Spartan Spotlight
November 2020
Hello Spartan Families,
The calendar is turning to November and the weather is turning towards winter. The calendar indicates we have completed half of the first semester of our 2020-2021 school year. The weather indicates we have completed our chances of any more summer temperatures. Yes, it has been an interesting beginning of the school year.
On a positive note we had activities available for our students and fans. Well, most of the time. We won an EDC championship in girl’s cross country and our soccer team broke through with four victories. I think we were all just happy to get activities back. We don’t know what to expect going forward, but we know it will be challenging.
Academically we are now on our third schedule. We have students in a virtual academy and other students in a variety of hybrids of face to face and distance learning. Thank you, COVID 19.
What will the remainder of the year look like? I wish we had the answer. I do know we will continue to look for what will work best for students and staff. We will continue to create a safe learning environment to support our strong academic history. There have been some victories and there have been some bumps in the road. Let’s all work together and keep looking forward.
Sincerely,
Mark Blanshan
Assistant Principal
EDC Champions
Coach of the Year
Congratulations to Aaron Walker for being named the Eastern Conference Division (EDC) Coach of the Year in Girls' Cross Country. Walker has been the Spartans head coach for 17 years.
Tennis All Conference Player
Congratulations to Jaron Dufault! He was selected as a Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) Boys' Tennis All Conference Player. Jaron was chosen through a voting process by EDC Boys' Tennis coaches.
Soccer All Conference Player
Spartan Student Activities
#1 High School
Tree Planting Ceremony
Stay Connected!
Fargo North has several helpful links that can be found on our webpage at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/north.
You will find links for:
· Newsletters
· School Calendars
· Daily Announcements
· PowerSchool & SchoolPay Logins
· Student Handbook
· School Menus
· Daily Planner
· District Forms
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact our school office at 701-446-2400.
E-Alerts
November Schedule
Daily Period Schedule
Distance Learning Schedule
Shuttle Bus Schedule
CAP & GOWN ORDERS
Senior Transition Webinar
The North High Counseling and Career Center will be hosting a senior transition webinar on Friday, November 20 at 1:00 pm for FNH seniors and their parents/guardians. During this webinar, the counselors and career advisor will be sharing important information about pathways after high school, transcripts, scholarships, and more. Additionally, ACT scores will be reviewed, so be sure to locate your score report from the March 2020 state mandated test. ACT scores can also be found on eTranscripts. Students can access the eTranscripts information through PowerSchool.
Please join us , November 20 at 1:00 pm by visiting https://fargoschools.zoom.us/j/85060637573?pwd=UW16NDg1WmdyR2tlYjI0d0FCMWlNZz09
FOUR YEAR ACADEMIC PLANS
Parents/guardians and students can request to meet with a school counselor annually to review, discuss, and revise four-year academic plans for graduation. Families can call the North High counseling office, 446-2412, for an appointment, or students can come to the counseling office to set up a time. FPS school counselors visit classrooms several times during grades 8-12, to develop and revise academic plans. Each year at FNH, students update their 4-year plan during course registration in February.
The first visit occurs during the spring of 8th grade, when all students create their first high school four-year academic plan in the computer program called RUReadyND. After that, students are encouraged to maintain and update the data in their plans.
In February, at registration class visits, students in grades 9-11 are given the resources to count credits, rework their academic plans and establish course work for the following year. During this class visit, students meet individually with their counselors.
One final credit count and review of the academic plan is completed in the fall of 12th grade. All seniors fill out a Graduation Application document with their counselors. This document is a final academic plan, detailing how all credits will be completed before graduation in the spring. Parents/guardians and students receive copies of the form, and the original copy is held by each student’s counselor for school reference.
Whenever a student or parent/guardian initiates an inquiry about credits earned, graduation status, or course selection, counselors are eager to discuss academic planning options.
WORKKEYS TESTING
Seniors may register with Lisa Metzger in the Counseling and Career Center to take or retake the ACT WorkKeys test (internet version) at North High. Cost to students is $12.00 or more per test. If students are hoping to qualify for the ND Career and Technical Scholarship, they will need to achieve a score of at least 5 on each of the following WorkKeys tests: Workplace Documents, Applied Math, and Graphic Literacy. More information regarding the test dates will be available soon. Students will also need to meet additional requirements in order to qualify for this scholarship. Students should stop by the Counseling Center with any questions.
