Category: Jr. Sr. High School

The Believers and Achievers program is sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association and U.S. Bank. This is a state-wide program that recognizes the future leaders in our communities.

There were three high school seniors from Fairbury Jr-Sr high school that were selected for this years Believers and Achievers program. Those students included Josh Robertson ’21, Brynn Novotny ’21, and Ellie Ohlde ’21. All three of these students display an excellence in academics and participation in NSAA activities. As well as show a commitment to citizenship, school involvement and community projects.

These three seniors applied for the Believers and Achievers program and were then judged on their scholastic achievement, NSAA activity participation, School involvement, Community Involvement, and a citizenship essay.

“There were a couple of reasons I wanted to apply, last year the ones that got [the Believers and Achievers award] were top notch leaders, so to be able to apply for the same thing they did gives me a good feeling,” Brynn Novotny said. “I always try to look for those leadership honors because it makes me feel like I’m doing the right thing.”

Robertson ’21, Novotny ’21, and Ohlde ’21 are the school honorees for the 2020-21 school year. There will be 48 outstanding students chosen by the NSAA from all of those who applied for the program where they will be recognized for their achievements at the half time of an NSAA state championship event.

While students got the day off of school, parents and teachers met on October 22 for parent teacher conferences.

The parents met with their children’s teachers to discuss and go over their child’s grades and how they have been performing in school.

“I think they’re a good way for teachers to talk to students’ parents,” Trayce Blas ‘23 said. “You would think that parents would want to hear how their children are doing in school and how they behave in school.”

This year’s parent teacher conferences had some differences like requiring parents to wear facemasks while in the school and also allowing for online meetings between parents and teachers.

“I feel like parent teacher conferences are not as necessary as they used to be especially when parents have access to powerschool everyday,” math teacher Julie Petersen said. “I also have 109 students so it is hard to meet with the parents of all my students.”

With everything Covid related students and community members were unsure of whether the 2020 homecoming parade would be able to take place this year. Although the parade looked a little bit different, the town of Fairbury was able to make it happen.

This years Homecoming parade was held on Friday, September 25, in downtown Fairbury. The theme for this year was “Out of this World”. Children and adults lined the streets of the square to watch the floats drive by. Because of restrictions from covid, candy was not allowed to be thrown out to children that watched the parade. Instead, those riding the floats waved at community members who came to watch.

There were a total of 26 floats that participated in the parade this year. Some floats that participated in the Homecoming parade included local businesses, sports teams, and organizations. The Fairbury softball parents won the prestigious award for best float. The float captured the “Out of this World” theme to its entirety. Parents dressed as aliens, and Coach Ryan Evans was a NASA Astronaut.

This years 2020 class representatives and Homecoming candidates also made an appearance at the parade. Class representatives included Lily Davis ’24 and Riley Arner ’24, Cora Tatro ’23 and Connor Gerths ’23, Anna York ’22 and Zane Grizzle. Homecoming candidates were the very last to ride through the parade. As usual, the candidates rode in topless jeeps and waved to those who watched as they made their way around the square in anticipation for the coronation. Homecoming candidates consisted of Seniors Mallonee Biehl, Maggie Layton, Brynn Novotny, Ellie Ohlde, Keely Schramm, Joshua Robertson, Payton Firmanik, Dylan Starr, Riley Wood, and Lane Zabokrtsky.

After the parade, class representatives and Homecoming candidates were introduced and they made their way to the steps of the court house. It was announced that this year’s Homecoming King was Joshua Robertson and Homecoming Queen was Ellie Ohlde. Last year’s Homecoming King and Queen Bret Cole ’20 and Kennedy DeBoer ’20 attended the coronation to crown the King and Queen.

“My favorite part during the parade was seeing all the little kids that went to daycare waving and talking to me,” Homecoming Queen Ellie Ohlde ’21 said. “I was surprised and honored that my school wanted me to be homecoming queen.”

Following the Coronation and parade was the Homecoming football game against Falls City and the Homecoming dance held at the Fairbury Elks Lodge.

Link to the original article in the FHS Blazer