SchoolTalk
FPS e-Newsletter for May 14, 2026
Cabinet Column - 2027-28 School Calendar Finalized
The Fargo Public Schools 2027-28 school calendar has been officially approved by the Fargo Board of Education. The calendar was developed by the FPS Calendar Committee over the course of multiple meetings. The committee examined multiple sources including community survey results to guide preferred start and end dates and whether or not to have a full-week spring break.
Read more about the development of the 2027-28 school calendar in this Cabinet Column by Associate Superintendent Dr. Robert Grosz.
Feature Column - Important Reminder for Lunch Accounts and Summer Meals Program
With the school year ending in less than a month, parents are reminded to check their children's lunch account. Account information can be accessed by logging into the PowerSchool parent portal and clicking on SchoolPay. Parents should also be aware that there are opportunities for students to receive free meals and grocery assistance this summer.
Read more about end of year procedures for lunch accounts and programs available for summer food assistance in this Feature Column by Nutrition Services Director Cindy Hogenson.
Feature Column - Finding the Right Path for You
There is no single path to well-being. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s not a failure, it’s a reflection of how unique each of us is. In the Fargo Public Schools community, students, staff, caregivers, and community members bring different experiences, identities, and needs. Finding the right path means being open to discovering what supports your well-being, even if it looks different from what works for others.
Read more about finding the right path for you in this Feature Column by Assistant Director of Student Support Services Dr. Jen Sahr.
Cass County Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Discovery Middle School Spanish Teacher Jim Urlacher on being named the 2026 Cass County Teacher of the Year! Urlacher and the rest of North Dakota's 2026 County Teachers of the Year will be honored at a special recognition event on June 23 at the State Capitol in Bismarck.
National History Day Teacher of the Year Award Nominee
Congratulations to North High School History Teacher Zach Hochhalter on being nominated for the 2026 National History Day Teacher of the Year Award! He is one of 78 teacher nominees for the award which comes with a $5,000 cash prize. National winners in the middle school and high school divisions will be announced on June 18 at the National History Day National Contest Awards Ceremony in College Park, Maryland.
Celebrating Excellence in North Dakota Education
Congratulations to Davies High School Counselor Anita Mahnke on being awarded with the Celebrating Excellence in North Dakota Education award by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction! The honorees were recognized at the North Dakota Educator Appreciation & Recognition Ceremony last week in Bismarck.
Employee Spotlight - Kelsey Dragosavich
Meet North High School Director of Bands Kelsey Dragosavich in this week's Employee Spotlight.
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.
Kindergarten Registration Closes Tomorrow!
We need the community's support to get all eligible children registered for kindergarten! Children are eligible to begin kindergarten if they will be 5 years old by July 31. FPS is projected to have 841 kindergarteners for the 2026-27 school year, so we have a lot of families to reach. If you know anybody with a child who will be 5 by July 31, please encourage them to register.
No School May 25 - Memorial Day
There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, May 25 due to the Memorial Day holiday. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, May 26.
View the 2025-26 District School Calendar to see school out days and other important dates throughout the school year.
Graduation Ceremony Livestream Links
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2026! Graduation is less than a month away at Fargo Public Schools. To accommodate those who are unable to attend, FPS will livestream graduation ceremonies at the links below. The Dakota High School graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. June 5 will not be live streamed, but will be recorded for future viewing.
Virtual Academy, June 3 at 6 p.m.
Davies High School, June 7 at noon
North High School, June 7 at 3 p.m.
South High School, June 7 at 6 p.m.
FPS Recommendation Survey
Fargo Public Schools seeks to gain feedback from parents/guardians/caregivers on their satisfaction with their student's school. Please complete this survey for as many students as you have in Fargo Public Schools. When completing the survey, please reflect on the experience you and your student have had at the school as a whole (i.e. academics, relationships, other programs). The data will be used as part of the monitoring process for the FPS Strategic Plan.
