The District Insider
Volume 7, Issue 9 | April 2020
NOTICE OF FILING DEADLINE FOR JUNE 9, 2020, SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION - GRAND FORKS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT #1
NOTICE is hereby given that candidates interested in seeking election to the Grand Forks Public School District #1 School Board at the June 9, 2020, election must file a Candidate Filing Form and a Statement of Interests Form with the Business Manager at the Mark Sanford Education Center no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2020.
School Board positions that will appear on the June 9, 2020, ballot are as follows:
- 1 – Two (2) year term and
- 4 – Four (4) year terms
The Candidate Filing Form and Statement of Interests Form can be obtained here or at the School District Business Office located at the Mark Sanford Education Center, 2400 47th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58201 or by calling 701-746-2200. Forms must be filed at the same location.
For more information, please call 701-746-2200.
Forty-three Grand Forks Central and Red River High School students had been selected to perform at the All-State Music Festival, which was scheduled for March 22-24 at the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancelation of the festival.
We want to make sure we celebrate each of these students for their hard work. They were each required to learn an excerpt of a classical solo which demonstrated their proficiency on their instrument/voice and sight-read music during a live audition in mid-January.
All-State Orchestra:
- Grant Anderson, Red River, violin 2
- Alex Berglund, Red River, horn 1
- Anna Caoili, Red River, violin 2
- Rachel Craig, Grand Forks Central, violin 1
- Cassandra Fincher, Grand Forks Central, viola
- Sophia Frank, Grand Forks Central, viola
- Temi Haastrup, Red River, violin 1
- Daniel Hettich, Grand Forks Central, string bass
- Sarah Hong, Red River, violin 1
- Cayden Jacobson, Grand Forks Central, bassoon 2
- Aiden Krogh, Red River, cello
- Claire Lapp, Red River, cello
- Maisy Lindseth, Grand Forks Central, timpani
- Matthew Moe, Red River, viola
- Sarah Sayles, Red River, cello
- Eliot Schumacher, Red River, viola
- Noah Severud, Red River, string bass
All-State Jazz Band:
- Daniel Musselman, Red River, trumpet
All-State Band:
- Haley Jorgenson, Grand Forks Central, trombone 3
- Mandy Ly Jedlicka, Red River, tuba
- Emma Rudow, Grand Forks Central, flute 2
- Spearit Washington, Grand Forks Central, tuba
- Mikayla Weiss, Grand Forks Central, trumpet 2
- Kai Zahui, Grand Forks Central, alto sax 2
All-State Mixed Chorus:
- Isaac Barta, Grand Forks Central, tenor
- Carter Elde, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Kolby Gourneau, Grand Forks Central, tenor alternate
- Ella Henry, Red River High School, soprano 1
- Evan Ingle, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Kaden Knabe, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Shalom Onyeka, Red River High School, alto 1
- Sophia Roehl, Grand Forks Central, alto 2
- Quinn Roehl, Grand Forks Central, tenor
- Carter Schmisek, Grand Forks Central, tenor
- Jakob Stevenson, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Lucas Tande, Grand Forks Central, tenor
- Lucy Welsh, Grand Forks Central, soprano 1
- Bryant Woodbury, Grand Forks Central, bass
- Gary Wu, Grand Forks Central, tenor
All-State Treble Chorus:
- Bella Costa, Grand Forks Central, soprano 2
- Clara Green, Grand Forks Central, alto 2
- Mikayla Holte, Red River, soprano 1
- Silje Kindseth, Grand Forks Central, soprano 1
Instructors include Paul Barta (Grand Forks Central, choir) Leah Brooks (Grand Forks Central, band), Steve Carriere (Grand Forks Central, orchestra), David Christianson (Red River, band), Sarah Harlow (Grand Forks Central, band), Alexander Hovey (Red River, choir), Janelle Huber (Red River, band), Geoff Mercer (Grand Forks Central, choir), Jeff Seabloom (Red River, orchestra), and Brad Sherwood (Red River, choir).
Grand Forks Central and Red River high school students received several top spots from North Dakota DECA. While the state conference was canceled, tests and manuals were graded and awards given.
