The District Insider
Volume 8, Issue 8 | March 2021
Facility Improvement Community-wide Survey
The Grand Forks Public School District has a reputation of providing a quality educational experience for our students. Many believe our talented teachers and support staff meet and exceed the expectations of our community. As a result, students continue to excel both during and after their time in school, and our district has consistently been recognized for our quality programming.
The Grand Forks community has consistently supported and promoted the great things we do within our schools, and our district is certainly a sense of pride in our community. Despite this, many of our facilities have aged and do not meet expectations for staff and students’ needs. This includes everything from basic infrastructure and environmental variables (e.g. air quality, temperature, lighting, and sound) to modern and contemporary learning environments.
For the last several years, the district has embarked on a bold initiative to repair and improve the most immediate needs in many of the buildings. However, due to flat school funding revenue the school district is in a position where there just is not any budget left for the essential projects that remain to be completed. The district is working to provide continued updates through a variety of funding sources without a local tax impact (CARES Act proceeds, energy reduction financing, etc.). Yet, we also need the help of the community to return our schools to a condition that our community, staff, and students can be proud of; and we need to do this in a fiscally responsible way.
The School Board is committed to a facility planning strategy that honors and reflects the priorities of the taxpayers and meets the expectations of our community. Therefore, we need to hear your voice in this process.
We are working with SitelogIQ to help with this planning process. To collect feedback from the community, they are conducting this community-wide survey and all survey responses are returned to SitelogIQ to maintain the anonymity of the respondents. SitelogIQ will compile the results and present a report on the findings to the School Board and community. Please consider taking this survey and provide your voice in the process. The survey should take no more than about 20-30 minutes, and will close on March 5th. Paper copies of the survey will be available at the Mark Sanford Education Center or by calling 701-746-2200. Your time and voice will be greatly appreciated.
Eleven Students Named State Nominees for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Eleven Grand Forks Public Schools seniors have been named state nominees for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars program are Dennis Du (Grand Forks Central), Sydney Kouba (Grand Forks Central), Riley Lauzon (Red River), Gabrielle Linder (Red River), Stella Niemeier (Grand Forks Central), Eliot Schumacher (Red River), and Adam Swartz (Grand Forks Central).
Nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program in Career and Technical Education (CTE) is Broden Diederich (Red River).
Candidates for both the U.S. Presidential Scholars program and the U.S. Presidential Scholar in CTE program are Nabeel Hossain (Red River), Jakob Stevenson (Grand Forks Central), and Theodore Tchomakhidze (Red River).
"When one looks at the percentage of Grand Forks high school students in the state's cohort of nominees, it is beyond impressive. This is a testament to our insatiable learners and instructors within our school system,” said Dr. Terry Brenner, superintendent of schools. “School system leadership and both school boards are proud of each nominee as they well-represent Grand Forks Central and Red River high schools, as well as their families."
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.
A committee of qualified individuals experienced in secondary and post-secondary education will evaluate the candidates on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and an analysis of their essay.
Approximately 800 students nationwide will be selected as semifinalists and forwarded to the Commission on Presidential Scholars for further review. Up to 161 students will be chosen as Presidential Scholars, including at least two North Dakotans.
All 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission and will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony in their honor in Washington, D.C.
Grand Forks Central, Red River Students Selected for All-State Music Festival
Twenty-nine Grand Forks Central and Red River High School students have been selected to perform at the 55th annual All-State Music Festival, to be held March 23-24 in Bismarck and Mandan.
COVID-19 guidelines as established by Governor Doug Burgum’s office will be followed.
Each student was required to learn an excerpt of a classical solo which demonstrated their proficiency on their instrument/voice during a recorded audition.
All-State Orchestra:
- Grant Anderson, Red River, violin 2
- Cami Antonenko, Red River, violin 2
- Sophia Frank, Grand Forks Central, viola
- Sarah Hong, Red River, violin 1
- Claire Lapp, Red River, cello
- Matthew Moe, Red River, viola
- Ryan Nordhagen, Red River, string bass
- Quinn Roehl, Grand Forks Central, cello
- Sarah Sayles, Red River, cello
All-State Band:
- Gabby Campani*, Grand Forks Central, trumpet
- Haley Jorgenson*, Grand Forks Central, trombone
- Lauren Schwartz, Red River, euphonium
- Adam Swartz, Grand Forks Central, trombone 3
- Alex Vashus, Grand Forks Central, tuba
- Kai Zahui, Grand Forks Central, alto sax 2
All-State Mixed Chorus:
- Isaac Barta, Grand Forks Central, tenor
- Liz Corcoran, Red River, soprano 1
- Carter Elde*, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Katie Evans, Red River, soprano 2
- Ella Henry, Red River, soprano 1
- Jada Jensen, Red River, alto 2
- Olivia Nelson, Grand Forks Central, soprano 1
- Jakob Stevenson*, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Ethan Suriano, Red River, bass
- Bryant Woodbury, Grand Forks Central, bass
All-State Treble Chorus:
- Hannah Holte, Red River, soprano 2
- Amirah Hurst, Red River, soprano 2
- Ginny Hutton, Red River, soprano 1
- Aria Kindseth, Grand Forks Central, soprano 2
- Keira Knabe, Grand Forks Central, alto 1
- Tatum Mosley, Red River, soprano 2
- Sophia Roehl, Grand Forks Central, alto 2
- Haley Wood, Red River, alto 1
*Selected as an official member of an All-State ensemble, but will not perform due to ensemble size restrictions (on account of COVID-19) unless called to perform as an alternate.
