Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - April 2023
Building a Foundation for Success!
Mrs. Amy Herrick
Grade 8
Mr. Brandon Larson
Grade 7
Mr. Hunter Reinke
Grade 6
This Month's Newsletter Features the Following:
- Memo from Mrs. Herrick: North Dakota State Assessment, First Link Health Classes, Future Eagles Expo, Words of Gratitude
- NDSU Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
- Interested in Working with Our Awesome Students and Staff? Paraeducator Openings
- Canvas Support for Parents/Guardians
- Evidence Based Reporting Support for Parents/Guardians
- Attendance Affirmations with Mr. Israel
- 6th Graders Go To MSUM Planetarium
- Athletics and Activities Update from Mr. Larson
- Mr. Reinke's Realm - Mental Health
- Restorative Practices News from Jennifer Tackling: Conflict Resolution
- Counseling Corner: Summer School Information
- Mr. Ford's Focus: Guidelines for Success: Be Safe
- Nursing Corner: Mental Health
- SRO Corner with Officer Noll: Pickup and Drop-Off at School
- Upcoming Events
- March Letter Day Calendar
- Discovery PTA
- Discovery Library
- Entry to Building - Raptor Visitor Management System Information
- Parent/Family Accommodations
- Parent/Family Communication
- Family Healthcare
- Liz's Closet
- Written Notification of School Accountability Report
Memo from Mrs. Herrick: Preparing for the end of the 2022-23 School Year
North Dakota State Assessment
If we are unable to conduct the NDSA testing on Wednesday, we will reschedule the testing for April 19th and April 20th, as field trips and activities have been scheduled for the week of the 10th.
As always, we will keep you informed about any changes to the testing schedule.
First Link Health Classes
Each semester, speakers from First Link visit our 7th grade Health classes. First Link will be visiting our 7th grade Health classes on April 3rd, Periods 1-4 and April 4th, Periods 6-8 to talk about suicide warning signs, what to look for, resources, and how to ask for help. If you have questions regarding this classroom visit or if your student would like to opt out of this presentation, please contact your students’ counselor, Mr. Snowden.
Mr. Reinke's Realm and Nurse Megan's Corner address mental health and provide information for families on supporting their child's mental health. Discovery has a little under 1,000 middle schoolers grades 6-8 who are navigating early adolescence and all the challenges that this time brings in their young lives. We thank you as parents and familes for all you do to support your child(ren) at Discovery Middle School. However, we want to also provide you resources that you can utilize if your child is struggling with their mental health. You will see an image for the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. We have many posters of this number up around our building so that it is easily accessible for our students. Please read Mr. Reinke's Realm and Nurse Megan's Corner in the later pages of this newsletter. Below is a link to The City of Fargo Mental Health Resources as well as a link to a foundation that is near and dear to the Discovery Eagle Family heart, the 4.6.3 Foundation.
Future Eagles Expo
We are eager to welcome incoming sixth grade students and their parents/guardians to Discovery Middle School in anticipation of the 23-24 school year. On Tuesday, April 25th we will be hosting the 5th into 6th grade “Future Eagles Expo”. Our families will be recieving a Blackboard message from their current elementary schools as well as a formal letter in the mail from Discovery this week with the details. We did have to change the date from May 8th due some scheduling conflicts.
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Ed Clapp and Bennett students and parents/guardians
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eagles/Centennial/Other students and parents/guardians
The evening will begin with parents/guardians and students gathering in the auditorium to meet your future Discovery Administrators followed by an opportunity to walk around and become familiar with the different areas of the building. Our Future Eagles will have the opportunity to learn more about the variety of activities and athletics offered at Discovery as well as get pictures with the Eagles Mascot.
Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to join our QR code scavenger hunt of the building with the opportunity to win some great Eagle swag door prizes from Discovery PTA, Davies and Courts Plus Community Fitness Center.
