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📰Bulldogs' online newsletter with important information to📰 keep our Bulldog families informed. Please contact your child's teacher or the school office if you have questions or concerns.

Independence Elementary School
3700 54th St S

Fargo, ND 58104

Phone: 701-356-5890

Fax: 701-499-6693

Email: Independence@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Facebook: Home - Independence Elementary School

This October let's celebrate Mrs. Fischer and Mr. Rudie for their dedication, hard work, and contributions to the success of our students, staff, and community.

Principals are educational leaders who oversee the day-to-day operations of schools, manage staff, make important decisions regarding curriculum and student discipline, and foster a positive and productive learning environment. They are instrumental in shaping the quality of education that students receive and play a critical role in shaping the future of young people.

Thank you Mrs. Fischer and Mr. Rudie.

We truly appreciate you.

WOW!!!! The Walk-A-Thon was a SUCCESS!!!

👏Give yourselves a round of applause!!! 👏

🎃 Halloween Tips from SRO Skwiera & Clover 🐾

Halloween is almost here! SRO Skwiera and Clover want everyone to have a fun, spooky, and—most importantly—SAFE Halloween!

🐾 Clover’s Tip #1: Be Seen!
Wear bright colors or add reflective tape to your costume. If you’re carrying a flashlight, even better! Drivers need to be able to see all those little ghosts, superheroes, witches, and princesses.

🚔 SRO Skwiera’s Tip #2: Use the Sidewalk!
Walk on sidewalks whenever possible and cross the street at crosswalks. Look both ways before crossing—even if you’re in a hurry to get to the next house for treats!

🎃 Clover’s Tip #3: Make Sure Your Costume Is Safe!
Make sure costumes fit properly so you can walk, run, and see clearly. Avoid costumes or masks that block your vision.

🍬 SRO Skwiera’s Tip #4: Wait for the Treat Check!
Wait until a trusted adult checks your Halloween candy before you eat it. If something looks unusual or your candy has been opened or damaged, show an adult.

🏠 Clover’s Tip #5: Trick-or-Treat Together!
Younger children should have a trusted adult with them. Older kids should stay with friends and make sure a trusted adult knows where they are going.

🚗 SRO Skwiera’s Tip #6: Drivers, Slow Down!
There will be lots of excited trick-or-treaters out and about. Drivers should slow down, stay alert, and watch carefully for children crossing the road.

🐾 Clover’s Bonus Tip: Be Kind to Pets!
Not every dog or pet enjoys costumes, doorbells, or lots of people coming to the door. Give pets plenty of space and always ask before approaching an unfamiliar animal.

👻 Most importantly…

Have fun, look out for one another, and make some great Halloween memories!

🎃 Happy Halloween from SRO Skwiera & Clover! 🐾
Stay safe, stay visible, and don’t forget to save a treat for Clover! (A puppy safe treat of course!)😉

Tressa Suchor, RN, BSN

West Fargo Public Schools

Independence Elementary School Nurse

Phone 701-499-3506

tsuchor@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

This October, I'd like to take the opportunity to address seasonal health concerns, policy reminders, and school events while keeping families informed and engaged.

Influenza Vaccinations:

The CDC continues to recommend yearly influenza shots to help prevent the respiratory flu and its more critical side effects. Influenza vaccine protection takes about two weeks and are available at most local pharmacies or clinics. While highly encouraged, influenza vaccines are not required for attending school in North Dakota.

Illness Exclusion Policies: To reduce phone calls and prevent illness spread at Independence Elementary, please continue to keep your learner home until fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school.

Reinforce Hand Hygiene & Respiratory Care: handwashing has been proven to be the most effective way of staying healthy during cold/flu season. Please work with your learner on reinforcing proper hand-washing techniques while at school. Covering coughs/sneezes, especially as cold season begins, can also help prevent spread significantly.

