Discovery Middle School
Newsletter - March 2023
Building a Foundation for Success!
Mrs. Amy Herrick
Grade 8
Mr. Brandon Larson
Grade 7
Mr. Hunter Reinke
Grade 6
This Month's Newsletter Features the Following:
- Yearbook Order Deadline - Friday, March 10th
- Memo from Mrs. Herrick: March Madness, 8th Grade Transitions, What Can My 8th Grader Do Now to Prepare for Their Freshman Year?
- Interested in Working with Our Awesome Students and Staff? Paraeducator Openings
- Yearbook Order Deadline - Friday, March 10th
- Canvas Support for Parents/Guardians
- Evidence Based Reporting Support for Parents/Guardians
- Attendance Affirmations with Mr. Israel
- Discovery Online School Store
- Athletics and Activities Update from Mr. Larson
- Mr. Reinke's Realm - Self Awareness
- Restorative Practices News from Jennifer Tackling
- Counseling Corner
- Mr. Ford's Focus: Bus Riding Expecatations
- Nursing Corner: Recommendations for Safe Backpack Use
- SRO Corner with Officer Noll: Information About Driver's License Manuals
- Upcoming Events
- March Letter Day Calendar
- Discovery PTA
- Discovery Library
- Entry to Building - Raptor Visitor Management System Information
- Parent/Family Accommodations
- Parent/Family Communication
- Family Healthcare
- Liz's Closet
- Written Notification of School Accountability Report
DEADLINE for ORDERING A YEARBOOK is FRIDAY, MARCH 10th!
Memo from Mrs. Herrick: March Madness...assessments, registration and transitions...oh my!
March Madness is here! It is the time at Discovery that things really start amping up in preparation for the end of the school year and also for the next school year. Admin and counselors are working hard to transition our incoming sixth grade class already by visiting the feeder elementary schools (Centennial, Ed Clapp, Bennett, and Eagles) to share information about middle school expecatations and get the fifth graders registered for their sixth grade year. Fifth graders have attended the Discovery Middle School Music experience, had instrument fittings at Discovery during conferences and will soon be sent invites to the Future Eagles Expo. The future Eagles Expo allows incoming sixth graders and their families to attend an evening event at Discovery so they get a chance to tour the building.
But what about our current eigth graders? They are going through a big transition also, the transition from middle to high school. The transition to high school is incredibly important and below is a list of events that occur during the school year to best prepare our eighth grade students to "fly the nest" of Discovery to high school.
Just a reminder: The current eighth grade principal is Mrs. Amy Herrick and the current eighth grade counselor is Bridgett McMinn.
8th Grade Transition: Our Eagles are getting ready to "fly the nest" of Discovery!
Team Talks
When: Quarterly at Discovery
What: Admin, counselor, Student Resource Officer do quarterly touch-points meetings with each team during advisory time. The topics always include: Guidelines for Success, Social/Emotional Learning, and Portrait of an ND Graduate. These talks also are tailored to the specific teams in the areas of celebration and areas of opportunity. In early January, the high school principals come to Discovery to address our 8th graders during an all grade team talk in the gym.
Who: 8th Grade Level Principal
Davies/South Counselor Visit to Discovery:
When: First Week of January
What: The Davies/South counselors will go through the classes students have to take, program of studies, graduation requirements. Students are given a freshman registration card and Program of Studies book. The Davies/South counselors will do follow-ups with any students who have registration conflicts.
Questions: Please call the 8th grade counselor if you have any questions.
Davies/South Course Fair
When: Early January
What: There will be an introductory program by Mr. Cody (Davies) and Dr. Bertsch (South) for families in the auditorium. This will be followed by an open house with athletics/activities informational booths in the gyms.
Questions: Please call the Davies or South High Main Offices.
8th grade Discovery Student Conferences
When: Begin January 13th-beginning of March
What: These conferences are scheduled with our Discovery counselors and are to review each 8th graders academic progress in middle school as well as to register for high school classes. Students meet with a counselor one-on-one to review their registration card and address any high school questions or concerns.
Questions: Please call your student’s counselor if you have additional questions.
