Liberty Updates

801 36th Ave E

West Fargo, ND 58078

Phone: 701-356-2671

Fax: 701-499-9229

Principal: Mr. Sam Johnson SAMJOHNSON@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Assistant Principal: Mr. Steven Hay SHAY@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Assistant Principal/Activities Director: Mrs. Erin Tarver ETARVER@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Dean of Students: Mr. Mark Adamson MADAMSON@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

School Email: liberty@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

School Hours 8:40am to 3:40pm

LMS Families,

This is a reminder around our new safety protocol for learners transporting themselves to school via bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. Learners must walk their devices upon entering the red zones listed on the attached photo. Thank you for having this conversation with your learner as a reminder!

-LMS Administration

The next Liberty Parent Engagement Group meeting will be October 14th at 5:45 pm. If you would like to sign up to help with Conference Meals, please scan the QR code below.

As a reminder, learners are asked to have corded headphones (standard headphone jack) for school. Please check with your learner(s) to ensure they have some. Thank you!

To help limit classroom interruptions and keep learning our top priority, please follow these steps when your student needs to leave school early:

1. Notify the School:
   A parent or guardian should contact the school to report the upcoming absence. This can be done up to one month in advance but no later than one hour before check-out time.
2. Office Creates an e-Hallpass:
   To reduce interruptions, office staff will create an e-hallpass for your student and their teacher for the time you requested.
3. Students & Teachers Check Passes Daily:
   Students and teachers are responsible for checking e-hallpasses each morning so they don’t miss their pass when it’s time to leave.
4. Parent Arrival:
   Pull up to the front of the school at the time of your student’s pass.
5. Student Check-Out:
   Your student will check out in the office and then come directly to your car — no need to come inside! Note:If your student doesn’t arrive within 3–5 minutes of the scheduled time, please call the office and we’ll call your student down.

We know this system isn’t perfect, but with over 1,200 students coming and going each day, it helps keep classroom disruptions to a minimum. We understand emergencies happen — just please remember, not every day is an emergency!

Thank you for helping us make sure learning stays the focus.

LMS Families,

We have recently observed an increase in the number of blue lunchroom seating discs being damaged as a result of inappropriate student behavior. We kindly ask that you speak with your child about the importance of remaining seated appropriately and treating school property with care during lunch periods.

Due to the growing number of damaged discs, families may be held financially responsible for replacement costs when damage is determined to be the result of student behavior. The cost to replace a disc is $125.

Thank you for your partnership and support in reinforcing positive behavior expectations with your child. Your proactive involvement is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Liberty Middle School Administration

October 15: Professional Learning, No School

October 16: No School

October 30: End of Quarter 1

November 11: Veteran's Day Observation, No School

November 12: Picture Retakes

November 25-27: No School

December 23-January 3: Winter Break, No School

January 15: End of Quarter 2

January 18: Professional Learning, No School

February 15: No School

March 11: Professional Learning, No School

March 12: No School

March 19: End of Quarter 3

March 26: No School

March 29: Potential Snow Make Up Day

May 27: Last Day of School

Source: Impostor Alert, Labubu from the News Literacy Project

This week’s Advisory focus and how you can support:

Grade 6 --> In this week’s lesson, your child will analyze how strong emotions can influence their decision-making abilities, as well as how those decisions can affect their relationships.

**How you can support**: Ask your child what sorts of things trigger strong emotions in them. Ask them how you can show support when those things happen.

Grade 7 --> In this week’s lesson, your child will distinguish between helpful thoughts, which are thoughts that can help them make good decisions, and unhelpful thoughts, which are thoughts that can lead to negative decisions.

**How you can support**: Tell your child about a helpful thought you recently had and the decision you made because of it. Ask them to share a helpful thought they had as well. If they can’t think of anything, point out something positive they did recently and help them identify the thought that went along with it.

Grade 8 --> In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to reframe stressful situations as opportunities for growth.

**How you can support**: Tell your child about a stressful situation you were recently in and how you were able to use that stress to improve yourself or the situation. Ask your child if they have any stressors in their life that they need help with.

Salvation Army Thanksgiving Food Box Sign Up Deadline 10/16. See poster below for more information.

Registration closes on October 5th-sign up if you need winter gear!

https://uscsalvationarmy.wufoo.com/forms/zeu3ok51g9trs2/

Free and Reduced School lunch applications need to be filled out every year. Please fill out your application on the District’s website here.

If your family needs extra support or community resources, please fill out this Family Support Form so Liberty’s School Social Worker can reach out to you.

Registration is now open for Winter Activities at Liberty Middle School!

