The Eleanor Laing Law Endowed Fund, which typically produces up to $25,000 in annual investment income, supports innovative literacy and library projects in Fargo Public Schools. The Eleanor Laing Law Grant application is due March 31 to the Fargo Public Schools Foundation. These grants are awarded for implementation in the 2024-25 school year. Funds become available in June 2024. Contact the Foundation office at ext.1041 or email fpsfound@fargo.k12.nd.us with any questions.

Eleanor Laing Law was a Fargo Public Schools student who graduated from Fargo Senior High School in 1931 and taught journalism at Agassiz school in the 1930’s.

The American Board Scholarship is available for the dedicated employees of the Fargo Public School District. This scholarship aims to support our staff's professional growth and development and allow our current staff members another pathway to becoming an FPS Teacher. Apply here.

This application form will collect necessary personal, educational, and employment information, along with your plans for the scholarship and how it will benefit your career and our school district. Your responses will play a crucial role in the selection process, as we seek to award scholarships to individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to their professional development and a clear vision for contributing to the Fargo Public School District's success. Scholarship recipients will receive the entire cost of enrollment paid, a value of $1,900.

Please visit the American Board website to learn more prior to completing this application. Additionally, read the American Board FAQ. All applications MUST be received no later than Friday, March 22, 2024.

Flexible Spending Accounts help pay for everyday expenses on a pre-tax basis. Fargo Public Schools FSA plans are “use it or lose it” accounts with a plan year from January 1 to December 31 with grace period from January 1 to March 15. If you have dollars remaining in your account on December 31, you can incur claims during the grace period in the next plan year and be reimbursed for those claims from the prior year's available balance.

The Fargo Public Schools FSA has a 90-day run-out period. All claims incurred during the plan year and the 2.5 month grace period, must be submitted to WEX for reimbursement no later than March 31 in order to be reimbursed. All reimbursement requests beyond the 90 days will be declined and any dollars in your account on March 31 will be forfeited.

After thoughtful consideration and strategic planning, Fargo Public Schools is making a change to its graduation requirements, effective for the 2024-25 school year. Traditionally, Fargo Public Schools has set the bar high, requiring students to earn 24 credits to graduate — two more than the state-mandated 22 credits. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, FPS will align its graduation requirements with the state's mandate of 22 credits.

Read more about FPS' move to requiring 22 credits to graduate in this Cabinet Column by FPS Associate Superintendent Dr. Robert Grosz.

March is Music in Our Schools Month. Fargo Public Schools traditionally has had and continues to cultivate an especially strong music program, so strong that it has been named one of NAMM's “Best Communities for Music Education” for 20 years. Because of the dedication of all stakeholders associated with FPS, our students continue to be recipients of and active participants in high-quality, robust, rigorous, and enriching music experiences.

Read more about FPS' music education offerings and the importance of music education for students in this Feature Column by FPS Performing Arts Facilitator Patrick Thiel.

Over the last several years, Fargo Public Schools’ teachers have made the switch to Evidence-Based Reporting. This approach, focusing on direct evidence of students’ skills and knowledge, marks a paradigm shift from traditional grading and instructional practices.

Read more about how EBR has reshaped FPS teachers' professional learning communities, instructional practices, and student engagement in their own words in this Feature Column by FPS Science Facilitator Allie Kollman.

Congratulations to Jefferson Elementary School Administrative Assistant Sarrah Gustafson on being named the 2024 FPS Support Staff of the Year on Tuesday! The award was announced during a school assembly in the gym at Jefferson. She was celebrated by the students and staff at Jefferson as well as her family. Read more about Gustafson in this special edition of the District newsletter.

Congratulations to Davies High School Principal Troy Cody on being named the 2024 FPS Administrator of the Year on Tuesday! The surprise announcement was made at the conclusion of a hazmat drill at Davies. He was celebrated by Davies students and staff as well as his family. Read more about him in this special edition of the District newsletter.

