Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - November 2021
Building a Foundation for Success!
Discovery Administration
This Month's Newsletter Features the Following:
- Monthly Highlights Discovery Administration
- For Our Sixth Grade Parents/Guardians...Student Progress Reports
- Canvas and PowerSchool and Mastery Connect...oh my!
- Important Resources for Canvas for Parents/Guardians
- Fargo Public Schools 2020-21 Annual Report
- Update of Fargo Public Schools COVID Mitigation Strategies from Dr. Gandhi
- Citizenship Requirements
- Library Information
- Frozen Eagles Snowboard/Ski Group
- SRO Corner with Officer Kjonaas: Social Media Trends to Be Aware Of
- Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
- What if my student has to quarantine or is gone for extended illness/etc.?
- Counseling Corner
- PTA
- Attendance Information
- Upcoming Events
- November Letter Day Calendar
- Yearbooks
Hello Discovery Families!
Happy Veterans Day!
November 11th is Veterans Day. There is no school this day. Thank you to all of those who have served our country. We are grateful for your sacrifice. School will resume Friday, November 12.
Lost and Found!
Has your child lost an item of clothing or personal item such as a hydroflask, or waterbottle? The items are down by the PE wing and folded up on a table to be collected. The deadline for claiming items can be December 17. That could go in the announcement. Items will be donated to GoodWill after that date.
Morning Intramurals Start!
Morning Intramurals started from 8:00 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. in Gym 2 for our Discovery students.
Mrs. Graff, Mrs. Gravdahl, and Mr. Leingang are running this program and the first activity is basketball. The intramurals are divided by grade level with M/W for 8th grade, T/TH for 6 and 7th grade. Students are to come once a week and will need to write an ehall pass if they want to participate. There is a cap at 36 students.
Athletics/Activities:
Currently 7th and 8th grade girls' basketball has started and 6-8th girls' and boys' wrestling is underway. If students still want to join wrestling, they are more than welcome to join the team. If interested, stop down to the multipurpose room after school to talk to the coaches.
The musical that is coming up is Willy Wonka Jr. and auditions will be held after winter break and will be advertised on the announcements.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions Document
Click link here for access to document with questions/answers from Discovery Admin Team
For Our Sixth Grade Parents/Guardians...Student Progress Reports
6th grade parents,
6th grade classrooms are using a new system called Mastery Connect to report student progress. Our goal is to clearly communicate accurate information about the progress students are making toward grade level expectations in all courses. Thank you for your patience as we work through the inevitable challenges of implementing something new.
Parents can access their student’s ongoing progress by clicking the Mastery Tracker link from the student’s Canvas course. The Mastery Tracker link is not yet visible through the Canvas app, so you will need to use a web browser to view up-to-date progress. If you get an error message when accessing Mastery Tracker, please complete this form and we will fix it.
Open the attached handout or watch the video to learn more about how to access and interpret 6th grade student progress reports.
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
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.
Dear Fargo Public Schools Community
This message is to provide an update on COVID-19 mitigation strategies used in our schools outside of the instructional day and COVID-19 mitigation strategies currently being used in Fargo Public School buildings that are not schools.
Currently, universal masking is a mitigation strategy being used inside all Fargo Public Schools buildings at all times. This mitigation strategy will continue in district school buildings during instructional hours.
Today, I had a conversation with Fargo Cass Public Health and the North Dakota Department of Health regarding masking requirements in our schools for activities, after school activities and meetings, evening events, facility rentals, and non-school buildings. Per our conversation and after reviewing the guidance provided to Fargo Public Schools, effective immediately, masks will be strongly encouraged (not required) for all individuals in school buildings during non-instructional hours and district facilities that are not schools. This recommendation is subject to change based on the guidance being provided for general community events. In addition to other mitigation strategies including but not limited to screening, testing, and handwashing, universal masking will continue to be required for all students, staff and visitors in school buildings during instructional hours. Students that participate in instructional activities during the school day not in a Fargo Public Schools building (i.e. field trips) are strongly recommended to mask or follow the guidance provided to the general community at that time.
The North Dakota Department of Health will continue to notify Fargo Public Schools of students or staff that test positive for COVID-19. However, FPS staff will not contact trace or communicate close contact exposures that are not within a school day in a school building. This is subject to change based on a need determined by the North Dakota Department of Health if they notice multiple related cases in an after-school student activity.
