Cora Tatro was selected as a Big Red Stars winner. She was nominated by her teachers and coaches based on leadership, scholarship and character. She attended the ceremony sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The following 8th graders received the citizenship awards: Emily Huss, Allison Davis, Brant Gillham and Daxton Snook.
Jacob Torkelson was the recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for deep appreciation of American History. Nancy Bettin presented the award.
The following students were invited to participate in the Junior High State Track Meet last weekend at Gothenburg: Alex Lutz, James Olds, Devon Carel, Emily Huss, & Mikya Lierman. Devon Carel earned 5th place medals in the 800 and the high jump.
Mr. Scott’s Trades class built and raced their CO2 cars. The goal for the students is to learn about the design process. They also get to study Orthographic Projection and working drawings.
Students came up with at least five thumbnail drawings, a more detailed design sketch and a full scale final drawing of the top and right side of their cars. They then had to drill the axle holes and cut them out on the bandsaw, all while following the state SkillsUSA rules for building the dragsters.
This year we built an above ground race track, and this helped out tremendously. The kids didn’t have to lay down on the dirty dusty floor in the woodshop and they had less misfires or re-races.
The cars are propelled down a track on 30 Lb fishing string. The string keeps them in line and guides them down the track. It’s a lot of fun for the kids and they all got involved, some being pretty competitive. I have seen cars that come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
I encourage anyone to stop by and watch them race. We will be racing close to the last day of school. The kids also make a double elimination race bracket on the Internet and this keeps things organized. I encourage all trades classes to think about joining SkillsUSA next year. SkillsUSA is a national organization that is geared to supplying the USA with a skilled labor force. STS, or Skilled Technical Sciences, is a growing field right now. We still need workers that can fix, build, and problem solve. Learning is fun and so is SkillsUSA.
The 3rd grade students from Jefferson Intermediate enjoyed attending Homestead Science Day on May 14th. Events like this use STEM activities to teach and inspire students to learn and maybe spark a desire in them to someday become explore jobs in the science field. The weather was wonderful for this event! All of the third grade students worked three rotations at the Education Center or the original Homestead Building. These were the three rotations:
A special thank you to Matt and Patrick for their work and ESU5 for sponsoring the event. Click here for pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/U1sH6wuUpdCNsZyV6
Fourth Graders participated in a Kindness Retreat. The goal of the day was for students to experience a day of what kindness looks like and feels like. This event started with a series of high-energy, interactive activities that helped build trust and break down social barriers. These activities also encouraged students to build empathy and identify how bullying hurts their peers socially and emotionally. Students were shown practical skills such as the kindness boomerang; you have to throw some kindness to catch a little kindness. Students were also taught a positive method of how to handle bullying situations. They learned ICI: Interrupt, Compliment and Invite Away. This strategy empowers students to be everyday heroes. The closing activity encouraged students to reflect on how they will live out kindness. Students had the opportunity to write down one kindness boomerang they could start throwing out to their teachers, friends and classmates. They were then provided a chance to verbally share this with their classmates.
A special thanks to Fairbury PTA for allowing this opportunity to help build character and inspire community in our school.
See the Kindness Retreat in action
The Fairbury Girls track team competed in the B-3 District at Beatrice High School on May 9, 2019. The girls competed very well in one of the most difficult Class B districts in the state and came home with a third place finish as a team. The team had 7 personal records for the year and came back with four sixth place medals, two fifth place medals , two fourth place medals, one third place medal, two second place medals, and two first place medals. Fairbury will be represented by six girls at the State Meet in Omaha: Mikasa Lierman, Sara Huss, Josephine Blatny, Cora DeBoer, Mikwena Lierman and Ellie Ohlde.
The day started with Ellie Ohlde setting a new school record vaulting 9’4”, earning a second place finish and punching her ticket to Omaha. Ohlde also competing in the 3200 Meter Relay with Josephine Blatny, Mikasa Lierman and Mikwena Lierman. They ran a time of 10:31 and place third. After a long wait on other districts around the state, we found out that they were the top additional time and qualified for the State Meet.
Then Sara Huss threw 139’ in her preliminary throws in discus hitting the automatic qualifying mark. She went on to become the B-3 District Champion. She also ran a blazing time of 1:00.94 in the open 400 Meter Dash claiming another District gold medal. Huss went on to compete in the 200 meter dash and came in fourth in a very tough contest. She was a top additional qualifier with the time of 27.04.
The Lady Jeffs ended the day with a strong performance in the 1600 meter relay. Sara Huss, Cora Deboer, Mikwena Lierman and Mikasa Lierman ran a season best of 4:19.74 and came home with a runner up finish to qualify for state.
These six individuals will be competing at Burke Stadium in Omaha on May 17th and 18th.
May 17th:
3:00: 3200 Meter Relay and Girls Discus
3:30: GIrls Pole Vault
5:15: 400 Meter Dash Preliminary
7:35: 200 Meter Dash Preliminary
May 18th
12:55: 400 Meter Dash FInals
3:25: 200 Meter Dash Finals
3:55: 1600 Meter Rela
Brynn Novotny 9 May 2019 – Link to original article on the FHS X-Ray
The annual Spring Concert included performances from the various instrumental and vocal groups of FHS in the Burkley Fine Arts Center on Tuesday, May 7.
The Spring Concert took time to recognize and honor the seniors partaking in their last performance before graduation. Contrary to previous years, the music department also said farewell to its band director. Maureen Halama, known by many for several years as Ms. Beck, will be departing from Fairbury next school year after taking a position in her hometown of Wilber.
“Knowing this was my last concert in Fairbury was very bittersweet,” Mrs. Halama said. “I have enjoyed so many things about being the band director at FHS. I have been richly blessed with the opportunity to teach great kids in a super district with wonderful colleagues and supporters. I have loved every minute of my time here and am so sad to leave but excited for a new adventure at Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools.”
Also affected were band students of all classes. Mrs. Halama’s action in the community and her personality are two aspects of the director that many individuals appreciate.
“I really enjoyed performing with [Mrs. Halama] and I’m really gonna miss her,” Makenzie Mills ’23 said. “It was really hard not to cry knowing that she’s leaving us. We tried our very best to make sure her last concert went well.”
Also saying farewell to FHS were the various seniors involved in music. Many have contributed their talents since first starting in sixth grade or junior high. This commitment made it difficult for directors and underclassmen to part with them.
“Each year gets harder to see great seniors graduate, but this year was especially difficult because they were my first group of sixth grade band students,” Mrs. Halama said. “They’ve all done great things to build up the band program and I’m so proud of all of them! They will be greatly missed by me and the rest of the band.”
Mrs. Halama oversaw the Ukulele Club, junior high and high school bands and jazz band performances. Other acts included junior high choirs, Crimson Elite, and the high school choir. Certain pieces have been in the works since before the District Music Contest back in April and have had extra time to perfect.
“We have been preparing by singing through all our pieces and going back to parts where we need to work on,” High School Choir Member Brittyn Wentz ’21 said. “I think it went very well. My favorite part of the night was being able to sing with all the seniors in their last concert one last time.”
Vocal Director Joseph Fitzgerald oversaw the various choirs. For each group, he selected one “Most Improved” member and one “Most Outstanding” member from each grade. Wentz received the latter for the sophomore class.
“It felt great!” Wentz said. “I was honestly not expecting it at all so it was a bit of a surprise to me.”
The Spring Concert was the last of its kind for the 2018-19 school year. The high school band and choir will each be performing pieces at the graduation on Sunday, May 12.
