March Newsletter
Fillmore Central Public Schools
District News
Mr. Cumpston
up for our students. Track and Golf begin, Speech season is wrapping up, we have Prom,
Concerts, Field Trips, State Leadership Conferences for FBLA, FFA, and FCCLA, and finally
Graduation. If you have a chance, we’d love to see you at one of our Concerts, Speech
Showcase, or even graduation.
Fillmore Central School District is currently able to accept more option enrollment students for
the 2024-25 school year. We feel we have a lot to offer students in academics, the arts,
athletics, and other opportunities. Students from outside our district may enroll in Fillmore
Central once approved through the option enrollment application process.
If someone you know might be interested in enrolling a child(ren) at Fillmore Central, please
have them call the superintendent’s office at 402-759-4955. Families should have their option
enrollment paperwork filed and approved before March 15, 2024. If students miss that
deadline, permission from their home district to be released in order to transfer is required.
If High School students are accepted after March 15 th , they would still have to meet a May 1 st
deadline for NSAA to be immediately eligible for activities in the fall.
We have continued to work with BVH Architecture out of Lincoln. We worked with them to
complete our facilities audit and we are now working with them on a master planning process.
The facility audit showed building needs from an age and maintenance viewpoint. BVH also did
educational alignment work with our staff to gather how effectively our current physical set-up
is for educating students today and in the upcoming years. They brought engineers into all of
our buildings and went through each room and system. They will give us ideas on life
expectancy of some of our systems (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) as well as roofs, windows,
floors, lights ceilings, and other parts of the schools. We are starting to have community
meetings with BVH. The purpose of these meetings is to share different solutions to the
challenges that our current school buildings have in maintenance and in educating our
students. We’d love to have you join us at one of these meetings to learn more.
could still have severe weather. In case of late starts or closings we post to our own social
media, 10/11 news and NTV news.
Cumpston's Corner
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State Wrestling Medalists
Jackson Turner 3rd
Treven Stassines 3rd
Markey Hinrichs - 2nd
Angie Schademann - 4th * First Girl in Fillmore Central History to earn a State Wrestling Medal! *
Elementary
Mr. Veleba
UPCOMING ELEMENTARY EVENTS
- March 1st, End of the 3rd Quarter
- March 4th, Celebrate Read Across America
- March 5th, Early Dismissal & Parent-Teacher Conferences
- March 6th, 7th, and 8th, No School, Winter Break
- March 25th, EPAC Meeting at 7:00pm
ELEMENTARY PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
The March elementary parent – teacher conferences will be held at the elementary school. K – 4 parents received a scheduled appointment that was sent home from school with students. Childcare will be provided. Parents should reach out to the office if they are not able to attend.
Thank you for your continual involvement in your child’s education! We’ve consistently had over 90% of our elementary parents attend conferences. Other ways to be involved with your child’s education include:
§ asking about homework
§ helping with the homework
§ contacting your child’s teacher by e-mail, phone, or note
SPRING ASSESSMENTS
The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) and Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) tests are scheduled in the spring. The following suggestions to help your student perform in school are taken with permission from the March 2012 issue of Parents Still make the difference! (Elementary School Edition) Parent Institute Newsletter.
· Make school a priority. Children who do well on tests tend to be the ones who study and finish homework on time. They also miss less school than other kids. These are habits you can encourage.
· Develop healthy routines. Your child needs plenty of sleep and a nutritious breakfast every day before school.
· Communicate with teachers. In addition to knowing how your child is doing throughout the year, pay attention to test details. “Which skills do the tests measure?” “How should my child prepare?”
· Promote reading. Many tests require reading, so make sure your child reads often. Then ask questions that simulate thinking. “Why do you think the main character did that?”
· Reduce anxiety. Some kids like to take timed practice tests at home. But as test day approaches, focus on relaxation. Stay positive and calm. If your child is worried, she can take deep breaths and think confident thoughts, knowing she has your support no matter what.
· Rest/Nutrition. Make sure your child is well rested and has had a nutritious breakfast.
· Reduce Distractions. Eliminate routine appointments during the testing dates so your child doesn’t worry about making up their assessments.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for 2024 – 2025
Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year began in February. A packet of information was sent to all parents of eligible age (5 years old by July 31st). If you have not registered your school age child for the 2024-2025 school year, or if you did not receive a packet of information, please call the school, 759-3184.
IMPORTANT DATE:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17th, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. 2024-25 “K” Parent Meeting
Beach Day in KB!
KB Super Sea Turtles worked hard in January to earn a Beach Day for using expected behaviors! On Friday they got to come dressed in their best beach attire and enjoyed some fun beach activities!
EARLY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK SERVICES COORDINATION
What is Early Development Network Services Coordination?
Services Coordination helps families of children with special needs below age three:
Find services to meet developmental, educational, financial, health care, child care, respite care and other needs
Work with multiple providers to make sure services are provided as needed
Why is Service Coordination Needed?
Nebraska families of children with special needs have found it difficult to locate needed services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and then to coordinate the services with the providers.
Who is Eligible for Services Coordination?
Eligible families are those with an infant or toddler below age 3 who has a disability or developmental delay and qualifies for special education through the public schools.
Year round services coordination is provided.
There is no cost to families.
How Can Families Apply?
To request Early Development services for your child or to refer a child, call the local number below. With prior parental permission, referrals may be made by anyone who suspects a developmental delay in an infant or toddler.
CONTACT: Beth Lightwine at ESU6-Geneva office (225 North 17th, Geneva, 402-759-3143).
Fieldtrip to Edgerton Exporit Center
5th Grade students enjoyed their field trip to the Edgerton Exporit Center in Aurora.
