Dakota H.S. ~ Meadowlark News
August/September 2022/2023
Dakota High School
David Burkman, Principal & EL Director
Jim Keal, Assistant Principal
Ila Hegg, Adm. Asst.
Arati Heath, Summer School & EL Adm. Asst.
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Dakota
Location: 1305 9th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-2800
Dakota High School Mission Statement
Dakota High School will provide a student-centered alternative instructional program to allow students to obtain a high school diploma and to learn skills necessary to be productive, responsible citizens.
Dakota HS is an Excellent School Choice
by David Burkman, Principal
Dakota High School. None of us have to be here. We choose to be here. Staff have left other teaching assignments and have selected/chosen to work at Dakota. Students have left their assigned boundary school to attend Dakota. We are all here by choice. Why? Because, we (staff and students) are committed to building a school atmosphere of mutual respect (respect for self and others) and personal responsibility as we provide a top-notch alternative route to earning a high school diploma. We want Dakota to be the safest, most welcoming, respectful and accepting school on planet earth… a great place to grow and belong. The Agassiz building houses numerous other FPS and community programs share in our worthy goal and vision.
Dakota had 52 graduates this past year and 46 of them participated in our formal cap and gown commencement on May 31st. This year we expect our first Dakota graduate in mid-September with many others to follow every few weeks throughout the school year. Once a student has met all graduation requirements we convene the staff and students for an informal, graduation-celebration walk which definitely serves as an inspiration for the other Dakota students and our team. You can do it!
Dakota wishes former graduates and staff the best and a healthy, bright future:
· Sheri Ernst (Math Teacher – Retired)
· Dr. Caitlin Johnson (English Teacher: MSUM Professor)
· Rod Volk (Dakota Works supervisor - Retired)
· Megan Quittenschreiber (Art Teacher – Discovery)
· Race Hoglund (Music Teacher – South HS)
· Hillary Sorenson (SSAM – returning to her previous gig)
· Ebony Sampson (Transferring to Ben Franklin as a Restorative Practices Leader)
We thank them for their contribution to the quality Woodrow/Dakota tradition.
We welcome the following new Dakota staff and look forward to their new contributions that will enhance our quality Woodrow tradition:
· Chelsea Hageman Kosel (Math Teacher)
· Loretta Wellentin (English Teacher)
· Rebecca Snell (Art Teacher)
· Kristine Stregge (Returning Guitar Teacher)
· Amy Stoa and Tyrese Mcullough (SSAMs)
It’s going to be a great year 😊 Enjoy a beautiful North Dakota Autumn season!
The First Ever High School Parent Launch Party
Save the date! We’ve partnered with Bank of North Dakota and local banks and credit unions to bring you the High School Parent Launch Party being held Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights, 3150 Sheyenne Street in West Fargo.
It will be a high-energy, fast-paced two hours of entertainment, food, great prizes and lots of answers. Whether your child is heading straight to a career, into the military or some type of education beyond high school, you don’t want to miss this free event to learn more about what your child needs to think about when it comes to money. If your child is on the education track, you’ll get answers on applying for financial aid and avoiding too much student loan debt. If they’re heading straight to the workforce or military, you will learn what they need to know about living expenses, insurance needs and saving.
Please register on Eventbrite and follow BND on Facebook to stay up to date on this and other BND events. We’ll see you then!
School Supply Drive Backpack Pickup
5225 31st Ave S
Fargo, ND 58104
Details:
- Available for K-12 students in need.
- Drive-thru Format.
- Must have completed registration forms for their home schools.
- Bring ID for each student who will be receiving supplies. (Social Security card, passport, school ID, insurance card, or report card.
- If unable to attend. contact the school district.
Tuesday, August 9, 2022: 4:40-6 pm
Wednesday, August 10. 2022: 4:30-6 pm
Thursday, August 11. 2022" 11:30-1 pm
August Registration Times and Dates
Welcome back Dakota High School Students and Parents!
With the start of a new school year fast approaching, we wanted to let you know about this year’s returning student enrollment process. (Download below contains registration dates & times in blue)
1. Registration for Classes:
Student comes in to get classes on the designated registration days. Student must have had PowerSchool forms updated (see Step 2). See the download below for those dates and times in blue. The pink is only for orientation of new students to DKHS.
2. Update Registration Forms :
All returning students need to have parents/guardians update their Parent PowerSchool accounts for the 2022-23 school year. This includes registration information such as updated address, phone numbers, health information etc... This is the account you set up when you first registered your student in Fargo Public Schools. You do not create a new account if you were here last year. If you do not remember your ID and password, please call me at 701-446-2805 to re-set them.
3. Return Checked out Laptop:
If your student still has a laptop/charger & case checked out, we need them back for updating. Your student may have delayed registration for classes until it is returned before or upon registration.
4. SchoolPay or Student Assistance Lunches Forms:
For the coming school year~ meals will return to paid-for status. The free meal waiver provided by the U.S. Agriculture Department has come to an end.
