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ROTARY HONORED FOR LANGUAGE PROGRAM Project English, a program of the F-M Area Rotary Clubs with Carl Ben Eielson Middle School, has been presented the Champions for Diversity in Education Award by Cultural Diversity Resources. The program assists New Americans in learning their new language using the Rosetta Stone computer software, under the guidance of Rotary and FPS volunteers. The weekly program is an outgrowth of the school’s extended relationship with Rotary through the FPS Development Foundation’s Adopt-a-School program. Thank you to the Rotary and District volunteers who make this great program work! |
Welcome to Current News about the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation. This area of the Foundation website will be updated on a regular basis with brief news about donations, Adopt-A-School partnerships, alumni activity, grant developments and other relevant happenings. |
 Family creates fund in memory of Coach Tom Lium Coach Tom Lium led the Fargo South basketball teams and they won state championships in 1986 and 1989. In 1989, the South Bruins had a 25-0 record, something that had not been done in 48 years. According to Lium, "We came out this year and worked much harder, our intensity was great. We tried to improve each time we went out, and I think we did." Tom Lium won 427 games as head boys basketball coach and was named North Dakota High School Boy's Basketball Coach of the Year 1986-1987. He passed a few years later. The Coach Tom Lium fund will provide funding for winter coats and gear for students in need at Carl Ben Eielson Middle School and Fargo South High School. Click here to print a form to make a gift in memory of Coach Lium. |
Michelle Bertsch presented with the 2011-12 Cynthia Selland Teacher of the Year award.
Mathematics can be an abstract course and a real struggle for some students. Michelle’s variety of delivery keeps students engaged and there is a strong emphasis on formative assessments. She has adopted many strategies to help students achieve.
Michelle’s classroom is filled with student work and student pictures. Her student designed “trig” shirts are displayed in her classroom and it reflects the type of commitment that students bring to her each day.
For many years, Mrs. Bertsch has implemented an Innovative Teacher Grant project called “Doing Time in Math.” Fargo North students will travel to elementary schools to work with elementary children on various hands-on math activities. Due to the high level of interest from elementary teachers additional funding was provided to expand the program.
Michelle Bertsch just completed her fourteenth year of teaching at North High School. This fall, she became a faculty member of the newly opened Davies High School. The Cynthia Thoresen Selland award for teaching recognizes an outstanding teacher in the Fargo Public Schools and remembers Mrs. Selland's 31-year teaching career at Agassiz, Ben Franklin and Fargo South. |
 The Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation announces the establishment of the Lowell D. Wolff Foundation Fund in honor of his retirement from Fargo Public Schools in May 2011.
Lowell Wolff joined Fargo Public schools as a music teacher in 1971 after graduating from Concordia College earlier that year. After completing his Master's Degree from the University of Illinois, he returned to Fargo and led the Fargo South Band program.
In the early 1980's he became interested in computing and enrollment in a graduate program at Minnesota State University - Moorhead. In 1985, he accepted a position to develop the instructional computer program for the District. By 1995 the District was recognized by the National School Board Association as one of three technology lighthouse districts in the nation.
In 1998-1999, Lowell took a 50% leave of absence to become the Executive Director of a community-wide planning project called Project Tomorrow. After returning to the District full-time, he and Board of Education member Kathy Hawken, turned their attention to formalizing the Fargo Public Development Foundation. The articles of incorporation were filed in August of 2000 and 501(c)(3) status was granted in December 2000.
Why does a public school need a foundation?
The expenditures of publically funded organizations are always scrutinized by the public and tax payers don't expect to see their tax dollars used as venture capital. Yet venture capital is commonly seen in businesses that are expected to achieve creativity and excellence. The Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation has the capacity to fund those innovative programs that may be questioned by others - programs that move a good school district to an excellent school district. That is why this endowment fund for foundation operations is so important. "It is an avenue to insure our district will always be pushed to higher levels of innovation and excellence."
