FPS Human Capital Officer Dr. Jeff McCanna says that the culture in Fargo Public Schools is special and needs to be supported, nurtured, and celebrated. Knowing that the District's team members have choices in where they work, in what district they call home, and what family they part of, he asked, "Why FPS?"

Read more about what makes FPS special in the words of multiple employees in this Cabinet Column by FPS Human Capital Officer Dr. Jeff McCanna.

Fargo Public Schools conducted a Facilities Study, which is substantially complete and preliminary reports were presented to the School Board in September. The data collected through this process will be used to prioritize annual maintenance projects as well as inform the community as FPS works through the Long-Range Facility Planning process.

Read more about the Long-Range Facilities Plan and the key takeaways from the Facilities Study in this Feature Column by FPS Director of Facilities James Hand.

Congratulations to the North High School football team on winning the ND Class AA State Football Championship on Friday, November 10 at the Fargodome! The Spartans beat Grand Forks Central 31-6 to secure their first state title since 2000.

And congratulations to North senior Peder Haugo, who was named the 2023 Powerade State Senior Athlete of the Year for Division AA Football! And to Coach Adam Roland, who was named the 2023 Subway State Coach of the Year for Division AA Football!

Congratulations to North High School junior Addison Cerney and Discovery Middle Schools eighth grader Helen Wu on winning state championships at the North Dakota Girls Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday, November 11 in Bismarck!

Cerney won the 100 yard butterfly in 57.7 seconds and the 100 yard backstroke in 57.59 seconds. Wu tied for the state championship in the 50-yard freestyle with Bismarck Legacy's Abby Erickson in 24.57 seconds.

Davies High School's Jazz Combo won the University of Mary's first-ever Jazz Combo Competition held on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The event, hosted at Arno Gustin Hall in Bismarck, showcased the talents of five competing jazz combos. The combo consisted of Evelyn Geiger, Kieran Huck, Adam Brachman, Douglas Gray, and Karena Repina.

The competition, open to combos of 3-7 performers in Grades 9-12, featured a day filled with performances and critiques. Each group was allotted a 25-minute time slot for their performances and received verbal feedback. The event also featured an improvisation masterclass with guest artists. Davies High School Jazz Combo impressed the judges with their performance of Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Piano as well as their rendition of Song for My Father.

Congratulations to all Fargo Public Schools students who signed National Letters of Intent to compete in athletics in college on November 8! Davies High School students Lexi Bartley, Abby Voeller, Ashton Safranski, Drew Rerick, and Jacob Jaroszeswki; and South High School student Gracie Sauvageau signed last week.

Congratulations to the South High School Hall of Fame Class of 2023! South High School will hold an induction celebration for its 2023 Hall of Fame class on Tuesday, November 21 at South High School. The event will include a social at 5:30 p.m. followed by the induction ceremony and dinner at 6 p.m.

The South High School Hall of Fame Class of 2023 includes:

• David Johnson – Class of 1968
• Dr. Maria Burkland-Balintona – Class of 1989
• Dr. Susie Schraufek Westerlund – Class of 1982
• Dr. Kendra Lystad – Class of 2004

Read the inductee biographies to learn more about the South Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Community members are invited to nominate a deserving Fargo Public Schools teacher, administrator, or support staff member for the annual Staff Recognition Program. The program honors FPS staff members who serve our students with excellence. Online instructions, forms, and the application process can be found on the FPS website. Nomination forms will be accepted online November 27 to December 15.

Fargo Public Schools deeply values the nearly 2,000 staff members who ensure our students receive a high-quality education in a safe learning environment. To honor our employees, the District annually awards the following:

• Teacher of the Year Award − awarded to a certified staff member
• Administrator of the Year Award − awarded to a principal, assistant principal, director, or coordinator
• Support Staff of the Year Award − awarded to an educational support staff member, custodial/maintenance department staff member, or nutrition services staff member

The community is invited to learn more about Fargo Public Schools and lend a voice about the future of the District at a Long-Range Facility Plan Community Meeting tonight, November 16, from 6-8 p.m. at Davies High School.

Topics covered at the community meetings will include the current and projected condition of FPS buildings; how the District’s buildings meet the needs of modern teaching and learning methods; ways the District can operate more efficiently; and future enrollment and educational opportunities.

Davies High School presents the musical Crazy For You tonight, November 16-19 at Davies High School.

Stage-struck Bobby Child spends his off-work hours practicing dance routines and sneaking in to audition for Zangler’s Follies, the most popular show in New York City. Unfortunately, Bobby’s showbiz career is going nowhere, so when his job sends him far away to a customer who has defaulted on a mortgage, Bobby jumps at the chance to get out of town. Arriving in hot, quiet Deadrock, Nevada, Bobby falls for Polly Baker, the sweet and sturdy postmistress, whose father happens to own the beautiful, but decaying, Gaiety Theater, which he has been sent to seize.

Thursday-through-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets are available at the Fargo Public Schools Box Office.

Trollwood Performing Arts School announces The Addams Family as its 2024 Mainstage Musical. Performances are set for July 16-20 and 23-27 at Bluestem Center for the Arts. Visit trollwood.org for more information. Group tickets, for groups of 10 or more, will be on sale December 11, and regular tickets will be on sale April 15.

Cast auditions will be held February 17-18 with callbacks February 19-20. Orchestra auditions will be held March 6-9. Students may sign up for an audition slot by calling 218.477.6500 or emailing trollwood@fargo.k12.nd.us. Students may also participate as a run crew member or technician by registering for summer programming.

Be the Leader They Need! Fargo Public Schools is now hiring full-and part-time support staff positions including paraeducators, custodians, and food service workers. Learn more about these great opportunities to impact our community's youth and apply for a position today at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/apply

Students across Fargo Public Schools' buildings showed their appreciation for the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces this Veterans Day. Students wrote thank you cards for veterans, sent care packages with their leftover candy, visited veterans in senior living communities, made paper quilts for veterans, and participated in Veterans Day music programs, while showing their appreciation and learning about the sacrifices and contributions veterans have made to this country. Read more about the Veterans Day activities from across FPS in this Feature Story.

The Fargo Board of Education Governmental Affairs Committee is committed to work diligently to compose resolutions, monitor legislatively-directed studies, and stay updated on any future education-related legislation. This committee plays a vital role in advocating for the interests of our school district and our work is guided by Governance Policy 7.

Read more about the efforts of the Governmental Affairs Committee in this Board Column by Board Member Robin Nelson.

The Board of Education of the City of Fargo meets in regular session on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning at 5:30 p.m. To find Board meeting agendas and schedules, a broadcast link, an archive of past meetings, and more, visit the Board of Education webpages on the FPS website.

Read the Board Briefs from the November 14 regular meeting of the School Board.

This newsletter is published weekly on Thursdays during the school year when classes are in session. Material for publication is due by noon on Tuesday of the week of desired publication.

Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000