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- Written by: Kristie Sullivan - Curriculum Director
- Category: Districtwide News
- Hits: 31
Why does soap make bubbles? Why do we get goosebumps? Can a turtle live outside of its shell? How do you become a great inventor?
Young learners in the Fergus Falls Public Schools are challenged to approach science through curiosity and inquiry, and these are a few examples of topics they might explore in order to form scientific knowledge and skills. Science instruction is shifting from a relatively passive model to one of active investigation; rather than seeing experiments performed by their teachers, students are asking their own research questions, conducting investigations, recording their observations, using evidence and reasoning to form arguments, and communicating their findings with others.
In 2019, a committee of stakeholders from all corners of the state came together to revise Minnesota’s K-12 Academic Standards in Science. The result is a guiding document that, in large part, resembles the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which were formed in response to research and recommendations published by the National Research Council’s A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012). The new standards go beyond students’ understanding of core ideas to place emphasis on their active participation in scientific and engineering practices. Additionally, students are taught to recognize and replicate concepts and strategies that extend throughout the sciences and into other disciplines (math, language arts, etc.), such as “cause and effect”, “patterns”, and “systems”. Rather than teaching these concepts in isolation, instruction in several content areas better equips students to form connections and to build competence in applying strategies both in their classrooms and in authentic contexts.
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- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
- Category: Districtwide News
- Hits: 1608
Our Activities Office has its own site! Head HERE to visit!
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- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
- Category: Districtwide News
- Hits: 169
Local businesses and organizations have an opportunity to get involved with and support K-6 classrooms through the Adopt-a-Class program in our elementary schools and middle school.
The program pairs each of the K-6 classrooms with a community partner. Adopt-a-Class provides a link between the schools and the business community, giving business people a look at what’s happening in schools and giving students a look into the world of work.
Together, each partner and teacher decide how they want to connect. Some partners do monthly activities with students, while others connect only once or twice during the school year.
Some of the ways that businesses have connected with classrooms are:
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Providing tours for students
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Demonstrating uses of technology
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Accompanying students on field trips
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Explaining businesses to students
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Displaying student projects
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Being pen pals with students
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Reading with students
If you are interested in joining Adopt-a-Class this year, please complete this form. Businesses can adopt a specific classroom, if desired, or a classroom will be assigned. Each participating business pays $100 to its adopted classroom, with the money spent at the teacher’s discretion for educational projects, supplies or field trips.
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- Written by: Jesse Thorstad
- Category: Districtwide News
- Hits: 290
If winter storms or other emergency situations cause us to close school for the day, delay the start of school or close school early, we will notify families by:
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Text alerts: to subscribe to the school text alert list, please read THIS ARTICLE and follow the directions.
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District website: Information will be posted on www.fergusotters.org.
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Recorded messages on district office phones: A taped message on the status of schools and programs will be on the district’s main office phone line, 218-998-0544.
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Radio stations: Announcements will be aired on the following radio stations:
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Lakes Radio, Fergus Falls
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KJJK-AM (1020)
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KBRF-AM (1250)
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KJJK-FM (96.5)
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KZCR-FM (103.3)
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KPRW-FM (99.5)
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Clear Channel Radio, Fargo
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KFGO-AM (790)
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KVOX-AM (1280)
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KBAF-FM (93)
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KRVI-FM (95.1)
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KKBX-FM (101.9)
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WDAY-FM (94)
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Fargo television stations
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KXJB (4)
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WDAY (6)
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KVLY (11)
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When school is cancelled for the day, it typically means that:
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All schools are closed.
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All daytime programs are cancelled, including Early Childhood Family Education and Community Education.
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After-school activities, including athletic practices and events, are cancelled.
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School-Aged Child Care at the YMCA will not be operating.
When the start of school is delayed by two hours, it typically means that:
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All schools will run exactly two hours later than usual.
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Buses will run two hours later than usual.
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There will be no morning half-day kindergarten.
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Afternoon programs will operate as usual.
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After-school activities, including athletic practices and events, are held as usual.
When school is dismissed early, it typically means that:
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All afternoon programs are cancelled, including Early Childhood Family Education and Community Education.
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After-school activities, including athletic practices and events, are cancelled.
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School-Aged Child Care at the YMCA will not be operating.
The early school dismissal information provided by parents will be followed for elementary school students. If buses are unable to travel on rural bus routes, rural students will be taken to the storm homes designated by parents.
If school is in session on a day that you, as a parent, feel it is too cold or stormy to send your child to school, you may choose to keep your child home. His or her absence will be treated as an excused absence, just as it would for an illness.
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For notifications, we utilize SchoolMessenger, a service that integrates with Synergy, our Student Information System.
If you are a parent with students in our schools, you have more School Messenger options than the general public, including low lunch balance alerts and attendance alerts.
Please follow the steps below that pertain to your situation, following directions for either A or B.
Please note that SchoolMessenger is just one of the many ways we alert the public about school closings and delays, and should not be relied upon as your sole source of information. Internet traffic and other factors can often delay text message and email transmissions. We also announce school closings and delays on our website (www.fergusotters.org), our Facebook page, on local radio, and via Fargo television stations.
For more information about school closings and delays, please read this article.
Please follow the steps below that pertain to your situation, following directions for either A or B.
Subcategories
School Board
Minutes from the meeting of the Fergus Falls Public Schools School Board.
KSS News
News from Kennedy Secondary School, our grades 5-12 building.