Hi everyone,

I don’t know about you, but this school year seemed to fly by. Our students have had a great year academically and have continued to show great results in our MAP and State Testing. Thirteen of our graduating seniors received All-Conference Academic Awards. Southern Nebraska Conference Academic Awards start at an ACT Composite of twenty-four. We also had many students and groups achieve great things in their activities, athletics, and fine art performances. Thank you to everyone that was able to come out and support our kids. We hope to see you next year as well.

We have had two community meetings so far to talk about facility master planning as we think about the future of our district. The first meeting was at the High School in Geneva and the second meeting was at the Middle School in Fairmont. We will have another meeting (not sure of a date yet) at the Elementary School. If you haven’t been able to follow this process you can check it out on our website - https://www.fillmorecentral.org. Click the button that is labeled Master Planning and all of the materials and slides that BVH has presented are available.

We are busy wrapping everything up for this year and are planning and preparing for next year. I hope you and your family have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the fall.

Go Panthers!

Josh Cumpston

Why are bees important? If you don't know, ask a first grader! We have been learning all about the importance of bees and pollination. We pretended to be bees while having a pollination party. Alexis from the Fillmore County Extension office brought the honey extractor and demonstrated how the honey is extracted from the frames. She gave us a taste of raw honey - some students said yummy and some students said yucky!

UPCOMING ELEMENTARY EVENTS

§ May 1st, Early Dismissal @ 1:05p.m. for Teacher Professional Development

§ May 2nd, 6th & 9th , 4th Grade visits FCMS

§ May 7th, 4th Grade to Fairmont for Museum Day

§ May 8th, Bike to School Day

§ May 10th, Kindergarten to York

§ May 10th, 1st Grade to Lincoln Zoo

§ May 13th, BOE Meeting @ 7:30pm @ FCHS Library

§ May 13th, Proud Panther Night 5:00-7:00pm @ FCES

§ May 15th, Move-Up & Movie Day

§ May 16th, End of Year Assembly

§ May 16th, Last Day of School, 11:05a.m. Dismissal

JUST A REMINDER…

As we end this school year, we want to remind our students that we will continue to learn and work until the last days of school. Parents please reinforce this at home as well. Students will be expected to turn in work, participate in class and activities, and maintain appropriate and respectful behavior. We all want to end the year on a positive note!

​​PROUD PANTHER NIGHT

On the evening of Monday, May13th, Fillmore Central Elementary will be hosting PROUD PANTHER NIGHT. Activities for the night include: Student work showcased in their classrooms, 4th grade graduation, FREE hot dog meal, and an end of the year recognition assembly. More detailed information will be going home with students.

Students currently in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade will have the opportunity to “move-up” to see the classrooms and meet the teachers at their next grade level. This will take place on Wednesday, May 15th. Student classroom assignments will be sent to families in late July or early August.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Our last day of school is Thursdayday, May 16th. Dismissal is scheduled for 11:05 a.m.

4th QUARTER REPORT CARDS

The 4th quarter report cards will be sent home with your child on the last day of school.

LOST and FOUND

All of the items in the “Lost and Found” box will be “on display” from Friday, May 17th to Wednesday, May 22rd. After May 22rd, items not claimed will be donated.

SUMMER HOURS FOR THE ELEMENTARY OFFICE

The elementary office will be open from 8:30a.m. - Noon, and 1:00p.m. - 3:00p.m. from Friday, May 17th to Thursday, May 31st. The office will reopen on Tuesday, August 1st.

2024-2025 SCHOOL SUPPLIES

For the 2024-2025 school year Fillmore Central Elementary is again providing all required supplies needed in the classroom for all students. A book bag is the only item that families will need to provide for students. This commitment ensures every student is equally equipped to be successful at FCES.

ESTABLISH LEARNING GOALS FOR SUMMER

The change of pace provided by the summer months can be a welcome change. However, many children thrive with an expected routine and incorporating learning goals can help your child succeed educationally.

• Read at least four books. Research shows that kids who read just four books over the summer will avoid “summer slide”, or the gap in academic skills when they go back to school in the fall. Listening to audio books will also build your child’s vocabulary and her confidence. Many public libraries have these available to check out.