Independence Elementary
Shelby Moser
Email: srmoser@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
Phone: ​​​​​​​(701) 499-3565

Website: Social Work - Independence Elementary School

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Community Help: Call 211 or Resource Database - First Link

National Suicide Hotline/Mobile Crisis Unit: Call 988

Immediate danger/emergency: Call 911

Heart & Soul Cafe Spring Schedule: Heart and Soul Cafe

Meal Pantry Sites: FMWF-Food-Pantries-and-Meal-Sites-3.pdf

See if you qualify for Free & Reduced Meals through the school: Free & Reduced Meals - West Fargo 6 School District

If you are experiencing an immediate food crisis, please reach out to Ms. Moser.

Contact Info:

Email: lvagle@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Phone: 701-356-5890 Ext. 3505

Contact Info:

Email: HMITZEL@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Phone: 701-356-5890 Ext. 3533

• The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables during the school day at times other than breakfast or lunch. It is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options.

• The goal of the FFVP is to improve children’s overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health. The FFVP will help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables, children experience, and increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables are served every week, Tuesday - Friday.

We enjoy celebrating with our learners and helping them feel recognized on special days.

To ensure that all learners can participate safely and inclusively, non-food celebrations are

encouraged whenever possible. Small non-food items or special classroom activities are a

wonderful way to celebrate while avoiding concerns related to food allergies, dietary restrictions,

and federal nutrition requirements.

If any individual, group, or organization (including families, PTAs/PTOs, community members,

businesses, school partners, or other outside organizations) chooses to provide food or

beverages to learners during the instructional day, the following guidelines apply:

• Donuts, cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, candy, sugary beverages, and other similar treats

are NOT ALLOWED. Examples of eligible snacks are included on the back of this

document.

• Homemade or home-prepared items are NOT ALLOWED.

• Food items must remain in their original packaging and include a complete ingredient list

and nutrition label.

• Anyone providing food or beverages to learners is responsible for following district policy

and/or classroom-specific requirements outlined below.

If you have questions about whether the food or beverage item you’d like to bring meets district policy and classroom requirements, please contact your child's teacher in advance. If you would like to bring a food or beverage item for more than one classroom, please contact your school principal. Thank you for helping us create a safe, inclusive, and healthy celebration for all learners!

Half Birthdays are celebrated by the following: June in December, July in January and August in February

President: Emily Gerde
Vice President: Anna Wischer
Treasurer: Jessica Offerman
Secretary: Kristi Blanc
Director: Courtney Rinkenberger
Director: Lacey Williams

Meeting dates for 2026-2027 school year:

• September 8th
• October 6th
• November 17th
• January 12th
• February 9th
• April 13th
• May 11th

PTO can be reached at:

independenceptowestfargo@gmail.com

Stay up to date by following our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/IndependencePTO

PTO Minutes:

• September 2026

Attendance Policy:

North Dakota law contains compulsory attendance requirements for students ages seven through sixteen. West Fargo Public Schools believes there is an intangible benefit associated with being present in the classroom. Students are required to attend school 90% of the academic school year. For more information on the district's attendance policy, review the administrative policy FFB-AP: Attendances & Absences.

Attendance

If your child will not be in school, please call the school office before the school day begins, with the following information:

• Child's Name
• Child's Classroom Teacher
• Reason for Absence

Unexcused and unverified absences result when a student skips school or if no phone call has been received by the school. Repeated unexcused/unverified absences or truancy may result in a referral to juvenile authorities through our SARB process.

If you know in advance that your child will be absent due to an appointment, funeral, vacation, etc., please notify your child's classroom teacher and the school office. In the event a child needs to be picked up prior to the end of the school day, a parent/guardian must report to the school office and request the child be dismissed from class. The parent/guardian may call ahead to request the child be ready, but they must still report to the school office.

Just a reminder, if you are moving, please notify our office staff of your new address. This can easily be done with a phone call 701-356-5890 or send an email to independence@west-fargo.k12.nd.us.