The District Insider
Volume 10, Issue 4 | November 2022
Career Impact Academy Receives Grant
Grand Forks Public Schools has received a $520,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA).
The grant, which will be matched with $130,000 in local funds, will be used for the procurement of equipment for the Career Impact Academy and its occupational training program.
The EDA funds the Red River Regional Council, which brings together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
The grant, announced by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, was funded by the American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program to support business and workforce development efforts in North Dakota.
A collaborative partnership among several entities in the Grand Forks region, the Career Impact Academy will provide hands-on, relevant career and technical education experiences for students in the Grand Forks region. High school students will be able to complete their high school diplomas and obtain credentials or college credits. Academy training pathways will be open for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Participating postsecondary institutions can provide training pathways, certifications, and degree programs for adult learners.
The Career Impact Academy is an entity of Grand Forks Public Schools and is governed by the Grand Forks School Board. The facility will be located near the intersection of Highway 2 and Interstate 29.
Ethen Hook, Zygarlicke Receive State Awards
Liberty “Libby” Ethen Hook, a 2022 graduate of Community High School, has been named the North Dakota Association for Lifelong Learning (NDALL) Alternative Education Student of the Year.
The Student of the Year award is given to a current or recent student/graduate who demonstrates determination and perseverance and sacrifice to achieve their educational goals.
Eileen Zygarlicke, a former English teacher at Community High School, was named the NDALL Educator of the Year.
The Educator of the Year award is given to a staff member, teacher, administrator, or volunteer who contributes significantly to the field of education, models professionalism, continues to upgrade their educational skills, and promotes education locally and statewide.
Ethen Hook and Zygarlicke received their awards during the NDALL fall conference in Bismarck on September 22.
(pictured above (from left-to-right): Zygarlicke, Ethen Hook, Terry Bohan, principal at Community High School)
Grand Forks Public Schools Receives Department of Defense Grant
Grand Forks Public Schools has received a $500,000 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) grant for use at Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School!
DoDEA supports research-based programs that aim to increase student achievement and ease the challenges that military children face due to their parent's/guardian's military service.
The grant will provide funds for Project F.I.T. (Fitness Integration at Twining), to Learn, which is designed to support academic achievement for all students at the school. Project F.I.T. to Learn will establish highly-effective tired support systems with research-based purposeful movement instruction. The project will enhance student achievement through movement-oriented instruction, designed to meet individual learning needs.
Project F.I.T. to Learn cultivates mind-body wellness for teachers, students, and families through the development of a teacher collaborative teacher space and FITness lab that encourages and engages movement with “video game” qualities for all and implements movement-oriented lessons into all tiers of instruction.
The grant was written by Taunya Schleicher, fund development and grants coordinator, Elizabeth Berger, instructional design coach, and teachers Tiffany Dahlquist, Gary Suchor, and Jennifer Varriano.
Compton Receives Technology Award
Jeff Compton, network services coordinator at Grand Forks Public Schools, has been named the North Dakota Association of Technology Leaders (NDATL) Technology Leader - Large School!
The award was presented to Compton at the annual NDATL fall conference on October 18 in Mandan.
“Jeff is an invaluable member of the Grand Forks Public Schools team. His knowledge of all things technology, from infrastructure to platforms, is unmatched by anyone I’ve ever worked with,” said Chief Academic Officer Amy Bartsch. “He embodies the definition of a team player. He is always willing to support teachers, staff, and students to ensure all stakeholders feel supported and successful. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor.”
“The institutional knowledge, customer service, and professionalism demonstrated by Jeff in all that he does for the school system set the standard for the entire Technology Department,” said Eric Ripley, executive director of career and technical education and technology. “This well-deserved award showcases the leadership skills Jeff provides not only within Grand Forks Public Schools but also as a respected and recognized technology leader across the state.”
The NDATL includes technology educators across North Dakota who are committed to the improvement of education through the use of technology.
Grand Forks Public Schools Receives Grant
Grand Forks Public Schools has received a $5,000 Caring Foundation grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND).
The grant will be used to support the Sources of Strength program, a best-practice youth suicide prevention project designed to utilize social networks to increase help-seeking behaviors and promote connections between peers and adults.
The focus of this grant is to provide adults in the community with the skills to be connectors to help students in the community and learn about strength-based interventions.
The Sources of Strength program is available to students in grades 6-12 throughout Grand Forks Public Schools.
“Children are the future, and having the resources and tools to be able to keep them safe and well supported is so crucial. BCBSND Caring Foundation is honored to help ensure these young individuals have the resources and strength to get back up when life knocks them down," said Amber Blomberg, community partnerships and foundation manager at BCBSND.
The Caring Foundation supports projects that reflect the foundation's mission by identifying statewide needs and providing funding through grants and initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles for North Dakota residents.
Updated Websites
In mid-October, all of our school and GFPS websites were updated with a new template. The new template provides many enhanced features, including the ability to include a video/multi-media gallery; website accessibility features (high contrast, compliant colors); adding school schedules and attendance phone numbers in the sidebar on the school homepages; and much more.
For information on where to find the most commonly used features, please visit https://www.gfschools.org/find.
