Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - February 2022
Building a Foundation for Success!
Discovery Administration
This Month's Newsletter Features the Following:
- Monthly Highlights Discovery Administration: Spring Conferences, NAEP, Break the Silence, Literacy Walks, ESSA Survey
- Bus Delay Notification Process
- Discovery Activities Update
- Canvas and PowerSchool and Mastery Connect
- Traffic Flow: Pick Up and Drop Reminder
- Course Recommendations for the 22-23 School Year
- For Our Eighth Grade Parents/Guardians- High School Transition Tours
- Kindergarten Registration 2022
- Frozen Eagles Snowboard/Ski Group
- SRO Corner: Goodbye Officer Carlson, Hello Officer Noll!
- Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
- Counseling Corner: School Counseling Week and Registration Information for Current 6th and 7th Grade Students
- PTA
- Attendance Information
- Upcoming Events
- February Letter Day Calendar
- Yearbooks
Dear Discovery Middle School Families and Staff:
Spring Conferences:
Hello Parents and Guardians,
We have Spring Parent Teacher Conferences coming up on Tuesday, February 8th from 4:00-8:00 pm face to face in the building, open-house style. Due to the one night limitation, we will not be able to have a conference with all families. This is consistent with all three middle schools in FPS.
All parents/families are encouraged to check student current grades and email or call your child’s teachers if you have specific questions. Even better, have your child e-mail the teacher and cc you on the e-mails so they can practice advocating for themselves about their school work. If you have concerns and are unable to attend conferences either face to face, you can certainly request a meeting at any time during the school year by reaching out out to your child’s counselor and/or teachers and they will help to get that set up.
Please remember that there will be no quarter grades this school year, only semester grades.
NAEP Update:
On Wednesday, February 2nd, approximately 150 of our 8th grade students participated in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. Students were randomly selected by the state and participation was voluntary. Each student that participated was assessed in a single subject, either mathematics or reading, as well as asked to take a short survey once the test was completed.
NAEP is different from our state assessments, such as MAP or NDSA, because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The assessment is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. The results are released as The Nation’s Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public.
The testing team that came to our school to give the assessment had nothing but high praise toward our students and school. During testing, students were respectful and worked hard. Interactions were positive and exemplified our Guidelines for Success: Be Respectful, responsible, safe, and have a growth mindset.
A big thank you to our 8th graders who participated. You represented Discovery well!
Break the Silence Event at Discovery: Thank you to participants and panel members!
A huge thank you to the panel members from the viewing of the Break the Silence documentary and Q/A panel on Thursday, January 27th. A very special thank you to Todd and Elizabeth Medd, parents of Liam Medd and the Fargo Police Department. Break the stigma, break the silence.
Panel Members:
Todd and Elizabeth Medd, parents of Liam Medd
Joe Snowden and Katie Harmelink, Discovery MS Counselors
Beth Zimmerman, Discovery MS Student Wellness and Family Facilitator
Jamie Pfeifer, Pfeifer Counseling Services
Officer Michael Bloom, Fargo Police Department
Sergeant Cristie Jacobsen, Fargo Police Department
Chrissy Hollermann, First Link Helpline
Joe Ford, Discovery Health Teacher
Informational Booths from:
Davies High School Be Your Own Advocate Group @beyourownadvocatelm
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Community Resources
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
This information is also posted on the FPS website and on FPS social media platforms such as Facebook.
Discovery Literacy Walks:
Discovery had the opportunity to participate in learning walks this past week. What is a leaning walk? A Learning Walk is a brief classroom visit utilizing a researched-based tool that provides principals and teachers opportunities to reflect on what students are learning, learning strategies, student interaction with the content, and student engagement. It helps to identify strengths, areas for development as well as allows for an opportunity of reflection.
The team noticed the following from the learning walk: that ELO (Essential Learning Outcomes) were visible in classrooms, student engagement and interaction was witnessed and students were respectful.
Thank you to the staff who invited the District Literacy Walk team of Dr. Liann Hanson, Mr. Ricky White, Ms. Lindsay Seelig into their classrooms last week for the Literacy Walk. Thank you to Mrs. Herrick, Mr. Larson and Mrs.Thielges for also being part of this opportunity.
