Dakota H.S. ~ Meadowlark News
August/September 2021/2022
Dakota High School
David Burkman, Principal & EL Director
Jim Keal, Assistant Principal
Ila Hegg, Adm. Asst.
Arati Heath, Summer School & EL Adm. Asst.
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Dakota
Location: 1305 9th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-2800
Dakota High School Mission Statement
Dakota High School will provide a student-centered alternative instructional program to allow students to obtain a high school diploma and to learn skills necessary to be productive, responsible citizens.
A New Name and Great Traditions – Dakota High School - a Choice School
by David Burkman, Principal
Please take the time to read the newsletter article talks about the name change from Woodrow Wilson to Dakota High School that happened last year. The best of Woodrow continues in the new Dakota name – along with a celebration of our region, state and its peoples.
Dakota wishes former graduates and staff the best and a healthy, bright future: Becky Pittenger (retired), Annie Retka (Business Teacher transferred Districts). We thank them for their contribution to the quality Woodrow tradition and new Dakota way. We welcome the following new Dakota staff and already appreciate their new contributions: Josh Schreier (Business Teacher) and Rod Volk (Meadowlarks Meeting… Woodrow Works)
Thank you for choosing Dakota in your pathway to a bright future.
Dakota High School Opening Ceremony
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2021, 10:30 AM
Agassiz Building Gym #2/1305 9th Ave South
Opening Ceremony Flyer ~ Native American Singer & Dancers Events
A New Name for our High School and New Traditions!
Fargo Public Schools: Dakota High School Meadowlarks * formerly named Woodrow Wilson High School
During 2020, the FPS school board expanded Policy #3260 relating to school building naming and renaming. Woodrow Wilson High School was the first FPS school to be reviewed for renaming. Community input was collected. By a sizable margin, the community advocated that Woodrow Wilson High School be renamed because of President Wilson’s questionable-for-his-time positions and policies regarding equity and skin color. The school board unanimously voted to remove the name Woodrow Wilson and then continued to follow policy in the renaming. The board selected “Dakota,” a celebration of the region, state and its people.
FPS Dakota High School Meadowlarks
The Western Meadowlark is the state Bird of North Dakota and five other states. It sings a beautiful, familiar, melodic song across the Western prairies and can sing while in flight. In the Dakota culture, the Meadowlark is a symbol of friendship and loyalty. Wheat is also included in the Dakota High School logo and is symbolic of goodness: abundance, prosperity and fruitfulness.
The Meadowlark: Sturnella neglecta, means "ignored", "overlooked", "neglected" or "disregarded." Every human confronts such feelings, moments and seasons of life and has the opportunity to be a friend and ally to another human working through such life-challenges.
Dakota High School continues the rich history of Woodrow Wilson High School and its motto and mission to be… the safest, most welcoming and accepting school on planet earth. The motto aligns well with the “friend -friendly-ally” meaning of Dakota and the state’s recognition as The Peace Garden State. The culture and character of the school community are guided by values including hope, kindness, respect and responsibility. Similarly, the Grandfather Teachings are a set of core values/teachings of Dakota and other Native American tribes: Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth. These universal values are celebrated in the Red River Valley, North Dakota and throughout families, cultures and faiths around the world.
2021-22 COVID-19 Mitigation Stategies
For the 2021-2022 school year, Fargo Public Schools will strive to resume all school operations to the best of it’s ability while continuing to follow COVID-19 mitigation strategies approved by the Fargo Board of Education. These strategies are:
- Screening, testing, ventilation, proper handwashing, and respiratory etiquette.
- Asking students and staff to stay home when experiencing ill symptoms and getting tested.
- Universal indoor masking for all staff, students, and visitors to buildings.
- Maintaining three feet of physical distance between students, to the best of the school’s ability.
- COVID-19 post-exposure guidelines of:
- Mask to mask exposure: exemption to quarantine
- Fully vaccinated contacts: if no symptoms, no quarantine but should monitor for symptoms.
- If one or both individuals are unmasked: 14-day quarantine. Contacts may release from quarantine after day 10 if no symptoms or after day 7 with a negative test collected on day 5 or later.
This approach differs from the 2020-2021 school year where many school operations, such as facility rentals and field trips, and activities were limited or cancelled. At this time, those operations are expected to continue while following the mitigation strategies outlined above.