Instructors include Alexander Barta (Red River, choir), Paul Barta (Grand Forks Central, choir) Leah Brooks (Grand Forks Central, band), Steve Carriere (Grand Forks Central, orchestra), David Christianson (Red River, band), Sarah Harlow (Grand Forks Central, band), Alexander Hovey (Red River, choir), Janelle Huber (Red River, band), Geoff Mercer (Grand Forks Central, choir), and Jeff Seabloom (Red River, orchestra).
Guest conductors for the festival include Dr. Bret Amundson (All-State Treble Choir), Aimee Beckmann-Collier (All-State Mixed Choir), Dr. Thomas Dickey (All-State Orchestra), Scott A. Jones (All-State Band), Tom Porter (All-State Vocal Jazz), and Mike Tomaro (All-State Jazz Band).
The schedule for the festival will be posted online at https://www.ndallstate.org/.
Five Students Named to Class A Academic All-State Teams
Five Grand Forks Central High Schools seniors have been selected as members of the 2021 North Dakota Class A Academic All-State teams.
Dennis Du and Stella Niemeier were named to the Gold Team, while Jakob Stevenson and Adam Swartz were named to the Bronze Team.
Each of the students will receive a medallion during the televised “Parade of Academic Champions” at the Class A Basketball Tournament in Bismarck on March 14.
Sydney Kouba was named to the Honorable Mention Team and will receive a certificate of merit.
“These outstanding students from Grand Forks Central are very deserving of this honor,” said Jon Strandell, principal of Grand Forks Central High School. “Each of them has balanced a focus on academics with involvement in a myriad of extracurricular opportunities at Grand Forks Central High School. They represent the best of high school students and we are proud of their continued accomplishments."
The students were nominated for the All-State Teams by school administrators and competed for the honor on a state-wide basis. Students were selected on their overall grade-point averages, ACT or SAT scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and leadership qualities.
Students Selected for Middle Level Honors Choir
Twenty-eight Grand Forks Central High School, Elroy Schroeder Middle School, Red River High School, South Middle School, and Valley Middle School students auditioned were selected for the North Dakota American Choral Directors Association Middle Level Honors Choir.
The event was held virtually on February 5.
This year, there were 403 auditions from 51 schools vying for 190 singing slots and 60 alternate positions.
Students had the opportunity to work with North Dakota composers and performers Tigerlily, Kat Perkins, and Jocelyn Hagen as well as national artists Tim Takach, Six Appeal, and Ben Folds in concerts and workshops.
Treble Choir
- Ellen Berry, Grand Forks Central, Alto
- Miranda Bry, Valley, Soprano 1
- Natalie Buchhop, South, Soprano
- Gabrielle Cormier, Grand Forks Central, Soprano 2
- Jocelyn Dawes, Elroy Schroeder, Alto
- Amirah Hurst, Red River, Soprano 2
- Aria Kindseth, Grand Forks Central, Soprano 1
- Reilly McIntosh, Red River, Alto
- Zoe Serna, Elroy Schroeder, Alto
- Emma Stevenson, Grand Forks Central, Soprano 2
- Madelyn Trapnell, Grand Forks Central, Alto
Mixed Choir
- Cami Antonenko, Red River, Soprano
- Jack Berry, Valley, Alto
- Hanson Du, Grand Forks Central, Bass
- Addie Foley, Elroy Schroeder, Soprano
- Ginny Hutton, Red River, Soprano
- Hailey Kalis, Elroy Schroeder, Alto
- Joshua Kliner, Valley, Bass
- Keira Knabe, Grand Forks Central, Alto
- Bryn Larson, Elroy Schroeder, Alto
- Tommy Mercer, Grand Forks Central, Tenor
- Brooke Noffsinger, South, Soprano
- Oakley Oss, Elroy Schroeder, Bass
- Brian Rains, Red River, Bass
- Jacob Sibley, Red River, Tenor
- Theo Sum, Valley, Bass
- Adam Thorvilson, Valley, Bass
- Bobby Wek, Red River, Tenor
Selected as alternates were Benjamin Dusenbury (Red River, Bass), Alyssa Gangelhoff (Grand Forks Central, Soprano), Ryah Hogberg (Valley, Soprano), Kolby Koerner (South, Tenor), Emma Lyste (Elroy Schroeder, Alto), Berlyn Stewart (South, Soprano), and Jacob Wood (Red River, Bass).