ESSA Survey:
As part of the continuous improvement in Fargo Public Schools and each individual building, Discovery wants to share with you an important opportunity for your child(ren) to impact and improve their school culture and learning environment. Student engagement is an important predictor of student success. North Dakota is committed to understanding, through the voice of students, how we can best support their engagement and success in learning. Discovery students in grades 6-8, will have their opportunity to share information about their educational experiences and perspectives through the statewide Student Engagement Survey the week of February 14th. This survey is not a graded test; there are no correct or incorrect answers.
Participating in the survey provides your student(s) an opportunity to have a voice in their education. We take student privacy seriously therefore the data collected and analyzed will be at the school level. Individual student results will not be reported. We will not identify your child(ren) and how they responded to the survey.
Summary feedback across all students will be provided to teachers and leaders in order to support professional development and continuous improvement at your school and district. Statewide student survey results will also be used by the state to report school quality as part of the state’s accountability system.
The survey has 20 brief questions. We encourage you to talk with your child(ren) about the survey and let them know the importance of answering the questions honestly. The collective responses of all participating students will help schools learn what they do well and what they can do better to help all students succeed.
Please encourage your child to engage with us in this important effort. We look forward to your child(ren) participating in the Student Engagement Survey. If you have any questions, please reach out to administrative intern and school improvement co-chair, Mr. Ben Jystad-Spar at 701.446.3320.
High School Jr. ROTC Joins the PE Classes
Break the Silence
5th Grade Music Experience
Bus Route Adjustments if Valley Bus experiences a Bus Driver Shortage
In the rare event that Valley Bus does not have enough staff to cover all the school bus routes for Fargo Public Schools, Valley Bus would implement a “delayed bus route plan” rather than canceling routes. This plan could be used in either a morning route or an afternoon route.
Delayed Bus Route Plan– The “delayed bus route plan” would have the drivers cover for the missing driver after they have completed their assigned route. This would cause the identified route to be delayed by 15 to 30 minutes. Families would be notified the day of the delay by email, text, and voice messaging. Morning route delay notifications will occur between 5:30-6:30 am and after-school delay notifications will occur by 1:00 pm if a driver shortage occurs. This means students may be standing at their bus stop for additional time or they may be returning home up to 30 minutes later than normal. Each route affected would cause a delay for both the elementary and secondary students riding that bus.
The Bus Delay message will only be sent to the affected route and it will say the following:
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###. Today, [Monday, October 9, 2021], your morning route will be 15-30 minutes later than normal. Your principal has been notified of your late arrival. “
Or
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###: Today, [Monday, October 20, 2021], your after-school route will arrive home 15-30 minutes later than normal. Students will be supervised at their home building until the bus is available.”
Since communication with families is based on what was entered into the FPS PowerSchool System, we asked that each family review their listed emails and cell phone numbers in the Parent PowerSchool Portal. Please update if needed by calling your child’s main office. This type of communication may be used for other situations that cause significant bussing delays.
Students will be excused in the morning if they arrive late to school due to the delayed busing. The buildings will implement a supervision plan for students if the after-school bus is delayed.
Please remember if you decide to drop your student off at their building more than 15 minutes before school the students will wait outside. Please make sure they have dressed appropriately for the weather.
Parents can check their child’s pick-up time using the “bus route by address” options on the FPS Website at https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/165.
Although the 2021-22 school year has been challenging, the transportation department and staff at Valley Bus are responding to these challenges and working hard to keep students safe. We thank families for their patience and trust as we navigate staffing challenges.
Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions.
Discovery Activities
Musical
Willy Wonka Junior
When: Performances on Feb. 24th & 25th at 7:00 pm and Feb. 26th at 2:00 pm.
Where: Discovery Theater
Canvas and PowerSchool and Mastery Connect...oh my!
Parents and Guardians have the ability to log in and check on their child's attendance, grades, and assignments (homework). The system used depends on the type of information they are looking for and the student's grade level.
Important Resources for Canvas for Parents/Guardians
Pick Up & Drop Off Reminder
If you are picking up/dropping off from the south side of the school (40th Ave S), please enter from the East entrance ONLY. Cars will immediately turn westbound into the Drop-Off Zone. Cars should exit on to 40th Ave and should only turn right (Westbound) on 40th Ave. Consider 18th Street as an alternate route to go northbound and back to University Drive, if needed. Doing your part will help alleviate some of the congestion, and every bit helps. Please see the diagram below.
Course Recommendations for the 22-23 School Year
Discovery English/ELA & Math teachers are in the initial phases of determining English & Math Recommendations and Placements for the 22-23 school year.