ATTENTION JUNIOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
On March 2, 2021, all juniors in the state of ND will be taking the ACT Plus Writing or the WorkKeys assessment. All juniors will automatically be registered for the ACT Plus Writing. Students wishing to take the WorkKeys instead must inform the counseling center by Tuesday, November 24. Information is provided below to help students decide which test to take.
In addition, counselors or principals are available to answer questions about testing. You may call the counseling center at 446-2412 or the main office at 446-2400. If your student has a case manager, it is recommended you and your student consult with them, as some students may receive accommodations or be exempt from the assessments.
Helpful Information:
· The ACT is accepted as an admissions test for almost all colleges and universities. The state mandated ACT will include the writing portion. Additional information about the ACT Plus Writing is available at www.act.org.
· The WorkKeys assessments are designed to allow students to demonstrate career readiness in the areas of Reading for Information, Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. Students who score well may also be eligible for a National Career Readiness Certificate. Additional information about the WorkKeys is available at http://www.act.org/workkeys/index.html.
· Test scores will become part of the student’s official high school transcript.
· Test scores on the ACT or WorkKeys may fulfill one requirement of the ND Academic or ND Career and Technical Education Scholarship. For information on the scholarship requirements, please visit https://www.nd.gov/dpi/parentscommunity/academic-and-cte-scholarship. According to ACT, the difficulty of obtaining scholarship qualifying scores is approximately the same for either test.
· North High recommends college bound students to take the ACT test and employment bound students to take the WorkKeys.
AP Testing Registration
Students currently enrolled in AP courses who plan to take their AP exam(s) next spring must do the following:
Register without a late fee by Friday, November 6th at 10:59 p.m. ($100/ AP exam)
Final registration with a late fee: Thursday, November 12th at 1:00 p.m. ($20 late fee/ AP exam in addition to $100/ AP exam)
There are two components to registering for the AP exam(s):
- Step one: Students log into their MY AP College Board account and verify that they will be taking the test. (The default has “yes” selected; students must change to “no” if not planning to test)
- Step two: Students must go to www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/350568 to pay for exam(s) with a credit card.
Please see Kate Evenson, School Counselor and North High AP Testing Coordinator, if you have any questions.
ACT/SAT EXAM SCHEDULE
The ACT and SAT are college entrance tests required by most 4-year colleges. Students should check with the specific school they plan to apply to for the test needed. These tests are generally taken during the latter part of a student’s junior year and during their senior year. Register on the websites for the tests at: www.actstudent.org & www.collegeboard.com.
North High is offering the ACT to Fargo Public Schools students on Saturday, December 12. Students should stop in the Counseling and Career Center to get a special code to register. Registration deadline is November 20th at 3:30 pm.
SAT EXAM SCHEDULE
North High School Code: 350-568
SAT Fee $52.00 SAT with Essay $68.00
Change Fee: $30.00
Late Registration Fee: $30.00
ZAPS ACT Prep Seminar
Attention all students planning to take an ACT this year. Learn how to prepare for the ACT by attending the Doorway to College “ZAPS ACT Prep Seminar” being held virtually. Register for the seminar at www.doorwaytocollege.com Cost is $95.
WINTER SPORTS PRACTICE DATES
The NDHSAA has outlined the starting dates for winter activities. Please check out the following information and contact the coach if you have any questions or concerns.
