Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - March 2022
Building a Foundation for Success!
Discovery Administration
This Month's Newsletter Features the Following:
- Monthly Highlights Discovery Administration: NDSA Testing
- Bus Delay Notification Process
- Discovery Activities Update
- Canvas and PowerSchool and Mastery Connect
- Traffic Flow: Pick Up and Drop Reminder
- Course Recommendations for the 22-23 School Year
- Kindergarten Registration 2022
- Frozen Eagles Snowboard/Ski Group
- Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
- Counseling Corner
- PTA
- Attendance Information
- Upcoming Events
- March Letter Day Calendar
- Yearbooks
Dear Discovery Middle School Families and Staff:
North Dakota State Assessment Dates:
All-School Testing Dates April 5-6, 2022
- 6th & 7th graders will participate in 1.5 days of testing
8th graders will participate in 2.0 days of testing (since they have the Science portion to complete)
Watch Us Soar
One Team. One Family. One Fight.
STEM: Design and Engineering
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.
Discovery Activities
6th Grade Boys and Girls Basketball
All 6th grade boys and girls who are interested in playing basketball, should report to practice in the gyms right after school on Tuesday, March 8th. Students will be given a sheet with information and expectations. All students need to have a ride at 5:15 - when practice ends. Click on the link below for practice days, times, and jamboree dates.
2022 6th Grade Basketball Schedule
7th & 8th Grade Track
The tentative start-date for 7th & 8th grade track will be March 28th. Any changes will be communicated. You can also check our activities calendar (linked above) for date changes.
6th Grade Track
Tentative start-date for 6th grade track will be April 19th.
Davies Girls Tennis Informational Meeting
Tuesday, 3:30 - 3:40 in team center 150.
Musical
Congratulations to everyone involved in the Discovery Musical - Willy Wonka Jr! They did such a fantastic job, even with having to miss 5 days of practice due to snow days.
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
Pick Up & Drop Off Reminder
Please review this slideshow for a reminder on pick up and drop off procedures. Starting on Monday, March 7th, we will be blocking off the short-term parking lot (Lot C in the picture below).
Course Recommendations for the 22-23 School Year
Discovery English/ELA & Math teachers are in the initial phases of determining English & Math Recommendations and Placements for the 22-23 school year.
This is a very important process that takes place every year for each individual student at Discovery as well for our incoming 6th graders from our elementary feeders.
The process is multifaceted and dynamic:
First, English/ELA & Math teachers analyze and interpret in class work samples.
This involves the teachers digging into the work samples that are completed within the classroom setting. Work samples include analyzing each student's progress on projects, individual assignments, tests and quizzes. They compare each student's work samples to their grade level Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs)/Standards. This provides insight into where each student is currently performing at.
Next, we analyze MAP data.
MAP Testing took place on January 25, 2022 at Discovery Middle School for all students in grades 6-8. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is a standardized testing measure that is given to students across all Fargo Public Middle Schools that provides information about a student’s growth in the areas of ELA (English-Language Arts) and Math. Data obtained from MAP at the end of the testing session is used to determine the percentage of students who have made or exceeded their individual student growth and the projected annual growth. The MAP test is an adaptive test and adjusts to the rigor that is most appropriate for the student. Parents should receive a report in the mail with their student(s) growth/scores. If you have questions about your student(s) MAP scores, please reach out to their counselor or grade level Administrator.
Finally, teachers make recommendations.
After English/ELA and Math teachers review the data and work samples, they then make a recommendation and placement for which course they believe each individual student will be most successful. This could be a grade level course or an intervention course; again all based upon each individual student's academic progress/needs.
If a student has an IEP, 504 and ILP, the English/ELA & Math teachers also work alongside their case managers on recommendation/placement decisions.
6th, 7th and 8th grade English/ELA & Math teachers all make recommendations for their current students (that includes recommendations for high school course placement, as well). 5th grade teachers make course recommendations for their current students for 6th grade courses.
If you have any questions about the recommendation or placement process, please reach out to your student's current English/ELA and/or Math teacher.
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
Nursing Nuggets from Nurse Amanda
Hello parents,
I have some bittersweet news to share. Last week I accepted a new position as a local travel nurse in an emergency room in Fargo. My last official day will be Friday, March 11th. I am planning on working at least 1 day a week at Discovery for the rest of the year. I have truly enjoyed my time at Discovery and the opportunity to get to know your children. Fargo Cass Public Health is currently working on getting a new nurse hired to fill my current role at Discovery. There are other staff members that are trained to help take care of the medical needs of the students at Discovery. I do ask that you continue to keep your student home if they are ill. They should remain home for 24 hours if they have any vomiting or diarrhea. They should also remain fever free for 24 hours without the use of over the counter medication prior to coming to school. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Amanda Matzke, RN
Discovery Middle School Nurse
Phone number: 701-446-3319
Fax: 701-446-3411
E-mail: djhnurse@fargo.k12.nd.us
Counseling Corner
This past month, our Discovery School Counselors have been working on registration for the 2022-2023 school year. We have visited our current 6th and 7th graders Science classrooms to get them registered, held individual meetings with our current 8th graders to prepare them for their transition to Davies, and have started to travel to our feeder elementary schools to prepare the 5th graders for their transition to Discovery. It is a busy time of year, but also very exciting as we think to next year and all of the upcoming opportunities for our Discovery students. We will soon be sending out information regarding summer school, so please be on the lookout for more information to come! If you have any questions regarding registration for your student, please reach out to your student’s counselor.
Mr. Napton A-D – 446-3314
Mrs. Ferderer E-J – 446-3318
Mrs. Harmelink K-Q – 446-3312
Mr. Snowden R-Z – 446-3313
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 February 28th, more information to come.
NEXT MEETING WILL BE MONDAY, MARCH 28, 6:30 P.M., ZOOM FORMAT
Monday, April 25, 2022
Membership
There is still time for you to join the PTA and be a part of the Discovery Family!
Upcoming Events
- March 8 - 6th Boys/Girls Basketball begins
- March 16 - Fargo South 8th Grade Transition Tour
- March 17 & 18 - Spring Break - No School
- March 22 - Davies 8th Grade Transition Tour
- March 23 - End of Quarter 3
- March 28 - 7th & 8th Grade Track Begins
MARCH LETTER DAY CALENDAR
Please see below for the February 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, March 11, 2022.
Discovery Middle School
Dr. Amanda Quintus, Assistant Principal
Mr. Brandon Larson, Assistant Principal/Activities Coordinator
Mr. Ben Jystad-Spar, Administrative Intern
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/discovery
Location: 1717 40th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3300