If you would like to honor Lowell D. Wolff by donating to this fund, please print this donation form to mail to the Foundation. Online donations can be made using our secure online payment processing system, or contact us at 701-446-1041. |
Donovon C. Nelson Scholarship The family of Donovon Nelson is establishing a scholarship in his name at the Fargo Public School Foundation. Mr. Nelson has a long history with our school district. Donovon Nelson graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College. He taught and coached in Thief River Falls, MN and Pine River, MN before joining the Fargo Public Schools in 1948. Donovon taught math and coached at Horace Mann, then after receiving his master’s degree from the University of Idaho was assistant principal and guidance counselor at Ben Franklin Junior High. In 1965 he was named principal at Clara Barton Elementary and in 1967 also assumed the duties of principal at Lincoln Elementary. One of his favorite activities was opening the gym at Clara Barton on Saturday mornings during the school year for neighborhood boys. Former teachers have fond memories of the yearly Christmas parties he and Mary hosted in their homes. This tradition continued for many years, even after his retirement in 1985. Following his retirement he was elected to the Fargo School Board and served three terms, the last year as President. Mr. Nelson was also a member of the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation, serving from 2003 through 2005.
Donovon Nelson passed away peacefully on Saturday February 19, 2011 at the age of 88 at home with his wife by his side and under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley. Memorial gifts are being accepted by the FPS Foundation. For your convenience, use the pdf form for making this tribute gift. (Click on words to take you to the link.) Online donations can be made using our secure online payment processing system, or contact us at 701-446-1041.
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ENDOWED NAMED FUND LIST CONTINUES TO GROW Would you like to honor or remember someone with a gift that will perpetually provide FPS students with exciting learning opportunities or scholarships that would otherwise not be available? Donations of $10,000 or more, which can be paid immediately or over 4 years, qualify for the Foundation endowed named grant/scholarship program. Donors can determine grant and scholarship critieria as they wish. As of March 2011, the following named endowed funds are in place at the Foundation:
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SUMMARY OF FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS The Foundation is grateful for all the support we've received from area businesses, alumni, parents, service clubs, district staff, retired educators and the general public. Thanks to you, the Foundation made significant strides in it's mission to provide FPS students with enriched and enhanced learning opportunities that would otherwise not have been possible. Our accomplishments included: GRANTS PROGRAM Educators in the Fargo Public Schools are invited to apply for Innovative Education Grants. Most grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000. Please visit the Grant Information section for further information and a detailed listing of the most recent grants awarded, including named grant awards from endowed funds created with gifts of $10,000 or more to the Foundation. OTHER ENDOWMENT DISTRIBUTIONS The Foundation distributed $2,500 from the Alice Warren endowed fund in support of the Adult Learning Center, where Alice was a faithful and devoted volunteer until her death. CRITICAL NEEDS FUND The Foundation distributed over $11,000 in critical need funds to district elementary schools serving a high percentage of low-income students and families. The funds help to purchase school supplies, clothing, bus tokens, morning milk, and other student needs in a timely manner. ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM The Foundation continues to administer the Adopt-A-School program, which brings business employees and other community volunteers into our schools to assist with reading programs, mentoring, tutoring, after-school activities, community service projects, career awareness presentations and other activities. Currently 13 elementary schools, the Eagles Education Center, the school setting at Prairie at St. John's, Fargo North High School, Fargo South High School, Woodrow Wilson Community High School and Carl Ben Eielson Middle School all have Adopt-A-School partners engaged at their schools. The most recent partnership involves a group of NDSU students from the Planning for College Success program mentoring with at-risk students at CBEMS. SCHOLARSHIPS The Foundation administers 16 scholarships benefiting deserving FPS graduates. The scholarships are funded with both annual and endowed gifts. ALUMNI ACTIVITY The Foundation maintains and builds an alumni database (North, South and Woodrow Wilson grads.) to assist with class reunions and other alumni events. In addition, an alumni newspaper for North, South and Woodrow Wilson graduates is produced quarterly. Alumni can receive the newspaper by paying a $15 annual subscription or a $150 lifetime subscription. The subscription fees help cover the costs of producing, printing and mailing the newspaper, as well as costs associated with maintaining the alumni database. |