FFA Hosts the Game of the Week
Middle School
Mrs. Lamb
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parents are invited to attend the upcoming parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th. These conferences will be held in the gymnasium at Fillmore Central High School from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Third quarter progress reports can be collected during the conferences. Attending these meetings is highly recommended as they offer a chance to engage directly with your child’s teachers, enabling discussions on their progress and growth.
No School – Break
There will be no school Wednesday, March 6 through Friday, March 8. Classes will resume with their regular schedule, on Monday, March 11.
Wellness Day
Fillmore Central Middle School's annual Wellness Day is scheduled for April 3. FCMS partners with members from the Fillmore County Hospital and the Nebraska Extension of Clay/Fillmore Counties to host the event. The Wellness Day offers students a chance to engage in diverse health-related activities and life skill workshops facilitated by community members and guest speakers.
8th Grade Graduation
Join us in recognizing the academic achievements of our 8th-grade students. Save the date for the 8th Grade Graduation and Honors Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, as we applaud their accomplishments at Fillmore Central Middle School.
Supporting Students during Springtime
As the pleasant spring season approaches, it may be challenging to resist the allure of warm weather and longer daylight hours. Despite this, it's important to ensure that students don't neglect their academic responsibilities. Here are some ways to help students balance the joys of spring with their studies:
Encourage Outdoor Time
Encourage students to engage in outdoor activities for a reasonable duration each day. Outdoor exercise can help them relax after school, prepare their minds for homework, promote a healthy lifestyle, and improve their sleep quality.Establish a Study Routine
Set a designated time for students to review their day and start their homework. Consistent daily conversations about their schedule can assist students in planning their time effectively and hold them accountable.Myth-Busting Homework
Address the misconception that students may not have homework to complete. Even if they claim otherwise, it is advisable to expect students to bring home assignments or study materials for additional review, even if it's just for a short period each day.
Testing Season Will Soon Be Upon Us
Throughout the spring semester at FCMS, students participate in multiple assessments to gauge their academic progress. These assessments include both state-mandated tests (NSCAS) and standardized evaluations (NWEA MAP) chosen by the school. The data collected from these assessments is valuable for assessing both the progress of individual students and the school's overall performance. Moreover, staying in touch with your child's teachers to understand the testing calendars can assist in guaranteeing that your child attends these important testing sessions.
NSCAS Testing (Statewide ELA, Math, and Science Exams)
Students in grades 5 - 8 will be participating in online NSCAS ELA and Math assessments, which are scheduled between April 1 and May 10. Additionally, students in grades 5 and 8 will undertake the NSCAS Science assessment during this period. These tests will be conducted by their grade level teachers during regular class hours.
NWEA “MAP” (Measure of Academic Progress)
The Spring NWEA MAP testing dates will commence following the conclusion of NSCAS testing, and will be administered to all students in grades 5 through 8. Students will receive detailed reports showcasing their academic progress in reading, math, and science over the course of the year.
Penny Wars!
Fillmore Central FBLA hosted a Penny War between homerooms to raise money to donate to our local food pantry. Mr. Smith's homeroom came out on top with +14,998 points ($232.83)! The total raised was $555.28. Mr. Smith's homeroom received homemade breakfast sandwiches as their prize! Thank you to all of the students that donated!
High School
Mr. Theobald
ACT/NWEA MAPS
The date this year for our NSCAS ACT is April 18th. All juniors will be participating, and all 9th and 10th grade students will be completing their NWEA MAPS assessments. Seniors will be participating in a school sponsored “skip day.” More details will follow next month, but I wanted to make sure everyone had the date on their calendars as it is important for all students to be in attendance on this day.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on Tuesday, March 5th from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All high school teachers will be in the gym, along with the middle school teachers. Conferences are a great time to meet with teachers in person to hear about the good things your child is doing, along with being able to have discussions about any concerns that you may have.
Winter Sports/Activities Notes
The winter sports/activities season is winding down. The boys wrestling team had another solid year as they qualified and competed at the NSAA state duals. The team also qualified 8 wrestlers for the NSAA State Meet and brought home 3 medals: Markey Hinrichs (2nd), Jackson Turner (3rd) and Treven Stassines (3rd). On the girls side, Angie Schademann qualified for the NSAA State Meet and brought home the first medal in girls history, earning 4th place. The boys basketball team made it to the sub-state final, but fell one win short of qualifying for state. They finished the season at 20-4 and the 20 wins is second all time in FC history. The speech team recently earned 2nd place at the SNC meet and brought home 11 medals, highlighted by Adela West winning the Entertainment category and Ty Schelkopf earning runner-up in the Extemporaneous category.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.
GO PANTHERS!!!
Disrict Runner- Up
Upcoming Events
March 5th
Early Dismissal
1:05/1:20/1:35p.m.
Parent Teacher Conferences
2:00-8:30 pm
March 6th-8th
No School - Winter Break
March 11th
School Board Meeting - 7:30p.m.
March 13th
Early Dismissal
1:05/1:20/1:35 pm
March 29th - April 1st
No School - Spring Break
Quick Links
You can also find the Breakfast and Lunch Menu on the Fillmore Central App.
Culinary Arts completed their Multicultural Food unit. Each student selected a different country to highlight. The students created presentations on common facts, culinary developments, foods grown, and dishes of each country. The countries selected were: Ireland, China, Italy, Sudan, France, and India. Students then made a dish that represented each county. They made Pizzette cookies from Italy, Chocolate Mousse from France, Potato Farls from Ireland, tandoori chicken from India, spring rolls from China, and Kofta from Sudan.