FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK
Jeff Drake, Superintendent
DearOtterFamilies,
Springhasofficiallyarrivedandweareenteringthefinalsprintofthe2025/26school year.Ithasbeenayearofremarkableachievementacrossthedistrict.Weareincredibly proudofthemanysuccesses.Mostrecently,ourhighschoolmathteamhasqualifiedfor state,oneofourKnowledgeBowlteamshasqualifiedforstate,andtheroboticsteamis wellpositionedforastateberth.PowerfulperformancesdeliveredbyourOneActPlaycast garneredourfirstsectionchampionshipintheprogram’shistoryandtheyreceivedthetop recognitionatstate.Ourwinterathleticsseasonwasequallyhistoric,highlightedbythe OttergirlsNordicskiteamwinningtheirfirst-everSection8ChampionshiptitleandReece Hansenearningastatetitleinthe100yardbackstroke!Wealsocelebratethreeprestigious individualhonorsofourstaff:congratulationstoRandyHansenonbeingnamedthe DistrictBoysSwimmingCoachoftheYear,DerekAbrahamsforbeingrecognizedasthe Region6AActivitiesDirectoroftheYear,andtoHighSchoolPrincipal,MarkAnderson whowasnamedtheWesternDivisionPrincipaloftheYear! Inrecentyears,wemadeadecisiontomanageourownspecialeducationservices, realignedourstudentinterventionservicesandimprovedourapproachtoreading instruction.Wecontinuetoexpandourcareerandtechnicaleducationofferings,provide wonderfulopportunitiesinthefinearts,andweareonecourseawayfromourstudents beingabletoearnanAssociateofArtsdegreewithouteverleavingthehighschool.Weare veryproudthatwearethetopacademicschoolintheareaandcelebratethehardworkand dedicationofourstudentsandstaff.Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportandpartnership!
Early Childhood Family Education/Pre-School/Kindergarten/1st Grade
Otter Preschool had so much fun celebrating Dr Seuss! A lers have been working very hard on building their sorting and graphing skills—especially when using Lucky Charms, which made learning extra exciting. Preschoolers also focused on developing their letter recognition and writing skills. “P is for Preschool,” and they have been practicing with great enthusiasm! Preschool has been especially lucky to welcome students from Fergus Falls High School into our classroom. They’ve shared their love of reading with our preschoolers, creating meaningful and memorable experiences for everyone.
The month of March, Kindergarten staff welcomed the Class of 2039 to Lincoln School for a Meet and Greet and staff look forward to seeing them next fall! Also, Kindergarteners enjoyed a visit from Snake Discovery an exciting reptile experience (for most!) made possible by the Otter PTO. Kindergarteners took a field trip to Otter Cove Children’s Museum, where they explored, built, and shared lots of laughs together. It was a wonderful day of learning, teamwork, and fun!
Grades 1st - 3rd
McKinley students climbed, jumped, scooted, flipped and flopped as they maneuvered their way over, under, around and through our obstacle course in March. It was an exciting and challenging week, proving once again that McKinley kids can "DO HARD THINGS" and "NEVER GIVE UP!"
Students in Mrs. Laine's classroom attended a social group. The group read the book "Boxitects" by Kim Smith. They were then split into 3 groups and worked together to decorate box houses. Over the next few weeks the students painted, glued on stickers, added streamers, and attached fabric. It was quite the ordeal! Students had to practice some patience, but in the end, they experienced what it is like to work as a team. A panel of judges arrived, and the students had to present their creations as a group. Prizes were awarded for: Most creative, Best Presentation, and Best Teamwork. As you can see in the picture, they were very proud of the box house they made together!
Mr.Colbeck!Allstudentsat AdamsandMcKinleyenjoyed readingthesamebookatthe sametime,andenjoyedseeing theirprincipaldressedasan astronaut.
StudentsatAdamsSchool enjoytheself-servefruits andveggiesbar.Initsfirst year,theself-serve,allyou caneat,fruitsandveggies barhasbeenabighitwith studentsinbothAdamsand McKinleySchools.
Aspecialthankyouto McKinleystaffmember AnnaFremontfor creatingthismuralThis groupofstudentswas recentlyrecognizedfor theirrespectfulbehavior andbeingnamed McKinleyAllStar studentsoftheweek!
Grades 4th-5th
Our 4th and 5th grade orchestras played to a packed house on February 2nd. We are so proud of these young musicians for their hard work and excellent concert!
Studentsassistedin refreshingthehen housesonthewetlands atPWLC,whichmallard henswillusefor nestinginthespring.
