2016 – Page 2 – Fairbury Public Schools

Real-life Project Experience for FHS Construction Students

Mr. Scott’s block 7/8 Construction Tech class just recently completed an on site shed for Assistant Principal Derek Anderson, that measured 10′ x 12′ and had a 12″/12″ pitch. The shed also had a loft for storage.

Students that took part in the building process were Anthony Moyer, Blake Bauer, Tanner Novotny and Paxton Veatch. Students got first hand experience and became more familiar with the parts of a building and the latest construction methods. They also learned how to shingle a building and put on the roof cap all while using toe holds.

Construction Tech is open to all students who have successfully completed Woods as a prerequisite. Students learned that they have to put up with various weather conditions as building must go on rain or shine. This year was an exceptional year for good weather, but it is not always that way. Good job boys! The building looks very nice!

Students Tanner Novotny, Anthony Moyer, Blake Bauer and Paxton Veatch are also busy replacing the uneven sidewalk in front of the Fairbury Assembly of God Church. Pastor Randy Novotny approached the class to see if they would be interested in doing some concrete work. This is a great opportunity for the boys. They will learn how to make and level the forms, install rebar, calculate how many yards of concrete will be needed, and utilize various tools to smooth out the surface once it has been poured. Right now we are finishing up removal of the old sidewalk.

A great big thank you to Paul Aden as he volunteered to help with his military Unimog tractor. The tractor is equipped with a front end loader and has a high ground clearance. We plan on pouring cement soon, weather permitting. Good job boys! A great service to your community while learning some aspects of pouring concrete. A person must ensure to use a top rated Denver mudjacking company to ensure laying down a firm and steady foundation.

Students Study Heat Transfer

Student in Miss Feldkamp’s & Miss Laufenberg’s General Science class have been learning about the different types of heat transfer. Students investigated to see which method of heat transfer produced marshmallows best suited for s’mores. After completing this task they enjoyed a tasty snack.

Fairbury FFA Receives a $2,000 grant for Metal Fabrication Dreams

-Grant provided by Farm Credit Services of America Working Here Fund for Agriculture Education

FIARBURY, NEBRASKA – Fairbury FFA received a $2,000 Working Here Fund grant for metal fabrication dreams. The grant is provided through Farm Credit Services of America’s (FCSAmerica) Working Here Fund.

Fairbury FFA will use funds to continue updating the metal fabrication and welding equipment of the Fairbury Agricultural Education shop. Funds will be used to purchase a 12” Grizzly Pan and Box Brake Bender, a Grizzly Compact Scroll Bender and a Hypertherm Plasma Cutter. These tools will offer hands-on learning experiences for the students, enhancing their skills and ability to use them in a career someday. They can use these tools to make custom metal fabrication and bring out their ideas and vision.

“There is a need for more skilled metal fabrication workers and welders in the community that will be self-employed and workers that are interested in some of the businesses in town that work with metal,” said Thomas Dux, Agriculture Education Instructor at Fairbury Schools. “I would love for my students to gain all of these experiences of bending metal, cutting metal, and fabricating metal in the Fairbury Agricultural Education Shop.”
“At FCSAmerica, we value the opportunity to support the future of agriculture,” said Amy Blomenberg, vice president of retail operations at FCSAmerica’s Beatrice office.

Fairbury FFA is one of 99 organizations to receive a Working Here Fund grant in the third quarter of 2016. FCSAmerica awarded $133,405 during the latest grant cycle ending September 30, 2016.

About Fairbury FFA
The mission of Fairbury FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. One of the major career success areas that has been a focus the past two years in the Fairbury FFA Chapter and the Fairbury Agricultural Education Program has been the Power, Structural, and Technical Systems Career Pathway. This focus has been updating and improving the metal fabrication and welding equipment.

About Farm Credit Services of America
Farm Credit Services of America is proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With $25.4 billion in assets and $4.5 billion in members’ equity, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at www.fcsamerica.com.

October Students of the Month

Junior High Students of the Month for October are eighth graders Payton Firmanik and Maggie Layton. Seventh graders are Domenic Hyson and Jami Mans. Students are nominated by their teachers based on work ethic, behaviors and attitude. Congratulations to our Students of the Month!

Newbery Reading Challenge

Congratulations to the 6th graders in Mrs. McAllister’s room….winner of the Newbery Reading Challenge. They enjoyed a movie and a “berry” smoothie for their efforts in reading the most Newbery books. The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to an American author whose book makes an outstanding contribution to children’s literature. Keep on reading!

Election time!

Ms. Engle´s 8th Grade American HIstory students have been following this years election. We have watched the debates and done class discussions over them. The students participated in a mock election in class on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they will compare their class results to the state and national election results. After they voted, they took a sample citizenship test by playing a Kahoot as a class.

There Are Ghouls in the School

Central Elementary & Step Ahead students celebrated Halloween with lots of ghosts and goblins last Monday. There was a parade through the building for all to see, followed by treats and activities in the classrooms. Here are some pictures of the event!

Reading by Flashlight

Fifth grade students got into the spirit of Halloween today by reading their daily reading story by flashlight. Students earned this privilege by earning strips on their theometor charts or earning student points in the “student/teacher” game which are both part of an incentive program built into their reading series.

Students Attend National FFA Convention

By Michaela Buchli Fairbury FFA Parliamentarian

On October 19th at midnight, the Fairbury FFA Chapter set out from Lincoln on their way to the 89th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. While they were there, the group of ten, plus advisor Thomas Dux, attended various workshops and fairs. In attendance from the Fairbury Chapter were Jonathan Engelman, Carson Bohlmeyer, Sarah McCown, Brock Barton, Jacob Maschmann, Delaney Miller, Kaylee Sipek, Michaela Buchli, Kennedy DeBoer, and Cora DeBoer. They also had the chance to take a tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, complete with a racing museum and gift shop. They went to a leadership workshop that discussed being versatile. There is a large career fair held in the convention center each year, where various businesses and colleges have booths to give the FFA kids a chance to learn more about agricultural opportunities.They also went to watch some of the national creed speaking finalists, as well as some of the parliamentary procedure teams compete for a national title. Unique to the state of Nebraska, the Nebraska chapters sponsor a dance on two nights of convention that are only for Nebraska FFA students. The Fairbury FFA chapter attended both of these dances, and enjoyed meeting and visiting with students from other chapters closer to home. FHS senior Madison Black auditioned and was selected to sing with the National FFA Chorus. She stayed in Indianapolis all week, performing at various events. The chapter attends convention every year, and plans to continue this tradition. It was a full week, but they all enjoyed venturing outside the comfort of home and into the sea of blue.