Those receiving top spots include:
- Hayden Adair, Red River, 1st place in Marketing Communications and International Business Plan
- Nana Adjekum, Red River, 1st place in Start-Up Business Plan
- Baylor Anttila, 1st place in Hotel Virtual Business; 1st place in Accounting Virtual Business
- Baylor Anttila and Jake Hanson, 3rd place in Community Giving Project
- Samuel Buck, placed 18th nationally in Stock Market Simulation
- Tashemia Bryan, Grand Forks Central, 1st place in Retail Merchandising
- Oliver Dalmi, will receive a $1,000 DECA scholarship
- Oliver Dalmi, Grand Forks Central, 1st place in Business Finance
- Oliver Dalmi and Aidan Fire, Grand Forks Central, 2nd place in Financial Literacy Project
- Campbell Dorsey and Caitlin MacKenzie, Red River, 1st place in Travel & Tourism
- Taylor Durbin, Red River, 1st place in Hotel & Lodging Services
- Aiden Fire, will receive a $2,000 UND DECA scholarship
- Mason Gravseth, 1st place in Stock Market Simulation; placed 10th nationally
- Julia Hale and Sydney Passa, Grand Forks Central, 3rd place in Travel and Tourism Marketing Decision Making
- Clara Hanson, Evan Wocken, and Seth Hoosie, Grand Forks Central, 1st place in Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service
- Zach Jenkins, 1st place in Restaurant Virtual Business
- Allysa Johnson, Grand Forks Central, 1st place in Personal Financial Literacy
- Karsen Johnson and Brady Meland, Red River, 1st place in Marketing Communications
- Kaya Kopp, placed 25th nationally in the Stock Market Simulation
- Cael Lorenz, Grand Forks Central, 3rd place in Independent Business Plan; 3rd place in Entrepreneurship
- Brady Meland, Red River, 1st place in Hospitality & Tourism Selling
- Sydney Passa and Julie Hale, gold certification for school-based enterprise
- Shri Patel, Red River, 1st place in Business Services
- Gabriel Randall and Aidan Fire, 3rd place in Marketing Communications Decision Making
- Mark Raymond and Jett Weis, Red River, 1st place in Sports & Entertainment
- Max Reichert and Evan Wocken, 2nd place in Hotel Virtual Business
- Megan Schill, Grand Forks Central, 1st place in Principles of Marketing
- Sudiksha Singhal, Red River, 1st place in Innovation Plan
- Carter Swanson, Grand Forks Central, 2nd place in Principles of FInance
- Theodore Tchomakhidze, Red River, 1st place in Entrepreneurship and Professional Selling
- Evan Wocken, Baylor Anttila, and Jacob Hanson, Grand Forks Central, 3rd place in Community Giving Project
- Gary Wu and Jacob Hanson, 2nd place in Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making
Outstanding new members DECA included Clarkson Sande (Red River High School) and Jhazlyn Wynne (Grand Forks Central High School). Receiving North Dakota Emerging Leader awards were Grand Forks Central's Oliver Dalmi, Aidan Fire, Sydney Passa, Gabe Randall, and Gary Wu. Sydney Passa and Julia Hale (Grand Forks Central) received SBE Gold Certification.
The Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Inc. is awarding $34,829 this spring to help fund a variety of enrichment projects in Grand Forks Public Schools. In addition to $9,607 for 13 Mini-Grant projects, the Foundation is awarding $25,222 to fund four Impact Grant projects.
The Mini-Grants have been funded through the Foundation for Education since 1992. Awards are usually for classroom-level or grade-level projects. All areas of curriculum and all grade levels are eligible for Mini-Grants.
The Bill and Shirley Brown Endowment for Education makes the Foundation’s Impact Grants possible. Income from the Brown Endowment is used to fund projects, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, with the potential for lasting influence at the district or grade level, or at one or more schools.
Mini Grants:
- $111 Paige Ferguson and Red River High School for Fluorescent Light Filters.
- $250 Evan Pederson and Lake Agassiz Elementary School for Compasses, Orienteering.
- $425 Brooke VanLooy and South Middle School for Foreign Language Literacy Enrichment Materials.
- $500 Aimee Rogers and South Middle School for Manga Mania.
- $520 Jennifer Modeen and Winship Elementary School for Mindfulness on the Move.
- $599 Nancy Greenwood and Grand Forks Central High School for Shrinking the Art.
- $600 Nadine Raymond and West Elementary School for Jan Richardson Word Study Kits.
- $842 Ashley Vinje and Lake Agassiz School for Every Student-Every Day a Reader!
- $1,000 Allyson Drees and Ben Franklin Elementary School for Fire Damage Book Replacement.
- $1,000 Erika Feole and Red River High School for Literacy Leads to Language Acquisition 2.0.
- $1,010 Steve Paintner and Grand Forks Central High School for Pre-Calculus Calculator Replacement.
- $1,250 Andrea Guthridge and South Middle School for Literature Circle Books and Reading Books for 6th grade at South.
- $1,500 Travis Thorvilson and Winship Elementary for Strengthen Your Team.
Impact Grant Awards:
- $2,918 Elizabeth Berger and Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School for Jan Richardson Reading Intervention for Middle School.
- $5,000 LuAnn Schmidt and J Nelson Kelly Elementary School for Kelly Elementary Playground.
