Packer Nation News

How is it already November?! The weather is getting colder, the holidays are around the corner, and Quarter 2 is in full swing. Thank you for all the support to set your learner up for success in Quarter 1! We are grateful for the Packer community.

This newsletter contains important information regarding Quarter 2 conferences, upcoming college and career readiness events, the inclement weather schedule, grade 9's advisory experience with HS 101, and academic supports. Additional information can be found on school and district webpages. You can also follow West Fargo High School on Facebook (@WFHighPackers) and Instagram (@wfhs.pack). After review, do not hesitate to contact the school with questions or concerns.

A few notes for your radar:

• Attendance continues to be absolutely essential. Students do receive detention due to an unverified (U) absence or after receiving 5 unexcused tardies (UT) in any one class. This includes advisory and WIN. Please encourage your student to check in with their administrator regarding their assigned detention if they believe it is a mistake!
• Quarter 2 family conferences are around the corner! On Thursday, November 19 from 5:00-7:30p WFHS will host Quarter 2 conferences with an "open house" format. 4:00-5:00p is by appointment only. We will be hosting a informational meeting for job opportunities and work-based learning at 5:15p and a meeting for 9th through 11th grade families about registration information for the 2027-2028 school year at 6:15p.
• There is no school on Wednesday, November 11 in honor of Veteran's Day as well as Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving Break. Enjoy the time with family and friends!
• West Fargo High School will host Testing Week from April 12-April 16. The week will include mandatory statewide assessments for all sophomores (NDA+), mandatory district assessments for juniors (ASVAB), and mandatory graduation requirements for seniors (Senior Survey, etc.). This will likely include an adjusted schedule and we will share more information in the spring. Please plan ahead to ensure your student is in school this week!

It's always a great day to be a Packer.

All my best,

Rachel Bachmeier

In the spirit of continuous improvement, please provide feedback via the following forms as you are able! They are also posted as QR codes in the WFHS Main Office! We review responses submitted via these forms monthly to help us strengthen our practices as a campus. Thank you for your feedback! Go Packers!

Tell us about school safety

Tell us about the WFHS experience

Tell us about staff who are doing an excellent job!

Click here (or view the photo below) to see West Fargo High School's inclement weather schedule. High school learners are expected to bring their device to school each day and home each evening in order to be prepared for an inclement weather day. Late start schedules are available here.

The first time school is cancelled due to inclement weather will be treated as a true snow day, with no expectations, virtual or otherwise, for learners. That day will be made up on April 6, 2026.

After the first inclement weather day, all future inclement weather days will be virtual learning. For this, all learners are required to log-in via Microsoft Teams at 10:00a to their advisory. During this time they will be able to check Schoology to identify expectations for each of their classes, including if their class is meeting synchronously (at the same time) in the morning. If their class is meeting synchronously, learners are expected to log-in for the class. All details about expectations will be posted in learner's individual Schoology courses!

• Infinite Campus and Schoology Access: Help your learner with academic support by staying on top of their progress! Make sure you can access your learner's grades and attendance in Infinite Campus and assignment and assessment information in Schoology! If a student has a grade in both Schoology and Infinite Campus, please remember that Infinite Campus is the OFFICIAL gradebook for learners. If you need help gaining access, please contact the WFHS Main Office!
• Peer Tutors: Peers Tutors are available every block in the Library Media Center to support students! Get help directly from other Packers who have experienced their courses.
• Homework Room: Every Tuesday and Thursday afterschool, learners are welcome to attend Homework Room in 108E from 3:40-4:30p. Due to staffing and space constraints, attendance is limited to the first 15 learners.
• WIN Sessions: WIN sessions are offered 4 days each week (typically Tuesday through Friday) to help support students’ academic, wellness, and Choice Ready skills. Students sign up for sessions daily in Flex.
• Ask! The best way to advocate for academic support is to reach out to the teacher with questions and concerns!

Important Dates

NOVEMBER:

• 2-5: Grade 11 Minute Meetings
  
• 10: Deadline to pay for AP Exams
• 10: Advisory Council Meeting
• 10: Work Keys Testing
• 16-20: Community Circles in AP English Classrooms

Minute Meetings are brief check-ins between the student and school counselor that are conducted two times per school year. The purpose of Minute Meetings is to ensure every student gets the opportunity to speak with their school counselor, discuss postsecondary goals, and identify whether further academic, career, or social-emotional supports are needed.

The practice of community circles is a simple, structured process of communication that helps participants connect with themselves and their community. They are designed to create a safe space for all voices and to encourage participants to step in the direction of their best self. The practice of community circles is a strategy to build and maintain a healthy community in which all members feel connected and respected.

WFHS Career Center Resources:

For questions or interest in exploring your Career and College Readiness opportunities visit the Career Center webpages or book an appointment with Career Advisor, Allison Caldwell.

• WFHS Career Center: https://wfhs.web.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/programs/career-center
• Allison Caldwell: acaldwell@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Career Expo:

The 23rd annual Career Expo will be held on Tuesday, December 1st at the FARGODOME. It is designed to promote various industries to 9th graders in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and area rural public and private schools. We encourage our learners to explore, engage, and inquire about the different industries represented at the event as they begin planning their future pathways to success!

FAFSA Help Session:

The Bank of North Dakota is offering a virtual FAFSA presentation on November 4 at 6:30-7:30pm. Information will be shared about the FAFSA form, types of financial aid, changes to federal student loans and more. If you can't attend live, that's okay, the webinar will be recorded and available the following day. Anyone who registers will receive the recording via email. Click on this link to register for the webinar.