Please note: the links that were previously under the slideshow carousel are either:
- In the top toolbar (directory, careers/employment);
- At the right-hand side of the video (MySchoolBucks, PowerSchool, Clever, Staff Resources, School Menus (on school websites); or
- In the footer at the bottom of the page (Medical Information, Contact Us).
If you run into any technical issues, please email Chris Berg at cberg300@mygfschools.org. Please include a link to the page and/or specific information on the issue you are experiencing.
Thank you!
Examples of Excellence
- Congratulations to Briley Zhang, a 10th grade student at Red River High School, on being recognized for her poster contribution at the University of North Dakota's (UND) Cyber Awareness and Research Symposium! Her poster discussed efforts by Grand Forks Public Schools and the state of North Dakota to increase student awareness of cybersecurity issues and showed trends in enrollment in this area. She received a $200 award for her submission. She is pictured below with Dr. Prakash Ranganathan the director of the Center for Cyber Security Research at UND.
- Check out this great article/video by the University of North Dakota, featuring Taylor Wright, 5th grade teacher at Viking Elementary School.
Congratulations to the following coaches and student-athletes on the following awards!
North Dakota High School Activities Association:
- Red River Boys' Tennis, Team State Champions
- Evan Panzer and Cole Wilber (Grand Forks Central), State Tennis Double Champions
- Asher Green and Lucas Bydal (Red River), State Tennis Doubles 3rd Place
- Espen Schneider (Red River), State Tennis Singles Runner-Up
- Saylor Kuenzel (Red River), State Tennis Singles 3rd Place
- Red River Boys' Soccer Team, 5th place
- Jaya Grube (Red River), runner-up at the Class A Girls' Golf Championship
- Red River High School Class A Girls' Cross Country, Team runner-up
- Josh Lunak (Red River), 2022 NDHSCA Boys' Tennis Coach of the Year
- Eric Sanders (Red River), 2022 NDHSCA Girls' Golf Coach of the Year
- Quinn Roehl (Grand Forks Central), 2022 Class A Boys' Cross Country All-State Team
- Jaya Grube (Red River), 2022 Class A Girls' Golf All-State Team
- Saylor Kuenzel/Espen Schneider (Red River), Class A Boys' Tennis Singles All-State Team
- Cole Wilber/Evan Panzer (Grand Forks Central) and Asher Green/Ryland Bydal (Red River), Class A Boys' Tennis Doubles All-State Team
Eastern Dakota Conference:
- All-EDC Boys' Soccer Team: Brody Kendall (Grand Forks Central), Grant Lelm (Red River), Hunter Robertson (Red River), and Caleb Severson (Red River)
- Red River Boys' Tennis Team, the EDC Team Champions
Purposity
In our mission to support students, we are always looking to join forces with partners and organizations that help expand our impact. We are excited to re-introduce our partner, Purposity! This platform allows us to share specific needs, get those needs met, and focus on the long-term goals of those we serve.
You can lend a hand to a local student with just a few clicks. When you are notified about a need from Grand Forks Public Schools, you’ll be able to read the individual’s story and decide if you’ll help right from your phone. To be a part of Purposity, download the Purposity app or visit https://www.purposity.com/organization/GrandForksPublicSchools.
For more information, please visit https://www.gfschools.org/Page/8712.
Now Hiring!
Job Openings (posted since 10-1-2022)
- Bus Driver (Part-Time) - Students in Transition (SIT)
- Designated Sub Teacher
- Mental Health Therapist
- Family Room Mentor - Community High School
- Paraprofessional - Program - RMAC
- Instructional Design Coach (50%) - Twining Middle School
- Teacher (SAIL Center)
- Unlicensed Assistive Personnel - Century Elementary
- Unlicensed Assistive Personnel - Discovery Elementary
- Interventions Teacher - Lake Agassiz Elementary
- Paraprofessional - 504 - Kelly Elementary
- Unlicensed Assistive Personnel - Kelly Elementary
- World Languages/World Cultures Teacher (60%) - Valley Middle School
- Custodian Application Pool
- Cook Application Pool
Upcoming Events
- November 2: Early Release (Twining/middle/high schools: 1 p.m., elementary schools: 1:30 p.m.)
- November 11: No School; District Office Closed (Veterans Day)
- November 14: Grand Forks School Board meeting (Mark Sanford Education Center, 6 p.m.)
- November 16: Early Release (Twining/middle/high schools: 1 p.m., elementary schools: 1:30 p.m.)
- November 23: End of 1st Trimester (elementary Schools)
- November 24-25: No School; District Office Closed (Holiday Break)
- November 28: Joint Grand Forks School Board/Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board meeting (Mark Sanford Education Center, 6 p.m.)
- November 30: Early Release (Twining/middle/high schools: 1 p.m., elementary schools: 1:30 p.m.)
Text of photo above: GFC Winter Play. Over the River and Through the Woods by Joe DiPetro. December 1-3 at 7 p.m., GFC Blackbox Theatre.
Text of photo above: Red River Winter Play. Finding Corey Taylor. December 8-10 at 7 p.m., December 11 at 2 p.m., RRHS Performance Hall.