Walsh-Pembina County Projects
Walsh County MATHCOUNTS
The 2022-2023 Walsh and Pembina Counties MATHCOUNTS competition is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2023 in the Farmer’s Room at the Walsh County Courthouse.
The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series is a national program that provides students the opportunity to compete in live math contests against and alongside their peers. Typically, these competitions are conducted as in-person events, but due to Covid-19, during 2021-2022, all levels except for the National Competition were conducted virtually. Thirty middle school students from the schools of Grafton, Minto, Park River Area, and Edmore competed in the nationwide MathCounts chapter competition held virtually on Thursday, February 17. Trophies were presented to the top two Mathletes with the highest scores from Walsh County Chapter: 1st Place, Brennan Schramm, coached by Mr. Jonathan Berg, representing Park River Area School, and 2nd place, Alexis Tompkins, coached by Ms. Sandi Houdek, representing Grafton Schools.
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 2022-2023 Walsh County Spelling Bee is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14, 2023 in the Farmer’s Room at the Walsh County Courthouse. Parents, grandparents and supporters of students are welcome to attend.
The 2021-2022 Walsh County Spelling Bee was held on Thursday, February 10, 2022 in the Farmer’s Room at the Walsh County Courthouse in Grafton. Cadence Kerner placed 1st while Isabelle Cole placed 2nd. Both students represented Grafton Schools who are coached by Ms. Lizzy Loeffler. Andrew Riske, representing Minto Public School, won Honorable Mention. Minto students are coached by Ms. Paige Sundby.
Other participants representing Walsh County schools ranging from grades 5-8 included: Charley Moen and Ruby Hagen, representing Fordville-Lankin School, coached by Ms. Rachel Smith; Allen Littlewind and Olivia Bredeson representing Grafton Schools; Kim Lopez, Estefano Moncada and Jack Lane, representing Minto School; and Hailey Soukup, Brennan Schramm, Luke Shirek, and Natalie Bina, representing Park River Area School, coached by Ms. Haley Ulland. Bee Pronouncer was Mary Rudnik and bee coordinator was Lori Zahradka.
The top two spellers from Walsh County participated in the North Dakota State Spelling Bee on March 21 in Bismarck. The North Dakota Masons and North Dakota Masonic Foundation sponsor the State Spelling Bee. The State Bee is affiliated with the Scripps National Spelling Bee which was held near Washington, D.C. on June 2, 2022.
Walsh-Pembina Counties Academic Olympics
High School
High school students from Cavalier, Grafton, Midway, Minto, North Border Pembina, North Border Walhalla, Park River Area, and Valley-Edinburg competed in the 7th Annual Walsh-Pembina Counties Academic Olympics competition on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 in the Grafton High School gymnasium. The event was sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina School Administrators and coordinated by North Valley.
Sixteen teams of students participated in a regular round with the top three teams, Valley-Edinburg Varsity, North Border-Pembina Varsity, and Grafton Junior Varsity, advancing to the lightning round. The Valley-Edinburg Varsity team, consisting of Andrew Myrdal, Jaykob Knutson, Myah Jensen, Killian Burrell, Jonathan Dusek, and Isabella Douville, coached by Brandon Laxdal, came out on top, 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 continued with the Regional Tournament held at Dakota Prairie on March 11 and the State Competition held in Bismarck on March 22.
The High School Academic Olympics is set for Tuesday, February 21, 10:00 AM. Supporters are encouraged to come and cheer on your team.
Jr. High
More than 100 intelligent junior high students from the schools of Cavalier, Grafton, Midway, Minto, North Border Pembina, North Border Walhalla, Park River Area and Valley-Edinburg competed in the 7th Annual Walsh-Pembina Counties Jr. High Academic Olympics Competition on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 in the Grafton High School gymnasium. The event was sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina Administrators and coordinated by North Valley.
Students participated in a regular round with the top three teams advancing to a lightning round. Of the fourteen teams competing, the Park River Area School 8th grade team of Lauren Bell, Chloe Kadlec, Kayden Lien, Emma Hove, Toren Beneda, and Clara Kjelland, coached by Ms. Sara Freeman, came out on top, earning them the traveling trophy. The Park River Area School 7th grade team of Henry Sveen, Maddux Jorgensen, Eli Benenda, Simon Zikmund, Hudson Sobolik, and Jaxon Omdahl, coached by Ms. Sara Freeman, placed 2nd. The North Border Walhalla School team of David Waters, Ryley Bennett, Garrett Willits, and Kaden Moore, coached by Ms. Marcia Halldorson, placed 3rd. This was a very competitive event with tie breaker questions needed for both the regular and lightning rounds.
Moderator Calvin Otto, a member of the 2022 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. High school students from Valley-Edinburg volunteered to help with the event serving as table monitors and pizza servers.
