Author: Karen Dux

We had 22 seventh grade girls and 12 eighth grade girls participating in track this season.  The girls improved so much throughout the year.  We recognized improvements after each track meet as well as the girls who placed in events.  To date, we have had 117 improved marks!  We have had two seventh grade records broken and one eighth grade record tied.  Ellie Ohlde broke the pole vault record with a vault of 8’3” and Mikwena Lierman broke her sister’s 1600 record with a time of 5:45.49.  Claire Shumard tied the 8^th grade pole vault record of 7’6”.

The girls have competed well in the track meets with team finishes as follows.
Thayer Central Invitational (combined grades) : 3^rd
Thayer Central Triangular: 7^th graders – 1^st and 8^th graders – 1^st (tied with Crete)
Aurora Invitational : 7^th graders – 2^nd and 8^th graders –  3^rd
Fairbury Invitational: 7^th graders – 1^st and 8^th graders – 1^st

We also participated in a dual with Beatrice, but no team scores were kept.  The Crete quad was cancelled due to weather.  We will concluded our season with the Beatrice Invitational on May 6.

Some individuals may have an opportunity to participate in the Nebraska State Junior High Track meet in Gothenburg on May 14.  The top 24 individual performances and top 16 relays as of May 5 will be invited to participate.  Go Jeffs!

Five journalism students brought home medals from the NSAA State Journalism Competition Monday, April 25, helping the school finish seventh in the State Competition.

The competition provides an avenue for journalism students across the state to compete in timed competitions to determine top finishers in 21 events.

The publications department had nine students qualify to compete in the competition with five bringing home medals in four different categories including a State Champion and State Runner-up.

Tanner Novotny brought home the gold in Sports News Writing and Mary Lawrence finished runner-up in Photo Illustration.  In addition to these top two performances, Paige Patton finished third in Yearbook Feature Writing; Shaye Stall placed fourth in Newspaper Layout; and Partrick Ondrak finished fifth inSports News Writing.

Along with the five medalists, seniors Michaela Bartels, Brooke Eisenhauer, and Halle Knigge qualified for the State Competition helping the school finish seventh in the team sweepstakes.

Current research shows that the incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in children is 1 out of every 68.  There are many factors that have been identified as contributing to this number.  Fairbury Public Schools takes pride in ensuring our teachers, support staff and administrators understand and meet the unique learning needs students with Autism Spectrum Disorders have.  24 FPS teachers, para-educators, and administrators, along with 13 parents attended the 2016 Nebraska ASD Network State Conference in La Vista.  The two day conference was filled with entertaining, informative and educational keynote speakers and breakout sessions.  Our local ESU 5 Interim-Administrator and Interim-Special Education Director, Dr. Brenda and Dr. Matt McNiff were the keynote speakers on Thursday evening.  They gave their presentation from the perspective as both a parent of a child with ASD and educators.  The conference was capped off with an AWESOME keynote presentation from Adolf Brown.  His ability to inspire, entertain and move participants is truly unique and well received.  Please contact Central or Jefferson Intermediate if you would like further information about this conference.

On April 18, 2016 the Nebraska State Patrol visited Mr. Scott’s Driver Education class.  Officer Charlie Cook,  a former policeman from Fairbury himself, was the guest speaker.  He is a full time Community Service Officer.  His job is educate the public about vehicle safety with the topics “Don’t Drink and Drive”, “Don’t Text and Drive”, “Get Plenty of Sleep Before Driving”, and Always Wear a Seatbelt

“.    He showed the students a roll over simulator. Students got to experience the simulator that represented a slow vehicle roll-over with and without belts.  A child seat was in the passenger seat and it really hit home with some of the kids.    He also talked about how large book bags full of books should not be carried in the car but in the trunk as they become projectiles when not fastened down or seat belted in.  The safety dummy eventually was thrown from the simulator and landed on the concrete.    Statistics have shown, you are more likely to live in a crash if you are wearing your seat belt.  Students got to see videos, color pictures,  and heard many stories of actual crashes he had worked.  Students also got to experience the drunk goggles and tried to walk the line.  I think it was a definite eye opener to safety behind the wheel.  Thank you officer Cook!