December Newsletter

We have had a great 1st Semester of the year. Our students have continued to do very well on
state testing results and we have many students participating in our middle and high school
athletics and activities. We are excited to see how our winter teams and activities continue
with outstanding performances. Thanks to everyone that is involved with our students and
thanks for your continued support of our students and staff! Student academics and activities
benefit when we have strong partnerships. We’d love to see you at a performance, concert,

activity, or athletic competition.

Master Planning
The board is continuing to work with BVH and Northland Securities to develop a plan for our
facilities moving forward. The school board has hosted three different community meetings –
one at each school building and two community surveys to share the facility audit findings, and
gather information and further understand what parents, staff, and district community

members think about the future of district facilities.

Christmas Break Information
Our last day of school is on Friday, December 20th and students return to school on Monday, January 6th . December 20th is an early dismissal day with students being dismissed at the elementary at 1:05pm, middle school is dismissed at 1:20pm, and the high school at 1:35pm. We have our last athletic events prior to the break on Saturday, Dec. 21 st as well. The NSAA Moratorium runs from December 22nd – December 26th . On these dates, no activity group or athletic team should meet for any reason, either to practice, watch film, have planning sessions, etc. Watch for more information with regards to sports and activity practices over the break. This year’s Basketball Holiday tournament is in Sidney, Nebraska on Dec. 27th and 28th , and we are hosting a Girls’ Varsity/JV Wrestling tournament on Friday, January 3 rd and a Boys’ Varsity/JV Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, January 4th. We also have our Mock Speech Meet on January 4th.

Faculty Gift Reminder
We always look forward to the holiday time with our friends and our family. We need to also keep in mind that the holidays can be a difficult and stressful time for some students and their families. Financial hardships can create an emotional difficulty in what should be a happy time for our students. We do request that parents/students not give gifts to our faculty and staff. Not all students can afford to do this, and this creates a difficult situation for us. We also have a Board Policy that discourages our staff from accepting any gifts. A donation to our hot lunch program to help pay negative balances of some of our students, our backpack program, to the local food bank, or to another charity in lieu of presenting a gift to a staff/faculty member would be encouraged and much appreciated.

If your child would like to give something to a faculty or staff member a written note would be

a nice idea.

I hope that you and your family are able spend time together and really enjoy the upcoming Christmas Break!

The Fillmore Central School District is pleased to introduce a new program called e~Funds for Schools. This program offers various options for parents/guardians who choose to make payments online and is extremely user friendly. Not only will you have the ability to pay for breakfast and lunch payments electronically withdrawn from your checking account or charged to your credit card, you also have the flexibility to make a payment at any time through the school's website. The e~Funds for Schools service is offered to you by a third-party service provider and they charge for processing your payment(s), similar to other online banking services. The district does not request or keep records of family checking or credit card account information. Cash and checks will still be accepted in all three buildings.

Elementary parents, please note that elementary milk money will not be able to paid through e-Funds. Please bring cash or check to the Elementary.

The e~Funds for Schools electronic payment service is provided to the school by a third-party service provider. The service provider has a nominal fee for their service. There is a $1.75 transaction convenience fee for each electronic checking payment that you make. The system carries a Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) charge if the payment is “bad.” For payments made by credit or debit card, there is a convenience fee of $2.95 per each $100 increment in the transaction. When you set up your account, please review your options carefully.

KA Cute Cows began their unit on Thanksgiving by creating Thankful Turkeys! Each feather has a drawing of what they are thankful for.

• Wednesday, December 4th, 1:05 pm Dismissal

• December 4th – 13th, Winter Benchmark Assessments in Reading and Math

• Thursday, December 19th, K-6 Winter Program at FCHS @ 6:30pm

• Friday, December 20th, Last Day of the 1st Semester Dismissal @ 1:05pm

• Monday, December 23rd through Friday, January 3rd, No School

• Monday, January 6th, Classes Resume

WINTER PROGRAM

The K-6 winter program will be at the high school on December 19th at 6:30pm. The students will rehearse for the program during the school day on December 19th. Please plan to arrive no earlier than 6:00pm the night of the program. Students will stay with their class throughout the entire performance. Teachers will release students to families at the conclusion of the performance.

CROSSWALK SAFETY

Many elementary students walk or ride their bikes home from school year round. Drivers are expected to stop for anyone using the crosswalks. Your attentiveness and patience are appreciated as students learn to navigate safely within our community.

MEDICATION

Please do not send medications to school with your child. Medications must be delivered to the office by a parent/guardian. Thank you for your help to ensure our students’ safety.

COLD WEATHER

Please send appropriate seasonal clothing (hats, gloves, boots) so your child can fully participate in outdoor recess as the temperature drops this season. It is helpful to have items marked with your child’s name or initials so they can be returned if lost. If you need assistance acquiring seasonal clothing for your child, please contact the elementary office (302-759-3184).