- $7,304 Allyse Dunnigan and all middle school vocal music programs for Integrating Technology into Music at Middle Schools.
- $10,000 Eric Ripley and all elementary schools for VEX IQ Robot Expansion into all Elementary Schools.
Red River High School VEX Robotics Team “Theoretically a 9V” has been named by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation as one of five winners of the 2020 Online Challenges!
The challenges encouraged students to take what they have learned through their programs and competitions and apply it to a variety of areas, including video creation, website development, and photography.
In their submission, Theoretically a 9V said, “three and a half years ago, our city was introduced to the robotics world for the first time. Since then, we have not only worked to build our own program, but to establish VRC and VEX IQ teams in our community. As amazing as perfecting and competing with your own team's robot is, there is nothing more self-gratifying than helping inspire the children with aspirations in STEM fields. We believe that the most important aspect of robotics is not what we do today, but how we educate the innovators of tomorrow!”
Team members are Broden Diederich, Gavin Dorsey, Gabriel Gooden, Nabeel Hossain, Noah Kauffman, Om Panda, and Alex Tjellesen. The team won a $50 gift card to VEX.
“Congratulations to our winners and to all students for their participation. Online Challenges provide a great opportunity for students from around the world to highlight the extraordinary skills they have gained from hands-on STEM education and robotics experiences,” said Dan Mantz, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the REC Foundation.
For more information about VEX Worlds, please visit www.VEXworlds.com. For more information about the REC Foundation, please visit www.RoboticsEducation.org or www.RobotEvents.com.
Big Gate City Bank Donation
Our deepest gratitude to Gate City Bank for donating 7,500 of their bags to Grand Forks Public Schools for material deployment to our students and families!
Child Nutrition Shines
Thank you to our GFPS Child Nutrition Department for all of their hard work! They are provided over 900 lunches and breakfasts to students around our school system each day! Thank you to one of our families that shared this: "Thank you Grand Forks Child Nutrition Program for this awesome meal. It was so great to have my child pick up his meal and not have to wonder what I was going to make him for lunch!"
Thank you also to our social workers and volunteers from area churches who are working together to deliver meals to many of our families.
- Congratulations to Mason Gravseth (Grand Forks Central) and Brady Dvorak (Red River) on being selected to the 2019-2020 All-EDC Team in Boys' Basketball!
- Congratulations to Red River's Shelby Frank and Alex Page on being named to the 2019-2020 All-EDC Team for Girls' Basketball!
- Congratulations to Garrett Craven, a swimmer on the Grand Forks co-op Boys' Swimming and Diving Team, on being named Second Team All-State!
Administration
Certified Staff
- Special Education Teacher (Emotional Disturbance) - Discovery Elementary
- Special Education Teacher - Discovery Elementary
- Head Start Teacher
- Innovations Teacher - South Middle School
- Dyslexia Strategist - Elementary
- Special Education Teacher - Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School
- Orchestra Teacher - Valley Middle School
- Speech Language Pathologist
- School Psychologist
- Secondary Summer School Teacher
- Kindergarten-Grade 5 Classroom Teachers
- Special Education Resident Teacher Program
- Elementary Resident Teacher Program
- Create a Teacher Application
Support Staff
Family Service Specialist - Head Start
Dietitian - Child Nutrition
Coaching
- Head Coach - Boys' Tennis - Red River High School
- Head Coach - Volleyball - Red River High School
- Head Coach - Volleyball - Grand Forks Central High School
- Middle School Athletic Coach Application Pool
- April 10-13 - No Remote Learning K-12 (holiday break)
- April 14 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting
- April 21 - Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board Meeting
- April 28 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting
Website Updates
- We have added three links to the top banner on all websites. COVID-19 links back to the main page that is being updated with communications to our families, as well as resources for our entire school community. We also added the Mental Health Hub. Geoff Gaukler has been putting in many hours to provide resources for our school community. Remote Learning has information and resources for our students and families and will continue to be updated.
- The GFPS smartphone app has also been updated, with some buttons being removed and others being added. If you haven't downloaded it already, you find out more information at https://www.gfschools.org/Page/8832.
Census 2020
Call for Entry: Art in Isolation
The North Dakota Museum of Art (NDMOA) has an open call for entry for the upcoming exhibit, "Art in Isolation."
The NDMOA is asking for images of your work sent via email to artinisolation@ndmoa.com. The Museum will print your work on copy paper (8.5" x 11" in black and white) and install them in one of the Museum’s galleries. The goal is to cover a gallery wall making one large work made up of individual submissions.
The deadline is April 20th, 2020 at 5 p.m., which may be extended. The exhibition dates are May 1st-TBA.