SchoolTalk

Registration for Fargo Public Schools high school summer school opened yesterday at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/summerschool. As families begin making plans for summer, they should be aware that it will look different than in years past. Due to a state mandated transition of the student information system from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus, summer school programming cannot be supported in July 2026; summer school will only be offered during June. Middle school summer school, Transitions Summer School for elementary middle school, and summer programming for Grades K-8 multilingual learners will not be offered in summer.

Read more about what summer school will look like for FPS in 2026 in this Cabinet Column by Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner.

The Calendar Committee will soon begin meeting to develop the 2027–28 school calendar. The committee will be composed of elementary, middle school, and high school teachers and principals; district office administrators; a school board member; parents; and one student from each high school. The committee’s charge is to develop a draft 2027–28 school calendar for consideration by the Fargo Board of Education. The Calendar Committee is still in need of parent volunteers who are willing to serve on the Calendar Committee. Parents interested in serving are encouraged to contact Amy Nojang at nojanga@fargo.k12.nd.us.

Read more about the work of the Calendar Committee and the feedback from the most recent Calendar Survey issued to parents, staff, and students in this Cabinet Column by Associate Superintendent Dr. Bob Grosz.

Significant changes to federal tax law will take effect under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. These updates include valuable new provisions that may benefit families, workers who earn overtime, and educators beginning with the 2025 tax year (your tax return filed in 2026).

Read more about the tax law updates in effect for the 2025 tax year in this Cabinet Column by Chief Financial Officer Jackie Gapp.

February is Career and Technical Education Month — and across Fargo Public Schools, learners are leveling up. From middle school exploration to high school career pathways, CTE brings learning to life through hands-on experiences that build skills, confidence, and real-world readiness.

Read more about CTE Month and CTE opportunities in FPS in this Feature Column by Director of Career and Technical Education Dr. Denise Jonas.

Libraries across North Dakota will celebrate North Dakota Library Joy Week from February 1–7, a statewide initiative highlighting the positive impact libraries have on their communities. This weeklong observance encourages libraries to showcase programs, services, and experiences that promote learning, connection, and joy for patrons of all ages.

Read more about events happening to celebrate Library Joy Week in Fargo Public Schools in this Feature Column by Library Program Facilitator Jen Hess.

National School Counseling Week 2026, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, will be celebrated February 2-6 with the theme “School Counselors Amplify Student Success.” This week shines a spotlight on the important role school counselors play in supporting students and strengthening school communities.

Read more about National School Counseling Week and the work that FPS' school counselors do to help students reach their full potential in this Feature Column by Coordinator for Social, Emotional, and Restorative Services Chasity Odden Heide.

The Fargo Public Schools Human Capital Department wants to shine a spotlight on its valuable employees who have a tremendous positive impact on the District's students, staff, and families. The District's educators are crucial to achieving our goal of educating and empowering all students to succeed and are dedicated to the idea that we are stronger together. HC has selected FPS staff members who are deserving of greater recognition and will highlight them each week. Meet Davies High School Theatre Teacher Rebecca Saari in this week's Employee Spotlight.

Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2026 opens next Monday, February 2 and is open through May 15. It is important to register your child as soon as possible to give FPS and your future school enough time to provide students the best possible experience. Your child is eligible to attend school in the fall if they turn 5 by July 31, 2026. Visit the FPS kindergarten registration webpage to learn more about the registration process. A second round of registration will reopen in July with a different process.

Roosevelt Elementary School will host the third History Harvest event from 5:30-7 p.m. on February 17. The History Harvest events aim to honor the history and legacy of Madison, Horace Mann, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools as they journey toward their consolidation into a new single facility.

Community members are invited to participate, contribute, and celebrate the legacy of these beloved schools. Voices gathered through the History Harvest will help ensure that the history, culture, and traditions of Horace Mann, Roosevelt, and Madison continue to shape the next chapter in public education for our students. Information and materials collected will be preserved in a digital time capsule and may help inspire elements within the design of the new elementary school. Learn more about the History Harvest Events on the FPS website.

At the Madison History Harvest event, last Thursday, community members, students, families, staff, and alumni shared stories, artifacts and memories of their time at the historic school.

Fargo Public Schools high school and middle schoolers, this is your chance to design a Fargo Police Department Squad Car! High school and middle school students are invited to submit artistic designs for wraps for two School Resource Officer squad cars starting the beginning of second semester.

