The District Insider
Volume 5, Issue 6 | February 2018
Grand Forks Head Start has joined with Valley Memorial Homes to locate two classrooms and a playground at 4000 Valley Square, located at 4000 24th Ave. S in Grand Forks.
The project is a collaboration between the two organizations and respective foundations – the Grand Forks Foundation for Education and Valley Memorial Foundation.
Since 1965, the Head Start program has provided comprehensive early education and support services to low-income children age 3 and 4 and their families by supporting their development in a comprehensive way. Focused on the "whole child," these services include early education addressing cognitive, developmental, and social-emotional needs; medical and dental screenings and referrals; nutritional services, parental involvement activities; referrals to social service providers for the entire family; and mental health services.
These classrooms, which will open in the Fall of 2018, will align with the concept of intergenerational learning, or the informal process of passing down culture and knowledge. This unique program setting will enable easy interaction between our community’s valued elders and young children.
“Research shows intergenerational programming benefits children by providing social awareness for communicating with older people, positive attitudes toward the aging and elderly, mentoring, positive role models. and an experience of community belonging,” said Tracey Johnson, director of Head Start at Grand Forks Public Schools. “We are excited to enter this journey with two Head Start classrooms located inside the 4000 Valley Square campus!”
To donate online, please visit donate.gffoundation.org/headstart. Fundraising will also take place on Giving Hearts Day, held February 8, 2018.
"We need the community's help to make the playground a reality," said Emilia Hodgson, executive director of the Grand Forks Foundation for Education. "We have an opportunity to create an outside space that is fun and safe for both the children and the elders. The playground will also be accessible to residents and their families outside of classroom time. What a fantastic space for them to create memories as well."
For more information about the project, please contact Hodgson at 701.787.4867.
To learn more about Grand Forks Head Start, please visit https://www.gfschools.org/headstart.
Six Red River High School seniors and two seniors from Central High School have been selected as candidates for the 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Aysia Dukes (Central), Jackson Holm (Red River), Kacy Jiran (Central), Isabel Krogh (Red River), Nathan Peasland (Red River), Samuel Schumacher (Red River), Francine Shaft (Red River), and Sydney Warcup (Red River) join previously announced U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education (CTE) nominee Adrian Cummings (Central) as nine North Dakota students invited to apply for the honor of being selected as a Presidential Scholar.
Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors distinguished graduating seniors across the nation. In 1979, the Program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was extended again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
The candidates will now complete and submit materials for review, which will be evaluated on academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay.
Approximately 800 students nationwide will be selected as semifinalists, and up to 161 students will be chosen as Presidential Scholars. The Presidential Scholars will be invited to Washington, D.C., in June to receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony and participate in various activities and events held in their honor.
Last May, Evan Welsh, a senior at Grand Forks Central High School, was named a 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education (CTE), one of only 20 students nationwide to receive the honor in the CTE category.
The program is sponsored by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the U.S. Department of Education.
Grand Forks Public Schools has been awarded two $2,500 competitive grants from the Russell & Helen Sand Public High School Education Fund.
The first grant will be used to purchase a digital monitor and software to assist with designing and creating digital signage in graphic arts classes at Central High School. Students will be able to design and create various posters promoting events, classes, and school information to be displayed on the monitors.
“Due to this grant, my students will begin the process of designing with the idea generation stage and see the entire process all the way through to the end,” said Melissa Bakke, graphic arts teacher Central High School. “They will not only see their work and the value it has but also learn the entire process which is currently being used in the industry.”
The second grant was used to purchase a geriatric simulator, which will allow students to experience some of the physical changes that happen with aging and the challenges that the elderly face in confronting those challenges. The simulator mimics vision impairment, restricted range of motion and decreased mobility and strength, loss of sensation, and changes in balance.
“I tell my students that anytime we can step into our patient’s shoes and get a sense of the challenges they face, it allows us to be more empathetic in the care we give,” said Kim Adams, medical careers instructor at Central High School. “I anticipate using this tool in my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class and my medical careers classes when we talk about aging and the related medical conditions.
The Russell & Helen Sand Public High School Education Fund was created at the FM Area Foundation by Helen Sand to support public high schools located in North Dakota for the benefit of home economics and trade and industrial cooperative education departments. The fund was established in 2013.
Pictured: Tucker Hodgson, sophomore at Grand Forks Central, wearing the geriatric simulator.
- Congratulations to David Moreno, Community High School senior, on being selected as the winner of the school contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest! David will advance to the state competition in late February.
- Congratulations to Mark Rerick, Athletic Director, on being elected as the Class A East representative to the North Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors for the 2018-2019 school year!
- Congratulations to our January Social Media Award recipients!
- Assistant Softball Coach (Central HS)
- SPA Assistant
- Speech-Language Pathology Paraprofessional (SLPP)
- HVAC Equipment Mechanic
- School Psychologist
- Special Education Paraprofessional Application Pool
- Snow Removal (on-call)
- Electrician - Master
- Middle School Athletic Coach Application Pool
- Title I Paraprofessional Pool
- Para - After School Encore Program
- Food Service Worker/Cooks Application Pool
- Lunchroom Paraprofessional Application Pool
- Custodian Application Pool
- Create a Teacher Application