Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - January 2022
Building a Foundation for Success!
Discovery Administration
This Month's Newsletter Features the Following:
- Monthly Highlights Discovery Administration: Important Social Media/Internet Safety Message
- Messages from Discovery Administration: Boundary Maps, Petition Deadline, Update on COVID-19 Guidelines, Semester 1 Ending, etc.
- Community Resources
- State of the Schools
- Bus Delay Notification Process
- Virtual Academy Registration Open
- Canvas and PowerSchool and Mastery Connect...oh my!
- For Our Eighth Grade Parents/Guardians... Upcoming 9th Grade Registration, High School Transition Tours & Open House Nights
- Kindergarten Registration 2022
- Discovery Activities (January)
- Frozen Eagles Snowboard/Ski Group
- SRO Corner: Goodbye Officer Kjonaas!
- Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
- Counseling Corner
- PTA
- PTA Reflections Program and Event Night
- Attendance Information
- Upcoming Events
- January Letter Day Calendar
- Yearbooks
Chillin' with my Gnomies!
Fly Eagles Fly!
Musical Treat!
Dear Discovery Middle School Families and Staff:
Happy New Year! The Discovery Administrative team hopes that you had a wonderful winter break. We are looking forward to the end of the first semester and the start of the second semester. This is the time of year that more and more students are receiving technology such as cell phones or social media applications. As we enter into the New Year 2022, one of the pieces of information that the Discovery administration would like to underscore to our families and communities is the recent uptick in social media and threats towards schools across the nation. This year we have had more students sharing concerns with school staff on images and information circulating on various social media platforms. As parents or guardians you may be aware that there have been past nationwide and local threats of school violence on social media but also “challenges” that are dangerous and inappropriate on social media such as Tik Tok.
What are some of the steps that Discovery uses to educate students on internet safety?
One of our Guidelines for Success at Discovery is Be Safe. The safety of our students and adults in our building is a priority. We know that quality learning cannot take place if people are feeling unsafe at school. At Discovery we do our best to educate and empower our students to make safe and healthy choices, which includes classroom lessons regarding internet safety each year with our library media specialist Mrs. Donat. Our school resource officer also assists in presenting some of those lessons such as the 8th grade Healthy Online Relationships.
These lessons change from year to year, depending on how the trends change and what students need. Our library-media specialist teaches lessons in conjunction with a content area that will further connect digital safety learning outcomes with what is learned in their content areas (FACS, Health, English). This will foster deeper thinking and connection. Common Sense Media is the Internet source FPS school librarians have been using. These resources are shared with teachers as well. Parents/families can access it as well for digital safety tips, family activities, book reviews, movie reviews, app reviews, etc.
The following are some of the lessons that are taught at Discovery:
6th Grade
Digital Drama Unplugged
Finding Credible News/Website Evaluation
Cyberbullying - done in DT with advisory teacher
7th Grade
My Social Media Life
Fair Use of Internet Content
8th Grade
Online Relationships and Safety (team taught with SRO)
Digital Footprint
Our school counselors and administrators also work with our students during counseling classroom lessons and grade level team talks to address safety concerns that arise in our student population.
What should students do if they see something that is concerning on social media?
It is critically important that students bring concerning images and posts with a trusted adult immediately rather than resharing them on social media or with other students. No matter the intent, when students reshare these concerning images and posts before bringing them to an adult it disrupts school operations and impacts the safety and wellbeing of our students. It is not okay to reshare concerning content on social media to “raise awareness” or to just assume that the concerning content has already been reported.
It is important for students to bring forward any concerning social media posts to school staff so they can be investigated. Please encourage your student to always contact an adult if they see or hear something concerning. If there is a concern during non-school hours, please contact the local police department.
What should parents/guardians continue to do?
We as a school urge you to talk or continue to talk with your children about responsible use of social media. This includes speaking to students about what they post, share or reshare on social media. This also includes monitoring and setting guidelines/consequences for your child’s electronics, internet and social media usage.
What happens if a student shares concerning images/content or posts concerning images/content?
School administration will follow school discipline policy accordingly. Per Administrative Policy 6320, students involved with verbal or written threats to school safety are suspended until investigations are complete and any other further action is determined. Students who participate in the sharing of the concerning content may also face disciplinary action.
Here are the Fargo Public Schools Administrative Policies that define discipline, including verbal or written threats:
AP 6310 Student Behavior, Discipline, and Reporting
AP 6320 Suspension and Expulsion
What about bogus social media accounts created by private individuals that may feature inappropriate, unsanctioned or harassing material?