Congratulations to Lewis & Clark Elementary School Gifted and Talented Teacher Stacy Anderson and Native American Education Program Elementary Liaison and Program Assistant Darlene TenBear Boyle on being named as YWCA Women of the Year 2024 nominees! Anderson and Boyle are among 37 women and two organizations that will be recognized as YWCA Cass Clay hosts its 51st annual Women of the Year awards event on April 22.

Since 1973, YWCA has paid tribute to over 2,000 outstanding Women of the Year honorees whose lives, talents, and passions have made a meaningful difference. All have demonstrated passion for their community, service to women and children, and are an inspiration to the next generation of leaders.

Congratulations to North High School's Haydn Vein on winning state championships in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke at the 2024 NDHSAA State Boys Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday at the Hulbert Aquatics Center in West Fargo! He was also named the North Dakota High School Coaches Association Powerade Senior Athlete of the Year.

Vein broke the state record in the 200 IM, finishing in 1:52.86. He won the 100 breaststroke in 56.71 seconds, and set a new pool record in 56.03 seconds in the prelims.

Congratulations to the Davies High School boys basketball team on winning the NDHSAA East Region Boys Basketball AA Championship on Saturday at West Fargo High School! The Eagles defeated North High School 88-65 to win the region title. Both Davies and North advance to the state tournament, which begins today at the Bismarck Event Center.

The Davies girls basketball team finished third at the East Region AA Girls Basketball Tournament and advanced to the state tournament, beginning today in Bismarck.

Congratulations to North High School's Carter Zeller on being named the North Dakota High School Coaches Association East Region AA Boys Basketball Outstanding Senior Athlete! Zeller has averaged 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds this season, while making 72 percent of his field goals.

The Fargo Public Schools Esports team competed in League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, and Chess at the North Dakota State Esports Tournament from February 22-24. Davies High School's Dovud Sulaymonov and South High School's Keyoumars Farrahmand finished first and second in the Chess tournament. The FPS League of Legends team finished second, the FPS Goal Diggers Rocket League team finished in third, and the FPS Valorant team finished in seventh.

Congratulations to South High School Boys Basketball Coach Mike Hendrickson on being named the North Dakota High School Coaches Association East Region AA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year! He was recognized at the East Region Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday at West Fargo High School. Hendrickson led the Bruins to a 13-11 record with a five-game winning streak that included wins over state tournament-qualifying teams Davies, North, and West Fargo.

Congratulations to North High School Activities Director Dan Shultis on being named the East Region Athletic Director of the Year! He was selected for the award by the North Dakota Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

This winter, the Lewis & Clark Elementary School Winter Gear Come Here store provided 181 winter gear items for free to students across Fargo Public Schools who needed them. The store is a learning project for students in Lewis & Clark's second and third grade reading enrichment program. The students volunteer for 30 minutes before and after school on Tuesday and Thursdays to ensure that their fellow students have access to proper-fitting winter gear. The store is open to students from other schools by contacting Lewis & Clark School Counselor Mrs. Gores.

The store relies on donations from members of the school and the community to keep the store stocked. Lewis & Clark partners with the South High School National Honor Society, which holds a hot chocolate stand fundraiser to help purchase gear. This year, South NHS raised enough money to purchase 20 pairs of waterproof winter gloves and two pairs of snow boots.

Pictured in left photo from L to R: Sam L. Vivian C., Taeshawn C. David B., Emrie N., Rhys D., Oliver L., Matt B. Pictured in right photo from L to R: Kaba S., Julian H.

There will be NO SCHOOL next week March 11-15 for Spring Break. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Monday, March 18.

Fargo Public Schools is offering a new resource to support mental health and wellness. ParentGuidance.org is free to all staff, parents, and families in our district.

ParentGuidance.org is a service developed by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community to learn how to support our children and get answers to mental health questions.

ParentGuidance.org aims to give concerned parents a place to go for answers to support and help their children struggling with depression, anxiety, self-harm, bullying, grief and family strife, just to name a few, as well as provide tools to form stronger bonds between parents and their children. There are over 50 e-courses, free to families, which are led by licensed therapists as well as an ask-a-therapist section on the website. If you have parents who seem to be struggling or overwhelmed, please remind them of this site where they can get trusted resources. ParentGuidance.org is free and confidential.