Counselor's Corner
by Jennie Rude
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are so excited to have you working towards your high school diploma at Dakota High School! As we navigate through our current school year we need to think about how to set our year up for success. Here are a few tips to start the year off.
- Create a routine.
- As a family, talk about what your day will look like. Write down a daily schedule and stick to it!
- Set up an area in your house that can be used for studying. Think about a quiet area with fewer distractions.
- Get enough sleep! Go to bed a decent time so you can have a productive day!
- Reach out for help if you are struggling with school or life issues.
- Your school counselor, principals, teachers and staff are all here to help. We will do our best to help and connect you with any needed resources.
- The Source is our pantry at Woodrow. If you need food, we can help!
- Stay connected with friends and family.
- Connect through video calls, letters, or face-to-face meetings (keeping in mind social distancing guidelines). Quality relationships are important for our mental health!
Attendance Information
Email/call your teacher or the main office @ 446-2805 to report an absence
Good attendance and being on time are very important life skills.
# Students can earn P-R units (punctuality and reliability) towards advisory credit by having good attendance.
- 1-4 PR points (advisory units) are awarded at the completion of every class. If a student completes 12 courses in a year with great attendance, they could earn 48 advisory units (12 classes @ 4 PR points).
## Regardless of student absence/presence, each school day in session counts in the day count of course completion (25-29 day target).
### Parents (for students under 18) or students age 18/older are expected to call in a morning or full day absence by 9 a.m. and to call in an afternoon only absence by 12:30 p.m. for the absence to be excusable.
a. If a parent can’t call an absence on time, the student must call (by 9:00 and/or 12:30) and the parent must call later in the day to verify the absence.
b. Absences called in late will not be excused. Extenuating circumstances will be considered.
c. Appropriate absences will be excused when called in on time (but still will be included in day count completion):
a. Illness, funeral, medical or legal appointments, parent request, family vacation or emergency
#### A student may be dropped from a course after 3 unexcused absences.
Attendance Notification System
Dakota sends a daily, automated attendance call to report unexcused absences @ 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Tardiness ~~ Learn to be on-time (Punctual)
Be punctual and reliable. Earn Punctuality and Reliability Points for Advisory Credit!
Tardy (I’m late.) The student is reducing their P/R points for their class.
Tardy 10-15 Minutes: Recorded as Tardy (Tdy).
Ø The student loses access to Meadowlarks Meeting room, Library, or other out-of-class space for the rest of the class period.
Tardy Extended 16 – 70 Minutes: Recorded as tardy absence unexcused (Tdy AU)
Ø Tdy AU = half-period unexcused absence count (2 Tdy AU = 1 AU)
Ø The student loses opportunity to grab and go breakfast and access to work in Meadowlarks Meeting room, Library or other out-of-class space for the rest of the class period.
Fargo Public Schools Lunch Meal Prices ~ No Cost
Dakota High School will be providing boxed meals upon request by the student. If the student knows which day they will be in attendance they can order a meal in advance by informing the main office.
Secondary Breakfast $0.00
Secondary Lunch $0.00
Adult Staff $3.50
Extra Milk $0.35
ACT National Testing Dates
Immunization Update: 11th & 12th Graders for 2021-22
Still mandatory during COVID-19 ~
Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, a second dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is required for students entering eleventh or twelfth grade. This means your 11th and 12th grade student will need proof of two doses of MCV4 before returning to school in the fall.
Ideally, children should receive one dose of MCV4 when they are eleven to twelve years old and a booster dose on or after their sixteenth birthday. Please schedule with your child’s health care provider or your local public health. Please have your child receive this booster prior to the start of the school year. Also, remember to bring in the documentation of the immunization date to the school.
****The student has 30 days from enrollment to update their immunizations or their classes will be on PLACED hold.
Fargo Public School Evening Session Calendar ~ See below
Medications at School Policy ~ See below
Prescription and non-prescription ("over-the-counter") medications required by a student shall be administered by a parent at home or by the student's medical provider. Parents shall use every effort to have medication administration times set for time periods other than school hours. When this is not possible, within the limitations set by this policy, the Fargo Public School's staff may assist in the administration of medication during school hours. The Fargo Public Schools retains the right to refuse to administer medications or provide other medical treatments. No prescription or Non-prescription medication should be carried by a student or kept in his or her locker unless the authorization for self-administration has been completed.
The following limitations and requirements shall be applicable to the administration of medications by Fargo
Public School's staff:
* In no case should a staff member provide, recommend, prescribe, or require medication.