One of the additional trends on social media is bogus social media accounts that are being created by private individuals, particularly on the instagram platform. These accounts use the names of schools and also logos. They feature inappropriate, unsanctioned or harassing material.
This type of social media behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Discovery is committed to the physical and emotional safety of our students and staff and will deal appropriately with anything that threatens their well being. This may include disciplinary action taken by school administration as noted above.
In the situations of accounts of this manner, please know that when they are reported to school administration we work with our resources to try to shut down these accounts. However, due to the nature of social media, it is not an easy or fast process. We encourage students and parents/families to help us stop this behavior by reporting any related activity of which you become aware. We also encourage parents to talk with your students about the importance of responsible social media behavior and potential consequences of inappropriate use.
Thank you for all you do as parents and guardians to support your child to “build a foundation for success” at Discovery Middle School. Even though we are a building of over 1,000 students grades 6-8, we are one team and one family. We are Discovery.
Regards,
Amy Herrick, Amanda Quintus, Brandon Larson, Ben-Jystad Spar
Discovery Administration
Hello Discovery Families!
Boundary Maps (From the FPS Website):
At Fargo Public Schools, students attend schools based on the area in which they live. Boundaries are set for elementary, middle and high schools.
Fargo Public Schools is implementing boundary changes for middle and high schools for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. Elementary school boundaries will remain the same.
To locate your school, use the links provided below. Additionally, the implementation plans for the boundary changes are available as well on the below link.
For assistance with determining your school, call 701-446-1043.
https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/BoundaryMaps
Exeception to Attendance Petition must be completed prior to January 31.
School boundaries are established with regard to student population within each school, and students are expected to enroll at the school assigned to their residential area. However, the school district recognizes that circumstances occasionally warrant an exception to this policy. Parents may request enrollment of their child(ren) at a school outside their assigned attendance area by completing the information requested below and submitting the petition to the principal at the school requested. Petitions must be completed prior to January 31. The petition approval is specific to this school. Once the building principal has approved the petition, the school will remain the student’s home school until the student leaves or school boundaries are changed.* The following guidelines are considered in the enrollment decision:
1) Parents reside within the Fargo School District.
2) Space is available within the grade level requested.
3) Classes meeting the educational requirements of the student are available.
4) Appropriate services can be provided within the case load of existing staff.
5) Attendance and conduct history is satisfactory.
6) Parents assume responsibility for reliable transportation.
7) Petitions must be submitted by January 31 (preparation time for the programming needs of the student).
8) The decision of the building level principal is final.
9) *When school boundaries are changed, all existing petitions become null and void.
Parents must then reapply to the desired school’s principal. Petition approvals will not be automatic.
NOTE: A student may complete the semester in progress at the time of the move without a petition. If the student wishes to remain the following semester, a petition must be submitted. Parents/legal guardians of a student who is attending a school on an Exception to Attendance petition may not assume that they will be permitted to remain in that school or move to the high school associated with that building until they have completed the highest level of education o ffered at that site. Upon completion of attendance at a school the parents will be expected to enroll their child at the next level of education in the school where they reside.
Semester 1 Ends on on January 14th!
Parents and guardians, the end of first semester is on January 14th. If you are concerned or wondering about your child's progress, we encourage you to check Powerschool (7 and 8th grade) or Mastery Connect (6th grade) to make sure you are up to date on your child's grades. If you have concerns, please reach out sooner rather than later to work with your child's teacher regarding academic or behavioral support for your child.
Report Cards:
Students will not receive paper copies of their semester one report cards. These can be accessed via your student's PowerSchool (7th/8th grade) or Mastery Connect (6th graders) accounts. For information on how to access this, please see further down in the newsletter under Canvas, PowerSchool and Mastery Connect...oh my!
Cell phones/electronic devices:
Please remind your students about appropriate usage of their electronic devices and cellular phones at school. We have a cell phone and electronic device policy that students/staff are expected to follow while in the building.
Masks During Instructional Time:
- On November 16, 2021, Fargo Cass Public Health provided updated guidance on COVID-19 mitigation strategies in a letter to Fargo Public Schools. Per the updated guidance, masks will be recommended in all Fargo Public School buildings, including instructional hours, beginning Monday, January 17, 2022. Prior to that date, Fargo Public Schools will continue to implement universal masking in school buildings during instructional hours per the guidance of Fargo Cass Public Health.