A. You may pay for your student’s meals by adding monies to your student’s SchoolPay
account. (instructions contained in school lunch article below)
Or
B. Families will need to fill out an application to qualify for Student Fees Assistance/Meals
form. Please bring to your student’s registration for early submission.
See you in August for registration!
Fargo Public Schools Breakfast & Lunch Meal Prices ~ "No Cost Waiver" has Expired for 2022-23
The USDA waivers which provided free school meals during the pandemic have expired. Starting in the fall, students will need to pay full price for school breakfast and lunch. Households may apply, on an annual basis, to qualify for either free or reduced-price school meals. The application is the Student Fees Assistance and Benefits Application (also know as the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application).
A. You may pay for your student’s meals by adding monies to your student’s SchoolPay account. (See instructions in the download below)
Or
B. Families can fill out an application to qualify for Student Fees Assistance/Meals form. These forms can be obtained at the school's main office or you can submit an application is on-line at www.EZMealApp.com. This process is preferable due to:
1. Available in multiple languages
2. Ensures the family member has completed the application accurately before being submitted. Paper applications submitted incomplete result in extra work and delays in processing the application.
3. Is immediately available to the nutrition services staff to process and issue applicable benefits to the household.
Secondary Breakfast $1.60
Secondary Lunch $2.75
Adult Staff $3.60
Extra Milk $0.40
SchoolPay for Lunch Account Instructions below
Fargo Cass Public Health ~ Vaccination Clinic
Still mandatory vaccinations ~
Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, a second dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is required for students entering eleventh or twelfth grade. This means your 11th and 12th grade student will need proof of two doses of MCV4 before returning to school in the fall.
Ideally, children should receive one dose of MCV4 when they are eleven to twelve years old and a booster dose on or after their sixteenth birthday. Please schedule with your child’s health care provider or your local public health. Please have your child receive this booster prior to the start of the school year. Also, remember to bring in the documentation of the immunization date to the school.
****The student has 30 days from enrollment to update their immunizations or their classes will be on PLACED hold.
Fargo Cass Public Health is offering a back-to-school vaccination clinic August 17 and 18. If you have a school newsletter or parent communication being distributed prior to these dates, please include the following information. Additionally, an image is attached for your use.
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Back-to-School Vaccine Clinics
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on-time childhood immunizations are essential because they help provide immunity before kids are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. As that protection wears off, teens need vaccines to extend protection. Being up-to-date with immunizations is critical in keeping kids and communities safe and healthy. Fargo Cass Public Health will hold back-to-school vaccine clinics on August 17 and 18, from 8 am – 4 pm. Fargo Cass Public Health is located at 1240 25th St S, Fargo. These are walk-in clinics, but appointments are welcome during regular immunization clinic hours and can be made by calling the Fargo Cass Public Health Clinic at 701.241.1383. Visit ForAllofUs.com for more information.
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Please see the flyer below for more information on the vaccination clinic.
Counselor's Corner
by Jennie Rude
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! We are so excited to have you working towards your high school diploma at Dakota High School! As we navigate through our current school year we need to think about how to set our year up for success. Here are a few tips to start the year off.
- Create a routine.
- As a family, talk about what your day will look like. Write down a daily schedule and stick to it!
- Set up an area in your house that can be used for studying. Think about a quiet area with fewer distractions.
- Get enough sleep! Go to bed a decent time so you can have a productive day!
- Reach out for help if you are struggling with school or life issues.
- Your school counselor, principals, teachers and staff are all here to help. We will do our best to help and connect you with any needed resources.
- The Source is our pantry at Woodrow. If you need food, we can help!
- Stay connected with friends and family.
- Connect through video calls, letters, or face-to-face meetings (keeping in mind social distancing guidelines). Quality relationships are important for our mental health!
Attendance Information
Email/call your teacher or the main office @ 446-2805 to report an absence
Good attendance and being on time are very important life skills.
# Students can earn P-R units (punctuality and reliability) towards advisory credit by having good attendance.
- 1-4 PR points (advisory units) are awarded at the completion of every class. If a student completes 12 courses in a year with great attendance, they could earn 48 advisory units (12 classes @ 4 PR points).
## Regardless of student absence/presence, each school day in session counts in the day count of course completion (25-29 day target).
### Parents (for students under 18) or students age 18/older are expected to call in a morning or full day absence by 9 a.m. and to call in an afternoon only absence by 12:30 p.m. for the absence to be excusable.
a. If a parent can’t call an absence on time, the student must call (by 9:00 and/or 12:30) and the parent must call later in the day to verify the absence.
b. Absences called in late will not be excused. Extenuating circumstances will be considered.
c. Appropriate absences will be excused when called in on time (but still will be included in day count completion):
a. Illness, funeral, medical or legal appointments, parent request, family vacation or emergency
#### A student may be dropped from a course after 3 unexcused absences.
Attendance Notification System
Dakota sends a daily, automated attendance call to report unexcused absences @ 10:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Tardiness ~~ Learn to be on-time (Punctual)
Be punctual and reliable. Earn Punctuality and Reliability Points for Advisory Credit!
Tardy (I’m late.) The student is reducing their P/R points for their class.
Tardy 10-15 Minutes: Recorded as Tardy (Tdy).
