekends and holiday breaks, families need to utilize community supports. If you are in need of assistance for yourself or someone else, please contact the following resources:
FirstLink: Dial 2-1-1
(24/7 hour help line for community resources and emotional support)
Suicide Lifeline (answered locally): 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Red River Regional Dispatch: 701-451-7660
If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1
ACT & Scholarship Information & Events
JUNIOR ACT TESTING
ACT testing for all juniors will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Make-up testing will be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
The exam will be online and students will test using their school issued personal learning device.
Free ACT Test Prep for Juniors
TestNav has free practice tests available at home.testnav.com. The practice tests include tutorials to become familiar with the platform.
To access the practice test, go to: TestNav (icon on students desktop) OR, home.testnav.com. Click on “The ACT” and then click “Practice Tests.” Students do not need to log in to take the practice tests.
M-State Visit
Dakota students will be visiting M-State on March 25th from 9am-12:30pm for a college campus tour. Students will sign up ahead of time with Josh or Jennie to participate in the field trip.
Scholarships
Seniors, now is the time to find and complete scholarships to help pay for college! Contact Josh for assistance.
Senior Meeting
Attention seniors!! Please set up your senior meeting with Josh, our Career Advisor. Please call him to sign up for a time at 701-446-3043. to sign up for a time to meet with him to talk about your future plans!
#hatnothate
Dakota High School participated in the #hatnothate program this January. Hat not hate is a national program to promote anti-bullying in schools. Blue hats are hand made by people all over the country and donated to schools. The color blue represents awareness, peace and solidarity. There were several shades of blue and many patterns to choose from for students and staff. We are hoping to continue to bring awareness, join with others to stand up to bullying, and help start the kindness ripple effect throughout our community.
Ebony's Eats ~ Cookie Decorating and Gingerbread Houses
Santa Claus
Christmas Cookie Assembly
Many parts to add to make a great cookie!
McKinney-Vento Act
1. Is your current address a temporary living arrangement?
2. Is this temporary living arrangement due to loss of housing or economic hardship?
If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, your child(ren) may be eligible for McKinney-Vento services.
Please call Jan at 701-446-3113
Dakota High School Student Expectations
The students are expected to complete courses in 29 days (Sixthmester) or less with a “C” or higher grade.
When a student finishes a course, they go to the counselor to register for and start a new class. Accolades!
Each school day in session counts as a day, regardless of student absence or attendance.
49 Days = Sixthmester days for a skinny (70 minute) core class that is paired with an elective skinny.
Students with an IEP or 504 will have appropriately designated course completion deadlines set with case manager/team.
If a student falls off-pace and/or attendance expectations, the teacher will work closely with the student to identify obstacles and solutions. If progress continues off-pace, the teacher will include the student and parent in the development of an accord. If the student fails the accord, the student will lose the class.
Timed-out. If a student fails/drops more than 1 class per season, they will be timed-out and lose their enrollment at DKHS. The student may re-enroll/re-register at DKHS in approximately 1.5 weeks for a fresh start.
FPS graduation pace is 12 classes per year. At Dakota, if a student completes each morning and afternoon class in a Sixthmester, they will complete 12 total classes for the year.
Fargo Public Schools Lunch Meal Prices ~ No Cost
Dakota High School will be providing boxed meals upon request by the student. If the student knows which day they will be in attendance they can order a meal in advance by informing the main office.
Secondary Breakfast $0.00
Secondary Lunch $0.00
Adult Staff $3.50
Extra Milk $0.35
Co-Curricular Activities for DKHS Students
All Dakota High School students are welcome to join and participate in their home schools co-curricular programs (sports, music, dances etc…) which exist for the development of skills, attitudes, and self-esteem of students, and are intended to enhance the physical, social, emotional, artistic and intellectual growth of our young people. Parents are encouraged to be positive and supportive in their relationships with advisors and coaches. It is the prerogative of the advisor/coach to manage the activity in such a manner that sound human relationships are encouraged and the regulations of the North Dakota High School Activities Association are met. A team effort by parents, school officials, and the participants is needed.
Attendance Information
Email/call your teacher or the main office @ 446-2805 to report an absence
Good attendance and being on time are very important life skills.
# Students can earn P-R units (punctuality and reliability) towards advisory credit by having good attendance.
- 1-4 PR points (advisory units) are awarded at the completion of every class. If a student completes 12 courses in a year with great attendance, they could earn 48 advisory units (12 classes @ 4 PR points).
## Regardless of student absence/presence, each school day in session counts in the day count of course completion (25-29 day target).