The purpose of this meeting is to acquaint our families with the school and hopefully ease the transition from elementary to Discovery. We have planned the presentation portion of the session to last about 25 minutes with the remainder of the time to explore the school.
If families are unable to attend on April 25th, please see the Discovery Middle School website. A video will be posted detailing the information from the Tuesday presentation.
Words of Gratitude
Our library is the heart of our building, not just geographically, but because our library staff have made it so. Thank you to Mrs. Donat, Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. Bronaugh, Mrs. Wesby, Mrs. Schultz, and Mr. Holtzer for their work running a library/media center to support the sheer magnitude of a building this size. The books, the activities, the lessons, the management of equipment, the support to students and staff, and the amazing opportunities that you bring to our school to name just a fraction of what you do each and every day. We are so thankful for you.
To our paraeducators and support staff...we are fortunate to have a staff of over 30 paraeducators in our building. Some work in general education classrooms, some work specifically in our Independent Learning Centers, in our special education classrooms, and in our lunchroom. We have paraeducators to support math intervention, student success, restorative conferences, attendance, academics, and behavior support. Many of our paraeducators are trained in Crisis Prevention Intervention, Ukeru and Catalyst. They support individual and group student academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs. They provide supervision in our gyms and lunchrooms before school, during lunch and after school. They are often the first people our students see in the morning when they get to school. Many of our paraeducators also supervise or coach afterschool activities such as athletics, or clubs or volunteer or act as substitutes when we need that flexiblity. It is with deep gratitude that we thank you for all you do each day for our school.
And last but certainly not least, our administrative assistants. Mrs. Callahan in student services; Mr. Israel in attendance, Mrs. Runde, Mrs. Meyer, and Mrs. Winkelman in the main office are some of the first voices and faces that our students, staff and families see at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day. They are the frontlines of our building for communication, customer service and often times wear many hats to provide our students and Discovery community what they need. From juggling the phones, the doorbell, the ups and downs of our students, lending an ear to a parent or a staff member, helping organize and set up building events, the list could go on and on. they are indeed an amazing crew. The support they provide to our administrative team is paramount so that we can do our jobs as efficiently and effectively as possible. We truly thank you for your dedication to your work. Our building could not function without you.
This simple note does not even begin to touch on the impact that these professionals make in our Discovery community, nor does it express the level of appreciation that is felt. Our school could not provide what it does to our students and our families without the hard work of these people. Our staff could not do their jobs without the jobs of each other. We are one team, one family, we are Discovery. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do.
Thank You To Our Administrative Professionals
Thank You to Our Library Staff
National Library Worker's Day-April 5th
Thank You to our Paraeducators and Support Staff
Discovery Participates in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
Twenty, 8th grade Discovery Middle School students participated in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on March 28th. The day was coordinated by the NDSU engineering department and area industry partners. Students spent the morning at NDSU that included a rollercoaster building challenge and participation in an engineering panel discussion, made up of working engineers and engineering students. The afternoon consisted of a visit to John Deere Electronic Solutions. At John Deere, students got to build a Lego robot and code movements needed to perform the task of picking up Lego bricks. A tour of John Deere to see engineers in action was also a part of the day. Thank you to Mrs. DeJong and Mrs. Wacha for organizing and chaperoning the event. Way to go Eagles!
PARAEDUCATOR OPENINGS
If you have ever been interested in working in the educational environment, have a passion for working with students, and build great relationships with an amazing team, please apply. HERE
Canvas Support For Parents/Guardians
Pairing Parent/Guardian Account with Students
The links on the web have been updated to be clearer. The links are found at the Canvas Login Screen (fargo.instructure.com) – See picture below.
This is a direct link to the Pairing Parent/Guardian Account with Students. Click on the link to see the process for the parents to follow. Students must provide the code to the parent. You might want a few copies of this available at conferences.