Seven Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists
Seven Grand Forks Central and Red River high school seniors have been named 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program finalists.
Dennis Du (Grand Forks Central High School), Nabeel Hossain (Red River High School), Stella Niemeier (Grand Forks Central High School), Collin Polasky (Red River High School), Eliot Schumacher (Red River High School), Adam Swartz (Grand Forks Central High School), and Theodore Tchomakhidze (Red River High School) are seven of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 66th annual scholarship program.
About 1.5 million high school juniors in more than 21,000 high schools nationwide entered the program by completing the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The finalists in each state are proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2021. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. Approximately 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be given, in addition to about 4,100 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards.
National Merit Scholars are selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Established in 1955, the organization’s mission is to recognize and honor academically talented students in the United States.
For the Love of Books
Thank you to Kohl's in Grand Forks and Darrell Courtney (store manager) for your generosity and kindness! Mr. Courtney reached out with a donation to Grand Forks Head Start and Early Childhood Special Education students. Heather Chatham, family literacy engagement coach at Head Start, set up a "For the Love of Books" free book fair that gave each student their own book and matching stuffed animal to build their personal libraries and encouraging literacy experiences with their families. "We are so thankful to Kohl's for allowing us to share this wonderful opportunity to foster a love for literacy with our students and families," said Chatham. "Thank you, Kohl's!"
Mrs. Brown Goes to Twining
Check out this great photo from Principal Shari Bilden at Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School! The school had an extremely special visit in February from Mrs. Sharene Brown, the wife of Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. General Brown toured the Grand Forks Air Force Base and Grand Sky UAS Research and Development Park while Mrs. Brown visited the school.
Sources of Strength Week
South Middle School celebrated Sources of Strength week (February 15th-19th) and each day was a designated "dress up" day. Wednesday's theme (Squad Day) was determined by each Prime Time group, and Ms. Angie Black Erickson's group selected Tropical. "We had a great team-building day of being silly on this cold day. There were other great Prime Times, too. Mrs. Goodman’s Prime Time had M&M shirts, and Mr. Loff’s was dressed up because their theme was 'fancy.' It’s just so fun seeing middle school kids being adorable!"
Examples of Excellence
- Congratulations to the Grand Forks Central Knights on your 2021 NDHSAA Boys' Hockey State Championship! (photo above courtesy the NDHSAA).
- Congratulations to Alex Hedlund, head girls' hockey coach, and Grant Paranica, head boys' hockey coach at Grand Forks Central, on being selected as the North Dakota High School Coaches Association (NDHSCA) Girls' and Boys' Hockey Coach of the Year, respectively.
- In December, Grand Forks Public Schools was notified by the ND Department of Public Instruction that GFPS had been identified as one of the top 10 school districts in North Dakota making progress in closing the achievement gap between students with and without disabilities. Because of this success, the National Dropout Prevention Center conducted an interview to gain a deeper understanding of the structures and practices used to support students with disabilities. The team especially "wanted to know the secret" at Community High School for achieving good outcomes for students in special education. Great job, Team Grand Forks!
- Congratulations to Eli Zerr, an 8th grade student at South Middle School, on being selected as one of 23 students selected from across the state to serve in North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler’s student cabinet. The cabinet provides Baesler with advice and opinions about how to improve North Dakota’s schools and the direction of state education policy. Students serve for approximately 18 months, typically meeting every three months.
- Congratulations to the following Valley Middle School students selected as members of the 2021 North Dakota National Band Association’s (NDNBA) Junior High All-State Band: Mirko Drago (trombone), Aidan Fiala (clarinet), Parker Forschen (tuba), and Gretta Gebhard (trumpet) were among those selected from a group of 164 students who submitted a recorded audition. Their band teacher is Tim Knabe. The NDNBA Board canceled the 2021 festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of the students will receive a “swag bag” as a token of celebration from the NDNBA.
Job Openings
Certified
- School Psychologist Intern
- Special Education Resident Teacher Program
- Secondary Summer School Teacher
- Create a Teacher Application
Support Staff
Custodian - Grand Forks Central High School
Security Officer - Grand Forks Central High School
Cook - Red River High School
Custodian - Lake Agassiz Elementary School
Coaching
- Girls' Tennis Head Coach - Grand Forks Central High School
Upcoming Events
- March 5 - Grades K-5/Grades K-8 at Twining - 11:20 a.m. dismissal (parent-teacher conferences)
- March 8 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
- March 10 - Early Release (middle and high schools - 1 p.m.; elementary schools - 1:30 p.m.)
- March 16 - Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board Meeting (12 p.m.)
- March 17-19 - No School; MSEC closes at 4 p.m.
- March 22 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting (6 p.m.)
- March 24 - End of 3rd Quarter (middle schools)
- March 26 - End of 3rd Quarter (high schools)