Cabinet Column - Find Your Peace
Veterans Day is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices that veterans have made for our freedom. It also is dedicated to world peace. While this year has been challenging, it is important to work together toward harmony. In this Cabinet Column, Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi honors our nation's veterans and tells us where he finds peace in his daily life.
Feature Column - Resiliency of Students Experiencing Homelessness
Fargo Public Schools is currently serving 90 students who are experiencing homelessness. Last year, the District served a total of 237. While these students go through some very difficult situations, they can overcome many obstacles. In this feature column, Homeless Liaison Jan Anderson shares one former student's story of resiliency.
Feature Column - Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
Fargo Public Schools is actively working to ensure all students and families feel welcome. In this feature column, Director of Equity and Inclusion Tamara Uselman shares comparisons about how diversity, equity, and inclusion are respectively like windows, mirrors, and scales. She also tells us how the District will be assessing all schools to ensure diversity is equally included.
Instructional Level Update
The Fargo Public Schools COVID-19 Instructional Plan Committee has developed an instructional level timeline for elementary and secondary students to return to in-person learning five days a week.
Elementary Schools:
Level 4 – In-Person Instruction four days per week until at least November 30, 2020
Middle Schools:
Level 3 – Hybrid Instruction transition to Level 4 – In-Person Instruction (four 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
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.
FPS COVID-19 Data
Fargo Public Schools (FPS) is providing a weekly report of COVID-19 data within the district. This data, in consideration with other factors, continues to be utilized by the FPS COVID-19 Instructional Plan Committee. Information is updated every Friday and can be found on the FPS COVID-19 page.
Student Wins Cooking Award
Congratulations to Clara Barton Hawthorne Elementary School student Benet Myer for being named the Family Wellness Cooking Kids Champion! He submitted a recipe for White Wine Dressing and competed in a competition last month. He was named the winner at the Family Wellness Cooking for a Cause Gala. The recipe and a tutorial video from Benet are below.
Benet's White Wine Dressing Recipe:
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
A couple drops of mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
Salt
Pepper
School Out Days - Thanksgiving
There will be NO SCHOOL on November 25, 26, and 27 as our nation celebrates Thanksgiving. The holiday was designed to show gratitude for the year's harvest and events. School will resume as scheduled on Monday, November 30.
FPS Federal Credit Union Giving Tree
Many families are in need this holiday season, and you can help make their season brighter. The Fargo Public Schools (FPS) Federal Credit Union is partnering with the District's student wellness and family facilitators to host a Giving Tree. To learn how to participate and what items are needed, view this poster.
FPS Development Foundation October Grants
The Fargo Public Schools (FPS) Development Foundation awarded nine grants during October. These totaled more than $12,000 and included funds from the Innovative Education Grant and Mary Ellen Thompson Elementary Music Grant. To learn more about the projects receiving these funds, read this letter from the FPS Development Foundation.
New Administrator Profile
Meet Eric Larson, the new dean of students at Kennedy Elementary School. He is one of several new administrators either changing roles or joining Fargo Public Schools this school year. Get to know these new administrators within the district through this profile series.
Outstanding School Counselor Award Nominations
Do you know an outstanding Professional School Counselor? Nominations for the North Dakota Outstanding School Counselor of the Year Award are being accepted now through December 3. Please send nominating letters to your student's building principal. Letters can be a maximum of two pages. The winners will be announced in February at the North Dakota Counseling Association Mid-Winter Conference. In 2020, Carl Ben Eielson Middle School Counselor Kylie Wallender was selected.
Clara Barton Hawthorne VA Hospital Donation Drive
Students in Mrs. Anna Wuitschick's 5th grade class at Clara Barton Hawthorne Elementary School are hosting a personal care item donation drive for the Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospital in Fargo. The event is part of a project to educate their school about Veterans Day and thank those who made sacrifices for our country. Donations can be dropped off at the Clara Barton administrative office.