MAP Testing
When: End of January
What: The MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) These tests assess the student’s math and reading skills. From the test results, Discovery counselors and administration, along with Fargo Davies/ and Fargo South counselors and administration, will review the student’s MAP scores to help determine his/her reading and math academic needs for his/her 9th grade year.
High School 8th Grade Tours
When: Second Semester
What: Students slated to go to South (January) and students slated to go to Davies (March)
Students will visit their respective high schools during the course of a school day. They will have question/answer time with current high school students about what to expect in their freshman year and tour the building while classes are in session to get a better understanding of what high school life will be like.
Questions: Please contact the 8th grade level principal.
US Citizenship Test
When: All year long
What: Students in 8th grade American History prepare for and take a US citizenship test that is a graduation requirement. The goal is to have the majority of our 8th graders passing this test by the end of the school year so they don’t need to worry about it when they get to high school. Students are able to retake the test to get a passing score.
Questions: Please contact the 8th grade American History teachers
8th Grade Celebration
When: Last day of school with students
What: This is a celebration of the 8th grade students’ time as learners at Discovery Middle School. Students and immediate family members gather in the gym to hear speakers and a send-off message from administration as they transition to high school. This will correspond with an all-school clap-out, where the rest of the Discovery student body and staff clap the 8th grade students out of the building as they leave for the summer. Information will be sent at the beginning of May with details to our 8th grade families.
Questions: Please contact the 8th grade level principal.
What Can My Future High Schooler Do Now To Prepare for Their Freshman Year?
At each grade level we have quarterly team talks, as principals we meet with each of our grade level teams and go over important issues that we want to reinforce with our students. These happen during the advisory period so students don’t miss their academic classes. Grade level team talks always address and reinforce the Guidelines for Success, Social/Emotional Learning Competencies and areas of celebration and areas of growth. For our 8th graders, we start the year off introducing them to the North Dakota Portrait of A Graduate and add the alignment of the following: Critical Thinking, Empathy, Learner’s Mindset, Communication and Adaptability. As you can imagine, the addition of the North Dakota Portrait of a Graduate aligns nicely with what we have been addressing with the Guidelines for Success and Social Emotional Competencies in the 6th and 7th grades.
The Davies and South High School assistant principals joined us right after semester 1 for a team talk to reinforce what students can do to prepare themselves for the transition to high school. Our 8th graders prepared questions ahead of time and the high school assistant principals tailored their presentation to address the student questions. The high school principals addressed directly what our students should be or should start doing NOW to prepare for the transition..
As we continue the year, the team talks will continue to focus on the transition to high school. So what specifically can students do now to prepare themselves as future freshmen before they leave Discovery? As parents/guardians, your involvement in this transition is incredibly important also. Please help to reinforce the topics to prepare your child for this important transition that were shared by the high school principals. Parents and guardians should be there to help the student as the student increases responsibility of taking ownership of their education, building confidence, and increasing their independence.
Students should create a routine for time management so that they can find balance to get school work done, accommodate schedules for any work or activities that they may participate in and also allow for down time to recharge each day. Finding and maintaining balance is an important skill to have as students prepare for the increased demands of high school academics and activities.
Students should find an organizational system that works. What works for one person might not work for another and it needs to be a system that is sustainable and manageable.
Students should be a self advocate. Students should be able to identify and seek out resources and ask for help from those resources, such as their teacher, counselor, etc when they need it or if something is unclear.
Students should work on personal responsibility by checking their calendars, Canvas, and PowerSchool daily to stay on top of their assignments and grades.
Discovery Maker Space
Water Works Author Visit to Mrs. Kerr's Classroom
Sawyer is a 13-year-old local author who wrote the book Water Works. Her book illustrates the challenges many African villagers face in procuring clean water. Mrs. Kerr's class supported this amazing cause to help provide safe clean drinking water to children and families in south-central Africa. Each student was sponsored by a person from the community and will receive a book signed by Sawyer. She will gave a 20-minute presentation and reading an excerpt from her book Water Works.We had an amazing presentation today with Sawyer. Our end total ended up being $800 dollars that my class raised for water works. For giving hearts day they have multiple businesses doubling and tripling that, so it'll be in the thousands.