For more information, please see the FPS COVID-19 webpage on the Fargo Public Schools website.
Update on COVID-19 Guidelines Used in Fargo Public Schools
Please see article from Dr. Gandhi on the COVID-19 Guidleines used in FPS schools.
Community Resources
Community Resources
School counselors and staff are available during the school day to assist students. After hours and during weekends and holiday breaks, families need to utilize community supports. If you are in need of assistance for yourself or someone else, please contact the following resources:
FirstLink: Dial 2-1-1
(24/7 hour help line for community resources and emotional support)
Suicide Lifeline (answered locally): 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Red River Regional Dispatch: 701-451-7660
If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1
This information is also posted on the FPS website and on FPS social media platforms such as Facebook.
State of the Schools Address & Public Focus Group
Fargo Public Schools will hold the 2022 State of the Schools Address & Public Focus Group on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m. at South High School, 1840 South 15th Avenue, Fargo in the theater. Parents, staff and community members are invited to participate and are encouraged to pre-register by 4:00 p.m. on December 17, 2021 by signing up online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/focusgroup or calling 701.446.1005. Questions posed in the focus groups will concentrate on the District’s Strategic Plan. Pre-registered attendees will receive reading materials electronically in advance of the event. For more information, including the questions to be discussed in the focus groups, visit www.fargo.k12.nd.us/focusgroup.
Bus Route Adjustments if Valley Bus experiences a Bus Driver Shortage
In the rare event that Valley Bus does not have enough staff to cover all the school bus routes for Fargo Public Schools, Valley Bus would implement a “delayed bus route plan” rather than canceling routes. This plan could be used in either a morning route or an afternoon route.
Delayed Bus Route Plan– The “delayed bus route plan” would have the drivers cover for the missing driver after they have completed their assigned route. This would cause the identified route to be delayed by 15 to 30 minutes. Families would be notified the day of the delay by email, text, and voice messaging. Morning route delay notifications will occur between 5:30-6:30 am and after-school delay notifications will occur by 1:00 pm if a driver shortage occurs. This means students may be standing at their bus stop for additional time or they may be returning home up to 30 minutes later than normal. Each route affected would cause a delay for both the elementary and secondary students riding that bus.
The Bus Delay message will only be sent to the affected route and it will say the following:
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###. Today, [Monday, October 9, 2021], your morning route will be 15-30 minutes later than normal. Your principal has been notified of your late arrival. “
Or
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###: Today, [Monday, October 20, 2021], your after-school route will arrive home 15-30 minutes later than normal. Students will be supervised at their home building until the bus is available.”
Since communication with families is based on what was entered into the FPS PowerSchool System, we asked that each family review their listed emails and cell phone numbers in the Parent PowerSchool Portal. Please update if needed by calling your child’s main office. This type of communication may be used for other situations that cause significant bussing delays.
Students will be excused in the morning if they arrive late to school due to the delayed busing. The buildings will implement a supervision plan for students if the after-school bus is delayed.
Please remember if you decide to drop your student off at their building more than 15 minutes before school the students will wait outside. Please make sure they have dressed appropriately for the weather.
Parents can check their child’s pick-up time using the “bus route by address” options on the FPS Website at https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/165.
Although the 2021-22 school year has been challenging, the transportation department and staff at Valley Bus are responding to these challenges and working hard to keep students safe. We thank families for their patience and trust as we navigate staffing challenges.
Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions.
Dr. Grosz & Mrs. Eidsness
Associate Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools
Orchestra/Choir Mash-up!
Pictonary Time!
Discovery Musical Auditions!
Hello, FPS families!
As we approach the second semester, Virtual Academy wants you to be aware of our learning platform available to all students. Second semester begins Tuesday, January 18, 2022. If you’d like more information about Virtual Academy, please click here.
If you believe this would be a good fit for your student, the survey to request registration information is here. Requests should be submitted no later than Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
For additional information, please contact:
Lori Nappe, Virtual Academy Elementary Dean (K-5)
(701) 446-1601 nappel@fargo.k12.nd.us
Holly Fiechtner, Virtual Academy Secondary Dean (6-12)
(701) 446-1602 fiechth@fargo.k12.nd.us
Canvas and PowerSchool and Mastery Connect...oh my!
Parents and Guardians have the ability to log in and check on their child's attendance, grades, and assignments (homework). The system used depends on the type of information they are looking for and the student's grade level.