Evidence Based Reporting Support for Parents/Guardians
Snow Outside...Floor Hockey Inside
-Photo Credit: Mrs. Herrick
No Drama for these Llamas
-Photo Credit: Mr. Urlacher
Gravity!
-Photo Credit: Mr. Spellerberg
Attendance Affirmations with Mr. Israel
Good day Discovery Family,
As we move further into the semester, there have been multiple questions coming to my office regarding attendance letters, so I want to write and clarify some points on the attendance letters and the purpose they serve.
Fargo Public Schools has attendance tiers in place as a way to identify students that are missing a good portion of school. There are 3 attendance tiers which help us determine the severity that your student's attendance may have on their academic, mental, and social wellbeing.
- Tier 1 is when a student misses 9 school days. When a family receives a tier 1 letter, the intent is more a notification of the amount your student has missed. We want to make sure that families are familiar with their student's academic success, and attendance plays a large role in that.
- Tier 2 is when a student misses 13 school days. Once a student reaches tier 2, the school may start requesting further information if you are excusing your student, as we want to make sure we are informed of how we can support the student and the family. If a student reaches tier 2, a Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) trifold will be enclosed. This is to provide information of what SARB is and how it functions.
- Tier 3 is when a student misses 18 school days. If your student reaches tier 3, the school will be able to make a SARB referral, but a student reaching tier 3 is not an automatic referral to SARB. We look at the reasons as to why the student has been gone for those days and can make a better determination of the need for SARB referral.
With all this being said, one point I have made to parents who have called and asked about various attendance tiers is that we look at reasons for a student being absent in different lenses. If your student is going to appointments, on family trips, or just feeling under the weather, we look at that much different than if the parent is refusing to bring their student to school, if the student is refusing to come to school or class, or if we are not notified why a student is not in school. As a spoiler for next month, I will be clarifying the importance of sharing details of your student's absence, as we use a plethora of codes to label your student's attendance. Look to that in our April newsletter!
As the attendance clerk for Discovery, I want to make sure that families all know that I am more than willing to hear out questions or concerns about your student's attendance, so please never hesitate to email me at dmattendance@fargo.k12.nd.us or call me at 701-446-3310. Hope you all have a great day!
6th Graders Went to the MSUM Planetarium for a Fieldtrip
-Photo Credit: Mrs. Brandt, 6-2 Challengers
Discovery Online School Store
Athletics & Activities Corner with Mr. Larson
7th & 8th Grade Track
Track season starts on Monday, April 3rd. Practices will be daily after school until about 5:15. Anyone can join, but you need to have a physical on file to participate along with completing the activities forms in Powerschool and pay the $30 activity fee. Coaches will hand out meet & practice schedules at practice.
6th Grade Track
Our 6th grade track season will be starting on April 24th. Because our 6th grade programs are intramurals, students don't need to pay a fee, have a physical, or fill out any forms in Powerschool. Practices will be Monday - Thursday right after school until 5:15.
Activities Calendar
Check out the Discovery Activities calendar to see specific dates for games, concerts, performances, and meets. Did you know that you can view & download specific calendars for each team & concert? Just click on the “View Schedules” tab, then click on the schedules you want to view.
Discovery Activities Youtube
Discovery Activities are on Youtube! Just search for Discovery Middle School Activities. We will try to stream home games, concerts, and meets. The videos will be found under the “Live” tab on our page. Subscribe to be notified for when we go live!
Clubs
Chess Club: Every Wednesday in the library at 8:10am.
The Morning Club: Every morning at 8:10 in Mrs. Stinar's room. Quiet morning space with arts & crafts & journaling.
Art Club: Meets weekly after-school. Contact Mrs. Quittschreiber (art teacher) for more information.
Get Your Game on Club: Mornings in the Library, see Mrs. Donat for more information.
Library Leaders Club: Mornings in the Library, see Mrs. Donat for more information.
Student Leadership: Please contact Mr. Napton, Mrs. Spellerberg, or Mrs. Ferderer if interested.