Discovery Band Visits Davies
PARAEDUCATOR OPENINGS
If you have ever been interested in working in the educational environment, have a passion for working with students, and build great relationships with an amazing team, please apply. HERE
YEARBOOK ORDER DEADLINE - Friday March 10th
The deadline for ordering a yearbook is Friday, March 10th. 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. If you are unsure if you purchased a yearbook, you can call the Main Office at 446-3300 or have your student stop in to check if one was purchased.
Canvas Support For Parents/Guardians
Pairing Parent/Guardian Account with Students
The links on the web have been updated to be clearer. The links are found at the Canvas Login Screen (fargo.instructure.com) – See picture below.
This is a direct link to the Pairing Parent/Guardian Account with Students. Click on the link to see the process for the parents to follow. Students must provide the code to the parent. You might want a few copies of this available at conferences.
Evidence Based Reporting Support for Parents/Guardians
One Team. One Family. We are Discovery.
South and Davies Principal Visit
Fifth Grade Music Experience
Attendance Affirmations with Mr. Israel
Good day Discovery Family,
As we move further into the semester, there have been multiple questions coming to my office regarding attendance letters, so I want to write and clarify some points on the attendance letters and the purpose they serve.
Fargo Public Schools has attendance tiers in place as a way to identify students that are missing a good portion of school. There are 3 attendance tiers which help us determine the severity that your student's attendance may have on their academic, mental, and social wellbeing.
- Tier 1 is when a student misses 9 school days. When a family receives a tier 1 letter, the intent is more a notification of the amount your student has missed. We want to make sure that families are familiar with their student's academic success, and attendance plays a large role in that.
- Tier 2 is when a student misses 13 school days. Once a student reaches tier 2, the school may start requesting further information if you are excusing your student, as we want to make sure we are informed of how we can support the student and the family. If a student reaches tier 2, a Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) trifold will be enclosed. This is to provide information of what SARB is and how it functions.
- Tier 3 is when a student misses 18 school days. If your student reaches tier 3, the school will be able to make a SARB referral, but a student reaching tier 3 is not an automatic referral to SARB. We look at the reasons as to why the student has been gone for those days and can make a better determination of the need for SARB referral.
With all this being said, one point I have made to parents who have called and asked about various attendance tiers is that we look at reasons for a student being absent in different lenses. If your student is going to appointments, on family trips, or just feeling under the weather, we look at that much different than if the parent is refusing to bring their student to school, if the student is refusing to come to school or class, or if we are not notified why a student is not in school. As a spoiler for next month, I will be clarifying the importance of sharing details of your student's absence, as we use a plethora of codes to label your student's attendance. Look to that in our April newsletter!
As the attendance clerk for Discovery, I want to make sure that families all know that I am more than willing to hear out questions or concerns about your student's attendance, so please never hesitate to email me at dmattendance@fargo.k12.nd.us or call me at 701-446-3310. Hope you all have a great day!
Discovery Online School Store
Athletics & Activities Corner with Mr. Larson
6th Grade Boys & Girls basketball started on Feb. 27th. See the practice & game schedule HERE.
Track Season is right around the corner! 7th & 8th grade track will begin on April 3rd. 6th grade track is set to begin on April 24th. We've started passing out some informational flyers, but more information will be coming soon!
Check out the Discovery Activities calendar to see specific dates for games, concerts, performances, and meets. Did you know that you can view & download specific calendars for each team & concert? Just click on the “View Schedules” tab, then click on the schedules you want to view.
Discovery Activities are on Youtube! Just search for Discovery Middle School Activities. We will try to stream home games, concerts, and meets. The videos will be found under the “Live” tab on our page. Subscribe to be notified for when we go live!
Clubs
Chess Club: Every Wednesday in the library at 8:10am.
The Morning Club: Every morning at 8:10 in Mrs. Stinar's room. Quiet morning space with arts & crafts & journaling.
Art Club: Meets weekly after-school. Contact Mrs. Quittschreiber (art teacher) for more information.
Get Your Game on Club: Mornings in the Library, see Mrs. Donat for more information.
Library Leaders Club: Mornings in the Library, see Mrs. Donat for more information.
Student Leadership: Please contact Mr. Napton, Mrs. Spellerberg, or Mrs. Ferderer if interested.
Drama Club: Meets every-other Monday afterschool from 3:40 - 4:20 in the Creative Dramatics classroom.