RECESS IN THE SNOW

Students are allowed to play in the snow at recess if they have an extra set of shoes/boots at school designated specifically for playing ON the snow. Snow pants are needed if your child wants to play IN the snow so their clothes remain dry and comfortable back in the classroom. The blacktop and sidewalk areas are always cleaned off so students have a dry place to play if they don’t have an extra set of shoes.

UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION

The elementary school may need to contact you for varying reasons (illness, emergencies, etc) and updated contact information is very important. Please update your information as soon as possible so communication between home and school is not interrupted.

Second grade is continuing to practice addition and subtraction facts with fun games like Top It! We have learned many different card games to play at home and at school.

As fast as children whiz from classroom to activity to home and back again, their brains are just as rapidly growing and changing. The foods they eat are important. "These years are critical for brain development, and what they eat affects focus and cognitive skills," says psychiatrist Drew Ramsey, MD.

These 7 foods can help kids stay sharp and affect how their brains develop well into the future.

1. Eggs-The protein and nutrients in eggs help kids concentrate, says Los Angeles-based chef Beth Saltz, RD.

2. Greek Yogurt-Fat is important to brain health, says Laura Lagano, RD. A full-fat Greek yogurt (which has more protein that other yogurts) can help keep brain cells in good form for sending and receiving information.

3. Greens-Full of vitamins, spinach and kale are linked to lower odds of getting dementia later in life. Kale is a superfood, packed with antioxidants and other things that help new brain cells grow.

4. Fish-Fish is a good source of vitamin D and omega-3s, which protect the brain from declining mental skills and memory loss. Salmon, tuna, and sardines are all rich in omega-3s.

5. Nuts and Seeds-Packed with protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, nuts and seeds may boost mood and keep your nervous system in check.

6. Oatmeal-Protein and fiber rich oatmeal helps keep heart and brain arteries clear. In one study, kids who ate sweetened oatmeal did better on memory-related school tasks than those who ate a sugary cereal.

7. Apples and Plums-Kids often crave sweets, especially when they're feeling sluggish. Apples and plums are lunchbox-friendly and contain antioxidants that may fight decline in mental skills.

1A learned about Veterans Day. They had a special guest, Nate Bigelow, who talked about being deployed and showed the students some items he carries in his pack. They had the opportunity to see his Quilt of Valor that he was presented. The students also created Christmas cards that will be sent overseas to an active Geneva graduate with the military care package packed by local citizens.

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).

Congratulations to our Middle School October Students of the Month! 8th grade- Briley R., 7th- Aaliyah R., 6th- Charleigh L., and 5th- Easton B.

Early Dismissal – December 4

On Wednesday, December 6, there will be a 2-hour early dismissal to allow our staff to participate in professional development. These monthly early dismissals provide our teachers and staff with opportunities to engage in professional development opportunities to enhance instruction and student performance.

Winter Concerts

We invite you to attend our Winter Music Concerts. The concert for grades 7-12 will take place on Monday, December 16, at 7:00 PM. The K-6 Winter Music Concert is scheduled for Thursday, December 19, at 6:00 PM. These concerts will showcase the vocal and instrumental talents of our middle school students.

Colder Weather

At FCMS, students have supervised recess during lunch periods. We prefer to have them go outside for recess as long as the weather permits. We encourage you to help your student develop the habit of dressing appropriately for school based on daily weather conditions. Please ensure your student has suitable seasonal clothing options (e.g., sweatshirt, jacket, coat, hat) to stay comfortable while outside throughout the day. Proper attire will help your student feel more comfortable before school, during recess, and after school, and it significantly reduces the likelihood of missing school due to illness.

ICU

Fillmore Central Middle School continues to implement the Power of ICU program, which serves as a communication tool aimed at ensuring ALL students complete ALL assignments with quality and on time. If your cell phone number or email address has changed, please inform the front office with your updated information.

End of the 1st Semester

The end of the first semester is nearing. According to our Grading for Learning Policy, any assignments marked as "Incomplete" will be changed to a "zero" in the gradebook on Monday, December 16. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of meeting deadlines, especially at the semester's end. Supporting your student in developing a plan to finish any "missing" assignments will aid their success in the classroom.

Upcoming Winter Break

Students at Fillmore Central Middle School will be dismissed at 1:20 PM on Friday, December 20, for Winter Break. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025, with a full day of school. Please note that all Fillmore Central facilities will be closed from December 22 to December 27 due to the NSAA Moratorium.

Congratulations to our Middle School Drug Free Poster contest winner, 8th grader Leighton P!

Finals Schedule

Semester finals will take place on Dec. 18th and 19th. December 17th is a designated review day. December 20th will be a 1:35 p.m. dismissal with some end of semester activities planned by the NHS/StuCo.

Hudl

We will once again be doing our best to have all of our winter sporting events and concerts live streamed on our Hudl page: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ne/geneva/organization/313/fillmore-central-hig-high-school.