Drama Club: Meets every-other Monday afterschool from 3:40 - 4:20 in the Creative Dramatics classroom.
Video Game Club: Meets in the mornings in Mr. Krieger's classroom.
Mr. Reinke's Realm
I want to take a moment to talk to you about an important issue that affects many young people today: depression. Seeing your child struggle with this condition can be hard, but please know that you are not alone. Resources and support are available to help you and your child navigate this difficult time. Some of these supports can start at home.
Here are a few examples:
- Communicate openly and honestly. Let your child know you're there for them and willing to listen without judgment.
- Create a safe and supportive environment. Encourage your child to express their feelings and offer reassurance that they're not alone.
- Promote healthy habits. Encourage your child to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep.
- Be patient and understanding, and let them know that you will provide ongoing support.
- Seek support for yourself. Caring for a child with depression can be challenging, so it's essential to take care of your mental health.
Recent studies have shown that the rates of depression among adolescents and young adults are rising, which can be a worrying trend for parents. Depression can affect your child's academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being, but they can recover and thrive with the proper support and treatment.
As a parent, it's important to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression and to provide a safe and supportive environment for your child to express their feelings. You can also help by promoting healthy habits, encouraging them to seek professional help, and taking care of your mental health.
Remember, depression is a treatable condition; your child can overcome it with the proper support and care. As a community, we can come together to support our youth and ensure they have the resources and care they need to lead healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.
Restorative Practices News from Jennifer Tackling:
Peace Path for Conflict Resolution
Discovery currently has 972 students. Add in paraprofessionals, teachers, and support staff and that number reaches well over 1,000. With so many people in one building, chances are high that conflicts with others will happen. Conflict is not inherently “bad”. It is a natural and normal part of life. Middle School is a great time to practice building healthy conflict resolution skills. Healthy conflict resolution is a skill that students will need not only for their school years but also through their adult lives. I will have a peace path in my room which guides students step by step through the conflict resolution process. Students will be able to practice conflict resolution with a neutral mediator present. As their conflict resolution skills grow, students will be able to resolve conflicts in a healthy way on their own. Students can make an appointment with me by using forms outside my door, or by asking their teacher or counselor to contact me. Parents can support their children who are having conflicts by encouraging them to solve their conflict in person instead of on social media, and in a healthy and positive way.
Counseling Corner
Fargo Public Schools is happy to offer summer learning opportunities for ALL students entering 7th and 8th grades. Summer school is a completely voluntary program that students can take advantage of to either improve Reading/Math abilities or continue to expand their learning in areas of interest such as Social Studies and Science!
Summer School Registration Timeline for current 6th and 7th grade Discovery Students
March 30th All current 6th and 7th grade students at Discovery receive this letter.
April 1st Summer school information contained in this letter will be available in the April Family Newsletter
April 28th Deadline for general registration by parents/guardians.
May 7th School Counselors will follow up with students that are highly recommended by school staff for summer school that aren’t currently signed up
Middle School Summer School 2023 registration information can be found at the following link: www.fargosummerschool.com
Summer School will be held June 8th-29th with options for virtual and/or in person learning!
- Hybrid Learning: M-Th @ Discovery + Virtual Fridays
- Virtual Learning: M-F Synchronous (online) Learning through Zoom
Classes will run from 8:00 am-11:30 am and the following classes are available:
- Reading · Math
- Science · Social Studies
Students registering for summer school must be signed up for two classes.
Students interested in signing up for Sport and/or Music camps can also register at www.fargosummerschool.com
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact your students’ counselor. Registration should be completed by April 28th, 2023.
6th grade Counselor 7th grade Counselor
Sean Napton Joe Snowden
701-446-3314 701-446-3313
Mr. Ford's Focus - Guideline for Success - Be Safe
Every year, as the seasons change and winter turns toward spring, behaviors among students can ramp up. This is caused by many factors but a simple one is - it’s nice outside and that makes it a little harder to sit still in class. And while our shield of spring is being held wobbly against a never-ending horde of winter gloom, rest assured, the seasons will change and the weather will improve... and student behaviors will increase in frequency.