ClevelandSchoolenjoyedthe OneSchoolOneBooktitle, 'AWeekintheWoods'by AndrewClements. AdventurerPaulSholvisited toreadthelastchapterand sharehisadventureswith students!Heevenbrought thecanoehemade.
It was another successful day for the Otter Mathletes! A group of 32 sixth - eighth grade students traveled to NDSU to compete in a math contest against many area schools Seventh grader, Kayden Karst, placed third in the individual competition! The team made up of Kayden Karst, Josh Ekelund, Ray Weiss, Jared Stich, Rhyker Seedorf, Benny Kitzman, Olivia Molstre and Tova Ronnevik placed third in the big school team competition! Way to go Otters!
Grades 6-8
FourofFergusFallsbrightestmathstudents traveledtotheTwinCitiestocompeteagainstthe bestyoungmathematiciansinMinnesota.Pictured beloware Rhyker Seedorf, Joshua Ekelund, Benny Kitzman and Kayden Karst.Itwasagreat experienceandwehopetobebackagainnextyear!
Friday, March 6th, 8th grade orchestra students participated in the Minnesota String and Orchestra Teacher’s Association Middle Level Orchestra Festival at Minnetonka High School. They heard two other middle school orchestras, performed three selections for judges, and received a 25 minute workshop with a guest clinician. After the festival, they spent some time at the Mall of America. It was a fun and educational day!
Otters A.R.E
ACCOUNTABLE. RESPECTFUL. ENTHUSIASTIC.
January Award Recipients
6thGrade 7thGrade
HarlowCunningham
HarperGray
MirsadPivic
HarmonPrice
FinleyRoberts
AnnabelleSaurer
TimothyUggerud
StellaWeber
CharlieCederberg
EmeryCrowser
EvanGriffie
LaylaMcNeil
DieselWallace
February Award Recipients
6thGrade 7thGrade
EllaFunkhouser
OwenHolland
BellaHuber-Rustand
KaydanceKutzke
RipleyMorales
OscarNelson
DelilahSheldon
BeccaThormodson
GavinTysdal
Zxy’llaBerry
MartieKrueger
IzabelSchroeder
BraedanWersinger
WyattWillson
8thGrade
IsaacHaarstad
HenryKempfer
JadeNoland
PrestonSchiesser
ColbieZimmerman
8thGrade
ChristianBaez
LexiFroemming
KenyaReinertson
KallieRowlan
JudeShearer
6thGradeAHonorRoll
ErinAaberg
AyaAlt
HarperArechigo
KoyerArneson
MarinaBeckler
NorahBohannon
AlexBrunn
SophieBurris-Lake
AlexandraBurris-Lake
OliviaCasey
HailynCeroll
ElidaChristenson
TheaColeman
JackCrowser
HarlowCunningham
SaigeDewey
AailahDewey
LuckyDraxten
ElliotDuckwitz
EllaDuenow
KindreeEbert
JaxonEmery
LiamErickson
LoganEvans
HadleeFellbaum
AleeannaFletcher
KirbeeFuhs
EllaFunkhouser
JacksonGerner
LouieGreen
HarrisonGrefsrud
HenrikGustafson
AbramHelgeson
ZebulonHendricks
DawsonHendrickx
EllenHexum
OwenHofland
ArthurHolmburg
AmeliaHove
LoganHoyt
Bella-RoseHuber-Rustad
LiamJensen
KannonJohnson
MarenJohnson
MiaJohnson
BrielleJordan
EliasKaderbhai
BriannaKayaga
CharlieKempfer
HarperKitzman
NatalieKnighton
IvanKnutson
LaraKoalska
MakennaKort
BentleyKragness
SageKrein
CruKunde
KaydanceKutzke
KellenKwapinski
DaniLarby
NoraLarson
CatherineLawson
CarterLewellen
CalebLewis
EmmaLubben
RubyMandan
6thGradeBHonorRoll
DanielAkoi
LincolnAnderson
MakenziBabic
YailianisBetancourt
EthanBieniek
ValentinoBongo
AllisonBuchholz
LeyairaCampbell
RachelDeFries
JaceFlom
BrittaMathiesen
XanderMcConn
WilliamMiley
PiperMiller
RipleyMorales
EvanNarimani
AlexNelson
GriffinNelson
OscarNelson
MeganNoland
DawsonNoon
EllieNorris
MystiqueOlson
BryceOster
LiamOttenbacher
SalahuddinPatan
SarahPearson
EmrysPeasley
AbigailPiekarski
HarmonPrice
MasonPrice
FinleyRenner
WestonRiemer
FinleyRoberts
CoraRogness
