SchoolTalk
FPS e-Newsletter for November 5, 2026
I want to sincerely thank everyone who voted. Voting is one of the great rights we have, and I appreciate all those who exercised this right. The results of the election demonstrate support for public education and our district, and I am grateful for the support from our community. With this support comes great responsibility. We must utilize these taxpayer funds in a way that achieve the best outcomes for learners. Fargo Public Schools now can look to the future and take our next great step forward. Thank you for supporting our learners and staff!
Dr. Cory Steiner
Superintendent
Feature Column - Understanding Homelessness in Our Schools.
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, an opportunity to increase understanding of the housing challenges learners and families may experience and the educational rights and protections available to support them.
Read more about the impacts of homelessness in our schools, the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act, and how families can receive support in this Feature Column by Assistant Director of Student Support Services Dr. Jen Sahr.
Feature Column - FPS SEPAC Seeks Volunteers for Data Workgroup
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee brings together students, parents, caregivers, District staff, and community members to promote inclusion, understanding, respect, and support for learners with disabilities.
SEPAC is seeking parents, caregivers, community members, and FPS staff who would like to participate in a workgroup that will look at special education data from the Level of Determination Report Card. Interested individuals should complete the SEPAC Workgroup Interest Form.
Read more about SEPAC and the workgroup in this Feature Column by Director of Student Support Services Shelby DiFonzo.
National School Psychology Week
Next week, November 9-13 is National School Psychology Week. Thank you to our school psychologists for supporting our schools and leaners. Take some time next week to thank a school psychologist for their important work!
This week, we join schools across the country in celebrating National School Psychology Week, an annual opportunity to recognize the vital contributions of our school psychologists. This year's theme, "Inspire Connection," highlights how school psychologists build meaningful relationships that support learners, strengthen collaboration, and transform school communities.
Our dedicated school psychologists at Fargo Public Schools are not only crucial to helping learners thrive academically but are also essential in fostering safe and supportive environments that promote social, emotional, and behavioral growth. They reduce barriers and promote educational justice, guiding students on journeys of self-discovery and success.
Employee Spotlight - Theresa Gravdahl
Meet Discovery Middle School Physical Education Teacher Theresa Gravdahl 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 learners, educators, 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.
Jim Keal's 'Why'
This school year, Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner challenged all FPS educators to develop a 'Why' statement as a reminder of why they choose to work in the education field and what they aim to accomplish through their work going forward. Each week, FPS is highlighting an educator's 'Why' in this newsletter. If you would like to share your 'Why,' please send it to FPS Communications Specialist Adam Watts at wattsa@fargo.k12.nd.us.
Washington Elementary School Principal Jim Keal's 'Why'
Education is the transformative opportunity. Education equips us with knowledge, skills, and attitudes to improve ourselves and the world we live in. By prioritizing quality education, we empower people to think critically, engage meaningfully, and contribute to stronger communities and a better future.
“Education is the Silver Bullet” – Sam Seaborn
No School November 11
There will be no school next Wednesday, November 11 for the Veterans Day holiday. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Thursday, November 12.
South Musical - Punk Rock Girl!
South High School presents the musical Punk Rock Girl! this Thursday-Sunday, November 5-8 in the South Theater, with Thursday-Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday performance at 2 p.m.
Punk Rock Girl! features a score of popular songs written and made famous by female artists and female-fronted bands, including Blondie, Pat Benatar, Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, P!nk, Gwen Stefani and more. Sixteen-year-old Angela Quivers is a perfectionist who never takes chances and feels like there’s no place where she belongs … until she meets Proxi, a teenager who pulls her into a world of grungy guitars, shocking secrets, and big, loud, messy emotions.
Tickets are $6.80 for students and $9.07 for adults and can be purchased on the Fargo Public Schools Online Theater Box Office website. FPS employees and Activity Pass holders can redeem complimentary tickets to Fargo Public Schools theatre productions by completing the complimentary ticket request form.
College Credit for North Dakota Seal of Biliteracy
World Language learners can receive free college credit at the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, and Concordia College for earning the North Dakota Seal of Biliteracy.
Earning the silver seal earns learners eight credits from UND and NDSU and a gold seal earns students 12 credits, worth $4,000 or $6,000 at each institution. Learners can receive four credits from Concordia for either a silver or gold seal, worth $3,180.
Interested learners and families should contact their World Language teacher or visit the North Dakota Seal of Biliteracy page on the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction website to learn how to earn the seal.
AD-Ventures for Kids & Teens
AD-Ventures is a district publication intended to help families find activities for their children throughout our community. It is published on the first of each month during the school year (September through May).
AD-Ventures for Kids is for youth in grade levels K-5.
AD-Ventures for Teens is for youth in grade levels 6-8.
Snacks for Students Recycling Challenge
During the month of November, The City of Fargo is partnering with MinnKota Recycling to promote the “Snacks for Students” Recycling Challenge. Proceeds from the campaign will benefit the Fargo Public Schools Foundation’s efforts to provide snacks for students in need. MinnKota Recycling will provide a one-cent-per-pound match for all aluminum cans collected in November at Fargo’s recycling sites listed below. Additionally, the Metro Sports Foundation will donate $500 to the campaign.
- The Coliseum – 807 17th Avenue North
- McKinley Elementary School – 2930 8th Street North
- Longfellow Elementary School – 20 29th Avenue North
- Mickelson Field – 901 Oak Street North
- Lincoln Elementary School – 2120 9th Street South
- Fargo Park District maintenance building – 4515 University Drive South
- Centennial Elementary School – 4201 25th Street South
- Lewis & Clark Elementary School – 1729 16th Street South
- Osgood Fire Station – 3957 Village Lane
My Life is Worth Living
North Dakota families are invited to a virtual event featuring My Life is Worth Living, the first animated series dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention. Through the stories of seven characters, the series models the support and connection that help young people move from negative thoughts toward hope and self-compassion.