This is a very important process that takes place every year for each individual student at Discovery as well for our incoming 6th graders from our elementary feeders.
The process is multifaceted and dynamic:
First, English/ELA & Math teachers analyze and interpret in class work samples.
This involves the teachers digging into the work samples that are completed within the classroom setting. Work samples include analyzing each student's progress on projects, individual assignments, tests and quizzes. They compare each student's work samples to their grade level Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs)/Standards. This provides insight into where each student is currently performing at.
Next, we analyze MAP data.
MAP Testing took place on January 25, 2022 at Discovery Middle School for all students in grades 6-8. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is a standardized testing measure that is given to students across all Fargo Public Middle Schools that provides information about a student’s growth in the areas of ELA (English-Language Arts) and Math. Data obtained from MAP at the end of the testing session is used to determine the percentage of students who have made or exceeded their individual student growth and the projected annual growth. The MAP test is an adaptive test and adjusts to the rigor that is most appropriate for the student. Parents should receive a report in the mail with their student(s) growth/scores. If you have questions about your student(s) MAP scores, please reach out to their counselor or grade level Administrator.
Finally, teachers make recommendations.
After English/ELA and Math teachers review the data and work samples, they then make a recommendation and placement for which course they believe each individual student will be most successful. This could be a grade level course or an intervention course; again all based upon each individual student's academic progress/needs.
If a student has an IEP, 504 and ILP, the English/ELA & Math teachers also work alongside their case managers on recommendation/placement decisions.
6th, 7th and 8th grade English/ELA & Math teachers all make recommendations for their current students (that includes recommendations for high school course placement, as well). 5th grade teachers make course recommendations for their current students for 6th grade courses.
If you have any questions about the recommendation or placement process, please reach out to your student's current English/ELA and/or Math teacher.
High School Transition Tours (to South & Davies High)
High School Transition Tours
What is a Transition Tour?
- It is a field trip to the high school feeder (which used to only be Davies High, but now will include South High)
- Students will participate in a tour of the school and question & answer session which are led by current high school students and administrative/counseling teams.
- The Transition Tour lasts between 1.5-2.0 hours total and takes place during the school day
When is the Transition Tour?
- For students going to South High next school year the date is March 16, 2022
- For students going to Davies High next school year that date is March 22, 2022
How do I know which High School my student is attending next school year?
- This is based upon the updated boundary maps per FPS School Board decision
- You can check the boundary maps found here OR you can call Discovery Middle School at 701-446-3300 for assistance
What happens to my student's attendance/classes if they are at the Transition Tour and others are not?
- Since we now have two feeder high schools, not all students will be out of the building at the same time.
- Therefore, students who are attending Davies next year, will NOT attend the South Transition Tour and students who are attending South next year, will NOT attend the Davies Transition Tour.
- On the days that the students are out of the building for their Transition Tour, students will be marked "AC" (activity) during the hours they are out of the building.
- All 8th Grade Teachers are aware of the dates for the Transition Tours and will plan lessons accordingly based upon these dates (March 16th & March 22nd)
What if my student requires accommodations to participate in the Transition Tour?
- Please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus at 701-446-3305 or at quintua@fargo.k12.nd.us to request accommodations by March 1, 2022.
What if I do not want my student to participate in the Transition Tour?
- Please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus at 701-446-3305 or at quintua@fargo.k12.nd.us by March 1, 2022.
What if I have other questions about the Transition Tour or 9th Grade Registration Process?
- Please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus (8th Grade Principal) at 701-446-3305 or at quintua@fargo.k12.nd.us OR contact your student's counselor
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2022
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 is open online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2022. Your child must be age 5 by July 31, 2022 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process:
STEP ONE: REGISTER ONLINE
Complete online registration forms at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration. For assistance, please contact your child’s school to schedule an appointment to complete in-person. Masks are required for all visitors.
STEP TWO: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school by August 25 to finalize registration.
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s immunization record with 5-year shots
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and current address for verification
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701.446.1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
If you need help in PowerSchool (Fargo Public Schools online registration software), please call 701.446.1006
SNOWBOARD/SKI Group
The Discovery Frozen Eagles will be returning this winter for snow fun!
Check out our website. (https://sites.google.com/view/discoveryfrozeneagles/home) there you can register for our email list and get in on winter fun.
Be sure to find us on Facebook and Instagram.
SRO Corner: Goodbye Officer Carlson, welcome to Officer Noll!