WorkKeys Test Days:

Learners interested in taking or needing to take the WorkKeys Test to work towards earning the ND Scholarship, please see below for some information about the test and upcoming test days.

The WorkKeys is part of the Workforce Ready portion of the ND Scholarship and is comprised of 3 subtests. The three subtests are: Graphic Literacy, Applied Math, and Workplace Documents. Students need to score at least a 5 on a scale of 3 - 7 on each to meet the requirements for the ND Scholarship. Each subtest costs $13.50. Students can take the subtests as many times as needed to earn that score, but each additional attempt costs $13.50 per subtest. If cost is a concern, please let us know. There will be several test days offered throughout the school year. The 3 subtests can either be taken all in one sitting or across several test days. Upcoming test dates are listed below. Click on this link to sign up for the Work Keys test.

Upcoming Work Keys Test Dates:

Tuesday, November 10 - Blocks 1 & 2

Wednesday, December 9 - Blocks 3 & 4

More information about the tests and test prep information can be found at the links below:

Workplace Documents

Graphic Literacy

Applied Math

Test Preparation Resources

Questions about the WorkKeys may be directed to Courtney Quist, Megan Cowden, and Dana Rosendahl.

Advanced Placement Testing Information (AP Exams):

The AP coordinators have been in classrooms and working with students to help students register for their exams. Although the exams will not occur until May 2027, it is crucial that all students are registered and have paid for their exams no later than November 10th to avoid any late fees. Registration is a 2-step process:

• Step 1: Students register for exams in Total Registration and are placed on a waitlist.
• Step 2: Students exams are approved, and fees are adjusted accordingly (your student will likely not be required to pay the full amount for the exam). This is a manual step, so we appreciate your patience as we work through this process to ensure accuracy.
• Step 3: Once the exams are approved, students will receive an email when the exam is ready for payment (you will need to use your student’s login credentials). All exams are paid for on the Total Registration website.

Transcript Requests:

Current and former students can request their transcript by completing this form on the WFHS website. **If you took a dual-credit course, you are required to send an official transcript directly from NDSCS to the college(s) to which you apply. To request transcripts from NDSCS go to: http://www.ndscs.edu/current-students/request-transcripts/.

NCAA Eligibility:

Does your learner have potential plans to play a sport at the collegiate level? If so, please encourage your learner to communicate with their school counselor, administrator, and the activities department to make sure they are academically eligible. More information can be found here: https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/

Bank of North Dakota Dual Credit Assistance Program:

Bank of North Dakota covers the cost of up to two college courses per school year for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who participate in Free or Reduced Price Lunch. If students have questions about this support or their eligibility, they can meet with their school counselor. The deadline to submit applications is the last day of the semester in which they are taking the course.

North Dakota Scholarship:

Senior students graduating from a North Dakota high school may be eligible for this scholarship that can be used at a North Dakota college, university, or eligible training program. There are several requirements that must be met to be eligible for a scholarship worth up to $6,000. Information on the available scholarships can be found in the Counseling Office or online.

Conversations amongst West Fargo High School staff last year resulted in a targeted focus to improve the transition from middle school to high school. One of the ways this is happening this year is through HS 101, the advisory course for all freshman students.

Every Monday during advisory time, freshmen learn about and discuss important topics to set them up for high school success.

If you'd like to read more about the importance of freshman year, we encourage you to check out the book Make or Break Year which we referenced in planning some of our supports for ninth graders. A snippet from the book is below!

"Students who receive more than one F in a semester during their freshman year are very unlikely to graduate, even if, like Eric, they posted solid academic records before HS. And if ninth grade is the make-or-break year for HS graduation, then it is also the pivotal year for a shot at the middle class. HS graduates earn roughly $670,000 more over the course of a lifetime than HS dropouts do. They are more likely to vote, volunteer, and participate in other aspects of civil society. They are less likely to live in poverty or be institutionalized in a prison or mental hospital. They are healthier. They live longer. In short, a HS diploma is the first line of defense against the corrosive effects of poverty." (p. 3)

The contact information and counselor alphabet splits are below. Please contact your learner’s school counselor with any questions/concerns.

Packer Backers is West Fargo High School's booster program. All money raised is used to support our students, athletes, staff, and community. For example, Packer Backer donations have made senior class breakfasts, new scoreboards, and new scoring tables possible! They do not only support athletics; they have provided financial support for a variety of school programs including DECA, FCCLA, Post Prom/Post Grad, and Spanish Club to name a few!

For more information, reach out to wfpackerbackers@gmail.com!

• WFHS Bell Schedules

• 2026-2027 District Calendar Link

• Information about Student Activities

• Application for Free Reduced Meals
• Schoology for Parents/Guardians
• MySchoolBucks
• Graduation Requirements
• College Planning Checklists
• Financial Aid and Scholarship Information
• Transcript Requests

• Quarter 2 Conferences: Thursday, November 19
• Senior Photos Due to the Yearbook: December 12​
• West Fargo Public Schools ACT Option: April 10, 2027 (tentative)​
• NDA+ (grade 10) and ASVAB (grades 11 and 12) testing (required): Week of April 12, 2027​
• Senior Capstone Presentations: Wednesday, April 28 in the morning​
• Prom: Saturday, May 1​
• Senior Day: Friday, May 14​
• Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal: Friday, May 28 @ 2:00p​
• Graduation: Sunday, May 30 @ 3:00p (graduates report by 2:00p)​

Email: wfhs@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: https://wfhs.web.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/
Location: 801 9th Street East, West Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-356-2050