In addition to the free website, our district is offering Parent Coaching to all families and STAFF within the district. Parent coaching is a confidential service provided to parents and families. If you or your family is in need of extra support, go to ParentGuidance.org, select “Parent Coaching” and select "Get Started.” A coach can meet with you as often as weekly for a 30-minute session to discuss your concerns or needs. You will also be able to message your coach if other concerns arise before your next scheduled meeting. For more information about the coaching process, click the links below:

• Coaching for Parents

• How Does Coaching Work

Going to kindergarten is important for children. It helps them build upon all the learning that they have done so far. In kindergarten, children will learn skills they will build on throughout their formal education and throughout life. It is important to register early to allow FPS enough time to plan ahead for the school year to give students the best experience possible.

Kindergarten Registration for Fargo Public Schools is now open online. If your child turns 5 by July 31, 2024, they are eligible to attend school in the fall. Visit fargo.k12.nd.us/registration to learn more about the registration process.

AD-Ventures is a District publication intended to help families find activities for their children throughout our community. It is published on the first of each month during the school year (September through May).

AD-Ventures for Kids is for youth in grade levels K-5.

AD-Ventures for Teens is for youth in grade levels 6-8.

Registration for Fargo Public Schools' Summer School 2024 is open. FPS Summer School offers opportunities for students from elementary through high school to participate in programs focused on academics, athletics, arts, and more. View Fargo Public Schools' Summer School 2024 offerings.

Registration is open for the English Learner Expanded Learning Summer Program. The program will offer English Learner students to practice an use language in an authentic and meaningful way through engaging hands-on experience. Interested individuals should speak with their students' EL teacher to register.

The program is held at the Agassiz Building from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in June. Bussing is provided and breakfast and lunch will be served. Learn more about the EL Summer Program on the FPS Summer School web page.

South High School presents the play As You Like It this week from March 7-10 in the South High School theater.

As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare with major themes of love, gender, and injustice. Duke Frederick usurps the dukedom from his brother, the rightful Duke Senior, and banishes him. Several of the characters seek refuge in the Forest of Ardenne where they learn of love and forgiveness in nature.

Thursday-through-Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. with the Sunday performance at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and are available at the Fargo Public Schools Box Office. All FPS employees receive two free tickets to each play and musical produced at each of the FPS High Schools. View instructions on how to redeem free staff tickets.

Expect the Unexpected! Experience magic, explore passion, and expand potential at Trollwood Performing Arts School with summer performing arts classes and performance opportunities for students currently in Grades K-12. Trollwood summer registration is now open.

Trollwood offers a full array of classes, performing opportunities, and technical theater experiences for every skill level, from elementary to middle school to high school. See the full list of Trollwood summer programming in this newsletter special edition.

Be the Leader They Need! Fargo Public Schools is now hiring full-and part-time support staff positions including paraeducators, custodians, and food service workers. Learn more about these great opportunities to impact our community's youth and apply for a position today at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/apply.

Lewis & Clark Elementary School raised $3,896 during its "I Love to Read" Read-a-Thon for the school's Inchy Bookworm Book Vending Machine during the month of February. Students were asked to invite their friends and family to make pledges towards how much they could read during the month and received donations based on the number of minutes recorded in a reading tracking app. The Read-a-Thon received $3,685 in online donations, $11 in cash donations, and a $200 from a business sponsorship by Tharaldson Ethanol Plant. The top three students who brought in the most donations, plus one students drawn from each grade, received a token to get a book from the vending machine.

The funds will be used to purchase books for the Inchy Bookworm Book Vending Machine. Students are able to get a book from the book vending machine on their birthday and for earning the monthly character Principal Award and other behavioral incentives.

Sanford Children's Hospital is displaying cartoon scribble art created and donated by seventh graders at Ben Franklin Middle School. Sanford has placed the art in frames around its building, including at the front desk. Sanford has had a number of staff and families mention how much they enjoy the pictures. (Photo courtesy Anna Mitchell)

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