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:
Zipline – Students worked in teams and had a certain amount of supplies they could use to create a container to carry two ping pong balls racing down a zipline the fastest and safest to a concrete block without the two balls falling out.
Sod Houses – Students learned about the history and importance of sod houses to the homesteaders. Then the students were given supplies to attempt to create their own sod house.
The sun and it’s magnetic field. A couple astronomers that were at Homestead taught the students about magnetic fields and how they affect our world. Students were also able to look at the sun through a special and very expensive telescope. Last the students took a walk through the planets and their place in space in relation to the sun.
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.
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.
Saxophone players Josi Mans ’21 and Dylan Starr ’21 follow along in their music while listening to the rest of the band to stay on time. “We have been preparing for the concert by rehearsing during our class time for the past couple of weeks following District Music Contest,” Band Director Maureen Halama said. Photo by: J. Johnson
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 awards credit to a junior high choir following a piece. Mr. Fitzgerald also oversaw Crimson Elite and the high school choir. Photo by: B. Novotny
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.
Jayson Klaumann ’19 accepts the award for “Most Outstanding” for the senior class during the high school choir’s portion of the concert. Klaumann also performed with Crimson Elite, the high school band and the jazz band. Photo by: B. Novotny
“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.
Español 2 Plans, Prepares and Celebrates This Latin American Celebration
Last week, señora Johnson’s Spanish 2, period 6 students celebrated a traditional Quinceañera. A Quinceañera is a celebration of a young woman’s 15 birthday. This fiesta is believed to have come from Aztec and Hispanic traditions and is celebrated in Mexico, Central and South American countries. The students studied and researched information about the fiesta traditions and then planned the celebration. Our quinceañera (the young lady celebrating her 15th birthday) was Taryn Arnold. Taryn is the student closest in age to 15 so she agreed to be the honored guest. The students share the following information about the planning of the Quinceañera and our celebration.
La Música y Baile (The Music and Dance)
For the Quinceñera we choreographed and taught the Surprise Court Dance which is one of the tres bailes (three dances) that take place at a Quinceñera along with el vals (waltz) and Father-Daughter Dance. Traditionally, las chicas (girls) are called damas and los chichos (boys) chambelanes. We used traditional dance moves and music for both the Surprise and Father-Daughter Dance. Usually the Surprise Dance choreography takes up to tres meses (three months) to learn, however, we only had one week but we still managed to pull it off well. We also made a fiesta playlist using up-beat, modern Spanish music. The Surprise Dance was the main event of the Quinceñera y nos divertimos (we had fun)! -Erica, Ellie y Josi
La Comida (Food)
For the Quinceañera the food committee brought papas bravas, picadillo, arroz con leche (rice pudding), and el pastel (cake). We chose to bring papas bravas because it is normally an appetizer used at Quinceañeras. It is made with fried papas (potatoes) that are usually diced and fried in olive oil with some garlic cloves then topped with salsa brava. We made picadillo because its a traditional meal they have at Quinceañeras. It is also a meal that families have for dinner. Picadillo is made of ground beef with a variety of verduras (vegetables) including peppers, cebollas (onions), olives, and raisins. We also made arroz con leche as a second desert for the Quinceañera. Arroz con leche is made up of white rice (arroz), condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cinnamon. This dish can be made for all kinds of different events that is why we decided to make this as a second desert for the Quinceñera. We decided to make a two tier cake because Mexican customs dictate that the cake should be colorful and large with multiple tiers. We decorated the cake with blue frosting to create a wave effect for our “Under the Sea” theme. For bebidas (drinks) we brought Sparkling grape juice to represent el champán (champagne) used for giving toasts. We also bought la limonada (lemonade) because typically there are fruity drinks brought to a Quinceañera for younger attendees. -Taryn, Mikwena, Taylor, and Brittyn
Las tradiciones (Traditions)
Some of the traditions we demonstrated was la coronacion or the crowing of la quinceanera which represents that she is always a princess in God’s eyes. The gifting of the la ultima muñeca or the last doll which represents the changing of priorities from a child to a young women. The changing of los zapatos or the shoes is a tradition when la Quinceañera changes from flats into heels to represent her transitioning into a woman. The giving of la joyería or jewelry in which the aretes or earrings symbolize that God is always listening and the anillio or ring represents all the passages of life she will go through. Over our project we learned a lot about how much the Quinceñera means to the young women and her family. It takes many different people make a Quinceñera happen. The tradiciones (traditions) committee planned the events above throughout the Quinceñera. – Dalton, Carson, and Hailie.
