Search
Featured Articles
- Details
- Category: Districtwide News
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:
-
Providing tours for students
-
Demonstrating uses of technology
-
Accompanying students on field trips
-
Explaining businesses to students
-
Displaying student projects
-
Being pen pals with students
-
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.
- Details
- Category: Districtwide News
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:
-
Text alerts: to subscribe to the school text alert list, please read THIS ARTICLE and follow the directions.
-
District website: Information will be posted on www.fergusotters.org.
-
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.
-
Radio stations: Announcements will be aired on the following radio stations:
-
Lakes Radio, Fergus Falls
-
KJJK-AM (1020)
-
KBRF-AM (1250)
-
KJJK-FM (96.5)
-
KZCR-FM (103.3)
-
KPRW-FM (99.5)
-
Clear Channel Radio, Fargo
-
KFGO-AM (790)
-
KVOX-AM (1280)
-
KBAF-FM (93)
-
KRVI-FM (95.1)
-
KKBX-FM (101.9)
-
WDAY-FM (94)
-
-
Fargo television stations
-
KXJB (4)
-
WDAY (6)
-
KVLY (11)
-
When school is cancelled for the day, it typically means that:
-
All schools are closed.
-
All daytime programs are cancelled, including Early Childhood Family Education and Community Education.
-
After-school activities, including athletic practices and events, are cancelled.
-
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:
-
All schools will run exactly two hours later than usual.
-
Buses will run two hours later than usual.
-
There will be no morning half-day kindergarten.
-
Afternoon programs will operate as usual.
-
After-school activities, including athletic practices and events, are held as usual.
When school is dismissed early, it typically means that:
-
All afternoon programs are cancelled, including Early Childhood Family Education and Community Education.
-
After-school activities, including athletic practices and events, are cancelled.
-
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.
- Details
- Category: Districtwide News
Receiving ISD 544 Alerts & Notifications
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.
A - Community members without a student in our district who wish to receive weather notifications
Please follow these instructions: (View as printable document)
NOTE: We highly recommend performing these steps on a computer, not a mobile device.
-
Go to the School Messenger sign in page, on this page click on the Sign Up Now link
-
Fill out all of the fields
-
Remember to check the “Accept Terms” box
-
Click Create Account
-
You'll be redirected to the Activate Account page. Leave that page open as you'll come back to it in a moment
-
In a new tab, go check your email
-
Select and copy the confirmation code. Go back to the open Activate Account page
-
Paste in the confirmation code, and enter the password you entered upon registration. Click Submit
In a few seconds, you’ll be redirected into your account.
-
Under the Interests section, uncheck all of the items as you probably only want weather alerts. Click Save.
-
IMPORTANT: In the Contacts section, click Add More
-
Select how you wish to be notified: Phone Call and SMS Text, or just one of those options. This will determine how you are notified of our Weather Alerts
-
Click Next
-
Enter your phone number, including Area Code
-
Click Next
Carefully follow the steps on the next screen to verify your phone number. (Call 844-380-3893 and enter the activation code displayed on the screen.)
-
Click Done to return to your Profile page
Make note of the email address and password you used to create your account, as you will need to to return to your Profile page to make changes to your account.
On this page are three tabs: Messages - Contact Info - My Account
-
Messages - see an archive of messages you've received from us
-
Contact Info - See which phone numbers you've associated with your account. You can also add or delete numbers here.
-
My Account - Change your password, or permanently close your account
Questions? Please contact us at
B - Parents of currently enrolled students
Using SchoolMessenger, we are able to email, message, or call parents of currently enrolled students based upon the phone numbers we have on record in Synergy. This messaging system is our preferred method of communicating with families, as it allows notifications about lunch balances, conference reminders, and absences…so much more than just weather alerts!
You can sign into SchoolMessenger to determine which phone call and email notifications you wish to receive from our automated system.
If you've already created an account, simply visit go.schoolmessenger.com and sign in.
To configure your preferences:
-
Click the three lines menu in the top-left corner
-
Select Preferences
-
Determine how you'd like to be notified for each of the notification categories
-
Note: you must include at least one phone number in the Attendance category
You can also manage your notification preferences via the School Messenger app, available in your mobile device's app store.
If you need to register, do this:
-
Go to go.schoolmessenger.com
-
Click Sign Up
-
Enter your email address (must be same one that is used in Synergy, our Student Information System)
-
Set up a password according to the requirements. (You’ll receive an email with a link you’ll use to confirm your account)
-
Once signed in, click the three lines menu in the top-left corner
-
Select Preferences
-
Determine how you'd like to be notified for each of the notification categories
-
Note: you must include at least one phone number in the Attendance category
-
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.
Greetings!
On behalf of the Fergus Falls Public School District, I extend a warm welcome. We are honored that you have entrusted us with the care and education of your child.
The Fergus Falls Public School District is a special place. Our mission statement outlines our commitment to each and every child: “The mission of the Fergus Falls Public Schools is to prepare productive and engaged members of society by creating an environment where all students reach their full potential.”
What will your child’s experience be as a member of our school community? Children will be surrounded by adults who care about them. We will provide the necessary support to help ensure that each child is successful. Children will be challenged. That’s how new skills are developed and how learning, confidence and leadership is fostered.
In providing a robust 21st century learning environment - we emphasize the five “Cs” - Core Knowledge, Creative Problem Solving, Communication, Contributing Citizen and Character. These core competencies ensure that our students will be well-positioned for success wherever their dreams take them.
We pride ourselves on providing a rigorous academic curriculum with a diverse selection of electives. We support our students with a 1:1 technology initiative to augment instruction, we have strong vocational programs and excellent participation among our students in the arts. A large percentage of our students are involved in co-curricular activities and our programs are highly respected and competitive. In summary, we offer the family atmosphere of a small rural school combined with the opportunities typically only found in much larger districts.
Through the process of discovering and developing their talents, interests and skills, our students are going to make great memories, grow in confidence, become leaders in our school and community and form lifelong friendships. Once an Otter, always an Otter!
Warmest Regards,
Superintendent