Carl Ben Eielson Middle School
November 2020 - CBE News
Great Relationships Produce Great Students
Mr. Bradley Larson
Principal
Grade 8Mr. Dean Wilson
Assistant Principal
Grade 6Mrs. Natalie Richter
Grade 7
Covid-19 Mitigation Strategies Column from Associate Superintendent Missy Eidsness
Face Mask - Please remind your student to bring and wear their mask
Please remind your student to bring and wear their face mask at school. Most of our students are doing an exceptional job with this!
The Fargo Public Schools will require all students and all staff to wear masks that adequately cover both their nose and mouth. Exceptions will be made , with a doctor's note, for students with medical, behavioral, or other challenges who are unable to wear masks/face coverings.
Please click the link below for a printable version of this article.
Student IDs Needed to Ride the School Bus
Parent Teacher Conferences
We have Parent Teacher Conferences coming up on November 10th and 12th. This year’s conferences will look a bit different as they will be virtual over ZOOM. Also, because of the limited time we have been given for conferences, we will not be able to have a conference with all families.
Teams are working to decide which students are most in need of a conference and will be reaching out personally to all who have been selected. If you did not receive contact from one of your teachers, it means that you will not have one of the 10-minute conference spots.
All are encouraged to check PowerSchool for your students’ current grades and email your teachers if you have specific questions. Please remember that there will be no quarter grades this school year, only semester grades.
PTA - CARL BEN EIELSON
Carl Ben Eielson PTA is having a meeting on Thursday, November 5th at 8pm via Zoom. All are welcome to attend (Zoom Meeting:931 6444 3776 Passcode: 854473). To make this year a success, we NEED your support. CBE elected to not have their team fundraisers and the PTA would like to donate to each team for activities held later this year. Donations and/or membership dues can be paid online via SchoolPay (https://www.schoolpay.com/pay/for/PTA-Membership/Md3z).
Passionate about grant writing? We have an opportunity to write grants to conduct programming in STEM, digital safety, healthy hydration and the arts.
Students, are you interested in the arts? We are moving forward with the Reflections program. For more information checkout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-rzWHnY5Q. We'll have entry forms available mid-December.
Please email us for more information at carlbenpta@gmail.com.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES
The front doors open daily at 8:00 am. Parents are encouraged to drop off your student(s) around 8:30 am on or as close to the start of school, as possible, which is 8:40 am.
On arrival, students may stay outside or go to their first period classroom after 8 am. The Hangar will not be available in the morning. There will be no morning activities.
8:40 a.m.
All students must be in their Period 1 class.
3:25 p.m.
End of last Class/Period 8
FROM THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE
Absences: Parents/guardians are reminded to call the attendance office at 446-1710 to inform us of your child’s absence before 9:00 a.m. the morning of the absence. Feel free to call the attendance office at any time, 24 hours a day to leave a message. This message should include the student’s name, ID number, grade, date(s), and reason for absence. If your child is ill, please include all of their symptoms in your message. If no phone contact has been made, the student must present a written excuse signed by his/her parent to the attendance office when returning to school. Any absence not verified by phone or note will be considered unexcused.
Tardiness/ Returning to School: Students returning to school after classes have begun or returning to school after an appointment must press the buzzer, tell staff your name and ID number, and reason for tardiness/returning to school. The student will need a signed note unless we have already received a phone call.
Homework Requests: We encourage students and parents to view the Daily Planner via PowerSchool for homework. Homework may also be requested through your student's teacher.
Signed Notes: Signed notes or doctor notes should be emailed to aikensc@fargo.k12.nd.us (Attendance Secretary).
ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Although we would always hope that our parents feel welcomed in our building, the safety of our students is our top priority. For that reason, Fargo Public Schools has put in place security measures in elementary and middle schools. It is important to make an appointment with the main office if you wish to see a principal or counselor. We are taking great measures to limit the amount of people in our building as part of the FPS SmartRestart Plan. At Levels 1, 2, and 3, Fargo Public Schools is restricting non-essential visitation. Please see the FPS SmartRestart Plan on the Fargo Public Schools Website for additional details.