We may not be able to provide audio/commentary for all games, but we will do our best to ensure that the video portion of these events are streamed. Please reach out to us if you have any concerns or trouble with Hudl, and we will do our best to help.

Band/Choir Winter Concert

The annual Winter Band and Choir Concert this year will be on Monday, December 16th with a 7:00 p.m. start. This concert will be for students in grades 7-12 and will be in the gymnasium. This is a great opportunity to see and hear the great things happening in our music department.

Sportsmanship

As we are about to start the winter sports season, I would like to remind everyone how important it is to do our best to be good sports in the stands. I totally understand how easy it is to get upset and wound up, and have been there myself on occasion. I also understand how difficult it is to hire officials, especially at the JV and JH levels. We recently sent a group of 9th and 10th grade students to the NCA Sportsmanship Summit. This group will be meeting several times in the future as they look to implement some of the things they have learned. So as we enter the winter season, let’s all do our best to let the coaches coach, the officials officiate and the athletes compete.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

GO PANTHERS!!!

The FC FBLA officers traveled to Lincoln to compete in the Husker Invitational. The officers took tests over various business topics and listened to speakers from the college of business. Amity S. placed 4th in Intro to Business Communication. They also got to catch up with some FC alumni that currently attend UNL.

Mrs. Patterson took her Personal Finance class to Friesen Ford in Aurora for a tour of their car dealership. The students picked some vehicles that they liked off of the website and Louie Soto, one of the sales representatives, pulled the information for those vehicles for them. He went over the information that he pulled, pointed out some things to look for when buying a new or used car, talked about interest rates, and so much more with the students. The students were also able to walk the lot and look in/ get in some of the vehicles. Thank you Louie and Friesen Ford for giving these students some information to help them make better car buying decisions in the future!

Activity passes are $75 per person. Activity passes are able to be used at any regular season games.

Fillmore Central Fans that are 65 years or older are free. Please contact Dawn to make sure you are on the list or to be added.

For questions contact Dawn Temme at 402-759-3141 or at dawn.temme@fillmorecentral.org

Fillmore Central is looking for a cook. We have a position available beginning immediately.

Location: Middle School, Fairmont, NE

Duration: Monday - Friday, August - May.

Wage: Based on assignment and experience
Requirements: Must pass a background check

Benefits:

• 80% paid Blue Cross Blue Shield Single Health Insurance

• Personal days

• Paid sick leave

• State retirement

Questions: Call 402-759-4955.

Applications are available here, or in the Superintendent’s Office, 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. EOE

Would you like the flexibility of driving 2.25 hours in the morning, 2.25 hours in the afternoon, or both for a total of 4.5 hours a day? This might be the opportunity for you!

Duration: Monday - Friday, August - May with multiple routes and activities available.

• Two positions and routes available – We will pay for training

• Starting wage: $24.88 per hour, with increases based on experience

• Benefits: 80% paid BCBS single health insurance, personal days, paid sick leave, state retirement

Applications are available here, or in the Superintendent’s Office, 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. EOE

Contact our Transportation Director, Jac Marchand, at jac.marchand@fillmorecentral.org for more information.

Come and be a part of the Fillmore Central Music Program! We are looking for someone to accompany our choir and choir members between 5 and 15 hours a week. This position would run September through early May. Our choir practices daily from 9:10 am to 10:10 am (approximately). Concerts, contests, and preparation for each may increase hours during some weeks. Opportunities to work with middle school choir may be available.

Duration: 5-15 hours a week, Monday - Friday, September - May.

Wage: Based on assignment and experience
Requirements: Must pass a background check

Questions: Call 402-759-4955.

Interested? Applications can be found at https://www.fillmorecentral.org/page/careers, or from the Superintendent’s office at 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. EOE

Fillmore Central is looking for Substitute Teachers for the 2024-2025 school year! This is a great way to be involved in our district with a flexible schedule.

Day Rate: $145.00

Don’t have a teaching certificate? No problem! Local Substitute Permits are available through the Nebraska Department of Education. More information can be found on our website.

Applications can be found at https://www.fillmorecentral.org/page/careers.

Questions: Call 402-759-4955.

Submit your application and teaching certificate to josh.cumpston@fillmorecentral.org or 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Fillmore Central is looking for substitute cooks for all buildings. This is a great way to be involved in our district with a flexible schedule.

Questions: Call 402-759-4955.

Interested? Get an application at https://www.fillmorecentral.org/page/careers or from the Superintendent’s office at 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Submit application materials to josh.cumpston@fillmorecentral.org or 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. EOE

Fillmore Central is looking for substitute para-educators for all buildings. This is a great way to be involved in our district with a flexible schedule.

Questions: Call 402-759-4955.

Interested? Get an application at https://www.fillmorecentral.org/page/careers or from the Superintendent’s office at 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Submit application materials to josh.cumpston@fillmorecentral.org or 1410 L Street, Geneva, NE 68361.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. EOE