Fargo Public Schools (FPS) is pleased to offer the FPS Town Hall meetings series this school year to all staff members. The meetings will be offered via Microsoft Teams. Attendance at the Town Halls are encouraged but are optional for employees.

The next FPS Town Hall Meeting will be held on Monday, November 4 at 4:30 p.m. To register, please use this Teams webinar registration link. The November meeting will focus on the Community Redevelopment Plan and Pre-Referendum Study. Read more about the upcoming FPS Town Hall.

November 1-15 is the annual opportunity for employees to make benefit elections that are effective January 1, 2025. During this timeframe, employees can:

• Add or drop insurance coverage for health, dental, vision, and life.
• Add or remove dependents from plans.
• Apply for additional life insurance coverage.
• Apply for Voluntary benefits (Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Confinement with Symetra.
• Apply for legal Insurance with ARAG.
• Enroll in a flexible spending account (medical, limited scope, and dependent care) for calendar year 2025.
• Enroll in a Health Savings Account (Saver HSA Health Insurance Plan Must be Elected).

Informational Meetings

Want more information? The following meetings have been planned for employees to receive more information:

• October 31 at 10:30 a.m., District Office Board Room and via Teams/Webex
• October 28 at 5:00 p.m., South High School and via Teams/Webex
• November 4 at 5:00 p.m., Teams/Webex

The planning for Fargo Public Schools' new middle-level summer program has begun! The middle-level summer school team is creating an innovative program that will spark interest and open doors to new opportunities. So far, it has received outstanding proposals for both camps and classrooms including Latin, drumline, and a drone class, but is still looking for more and there is still time to submit your idea!

Do you dream of teaching something a little outside the box? Do you imagine diving deep into a fun, hands-on topic with a small group of curious students? Now is your chance to bring those big ideas to life! Whether it’s themed-based, project-driven, or centered around a special interest, this is your opportunity to create a unique, interactive experience that will keep students engaged and eager to learn!

If this sounds like your kind of adventure, don’t wait — reach out to Jim Keal at kealj@fargo.k12.nd.us or call extension 1081 to discuss how to turn your ideas into reality.

Why this is the perfect fit for you:

• Small group sizes (10-18 students)
• Teacher-driven content – design your dream program!
• Hands-on, interactive learning experiences that will captivate young minds
• Camp dates: June 10 – July 2 (Mon-Thurs, no Fridays)

November is federally recognized as National Native American Heritage Month. This is a time to appreciate and celebrate the rich culture, traditions, and history of Native American people, and to acknowledge the vast contributions Native Americans have made to the world.

Read more about Native American Heritage Month and learning opportunities for both elementary and secondary classrooms throughout the month of November in this Feature Column by Native American Education Coordinator Melody Staebner.

When giftedness resides alongside autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning difference in the same person, the person is said to be “twice exceptional” or “2e” for short. The presence of at least two neurodiverse conditions in one brain can present unique challenges for twice exceptional people. It can also present great potential and lead to exceptional outcomes.

Read more about twice exceptionality in this Feature Column by Gifted Services Facilitator Kim Rensch.

The Fargo Public Schools Coaches Council congratulates the Class of 2024 athletes who, during all four high school years at Davies, North and South High Schools, participated in two or more athletic activities/seasons each year. The “42 Club” is a recognition program to honor these outstanding athletes. The “43 Club” designation is for those students who participated in three athletic activities/seasons during their four years in high school. Click here to view the full list of members.

Research has shown that students who actively engage in more than one sport suffer less from burnout, have fewer overuse injuries, and have a higher level of satisfaction while participating than high school athletes who specialize in only one sport.

The Fargo Public Schools 2023-2024 Annual Report is a summary of the District’s efforts to carry out its mission of “educating and empowering all students to succeed” during the 2023-24 school year. Read the report for an in-depth examination of the District’s students, staff, schools, departments, and programs and a celebration of their achievements. And view key statistics regarding staffing, budget, demographics, and assessment data. Thank you for supporting Fargo Public Schools and allowing the District to serve its students and families and provide an exceptional educational experience!

