Jennifer Gepson

On Monday, November 11th, Fort Calhoun Community Schools honored our Veterans with a Veteran’s Day Ceremony. The event was hosted by our Skills USA students with an introduction by Skills USA President Max Halford and the MC McKenzie LeColst. The High School Band and Choir performed several songs together including “God Bless American” and “Let Freedom Ring.” Plus, the 4th-grade students performed the patriotic song “America the Beautiful”. The keynote speaker was Fort Calhoun Alumni, Clayton Bolen Jr. Addie Benoit finished by playing “Taps” right before the Color Guard retired the colors. Several service members from the Military were in attendance and enjoyed a luncheon prepared by the school kitchen staff and served by the Skills USA students. Thank you to everyone who helped with this event. Once again, Fort Calhoun Schools would like to thank all our Veterans for their service to our country.

Thank you for helping to make our Drives a success every year!

Our TeamMates had a blast on their trip to Henry Doorly Zoo recently. If you would like to become a mentor or would like more information about the program, see the information below.

Please consider becoming a Mentor for the Fort Calhoun Chapter. Male Mentors are especially needed right now. Go to Teammates.org and fill out an application.

The Mission of TeamMates is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring. Established in 1991 by Tom and Nancy Osborne, TeamMates was formed in an effort to provide support and encouragement to all school-aged youth. The goal is to see young people graduate from high school and pursue a post-secondary education. TeamMates has touched the lives of thousands of youth and mentors across the Midwest. Right now, more than 10,200 matches are meeting in schools across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

The impact of the TeamMates match on the mentee and mentor is profound.

Percentages for our Fort Calhoun Chapter:

 54% of mentees showed improved academic achievement after being matched with their mentor.

 85% of mentors report they feel more hopeful after meeting with their mentee.

 98% of mentees say they trust their mentor.

 More than 95% of mentees report that they are happy when they meet with their mentor, that their mentor talks to them about what they do well, they feel important when they are with their mentor and that they trust their mentor.

 Attendance amongst mentees has improved by 67%

 Reported Behavioral Problems with mentees has dropped 90%

TeamMates has been recognized as a “Best Practice” mentoring organization which means the structure, policy and procedures are in place for a safe and consistent program. TeamMates adheres to the Elements of Effective Practice which were developed by the National Mentoring Partnership as the national standards for running a quality mentoring program.

The National Mentoring Partnership reports 1 in 3 children will go through life without a mentor. TeamMates believes all children, no matter their life experience, can benefit from a relationship with a safe, caring adult. You don’t have to be an expert. You just have to be there.

It truly is a rewarding experience for both mentor and mentee. “I don’t do this for the accolades, but when my mentee says ‘thank you’ or ‘good to see you’, it touches me to my core,” Mentor Teri Zavadil said.

The Fort Calhoun Chapter currently has 29 matches and our goal is 45. There are children waiting to be matched within our school district, so mentors are in high demand right now. You need to meet with your mentee once a week during the school year for 20 minutes to an hour depending on their schedule. You have to be at least 18 years old and you will need to pass a background check.

Please consider becoming a Mentor for the Fort Calhoun Chapter. Go to Teammates.org and fill out an application.

If you have any questions, please call 877-531-8326 to speak to a member of the Teammates Team or 402-237-9558 to talk to the Fort Calhoun Coordinator, Teri.

Thank you!

On September 18, Fort Calhoun Jr./Sr. High Students attended an assembly regarding the stigma of Mental Health and how we do not have to suffer in silence.  Coach Mark Potter, spoke about his bout with depression, during the height of his basketball coaching career. His speech was profound and moving. He inspired our students while providing HOPE for recovery. His wife, Nanette, also shared the often-forgotten perspective of the family’s side of the story. Having Coach Potter and his wife speak to our students was an experience they will truly remember. Follow this link to learn more about Mark Potter D2UP

This is our chance to help those experiencing homelessness in Omaha. The hoodies gathered will be donated to support the Salvation Army’s Winter Night Watch mobile unit that hands out warm food and clothing to the homeless on the streets of Omaha in the winter. 

The Nebraska State College System offers a program called Nebraska SMART (Success Made Accessible Through Rural Tutoring.) See the images below for more information and the QR code, or visit the website HERE.

The Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), located in Kearney, is wrapping up a $31.5 million renovation, restoration, and expansion and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. The MONA’s Department of Learning and Engagement curated an art project to create a unique map of Nebraska. The map is intended to capture Nebraska’s diverse artistic spirit. The MONA reached out to 93 schools in the state, one from each county, and each school was asked to design original artwork to represent their county. Fort Calhoun Community Schools was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to participate in the project. Senior art student, Anna Taylor, was asked to create the design for our school district. Over the summer Anna earned the title of Washington County Fair Rodeo Queen. She participates in softball, basketball, and track and is also a member of the cheer squad. Anna is hoping to play softball at the collegiate level, and is planning to pursue a career in dentistry. She is an outstanding representative of the Fort Calhoun Community Schools, and Washington County. Here is what Anna had to say about her design:

“For my Washington County artwork, I wanted to evenly represent each of the three main towns in the county. I started by including the logos of all three schools, Blair, Fort Calhoun, and Arlington. I thought there should be one landmark from each town as well. For Fort Calhoun, I added the Fort Atkinson Historical Site; for Blair, I drew the Washington County Courthouse; and for Arlington, I drew the Washington County Fair arch. My favorite medium to work with is colored pencils, which I used to create this colorful piece of art. “

The collaborative map of Nebraska will be on display in the Postmaster Interactive Gallery. For more information on the MONA, and all the wonderful classes and programs they offer, please visit https://mona.unk.edu/mona/.