SchoolTalk

When we think about creating more good days, it’s easy to focus only on what’s happening in our minds, our thoughts, emotions, and stress levels. However, our mental health and physical health are deeply connected. Caring for the whole self, both mind and body, is essential for students, staff, caregivers, and community members alike.

Read more about the importance of caring for your whole self in this Feature Column by Assistant Director of Student Support Services Dr. Jen Sahr.

With summer on the horizon and just a few weeks left in the school year, May is a time of celebration, reflection, and momentum. Whether your child has had a smooth year or faced a few bumps along the way, there’s one message we want every family to hear: It’s not over yet; every day still matters. These last weeks still count.

Read more about the importance of finishing the school year strong in this Feature Column by Assistant Director of Student Support Services Dr. Jen Sahr.

Teachers, thank you for everything you do, for how you show up for our students, and just simply for being who you are!

Thank you to all of Fargo Public Schools' school nurses! This Wednesday, May 6 was National School Nurse Day! FPS expresses its gratitude to the school nurses across our District for all they do to help keep our students safe and healthy. Please take time to thank your school nurse this week!

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Thank you to the Fargo Public Schools speech-language pathologists and other educators that provide life-changing treatment for students with communication disorders!

National Speech-Language-Hearing Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of American Speech-Hearing Association members in providing treatment.

Congratulations to Jefferson Elementary School Counselor Dr. Ashley Guy and Davies High School Spanish Teacher Mercedes Doblado-Hanson 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 on Tuesday in Bismarck.

Congratulations to South High School Teacher Heidi Horne on becoming a certified Catalyst Demonstration Teacher on April 20! She is now one of thirteen Demonstration Teachers in Fargo Public Schools, three at the secondary level, and the first at South.

The Catalyst Approach is a comprehensive professional development and implementation model based on observation of more than 50,000 classrooms and school-wide common spaces. It aims to accelerate deep implementation of skills that lead to the creation of improved classroom and school leadership, relationships, and culture.

Congratulations to the Lewis & Clark Elementary School, Eagles Elementary School, and Clara Barton Elementary School students who placed at the Math Masters competitions for fourth graders on April 22 in Fergus Falls and for fifth graders on April 24 in Moorhead. The students competed at solving math problems both individually and as a team. View the FPS competitor results.

Congratulations to the South High School Drone Racing Team on placing third at the Fenworks Drone Racing Regional Tournament on May 1 at North Dakota State University! The tournament featured teams from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The Capture the Flag team placed second, the First Person View team placed second, and Connor Gallagher placed third in First Person View solo.

Congratulations to the Science Olympiad teams from Ben Franklin Middle School and Davies High School as they each qualified for the Science Olympiad National Tournament to be held May 22-23 in Los Angeles!

The Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation is partnering with the teams to help them send 40 students and four coaches to the national tournament. Donations to help fund travel, lodging, and competition expenses can be made at the FPS Development Foundation website.

Meet Jefferson Elementary School Library Media Specialist Paula Nelson 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.

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 and so far we have 624 registered, meaning we need to reach more than 200 more students! If you know anybody with a child who will be 5 by July 31, please encourage them to register.

Kindergarten Roundups have begun and are scheduled through May 11. These events help set your kindergartener up for success by helping families get comfortable in their school environment. Families will get a tour of the building, meet school staff, and learn what to expect when they start school. Read more about kindergarten and view a full kindergarten roundup in this Cabinet Column by Associate Superintendent Missy Eidsness.

The Fargo Public Schools Calendar Committee met over the course of multiple meetings to develop the 2027–28 school calendar. The committee was comprised of teachers, parents, principals, students, district office representatives, a Fargo Education Association member, support staff, and a School Board member.

View the finalized 2027-28 school calendar, which has been approved by the Fargo Board of Education.

Community members have one final opportunity to walk the halls of the historic Horace Mann Elementary School and say goodbye to a school that has served generations of students and been a staple in the Fargo community for more than a century.

Horace Mann’s administration is inviting the community to take self-guided tours of the more-than a century-old building from 5:30-8 p.m. next Wednesday, May 13. The event will also feature the opening of a time capsule that was placed at the building’s centennial in 2015. The time capsule will be opened at 6:30 p.m.

The lost and found is only for items lost on the big yellow general education route buses. Individuals looking for items lost on special education buses, shuttle buses, activity buses, or motor coaches should call the Valley Bus main office line at 701.235.2912.

After June 4, the office will move to summer hours. Those hours can be checked at a later date by calling Valley Bus or by checking their Facebook page.

The Mental Health Series from parentguidance.org is a powerful resource designed to support family mental health and well-being. Experts agree that adult involvement is important in a child's success. When caregivers have helpful tools, it benefits children, strengthens families, and contributes to a thriving community. Click here or on the image to view the MHS calendar for May.

The Mental Health Series features an Ask a Therapist LIVE event next Tuesday, May 12, which offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with a licensed therapist. Register here.

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.

At its bake sale on April 30, South High School's Philanthropy and Youth club raised $933 to donate to Bridging the Gap.

Bridging the Gap aims to help students who lack critical needs, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to thrive academically, emotionally and physically.

Thank you to Precision Plumbing for the donation of several boxes of whisper phones to Jefferson Elementary School! These PVC pipes are used for students to listen to themselves reading fluently, reducing the noise level and allowing them to hear their own voices.

The Fargo Public Schools Building Trades homes built by high school students are for sale! Buyer responsible for lot, moving of the house, flooring, HVAC, foundation, and applicable taxes and fees. View the listings for the South High School house and the North High School house.

Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000