The new online Pioneer Spirit Gear Store is now open. Check it out on the Fort Calhoun School website homepage on the top menu.
Introducing SRO Greg Byelick
Welcome Officer Greg Byelick, our full-time School Resource Officer and Washington County Deputy Sheriff. Greg grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming and moved to Nebraska to attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He’s been working in a Law Enforcement capacity since 2004. He worked security for UNLPD for 4 years and as a Juvenile Corrections Officer in Lincoln for just under a year. He was also a Deputy Sheriff in Gage County NE for 2 years and a police officer at the UNLPD for 8 years.
PLC in the News
Click the link below to see the article by Teresa Hoffman about the new programs the PLC is doing. Thanks to Ashley Dougherty and staff for all you do for our students.
http://www.enterprisepub.com/public/pioneer-learning-center-to-partner-with-roots-to-wings/article_
Elementary Welcome Back Night
You’re INVITED: WELCOME BACK NIGHT!
When: August 14; 6-7pm
Where: FORT CALHOUN ELEMENTARY
Why: Kick off the 2019-20 School year
What to bring: YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES and A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!
Who is all going to be there: STAFF,
PARENTS/GUARDIANS, PRINCIPAL, AND
ESPECIALLY STUDENTS.
*This is a great night to introduce
yourself to your new teacher. Please come by and visit.
Ethan Cox Speaks to Pioneer Football Players
Big thanks to Ethan Cox, Husker #16 for speaking to our Youth and High School Pioneer football players today. We loved his message about earning respect from teammates, doing things the right way, handling adversity, and playing multiple sports.
Fort Calhoun TeamMates
TeamMates are always in need of Mentors.
If you are interested, call or email the TeamMates coordinator for Fort Calhoun. Ashley Hallberg, 402-468-5714 or ahallberg@ftcpioneers.org
Even former Fort Calhoun students return to mentor current students. Pictured below are Garrett Anderson and his mentee Andrew Janecek.
Tom and Nancy Osborne founded the TeamMates Mentoring Program in 1991 in an effort to provide support and encouragement to school-aged youth. The goal of the program is to see youth graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education. To reach this goal, youth meet one hour per week with a caring adult who serves as a mentor. They also have the opportunity to go on outings like field trips to Fontenelle Forest and a variety of sporting events. Mentors are volunteers from the community who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in the life of a young person. Mentors give youth a sense of hope, purpose, and vision.
The TeamMates Chapter of Fort Calhoun started in 2012. We currently have 40 matches. TeamMates is growing strong with over 7000 matches in Nebraska and Iowa.
Frequently asked questions:
Who can volunteer to be a mentor?
Any adult 18 and over with an interest in supporting a young person in grades 3-12
Do you currently need mentors?
If you know of anyone who would be interested in mentoring please send them our way!
How much time does it actually take?
Just one hour per week during the school year.
What do I do when I go to mentor?
Have fun! You can play a board game or cards, do a craft, play on the computer, read a book, talk about your week, go to the gym/playground/track and play around.
Where do the meetings take place?
All meetings take place in the school during school hours.
How do I learn how to be a mentor?
TeamMates provide training to all mentors, going over the do’s and don’ts and your local coordinator can assist with any other support or guidance needed.
More information can be found on the TeamMates website.
If you have any questions feel free to call or email the TeamMates coordinator for Fort Calhoun. Ashley Hallberg, 402-468-5714 or ahallberg@ftcpioneers.org
PFE News
PFE kicked off the month of April with its annual Carnival. Nearly 300 wristbands were sold. Students enjoyed games, bounce houses, face painting and sending their classmates, teachers and Mr. Wagner to the popular jail. Amy Melville served as the chair for this huge event.
Three scholarship recipients were recognized at the high school awards night. Each scholarship totaled$500. The PFE scholarship requires students to document service hours that positively impact their community and the 2019 applicants logged over 1300 volunteer hours with various organizations such as vacation bible school, the fire department, the library, and concessions. This year’s winners were StephanieMlynarik, Ben Haggar, and Julie Klemm.