Important Resources for Canvas for Parents/Guardians
ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: Registration for HS Information
IMPORTANT TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION: FARGO SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Attention 8th grade parents and guardians: On Tuesday, January 4th the counselors from Fargo South High School will be coming to Discovery to visit with your student about the transition from middle school to high school. After their presentation your student will be bringing home registration information. The registration information will include a Program of Studies and a Registration Card. The Registration Card will need to be signed by both you and your student and be turned into Student Services by Thursday, January 13th. The Discovery counselors will then meet with your student to register them for the classes that you both indicated on their registration card. After the meeting you will receive an email from your student’s counselor confirming the classes that they registered for. If you have any questions about this process, please contact your student’s counselor.
IMPORTANT TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION: DAVIES HIGH SCHOOL
Attention 8th grade parents and guardians: On Thursday, January 6th the Davies counselors will be coming over to Discovery to visit with your student about the transition from middle school to high school. After their presentation your student will be bringing home registration information. The registration information will include a Program of Studies and a Registration Card. The program of studies will explain the classes that are offered at Davies. Please review this information with your child and fill out their registration card together. The registration cards will need to be signed by both of you and your student and be turned into Student Services by Thursday, January 13th. The Discovery counselors will then meet with your student to register them for the classes that you both indicated on their registration card. After the meeting you will receive an email from your child’s counselor confirming the classes that they were registered for. If you have questions about this process, please contact your student’s counselor.
A-D: Mr. Napton 446-3314
E-J: Mrs. Ferderer 446-3318
K-Q: Mrs. Harmelink 446-3312
R-Z: Mr. Snowden 446-3313
High School Transition Tours (to South & Davies High)
High School Transition Tours
What is a Transition Tour?
- It is a field trip to the high school feeder (which used to only be Davies High, but now will include South High)
- Students will participate in a tour of the school and question & answer session which are led by current high school students and administrative/counseling teams.
- The Transition Tour lasts between 1.5-2.0 hours total and takes place during the school day
When is the Transition Tour?
- For students going to South High next school year the date is January 14, 2022
- For students going to Davies High next school year that date is March 22, 2022
How do I know which High School my student is attending next school year?
- This is based upon the updated boundary maps per FPS School Board decision
- You can check the boundary maps found here OR you can call Discovery Middle School at 701-446-3300 for assistance
What happens to my student's attendance/classes if they are at the Transition Tour and others are not?
- Since we now have two feeder high schools, not all students will be out of the building at the same time.
- Therefore, students who are attending Davies next year, will NOT attend the South Transition Tour and students who are attending South next year, will NOT attend the Davies Transition Tour.
- On the days that the students are out of the building for their Transition Tour, students will be marked "AC" (activity) during the hours they are out of the building.
- All 8th Grade Teachers are aware of the dates for the Transition Tours and will plan lessons accordingly based upon these dates (January 14th & March 22nd)
What if my student requires accommodations to participate in the Transition Tour?
- Please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus at 701-446-3305 or at quintua@fargo.k12.nd.us to request accommodations by January 1, 2022 (for future South High students) and March 1, 2022 (for future Davies High students)
What if I do not want my student to participate in the Transition Tour?
- Please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus at 701-446-3305 or at quintua@fargo.k12.nd.us by January 1, 2022 (for future South High students) and March 1, 2022 (for future Davies High students)
What if I have other questions about the Transition Tour or 9th Grade Registration Process?
- Please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus (8th Grade Principal) at 701-446-3305 or at quintua@fargo.k12.nd.us OR contact your student's counselor
Upcoming Open House Night at Davies & South High Schools (January 10th)
Davies & South Open Houses
On January 10, 2022 Davies & South High Schools will be hosting an Open House opportunity for ALL incoming 9th grade students and their families for the 22-23 school year. Please stop by your student's future high school at the following times to receive a tour of the building, presentations from the Administrator/Counselor teams, as well as preview the various activities that the high schools offer!
Davies Open House will include:
4:30-5:30 pm- Open House 1
5:30-6:15 pm- Presentation by Davies Admin Team/Counselors
6:15-7:00 pm- Open House 2/Activity Fair
If you have any questions about the Davies Open House, please contact Lenny Ohlhauser (Davies Activities Director) at 701-446-5608
South Open House will include:
On January 10th at 5:30 pm, all incoming freshmen parents and students are invited to the South High theatre to attend the annual 8th grade Parent Night. This event will provide you information regarding the transition to high school and provide you an opportunity to tour South High and meet faculty as well. Also, there is an open house from 4:00 – 7:00 PM for all South parents to meet teachers and discuss course offerings for 2022-2023 registration.