CooperSchleske
JuliaSchiesser
AverySchlomann
DelilahSheldon
TrigShol
MicahSimonson
VioletStach
AvaStans
WrennaFlatgard
LucasFosberg
MeganFosberg
HarperGray
JaxonHagen
JohnsonElliot
JohnsonEthan
ArchieJorud
RochusJorud
RykerKainz
TrumanSteinbrenner
RachelStich
FatimeSulejmani
AlexanderSundby
BrynnSvendsgaard
BeccaThormodson
DominicTolsma
GageTonneson
AmiyahTurner-Lesetmoe
TimothyUggerud
LiveahWalter
Ex'ZarielleWashington
Ja'ZarielleWashington
ElijahWeber
StellaWeber
AnnikaWelle
GabrielWest
AddysonWolden
JazleeWolfe
LaylaWoods
AvaZumach
JasperKiser
SaigeKnudson
GageKraft
McCallisterMagnuson
LandenMuchow
GiancarloNirschel
MirsadPivic
ReubenReisch
AnnabelleSaurer
AddisonSchleeter
OliveaSchuman
ElijahShamp
BryleeSherbert
ElianaSoutherland
LincolnSrnsky
AriaThompson
ElsieToppari
RoreyToso
LarsTysdal
ClaraAnderson
MacyAnderson
GabriellaAnderson
LinneaAnderson
CaidenBest
BerryZxy'lla
HarperBjerklie
LiamBrimhall
SamuelCaldow
BerkleyCampion
CharlieCederberg
MaddenChristenson
LeifChristianson
CoraDillon
MyraDillon
TobyDoran
DrewDraxten
LydiaDeYounge
HenningGerstmann
SolveigGriebe
BowmanHarris
KrystannaHaugen
AudraHintz
JacobHolmbeck
CarlyIce
IvyIverson
ColeJensen
TristanJohnson
EthanJohnson
GeorgeJones
PaisleyKalenberg
KaydenKarst
IvyKaye
MartieKrueger
EzekielKummrow
AmeliaLandberg
AdrianLongoria
AvaLunde
MathiasLien
VioletMaertens
MariannaMannie
LaylaMcNeill
LandonMorris
LinneaMouser
OscarNelson
PaisleyNorgren
HadleyOlsen
EttaOlson
7thGradeBHonorRoll
EmmaAschnewitz
RainaBabic
ArabellaBjerke
AdrianoBeganovic
AubrieBeckman
BrodyBieniek
MacenBorowski
MagnusBurud
JonasCovington
EmeryCrowser
AubreyDahl
LaylaDeGroot
GavynDoesken
ConnorGallagher
QuinnGau
DanielGlas
EvanGriffie
SamuelHaarstad
SavannahHegstad
CarverHauge
BeckhamHarris
SativaHilde
HayesJohnston
EricaJoseph
KennedyKallstrom
EllianaKlein
KinzleyKrein
CamdenKremeier
AliceLammers
AlizaLee
AlizeyaLockett
GraceeMoen
AaronNorstog
PaizleyPetrick
CarsonPeterson
OliviaSaurer
AveryPolzin
AlexaPreston
AdalynnRiewer
AnnaRoehl
EmmaRoehl
TovaRonnevik
SullySamp
AnnoraSarki
HaleySchreiber
IzabelSchroeder
KahlanSchroeder
EliSchlosser
JacksonSchneeberger
VioletSchulz
IsabelleShepherd
LaurenSimengaard
BradySimengaard
KasonSkramstad
ElijahStegeman
BentleySteiner
KerraSterns-Atonio
JaredStich
MayaStortroen
LillybellSundby
EliseSchiesser
TuckerSchleske
DrakeSmith
ColbeyStanley
KaydenStevens
JeremiahThompson
LincolnTruax
PrestonWalker
ZoeyWarren
DieselWallace
EthanWalvatne
CharlotteZelinsky
TobiasSvien
LelandSwenson
HarperThielke
EvanThysell
AlayahTostenson
QuinnTysver
VivienneUgstad
IsaacWagner
TrevenWalter
HartWalters
CallieWaasdorp
GavinWebb
RaylynnWeiss
BraedanWersinger
GavinWidmer
LucasWinkler
8thGradeAHonorRoll
WilliamAnderson
ChloeCarlson
MarenCarlson
KenzieCombrink
VictoriaCovington
LillyDingman
MadelynDuenow
JoshuaEkelund
KinseeEllig
NorahFear
AkselField
DanielFjestad
FrancisFleming
MauraFransen
LexiFroemming
JaydeeFronning
HenryFuder
LoganGaustad
WillowGlas
LynkinHaas
IsaacHaarstad
KiraHarlow
AsherHendricks
GeorgeHexum
ErnestHildebrandt
GeorgeHildebrandt
ShepherdHintz
HannahHirst
KadeJohnson
OwenJohnson
LizzieJyrkas
HarloJorud
BenjaminKitzman
HenryKempfer
HaileyKramvik
MeridethKnighton
RueKoalska
EliseLeitch
BenjaminLawson
KaitlinLubben
MilaniaMannie
RigginsMcGinnis
AdelynnMertz
OliviaMolstre
JadeNoland
ColinOlson
LukeOttenbacher
PhilipPiper
HallePrice
BriellaRarick
LandonRodriguez
SarahSchroeder
