E-M Boys Punch Their Ticket to State

Exeter-Milligan dominated a strong Giltner team Monday night in Geneva.  The capacity crowd watched the Timberwolves tie the first quarter before pulling ahead 21-16 at the half and a final score of 41-30.

Exeter-Milligan boys were crowned District Champions Monday night in Geneva.  Pictured front row from the left are Eli Johnson, Student Managers Andrew Vavra, Draven Payne and Tyler Due, Casey Underwood, Trever Zelenka, Theron Odvody, Peyton Pribyl, Kole Svec and Braden Capek.  Back row from the left  Assistant Coaches Matt Nicholas and Travis Kotas, Mitchell Manning, Luis Jaegermann, Jackson Beethe, Spencer Pribyl,  Ryan Sharp, Johnny Babula, Clint Oldehoeft, Max Zeleny, Colton Bossaller and Head Coach Dean Filipi.

Exeter-Milligan Update: Book Reports in the Library

 Selah Petersen

Tucker Svec

Book Reports in the Library

By Lisa Soukup, Exeter-Milligan Media Specialist

Students in grades 3-6 have the opportunity to fill out a book report for the book they read. They get their picture taken with the book and then the report is hung on the shelves in the library. Students have enjoyed reading what others thought of the books.

After students complete 5 book reports, they get to move seats. When they have completed 10 they get to move to the comfy chairs. Some students are working for the 15 and 20 book incentives.

Exeter-Milligan Second Grade Classroom

The Exeter-Milligan second grade class is having a great year.  The class, taught by Marla Weber, “shows support for each other by helping those peers who might need assistance. They are excited to challenge themselves by trying new strategies.”

They are exploring new concepts and learning about research.  Each of them have created presentations about the planets using an app called 30 Hands.  They have also researched inventors and the challenges they experienced while creating their inventions. 

They use technology regularly and used the app Seesaw when learning about inventors.  According to Weber, “our class has been enjoying app smashing (using two or more apps to create a project).”

Parents are able to go online and look at the students projects and comment on their child’s work by accessing their child’s online Seesaw folder.  Seesaw is both an iPad app and web-based program for creating online portfolios.

And if you had nightmares about making historical timelines as a child, there is an app for that now.  The second graders have used Popplet to create timelines for the inventors they researched.

This class doesn’t always have their eyes on an iPad or their nose in a book.  There is an abundance of hands on learning in the second grade.  Last fall the class participated in an Outdoor Education Day and this spring they will spend a day as pioneer students.

Writing is an important focus at Exeter-Milligan and the second graders are getting an early start.  Each of them have a pen pal at Friend Public School. After exchanging letters this winter, the students will meet in person this spring.

The second grade class is eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first published book.  The class wrote about what they want to be when they grow up and their perspective on how to be a good friend.  When the books arrive the students are contemplating hosting an author’s tea with an autograph session and inviting their parents.

Exeter-Milligan Girls Lose Sub State Against Ewing

 In a tough match-up against Ewing, the Timberwolf ladies fought hard but came up short at the end losing 57-51

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Timberwolves Slay the Griffins at Sub-Districts

Exeter-Milligan Boys kept their bid for State alive on Thursday night with a win over Diller-Odell 52-38.  The boys will meet Giltner for the third time this season (1-1) at Fillmore Central at 7 p.m. on MONDAY

Teammates Comes to Exeter-Milligan

Student participants are pictured in the front from left to right – Kiley, Jolene, Lily, Selah, Kierra, Avery, Tucker, Alivia, Brett, Troy, Emma, and Carver.  Behind are metors and board members Zach, Jordan, Mrs. Papik, Becky, Mrs. Kroll, Rebecca, Mrs Meyers, Allison, Mrs. Weber, Meg, JJ, Tony, Justina, Mrs. Kanode, Mr. Sheffield, Mrs Steuben, Mrs. Soukup and Mrs Kovanda.

Exeter-Milligan has adopted a new program to positively impact their students.  Teammates have come to town.

The Teammates program was started in Nebraska in 1991 by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne with a mission “to positively impact the world by inspiring you to reach their full potential.”

Exeter-Milligan School Counselor Denice Kovanda initiated the program at Exeter-Milligan, “I chaired the Teammates board at Fillmore Central when we started it.  We had a visit from Dr. Tom Osborne a few years ago (at Fillmore Central) and who can say no to Tom Osborne?”

She saw the impact the program made at Fillmore Central and wanted to see it at Exeter-Milligan.  “It was fascinating to watch at FC just because you saw kids that were beaming when their mentors were in sight.”

The program has adult mentors who are paired with a student mentee.  Both groups are trained before they can participate in the program.  All of their interactions take place on school grounds and the pair are matched up based on shared interests.

Kovanda was very excited to welcome Exeter Alumni Allyson Horne back home to train their initial group of mentors and mentees.  Horne is the Training and Match Support Coordinator for Teammates.  “Allyson is very involved and she really stirs a passion for mentoring,” according to Kovanda.

At the last home basketball game at Exeter-Milligan the Teammates held a basket auction fundraiser and were introduced at halftime of the game.

Serving on the Teammates Board of Directors are Becky Erdkamp, JJ Becker, Zach Becker, Laura Steuben, Brooke Soukup and Marla Weber.

Right now the Exeter-Milligan team has several extra female mentors waiting for a match but they have three male mentees who want a mentor.  “We don’t have enough male mentors.  A lot of times it’s a work schedule issue but we have some mentors whose employers have encouraged them to participate.”

To become a mentor, individuals have to have an extensive background check and a three hour training done locally.  All the contact is done at school and is scheduled through Kovanda.  Usually they don’t meet in the summer unless there is a group activity.  “It’s a 30 minute commitment per week.  Some meet before school or during the lunch period.  They play games or do a craft, have lunch together or just talk.”

“We just started at semester but the kids that are involved are so excited the day their mentor comes,” she added.

Their recent basket fundraiser will go toward background checks.  “Harre Seed and Services gave us a generous donation and we purchased T-shirts for all of our participants,” according to Kovanda.

She also mentioned that mentee participants who have been involved with Teammates for three or four years can apply for a non-competitive scholarship for Nebraska colleges some of which are a full ride scholarship.

As for the future of Teammates at Exeter-Milligan Kovanda added, “Obviously we want to grow.  We would like to double where we are at right now.  The biggest piece, is getting the men in the community involved.  More mentors is an easy process.  We just need people who want to make a difference in their community.”