moorhead public schools

2022-23 School Year Theme – We Are Spuds

Potatoes are enjoyed in everything from chips to salads. A rich part of the agricultural history of the Red River Valley, this popular vegetable packs a punch beyond the plate. It is the inspiration for our beloved school mascot. This unique mascot has captured our hearts and been the source of our pride since the early 1960s when the district declared the common spud as our mascot. 

We are Spuds! Names have significance. They have power. They define us. They carry personal, cultural, familial and historical connections. Names give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong and our place in the world.

From the first time you step into a school building, to the day you graduate, you are a Spud. And it doesn’t end with graduation. MHS alumni pride themselves in being Spuds! It is a lifelong place to belong that instills a sense of pride. As Spuds we are united. We are Spuds. 

As Spuds, we are also unique. Every Spud learner is different from the next. Discovering and celebrating our common identity as well as our uniqueness makes us successful and strong. Moorhead Area Public Schools is committed to developing the maximum potential of every learner to thrive in a changing world. Our goal is to embrace students where they are, celebrate who they are, help them discover a sense of belonging to the Spud family and work together to become the best they can be. 

We are changing the way we educate students, focusing on student voice and student choice. At the high school level, the MHS transformation helps us to support our students as they discover passions and explore career options to graduate choice ready. At the middle school level, students start to discover who they are and make meaningful connections with their peers and teachers. At the elementary level, students develop a sense of belonging as they build routines and habits for learning success throughout their lifetime.

Though it looks different at each level, We are SPUDS.  

Our district theme for the 2022-23 school year celebrates our common identity and our individual uniqueness.  

We are Spuds. We are ______.

Fill in the blank……Grateful, respectful, connected, growing, inspiring, innovative, strong, passionate, brave, …… 

How do you define yourself as a Spud? 

What do we want to become together in the 2022-23 school year? 

It’s up to us, because, “We are Spuds!”