So, I wanted to take a moment to focus on one of our Guidelines for Success – Be Safe. Be Safe is the guideline we want at the heart of all decisions students make at Discovery. These decisions determine the behaviors, both positive and negative, that impact student lives. Social and emotional development is extremely important during the middle school years and some opportunities to work on these skills are passing times between classes and at lunch. Passing times in the hallways and lunch are also when a lot of the unsafe behaviors take place. Students are encouraged to touch base with their friends and enjoy those social interactions throughout the day. Students should not be running, pushing, grabbing, hitting, or doing any other activities that can put them or their friends at risk. Being safe means keeping our hands and feet to ourselves. At lunch, the expectation is students get their food and sit with friends and peers from their advisory. Students are not allowed to wander around the cafeteria or leave the cafeteria. These measures are in place to monitor where students are and understand where students are supposed to be. This keeps students safe and engaging in low-risk behaviors.
The Guideline for Success – Be Safe assists with academic success. When students continue to make choices that keep them safe, they avoid behaviors that can lead to consequences that can remove them from the classroom. Students who avoid detention and suspensions by making safe choices also avoid missing valuable time in the classroom. Students who consistently attend class retain the information better and recall the information faster. Staying safe and making choices that promote safety will also support academic growth.
NURSES’ CORNER: Mental Health
Are you worried about your child or teen?
Most children and young people enjoy good mental health. However, mental health problems are not uncommon in children and adolescents. Many children go through rough times as they continue to grow. They may have problems at school, with friends, or at home.
When does my child need help?
If you notice some of these signs, contact your child’s school counselor or school nurse. If the problems last more than a few weeks, it may be time to seek help from your doctor or health plan.
- Inability to get along with other children
- Significant decline in school work
- Marked weight gain or loss
- Changes in usual sleeping or eating patterns
- Fearfulness
- Lack of energy or motivation
- Irritability
- Restlessness, fidgeting and trouble concentrating
- Excessive disobedience or aggression
- Crying a lot
- Spending less time with or avoiding their friends
- Feeling hopeless or worthless
- Reluctance to go to school or take part in normal activities
- Overuse of alcohol and other drugs
IMPORTANT: If children or young people have persistent thoughts about hurting themselves or wanting to die, they need professional help.
What can parents and families do?
Parenting and being part of a family are very important to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. You may not realize it, but you are already protecting your children’s mental health and well-being just by:
- showing your affection, interest and care for your children
- encouraging your children to talk about their feelings and to work out problems
- comforting your children when they are distressed or anxious
- spending time with your children, working on projects and taking part in activities together
- being aware of your children’s needs and differences at different stages of development
- providing consistent care and avoiding erratic or harsh discipline
- spending time individually with each of your children
- trying not to involve your children in your arguments
- seeking help early if your child is experiencing difficulties
MEDICATION IN SCHOOL
If your student should need to take a prescription or non-prescription medication at school, Form AF6720-A must be filled out in it's entirety, signed by you and your doctor, and brought to the nurse. The medication bottle for school must be labeled , including student’s date of birth. If student will self-administer, in the case of an inhaler, please fill out form AF-6720-F. You should be able to get these forms off the FPS website under registration, or at your doctor’s office.
You can reach the nurse @ 701-446-3319 or by email: djhnurse@fargo.k12.nd.us.
