Senior of the Month
October’s Senior of the month is Kate White.
She is the daughter of Chuck and Cindy White of Marysville. She attends Trinity Lutheran Church in Marysville, where she helps with Sunday school and confirmation classes, as well as being an active member in its youth group.
She is involved in several different clubs at Fairbanks High School, including marching band, pep band, National Honor Society, mock trial, Interact Club and drama club. She is the senior class secretary and the public relations officer of FCCLA.
During her sophomore and junior years, she was the Americanism post test winner and was named “Outstanding Government Student” during her junior year. Most recently, she was elected as the fall homecoming queen.
She was selected to attend Buckeye Girls’ State this past summer. She has been active in 4-H, as she was the president of the Scissors and Sandwiches 4-H Club. She was also a camp counselor and member of the Junior Fair Board.
This year, she was also a member of the Union County 4-H Advisory Council, and was elected to a one-year term as a young adult member for the Buckeye Leadership Workshop Board of Trustees.
Some of her favorite memories involving high school are her competition projects for FCCLA, going to band competitions and spending time with all her friends.
She advises underclassmen to get involved, take some risks and to not take their time in school for granted. She said it goes a lot faster than one thinks, and looking back, has realized how much she has done in so little time.
After graduation she plans to attend the University of Kentucky to pursue a social work major.
Fairbanks FFA puts in time for many conferences, events
By Ayden Adams
Fairbanks High School’s FFA members went to the Ohio Statehouse for the Ohio Legislative Leadership Conference Sept. 26.
Members at the conference learned about government issues, how bills are passed at the county, state, and national level and how to become a better leader in every activity they do. Those who attended include Ayden Adams, Autumn Scheiderer, Matt Bouic and Keagan Nicol.
The Ohio FFA officer team provided a well executed presentation regarding all the keynote speakers and services.
On September 27th, The school’s FFA went to District 6 soil judging outside of Delaware Sept. 27.
Members who judged determined soil properties and qualities for agricultural soils. Members determined if the Delaware soils were fit to produce crops and other agricultural compounds. Those in attendance were Ayden Adams, Keagan Nicol, Anna Higbee, Brice Phelps and Cole Helterbrand.
The group was asked to haunt The Maize at Little Darby Oct. 13. There were 23 members who represented the chapter and was an enjoyable time for them to connect.
The chapter thanked The Maize at Little Darby for allowing the FFA to do this fundraiser, which funds more CDE’s in the future.
Students, staff enjoy recent media center uplift
By Gracie Tomblin
If one were to ask anyone at Fairbanks’ high school or middle school what their favorite room in the school is, they would most likely say it’s the media center.
As of the 2017-2018 school year, the media center was a place where students could go during study hall, lunch, or whenever they had free time to work on the computers, relax in comfy chairs or print work.
However, over the summer of 2018, that room was remodeled.
The new look for the media center has been seen as modern, proper and technologically advanced by some. Instead of four rows of computers across the room, it’s now a big, open area with couches and televisions hung on the wall.
The computers were taken out because they are no longer needed, considering every student in the school has their own provided laptop. The chairs students enjoyed were replaced with even comfier couches.
The televisions are seen as an awesome addition because students can project their computer screens through the televisions. These are great for group projects and when students need to show the class their work.
The media center is seen as a great place to go when one needs quiet time to focus on their work, or serve as a place to relax.
Some teachers who know a lot about the new media center are educational aide Karla Wygle and learning coach David Wallace, who both work in that area.
“The renovation was done to make a space full of natural lighting, and big bright windows that welcomes students in for group projects, or activities, and feel comfy while doing it,” Wallace said.
The idea for this new look was sparked when the teachers visited Big Walnut Middle School and saw its media center. They liked the idea of teachers having the opportunity to bring their classes down for a better class period experience.
Class learns about financial planning
By Alexis Murray
From inside Fairbanks High School’s classrooms comes a new development in teacher Laura Falk’s class, where she decided to try the H & R Block budget challenge with her students.
As a national program, challenge is an online game that helps teens increase their “financial fitness” by simulating real-life as an adult.