Masks will still be required for all riders and drivers on Fargo Public Schools (FPS) transportation, including school buses and activity buses due to a federal requirement.
Fargo Public Schools continues to encourage students and staff to take advantage of the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which is now available for those who are age 5 and up. Healthcare agencies continue to stress vaccination as the most impactful mitigation strategy, and we are hopeful that increases in vaccine availability and rates of our community population being vaccinated will reduce the potential threat of COVID-19 and need for other mitigation strategies.
FPS continues to be grateful for your understanding, cooperation, and flexibility during these difficult times. FPS will continue to work closely with Fargo Cass Public Health regarding COVID-19. If recommendations change, FPS will adapt and communicate accordingly.
Sincerely,
Rupak Gandhi, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Fargo Public Schools
415 4th St. N.
Fargo, ND 58102
P: 701-446-1005
F: 701-446-1226
Educating and Empowering all Students to Succeed
CITIZENSHIP TEST IS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION
The North Dakota state legislature passed HB 1087, requiring all students to demonstrate proficiency in civics as a requirement for high school graduation. The law states:
“a student may take the test, in whole or in part, at any time after enrolling in grade seven and may repeat the test, or any portion thereof, as often as necessary to demonstrate proficiency.”
Every middle school in the district will be offering that test to students in grade eight this year. The information on the civics test is closely related to the material covered in eighth grade social studies. Students who do not demonstrate proficiency (70% or above) will have the opportunity to take the test again at the high school. There is no penalty for taking the test multiple times and there is never a fee to take the test. Discovery students will be taking their civics test soon after they return from winter break. Check the daily planner for each teacher’s specific test date.
The questions for the civics test are taken from the federal government’s Naturalization Test.
If you have questions or would like further information, please feel free to contact one of our 8th grade history teachers.
Hans Anderson (Team 8-2 Atlantis) andersh@fargo.k12.nd.us
Jeremy Nesvold (Team 8-1 Arcadia) nesvolj@fargo.k12.nd.us
Carrie Spellerberg (Team 8-3 Olympus) spellec@fargo.k12.nd.us
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LIBRARY
Library Leaders
Library Leaders is a group of 6th-8th grade students that plan reading programs, share books they are reading, complete library projects, learn how to shelve, help with technology, and provide assistance with whatever needs to be done in the library. One thing students learned in October was how to use a Green Screen app to take photos; next up will be Green Screen video. The goal is for Library Leaders to be able to help other students and teachers use this technology. Library Leaders meet the first Friday of each month; they also have an option to sign up to help before or after school on the day(s) of their choice.
Newbery AWARD Challenge Reading Program
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Newbery Book Award for authors! To celebrate, students and staff get a chance to read Newbery award-winning books and earn prizes by participating in an all-school incentive reading program that is similar to BINGO called the Newbery AWARD Challenge (link). This program runs from October 14 - January 14, so there is plenty of time to print out the Newbery AWARD Challenge card or pick one up in the library. Perhaps you would have a favorite Newbery to recommend to your child!
Makerspace
The library’s makerspace will feature monthly DIY creative crafts or STEM activities. Students can visit the library and listen to the announcements to find out what activities are going on.
Earbuds
Please ensure your child has earbuds or headphones in school, as many audio options are available and utilized for learning. Earbuds are on sale in the team centers and library for $1.
Canvas Help for Students and Parents
Help links for parents and students can be found on the Fargo Public Schools public website at this link. Handouts available include signing up for a parent Canvas account, turning off your email notifications, and information about the Canvas App.
6th grade parents may be interested in this explanation of the 6th grade progress report.
Digital Safety
With the increasing use of digital media, teaching your child digital safety is essential. Talk to your student about the values and standards he/she should be following when using the Internet. Three excellent resources for parents and students are Common Sense Media, Google’s Be Internet Awesome, and NetSmartz.
SCHOLASTIC BOOKFAIR
Scholastic Book Fair Coming in December
The Scholastic book fair will be held at the Discovery Library December 7-10 from 8:10 AM - 4:00. All students will have a scheduled time to visit the fair during their English classes.
PLD HELP
Students can find immediate help for their PLD in their Discovery Library, PLD, and Tech Help Canvas Course and on the FPS Student Tech Help page located on Middle Level Resources.
If they can’t find what they need, they can email Mrs. Hyde at hydeg@fargoschools.org for additional help.
