Senior of the Month
March’s senior of the month is Wyatt Rausch. Wyatt is the son of Lucas and Brandi Rausch of Marysville. Throughout high school he has participated in soccer, baseball, and FFA. He is a member of the Sunshine 4-H club, a Jr Fair board volunteer, and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He is employed by Tractor Supply Company and also works on the family farm. After graduation he will be attending Bowling Green State University where he will study Supply Chain Management. He would like to thank all of his friends and family for their love and support. When asked what advice he has for the underclassmen, he replied, “Set goals, work hard, and be a leader in all you do.”
(Photo submitted)
New reality for education emerges
By Grace Koenig
The school years of 2020 and 2021 have been like no other for all schools, including Fairbanks. However the staff, administration, and board members have done a great job in keeping students informed and giving them options especially in the area of online schooling. This year students could choose to go to school in person or virtually through online schooling. Over 100 students in the district elected to do the online program through Fairbanks Schools. In this way of schooling, there are not only the core subjects of math, English, and science but also new and interesting classes that would not be normally available such as Marine Science, Anatomy/Physiology and Forensic Science. Hope and Life Management has been noted to be very helpful among students as well.
This program doesn’t just run itself. Mrs. Teresa Goins is the administrator for the program and Fairbanks teachers Mr. John Finney and Ms. Maggie Espada have put much time and effort into helping guide students through courses and keeping them on pace with the curriculum. They meet with students on a regular basis, whether it be in group calls or individually and are on call throughout the day to give kids a greater ability to reach out. Of course, this being a new program, there were a few problems that needed to be addressed. One example was the need for more help in the areas of science and math. Mrs. Crystal Tebbe and Miss Julie Court, both teachers at the high school, have tutored students in their specialized areas. With the help and support of staff and families, a greater foundation has been laid to help build the success and achievements of the students.
Fall, winter athletes honored at banquets
By Madeline Conroy
Fairbanks High School wanted to celebrate their fall and winter sports athletes, but due to COVID-19 they had to think of different ways they could do this. The athletic department had decided to hold off on giving fall athletes their awards until it was safe enough to hold a banquet for them. At the end of the winter season, the athletic department was finally able to schedule the banquets. They wanted to allow people to attend and receive their awards, while keeping this event safe.
The banquets were held the weeks of March 1 and March 8 in one-hour increments with a few banquets held each day. Since limited people were allowed, the banquets were live-streamed so anybody could watch.
Players were able to hear from coaches and able to reflect on their season and appreciate the good moments. Fairbanks was also able to celebrate conference, district, regional, state and national awards. Fairbanks wants to thank all their fall and winter athletes for their great seasons despite the circumstances, and cannot wait for what the spring season will bring.
FCCLA slows in anticipation of Spring Break
By Aubrey Tillman
March is a slow month for Fairbanks FCCLA. With spring break approaching, the officers made the decision not to add anything else to the already hectic schedule.
They had their monthly meeting where they announced officer elections and passed out applications. Current officers are encouraged by the interest shown in joining the leadership of the club.
These applications are due before spring break and by mid-April, officers for the 2021-2022 school year will have been elected.
The club is disappointed to announce that there will not be a Father- Daughter dance held this year.
The officers tried to find a way to make this memorable event happen, however unfortunately it is not possible due to the sheer number of people who usually attend.
Plans for April have not been finalized yet but the club is excited to get into the community with a service project.
Prom planning, adjustments begin
By Callie Kitchen
With Covid-19 still present, staff and students have been brainstorming ideas to ensure regular school events continue as close to normal as possible. After the cancelation of last year’s prom and this year’s fall and winter homecomings, Mrs. Wygle, the junior class advisor, was determined to find ideas to accommodate this year’s prom. A prom-like formal banquet was proposed and was positively received by staff and students. After meeting with superintendent, Mr. Schirg, and high school principal, Mr. Montgomery the plan of a formal event was developed. Mr. Schirg contacted Dr. Orcena at the Union County Health Department to present the idea. After handing in the detailed plan which followed state guidelines, Dr. Orcena approved the banquets. The banquets will take place in the high school gym on April 24th for the seniors and May 1st for the juniors. The evening will consist of a main dinner course served by Nicol’s Smokehouse, salad and breadsticks provided by Cappy’s Pizza of London and a dessert served by The Flour Barn.
