Karen Dux

Fairbury Public Schools Brings Disability Resources for Community and Staff to Fairbury

On Wednesday, August 14th, Fairbury Public Schools in partnership with Three’s Pieces and the Fairbury Community Foundation hosted their second Disability Resource Night.

The speakers were Mary Phillips, Student Services Director at ESU 6, who spoke about transition services but also spoke honestly about her experience having a child with developmental disabilities who is now an adult and receives adult disability services. Jen Quaranta, Southeast Nebraska Regional Coordinator for the ASD Network, also spoke sharing strategies for parents on managing behaviors in the home.

Several community members as well as school staff attended, and feedback was very positive. A very important message for families to hear is that if you think your child might need adult services, you need to apply soon as the wait list is currently 7 years!

On Thursday, August 15th, Fairbury Public Schools offered a full day training on autism and classroom strategies to support students with autism for staff. Nearly thirty staff members, both general education and special education teachers attended the training.

As a strong advocate for ALL students, but especially students with disabilities, it is really important for me that Fairbury Public Schools offers resources and support not only to our staff but also to our community. I’m excited about the partnership with Three’s Pieces and am eager to continue offering trainings and resources to both the school staff and the public on a variety of topics related to students with disabilities. I’m hopeful that our partnership will be a model to others in our state so that schools and community organizations can bring resources to families in their own community. If you have a question or a topic you would like us to consider, please reach out to me.

Dr. Jill Timmons, NCSP
402-729-5041
jtimmons@fairburyjeffs.org

“Wild” Experience for Driver’s Education Students

Students Brant Gillham and Addy Linscott had the awesome opportunity to experience a one of a kind event. While practicing and logging hours for Driver’s Education, these two students, along with Mr. Scott, got to see a Bobcat and her cubs in the wild. The incident happened west and north of Gilead on a gravel road. Brant wanted to show Mr. Scott a farm where some of his relatives lived. Mr. Scott agreed, and was very glad he did, as all three passengers got to see this bobcat pick up a baby in her mouth. She took the baby up the hill and disappeared. Pretty soon she came again and got another. In total she removed two babies. The spots on their bellies were very visible as the sun beat down on their shiny coats. There could have been others carried before we got there, but that remains a mystery. It was a day we will never forget!

Welcome Back to School!

I seem to say it every year, but alas, it is true….summer has gone by fast!! We have been busy, as usual, this summer! Some of the highlights include the following:

Adopted new Reading/English Curriculums K-12. We made the decision to transition away from Reading Mastery (k-5) to CKLA (k-6) and StudySync (7-12). We are excited for this transition. We believe this will allow us to grow in our skills and foster a love for reading! Our teachers have worked hard this summer in preparing for this year!

We have added nicotine to our Drug Testing Protocol for students participating in extracurricular activities. Just a couple of reminders, schools are not allowed to test all students in school, but only students participating in activities. Mr. Davis, Activities Director will update you at the Fall sports meeting later this month.

We continued making improvements to our facilities this summer! We replaced some concrete areas this summer to improve access or parking areas at Central, Jefferson and the ‘47 Building. We are close to completing our Science/ Special Education expansion and re- model project on-time and under budget!

This project has greatly expanded and improved our Special Education spaces to include a Sensory Room, a Life Skills room (which includes a kitchenette and laundry spaces) and 3 “Special Education Suite” classrooms which each have 2 smaller instructional spaces within the classroom for small group instruction/ activities. This project also expanded our Science classrooms which has increased their class sizes by more than 50%. It is an awesome learning environment for our students! You will be able to see these new spaces at our Open House on August 20th!

We are excited for the new school year to begin on Wednesday, August 21st! See you soon! Read More

I look forward to seeing you as the school year gets started!

Go Jeffs!

~Mr. Stephen Grizzle

Farm 2 School ~ We Need Your Help

It is now time to ask for assistance for the upcoming school year for our Farm 2 School program! We need around $1,300.00 per month for our processing costs of the animals being donated for our school’s lunch program. Please contact either Jane Rhine or Stephen Grizzle to see how you can donate money or animals for our Farm 2 School program! Our kids love having locally-raised beef or pork for lunch!