Stomp & Shake Cheer Club: Informational meeting on Monday, Feb. 6th, after school in the multi-purpose room. Meeting will only last about 5 minutes.
Video Game Club: Meets in the mornings in Mr. Krieger's classroom.
Mr. Reinke's Realm
We hope this message finds you well as we head into March. Although it may not feel like it yet (especially on our recent snow day), in just 20 days, Spring will officially be upon us. While the arrival of Spring may look different depending on where you live, it is a time that symbolizes rebirth and the victory of light over darkness in many cultures around the world.
As we witness the growth of outdoor vegetation during this season, we also see our middle school students developing in a variety of ways - physically, cognitively, and socially-emotionally. One of the competencies outlined in CASEL's Social and Emotional Learning model that we have observed in our students is Self Awareness. This will be the final competency we cover in this model.
Self Awareness, as defined by CASEL, is the ability to understand one's emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across different situations. It also involves recognizing one's strengths and limitations, which can foster a sense of confidence and purpose. As our students navigate their three years in middle school, they will experience a wide range of emotions, and it is our job as parents and educators to support them in identifying and managing these emotions.
Another key competency is displaying honesty and integrity. Encouraging students to be truthful and ethical in their interactions with others can help them build positive relationships and establish a foundation of trust in their personal and professional lives.
Reflecting on biases is another important competency, particularly in today's diverse society. By examining their own biases and beliefs, students can develop a greater understanding and appreciation of other cultures and backgrounds.
Cultivating self-confidence is essential for students to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. By building their self-esteem and self-worth, students can better cope with the challenges and setbacks they may face in life.
Embracing a growth mindset is another important competency in the Social and Emotional Learning model. Encouraging students to view their abilities and intelligence as flexible and capable of growth can help them become more resilient and adaptable in the face of challenges.
Finally, nurturing passions and a sense of direction is crucial for helping students develop a purpose and direction in their lives. By encouraging students to explore their interests and find meaning in their pursuits, we can help them become more engaged and motivated in their academic and personal lives.
By focusing on these competencies in our educational approach, we can help our students develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in all aspects of their lives. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Go Eagles!
Restorative Practices News from Jennifer Tackling:
Truant In School and Emotions: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
The evidence is clear that consistent attendance in school is a predictor of student success. Students who arrive at school each day are already making a great choice. However, the work doesn’t end when they enter the building. Students must walk their schedule, arrive in class on time, and have their materials needed to be successful in each class. This is easier said than done. Between challenging home and life situations, conflicts with others at school and on social media, and a student’s feelings about their own social and academic abilities, emotions can weigh heavy and put the student in a state of “fight or flight”. Students may refuse a reasonable request from a teacher, some may talk back to a substitute or paraprofessional, others may shut down and stop working, and still others may leave class without telling an adult. When a student leaves a teacher’s room without returning or telling the teacher where they are going, a full-scale response is initiated from teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff as we search and account for that student and their safety.
So what should a student do if emotions are becoming so overwhelming that they feel out of control?
- Tell the teacher/adult in the room privately how you are feeling. Example: I feel mad right now and can’t sit still.
- Student and Teacher come up with a strategy: would a drink of water help? Working in the team center for 10 minutes? A new seat assignment? Standing instead of sitting?
- Ask to see your “safe” person: every student should have a safe person in the building that they have a good relationship with such as a counselor, case manager, principal, or support staff (like me, your restorative staff!)
- WAIT for the teacher to email or call your safe person to confirm they are available to see you.
- Need a break? With teacher permission, take a break that has a clear beginning and an end so you can go back to class once you are calm.
These steps ensure that we can keep all students accounted for and safe in the building each day, while respecting that sometimes emotions run high and students need extra support strategies. If a student leaves class and does not return, they are counted as “Truant In School” which means the student is in the school but not in class. The consequence for Truant In School is after-school detention. Encourage your student to communicate with the adult in the classroom when their emotions are overwhelming. We are all here to help!
Counseling Corner
This past month, our Discovery School Counselors have been working on registration for the 2023-2024 school year. We have visited our current 6th and 7th graders teams to talk about registration and are in the process of registering them for next year’s classes. We have also 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 the next school 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 grade level school counselor.
