Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - March 2020
Building a Foundation for Success!
Mr. Vincent Williams
Grade 7
Mrs. Amy Herrick
Grade 8
Mr. Dan Shultis
Grade 6
Happy March! We are already well underway into the spring semester of the school year. Our students have just finished taking the Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP test for Math and English.
What is MAP? The website, NWEA.org, gives a lot of information about the MAP test. It states, “MAP is a computer adaptive test, which means every student gets a unique set of test questions based on responses to previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions get harder. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions get easier. MAP can follow students wherever they are starting from, regardless of the grade they are in. For instance, if a third grader is actually reading at the fifth-grade level, MAP will be able to identify that. Or, if a fifth grader is doing math at the third-grade level, MAP will identify that. Both situations are incredibly important for a teacher to know, so that they can plan instruction efficiently. MAP covers reading, language usage, and math. When students finish, they receive a score – a number – called a RIT score. This score represents a student’s achievement level at the given moment in the school year when the test is given. Taken over time, the scores can compute a student’s academic growth.” MAP will be loaded onto the Parent Portal on PowerSchool by March 9th so you can see your child’s score.
How is it used to determine course placement? Fargo Public Schools has both Math and English pathways used to determine course placement. If a student score falls at 40% or above on the MAP test for English or 25% and above for Math, they will be recommended by our computer system for their grade level course. If a student score falls at 39% or below on the MAP test for English or 24% for Math, then they will take an additional assessment in either Math (Math Inventory) or English (Reading Inventory or Phonics Inventory) to determine if they qualify for our middle level intervention course of Math 180, Read 180, or System 44. Grade level teachers also make course recommendations, so if they disagree with the system recommendation, they will make notes as to why. As an administrator, I look at each child’s system recommendation and teacher recommendation before I select what course the child should be placed in for the upcoming year. If the child receives English Language Services (EL) or Special Education Services (SPED) the case managers of that child are also consulted.
What if my child is recommended to take the additional assessment? Families will be informed by letter if their child has been recommended to take the Reading Inventory, Math Inventory, or Phonics Inventory. I will visit with the students who are recommended for the testing as well. Letters will be sent out in March explaining the assessments. Please feel free to contact me at 701.446.3305 if you have any questions about this process.
How will I know if my child is recommended for an intervention course? Once students are tested for intervention courses, counselors will contact students selected for intervention to discuss how this will impact the child’s 2020-2021 schedule. This will happen about mid-May. Again, if you have any questions about this after you have talked to your child’s counselor, please feel free to contact me at 701.446.3305.
Mrs. Amy Herrick
Assistant Principal
Upcoming Events
March 12 & 13 - "High School Musical" performance 7:00
March 14 - "High School Musical" performance 2:00
March 19 & 20 - No School - Spring Break
March 25 - 7th & 8th Grade Track begins (tentative)
April 6th - 6th Grade Track begins (tentative)
April 10th - No School - Holiday
April 13th - Storm Make-up Day from February 12
Winter Cancellation Make Up Day
Due to the school cancellation on February 12, Fargo Public Schools will use the storm make up day built into the school calendar. Fargo Public Schools will hold classes on Monday, April 13. This is now a day that students and staff are expected to be at school. To see the full 2019-20 school calendar, click this link.
"HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL"
Discovery theater department is pleased to announce the upcoming performance of “High School Musical Jr.” Students in 6th -8th grade first auditioned for their roles in December and have been tirelessly rehearsing for the months of January and February.
Troy Bolton finds himself as a crossroads when he meets Gabriella Montez at a New Year’s Eve party while on a family ski trip. Troy, the basketball playing jock, discovers his love and talent for singing, all while getting pressure from his basketball playing clique. Gabrielle, the brainiac, also receives the same pressure from her group of friends when she and Troy decide to audition for the school musical.
Among their other school activities they are torn between their love of music. Will they end up performing in the musical after all? Will their cliques accept them for having other interests? Will they find the time to do it all? Come and find out.
Show times are March 12th and 13th at 7:00 p.m. and March 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the Discovery Middle School auditorium.
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Science Olympiad regional competition is on March 26 on the Valley City State campus. Our competitors have worked hard and will compete against other students their age in 2-3 events of their choice. If they win as a team at regionals, they will go on to compete at the state level on April 18 at NDSU. A letter will be sent to parents of participants on the details for the regional event on March 26.
BAND INFORMATION
Band Sectional Ensemble concert reminder:
March 17th -
5:30 pm – 6th grade performance
6:45 pm – 7th grade perform
7:45 pm – 8th grade performance
**Additional information will be emailed and given to the students in their sectional class.
Spring PRIMO! will begin on Thursday, March 31st from 3:30 – 4:00. The students will receive more information in their band/sectional classes.
DISCOVERY CHORAL DEPARTMENT
The Discovery Choral Department will present an Ensemble Concert at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 in the Discovery Auditorium. Only students who are in vocal sectionals will be performing. All grades are performing in the same concert.