*School personnel will administer no prescription medication unless prescribed by a licensed prescriber
and a parent or legal guardian signs an authorization.
*Prescription medication must be in the original container with a label prepared by a pharmacist.
*Non-prescription medication (over the counter medications) will be administered according to the
manufacturer’s recommendation as written on the bottle. In addition, the parent or legal guardian needs
to sign an authorization form.
* If the parent/guardian requests a dosage different than the manufacturer’s recommendation for a non-
Prescription medication; a signed authorization will be necessary from both the parent/guardian and
the licensed prescriber prior to giving the medication.
*Non-prescription medication must be in the original container labeled with the student's name and
dosage.
*The building administrator of each school shall ensure that the procedural safeguards and records
contained in This policy are followed prior to administration of any medication or treatment.
*The building administrator of each school shall designate who shall be given the responsibility to check
in and administer the medication. Designated personnel should be in-serviced in the administration of
medication and given a specific review of instructions for a given student's medication needs.
*All personnel having responsibility for supervising students shall have access to information on the
Health portions of the student's school records, including related medical problems, and shall be
informed of anticipated circumstances for which school personnel may need to be in touch with
emergency or medical personnel.
Dakota High School Accolades
Dakota students who have distinguished achievement are recognized in the DKHS Accolades program.
Criterion for a student to achieve Dakota High School Accolades:
- Must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 DKHS sessions (starting by mid to late February)
- Average a minimum of 2 course completions per session
- Average a minimum or 3 P/R points for the year
- GPA for the year at DKHS must be at least 2.8
- No unresolved ICUs or DKHS community issues
- Complete 24 credit diploma to graduate with Accolades
Graduate must have attended more than 4 sessions at DKHS.
- Advisor’s written statement(s) of recommendation
Benefits of Achieving Dakota High School Accolades:
- Accolades Recognition Breakfast for student and family guests in May. (TBD)
- Certificate/Award that represents:
- Quality Attendance
- Commendable Scholarship
- Respectful Character
C. Potential to graduate with Accolades
D. Success and a personal sense of accomplishment
E. Quality material for Job-Scholarship-College Applications
Co-Curricular Activities for DKHS Students
All Dakota High School students are welcome to join and participate in their home schools co-curricular programs (sports, music, dances etc…) which exist for the development of skills, attitudes, and self-esteem of students, and are intended to enhance the physical, social, emotional, artistic and intellectual growth of our young people. Parents are encouraged to be positive and supportive in their relationships with advisors and coaches. It is the prerogative of the advisor/coach to manage the activity in such a manner that sound human relationships are encouraged and the regulations of the North Dakota High School Activities Association are met. A team effort by parents, school officials, and the participants is needed.
McKinney-Vento Act
1. Is your current address a temporary living arrangement?
2. Is this temporary living arrangement due to loss of housing or economic hardship?
If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, your child(ren) may be eligible for McKinney-Vento services.
Please call Jan at 701-446-3113
FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY 2021-22
Fargo Public Schools
Dispute Resolution Policy
2021-2022
Federal regulations require that each district adopt procedures for receiving and resolving disputes pertaining to Title programs.
If a parent, school personnel or any interested person wishes to file a complaint, the following process must be followed:
- The written complaint must be sent via mail or e-mail to:
(Manager of Specific Title program)
Fargo Public Schools
415 North 4th Street
Fargo, ND 58102
Fargo Public Schools Title Managers
Title I Part A (Disadvantaged Students) Jan Anderson anderja@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title II Part A (Teacher Training/Recruitment) Dr. Robert Grosz groszr@fargo.k12.nd.us
Melissa Eidsness eidsnessm@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title III (English Language Acquisition) David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Any complaint must include:
• The date;
• The name of the district, unit, or individual the complaint is against;
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person making the complaint;
• A detailed description of the complaint, including specific facts; and
• The signature of the person making the complaint.
When a complaint is filed, the appropriate Fargo Public Schools Title Manager will investigate and issue a written response within sixty (60) calendar days from the date the complaint is received.
Reconsideration
Once a response is received from Fargo Public Schools staff, the person making the complaint has the right to have their complaint reconsidered. The complainant may submit a reconsideration request in writing to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and the U.S. Department of Education.
State Superintendent The Secretary of Education
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction U.S. Department of Education
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Department 201 555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Bismarck, ND 58505-0440 Washington, D.C. 20208