Ø The student loses access to Meadowlarks Meeting room, Library, or other out-of-class space for the rest of the class period.
Tardy Extended 16 – 70 Minutes: Recorded as tardy absence unexcused (Tdy AU)
Ø Tdy AU = half-period unexcused absence count (2 Tdy AU = 1 AU)
Ø The student loses opportunity to grab and go breakfast and access to work in Meadowlarks Meeting room, Library or other out-of-class space for the rest of the class period.
ACT Testing Dates at DKHS
The students will be sent home informational reminders and a BlackBoard call will go out before each test date as a reminder on the test times and room number.
Fargo Public School Evening Session Calendar ~ See below
Night School Format & Attendance
- FPS Night School classes are self-paced independent learning with teacher support and availability.
- Multiple courses in social studies or English meet in the same classroom and use Edmentum as a backbone to meet district and state standards. This flexible arrangement is beneficial.
· 16 Super-block class nights @ 6:00-9:00 pm
o On-campus dates are indicated in bold dates; attendance is required.
o Asynchronous virtual dates are smaller font and not bold.
o Asynchronous attendance: Students are expected to do a virtual check-in as per teacher’s expectation
· Seat time requirement: a student can complete the course after 13 class meetings
- Reporting. Power School is used for Nightly Attendance and Unit Grades and Final Grades
- Edmentum progress and can be accessed by students, counselors, and administration.
- Progress reports will be sent to your school and parents/guardian after the 4th, 8th, and 12th class.
See the download below for more information.
McKinney-Vento Act
1. Is your current address a temporary living arrangement?
2. Is this temporary living arrangement due to loss of housing or economic hardship?
If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, your child(ren) may be eligible for McKinney-Vento services.
Please call Jan at 701-446-1074
Dakota High School Accolades
Dakota students who have distinguished achievement are recognized in the DKHS Accolades program.
Criterion for a student to achieve Dakota High School Accolades:
- Must be enrolled in a minimum of 2 DKHS sessions (starting by mid to late February)
- Average a minimum of 2 course completions per session
- Average a minimum or 3 P/R points for the year
- GPA for the year at DKHS must be at least 2.8
- No unresolved ICUs or DKHS community issues
- Complete 24 credit diploma to graduate with Accolades
Graduate must have attended more than 4 sessions at DKHS.
- Advisor’s written statement(s) of recommendation
Benefits of Achieving Dakota High School Accolades:
- Accolades Recognition Breakfast for student and family guests in May. (TBD)
- Certificate/Award that represents:
- Quality Attendance
- Commendable Scholarship
- Respectful Character
C. Potential to graduate with Accolades
D. Success and a personal sense of accomplishment
E. Quality material for Job-Scholarship-College Applications
Co-Curricular Activities for DKHS Students
All Dakota High School students are welcome to join and participate in their home schools co-curricular programs (sports, music, dances etc…) which exist for the development of skills, attitudes, and self-esteem of students, and are intended to enhance the physical, social, emotional, artistic and intellectual growth of our young people. Parents are encouraged to be positive and supportive in their relationships with advisors and coaches. It is the prerogative of the advisor/coach to manage the activity in such a manner that sound human relationships are encouraged and the regulations of the North Dakota High School Activities Association are met. A team effort by parents, school officials, and the participants is needed.
FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY 2022-23
Fargo Public Schools
Dispute Resolution Policy
2022-2023
Dispute Resolution Policy
Federal and state regulations require districts to adopt procedures for receiving and resolving disputes. A complaint may include an investigation by district staff that will result in a determination of findings of facts, conclusions, and reasons for the final decision.
Any individual who believes the Fargo School District has violated the regulations or law governing the federal Title program should submit a detailed, written statement of facts supporting the allegation to:
(Manager of Specific Title program)
Fargo Public Schools
700 7th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
Fargo Public Schools Title Managers
Title I Part A (Disadvantaged Students) Jan Anderson anderja@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title II Part A (Teacher Training/Recruitment) Robert Grosz groszr@fargo.k12.nd.us
Missy Eidsness eidsnem@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title III (English Language Acquisition) David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Title IX (Discrimination/Sexual Harassment) Tamara Uselman uselmat@fargo.k12.nd.us
Section 504 (Students with Disabilities) David Burkman burkmad@fargo.k12.nd.us
Any complaint must include:
• The date;
• The name of the district, unit, or individual the complaint is against;
• The name, address, and telephone number of the person making the complaint;
• A detailed description of the complaint, including specific facts; and
• The signature of the person making the complaint.
When a complaint is filed, the appropriate Fargo Public Schools Title Manager will investigate and issue a written response within sixty (60) calendar days from the date the complaint is received.
Reconsideration
The complainant may submit a reconsideration request in writing to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, the North Dakota Division of Juvenile Services, and the U.S. Department of Education.
State Superintendent The Secretary of Education
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction U.S. Department of Education
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept 201 555 New Jersey Avenue NW
Bismarck, ND 58505-0440 Washington, D.C. 20208
North Dakota Division of Juvenile Services
100 Railroad Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501