SchoolTalk
FPS e-Newsletter for March 26, 2026
Feature Column - Arts CAN Do
While helping the earth by recycling, you can help the brain and soul by supporting the arts. Arts CAN Do recycling receptacles are located at many recycling centers around town. Funds raised through the Arts CAN Do program have gone toward student visits to the Plains Art Museum, Creative Arts Studio Residency Programs, purchasing music and arts supplies and equipment, and theatre in the elementary schools. Read more about Arts CAN Do in this Feature Column by Performing Arts Facilitator Patrick Thiel.
Arts CAN Do Receptacle Locations:
● Coliseum - 807 17th Avenue North
● McKinley Elementary - 2930 North 8th Street
● North of the Water Treatment Plant
● Longfellow Elementary - 20 Northeast 29th Avenue
● Michelson Ball Park
● Waterworks - 1408 South River Road
● Lincoln Elementary - 2120 9th Street South
● Turn PKG – 4121 South University Drive
● Centennial Elementary - 4201 25th Street South
● Lewis & Clark Elementary – 1729 16th Street South
● Osgood Fire Station
Feature Column - Celebrating Passover and Easter
Passover and Easter are coming up in April. Passover, a major Jewish holiday that will be observed April 1-9, commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. Easter, celebrated April 5, is the central celebration of Christians, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Read more about Passover and Easter in this Feature Column by Multilingual Learner Facilitator Jenna Polley and Director of Standards-Based Instruction Dr. Liann M. Hanson.
Feature Column - A Conversation with SEPAC Chairperson Katy Barnum
Families play an important role in shaping the success of our schools, especially when it comes to supporting students served on Individualized Education Programs. One of the ways Fargo Public Schools brings families and school staff together is through the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee. Director of Student Support Services Shelby DiFonzo recently spoke with SEPAC Chairperson Katy Barnum to learn more about the committee.
Read the conversation between DiFonzo and Barnum in this Feature Column.
State Acalympics
Congratulations to the North High School Acalympics team on winning the state championship on March 23 in Bismarck! North defeated South High School and Dickinson High School in the final lightning round, with the championship decided by a tiebreaker between North and South.
Esports State Tournament
Congratulations to the Fargo Public Schools esports team on their performances at the 2026 Fenworks North Dakota Esports State Tournament held February 27-28 at the University of North Dakota Memorial Union. The FPS team finished second overall and FPS teams finished first in Mario Kart; third in Minecraft Bedwars; and second in Valorant.
Red River Rage Regional Win
Congratulations to the Red River Rage robotics team, which includes members from North High School and Davies High School, on placing first at the FIRST Robotics Great Northern Regional held March 11-14 in Grand Forks! With the win, the team is eligible to earn a bid to the world championships this April in Houston.
Kain NLI Signing
Congratulations to South High School Senior Alex Kain on signing his National Letter of Intent to continue his athletic and academic career at the next level. Kain signed to compete on the men's track and field and cross country teams at Concordia College.
Employee Spotlight - Jenny Schultz
Meet FPS Activities Department Administrative Assistant Jenny Schultz 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.
No School April 3
There will be NO SCHOOL next Friday, April 3 for the Easter holiday. Due to a storm day earlier in the school year, FPS will utilize the storm makeup day built into the calendar on April 6 and classes will be in session.
View the 2025-26 District School Calendar to see school out days and other important dates throughout the school year.
Kindergarten Registration - Register Before May 15
Help your school! Register for kindergarten as early as possible! Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2026 is open until May 15 at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/kindergartenregistration. It is important to register your child as soon as possible to give FPS and your future school enough time to provide students the best possible experience. Your child is eligible to attend school in the fall if they turn 5 by July 31, 2026.
Visit the FPS kindergarten registration webpage to learn more about the registration process. A second round of registration will reopen in July with a different process.
History Harvest: Share Your Memories of Madison, Roosevelt, and Horace Mann
Whether you are a former student, staff member, parent, or community member, we invite you to share your stories and celebrate your time at Madison, Roosevelt, and Horace Mann elementary schools.
Your memories matter. By sharing photos and written reflections, you will help preserve the legacy of these schools while shaping the next chapter of learning for future students. Click here to upload your photos and reflections.
FPS and ICON Architectural Group are collecting photos and written comments that will be brought together to influence the design of the new Horace Mann Elementary School and possibly be used in a legacy wall — a visual feature that celebrates the identity of a former school. These displays often include class photos, mascots, and memorable moments that shaped the community. Over time, they become natural gathering places where people pause, remember, and reconnect.
Go Fan Digital Ticketing
With spring sports seasons underway, remember Fargo Public Schools now offers high school sports fans the ability to purchase tickets and season passes online with GoFan Digital Ticketing! To purchase tickets or season passes, visit gofan.co or use the GoFan Mobile App, and search for your event.