The Dangers of Smoking and Vaping

by FPS Superintendent, Stephen Grizzle –

Happy Summer Parents!!
As you might be aware, we have chosen to include nicotine with our Random Drug Testing protocol, beginning in August 2019, when we return to school. I have attached a good resource for you to look at and I encourage you to talk with your student about the dangers of smoking and vaping. It is extensive.
Unfortunately, vaping has been marketed as being a “safe alternative to smoking.” Agreed, the impression is more favorable. It doesn’t “stink up the place” when someone is vaping. It does not make their clothes smell. In fact, you can be in the same room with them and if you are not physically looking at them, you may never know they are vaping. Someone could literally vape next to you and you may not ever know it. It is that discrete.
With that being said, we are just starting to see information that highlights the dangers of vaping. The “pods” that contain the liquid you vape can include many different “add-ins” to the liquid. CBD oils can be added, others drugs/chemicals can be added, etc. But typically, the dosage of nicotine in a “pod” can be much greater than a cigarette or even a pack of cigarettes. Kids “get buzzed” when they vape because the concentration of nicotine is so much greater. Since concentrations are much greater, the likelihood of addiction is greater as well. Addiction leads to more at-risk behaviors. It is a cycle of events that we want to try and help our students to avoid.
Vaping is a huge health concern for all. It is the next “big thing” for all of us to worry about.
As a district, it is our goal to help to give our students a way to say, “No!” to the peer pressure of vaping. We are not looking for retribution or punishment, we really hope to give our kids a “way out.” We do plan to incorporate more educational programming throughout this year on the dangers of vaping.  We need your help as well.  Please take this opportunity to read the attached article and Tweet below, and talk with your student about the dangers of vaping. Thank you and have a great rest of the summer!!

Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents Download

Press Release – The Addition Of Nicotine To Our Testing Protocol

Please read the following press release for information.

Press Release Download

Matsiko Orphan Children’s Choir Coming to Fairbury

ABOUT MATSIKO CHOIR

Born from a heart for every forgotten child in the unreached corners of the world, the International Children’s Network (ICN) began it’s choir program in 2008 with the first US tour of the Matsiko Children’s Choir. This choir was the first step toward bringing children together from the various countries in which ICN provides sponsorship. After the choir’s resounding success, the Matsiko World Orphan Choir was created with children from Peru and Liberia, who shared their lives and culture through song and dance, and connected their hearts with audiences across the United States. This year, children from India were also granted permission to travel with Matsiko, and the choir continues annually with new children auditioning and performing every year.

Matsiko is a Ugandan word for “hope”. This word embodies both the children and the songs that they sing. Through the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, thousands of children will be reached with the hope of a brighter future. Proceeds generated by the choir tour and merchandise sales go directly to support ICN’s worldwide programs, including life-changing educational sponsorship that affords orphaned children a chance at a university degree. The Matsiko children absolutely love to share the gift of life, love and hope that they’ve received through the support of sponsors — people just like you!

Click here to meet this year’s amazing choir!

FHS Students Selected for NCDA Honor Choirs

Ashley Sanchez, Kodey Swartz, and Brook Tatro were 3 of 70 students selected statewide to be a part of the 2019 NCDA Middle Level Honor Choir (grades 7-9) this summer. The clinician this year is Ryan Beeken, who proudly serves as director of Choral Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he conducts the University Chorale, Chorus, and Chamber Singers. In addition, he teaches graduate and undergraduate choral conducting and supervises student teachers. Beeken also serves as artistic director for the Blair Concert Chorale, whose mission includes fostering a growing appreciation of quality choral music for the population of south central Pennsylvania.
Sophomore Hailie Nicholson was selected for the first-ever NCDA All-State Honor Choir. The inaugural clinician is Nebraska native, and NCDA veteran, Dr. Matt Hill. Dr. Hill is the Director of Choral Activities at Peru State, and is the founder of Sing Omaha. Matt is well known in our state, and brings energy, excitement, and expertise to the podium. Students will enjoy the repertoire and will be engaged through the rehearsal experience as they sing with this auditioned 60-voice concert ensemble; the first of its kind in NCDA history.
The NCDA Conference will take place at Doane University from July 7-10. Please congratulate these students on this awesome achievement!

Students Selected for Awards

Several students received American Legion Awards during the Fairbury Junior High School Awards Ceremony: Pictured are Guy Shalla, Trenton Ruhnke (1st Place Boy), Cora Tatro (1st Place Girl), Ellie Livingston (2nd Place Girl) and Trayce Blass (2nd Place Boy), Doug Kapke.