• Try something new. The child who has never thought of herself as an athlete could spend the summer learning a sport. The kid who feels shy might look for a chance to be in a summer play. Summer is a good time to stretch.·

• Let your child take a risk. No, you don’t have to let her try skydiving! But if she’s never climbed a tree, give her a chance to learn the skill. Trying and mastering hard things is how your child learns.

• Don’t let weak areas slide. If there is a subject your child struggles with, don’t let her take the whole summer off. Ask the teacher for some ideas about how she can practice over the summer so her learning doesn’t slide backwards.

Reprinted with permission from the May 2012 issue of Parents make the difference! (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright 2012 The Parent Institute, a division of NIS, Inc.

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).

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL and EARLY DISMISSAL

The last day of the 2023-2024 school year is Thursday, May 16. Students will be dismissed from school at 11:20 AM. NO lunch will be served. Please keep in mind that it is important for all students to be in attendance. The 8th grader students will be adding their ‘paws’ to the purple hands wall of 8th grade graduates.

8TH GRADE GRADUATION

The 8th grade graduation ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00pm. Families of the graduates and members of the local community are welcome to join in this special occasion.

FINAL REPORT CARDS

FCMS student report cards will be mailed home the week of May 28. Report cards will not be handed out to students.

TIPS FOR A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE SUMMER

We are now at the period in the year that brings the most delight to many students - the conclusion of the academic year and the commencement of the summer holiday. Families and students typically start anticipating summer traditions like engaging in sports, going on vacations, and perhaps undertaking summer employment. I wish for a safe and pleasurable summer for you all, with the aspiration that our youth will keep themselves mentally and physically engaged throughout the summer season. Below are some tips to consider.

1. Wear sunscreen. Use at least SPF 15 and consider using waterproof sunscreen when engaged in activities such as swimming or boating.

1. Stay physically active. Encourage your student to stay active and engage in rigorous, outdoor activity everyday. As parents, we should help our children avoid spending hours watching television, playing computer games, etc. Research has shown that regular physical activity helps children to develop both healthy bodies and healthy minds.

1. Read. All students should continue to keep their minds active by reading over the summer. Reading one to three books is a very reasonable goal for all students to establish for themselves over the summer. Reading over the summer keeps students’ minds sharp, it improves their vocabulary, and keeps them in the habit of reading.

1. Eat well. With busy summer schedules it can be easy for kids and adults alike to ignore good nutritional habits. Students should consume pop and sugary snacks in moderation and they should drink plenty of water. By drinking plenty of water, you will avoid dehydration, you will curb your appetite, and you’ll feel better. Students should eat breakfast and at least one other regular, healthy meal each day over the summer.

1. Maintain a routine. Students should continue to get eight hours of sleep each night. Students should also maintain a regular sleep schedule by going to bed at a reasonable hour; students should also avoid “sleeping in”. By maintaining a regular and reasonable sleep schedule, your student will have more energy and will accomplish more and enjoy more over the summer months.

Four Fillmore Central sophomore students had the chance to attend the sophomore pilgrimage at the state capital. They had the chance to meet many different elected officials, attend lunch at the governors mansion, and meet the governor. The kids had a great time!

The finish line for the 2023-24 school year is in sight. Every year has its ups and downs, but at the end of the year when I reflect back upon the school year, my hope is that the positives outweigh the negatives. This year is no exception as our students and staff have had a great year. We have lots to be proud of and even though this year is ending, it won’t be long until we are ready to kick off another successful year. With that being said, here are a few reminders for the rest of this year.

Semester Finals

Students will be taking semester finals on May 14th and 15th. May 14th will be ODD periods and May 15th will be EVEN periods. We will run a normal schedule both days.

Last Day

The last day of school will be May 16th with a 11:30 a.m. dismissal. Students will need to make sure all outstanding lunch balances, class dues and other miscellaneous fees are taken care of prior to checking out for the summer. This will include turning in their laptop, case and charger. Additionally, as this is a shortened day, breakfast and lunch will not be served.

Spring Musical

Our inaugural spring musical was originally scheduled for the weekend of May 3rd-5th. This has been postponed to May 23rd and 24th. There will be a 7:30 p.m. performance on the 23rd and a 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the 24th.

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

GO PANTHERS!!!

May 1st

1:05/1:20/1:35 PM

May 11th

Graduation - 2:00 PM

May 16th

Last Day of School - 11:05/11:20/11:30 Dismissal