Designs will be submitted no later than 4 p.m. March 6. One winning middle school and one winning high school design will be applied to the winning school’s SRO squad car for the 2026-27 school year. This project is being funded by the Fargo Police Foundation.

Design options are limited only by the imaginations of the student artists. The artwork may incorporate any designs or color schemes using the existing FPD graphics. Fargo Public Schools Administration has authorized the use of school-specific logos as part of their designs. School specific or FPS logos cannot cover original FPD graphics. There can be no changes to the End of Watch graphic on the back, or the United States flag on either side. Design templates can be picked up from each SRO or downloaded here.

Designs will go through a selection process involving school administrators, school resource officers, FPS Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner, and FPD Police Chief David Zibolski, with final winners chosen through a public vote.

Davies High School presents its one-act festival showcase including a performance of "Pirates!" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 30 in the Davies High School Theater.

"Pirates!" is a one-act reimagining of the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera "Pirates of Penzance" featuring songs from the classic. The showcase will also feature performances of production numbers and winning events from the recent theatre festival held at South High School.

South High School presents the one-act play "The Express Line" at 7 p.m. Friday, January 30 in the South High School Theater.

In "The Express Line," a supermarket customer in the express line has two more items than allowed. Despite his pleas, the checker adamantly refuses to serve him. The insistent customer ignores his embarrassed wife and the growing anger of a laborer behind him. When the manager fails to back the checker, other employees threaten to walk out.

EXPLORE THE MAGIC this summer at TROLLWOOD! Find your voice, tell your story, and stand out, as you explore a vibrant array of performance opportunities, technical theatre experiences, and more than 40 performing arts classes designed for students currently in Grades K-12. Trollwood summer registration is now open.

Nine Fargo Public Schools Virtual Academy students were recognized at the school’s Semester 1 graduation ceremony on Thursday, January 22 at Bluestem Center for the Arts in Moorhead.

Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner and Fargo Board of Education member Nyamal Dei attended and presented diplomas to the students.

Virtual Academy senior Kayleigh Roth emceed the ceremony and VA sophomore Ellen Kees, with other members of South High School’s Belle Orso Voci choir, sang the Star-Spangled Banner. The Fargo Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps presented the colors for the National Anthem.

Fargo Public Schools students now have a new, automatic scholarship opportunity through a partnership with Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Through the newly announced Fargo Public Schools Scholars Program, FPS graduates beginning with the Class of 2026 who earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher will automatically receive a $6,000 scholarship to attend MSUM, in addition to any other merit-based awards for which they qualify. The scholarship is awarded over four years and helps make earning a college degree close to home more affordable.

Eligible students will also receive in-state tuition rates and a waived application fee when applying to MSUM. Students with a 3.7 GPA or higher may qualify to participate in MSUM’s Honors Scholarship Competition Day, where more than $1 million in additional scholarships are awarded.

Families can learn more about the FPS Scholars Program at www.mnstate.edu/fargo-wf-scholars. Students can apply to Minnesota State Moorhead at no cost by visiting www.mnstate.edu/apply and using the waiver code SCHOLARS.

The Fargo Public Library has several events for kids and teens coming up including the 10th Annual Northern Narratives Writing Project accepting submissions of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writing from teen aged 13+ and adults through March 31 at fargolibrary.org; and the Teen Take and Make Craft opportunity, which allows teens to pick up all the supplies they need to complete a Clay Button Heart craft by registering at fargolibrary.org; and the 2026 Winter Reading Challenge for kids and teens running through February 28 on the Fargo Public Library Beanstack App.

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 January 27 regular meeting of the School Board.

2026 brings an election year for the Fargo Board of Education. The application period for the June 9, 2026 ballot is now open.

Candidates interested in running for one of five positions on the Fargo Board of Education may submit an application until Monday, April 6 at 4 p.m. Applications must be submitted to the Fargo Public Schools Business Office by the deadline at the Fargo Public Schools District Office, 700 7th Street South in Fargo.

For more information on the election, please visit https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/school-board/board-election

The Davies High School and Discovery Middle School bands took the “Old Town Road” to the Wild West as they performed together at the Eagles Play! concert featuring about 500 students. Each of the Discovery sixth, seventh, and eighth grade bands performed a musical number and the Davies Concert Band, Davies Symphonic Band, and Davies Wind Ensemble performed. The concert concluded with a grand finale featuring about 500 band musicians from all performing the song “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and the Davies school song.

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