To make an appointment with an administrator, please call the Carl Ben Eielson Main Office at 701-446-1700. To make an appointment with your student's counselor, please call 701-446-1711.
Carl Ben Eielson Middle School Co-Curricular Activity Update and Guidelines
Dear Parents and Guardians of Carl Ben Middle School Students,
FPS schools realize the positive impact that activities have on the health and well-being of our students. The district is taking steps to provide an experience for our Middle Level students to participate in co-curricular activities. This plan will follow our new hybrid model which is located below. Our COVID task force will continue to meet and determine the operating level of FPS which will continue to guide our activity decisions.
During the fall season FPS decided to run an in-house program with our 7/8th grade students
focusing on fundamentals and skill development. All three middle schools followed the same
model with the intent on having coaches provide skill development and focus on the
fundamentals of the game. Scrimmages were conducted within each program without the
presence of spectators.
The winter activities will follow a similar pattern, with some sport-specific modifications that are listed below. Please make sure your sports physical is up to date and handed in to the main office and that you have signed off on HIPAA, concussion information and the co-curricular video through PowerSchool prior to the first day of the activity. A calendar of days has been attached at the bottom of this letter. Practices will run from 4:00-5:30. Once practice has concluded, students will be asked to leave the building as quickly as possible. Students that attend the virtual academy will be allowed to participate and assigned to one of the two groups only attending practices on those specific days. Parents and guardians of virtual academy students will have to provide their own transportation to and from practices.
These decisions were not made hastily. Decisions on both participation and fandom were made in conjunction with the FPS Health & Safety Plan, CDC Guidelines, Cass County Public Health Guidelines, the ND SMART Restart Guidelines, and other administrators.
6th Grade Activities
6th grade intramural activities have been temporarily postponed until further notice. As levels
change we will continue to communicate with you in regard to when it will be appropriate to
continue with intramurals.
Dance 7/8th Grade
Dance began on October 19th at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School. Due to the low numbers at Carl Ben Eielson our dancers will train at Fargo South High School with the high school dance team. Practice starts at 4:00 pm and ends round 5:30 pm. Coaches will be providing participants an opportunity to practice skill development and learn the fundamentals and philosophy of a dance team. Routines and performances may be practiced, but due to the current COVID restrictions there are no plans for middle school students to attend competitions or perform at this time. A $30 activity fee will be charged for dance. Transportation to and from the high school will not be provided.
Girls Basketball 7/8th Grade
7th/8th Grade girls’ basketball will be delivered as a skills development and fundamental
camp. The season began on October 26thd and runs through December 23rd.
Students will only attend practice on the days they are in school. Participants can
expect coaches to provide an opportunity to develop skills, scrimmage, and learn
philosophies of the game. Due to the COVID restrictions there are no plans to travel to
area schools and compete at this time. A $30 activity feel will be charged for 7th/8th grade
girls’ basketball. Due to the low numbers our 7th and 8th grade girls will train together.
Wrestling 7/8th Grade
The 7th and 8th grade wrestlers will be absorbed into the high school program creating
a 7-12 high school wrestling program. Practices for wrestlers will occur every day at
their high school site. Practice times will be determined by weight class and
communicated to families and participants by varsity coaches. The season will begin on
November 9th and will run through December 23rd. At that point, if a middle school
student is a member of the official varsity team, their season will continue. A $30 fee will
be charged for 7th and 8th grade wrestling. Transportation to and from the high school will not be provided.
