SchoolTalk

Read more about everything Trollwood has to offer in this Feature Column by Trollwood Performing Arts School Executive Director Kathy Anderson.

Congratulations to North High School and Davies High School on earning bronze recognition on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP program are delivering results and broadening access for students.

Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing their school’s college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The levels are based on how many seniors took an AP Exam, how many earned a 3 or higher on an exam, and how many took five or more AP Exams.

North had 43% and Davies had 43% of seniors who took at least one AP Exam during high school; North had 29% and Davies had 34% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP Exam; and North had 12% and Davies had 7% of seniors who took five or more AP Exams.

Congratulations to Self-Directed Academy eighth grader Shay Werre on placing first in the Fargo Elks Lodge's Americanism Essay Contest! The essay topic was "What does service to your country mean to you?" Werre was presented with a $100 prize for winning the contest.

Congratulations to Discovery Middle School Volleyball Coach Brittany Olson on being named the North Dakota High School Coaches Association Fall Season Junior High Coach of the Year! Olson is a science teacher at South High School.

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 South High School Physical Education Teacher and BARR Coordinator Molly Lundon in this week's Employee Spotlight.

There will be NO SCHOOL TOMORROW, January 16 for a professional development day and next Monday, January 19 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, January 20.

View the 2025-26 District School Calendar to see school out days and other important dates throughout the school year.

Fargo Public Schools has updated the 2026–27 school year calendar to include four early dismissal days to support staff professional development and training. The School Board approved this change to ensure staff have dedicated time for important learning that strengthens instruction, safety, and school operations.

On these days, students will be dismissed two hours early, and staff will participate in Districtwide training and collaboration, including work related to a new student information system, safety procedures, and instructional planning.

The early dismissal days for the 2026–27 school year are:

• Wednesday, September 16
• Wednesday, October 21
• Wednesday, December 9
• Wednesday, February 10

Families are encouraged to plan ahead for these early dismissal days. Additional details will be shared closer to each date.

To honor the history and legacy of our elementary schools and celebrate the journey toward their consolidation into a single new facility, the District will host a series of History Harvest events at Horace Mann, Roosevelt, and Madison Elementary Schools. The first event is at Horace Mann Elementary School, TONIGHT, January 15.

These community-centered events are designed to gather stories, artifacts, and memories from alumni, students, families, staff, and residents. 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.

Event Dates:

Horace Mann Elementary School

• Tonight, January 15 from 5:30-7 p.m.

Madison Elementary School

• Next Thursday, January 22 from 5:30-7 p.m.

Roosevelt Elementary School

• February 17 from 5:30-7 p.m.

The District invites all community members 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.

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.

The Ask a Therapist LIVE series from ParentGuidance.org and the Cook Center for Human Connection offers parents a unique opportunity to engage directly with a licensed therapist at 7 p.m. January 27. Register here.

Ask questions of leading family therapists and take advantage of a free resource to help parents with important topics such as anxiety, depression, grief, suicidal ideation, child development and parenting, just to name a few.

Trollwood Performing Arts School's 2026 Mainstage Musical is Disney's Frozen. 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 21-25. Students may sign up for a cast audition slot by calling 218.477.6500 or emailing trollwood@fargo.k12.nd.us. Orchestra auditions will be held February 20-March 9. Click here to sign up for an orchestra audition time.

Virtual Academy freshman Jaydan Sandbeck was honored by Sanford Ambulance with a Citizens Lifesaving Award last Thursday, January 8. This fall, Jaydan performed CPR on his father, Justin Sandbeck, after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Jaydan's efforts kept his dad alive until first responders arrived. Jaydan attributes his CPR knowledge, in part, to lessons learned in Ms. Goldmann's seventh grade health class at Discovery Middle School.

Thank you to Scheels for the generous donation of 19 boxes of youth, women's, and men's clothing to the Husky Hutch Pantry at Clara Barton Elementary School! These items will provide meaningful support to students and families throughout Fargo Public Schools.

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 13 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

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