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February signals the beginning of preparations in the Activities Department for the numerous tournaments hosted in Fargo each year at the close of the winter sports season. The Metro Area Tournament Committee, a non-profit that serves as the umbrella organization for managing tournaments in Fargo and West Fargo, is hosting the State Wrestling Tournament and the State AA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament in Fargo this year. Read more about the tournaments hosted locally in this column by Director of Student Activities Todd Olson.

The three comprehensive high schools at FPS introduced Proficiency Days in the Spring of 2024 as a structured academic intervention for students with missing assessments and/or failing grades. These designated days are designed to provide students with the opportunity to complete essential assessments, receive targeted support, and demonstrate their level of proficiency on missing or retake assessments. Read more about what the data says about the effectiveness of Proficiency Days in this column by Science Facilitator Allie Kollman.

February marks Career and Technical Education Month, a time to recognize the powerful impact of CTE programs in shaping the future workforce. In North Dakota, the month is celebrated with the theme Igniting Potential, Inspiring Excellence. Its intent is to showcase how CTE empowers students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences needed for success in high-demand careers. Read more about CTE Month and CTE programming in FPS

Students who are taking Advanced Placement courses that are taken only during semester 2 (January 21-June 5) and want to take an AP exam for these courses must register and pay for their assessment(s) by next Friday, February 14. Students need only take two steps to order a test: obtain the AP course code from their instructor and join the AP Classroom, and go to Total Registration and pay for the exam. For Total Registration links, look for your school’s tab on the left side of the FPS AP website. More information about exam day is also available in the February 2025 AP Newsletter.

Fargo Public Schools will release students two hours early from school next Friday, December 14. Contact your school for more information regarding early release days and how they will affect your child's schedule.

Summer School registration is now open! FPS offers opportunities for students to participate in programs focused on academics, athletics, arts, and more! See the Summer School 2025 offerings and register today!

Get this week's news and events from across Fargo Public Schools in the current issue of SCHOOLTALK. This week's issue highlights include newsmakers, feature columns, and more.

AD-Ventures is a district publication to help families find activities for their children throughout our community. It is published on the first of each month September-May. 

Kindergarten registration is open for the 2025-26 school year! Registration is a two step process. Child must be 5 years old by July 31, 2025 to attend.

In recent years, the FPS Speech-Language Pathologists have participated in panel presentations with various regional universities, sharing insights about their experiences working in schools. These panels, aimed at students in Communication Sciences and Disorders programs or in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology programs, provided an in-depth look at the role of an SLP across different educational levels in public schools.

The Fargo Board of Education is tasked with leading the search for the next superintendent of Fargo Public Schools. The position is set to close to application on February 2, and the Board aims to complete interviews and extend an offer by the end of February. Read more about the superintendent search and the work of the Board's Governance Committee by Fargo Board of Education President Katie Christensen Mineer.

Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour online giving event, is coming up on Thursday, February 13. The day is a large fundraising event that benefits North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota non-profits. Each organization finds a sponsor to generously match donations. Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation and Trollwood Performing Arts School are both taking part. Tax deductible donations can be scheduled now. You may also wait to give on February 13.

In a world of constant information, communication, alerts, apps and more, sometimes it’s hard to know the quickest path to find the information you need. It’s essential that parents and community members are able to stay connected with our district and keep informed about the incredible programs, initiatives, and achievements that make FPS a cornerstone of our community. Whether you are a parent, or community supporter, we’ve established robust communication channels to ensure you have access to timely and comprehensive information.

FPS collaborates with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to support students with disabilities in employment. VR is a program designed to support individuals with disabilities in achieving their employment goals. It helps individuals prepare for, secure, maintain, or advance in meaningful careers by providing resources, training, and guidance.

At FPS, we know that the success of our students is deeply rooted in the partnership between our staff and parents. Together, we create a community where every child feels supported, valued, and inspired to achieve their full potential. It’s this collaboration that makes FPS a special place for learning and growth. Read about the important collaborations between FPS staff and parents to create an exceptional experience for every student 

As the end of the semester approaches, both teachers and students are preparing to finalize grades. It is crucial for teachers to communicate and review each student’s body of evidence and letter grades. Likewise, parents should review their student’s gradebook and reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns.

The District Student Support Team is a dedicated group of professionals working collaboratively to support students from Early Childhood Special Education through Grade 12. The purpose of this team is to provide building teams an avenue to request assistance for students with complex behavioral or academic needs (both students with and without an IEP/504).

In line with its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, FPS is implementing an enhanced process and procedure for Adapted Physical Education. This initiative is not merely a compliance measure with the guidance set forth by the ND Department of Public Instruction, but a proactive step towards ensuring that every student, regardless of ability, receives tailored physical education services.

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In support of our commitment to equitable and transparent grading practices, FPS is implementing Standards-Based Instruction (SBI) and Evidence-Based Reporting (EBR) for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in general education settings. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, asterisks will no longer be used on progress reports K-12 to indicate student proficiency levels.
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Although the Fargo Board of Education Negotiations Committee has not yet formally begun negotiations, the committee has been meeting and has been busy at work preparing for the 2025-2027 negotiations season.

Emergencies are, by their nature, unpredictable. However, when students and staff are well-prepared, the response can be swift and effective. Emergency drills are vital to help build a school-wide culture of safety. Teaching students and staff exactly what to do, whether it's a fire, a lockdown situation, or a tornado, prepares them to respond in the first moments in the safest way possible.

Find out more about reimagining four core school sites: Ben Franklin, Hawthorne, Roosevelt and Madison. To ensure plans reflect the values of those who live in the community, we want to hear from you!

Fargo Public Schools makes every effort to keep schools open each day. Our first choice will always be to remain open, but at times the weather conditions within the city merit a school closing.