Drama- Musical 7/8th Grade
7th and 8th grade students will be allowed to take part in CBE’s musical event. The “musical” will be presented in a review/cabaret format called “Face the Music.” The informational meetings will take place on November 18th for group 1 students (red) and November 19th for group 2 students (yellow). They will be held from 3:30-4:00pm in the Hangar at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School. All students who choose to participate MUST attend the meeting and will be given an opportunity to be involved in the musical. Students will only attend rehearsals on days they attend school. Rehearsals will start on December 1st. The tentative performance dates are February 25th and 26th. More information on performances will be given as we approach that time. A $30 fee will be charged for the middle school musical. Questions about the musical should be directed towards the director, Mr. Nielsen, at nielsem@fargo.k12.nd.us
Boys Basketball 7/8th Grade
Boys basketball is scheduled to start on January 4th, 2021. More information on the details of boys’ basketball will be made available the week prior to leaving for winter break.
Virtual Academy Students
Virtual Academy students will be able to participate in activities. These students should
reach out to their building activity director and let them know their activity of interest.
They will then be assigned a “group” and given their practice days. Transportation to and
from practice will not be provided for virtual academy students.
If you have further questions regarding the Carl Ben Eielson activities, you may call the Activities Office at 446-1706.
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
Fargo Public Schools understands that distance learning and additional technology can sometimes be difficult to navigate. If students and parents need help, they can call the support line at 701.446.1450 or email helpdesk@fargo.k12.nd.us. Technology support is available Monday through Thursday from 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Fridays from 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
YEARBOOKS
Update from FPS Instructional Planning Committee (As of 11-2-2020)
The Fargo Public Schools (FPS) COVID-19 Instructional Plan Committee has developed a plan to phase-in full time in-person learning for both elementary and secondary students. Level changes are unique for specific grade levels and will take effect on different dates. The changes are as follows:
Elementary Schools: Level 4 – In-Person Instruction (4 days per week) until at least November 30, 2020
Middle Schools: Level 3 – Hybrid Instruction transition to Level 4 – In-Person Instruction (4 days per week)
- Sixth grade transitions to four days November 30, 2020
- Seventh grade transitions to four days December 14, 2020
- Eighth grade transitions to four days January 19, 2021
High Schools: Level 3 – Hybrid Instruction until January 19, 2021
At their meeting on November 16, the FPS COVID-19 Instructional Plan Committee will decide on transitioning to elementary in-person instruction five days a week based on the number of elementary students quarantined or isolated. In-person instruction four days a week allows for FPS staff to connect and support students that are quarantined or isolated during the distance learning day for all other students. Therefore, transitioning to five days a week with a significant number of students continuing to be quarantined or isolated can create additional gaps for learning loss. If the committee decides that elementary schools will remain in in-person instruction four days a week, this decision will be in effect until at least January 19, 2021 to provide consistency the rest of the semester.
Due to the complexity of high school schedules and classes requiring credit for graduation, a grade level phased-in approach cannot be implemented the same way it can for middle school. High school students will remain in Level 3 – Hybrid Learning until at least January 19.
The FPS COVID-19 Instructional Plan Committee’s adopted plan sets a goal of returning to in-person instruction for all grade levels five days a week beginning the second semester, which begins on January 19, 2021. At times, Fargo Public Schools may need to transition one or multiple buildings to distance learning for set periods of time due to staffing shortages. Though the committee adopted a plan with an established timeline as a goal, it is important to know that the committee will adapt and make changes based on new information or guidance, if needed. The timeline referenced above is the goal of the plan that was adopted. If guidance and data require a change or delay in this plan, the committee can exercise that option at future meetings.
More information regarding the instructional levels and update is available on the FPS Smart Restart website. These decisions were made based on the guiding principles outlined in the FPS Smart Restart Plan, as well as other newly released data and guidelines.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Services
If your family lives in any of the following:
· a shelter, motel, car, or campground
· with friends/family because you can’t afford housing or have been evicted
· on the street
· in an abandoned building or trailer
McKinney-Vento Homeless Services include
Free Breakfast and Lunch
Transportation to School of Origin
Help with Enrollment
School Supplies and Clothing
CALL TODAY FOR HELP
Sarah - Fargo Public Schools Homeless Liaison
701-446-1712
Carl Ben Eielson Middle School
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/cbe
Location: 1601 13th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-1700
Twitter: @FPSCarlBen