📅 WINTER ACTIVITY START DATES

🏀 Girls Basketball | Grades 7–8 — October 19
💪 Form & Fitness – Session 1 | Grades 7–8 — October 26
🤼 Boys Wrestling | Grades 7–8 — November 9
🤼‍♀️ Girls Wrestling | Grades 7–12 — November 9
🏊‍♂️ Boys Swim & Dive | Grades 7–12 — November 30
💪 Form & Fitness – Session 2 | Grades 7–8 — January 4
🏀 Boys Basketball | Grades 7–8 — January 4

📝 LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITY REGISTRATION

To register your student for activities:

1. Visit the Liberty Middle School website.

2. Click Programs, then Activities.

3. On the Activities page, click the blue Registration button to access our registration system through Arbiter Registration.

🆕 NEW TO ARBITER REGISTRATION?

1. Create an Arbiter Registration account. You only need one account for your whole family.

2. Activate your account using the activation link sent to your email.

3. Click Accept Invitation in the email and search for Liberty Middle School under Find Programs.

4. Select the appropriate program Liberty Middle School 2026–2027 XXXXXX Activity Registration program.

5. Complete the registration form for your student.

✅ ALREADY HAVE AN ARBITER REGISTRATION ACCOUNT?

1. Log in to your existing Arbiter Registration account.

2. Search for Liberty Middle School under Find Programs.

3. Select the appropriate program Liberty Middle School 2026–2027 XXXXXX Activity Registration program.

4. Complete the registration form for your student.

⚠️ 7–12 ACTIVITIES

If your student is participating in a 7–12 activity through Sheyenne High School, they still need to complete the registration steps above so they are registered as a Liberty Middle School student.

If your student is participating in any of the following Liberty clubs or organizations, please make sure they are registered:

➗ Math Club
🔴 FCCLA
📣 Student Council

🎷 Jazz Band

🎤 Show Choir
🎻 Chamber Orchestra

Students in these clubs should be registered using the same Arbiter Registration instructions listed above.

Even if your student has already started attending a club, please take a moment to make sure their registration has been completed.

Work on skills like time management, making friends, and coping strategies for when emotions get high. We will meet every Wednesday for 12 weeks at Liberty from 4-6. For more information or to sign up, email Mrs. Tarver at etarver@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Outside food and beverages (e.g., McDonald's, Crumbl, Starbucks, Circle K, Door Dash etc.) are not permitted.

Please remind your student that any such items brought to school will be discarded. We appreciate your cooperation and support in helping us maintain a safe and clean learning environment.

Additionally, food and drinks are not allowed in the hallways at any time.

Families, please note, effective immediately, learners will not be allowed to have cell phones on any school field trips taking place during school hours. This procedure helps learners stay engaged, present, and focused on the learning experience. Staff will have access to phones for any necessary communication or emergencies. Thank you for your understanding and support!

To be in compliance with the new state law, Senate Bill 2354, Liberty Middle School (LMS) will be implementing a restrictive personal device policy during the school day. This law requires all ND school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during instructional hours. In addition to cell phones, it will also include smartwatches, Bluetooth headphones, tablets, and laptops, etc. At Liberty, this restriction will be in effect from the moment learners walk in the front door until the last bell at 3:40 p.m.

Beginning the 2025-2026 school year, LMS rules regarding personal device usage (cell phone, Bluetooth headphones, smartwatch, personal laptop, etc.) will be as follows:

• Cell phones, Bluetooth headphones, smart watches, and all other personal devices that can send and receive messages and/or access the internet are OUT-OF-SIGHT and OUT-OF-USE from the moment a learner enters the building until 3:40 p.m. Doors to LMS open every school day at 8:05 a.m.
• Devices CANNOT be kept on the learners (in a pocket, etc.). They must, at a bare minimum, be kept in a CLOSED backpack pocket.
• Devices CANNOT be utilized or checked upon entrance of the building, during passing times, or at lunchtime.

Consequences:

• First offense: The device is brought to the Main Office and picked up by the learner at the end of the school day.
• Second offense and beyond: The device is brought to the office, picked up by the family at their convenience.

A few other notes:

• In regards to new school issued devices only connecting to Bluetooth, Wireless headphones/earbuds will be allowed for any NDA+ assessment and/or additional assessments that require audio.
• Learners with medical notes denoting required access to devices will be placed on special plans.
• We encourage all families to utilize email to communicate with learners, as they will have access to their Outlook accounts. If you need your learners email address, please contact the Main Office at 701-356-2671.
• Our office staff is ready to receive and deliver important messages for learners. They have committed to these messages being delivered in a timely manner.

If you have questions about the state law, please contact your legislators (find your legislator here).