If you have any questions about the South Open House, please contact Dr. Todd Bertsch (South High Principal) at 701-446-2000
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION 2022
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 is open online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2022. Your child must be age 5 by July 31, 2022 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process:
STEP ONE: REGISTER ONLINE
Complete online registration forms at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration. For assistance, please contact your child’s school to schedule an appointment to complete in-person. Masks are required for all visitors.
STEP TWO: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school by August 25 to finalize registration.
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s immunization record with 5-year shots
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and current address for verification
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701.446.1043 or check online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
If you need help in PowerSchool (Fargo Public Schools online registration software), please call 701.446.1006
FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2020-21 ANNUAL REPORT
As evidence of Fargo Public Schools’ commitment to our patrons, the FPS 2020-21 Annual Report is now available. It showcases the qualities and services of our school district and provides a wide array of information to familiarize families and the community with Fargo Public Schools. Report details include enrollment, staffing, and budget numbers. It also gives overviews of student services and student assessment data. Thank you for your continued support as we serve the citizens of Fargo by providing students an excellent educational experience. You can access the full document at this link.
Discovery Activities (January)
* Starts Monday, Jan 3rd after school in the Gyms
* Practice ends around 5:15. All students will need to have a ride home. There is NO bussing after practice.
* Complete the following forms in PowerSchool:
HIPPA Consent to treat Concussion
* Pay the $30 activity fee through Schoolpay in PowerSchool or to the main office.
* Won't have a game schedule for a few weeks. Coaches will hand them out.
2022 Musical
The Discovery Drama department is PROUD to Announce the dates for Auditions for the MUSICAL Willy Wonka Junior!
Auditions are Tuesday, January 4th for Singing and Acting, Wednesday January 5th for Dancing, and then we will have CALLBACKS on Thursday January 6th!
Cast list will be posted on Friday Morning January 7th and Rehearsals begin on Monday January 10th!
Our performances are on February 24th and 25th at 7:00 PM and on February 26th at 2:00 PM!
Please visit our Information Board down in the MUSIC wing to pick up an Audition Packet! It will have all of the Information you need!
We can’t wait to see you!
Questions? Email Ms. Koenig at koenigl@fargoschools.org!
SNOWBOARD/SKI Group
The Discovery Frozen Eagles will be returning this winter for snow fun!
Check out our website. (https://sites.google.com/view/discoveryfrozeneagles/home) there you can register for our email list and get in on winter fun.
Be sure to find us on Facebook and Instagram.
SRO Corner: Goodbye Officer Kjonaas, welcome to Officer Carlson!
In the interim, Officer Cody Carlson will be serving in the role as SRO at Discovery until Officer Noll is back from leave. Officer Andrea Noll will be serving in the role as SRO at Discovery until a replacement SRO can be named for our building. We look forward to working with both officers Carlson and Noll.
Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
I hope everybody had a great winter break. It is so easy to skip breakfast in the morning as we rush to get ready to get to school. Trust me, I have two little girls to get ready every day. So, I want to remind everyone on the importance of eating breakfast every day.
- · It is estimated that roughly 20 percent of students do not eat breakfast in the mornings.
I see numerous students every day that are having a stomachache due to being hungry. There are many reasons why it is important to start your day off with a healthy breakfast. It has been found that students that eat breakfast have:
- · Healthier body weights,
- · Better memory
- · More energy
- · Improved concentration
- · Better grades
We all want our kids to succeed and here are a couple helpful hints:
- · The school provides a breakfast option for the kids every morning, so if they haven’t had time to eat breakfast before they leave, remind them they can get breakfast at school
- · I recommend sending an extra snack with your students to keep in their backpack/lockers in case they do not like the breakfast provided
- · They can also come to my office for a small snack if needed as well.
Let’s make 2022 the best year yet!
Counseling Corner
HIGH SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Attention to all parents and guardians of 8th grade students! Registration for high school is coming up faster than you think. Davies counselors will be visiting Discovery on January 6th, 2022 to share information about high school and selecting courses. Each 8th grade student will be given a registration form to review and complete with parents or guardians. This registration form is Due to Student Services by Thursday, January 13th. Discovery counselors will start meeting with 8th graders after January 13th to register for high school courses, answer questions, and share information about what to expect in high school. Parents will be emailed a copy of the courses students have registered for. Also, Davies will be hosting a very informational course fair. (The date and time of the Davies course fair is yet to be determined.) Please reach out to your Discovery counselor with any questions and make sure to complete your registration form with your families.
