Walsh-Pembina County Projects
Walsh County MATHCOUNTS
Seventy middle school students from area schools of Cavalier, Fordville-Lankin, Edmore, Grafton, Minto, Park River Area and Valley-Edinburg competed in the Walsh-Pembina Counties MathCounts competition held Thursday, February 8, 2024 at the Walsh County Courthouse.
MathCounts is a national program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. The program focuses on middle school students, who are at a crucial stage in developing and sustaining math interest and ability.
The top three Mathletes with the highest scores from Walsh County area were: 1st Place, Maddux Jorgensen of Park River Area; 2nd Place, Jack Green of Grafton; and 3rd Place, Simon Zikmund of Park River Area. Gia Hall of Valley-Edinburg was overall individual winner among all mathletes of Walsh and Pembina Counties.
The top two teams with the highest scores from Walsh County were: 1st Place, Park River Area Team, consisting of Eli Beneda, Maddux Jorgensen, Henry Sveen, and Simon Zikmund, coached by Mr. Jonathan Berg; and 2nd Place, Grafton Team, consisting of Thomas Aasand, Jack Green, Jonathan Presteng, and Max Sillers, coached by Mr. Brian Fike.
Following competition, the students were treated to a pizza party through a generous donation from Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson.
The Walsh County MATHCOUNTS Chapter is sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina School Administrators. More information can be found at https://www.mathcounts.org.
Walsh County Bus Driver’s Workshop
The 2023 Walsh County Bus Driver’s Workshop was held in August 2023.
- School Bus-Vehicle Driver Registration Form
- School Bus Driver’s Guide
Training Requirements
Bus Driver Training Requirements (includes drivers of school vehicles designed to seat 10 to 15 passengers):
- Annual 3-hour training workshop sponsored by the local school district of county superintendent’s office, SFN 52088 submitted to NDDPI by August 15
- DDC-4 workshop every five years. New drivers must attend within one year of employment
Upcoming Training Opportunities
- Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 6 – 9 pm, Grafton Performing Arts Center (use Door 27)
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- Training provided by the North Dakota Safety Council.
- DDC4 Online Training provided through the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund
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- Please send Lori Zahradka participant names with e-mail addresses for access to the training
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Walsh County Spelling Bee
The Walsh County Spelling Bee was held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 in the Farmer’s Room at the Walsh County Courthouse in Grafton. Max Sillers, an 8th grader representing Grafton Public Schools, placed 1st; Lauren Solseng, a 7th grader representing Park River Area School, placed 2nd; and Alexis Miller, a 7th grader representing Park River Area School, placed Honorable Mention.
Other participants from Walsh County, ranging from grades 5-8, included Ruby Hagen, Charley Moen, and Sutton Nielsen, coached by Mrs. Rachel Smith, represented Fordville-Lankin Public School; Jesly Hernandez, Lizangeli Garza, and Richard Rice, coached by Mrs. Elizabeth Loeffler, represented Grafton Public Schools; Zach Swanson, Adyson Dauksavage, Makenna Ray Pinta, and Noah Anderson, coached by Mrs. Paige Sundby, represented Minto Public School; and Eli Beneda and Marshall Bourbanis-Carter, coached by Ms. Evy Ortega, represented Park River Area School. Bee pronouncer was Mary Rudnik; Jenny Dusek and Cindy Johnson served as judges; and bee coordinator was Lori Zahradka.
All students participated in a written round, a vocabulary test, and an oral round. The top ten students moved on to the oral spelldown. The oral spelldown concluded after nine rounds, making for an exciting competition. The Scripps National Spelling Bee provides word lists and rules for use at the county court competitions.
The 1st and 2nd place winners will be advancing to the State Spelling Bee to be held in Bismarck on March 18. The Scripps National Spelling Bee will be held in the Washington, D.C. area on May 26.
Walsh-Pembina Counties Academic Olympics
High School
High school students from Cavalier, Fordville-Lankin, Grafton, Midway, Minto, North Border Pembina, North Border Walhalla, Park River Area and Valley-Edinburg competed in the 9th Annual Walsh-Pembina Counties Academic Olympics competition on Wednesday, February 14 in the Grafton High School gymnasium. The event was sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina School Administrators and coordinated by North Valley Career and Technology Center.
Sixteen teams of students participated in a regular round with the top three teams, Grafton Varsity, Cavalier Varsity, and Park River Area Varsity advancing to the lightning round. The Cavalier Varsity team, consisting of Caitlin Johnson, Gunder Kemp, Jonas Kuhn, Nora Crosby, Malory Kemp, and Madison Heller, coached by Ms. Danielle Gjovik, came out on top in a tiebreaker with Park River Area Varsity and earning them the traveling trophy.
Students answered question asked by moderator, Mr. Todd Burianek, related to the categories of English, Science, Math, Social Studies, Electives, and Current Events. The Academic Olympics season will continue with the Regional Competition to be held in Bismarck on March 19.
Jr. High
More than 100 intelligent junior high students from the schools of Cavalier, Drayton, Edmore, Grafton, Midway, North Border Pembina, North Border Walhalla, Park River Area and Valley-Edinburg competed in the 8th Annual Walsh-Pembina Counties Jr. High Academic Olympics Competition on Friday, November 10 in the Grafton High School gymnasium. The events was sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina Administrators and coordinated by North Valley Career and Technology Center.
Students participated in a regular round with the top three teams advancing to a lightning round. Of the sixteen teams competing, the North Border Walhalla 8th grade team of Emma Bailly, Ryley Bennett, Zander Duerre, Adrienne Longtin, Dylan Stobie, and David Walters, coached by Ms. Marcia Halldorson, came out on top, earning them the traveling trophy. For 2nd place, the Valley-Edinburg team of Owen Brown, Milla Fagerholt, Gianna Hall, Finnegan Burrell, Joe Langerud, and Aubrey Ratliff, coached by Ms. Leslie Fagerholt edged out the Park River Area team of Lauren Solseng, Alexis Miller, Trey Almen, Kaden Stabo, Kinley Sveen, and Gabe Shirek, coached by Ms. Sara Freeman.
Moderator Harley Hilde, a member of the 2023 Walsh-Pembina High School Academic Olympics Championship Team from Valley-Edinburg High School kept the competition moving at a nice pace. Students were asked questions related to the categories of English, Science, Math, Social Studies, Electives and Current Events. Grafton FFA Chapter members prepared and served a pulled pork sandwich lunch all to enjoy.