Thank you to Officer Dave Carlson for serving in his role as SRO at Discovery this past month. Starting February 15th Officer Andrea Noll will be serving in the role as SRO at Discovery for the remainder of the school year. Discovery will have a new SRO assigned at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
NURSE’S CORNER: Juuling
Tobacco prevention coordinators at Fargo Cass Public Health have seen an increase in the number of youth using electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and they want parents to be aware specifically about the use and popularity of an e-cigarette called a JUUL. Parents in Cass County are encouraged to learn what these vaping devices look like and to talk to their children about the dangers of using these products.
A JUUL is a version of an e-cigarette and mimics the look of a USB stick, making it nearly impossible to spot. It charges with a laptop, fits in the palm of a hand and comes in flavors such as mango and mint. One JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and changes how the adolescent brain develops. According to North Dakota law, the definition of e-cigarettes includes the JUUL and other similar devices. This makes it illegal for anyone in North Dakota under the age of 18 to purchase, possess or use one of these devices. It is also illegal to use e-cigarettes indoors or within 20 feet of common entrances to public places and exits.
Tobacco prevention coordinators at Fargo Cass public Health want parents to know there are e-cigarette devices available that do not look like a regular e-cigarette. The purchase, possession or use of any e-cigarette by anyone under the age of 18 is illegal. We encourage parents to have a conversation with their children about using these products and confiscate them if you see them.
What is a JUUL?
• A version of an e-cigarette
• Mimics the look of a USB stick, making it nearly impossible to spot
• Charges with a laptop
• Fits in the palm of your hand
• Many flavors available like mango, mint, and fruit medley
• Used as a verb - JUULing
Are they safe?
• One JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as one pack of cigarettes, or 200 puffs (juulvapor.com)
• Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and may lead to a person smoking traditional cigarettes.
• Nicotine can change how the adolescent brain develops
• Not proven to be effective for smoking cessation
• Falls under the e-cigarette definitions in ND laws (illegal to purchase, possess or use if under the age of 18 and cannot be used indoors or within 20 feet of common entrances and exits)
What are we hearing?
• Becoming extremely popular at the middle and high school levels
• Parents/teachers/coaches should be watching for this device
Amanda Matzke, RN
Discovery Middle School Nurse
Phone number: 701-446-3319
Fax: 701-446-3411
E-mail: djhnurse@fargo.k12.nd.us
Counseling Corner: National School Counseling Week and Registration for Current 6th and 7th Graders
National School Counseling Week 2022 (#NSCW22) is Feb. 7-11, 2022, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February.
-ASCA
Thank you to our Discovery School Counselors Taylor Ferderer, Katie Harmelink, Sean Napton, and Joe Snowden and our Student Wellness Facilitator, Beth Zimmerman!
Attention Current 6th Grade Families:
Attention, current 6th grade families. In order to begin preparing for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year, we need to have all students register for classes. Please view the attached video with your student regarding registering for 7th grade classes. This video explains the registration process and also gives information about the class options for the upcoming school year. After viewing the video, please have your student log into their school Google account and complete the Registration Google Form that was emailed to them from Mrs. Harmelink. If they are unable to find the form, they can email their counselor. Please have the Registration Google Form completed by Feb. 14th.
Note: Students will need to be logged into their school account in order to access the Registration Google Form.
Registration Informational Video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FvPfaKRAcpY7Y-X3sAKw5rXCW-VN9JqJ/view?usp=sharing
If you have questions regarding registration, please reach out to your student’s school counselor.
Sean Napton (last names A - D) naptons@fargo.k12.nd.us
Taylor Ferderer (last names E-J) ferdert@fargo.k12.nd.us
Katie Harmelink (last names K - Q) harmelk@fargo.k12.nd.us
Joe Snowden (last names R - Z) snowdej@fargo.k12.nd.us
Attention Current 7th Grade Families:
Attention, current 7th grade families. In order to begin preparing for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year, we need to have all students register for classes. Please view the attached video with your current 7th grade student regarding registering for 8th grade classes. This video explains the registration process and also gives information about the class options for the upcoming school year. After viewing the video, please have your student log into their school Google account and complete the Registration Google Form that was emailed to them from Mrs. Harmelink. If they are unable to find the form, they can email their counselor. Please have the Registration Google Form completed by Feb. 14th.
Note: Students will need to be logged into their school account in order to access the Registration Google Form.