PTA Executive Board and Upcoming PTA Meetings
We wanted to let you know that the PTA is entirely new with a completely new executive board! Thank you to the Keri Lee for her numerous years of service.
President: Cori Thielges
V.P: Janelle Hanson
Secretary: Darla Bakko
Treasure: Sarah Smith
Membership: Jennifer Frueh
We are excited to start some new initiatives and get events on the calendar for students! Please join us at our next PTA Meeting January 24th, more information to come.
NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 6:30 P.M., ZOOM FORMAT
Monday, January 31, 2022
Monday, February 28, 2022
Monday, March 28, 2022
Monday, April 25, 2022
PTA Reflections
PTA Reflections
The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.
Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
The 2021–2022 Reflections theme is I Will Change the World By…
Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts.
Mark your calendar for January 11th!! We will be hosting a work session for all students interested in entering in Reflections. Watch for more details.
Entry Form: https://discoveryptsa.org/Doc/EventsAndPrograms/Entry%20Form%20-%20Revised%20Due%20Date.pdf
Membership
There is still time for you to join the PTA and be a part of the Discovery Family!
Attendance Information
If you are planning on picking up your student during the school day, please call the Attendance Office as early as possible so that we can get your student a pass and have them ready in the office.
Important Information about Attendance
Regular and consistent attendance at school is critically important as demonstrated through numerous studies on student's academic, social emotional and future successes. However, there are a variety of reasons why a student may need to miss school.
We strive to ensure that all students regularly attend school, which means that we desire to have all students miss less than 5% of the total days in a school year. This would equate to missing 9 or less total days per school year (which essentially means 1 day or less per month of school during the school year).
North Dakota Century Code 15.1-20-01 states that "Any person having responsibility for a child between the ages of seven and sixteen years shall ensure the child attends a public school for the duration of each school year". Therefore, regular attendance at school is state law.
Attendance Tiers
In Fargo Public Schools, we regularly monitor student attendance patterns/trends. There are attendance tiers that have been put into place to assist students and their families in ensuring that students are at school regularly. The goal of school officials is to assist students and their families in regularly attending school and breaking down barriers that may be preventing them from doing so.
Tier 1
Once a student misses 9 days of school, a letter will be sent to those families alerting them that their student has entered into a Tier 1 Attendance violation. The school may reach out to discuss plans to improve school attendance.
Tier 2
Then, once a student misses 13 days of school, another letter will be sent to those families alerting them that their student has entered into a Tier 2 Attendance violation. The school may reach out to discuss plans for improvement at this time, which could include a meeting with the student, their family and school officials.
Tier 3
If a student misses 18 days or more of school, another letter will be sent to those families alerting them that their student has entered into a Tier 3 Attendance violation. At that time, School Attendance Review Board or SARB paperwork may be submitted by the school. This information/paperwork then gets sent onto Juvenile Court for further considerations.
In Fargo Public Schools, the following reasons do NOT count against a student's attendance record within a given school year (possible subject to change if new guidance is provided):
- School Activity
- Early Exit
- Homebound
- Hospital with Education
- In School Suspension
- Nurse's Office
- Principal's Office
- Student Services
- Tardy
- Unexcused Tardy
At this time, ILV (i.e. COVID leave) is counted towards a student's school attendance records.
Discovery MS is currently working alongside Emilio Lamba, FPS Attendance Specialist, to assist in supporting our students and their families re: attendance at school. He can be reached at 701-446-3641.
If you have questions about your student's attendance per the FPS policies, please contact Dr. Amanda Quintus at 701-446-3305
Upcoming Events
- January 3 - Classes Resume
- January 3 - Boys 7th & 8th Grade Basketball Begins
- January 17 - No Classes Staff Professional Development
JANUARY LETTER DAY CALENDAR
Please see below for the January Letter Day Calendar or check out our Discovery website.
Our bell schedules and calendars are always posted on our Discovery website.
YEARBOOKS
Yearbook orders will be taken online .The cost is $20.00. To ensure that your child will receive a yearbook at the end of the year, it must be ordered and paid for in advance. The deadline for ordering a yearbook is Friday, February 11, 2022.
Discovery Middle School
Amanda Quintus, Assistant Principal
Brandon Larson, Assistant Principal/Activities Coordinator
Ben Jystad-Spar, Administrative Intern
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/discovery
Location: 1717 40th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3300