Las decoraciones y invitados (Decorations and invited guests)
For La Quinceñera we decided to use los colores royal blue and gold, we used royal blue because it is a traditional color and we used gold to accent it. We decided on the theme “Under the Sea” because it allowed us to have fun making our own decoraciones (decorations).
We set up a row of table which were decorated with gold tablecloths and flores azules (blue flowers). For la quinceañera we specialized her chair with blue streamers and balloons. For our centerpieces we created miniature aquariums out of mason jars; which included blue gravel and multicolored decorative plants. On la mesa de comida (food table), we used the same tablecloths, however instead of the blue carnations, we incorporated sunflowers and white fox tails. We chose to use the tradicional (traditional) manner of inviting los invitados (the invited guests) to la Quinceñera with hand delivered invitations. We chose to do lasinvitaciones (invitations) in the shape of a seashell and the colors royal azul (blue), amarillo (yellow), and blanco (white) to match the theme of “Under the Sea”. ~Lauren P, Lindsey K, Briaunna K, Marissa R, Rileagh M
On Thursday, May 2, FFA hosted a petting zoo for the community in the Orscheln’s parking lot. The purpose of the zoo was to help educate younger children about agriculture and how to be safe around a farm. Lambs, goats, ducks, chickens, a calf, a rabbit, and a mini donkey were all contributed by FHS students. Kaylee Sipek ’19 was on the committee for the petting zoo.
“The kids and families enjoyed it because we ran out of food, meaning we had a better turn out than last year,” Sipek ’19 said. “I hope it continues to grow in the future because it’s a really good opportunity for the littles.”
Sipek ’19 also mentioned that her favorite part of the night was when Harlie Blas ’21 accidentally let go of a chicken and everyone started chasing it. Brooklen Bear ’21 also helped out with the petting zoo. Bear ’21 said her favorite part of the night was showing off her own calf.
“I feel like other people had a good time and they enjoyed seeing different animals which they might not always see,” Bear ’21 said. “We hope that the kids enjoy seeing the animals, and that they’ll want to get involved in FFA.”
Fairbury High School’s National Honor Society members did a fundraiser and chose to donate $500 to the Hope Crisis Center in Fairbury. Some of the members were able to tour the new facility. This display of kindness is a reason to be #JeffProud.
Three Fairbury FBLA members
advance to national competition following the 2019 FBLA Nebraska State
Leadership Conference held April 4-6 in Omaha. The annual conference provided competitive
events, leadership training, networking, and fun for FBLA members across the
state. Nine members of Fairbury FBLA joined other Nebraska members and advisers
to compete and celebrate another successful year in FBLA.
Throughout the leadership event, members participated
in competitive events, motivational seminars, and the election of the new State
Officer Team. Honorable Mention awards were announced at the second general
session, recognizing those who placed in the top 4% of each event. The Awards
Program held on Saturday morning announced the top eight winners in each event
and revealed who would represent Nebraska FBLA at the National Leadership
Conference in San Antonio, Texas, this summer.
Seniors Isaac Robertson,
Joy Ondrak, and Mikasa Lierman qualified for the State Leadership Conference in
the area of Sports and Entertainment Management after demonstrating their
knowledge on a team test. At the State Leadership Conference, these three
individuals presented to a group of judges, earning third place overall and
advancing to National Competition in June.
Senior Mikasa
Lierman also placed seventh in Journalism and Junior Jaelle Johnson earned
Honorable mention out of 280 students. Other students earning honorable mention
included Sophomore Brylee Yantz in Introduction to Business, Sophomore Josh
Robertson in Introduction to Financial Math, Senior Jayson Klaumann in
Organizational Leadership, and Junior Jillian Caroon in Insurance and Risk
Management.
Fairbury chapter members
attending were: Seniors: Devin Holliday, Jayson Klaumann, Mikasa Lierman, Joy
Ondrak, Isaac Robertson; Juniors: Jaelle Johnson and Jillian Caroon; and Sophomores:
Brylee Yantz, Josh Robertson. Adviser Gale Bly accompanied the Fairbury delegation.