Lincoln Students Collect Winter Gear Donations
Jack frost will soon be nipping at your nose, so 4th graders at Lincoln Elementary School are collecting winter clothes. The class launched a winter gear donation drive to support Project Kindness and the Landon's Light Foundation. Their event was incredibly successful and will support students in need. Read this feature article to learn more about how students developed the project and how much gear they collected.
City of Fargo Recycling Month
The City of Fargo and MinnKota Recycling are holding a "Cans to Cartons" Recycling Challenge throughout November. MinnKota Recycling will donate one cent per pound of aluminum cans to the Fargo Public Schools Got No Milk program, which provides milk for elementary students for their mid-morning snack. Read this release from the City of Fargo to learn more about the program and recycling drop-off sites.
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Bubble Quote Inspiration Kennedy Elementary School students are learning about respect during the month of November. As part of a lesson plan, they were tasked with writing uplifting phrases on quote bubbles. They then filled a wall with their inspirational words. (Photo courtesy: Jodi Dirk) | Students Work Together Via Zoom A group of North High School pre-calculus students got together on Zoom to help each other with an assignment. They were excited to work as a team from afar, so they shared the picture with their teacher, Michelle Bertsch. (Photo courtesy: Michelle Bertsch) | Special Masks for Flute Players Flute players at Fargo Public Schools just received special masks that they can wear while making music. The masks have holes in the side for the instrument's mouthpiece. The end of the flute is also covered. Pictured L to R are: Viola Sandtrom, Alyssia Welch, Haylee Walp, Maryn Schneider, and Kaitlyn Neuharth. (Photo credit: Ainsley Rentfrow) |
Bubble Quote Inspiration
Kennedy Elementary School students are learning about respect during the month of November. As part of a lesson plan, they were tasked with writing uplifting phrases on quote bubbles. They then filled a wall with their inspirational words.
(Photo courtesy: Jodi Dirk)
Students Work Together Via Zoom
A group of North High School pre-calculus students got together on Zoom to help each other with an assignment. They were excited to work as a team from afar, so they shared the picture with their teacher, Michelle Bertsch.
(Photo courtesy: Michelle Bertsch)
Special Masks for Flute Players
Flute players at Fargo Public Schools just received special masks that they can wear while making music. The masks have holes in the side for the instrument's mouthpiece. The end of the flute is also covered. Pictured L to R are: Viola Sandtrom, Alyssia Welch, Haylee Walp, Maryn Schneider, and Kaitlyn Neuharth.
(Photo credit: Ainsley Rentfrow)
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Woodrow Wilson Pizza Party Red River Youth for Christ treated Woodrow Wilson High School staff and students to a pizza party. At the event, they discussed the school's renaming process and which names are their favorites. Their top choices will be shared with the School Board. (Photo courtesy: David Burkman) | Donut Delivery Lincoln Elementary School staff got a sweet surprise on Monday morning. Families from around the neighborhood came together to surprise them with a Sandy's Donuts delivery. (Photo courtesy: Megan Kiser) | Share Your Pictures! Fargo Public Schools wants to highlight your classroom, building, and extra curricular events in our newsletter! Send your activity photos with a detailed caption to comments@fargo.k12.nd.us |
Woodrow Wilson Pizza Party
Red River Youth for Christ treated Woodrow Wilson High School staff and students to a pizza party. At the event, they discussed the school's renaming process and which names are their favorites. Their top choices will be shared with the School Board.
(Photo courtesy: David Burkman)
Donut Delivery
Lincoln Elementary School staff got a sweet surprise on Monday morning. Families from around the neighborhood came together to surprise them with a Sandy's Donuts delivery.
(Photo courtesy: Megan Kiser)
Share Your Pictures!
Fargo Public Schools wants to highlight your classroom, building, and extra curricular events in our newsletter! Send your activity photos with a detailed caption to comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Fargo Public Schools - SchoolTalk
This newsletter is published weekly on Thursdays during the school year when classes are in session. Material for publication is due by Noon on Tuesday of the week of desired publication.