SRO Corner with Andrea Noll
This school year is flying by, and Spring (should) be right around the corner! Every day you drop off your child or pick them up you are reminded you are another day closer to summer break! Please remember when you are either dropping them off/picking them up to do it safely. The parking lot and surrounding streets get very chaotic during those times of the day. Over the past few months I have started to get complaints from parents and residences around the school due to inappropriate parking on streets and side streets. The City of Fargo Municipal code explains “Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places” (8-1003). The code reads “No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the law or the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places:” The following are some examples from the code:
C. In front of a public or private driveway, including parking so as to encroach on the radius of said driveway.
D. Within 10 feet of that portion of a curb which is directly in front of an adjacent fire hydrant.
E. On a crosswalk.
F. Within 10 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection.
L. Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing, or parking would obstruct traffic.
M. On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street.
O. At any place where official signs prohibit stopping.
Please keep this in mind when dropping off or picking up your child from school. We always want it to be as safe as possible for everyone driving on the street. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Upcoming Events
April 5-6
- NDSA Testing
April 7
- Vacation Day - no school
April 10
- School will be in session - Make-up day from the December 14 storm day. It will be an "A" day.
April 11
- Big Floody Band Festival
Discovery PTA
There are lots of exciting things happening with the PTA as we are quickly coming to the end of the school year. We have a few important things happening in the PTA and we really need the help of ALL our Discovery families.
The PTA will be voting on the approval of the incoming slate of officers at our April 24 meeting, and we must have a quorum attend the meeting in order to vote. Please make every effort to join us at 6:30 p.m. at Discovery on April 24. Use door 31 to enter the school. We hope to see you there!
Proposed Slate of Officers
President: Tara Ekren
Vice President: Cori Thielges
Secretary: Janelle Hanson
Treasurer: Kirsten Ulmer
March Meeting Recap
At our March meeting we heard about many exciting things from our principal, Mrs. Herrick. Eagles Expo will be taking place this spring to introduce incoming 6th graders to the building. It’s shaping up to be a great night! We were also able to brainstorm ideas for teacher appreciation week and how we can celebrate the teachers and staff at Discovery as the year comes to a close.
Concession Help is Needed
One of the main sources of fundraising for the PTA is running the concession stand during Discovery activities. We’ve got track meets coming up this spring that we’ll need students and adults to volunteer their time. Upcoming dates are April 20 and 24 and May 1, 5, 8, 11, 15, 22.
Please consider donating an hour or two of your time. It’s a great way for students to learn about working with money and customer service as well as supporting a great cause!
We’ll post signup links in the Discovery Middle School PTA Facebook group. You can join the private group by searching “Discovery Middle School PTA-Fargo”. You can also email DiscoveryPTAPresident@gmail.com if you are able to help on any of these dates.
Thank you!
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LIBRARY!
PLD Reminders
It is that time of year already where we are starting to talk about the end of the year. In April, students will have a PLD check up to be sure PLD’s are still in good working order. 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. If your student is assessed a damage repair cost, please pay this promptly. PLD’s will have to be returned at the end of the school year in good condition.
BOGO Scholastic Book Fair
ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Fargo Public Schools is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and staff. Part of keeping students and staff safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do so. The Raptor system will allow us to better screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools to provide us with a safe environment for our students and staff.
Upon entering the school building, visitors will be asked to present an ID, such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. Once entry into the building is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of their visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
A video overview of our pilot and how the system works is available at: https://youtu.be/8qwHwTmp-80
PARENT/FAMILY ACCOMODATIONS
Family support is so important for your child’s success at Discovery. If parents or other family members need accommodations to participate and attend any school function at Discovery, please contact the school office two to three business days prior to the event. Every effort will be made to meet your needs.
PARENTAL/FAMILY COMMUNICATION
Communicating with parents and families is always our goal at Discovery Middle School.
You may subscribe to Discovery’ Newsletter and Daily Announcements on our website by going to “Content E-Alerts” on Discovery’s website. Parents/guardians can sign up to receive alerts about new Daily Announcements, Newsletters, etc., for each school your students attend. E-Alerts are sent to users who have subscribed to a homepage or website section of interest. You will receive an email notification that content has been modified.