PrestonSchiesser
TuckerSchneeberger
RhykerSeedorf
JudeShearer
8thGradeBHonorRoll
AdamAnderson
AyvenAustad
ChristianBauck
JacksonBohannon
ClaireCarlson
MorganCarr
CamdenCasey
AryannaCypher
KyleeEggen
KadynFry
ConnorGau
BristolGrabowska
CamdenHolden
NevaehHeins
EmmaHessling
IszabellaKorby
AndrewLee
TateLoeffler
DavidLoaring
A'MiyahLureen
LiamMeyer
SophiaNeubauer
KadenceOlson
EyjaOllila
AveryPeterson
RaelynnPeterson
QuinnProffit
AndrewRoosevelt
LincolnShirkey
PennShol
SeljaSmestad
PiperSoliah
AnikaSorum
IsaacSteen
EmmaStrande
IsabelStodola
CadenThompson
LandonThunselle
AnnaUggerud
LiamWallace
AdelineWicklund
KallieRowlan
KenyaReinertson
JonSeggermann
JasperSheppard
DaltonTrosdahl
AmeliaTurchin
ColbieZimmerman
CarmenZent
“It’s Always a Great Day to be an Otter!” Grades 9-12
- Mark
Anderson, High School Principal
concurrent Children's Literature class visited the public library to learn how to choose and read books to kindergarten students. These juniors and seniors will be paired with Ms Lillis' and Ms. Schoeneck's kindergarten students at Lincoln for a reading buddy program.
Nine of our Philanthropy and Youth committee members presented at NDSU to a boardroom of executives and nonprofit leaders. They worked hard to prepare and it paid off! The boardroom was so impressed with our students. As a result, our committee will be able to grant $6,000 to local nonprofits this year.
Fergus Falls High School Knowledge Bowl’s top two teams competed at sub-regions against Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, and Moorhead, with both advancing as part of the top six teams to the Region meet on March 17th. At sub-regions, Team Fuchsia placed 2nd with 85 points, while Team Fire placed 3rd with 84 points. At the Region meet, Team Fuchsia placed 2nd with 97 points to earn a spot at the State meet in April, while Team Fire placed 4th with 76 5 points Team Fuchsia includes Gus Krohn, Eric Swanson, Trygvie Ronnevik, Cloe Brown and Cooper Christensen. Team Fire includes Aiden Neubauer, Isaiah Ibarra, Hayden Salverson, Noah Ibarra and Dane Hare.
Members of the Kennedy Secondary School National Honor Society recently came together for its annual fullgroup volunteer project, assembling dozens of aid kits designed to bring light and clean water to communities affected by natural disasters around the world
Student Presenters: Brooklyn Bucher, Violet McConn, Signe Millard, Delia Vigesaa, Ali Bredenberg, Makayla Miller, Brook Zierden, Evie Millard, Emma Synstelien
Grades 9-12
wereheldinFebruaryattheAreaLearningCenter. The5advisorygroupsattheALCcompetedfortheAdvisoryOlympicstrophyin5 differentevents. TheeventswereVolleyball,100-pieceJigsawPuzzlerace,Team Flow,Cornhole,andUltimateFootball. Thetopthreeadvisorieswereawarded medals at closing ceremonies. Closing ceremonies also included a musical performance by Colten Kriesel-Koll. Ms. Wicklund’s advisory took Gold, Ms. Korby’sclasswonSilver,andMs.Salokar’sgroupearnedthebronzemedal. Tied for4thplacewasMr.Phillips’andMrJohnson’sadvisories
Spring is in the air (hopefully) and our spring sports and activities have already begun with some indoor trackmeets and some baseball games over spring break. Everyone else will start competitions the 2nd week of April and hopefully the weather will cooperate!
The winter seasons came to a conclusion in March with many individuals and teams finishing up excellent seasons.
