Students at Fort Calhoun Elementary participated in a fun art project recently. The PFE sponsored an Artist in Residence, Julia Noyes from UNL. The program involved the entire school and consisted of a curriculum-based art project developed and conducted by Julia. The students learned about the
Pull out that old trunk or stash of old family photos and see if you can fill one of the gaps! Read on to get the “scoop” on this project.
As some of you know we are in the process of putting together a display system to recognize, and celebrate students past and present. The system is made up of a number of components, the Trophy case, the Wall of Excellence, the Runner-up Wall, the Alumni Center and an electronic records center that will allow us to show case all manner of information about a student’s accomplishments over the years, whether it be an activity, sport, fine art, academics, or whatever it might be.
This in many ways is a huge and daunting task, but as they say “no pain, no gain”. We have a good part of the physical components of system put together but are awaiting a few additional parts that will not come out of production until the middle of March. We are working diligently in every spare moment to add data to the system, there is enough now so you can see the capabilities and what the potential is for the system. If you haven’t seen it, you should check it out the next time you are in the building, and if you like what you see, be sure and thank Mr. Wemhoff, as he has taken the lead on the countless hours of work it has taken to get it thus far.
My specific interest and effort are in the historical aspect of the system. Thanks to everyone who searched their closet or storage area to find and loan yearbooks. We are hot on the trail of the last two yearbooks, 1979 and 1975, as soon as we have them in hand, we will be sending all of the yearbooks for the District off to be scanned, which will make them available on the touch screen. What we learned gathering the yearbooks, the first yearbook (as we know them) was produced for the District in 1955, there wasn’t a yearbook for 1956 as the company went bankrupt before it was produced. They did not do yearbooks in 1960, 1961, 1962 or 1963, not sure why.
The next thing we need assistance with are class photographs. The first graduating class for Fort Calhoun Community Schools was 1893. Our goal is to find photographs for every class from 1893 until present day. Since we have yearbooks from 1955 until present day, we have those years with the exception of 1960. For the years from 1940 until 1954, we need these years, 1952, 1946, 1945, 1942 and 1940. For the years from 1893 until 1939 it is easier to list the years we have, they are 1937, 1936, 1935, 1925, 1902, 1901, 1894, and 1893. If you have old photos please look to see if you have one of the missing years. We would greatly appreciate it ifyou would allow us to borrow and scan a photo from a missing year. Thanks to a document produced by students in 1933 (a history of the District) we have the names for each graduating class from 1893 until 1933 already in the system, now we just need photos!
If you have questions you can call or e-mail Jennifer Gepson, 402-468-5591, jgepson@ftcpioneers.org, or if you find a photo you are willing to lend so we can scan, you can drop it of Monday through Friday at the High School office.
Congratulations to our students who participated in this year’s UNO Honor Band. They were L_R Avery McKennan, Savannah Lukasiewicz, Ryan Swierczek, McKenzie Hansen, Aaron Johnson, and Nate Bonacci.
Our 100th-day celebration was STEM-based. Students built using 100 coins, cups, dominoes, and other objects. Students had fun with different art activities, songs, and a 100th-day snack! They especially liked making their 100th-day t-shirts. The older students even got to celebrate by having a 100th-day trivia contest and helping the younger students with their centers. We are 100 days brighter here at Fort Calhoun!
Students at Fort Calhoun Elementary had a ton of fun at Dance Camp on January 12th. More than 40 girls attended this event organized by the High School Dance Team. This year, they had a “Greatest Showman” theme and danced at halftime of the Girls’ Varsity Game against Yutan. According to some
After several weeks of planning, prepping, problem-solving, dedication, and teamwork Fort Calhoun Art students are finally finished with this large mural for the American Legion Post 348 in Fort Calhoun.
The mural measures 10 ft. high by 30 ft. wide.
We are extremely proud of all the students who contributed to this project. We’re thankful for opportunities like this to showcase the students’ talents. Thank you to all the supportive administrators, co-workers, and community members.
The following is a list of students who helped with the project.
Shelby Altstadt
Bailey Donovan
America Johnson
Allyssa Wright
Sadie Finch
Hannah Conklin
Stephanie Mlynarik
Carter Gochanour
Kennady Bradburn
Sara Jabens
Alyssa Mitchell
Carly Underwood
Evelyn Holmstedt
Mattie Finch
Carly Finch
Aaron Swanson
Morgan Shaner
Emilia Finke
Ben Haggar
Kelsie Premer
The 6th Grader’s from Fort Calhoun Elementary school, led by their music teacher Samantha Bryan, sang Christmas carols for the residents at Autumn Pointe Assisted Living Community. The students did a great job and the residents enjoyed hearing some Christmas classics.
Fort Calhoun Elementary Student Council Members sent care packages to troops overseas. The packages included snacks, bubble gum, and mints. They also added holiday cards that students in the school made. They were so grateful this year for monetary donations from the VFW, the Jaycees and the Knights of Columbus here in Fort Calhoun which made this possible. Such a great community we live in. Student Council Members are as follows.
4th Graders
Clara Godfrey, Kellen Robinson, Danny Powel, and Ella Bouwman.
5th Graders
Stella Wilmes, Jovi Greiner, Moria Doyle, Lyla Pearson, Macie Collins, and Emily Barta.
6th Graders
Allison Prunty, Sammie Ludwig, Samantha Thomas, Grant Ruma, Addison Benoit, Max Halford, Anna Taylor and Anna Melville.
In his last school visit in office, Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg sat down last Friday with students in Ms. Kotas’s Personal Finance classes at Fort Calhoun High School and talked about the students’ financial concerns, challenges, and long-term goals. See the rest of the article by Jana Langemach below.