You may also want to add our school calendar to your personal calendar. This will help you stay informed about all the activities that are happening at Discovery.
Our school supply list, our student handbook, a link to PowerSchool, PTA information, and several other useful links are also available on our website.
Liz’s Closet
A Discreet, Free Resource for Discovery Students in Need
What: Discovery strives as a team to meet the needs of all students as part of our mission to build a foundation for success. Liz’s Closet, a free resource at Discovery, aligns with this mission by providing students in need with items such as clothing, hygiene products, non-perishable food items, etc.
At Discovery, we hope to provide developmentally appropriate support to students in need by offering a means to obtain basic food and hygiene products in a discreet manner. Students utilizing Liz’s Closet will have access to reusable bags, so items are less visible as students are leaving the building.
Where: Liz’s Closet will be located in Student Services. The room being used as “Liz’s Closet” will be accessible through a trusted adult in the building (teachers, counselors, administrators, paraprofessionals, designated staff).
Who: Any student in need of these items is welcome to take what he/she needs with the help of a trusted adult.
How: Although students are welcome to directly ask a trusted adult at Discovery to use Liz’s Closet, to maintain privacy as best as possible, a student can simply draw a star on a sheet of paper and bring it to a trusted adult. The adult will then instruct the student as to when he/she can go to Student Services to collect what is needed. If this adult does not have a time that works for him/her, the adult will notify the appropriate counselor or Student Services staff member to be expecting this student sometime within the school day. Once in Student Services, the student will be escorted to the closet and can take what is needed.
If you know of anyone who may need to utilize this resource, please do not hesitate to contact a Discovery counselor or administrator. Additionally, if you would like to donate shelf-stable food, school supplies, or hygiene products to Liz’s Closet, please contact Taylor Ferderer (school counselor) at 446-3318.
Written Notification of School Accountability Report
Dear Parent/Guardian,
North Dakota has launched a dashboard called “Insights,” designed to help communities across the state access important information about K-12 districts and schools. Insights features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success, including:
- Student Achievement
- Choice Ready Results
- Performance Comparisons
- English Learner Progress
- Graduation Rates
- School and State Accountability Results
- School Improvement Information
- Post-Secondary Education
- School Environment
Transparency to the Public
North Dakota is committed to informing communities about how well our schools are doing. North Dakota’s future success depends on tapping into the potential of all students, so they graduate choice ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful.
State education departments are required to annually create an accountability report for every public school in the state per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The school accountability reports outline how schools perform on the accountability elements North Dakota selected within its ESSA plan.
How is our School Doing?
To find more information about our School Accountability Report, visit the dashboard at Insights.nd.gov, select “Find My School,” and search alphabetically. The school accountability report is posted under the Dashboard heading.
Please note that the data made available to the public masks or hides data for groups with ten or fewer students to protect confidential information about individual students. Therefore, if data is unavailable to less than ten students, it will say “no data available.”
Family Engagement
We have strong plans for working to improve the educational programs at our school. We want you and your child(ren) to continue actively participating in our educational system. Please help support our high expectations for student achievement by participating in the school educational initiatives, offering input and support in our endeavors to raise student achievement, or volunteering at the school. Meeting our school’s goals will take a united effort, and I look forward to working with our families to ensure success for each student.
Continuous Improvement
All schools engage in continuous improvement for general support; therefore, our school has completed a continuous improvement plan through Cognia.
As part of the overall school improvement plan, a strategy map is generated for each school. Our strategy map, outlining our key school improvement initiatives, is also available on Insights.
If you have any questions regarding the information in the memorandum, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Amy Herrick
(she, her, hers)
Discovery Middle School Principal
701.446.3304
Discovery Middle School
Brandon Larson, Assistant Principal/Activities Coordinator
Hunter Reinke, Assistant Principal
Joe Ford, Administrative Intern
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/discovery
Location: 1717 40th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3300