While it is not probable that there will be a regular prom this year, Mrs. Wygle and the junior officers are waiting for further guidelines from Governor DeWine and the Union County Health Department. If a more traditional prom can happen, the staff has accommodations in place including a DJ and adding a dance floor.
The event will not be as extensive as proms in past years but the goal is to at least provide an event for the students. Even so, there will be various amount of activities. For example, for the seniors, there will be a senior slideshow presented and the winners for the Senior Superlatives will be announced. For both juniors and seniors, there will be a photo booth to take pictures. More ideas are still being discussed and brainstormed by the student council to make this event enjoyable for the students.
FFA contests set to begin
By Montana Burns
Recently, the Fairbanks FFA chapter kicked off their livestock judging and has had three contests so far. The state contests are coming up in the next couple of weeks and will be held virtually. A virtual contest at Wilmington was held with Montana Burns placing 8th overall and Linsey Eddy placing 10th overall. The team placed 18th overall.
The chapter also had a few members whose state degrees went through – Montana Burns, Cade Ziegler, Brynne Stanley, and Shelby Burns. Along with that, there were two top four finalists in proficiencies – Autumn Scheiderer with beef and Kaleb Boyd with sheep. Currently there are three American Degrees going through the national inspection – Autumn Scheiderer, Keagan Nicol, and Abby Underhill. Members are hopeful that they are going to go all the way through. The state convention is going to be virtual this year but will have familiar faces rolling through the screen for their awards and degrees.
Fairbanks staff members vaccinated
By Linsey Eddy
After months of navigating a global pandemic with hybrid learning models, plastic dividers, and intense sanitization, Union County educators have made an important step in a positive direction. On February 20, 2021, ninety-two Fairbanks teachers and staff received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, distributed by the Union County Health Department at the county fairgrounds. This drive-through process was described as “very smooth” and “more than easy” by numerous staff members having received the vaccine. Following signs and a broadcast system, employees were able to drive through the Route 4 entrance of the fairgrounds to the rabbit barn, where they remained in their vehicles while the vaccine was administered. After the efficient process, recipients were required to wait 15 minutes to ensure they had no adverse reactions. Poetically, the second dose of the vaccine was administered on March 13, 2021- exactly one year after the initial shutdown caused by the virus. While other procedures and precautions will remain in place, Superintendent Adham Schirg, and fellow administrators feel that this is a huge step in the right direction towards a safe, healthy, and effective learning environment for students and staff alike.
ACT could remain optional
By Ally Gerty
It’s ACT season for Fairbanks Juniors and Seniors! As students start to prepare and apply for college, many colleges have decided to become test optional. This essentially means that a student’s ACT and SAT scores are not required for admission. This is beneficial to those who could not find locations to take these tests due to the pandemic. This is applicable to the Class of 2021 and many colleges have announced they are extending it for the Class of 2022 as well. There is still some discussion as to whether schools will stay test optional in the future. Some argue that it is likely to stay, while others see it as an accommodation to the pandemic. As for juniors and seniors across the country, there is some relief in knowing that their admission to college is not dependent on a test score, better yet, they don’t necessarily have to take a high stress test.
NHS sees success in March
By Hunter Jackson
March has been a successful month for the Fairbanks National Honor Society. While they have continued their community service they are proud to announce that 30 new members have been inducted into the organization.
Among the many activities cancelled over the course of the pandemic, last year’s induction ceremony was one of the first events for Fairbanks that was cancelled, this happening just hours beforehand. The NHS was pleased that this year’s induction ceremony was successfully held on March 11th. Strict COVID guidelines were followed to keep members and guests safe. They not only congratulated their new members but also recognized next year’s officers: President Lilli Doll, Vice-President Kaitlyn Vollrath, Secretary Elizabeth White, Treasurer Cade Feller, and Reporter Kate Ruff. The current officers would like to wish each of them great luck with their senior year!