Mr. Napton, 6th Grade – 446-3314
Mr. Snowden, 7th Grade – 446-3313
Mrs. McMinn, 8th Grade – 446-3312
Mrs. Ferderer, Lead Counselor – 446-3318
Mr. Ford's Focus - Bus Riding Expectations
Fargo Public Schools provides buses running a system of routes to allow students an opportunity to receive transportation to and from school every day. It is a privilege for students to use this transportation and there are behavioral expectations that they are expected to meet. They fall in line with our Guidelines for Success – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Have a Growth Mindset. Students are expected to remain seated and keep their hands to themselves. Students are expected to use appropriate language and are not allowed to yell. We hope students are expanding their social and emotional development as they engage with their peers as this is an excellent time to connect and laugh with friends. Again, we expect students to follow the Guidelines for Success, the same way they do in Discovery Middle School. The buses are also equipped with cameras at the front and back of the bus that are recording both video and audio on the routes. Anytime there is an issue on the bus, the driver will fill out a behavioral report and submit it to the school, along with footage of the incident. One of my responsibilities is to review the behavior reports, watch the video recording, and discuss the incident with the student. In many instances, the behavior is something that is not safe and/or responsible, or language is used that is inappropriate and/or not respectful. If a student uses inappropriate language or engages in behavior that is unsafe for them or their peers, they can have their privilege of riding the bus suspended. The range of the suspension will be predicated on the severity of the behavior or language. When a student’s privilege of riding the bus is suspended, one of the administrative staff members (usually me) will be reaching out to discuss the incident and let the parents/guardians know the length of the suspension. We understand the strain that can be placed on a family when a suspension happens. We want to support all our students and set them up for success as they navigate their journey through Fargo Public Schools. We also understand the importance of having the students in the building and that suspending bus riding privileges can make this difficult for families. With a unified message coming from both school and home regarding behavioral expectations, hopefully we can minimize the number of bus suspensions and give all students the best opportunity to be in the building to learn and grow.
NURSES’ CORNER: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFE BACKPACK USE
Increasing numbers of children are developing pain in their back, neck, and shoulder area or having headaches, which may be precipitated by the increased use of backpacks. The physical problems often arise because students are choosing poorly constructed backpacks, wearing them improperly and carry more than the recommended weight for their body size.
Safe backpack use
- Match the size of the backpack to the size of the student; making sure it is not too long or short.
- Chose a lightweight style that has two wide padded shoulders, waist strap and padded back.
- Use both shoulder straps.
- Bend at the knees and use your legs to lift the backpack one shoulder strap at a time.
- Tighten the straps so that the backpack is close to the body.
- Distribute the weight of objects evenly within the backpack, and do not carry more than 15% of body weight.
- Utilize all compartments and pack the heaviest objects close to the back with the center of gravity near the pelvis.
- Lighten the load whenever possible.
For further information please contact your school nurse.
MEDICATION IN SCHOOL
If your student should need to take a prescription or non-prescription medication at school, Form AF6720-A must be filled out in it's entirety, signed by you and your doctor, and brought to the nurse. The medication bottle for school must be labeled , including student’s date of birth. If student will self-administer, in the case of an inhaler, please fill out form AF-6720-F. You should be able to get these forms off the FPS website under registration, or at your doctor’s office.
You can reach the nurse @ 701-446-3319 or by email: djhnurse@fargo.k12.nd.us.
SRO Corner with Andrea Noll
As the second semester continues, more and more of our 8th grade students turn 14 and have the opportunity to take drivers education courses. If your student is interested in driving and want to learn the rules of the road, I have free ND DOT Non-commercial Driver’s License manuals available. Manuals are available both in the SRO office as well as Student Services. Please remember that new drivers learn by example, wear your seat belt, obey traffic laws, and never text while driving! If you or your student have any questions please feel free to contact me.
MARCH LETTER DAY CALENDAR
Please see below for the March Letter Day Calendar or check out our Discovery website.
Our bell schedules and calendars are always posted on our Discovery website.
Discovery PTA
Wow, the year is moving quickly, and the PTA is keeping up and looking ahead!
Are you and your child participating in the library’s Bonding Over Books program? The PTA is happy to support this fun program by providing funding to make it a success.