One Act Play - Qualified for the state festival and was one of only 3 schools to receive the star award. This was the first in the history of our program and means that they scored superior in all categories. Great job One Act Play cast and crew!
Nordic Ski - The girls team finished 9th in the state at the Nordic Ski state meet at Giants Ridge
Boys Swimming - The boys finished 6th at the state meet with several qualifiers making it to day 2 of the tournament and Reece Hansen finished as a state champion in the backstroke! Other participants included Matthew Tuel, Landon Votava, Lucas Tuel, Gabe Carlson, Ethan Strande, and Jaden Kwapinski.
Wrestling - Junior Nolan Field qualified for the state tournament as a heavyweight and finished 6th.
Gymnastics - Xiomara Jacobson qualified in the floor exercise for the gymnastics state tournament and finished 7th overall scoring a 9.5!
Both Boys Basketball and Girls Hockey - Fought their way to a section championship this year, but fell just short of the state tournament ending very successful seasons.
Math League - Our math league team of Micaiah Abramson, Eric Swanson, Jacob Jenc, Trygvie Ronnevik, Violet McConn, Scott Pederson, Jacob Warner, Cade Johnson and Isaac Jenc finished 3rd at the State Math League competition in St Paul Congratulations!
Knowledge Bowl - The Fergus Falls Knowledge Bowl team of Gus Krohn, Eric Swanson, Tygvie Ronnevik, Cloe Brown and Cooper Christenson qualified for the Knowledge Bowl state meet and will compete on April 9
Speech - The Speech team will participate in their section meet on Friday, April 10th at Brainerd.
Grades K-12
iQ Academy wrapped up the 3rd quarter on April 2nd
iQ Academy staff are now out traveling around the state administering MCA testing for students. We have 17 different sites around the state for state testing.
iQ enrollment has stayed steady this year, with current enrollment at 778 students. About half of those students are high school, a quarter are middle school, and a quarter are elementary students.
th
We had an IQ ice skating social event in Fergus Falls on February 20 , see picture below. Our next social event will be at the Mall of America on May 8th.
WHAT IQ FAMILIES
ARE SAYING
“Ihavesaidthisahandfuloftimesthatthey'reveryflexibleandtheseasonedteachersare amazing!!!”
“Ifyou’reonthefence,youwon’tregretit.Thelayoutiseasytounderstand,thekidsgetgood directionandtheteachersareALWAYShelpfulandencouraging.Wechosebecauseofneedinga flexiblescheduleandthisfitreallywell.”
HomeworkHelp-Withjustacoupleofmonthsleftoftheschoolyear,stopinroom2615at KSStogethelpwithatoughhomeworkassignment.AllstudentsinGrade6,7,8,9are welcomed.OfferedbeforeschoolTuesday-Thursdayfrom7:45to8:45am.Thisprogramis fundedinpartbyIngaMJohnsonEndowmentFund,WCI
FergusFallsYouthArchery-YouthArchery,boysandgirlsingrades5-12,heldtheir2nd tournamentonSaturday,January31st,2026Elevenareaschoolswereinattendancewitha totalof177studentscompeting.
PotteryforKids-OnFebruary10th,studentsjoinedafunandcreative3-dayworkshopand builttheirownthememug,underthedirectionofBlayzeBuseth,CreationShopAsummer workshopisbeingofferedJune10th,17th,&24th.Pre-registrationisrequired.
FridayNightSkiingatAndes-Atotalof40studentsingrades4thto12thtooktothe slopesinthisyear'sseasonofskiand/orsnowboardingatAndesTowerHillsonFridaynights fromDecembertoFebruaryWelookforwardtoseeingyounextseason!
SwimCamp-Aswimcampfor5thand6thgradestudentswasheldonMarch17th18th, 19thfrom3:30to4:40pmStudentslearnedthefundamentalsforstrokes,starts,turns,and divingbasics.CoachedbyRandyHanson&RachelCox-FFSwimCoaches.
SynchronizedSwim-HeldtheirshowonMarch28th-30thunderthedirectionofAmanda ThormodsonIt’sanartisticnon-competitivesportwhichlookssoeffortlessbutitrequiresan incredible amount of strength. They combine swimming, music, and choreography for dancinginthewater.
FergusFallsClayBusterTrapTeam-Thirty-ninestudentsingrades6-12fromtheFergus FallsSchoolDistrict,whoholdaMinnesotafirearmsafetycertificate,areparticipatinginthis year'strapteam.ShooterscompeteasindividualsandasateamattheLakesAreaShooting Center