There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 11 due to the Veterans Day Holiday. Classes will resume as normally scheduled on Tuesday, November 12.

Don't forget to "Fall Back" and set the clocks back an hour this Sunday. Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3.

We Need Your Input! Fargo Public Schools is involved in a continuous improvement process that involves all stakeholders. FPS parents are invited to participate in an online survey. The survey is open through today, October 31. The results will help us identify our strengths, areas for improvement, and stakeholder attitudes around the topic of climate and culture. You may fill out a survey for each student who attends an FPS school. Take the survey here.

Davies High School presents the play Antigone on November 7-10 at Davies High School.

The tragedy, written by Sophocles in the fifth century, explores the tension between personal morality and the laws of the state, the nature of justice, the role of fate in human life, and the danger of excessive pride. The central character is Antigone, who displays an unwavering commitment to her familial duty and to the gods, even in the face of opposition from the state. Her character challenges the audience to consider the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of resistance from authority. The complicated relationship between personal conscience and law, tackled within the play, has enshrined Antigone as one of the most famous Greek tragedies.

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. Tickets are available at the Fargo Public Schools Box Office.

Fargo Public Schools' Early Childhood Special Education program is seeking Community Friends to join its preschool classrooms. Community Friends are typically developing peers who will join the ECSE classrooms alongside the students with developmental delays or disabilities. Students must be 4 years old by July 31 and pass a developmental screening to be eligible for the program. The program is free of charge for families, but parents must provide transportation. The ECSE sessions are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Click here to apply for the ECSE Community Friends program.

Trollwood Performing Arts School's 2024 Mainstage Musical is Mamma Mia! Performances are set for July 22-26 and July 28-August 2 at Bluestem Center for the Arts. Visit trollwood.org for more information. Group ticket sales, for groups of 10 or more, are on sale now, and regular tickets will be on sale in May.

Cast auditions will be held February 22-26. Orchestra auditions will be held in March. Students may sign up for an audition slot by calling 218.477.6500 or emailing trollwood@fargo.k12.nd.us. Students may also participate as a run crew member or technician by registering for summer programming.

Freshman members of the Concordia College football team visited Eagles Elementary School first graders for recess and lunch last Friday. The Cobbers aimed to promote sportsmanship and be positive role models for the first graders.

The football players played with the first graders outside during their recess time and then joined the first graders for lunch. Each table in the lunchroom featured at least one football player and as they dined together the younger students chatted with the players, learned important lessons from their visiting mentors, and enjoyed each other’s company.

Discovery Middle School eighth graders headed to the polls on Tuesday. As early voting started in Fargo, they had the opportunity to participate in a mock election meant to closely simulate the experience of voting at a real polling location. During their American History classes, the roughly 300 students will be given the option to visit Mr. Jeremy Nesvold’s classroom to perform their civic duty. Before voting, the students received a lesson on the voting process, addressing how to vote, how to prepare to vote, what items are required to vote, and voting etiquette.

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 Mental Health Series calendar for November.

On November 20, the Mental Health Series features an Ask a Therapist LIVE event, which offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with a licensed therapist. Click here to register.

The Salvation Army, with Slumberland Furniture and other community partners, are pleased to be accepting electronic applications for “Homes for the Holidays." This program will offer a twin sized mattress/box spring, a bed frame, sheets and a quilt to children ages 13 and under, living in the Fargo-Moorhead area, who are in need of a bed.

If you are aware of a family that would benefit from this program, please have them complete the application. Applications are open through November 8.

This November, The City of Fargo will partner with MinnKota Recycling to promote the “Cans to Cartons” Recycling Challenge. MinnKota Recycling will provide a one-cent-per-pound match for all aluminum cans collected in November at The City of Fargo’s recycling sites. Click here to see the full list of collection locations.

Proceeds from the one-cent match will benefit the Milk and Elementary Snack Program in Fargo Public Schools. The program provides milk for elementary students for their mid-morning snack. In 2023, The City of Fargo collected $402 for the Milk and Elementary Snack Program. This donation helped purchase 1,902 cartons of milk for students in Fargo Public Schools.

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