May 6-10 is Staff Appreciation Week. Joey Iwen, event chair, sent our educators on a food-filled so special. May 6-10 is Staff Appreciation Week. Joey Iwen, event chair, sent our educators on a food-filled adventure each day and encouraged students and families to thank all who make the Fort Calhoun district so special.
The Officer Team encouraged opinions and feedback from both members and non-members at the May meeting. Meeting times, assemblies, member benefits, and teacher books were only a few of the topics discussed. The PFE welcomes two new officers to the team for the 2019-20 academic year. Sarah Tinkham will serve as Vice President and Ronee Christensen will be the new Communication Coordinator. Denise Work (President), Natalie Cummings (Secretary) and Michelle Dill (Treasurer) will remain in their roles.
Andrea Totten will leave her office of Communication Coordinator for the PFE. Andrea’s contributions have been numerous. ColorCycle and the Popsocket fundraiser were both carried out by Andrea singlehandedly. Much of the communication done on social media was the work of Andrea’s creativity. She plans to continue her work with the PFE as the organization moves forward with a Scrip fundraising idea.
Original Works items and Summer Bridge books have been distributed. One School One Book is complete. The PFE would like to recognize chairs Melanie Bonacci, Dara Waters and Robyn Lammers for their dedication to these activities by serving as chairs.
PFE looks ahead to events to kick off the next school year. Planning has already begun for our annual Walk-a-Thon, kick-off brunch and an after-school art program. As we look ahead to do more for our students and district, consider how you can help. Volunteers are always needed, and new ideas are welcome.
The PFE wishes each of you a safe and fun-filled summer!
Monday Funday
For the last Monday of the school year, the students at Fort Calhoun Junior Senior High were treated to a special day of fun. They started the day off with inspirational speaker Ron Gustafson. Next, they were able to choose from several sessions based off their interests. Sessions included topics like pie or smoothie making, photography, card games, and tie dye. They ended the day with more fun playing games in the Gym.
Congratulations to our State Track Medalists.
It was a great weekend at State Track! Congratulations to our State Track medalists. Your hard work paid off!
Zach Marshall (12) is State Champ in the 200M and got 5th place in the 100M
Ben Haggar (12) got 8th place in the 200M, and 3rd in the 400M with a record-breaking time of 50.15
Jake Haggar (12) ran 4th in the 400M
Taya Skelton (12) 4th place in the 1600M and State Champ in the 3200M
Avery McKennan (12) ran 4th in the 3200M
Unified Team (Adam Bannister, Dillon Dierks, Kameron Pringle, Kyle Deyen) 8th place in the 4×100
Pictured with coaches Mandy Taylor and Jim Meyer. Pictures by Karla Haggar
Fort Calhoun High School Students Get Creative for Fort Atkinson
Members of the Fort Calhoun High School Art Club, art students, and shop students worked together to create two face cutouts for Fort Atkinson. The face cutouts will be used for various events such as Living History Days. The students who helped with the project are Kaitlin Smith, Nathan Premer, Zach Marshall, Ben Haggar, Aaron Johnson, Kennedy Bradburn, Allyssa Wright, Alyssa Mitchell, Isabell Benoit, Jessyka Winterberg, Stephanie Mlynarik, Katie Barta, Sara Jabens, America Johnson, Piper Hager, Makayla Perry, Greta Wimmer, Lily Lyytikainen, Morgan Therikildsen.
Follow this link to get more information about Fort Atkinson and Living History Days. http://outdoornebraska.gov/fortatkinson/
(L to R) Sara Jabens, Alyssa Mitchell, Kennedy Bradburn, America Johnson, Allyssa Wright, Makayla Perry 
(L to R) Lily Lyytikainen, Greta Wimmer, Morgan Therkildsen, Stephanie Mlynarik, and Katie Barta