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Congratulations to our Quiz Bowl team who were Conference Quiz Runners-Up.

Fort Calhoun High School’s Art Teacher, Mr. Paul High Horse, is the Castle & Cathedral Creative District Guest Artist in Residence at the Joslyn Castle through July 2025. Throughout his residency, Mr. High Horse will be working with the staff at the Castle to plan monthly community outreach activities while creating a new body of work to be shown in July at the Joslyn Castle Carriage House. The residency is made possible with support from the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. To learn more about the events he is planning to organize, follow this link: Joslyn Castle Events. To learn more about Mr. High Horse and his artwork, visit Paul High Horse.

 

Congratulations to our Science Fair Winners!

1st Place: Pictured below, Lucy Billesbach and Alice Kubicek – Is It the Bat?

2nd Place: Ione Schneider and Justice Carlile – Which Ingredient in Lip Balm is the Most Effective?

3rd Place: Ollie Geiger and Frank Bonacci – Effect of Epoxy on Carbon Fiber Strength 

Nice job Pioneers!

Congratulations to Emma Bowery and Sam Genoways who were recognized by NDE as Distinguished World Language Scholars! They submitted a portfolio of themselves writing and speaking in Spanish 2 months ago, and NDE published the honorees’ list recently. Way to go Pioneers!

 

The JRH HAL class took a field trip to the Kiewit Luminarium on the morning of February 19th. Nine 7th and eight 8th graders made the trip, along with HAL teacher Mr. Hansen and District Technology Director Paul Wilson. The goal of the trip was to engage the students deeper into the science and engineering topics presented at the museum, while also serving as a reward for the work they put in academically. In the coming weeks, the students will prepare presentations based on their favorite exhibit and deliver them to their HAL classmates.

The field trip was a great success and the students really enjoyed their time at the museum!

Our local Spelling Bee was held January 22nd at the Elementary and January 23rd at the Junior High. Congrats to our amazing spellers. All of the qualifiers did a great job but there was a winner and a runner-up from each building. At our Elementary, the runner-up was Sam Richardson and our winner was Claire Heneger. At our Junior High, our runner-up was Ella Dworak and our winner was Christina Bach. Wish them all luck at the County Spelling Bee hosted by Fort Calhoun on February 6th at 9:00 AM

A group of sixth grade HAL students formed a team to compete at the state level of Future Cities Competition. A competition that tasks students in grades 6-8 to think about what cities would be like 100 years from now. This year’s theme was “Above the Current.” Students were to design a floating city and provide two innovative examples of how their floating city works and keeps its citizens healthy and safe..The group built a city and then presented their city to a group of judges. The team, which included Thomas Jensen, Korbin Kesteloot, Cheyenne Lake, Isla Muse, Quinn Hallberg, Sam Richardson, Levi Bowen, Geno Roberts, and Abram Benoit, brought home an award for “Best Moving Part.” The city model will be on display in the elementary school cafeteria this week.

The FTCE lunchroom was abuzz with excitement as students prepared to showcase their creativity and scientific knowledge in a one-day event, Mr. M’s Cell Museum. Scheduled for December 6, the event highlighted an innovative extra credit opportunity designed to engage students in the fascinating world of cell biology.

The enrichment project encouraged students to construct models of plant or animal cells using everyday materials such as shoeboxes, balloons, legos, and many other everyday household items . Students were tasked not only with designing accurate and visually engaging models but also with creating interactive exhibits that teach visitors about cell structure and function. For those seeking an extra challenge, specialized cell types like heart or nerve cells were modeled.

Mr. M, the science teacher spearheading the project, emphasized the educational value of combining creativity with scientific research. “This project was more than just an assignment,” he explained. “It’s a chance for students to think critically, work collaboratively, and explore the impact of cellular biology on human health.”

To complete their exhibits, students researched a disease caused by cellular malfunction, bridging the gap between abstract scientific concepts and real-world implications. The event aimed to foster a deeper understanding of cell biology while allowing students to demonstrate their learning in a fun and innovative way.

Participants had the flexibility to work independently or with partners, and they chose between physical models and/or digital presentations. The project guidelines include detailed instructions for constructing models, safety tips for handling materials, and suggestions for creating engaging displays.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the project was the interactive element. Students were encouraged to make their models dynamic, incorporating moving parts or objects visitors could handle. A poster or digital presentation accompanying each exhibit explained how the cell components contributed to the overall system of an organism.

The culmination of the project would see the school’s makeshift “Cell Museum” come alive with student exhibits. Visitors, including classmates and staff members, had the opportunity to interact with the displays, ask questions, and learn from the young scientists.

Student and staff feedback and reflection were integral to the project. Participants analyzed their work, evaluated their peers’ input, and considered ways to improve their exhibits in future iterations. This reflective component ensures that the learning experience extends beyond the event itself.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase their talents while deepening their understanding of biology in a creative and hardworking outlet,” said Mr. M.

For a day, the walls of the lunchroom transformed into a vibrant exploration of the microscopic world. With creativity, teamwork, and a passion for science on full display, Mr. M’s Cell Museum was an event to remember.

The Junior High Yearbooks are ready to order. See the information below for details. Go to Barksdale Photo and use code 0090670YB. From there, click on Yearbook Prepay. The website will say Junior Senior High School but this is the link for only the Junior High Yearbook. Click HERE for ordering information for the High School Yearbook. Contact Mr. Hansen with any questions at bhansen@ftcpioneers.org.