Thanks to funding from North Dakota Health and Human Services, these monthly events are no-cost, family-friendly, and open to every North Dakotan. The next virtual event is at 7 p.m. next Wednesday, November 11. Register here.
Fargo Public Library Events
The Fargo Public Library has a number of events for kids and teens coming up, including Chess Club at Main, the library's chess club open to all ages, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the downtown Main Library; Pokemon Club at Carlson, for Pokemon Trading Card Game players of all ages (kids & teens) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on November 10 and November 24 at the Dr. James Carlson Library; and the Library Lair for Teens, a weekly hangout for teens and tweens age 10-18 at the Dr. James Carlson Library every Thursday from 5-6 p.m. For more information about these events, visit www.fargolibrary.org.
North NDCEL Presentations
North High School educators presented at the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders Conference in Bismarck. PACE Facility and ILC/Online educator Tom Larson and Principal Travis Christensen presented on how North supports learners through alternative pathways and personalized/choice education to maximize success. And Christensen and Assistant Principal Erin Sinner presented on how North builds responsibility with their high school learners through a variety of successful approaches including Proficiency Days, tardy-free weeks, and reassessment strategies. (Photo courtesy Erin Sinner)
Pillow Project
Discovery Middle School sixth graders used their sewing skills to make their FACS classroom a little cozier. The learners each chose fabric in a variety of designs and combined their knowledge of hand sewing and sewing machines to make their own pillows. (Photo courtesy Erin Bates)
Bison Readers
A pair of North Dakota State University football players went from the gridiron to the classroom as they visited Erin Deck's first grade class at Lewis & Clark Elementary School. Bison freshmen Zach Hellendrung and Trey McPartland read to the class, answered questions from learners, and turned the Q&A around and asked the first graders some questions. (Photo courtesy Erin Deck)
Pumpkin Investigation
Belmont Pumpkins in Grand Forks donated pumpkins to Erin Deck's first grade class at Lewis & Clark Elementary School. The class conducted a pumpkin investigation and learned about the parts of a pumpkin and the life cycle of a pumpkin, used their five senses to explore the pumpkin, counted the seeds, and saw if a pumpkin will sink or float. (Photo courtesy Erin Deck)
Spooky Spirit
The front office staff at Explorer Academy got into the spooky spirit as the school celebrated on the Friday before Halloween. The educators brought some joy to the learners at the school as they dressed up as a skeleton and a pumpkin. (Photo courtesy Stacie Erickson)
Teddy Bear Clinic
Students from North High School’s HOSA Chapter hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic for Washington Elementary School first graders as a culminating event for their CKLA Domain 2 Unit: From Nose to Toes, How the Human Body Works. Learners brought their Teddy Bears or other stuffed animals through various stations of the interactive clinic where Health Science learners acted as healthcare providers. The teddy bears received check-ups, bandaging, basic first aid, X-rays, and more. (Photo courtesy Sandra Sterling)
Wizard of Oz Costumes
Educators at Ben Franklin Middle School followed the yellow brick road as the celebrated Halloween a day early last Friday. Six educators collaborated to bring the merry old land of Oz to the school as they dressed up as Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda the Good Witch, and the Wicked Witch of the West. (Photo courtesy Kirstin Hanson)
Fall Activities
Bennett Elementary School celebrated the season with a series of fall activities as they closed out October and rang in November. The learners dressed up in their costumes and played fall math games, completed fall literacy stations, and played fall Bingo. (Photo courtesy Amber Remark)
Spider Races
Learners in Mr. Calrow's advisory class spent the last couple of weeks before Halloween completing a creepy crawly project. The learners designed and built spiders, created their own backstories for them, and then raced them. Each spider was judged by a panel of judges and awards were handed out for Most Creative Spider, Best Story of Origin, Fastest Spider, and Most Well-Rounded Spider. (Photo courtesy Gregory Calrow)
Then and Now
Bennett Elementary School educators brought in pictures of themselves from when they were in elementary school and they are now hanging on the wall as part of the school's Then and Now display. Bennett learners have been having fun looking at the pictures and guessing which educators the youngsters in the pictures grew up to be. (Photo courtesy Amber Remark)
Math and STEM Carnival
Reading Challenge
Bennett Elementary School's library finished its first reading challenge of the school year. Learners who completed the challenge were able to pick out a free book to take home as their reward. (Photo courtesy Amber Remark)
Adjective Box
Hawthorne Elementary School second graders got a mystery surprise as they practiced their adjectives. They stuck their hands inside a box to touch an unknown object and then wrote down adjectives to describe what they felt. Objects included noodles, grapes, a pumpkin, and a fake spider. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Folden)
ML Family Night
More than 250 learners, families, and community members came together at Agassiz for Fargo Public Schools' Fall Multilingual Learner Family Night. Guests enjoyed food and connected with other families from across the district as they gathered to celebrate their cultures and strengthen their sense of belonging within the FPS community. The event included an informative session about the multilingual learner program and fun activities. (Photo courtesy Tracey Johnson)
Courts Plus Prize
Mrs. Emery's fourth grade class and their first grade buddies from Mrs. Lura's class at Eagles Elementary School earned a prize for raising money at the school's walk-a-thon fundraiser. The Eagles learners got to take a trip to Courts Plus to play on the indoor playground. (Photo courtesy Lana Akvik)
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