### Parents (for students under 18) or students age 18/older are expected to call in a morning or full day absence by 9 a.m. and to call in an afternoon only absence by 12:30 p.m. for the absence to be excusable.
a. If a parent can’t call an absence on time, the student must call (by 9:00 and/or 12:30) and the parent must call later in the day to verify the absence.
b. Absences called in late will not be excused. Extenuating circumstances will be considered.
c. Appropriate absences will be excused when called in on time (but still will be included in day count completion):
a. Illness, funeral, medical or legal appointments, parent request, family vacation or emergency
#### A student may be dropped from a course after 3 unexcused absences.
Attendance Notification System
Dakota sends a daily, automated attendance call to report unexcused absences @ 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Tardiness ~~ Learn to be on-time (Punctual)
Be punctual and reliable. Earn Punctuality and Reliability Points for Advisory Credit!
Tardy (I’m late.) The student is reducing their P/R points for their class.
Tardy 10-15 Minutes: Recorded as Tardy (Tdy).
Ø The student loses access to Meadowlarks Meeting room, Library, or other out-of-class space for the rest of the class period.
Tardy Extended 16 – 70 Minutes: Recorded as tardy absence unexcused (Tdy AU)
Ø Tdy AU = half-period unexcused absence count (2 Tdy AU = 1 AU)
Ø The student loses opportunity to grab and go breakfast and access to work in Meadowlarks Meeting room, Library or other out-of-class space for the rest of the class period.
Immunization Update: 11th & 12th Graders for 2021-22
Still mandatory during COVID-19 ~
Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, a second dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is required for students entering eleventh or twelfth grade. This means your 11th and 12th grade student will need proof of two doses of MCV4 before returning to school in the fall.
Ideally, children should receive one dose of MCV4 when they are eleven to twelve years old and a booster dose on or after their sixteenth birthday. Please schedule with your child’s health care provider or your local public health. Please have your child receive this booster prior to the start of the school year. Also, remember to bring in the documentation of the immunization date to the school.
****The student has 30 days from enrollment to update their immunizations or their classes will be on PLACED hold.
Medications at School Policy ~ See below
Prescription and non-prescription ("over-the-counter") medications required by a student shall be administered by a parent at home or by the student's medical provider. Parents shall use every effort to have medication administration times set for time periods other than school hours. When this is not possible, within the limitations set by this policy, the Fargo Public School's staff may assist in the administration of medication during school hours. The Fargo Public Schools retains the right to refuse to administer medications or provide other medical treatments. No prescription or Non-prescription medication should be carried by a student or kept in his or her locker unless the authorization for self-administration has been completed.
The following limitations and requirements shall be applicable to the administration of medications by Fargo
Public School's staff:
* In no case should a staff member provide, recommend, prescribe, or require medication.
*School personnel will administer no prescription medication unless prescribed by a licensed prescriber
and a parent or legal guardian signs an authorization.
*Prescription medication must be in the original container with a label prepared by a pharmacist.
*Non-prescription medication (over the counter medications) will be administered according to the
manufacturer’s recommendation as written on the bottle. In addition, the parent or legal guardian needs
to sign an authorization form.
* If the parent/guardian requests a dosage different than the manufacturer’s recommendation for a non-
Prescription medication; a signed authorization will be necessary from both the parent/guardian and
the licensed prescriber prior to giving the medication.
*Non-prescription medication must be in the original container labeled with the student's name and
dosage.
*The building administrator of each school shall ensure that the procedural safeguards and records
contained in This policy are followed prior to administration of any medication or treatment.
*The building administrator of each school shall designate who shall be given the responsibility to check
in and administer the medication. Designated personnel should be in-serviced in the administration of
medication and given a specific review of instructions for a given student's medication needs.
*All personnel having responsibility for supervising students shall have access to information on the
Health portions of the student's school records, including related medical problems, and shall be
informed of anticipated circumstances for which school personnel may need to be in touch with
emergency or medical personnel.
Dakota High School Accolades
Dakota students who have distinguished achievement are recognized in the DKHS Accolades program.
Criterion for a student to achieve Dakota High School Accolades:
- Must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 DKHS sessions (starting by mid to late February)
- Average a minimum of 2 course completions per session
- Average a minimum or 3 P/R points for the year
- GPA for the year at DKHS must be at least 2.8
- No unresolved ICUs or DKHS community issues
- Complete 24 credit diploma to graduate with Accolades
Graduate must have attended more than 4 sessions at DKHS.
- Advisor’s written statement(s) of recommendation
Benefits of Achieving Dakota High School Accolades:
- Accolades Recognition Breakfast for student and family guests in May. (TBD)
- Certificate/Award that represents:
- Quality Attendance
- Commendable Scholarship
- Respectful Character
C. Potential to graduate with Accolades
D. Success and a personal sense of accomplishment
E. Quality material for Job-Scholarship-College Applications