Follow FPS on Social Media
Do we show up in your news feed? Follow Fargo Public Schools on Facebook, Instagram, and X to keep up on all of the exciting things happening across the District and make sure you don't miss out on important announcements!
Instagram: fargopublicschools
Facebook: Fargo Public Schools
X (Twitter): @FargoNDSchools
YouTube: @FargoSchools
ArtSpark
Fargo Public Library Summer Reading Challenge: Unearth a Story
The Fargo Public Library is hosting its annual Summer Reading Challenge this summer from June 8 through August 15. This summer's theme is Unearth a Story. Kids and teens can participate by registering and logging into the Fargo Public Library Beanstack app (pre-registration starts June 1) and completing reading activities and challenges to earn prizes. For more information and to view the Summer Reading Challenge preview video, visit the Fargo Public Library website.
School Board Schedule & Links
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 May 12 regular meeting of the School Board.
Jefferson Community Garden
Jefferson Elementary School fifth graders in Liz Johnson’s and Eric Weaver’s classes are preparing for the school's community garden in partnership with Fargo Cass Public Health. Students planted starter seeds that will later be transferred to the community garden, where they will continue caring for and tending to the plants. The produce grown in the garden will be available to community members in the neighborhood surrounding Jefferson. (Photo courtesy Beth Olson)
Transitioning to High School
Growing Beanstalks
First Graders in Sandra Sterling’s class at Washington Elementary School wrapped up their unit in CKLA about Fairy Tales. After reading Jack and the Beanstalk, students learned about seeds, plant life cycles, and plant needs. Just like Jack, they planted five bean seeds and in no time at all, their bean seeds grew and grew and grew as well. They grew until they reached their paper castles in the sky just like in the story. (Photo courtesy Sandra Sterling)
Escape Room
Music Tour
Bonanzaville
Jefferson Elementary School fourth graders enjoyed a field trip to Bonanzaville. The students spent the day exploring the pioneer village, learning about the history of the region, and making memories with their classmates and friends. (Photo courtesy Bernadette Crist Pinotti)
Butterfly Release
Leah Pollmann's second grade class at Hawthorne Elementary School raised caterpillars this spring and watched them grow into butterflies. The students kept journals to record the changes they noticed as they formed chrysalises and then transformed. When the butterflies were ready, the students released them outside and watched them fly away. (Photo courtesy Leah Pollmann)
Legislator Information Session
Fargo School Board members and administrators held an information session for area legislators to hear about school initiatives and projects this week. The session overviewed the Explorer Academy Program, BARR Program, how FPS is using the survey feedback from staff through the Vital Network, and feedback from students on the personal electronic device ban.
Virtual Academy Awards Ceremony
Virtual Academy held its Academic Awards Ceremony on Monday at Bluestem Center for the Arts. The ceremony celebrated students who showed excellence in leadership, service, academics, and attendance. Several colleges and community members were present to award scholarships to VA seniors. (Photo courtesy Vanessa Boehm)
Gelaine Orvik Track Re-Dedication
South High School held a re-dedication ceremony of the refurbished Gelaine Orvik Track before the Rotary Track and Field Meet hosted at South on May 7. The track was named in honor of Mr. Gelaine Orvik who coached track at South from 1971-2001 and was originally dedicated in 2005. Orvik was in attendance and was recognized before the meet as part of the re-dedication. (Photo courtesy Mike Beaton)
School Lunch Hero Day
Jefferson Elementary School kitchen staff dressed up as the super heroes they are to celebrate School Lunch Hero Day. The day honors school nutrition professionals for their dedication to nourishing students and supporting the school community. (Photo courtesy Beth Olson)
Reunification Drill
On Monday, Clara Barton Elementary School students and staff participated in an evacuation and reunification drill. The students practiced evacuating the school and busing to North High School where Clara Barton and District staff practiced the process of reuniting students with families. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Folden)
Fargo Public Schools - SchoolTalk
Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000