We have three remaining meetings for this school year. Join us on Monday evenings (March 27, April 24 and May 22) at 6:30 p.m. Use the Gymnasium entrance. We would love to see you at an upcoming meeting. Those attending get an update on what the PTA is doing, hear from a member of the Admin team and have the opportunity to weigh in on decisions and funding opportunities to benefit Discovery teacher and students. You don’t have to be a member to attend so please think about using an hour of your time to make Discovery even better than it already is!
The executive board has open positions for next school year. Are you able to share your time and talent in one of the board positions? Let us know! We also need to fill a few chairperson roles for next year. The time commitment is small but the reward of knowing you are making a difference for our students and teachers is priceless. We would love to have you join the fun!
There is still time to join! Membership is only $15 for the entire school year and includes membership into the North Dakota PTA as well. Funds raised help us support student activities that might not otherwise be possible, grants for teachers and much more. Your support makes a real difference at Discovery Middle School!
If you want to learn more about the PTA or you have questions, check us out on Facebook by searching for Discovery Middle School PTA-Fargo and join our private group. You can also email DiscoveryPTAPresident@gmail.com.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LIBRARY!
Bonding over Books: A Reading Program for Students and Families
There are lots of ways to bond with people; reading is one of them! Bonding over Books is the next reading program at Discovery, and this time adult family members or friends can participate, too! This reading program gives you the opportunity to read and experience the same book as your Discovery student. Students may choose to read with a parent, guardian, adult sibling, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, teacher, or family friend. When both the student and the adult reading partner finish the book, the Discovery student comes to the library to shop in our old-fashioned candy shop to select treats for both participants to enjoy while talking about the book. We will even supply the book discussion questions!
This program is sponsored by the Discovery Library, our generous PTA, and Fargo’s own Sweet Dreams Confections. Students can sign up and check out two of the same books in the library starting Monday, February 6. The program ends March 24.
Click here on the Bonding over Books Flier for more information about this reading incentive program.
Babysitting Bags of Books - Check out yours today!
6th Grade FACS classes learned about the benefits of reading aloud
to kids, read-aloud techniques, and even got a chance to practice by reading E for Everyone picture books to each other.
Babysitting Bags of E for Everyone picture books for Pre-K through elementary age are available for checkout in the library. These books can be checked out for the purpose of reading to younger siblings as well!
Sora eMagazines are Here!
In addition to eBooks and audiobooks, Sora now has electronic magazines that cover a variety of topics. Sora is located in Middle School Resources (on Canvas dashboard). Students access Sora with their lunch number and normal password. Remember, students can download the app on mobile devices for free access there as well!
Earbuds
Please ensure your child has earbuds or headphones in school, as many audio options are available and utilized for learning.
Charge and Restart PLDs
- Please help your student remember to charge the device every night, so it is ready to use during the day. Bringing the charging cord to school is a good idea as well.
- In addition, ask your student to shut the device down each night. This is especially important as we move back and forth from school to home.
Handle PLD’s Safely: Helpful Tips
Discuss with your student the importance of carrying the PLD by the base rather than by the screen. Screens can break from the pressure when carried only by the screen.
Screen Time
Parents, you may be feeling like your child has too much screen time. Here are some articles from Common Sense Media that may be helpful:
4 Conversations to Have with Older Kids and Teens about Their Screen Time Habits
How Can I Help My Kids Develop Good Screen Time Habits?
ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Fargo Public Schools is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and staff. Part of keeping students and staff safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do so. The Raptor system will allow us to better screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools to provide us with a safe environment for our students and staff.
Upon entering the school building, visitors will be asked to present an ID, such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. Once entry into the building is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of their visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
A video overview of our pilot and how the system works is available at: https://youtu.be/8qwHwTmp-80
PARENT/FAMILY ACCOMODATIONS
Family support is so important for your child’s success at Discovery. If parents or other family members need accommodations to participate and attend any school function at Discovery, please contact the school office two to three business days prior to the event. Every effort will be made to meet your needs.
PARENTAL/FAMILY COMMUNICATION
Communicating with parents and families is always our goal at Discovery Middle School.
