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2024-2025 School Year
2024-2025 School Year
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
We will be posting accomplishments from the 2024-2025 school year soon!
2023-2024 School Year
2023-2024 School Year
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books
Purpose: To provide extra academic activities, promote reading comprehension, introduce and strengthen team building skills, and foster a love of reading for students.
How It Works: Battle of the Books is an optional reading program for students in grades 3 to 5. Starting in October, participants read from a designated book list and take comprehension quizzes to ensure content is understood. In January, participants must read the minimum number of books and are placed on teams to begin practicing for the Battle. All students assigned to teams receive a Battle of the Books T-shirt sponsored by Freedom PTA. Battles between teams are held in February with 4th and 5th grade champion team battling Freedom staff for the ultimate title! Special awards are also given by 1) reading all books in a given grade level and 2) participating for all 3 years!
Outcomes: For the 2023-2024 academic year, we are happy to report the following:
Grade 4-5: There were eight teams with 49 students involved! There were eight 5th graders earning their 3 year participation trophy! There were six 4th and 5th graders earning the "All Books Read" award. Battle winners include:
1st Place: Gators
2nd Place: Poodles
Grade 3: There were eight teams with 33 students involved! There were six 3rd graders earning the "All Books Read" award. Battle winners include:
1st Place: Coo Coo Bananas
2nd Place: Shooting Stars
The Freedom Elementary PTA is proud to sponsor this program for the school!
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge
FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge
History: This program has been supported at Freedom Elementary since 2014. Since 2016, Freedom Elementary has had teams participate in the local competition as well as state level competition.
Purpose: The FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge is one of three divisions by age group of the FIRST® LEGO® League program and serves children ages 9-16. This program inspires young people to experiment and grow their confidence, critical thinking, and design skills through hands-on learning. FIRST® LEGO® League was created through an alliance between FIRST® and LEGO® Education.
Outcomes: Awards have been earned in Robot Game, Project Presentation, Robot Design, and Core Values since 2016. For 2024, all three teams achieved success at both the local and state competitions, which include:
Fargo Regional Competition:
Team Maestro - 1st Place Innovation Project (Reusing items in nature to create art)
Team Sport Friends - 1st Place Robot Game; 2nd Place Innovation Project (App to find friends to meet up to play sports)
Team Digital Artists - 2nd Place Core Values; 2nd Place Robot Performance
UND State Competition:
Team Maestro - 2nd Place Innovation Project (Reusing items in nature to create art)
Team Sport Friends - Engineering Excellence Award
Team Digital Artists - 2nd Place Robot Performance; Grand Champion Award
The Grand Champion Award is awarded to the TOP team overall in the state. The Digital Artists team will be competing in Houston, Texas at the World FIRST® LEGO® League Competition from April 17 - 20, 2024 against almost 200 teams from around the world. This is the first time a West Fargo team has participated in this competition.
The Freedom Elementary PTA is proud to sponsor this program for the school!
FIT-4-LIFE
FIT-4-LIFE
History: This program has been active for over 25 years in schools and has been supported at Freedom Elementary since it opened in 2012. Annually, around 175 learners participate with over 100 qualifying for the end-of-year party.
Purpose: To encourage learners to log their healthy habits at home on our Fit 4 Life calendars. Learners get points each day per healthy habit they exhibit in these 5 categories: limiting screen time to 1 hour or less, attaining 60 minutes of active play, doing chores and brushing teeth twice a day, eating 5 or more fruits and/or veggies, and avoiding sugary drinks.
Outcomes: Throughout the school year, learners earn free time, prizes, and a pizza party at different point levels. For those that qualify, there is a Fit 4 Life field trip at the end of the school year. In past years, this has included spending time at TNT Kids Fitness, Sky Zone, Thunder Road, bowling, and roller skating.
The Freedom Elementary PTA is proud to sponsor this program for the school!
Reading Challenges
Reading Challenges
Purpose: Understanding that many students have a dip in their reading over the summer and winter breaks, the PTA encourages reading by offering challenges in September and January of each school year. In September, the PTA partners with our local Panda Express to offer free kids meals to all Freedom Elementary students who participate in the challenge. In January, the PTA links our challenge with a theme that aligns to the Family Reading Night at the end of the month.
Outcomes: For the 2023-2024 academic year, we are happy to report the following:
September Reading Challenge: Freedom Elementary Students spent 19,921 minutes reading during the month of September!
January Reading Challenge: Freedom Elementary Students read over 1,400 books and there were over 30 families that attended the Family Reading Night. An entire lunch table was full of gently used books for the book swap event at Family Reading Night.
The Freedom Elementary PTA is proud to sponsor this program for the school!
5th Grade Student Ambassadors
5th Grade Student Ambassadors
History: The 5th Grade Student Ambassador Program is designed to empower students to become leaders within the school community. Initiated in January 2024, leaders are selected through a process based on leadership qualities, responsibility, and character. These ambassadors serve as positive role models for their peers while actively contributing to the school's culture of inclusivity and positivity.
Purpose: To cultivate leadership skills, foster school spirit, and promote a positive and supportive environment for all students. Participation in the 5th Grade Student Ambassador Program offers students numerous benefits, including:
Opportunities for personal growth and leadership development
Enhanced communication and teamwork skills
Increased confidence and self-esteem
A sense of belonging and pride in contributing to their school community
Valuable experiences unique to their 5th grade year
Highlights: Student ambassadors work hard behind the scenes every day in their assigned job to build a positive school climate. Some larger celebrations ambassadors have supported include organizing and promoting Kindness Week schoolwide and planning staff appreciations for the remainder of the school year.
The Freedom Elementary PTA is proud to sponsor this program for the school!
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