Prior to arriving at the gate, have the ticket/pass open and ready on your mobile device by accessing your confirmation email or viewing the ticket in the mobile app. Show the ticket/pass to the gate workers and they will validate your ticket. You MUST use your mobile device, tickets cannot be printed for admission at the gate. Cash will still be taken at the gate, but fans are encouraged to use GoFan for ease.
For more information, including video tutorials, visit the Student Activities Department page on the FPS website.
Mental Health Resources
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 April.
The Mental Health Series features an Ask a Therapist LIVE event on April 21, which offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with a licensed therapist. Register here.
Trollwood Summer Registration
Davies Junior Leads Recycling Initiative that Has Seen More than 20 New Bins Placed in Classrooms
Recognizing that recycling in school was not convenient for students, Davies High School Junior Setiya Hamidi has spearheaded an initiative to increase the number of recycling bins at Davies. This year, the eco-conscious junior has led likeminded peers in decorating and distributing more than 20 recycling bins for Davies teachers to place in their classrooms and has led an education campaign about recycling in the school. Hamidi aims to improve recycling in the school by increasing accessibility and awareness.
Read more about Setiya Hamidi and her Davies Recycling Intiative in this Feature Story by clicking the button below.
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 March 24 regular meeting of the School Board.
CBE ABLE Games
Carl Ben Eielson MIddle School hosted an ABLE Games assembly on March 9. Seventeen teams of students participated in a fitness-based competition to demonstrate how our differences can make us stronger, and how including and empowering others while acknowledging these differences is a power we all possess. (Photo courtesy Sarah Stark)
Donuts for Grown Ups
Knit Hats
Space Celebration
The four third grade classes at Jefferson Elementary School celebrated the completion of a CKLA reading unit revolving around space. To mark the end of the unit, the classes participating in activities involving constellations, moon phases, dehydrated food, and an obstacle course. (Photo courtesy Tina Thoennes)
Literacy Olympics
Clara Barton Elementary School students participated in an optional Literacy Olympics activity where they competed in reading activities linked to Winter Olympic sports, like writing a poem, reading a book about winter, or practicing handwriting. Students earned a bronze medal for completing five activities, silver for 10, and gold for 15. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Folden)
IditaREAD
Mrs. Waldron's fifth grade class at Eagles Elementary School learned about the Iditarod sled race that began March 6 by tracking a musher through the race. They tracked their reading minutes through IditaREAD throughout the month. The goal is to read 975 minutes with 1 minute equivalent to 1 mile of the race. (Photo courtesy Kristy Waldron)
Pie the Principal
Blood Pressure and Pulse Data
On March 13, students from Heidi Horne’s Health Sciences class and Nancy Koch Durow's College Trigonometry class at South High School partnered to collect real blood pressure and pulse data. Health Sciences students collected the data and trigonometry students will use these measurements to model their own sinusoidal functions, connecting real health data to mathematical concepts. (Photo courtesy Nancy Koch Durow)
Coffee Shop Math
Mrs. Netland’s Student Teacher, Miss Gapinski, planned a coffee shop morning with her second grade students at Horace Mann Elementary School. Students each had $5 in fake money and had to decide on a type of drink, toppings, and a sweet treat. They needed to calculate the amount of change they were going to get and decide if they wanted to give a tip to their barista. (Photo courtesy Emily Netland)
Attend to Win Bracket
The first graders in Ms. Roerick’s class at Jefferson Elementary School are encouraging others to come to school on time with a special note during the school's Attend to Win competition. Classes are placed in a March Madness-style bracket focused on coming to school on time. The class with the best attendance and the most improved class will be celebrated at the end of the tournament. (Photo courtesy Brittany Roerick)
Quartet School Board Performance
In honor of Music in Our Schools Month, a music performance by a quartet from Discovery Middle School performed for Fargo School Board members at their March 24 meeting. Ryan Borowiecki, Alto Saxophone; Jayden Calixte-Kajtaz, Tenor Saxophone; Daniel Hruby, Clarinet; and Swapnanil Layek, Percussion, directed by Beanie Stotts, performed The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini and arranged by Bob Frappels.
SHAPE Conference
Explorer Academy Physical Education Teacher Tyler Hetland attended the National SHAPE conference in Kansas City from March 17-21. At the conference he and three other educators were recognized as SHAPE America National Teacher of the Year quarterfinalists. (Photo courtesy Tyler Hetland)
Girls in Engineering Day
Twenty Discovery Middle School students took part in “Girls in Engineering Day” at NDSU on February 27. Students worked in teams to design and build a drone drop mechanism to meet designated specifications, learned about different types of engineering, and a panel of engineering students from NDSU answered questions and shared their experiences in the field. Students then visited area businesses to see engineers in action. Discovery students visited Bobcat and learned about the important role of engineers in the business. (Photo courtesy Jessica DeJong)
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