First Practice Schedules
- Nov 9 Boys Hockey – 4:30 p.m. outside of SpartanDome ice sessions will follow at 5:45 p.m. at the Fargo Coliseum. Coach: Tyler Klein 701-793-6469 tyklein18@yahoo.com
- Nov 9 Girls Hockey – 4:00 p.m. at Fargo Coliseum. Coach: Parker Metz – 701-412-6489 metzp@fargo.k12.nd.us
- Nov 9 Wrestling - 4:00 p.m. Wrestling Room. Parent/Athlete Meeting Thursday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. in the Spartan Dome. Coach: Bret Maughan - 701-446-2558 maughab@fargo.k12.nd.us
- Nov 16 Gymnastics - 4:30-7:30 p.m. American Gold. Parent Meeting TBD. Coach: Krystin Filip - 701-799-7573 Kyrstinfilip@gmail.com
- Nov 23 BBB - See BBB website for schedules. Coach: Ted Critchley - 446-2643 critcht@fargo.k12.nd.us
- Nov 23 GBB - Tryouts: November 23rd – 25th Parent Meeting: November 2nd 7:30 – 8:30 pm North High Theater *Due to gathering restrictions, only 1 parent per player is allowed. Players will not attend. Coach: Brian Kaluza - 446-2498 kaluzab@fargo.k12.nd.us
- Nov 30 Boys Swimming/Diving - 4:00 p.m. North Pool For students grade 7-12 Coach: Richard Fisher - 446-2459 fisherr@fargo.k12.nd.us
Boys' Basketball
The Fargo North boys’ basketball season is soon to be underway. Tryouts will begin the week of Monday, November 23. There will be four teams which consist of two 9th grade teams, one C-team, one Junior Varsity team, and one Varsity team. All players must be officially registered in order to participate and take part in the tryout process. The Boys’ basketball program has an official website located at
https://sites.google.com/fargoschools.org/northboysbasketball/home
This website indicates important days, dates, and times which also includes a checklist of items that must be completed before Monday, November 23rd. An official parent meeting will be conducted once teams are selected and established. If any further questions before that time, please contact Coach Ted Critchley at critcht@fargo.k12.nd.us
Physical & Concussion Forms
Prior to participating in NDHSAA sanctioned athletic activities (including practice), the student must have on file with the school a current NDHSAA approved physical and concussion form. Preparticipation Physical Examinations completed for the 2019-20 school year will be accepted during the 2020-21 school year upon submission of a parent and athlete signed waiver (previously known as Form B). Students who did not have a Preparticipation Physical Examinations completed for the 2019-20 school year must complete a Preparticipation Physical Examinations completed for the 2020-21 school year. The NDHSAA recently approved a new physical form for use beginning April 15, 2020. The new physical forms are available for download from the NDHSAA website.
When you completed your student’s online registration there was a question asking if your student is participating in a sport. If yes, you were directed to the required online concussion and HIPPA forms to sign electronically.
Paper copies will not be accepted.
Co-Curricular Meetings
All students planning to participate in any co-curricular activity (i.e. Athletics, Music, Drama, Speech, Debate, Student Congress, DECA, FBLA, Skills USA, etc.) and their parent/guardian should refer to and complete their co-curricular meeting online.
This meeting can be viewed online via the registration forms in each parent’s PowerSchool account. When you registered your student you were directed to view the online co-curricular meeting at that time.
If students/parents have any questions they should refer to the Student Activitiy Handbook, Student Activities Website or contact their building Activity Coordinator.
Fee Waivers
If a student is unable to participate in an activity requiring a fee, waivers or other resources are often available to assist. The typical guideline used for eligibility is qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Students are encouraged to visit with their counselor if they may qualify or need any assistance.
Lockers
Visitors to North High
Masks
The Fargo Public Schools will require all students and all staff to wear masks that adequately cover both their nose and mouth. Exceptions will be made for students with medical, behavioral, or other challenges who are unable to wear masks/face coverings.
· The Fargo Public Schools will supply one cloth mask for each student.
· Students/parents are asked to supply one additional cloth mask.
High School Meals
The days that students are not attending class in the building, meals are provided to all students at no charge. No student ID’s needed. Students should stop by door #28 (by the bus loop) after school to pick a meal up. If students are leaving early stop by the kitchen, the kitchen staff will have them ready for pick up!
Virtual Academy students who wish to receive meals are still required to fill out forms for Grab and Go Meals. These meals will be picked up at door #8 (North side on 19th Ave)
Senior Pictures
Senior pictures should be emailed to our yearbook adviser at fnhyearbook@fargoschools.org. The deadline to submit a picture is April 1st. If a senior picture is not submitted, the student’s ID will be used. The picture submitted must meet the following criteria:
Senior Picture Policy
Any senior photos submitted to the Laconian yearbook committee must meet the following regulations:
- Vertical orientation
- 300 resolution (required for digital photos)
- In accordance with the school district’s weapons policy (Policy 5355), no weapons of any kind
- Must follow school dress code with the exception of school issued uniforms
- Domesticated house pets are allowed
- Only single-subject photos
- No accessories or props condoning or promoting illegal activity
- Deadline for senior photos must be met (April 1st)
- Must be taken in the past year
Yearbook editors have the right to refuse any pictures deemed inappropriate. Students will be asked to provide another picture if requirements are not met or if the picture is inappropriate.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Sitzler Erickson @ sitzlek@fargoschools.org.