There are opportunities for scholarships for students who perform well. Falk’s students are given a monthly salary, then choose their 401k contribution, banking account type, apartment, auto loan payment, insurance, cell phone, utilities, student loan and etc.
“I am hoping the students will learn that managing your money properly is important and a really big deal,” Falk said. “I want them to feel comfortable taking risks as they make important life decisions. This provides them with benefits that put them in the ‘driver’s seat,’ and teaches them to make adult choices about finances in a safe environment. This gives them the freedom to learn in an experiential environment.”
School holds fundraiser to help feed hungry children
By Kate White
Educational aide Dear Rice wants to prevent hunger from happening at the Fairbanks School District through Blessings in a Backpack.
Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that helps feed children. Having started the program this school year, she’s benefited several students and is working with counselors to expand the program.
Rice needed help to fund-raise money to support these students.
Grace Boerger and Meghan Moran of Fairbanks High School decided to help through the Fairbanks FCCLA.
With the backing of their advisor, teacher Laura Falk, and Rice, they launched a “Kiss a Pig” fundraiser. The girls wanted to raise $500 to help change the lives of five students.
Each homeroom was given a container to collect money. The two classes that donated the most were gifted with Falk’s homemade cinnamon rolls and their teachers would have to kiss a pig at the fall homecoming pep rally.
Homeroom teachers were asked if they wanted to participate, and every teacher agreed. Additionally, if the $500 goal was reached, Tom Montgomery, the principal, would have to kiss the pig as well.
In five days, Fairbanks raised about $805 for Blessings in a Backpack.
“I am humbled and sincerely appreciate everything (FCCLA has done) to help with Blessings in a Backpack at our school,” Rice said.
With this money, she will be able to feed eight students this school year.
Any Fairbanks family in need of assistance may email Rice at drice@fairbankspanthers.org.
High school hosts foreign exchange student
By Livvy Bellas
Fairbanks High School (FHS) is hosting foreign exchange student Emilie Kidmose this year.
Visiting from southern Germany, she is a sophomore and is staying with the Conroy family. She said she enjoys America so far, and is very happy to be at FHS.
Her family is originally from Denmark, so she’s had to adjust to living in a new country before. She was inspired to become an exchange student after hearing stories of her mother’s exchange experience in high school, as well as her friends who traveled to the America and Canada.
She says the most difficult adjustment she’s had while here was getting used to speaking only in English. Initially, she struggled with homesickness, but said it’s gotten easier as time goes by and as she meets more people. Becoming involved in soccer has helped with this as well, allowing her to get involved in school and make new friends.
She said she has grown really close with her teammates and enjoys playing for the school. She said she really likes FHS, and is comfortable in a small school where everyone is familiar with who she is and her situation.
In Germany, she said she had at least 13 classes, with a different class each day. While at Fairbanks, she had to get adjusted to seven classes, with each day the same.
Another difference from her life in Germany has been the distance from the city. She’s not used to living in a rural area and having to drive a longer distance to get to places.
While in America, she also visited Wisconsin and Chicago, and has become fond of the new food and culture.
FHS hopes she continues to enjoy her time and gets the most out of her academic experience.
First science club meeting headlined with dissection
By Kaleb Boyd
The science club held its first meeting Sept. 30.
The meeting was comprised of 11 members who were ready to dissect a mink. The students split into groups of two to start the dissection.
The fearless leader of the club is teacher Crystal Tebbe. She assisted students with learning the different parts of the mink and made sure everything was going smoothly.
Members await the next dissection as they will discover what the inside of a shark looks like.
NHS spends time with seniors from Brookdale
By Marissa Fornadel
This month, the members of National Honor Society (NHS) actively engaged within their community by volunteering and playing games with the residents at Brookdale, a locally assisted living center.
Despite being a Monday evening, plenty of NHS members came to spend time with the people of Brookdale. A fun night of bingo, laughs and storytelling was had in the short hour they spent together.
The residents were excited and grateful for those who came out, and they look forward to seeing them again next month.