Registration Informational Video -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VYu2UJ7S-Lw7UyMJGrqTDw3k5hxmH0g0/view?usp=sharing
If you have questions regarding registration, please reach out to your student’s school counselor.
Sean Napton (last names A - D) naptons@fargo.k12.nd.us
Taylor Ferderer (last names E-J) ferdert@fargo.k12.nd.us
Katie Harmelink (last names K - Q) harmelk@fargo.k12.nd.us
Joe Snowden (last names R - Z) snowdej@fargo.k12.nd.us
PTA Executive Board and Upcoming PTA Meetings
We wanted to let you know that the PTA is entirely new with a completely new executive board! Thank you to the Keri Lee for her numerous years of service.
President: Cori Thielges
V.P: Janelle Hanson
Secretary: Darla Bakko
Treasure: Sarah Smith
Membership: Jennifer Frueh
We are excited to start some new initiatives and get events on the calendar for students! Please join us at our next PTA Meeting February 28th, more information to come.
NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 6:30 P.M., ZOOM FORMAT
Monday, March 28, 2022
Monday, April 25, 2022
Membership
There is still time for you to join the PTA and be a part of the Discovery Family!
Attendance Information
If you are planning on picking up your student during the school day, please call the Attendance Office as early as possible so that we can get your student a pass and have them ready in the office.
Important Information about Attendance
Regular and consistent attendance at school is critically important as demonstrated through numerous studies on student's academic, social emotional and future successes. However, there are a variety of reasons why a student may need to miss school.
We strive to ensure that all students regularly attend school, which means that we desire to have all students miss less than 5% of the total days in a school year. This would equate to missing 9 or less total days per school year (which essentially means 1 day or less per month of school during the school year).
North Dakota Century Code 15.1-20-01 states that "Any person having responsibility for a child between the ages of seven and sixteen years shall ensure the child attends a public school for the duration of each school year". Therefore, regular attendance at school is state law.
Attendance Tiers
In Fargo Public Schools, we regularly monitor student attendance patterns/trends. There are attendance tiers that have been put into place to assist students and their families in ensuring that students are at school regularly. The goal of school officials is to assist students and their families in regularly attending school and breaking down barriers that may be preventing them from doing so.
Tier 1
Once a student misses 9 days of school, a letter will be sent to those families alerting them that their student has entered into a Tier 1 Attendance violation. The school may reach out to discuss plans to improve school attendance.
Tier 2
Then, once a student misses 13 days of school, another letter will be sent to those families alerting them that their student has entered into a Tier 2 Attendance violation. The school may reach out to discuss plans for improvement at this time, which could include a meeting with the student, their family and school officials.
Tier 3
If a student misses 18 days or more of school, another letter will be sent to those families alerting them that their student has entered into a Tier 3 Attendance violation. At that time, School Attendance Review Board or SARB paperwork may be submitted by the school. This information/paperwork then gets sent onto Juvenile Court for further considerations.
In Fargo Public Schools, the following reasons do NOT count against a student's attendance record within a given school year (possible subject to change if new guidance is provided):
- School Activity
- Early Exit
- Homebound
- Hospital with Education
- In School Suspension
- Nurse's Office
- Principal's Office
- Student Services
- Tardy
- Unexcused Tardy
At this time, ILV (i.e. COVID leave) is NOT counted towards a student's school attendance records.
Discovery MS is currently working alongside Emilio Lamba, FPS Attendance Specialist, to assist in supporting our students and their families re: attendance at school. He can be reached at 701-446-3641.
If you have questions about your student's attendance per the FPS policies, please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus at 701-446-3305
Upcoming Events
- February 8 - Face to Face Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00-8:00
- February 21 - No School - Staff PD
- February 24, 25, 26 - Discovery Musical - "Willy Wonka Junior
- March 17 & 18 - Spring Break - No School
FEBRUARY LETTER DAY CALENDAR
Please see below for the February Letter Day Calendar or check out our Discovery website.
Our bell schedules and calendars are always posted on our Discovery website.
YEARBOOKS
Yearbook orders will be taken online .The cost is $20.00. To ensure that your child will receive a yearbook at the end of the year, it must be ordered and paid for in advance.
The deadline for ordering a yearbook is Friday, February 11, 2022.
Discovery Middle School
Dr. Amanda Quintus, Assistant Principal
Mr. Brandon Larson, Assistant Principal/Activities Coordinator
Mr. Ben Jystad-Spar, Administrative Intern
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/discovery
Location: 1717 40th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3300