Yearbooks
Students can purchase a copy of the 2020-2021 yearbook for the low price of $50 until December 1, 2020. After that date the cost for a yearbook will increase to $60. The “Laconian” is a full-color book with memorable stories, eye-catching photos, and cutting-edge graphics and layouts. You can pay through School Pay.
Email Issue for Hotmail Users
Fargo Public Schools has received reports from some families using Hotmail accounts that they may not be receiving school and district notification emails. These reports are only coming from parents with Hotmail accounts, but not every parent with a Hotmail account is having an issue. The problem appears to be related to how Hotmail “learns” to help manage incoming email for each individual. If you have a Hotmail email address and you think you might be missing school notification messages, please follow the steps in this linked document to create a contact/people entry for the noreply@fargo.k12.nd.us email address. That process will add the email to your “safe sender” list and help make sure you see all emails from Fargo Public Schools.
Free/Low Cost Insurance
Is your child or another member of your family currently without health care coverage? If you would like information about any of the low-cost or free health coverage programs offered in your state please call toll-free: 1-877-KIDS NOW or 1-877-543-7669.
Healthy Steps insurance is for children who:
· are North Dakota residents.
· are U.S. citizens or qualified aliens.
· do not have health insurance coverage.
· are 18 years of age or younger.
· do not qualify for the North Dakota Medicaid Program.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Services
Open Door
Bus Route Schedules
Fargo Public Schools 2020-2021 “Energy Saver” bus route schedules are available on the Fargo Publics schools website www.fargo.k12.nd.us/transportation. Schedules can also be picked up in the school office.
Attendance
Students are expected to be in their classes every day, except in the case of illness, school related activities, family emergency, or religious observance. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children are in school unless a valid reason for absence exists. The Attendance Office asks that a student’s absence be reported by 9:00 a.m. If a student is not accounted for they will be recorded as truant. Please review the attendance policies found in our on-line student handbook. The Attendance Office may be reached by calling 446-2410 or 446-2411.
Detention
Does your student have detention? We have several opportunities for student’s to make up their detention.
Monday - Thursday
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
3:50 - 4:30 p.m.
Room 311
All detention needs to be served during times described above.
Students with outstanding detentions may not be able to participate in extra curricular activities until all detention has been completed. These activities include, but are not limited to: athletics, prom, plays, and school sponsored trips.
Important Contact Numbers
North High Main Office
Main Office - 446-2400
Andy Dahlen, Principal - 446-2404
Mark Blanshan, Assistant Principal - 446-2499
Travis Christensen, Asst. Prin./Activities Dir - 446-2407
Kathy Cieslak, Assistant Principal - 446-2406
Jessica Geir, Administrative Asst. - 446-2405
Della Nystrom, Bookkeeper - 446-2409
Keri VanEnk, Activities Secretary - 446-2408
ATTENDANCE OFFICE
Stacey Bush - 446-2410
Wendy Peterson - 446-2411
COUNSELING and CAREER CENTER OFFICE
Nikki Brandenburger, Registrar/Secretary - 446-2412
Terri Court (A - F) - 446-2415
Mandy Orth Gibney (G - K) - 446-2416
Janelle Stahl Ladbury (L - R) - 446-2414
Kate Evenson (S - Z) - 446-2417
Lisa Metzger - Career Advisor - 446-2413
Mary Krueger, Student Wellness & Family Facilitator - 446-2456
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
Officer Jason Abel, SRO - 446-2631
SCHOOL NURSE
Lori Thomas, School Nurse - 446-2486
ATHLETIC TRAINER
J.D. Darling - 446-2447
Jordan Wolf - 446-2447
NUTRITION SERVICES
Tammie Schaffer - 446-2517
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
- November 11 - Veteran’s Day - No School
- November 20 - Senior Transition Meeting
- November 25 - Staff Professional Development - No School
- November 26 & 27 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
- December 24 - January 3 - Winter Holiday Break - No School
- January 4 - Classes Resume
Fargo North High School
Andy Dahlen, Principal - 446-2404
Travis Christensen, Activities Director - 446-2407
Mark Blanshan, Asst. Principal - 446-2499
Kathy Cieslak, Asst. Principal - 446-2406
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/North
Location: 801 17th Avenue North, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-2400