Mission Statement Students will be self-reliant people of sound character who have highly developed academic, communication and life skills to succeed in their own lives while contributing to the well being of their communities.

FPS Vision The Board of Education represents the owners of the Fargo Public Schools – all citizens of the district. To this end, the Board has developed a vision. As a result of the Fargo Public School ’s efforts, we - the students – will:

Demonstrate academic competency. Learning is a continuous and rewarding process. All of us have met or exceeded district expectations by demonstrating academic competency in all subject areas. This was accomplished in a safe environment that promoted learning and addressed our unique learning style.

Be self-reliant individuals. Independent individuals successfully manage their own lives. Important tools are our time management and study skills. This allows the application of both critical and creative thinking skills. We are able to effectively and appropriately manage all types of resources to solve problems.

Exhibit essential life skills. Meeting the demands of everyday life is challenging. Making healthy lifestyle choices helps us maintain our physical and mental health. Some of the healthy lifestyle choices include the avoidance of restricted and illegal substances. We understand that we are responsible for our choices. We believe that hard work contributes to success. This belief has helped to develop a strong work ethic that is valued by our employers.

Exhibit citizenship. Participation and contribution to the community are important for the well being and continued improvement of the community and democratic government. Through constructive behaviors and active participation, we demonstrate responsible citizenship. We are conversant about societal issues and understand that with our rights, come responsibilities.

Demonstrate communication skills. We communicate effectively by reading, writing, speaking and listening by using a variety of media for mutual understanding.

Exhibit sound character. We accept and respect diversity. This includes diversity of gender, culture and age. We cooperate and collaborate to achieve common goals, or work independently and complete when necessary. Being of sound character and having healthy self-esteem, we accept and respect others and ourselves. We understand that relationships are built on respect, trust and honest communication.

Experience the arts. We are able to demonstrate the basic understanding and appreciation of the arts through creation, performance or appreciation.

FPS Beliefs The Board of Education, elected by the owners, base their decisions on a set of common beliefs. We believe that:

• All students can learn
• Physical, emotional and psychological safety is a fundamental human need
• Learning is a shared responsibility
• People have unique learning styles and needs
• A climate of healthy risk-taking encourages learning
• People are responsible for their own choices
• Our responsibility is to challenge the intellect of all children
• Hard work contributes to success
• Effective relationships are based upon respect, trust and honest communication
• Effective organizations require good stewardship of resources
• Schools create conditions that promote learning
• Personal and organizational improvement requires ongoing effort
• A strong democracy depends upon educated participation
• With rights come responsibilities
• Human potential is unlimited
• Higher expectations result in higher performance
• Learning is a continuous and rewarding process