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 with Officer Kjonaas
Many crimes are crimes of opportunity. This means people look for items easily available to steal. These types of crime take only seconds to commit and are very difficult to solve. When students secure their valuable property by leaving non-essential items at home or by placing items in locked lockers, the chance of being a victim goes down significantly! Students can also help by reminding each other to lock up valuables and by reporting suspicious activity to their School Resource Officer or other adults at Discovery.
The following are some basic crime prevention tips that should be shared with students:
- Always keep unattended property in a locked locker.
- Keep all valuable items out of view.
- Leave non-essential valuables at home.
- Encourage students to report suspicious activity immediately.
- Lock up bikes in the bike rack during warmer months.
- Write down serial numbers for valuable items.
As students move through their busy days encourage them to take time to lock up their valuable property. This will prevent thieves from having easy access to their valuables. When talking with your students remind them that theft of property does not just occur during school hours. It is important to make sure their property is locked and secured when they are participating in extracurricular activities in school and away from school.
Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
Don’t be left out in the cold!
Frostbite 101
In cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced, which can lead to serious health problems. When the weather is extremely cold, try to stay indoors. If you must go outside, dress properly and know who is at high risk for hypothermia.
When going outside be sure to wear:
- a scarf or knit mask that covers face & mouth
- mittens or gloves
- water-resistant boots
- a hat
- a water-resistant coat
- several layers of loose-fitting clothing
When going outside in winter make sure body parts most often affected by frostbite are covered in warm, dry clothing (nose, ears, toes, cheeks, chin, fingers).
Know who is at high risk:
- Older adults without proper food, clothing, or heating
- People who stay outdoors for long periods (homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.)
- People who drink alcohol in excess or use illicit drugs
- Babies sleeping in cold rooms
A victim is often unaware of frostbite because frozen tissue is numb.
Signs & Symptoms:
Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite. Other signs include a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, and numbness.
If a person is experiencing frostbite seek medical attention as soon as possible. Get them into a warm room or shelter, remove any wet clothing, warm them under dry layers of blankets and clothing and place areas affected by frostbite in warm-to-touch water.
Caution: Since skin may be numb, victims of frostbite can harm themselves further. Use caution when treating frostbite and:
- Unless necessary, do not walk on feet or toes with frostbite
- Do not use a fireplace, heat lamp, radiator, or stove for warming
- Do not use a heating pad or electric blanket for warming
- Do not rub or massage areas with frostbite
For more information on FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/documents/hypothermia-frostbite_508.pdf
What if my student has to quarantine or is gone for extended illness/etc?
Regarding quarantine, this is taken from the FPS COVID-19 webpage on quarantine guidelines/procedures:
- 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.
- COVID-19 Close Contact Procedure
For our students who are quarantined, or absent for any extended illness/hospitalization (COVID or non-COVID-related), etc. our procedures are as follows:
- Students and families have access to the Discovery announcements on our website so they can stay abreast of the happenings in the school while they are not in the building.
- Parents/guardians should call the Discovery attendance clerk to notify school of child’s absence at 701. 446.3310.
- Student should always reach out to their teachers via e-mail with any questions and include parent/guardian in the e-mail addresses so everyone can stay in the loop.
- Student should check their class Canvas course and their school e-mail account daily if they are feeling well enough to do so for updates and correspondence. Assignments will be posted on Canvas and teacher work with our students on being flexible with assignments such as in-person labs, etc.
- Counselors are happy to set up Zoom appointments with students who are out of the building to provide additional support if needed or do check-ins when the student is out. Students or parents/guardians should let the counselor know if this is something they would like to do.
- Our administrative intern, Mr. Jystad-Spar and our student success advisor are another point of contact for our students who need any type of academic support during the school year-this person may connect with students while they are out to provide additional academic support and goal-setting and assist with the transition back to school.
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 7th, 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 MEETINGS
NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20TH, 6:30 P.M., ZOOM FORMAT
Monday, November 29, 2021
Monday, December 20, 2021
Monday, January 31, 2022
Monday, February 28, 2022
Monday, March 28, 2022
Monday, April 25, 2022
Join Discovery Middle School PTA
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
- November 11 - No School - Veterans Day
- November 24 - No School - Staff PD
- November 25-26 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
NOVEMBER LETTER DAY CALENDAR
Please see below for the November 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