MATHCOUNTS COMPETITION
Congratulations to the Discovery Mathcounts Team for taking second place at the chapter competition on Wednesday, February 19th at the Fargodome. Team members who will advance to the state competition are Rick Peng, Patrick Shen, Chance Brudvig, and Cady Wang. Individual winners were Rick Peng in second place, Patrick Shen in third place, and Chance Brudvig in fourth place. Also participating were Sarah Cai, Benjamin Fercho, Steya Tian, Bruce Lin, Braden Li, and Luke Hanson. The state competition will be held in Bismarck on March 9th. The team is coached by Duane Smith and Brittanie Watson.
Discovery 8th Grade Students Visit Davies
When: Thursday, April 2nd during the school day
Why: Provide 8th graders another day of transition to Davies High School in order to comfort them and address any concerns, or to answer questions they may have. Davies High School student council enjoys setting the 8th graders up for a successful transition during their Q/A time. Students will go to Davies with their team teachers and principal to tour the building and ask Davies students questions about high school.
Questions: Please contact Mrs. Herrick
PLD REMINDERS
It is that time of year already where we are starting to talk about the end of the year. Students will have a PLD check up to be sure PLD’s are still in good working order next month. The PLD will be checked to be sure it does not have damage and that the student has the PLD, power cord, and carrying bag. These will all have to be returned at the end of the school year in good condition.
FARGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Fargo Public Library offers many teen activities. Events include Teen Time and Harry Potter’s World Exhibit and Event Series. Check out the details at Fargo Public Library site.
DIGITAL SAFETY
Looking for digital safety activity for your child to do at home with the PLD? This site provides games that teach and reinforce safe online surfing. Perhaps you will want to work on it as a family!
A MESSAGE FROM NURSE ELLEN
With all the talk of the Coronavirus, I thought I would pass on a little information from the North Dakota Department of Health.
2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China, reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread is occurring. To date, 11 individuals with 2019-nCoV have been reported in the United States, nine with travel to Wuhan, China and two household contacts of individuals with 2019-nCoV. No cases of 2019-nCoV have been reported in North Dakota.
The following individuals should be evaluated by a health care professional for 2019-nCoV:
- Ill with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have traveled from China in the last 14 days
OR
- Ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing AND have been identified by public health as a recent close contact of a confirmed 2019-nCoV case or had recent close contact with someone who is being evaluated for 2019-nCoV infection.
Schools do not need to take any special precautions beyond what is normally recommended to prevent the spread of germs in schools. You can help students and staff reduce their risk for getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, by encouraging them to take simple steps which will also prevent 2019-nCoV. These include:
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home while sick and avoid close contact with others.
- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash hands.
In addition, we recommend schools be sure to follow their regular cleaning and disinfection program.
- Clean hard surfaces (desks, tables, countertops, sinks) daily. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (door handles, faucets, railings), bathrooms and health rooms at least once a day. Use alcohol wipes to clean keyboards.
- Clean surfaces with fragrance-free soap or third-party certified cleaners. Thorough cleaning with soap and water will remove most microorganisms.
- Use EPA disinfectants on hard surfaces. Clean the surface first to remove all organic matter. Apply the proper concentration of disinfectant and allow the required wet contact time. Pay close attention to hazard warnings and instructions for using personal protective items such as gloves and eye protection. Use disinfectants in a sufficiently ventilated space.
- Disinfecting is the responsibility of school custodial staff. They are trained to use disinfectants in a safe and effective manner and to clean up potentially infectious materials and body fluid spills – blood, vomit, feces, and urine. Contact your custodian or school nurse if students are ill and your classroom needs cleaning and disinfection.
For more information about coronavirus, please visit www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus.
Please contact the NDDoH Division of Disease Control at 701-328-2378 or 800-472-2180 with any coronavirus-related questions.
FUTURE EAGLES EXPO
8th Grade Celebration
When: May 28th
What: This is a celebration of the 8th grade students’ time as learners at Discovery Middle School. Students and immediate family members gather in the gym to hear class speakers, musical selections, and a send-off message as they transition to high school. There is a time for refreshments and photos after the celebration. Information will be sent at the beginning of May with details to our 8th grade families.
Questions: Please contact Mrs. Herrick
MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS NEWSLETTER
The Middle School Years newsletter gives practical ideas that promote academic success, effective parenting, healthy habits, positive character traits, and more. Get practical, age-appropriate tips and ideas that today’s busy families can use to:
- Improve school success.
- Boost the home and school partnership.
- Enhance parenting skills.
- Build positive character traits.
- Develop healthy eating and fitness habits.
Please see the March issue of Middle School Years attached below.
Discovery Middle School
Amy Herrick, Assistant Principal
Dan Shultis, Assistant Principal
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/discovery
Location: 1717 40th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3300