You may subscribe to Discovery’ Newsletter and Daily Announcements on our website by going to “Content E-Alerts” on Discovery’s website. Parents/guardians can sign up to receive alerts about new Daily Announcements, Newsletters, etc., for each school your students attend. E-Alerts are sent to users who have subscribed to a homepage or website section of interest. You will receive an email notification that content has been modified.
You may also want to add our school calendar to your personal calendar. This will help you stay informed about all the activities that are happening at Discovery.
Our school supply list, our student handbook, a link to PowerSchool, PTA information, and several other useful links are also available on our website.
Liz’s Closet
A Discreet, Free Resource for Discovery Students in Need
What: Discovery strives as a team to meet the needs of all students as part of our mission to build a foundation for success. Liz’s Closet, a free resource at Discovery, aligns with this mission by providing students in need with items such as clothing, hygiene products, non-perishable food items, etc.
At Discovery, we hope to provide developmentally appropriate support to students in need by offering a means to obtain basic food and hygiene products in a discreet manner. Students utilizing Liz’s Closet will have access to reusable bags, so items are less visible as students are leaving the building.
Where: Liz’s Closet will be located in Student Services. The room being used as “Liz’s Closet” will be accessible through a trusted adult in the building (teachers, counselors, administrators, paraprofessionals, designated staff).
Who: Any student in need of these items is welcome to take what he/she needs with the help of a trusted adult.
How: Although students are welcome to directly ask a trusted adult at Discovery to use Liz’s Closet, to maintain privacy as best as possible, a student can simply draw a star on a sheet of paper and bring it to a trusted adult. The adult will then instruct the student as to when he/she can go to Student Services to collect what is needed. If this adult does not have a time that works for him/her, the adult will notify the appropriate counselor or Student Services staff member to be expecting this student sometime within the school day. Once in Student Services, the student will be escorted to the closet and can take what is needed.
If you know of anyone who may need to utilize this resource, please do not hesitate to contact a Discovery counselor or administrator. Additionally, if you would like to donate shelf-stable food, school supplies, or hygiene products to Liz’s Closet, please contact Taylor Ferderer (school counselor) at 446-3318.
Written Notification of School Accountability Report
Dear Parent/Guardian,
North Dakota has launched a dashboard called “Insights,” designed to help communities across the state access important information about K-12 districts and schools. Insights features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success, including:
- Student Achievement
- Choice Ready Results
- Performance Comparisons
- English Learner Progress
- Graduation Rates
- School and State Accountability Results
- School Improvement Information
- Post-Secondary Education
- School Environment
Transparency to the Public
North Dakota is committed to informing communities about how well our schools are doing. North Dakota’s future success depends on tapping into the potential of all students, so they graduate choice ready with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to be successful.
State education departments are required to annually create an accountability report for every public school in the state per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The school accountability reports outline how schools perform on the accountability elements North Dakota selected within its ESSA plan.
How is our School Doing?
To find more information about our School Accountability Report, visit the dashboard at Insights.nd.gov, select “Find My School,” and search alphabetically. The school accountability report is posted under the Dashboard heading.
Please note that the data made available to the public masks or hides data for groups with ten or fewer students to protect confidential information about individual students. Therefore, if data is unavailable to less than ten students, it will say “no data available.”
Family Engagement
We have strong plans for working to improve the educational programs at our school. We want you and your child(ren) to continue actively participating in our educational system. Please help support our high expectations for student achievement by participating in the school educational initiatives, offering input and support in our endeavors to raise student achievement, or volunteering at the school. Meeting our school’s goals will take a united effort, and I look forward to working with our families to ensure success for each student.
Continuous Improvement
All schools engage in continuous improvement for general support; therefore, our school has completed a continuous improvement plan through Cognia.
As part of the overall school improvement plan, a strategy map is generated for each school. Our strategy map, outlining our key school improvement initiatives, is also available on Insights.
If you have any questions regarding the information in the memorandum, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Amy Herrick
(she, her, hers)
Discovery Middle School Principal
701.446.3304
Discovery Middle School
Brandon Larson, Assistant Principal/Activities Coordinator
Hunter Reinke, Assistant Principal
Joe Ford, Administrative Intern
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/discovery
Location: 1717 40th Avenue South, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3300