Christmas Caroling!

Members of the Christians in Action (CIA) youth group from Exeter caroled at the nursing homes in Geneva and Fairmont on December 14.  Members are between kindergarten in high school aged.

Exeter-Milligan Girl Scouts Donate Books

Exeter-Milligan Girl Scout Troop 20703 Brownies front row from the left are Sydney Engert, Aiyden Franssen and Brooklyn Oldehoeft in front of the many books they donated to the Exeter Public Library.  In the back row are Kendra Oldehoeft, left, their leader and Exeter Public Librarian Jessica Votipka.

What can a small group of Girl Scouts accomplish? Quite a lot when they put their mind to it.

Exeter-Milligan Girl Scout Troop 20703 had a plan when they heard about the opportunity for their Brownie group to have a booth at the Exeter Avenue Holiday Sampler in October.

The three girls, along with their mom’s baked and decorated everything from cookies and muffins to donuts that were donated by the Casey’s in Exeter.  They made their space attractive and advertised their objective: buying books for the Exeter Public Library.

During the sale, their leader Kendra Oldehoeft noted, “We had several who donated and didn’t want anything.  They just wanted to help us out.”

The girls donated 44 books to the Exeter Public Library.  The books were special because the girls were able to pick five of their favorites to include at the library.  Oldehoeft contacted Librarian Jessica Votipka to make sure that they didn’t duplicate any books the library already owned.

After the list was whittled down, Oldehoeft found a book about Juliette Lowe, the founder of the Girl Scouts along with other books that emphasize the empowerment of women.  She found books like one which tells about the first woman in space to help inspire girls in our community to expand their horizons.

Troop member Aiyden Franssen chose a book with several different endings that you can choose from.  She liked it because, “You decide the end.”

Another Brownie, Brooklyn Oldehoeft chose a set of Ronald Dahl books because she had read several of his titles including “James and the Giant Peach” and “The BFG” (The Big Friendly Giant).  She noted that she really likes this author and plans to read more of his work along with several other books that she chose.

Sydney Engert, also a Brownie, chose “Dinosaur vs the potty” “because it’s funny and it’s a good book.”

 

Exeter-Milligan Second Grade Classroom

 Exeter-Milligan second graders show off the pages that the contributed to the book they published.  Front row from the left: Cheyenne Krupicka, Kaylie Schlueter and Sydney Engert.  Pictured in the back row from the left R.J. Clevenger, Truman Milton, Cohen Harre, Logan Johnson, Brooklyn Oldehoeft, and Adrien Mueller.

Cheyenne Krupicka shows the page she wrote and illustrated about wanting to become a Flight Attendant in the book the second grade class published.

The Exeter-Milligan second grade class with the girls in the front from the left: Cheyenne Krupicka, Sydney Engert, Kaylie Schlueter, and Brooklyn Oldehoeft.  The boys in the back from the left:  R J Clevenger, Cohen Harre, Truman Milton, Adrien Mueller and Logan Johnson.

Cheyenne Krupicka and Brooklyn Oldehoeft (right) work on their measuring skills.

Adrien Mueller (left) and Cohen Harre (right) work on numbers on their “cell phones” in the Exeter-Milligan second grade classroom.

The Exeter-Milligan second grade class has already participated in several fun experiences this school year.  Early in the year they participated in the Outdoor Education Day along with the high school Biology students who led them in sessions during the event.  They spent the day at Gilbert’s Park in Exeter doing outdoor experiments and journaling about their discoveries.

The class just received the copies of the book they wrote and had published about the jobs they want to do when they grow up.  The students researched the field they are interested in, drew a picture of themselves in the future and wrote about the job they would want to do. 

According to their teacher, Marla Weber, “This class accepts challenges eagerly.  They used new strategies learned in writing to compose their book. They were totally amazed when they saw their completed book.”

They will have one of their monthly authors’ teas soon to share their excerpts from the book with their guests, their parents.  The students plan to dress like the job they want when they grow up.

The students love using technology in the classroom.  According to Weber, “The students love QR code scavenger hunts or GooseChase hunts--an app we have on iPads. They do projects on their iPads and make presentations throughout the year.”

To bring them back to history, Weber plans an annual Pioneer Day at the Saline County Museum in Dorchester in the spring.  The students will meet their pen pals from Friend at the museum and enjoy a day of learning what a school day was like during pioneer times along with touring the museum and eating lunch like pioneer children.  They will also get to make butter, shell corn, make candles and do some laundry.

Death Notice: Tess E. Moor

Obituary for Tess E. Moor

A Funeral Mass for Tess will be held on Friday, December 23, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Exeter. Father Steve Thomlison will be the officiant.

Graveside services will be held in the Exeter Cemetery following the Mass.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 22, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter. A Rosary will be prayed on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Exeter.

Memorials are directed to the St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Exeter American Legion or the Exeter Fire & Rescue.

Exeter-Milligan Jr/Sr High Christmas Concert

Above - The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Choir performed several holiday tunes at the Christmas Concert Monday, December 19, 2016 .

Below- The high school choir joined the junior high choir for a number doing the holiday concert.  Caitlin Murphy sings a solo during the joined chorus.

Above – Senior high choir member Caitlin Murphy accompanies the rest of her choir members on “Stille Nacht.”

Below- The Exeter-Milligan jazz band.

Above – The Exeter-Milligan junior-senior band performed “Santa Does Dixie” which featured an upfront Dixieland Band pictured from the left:  Peyton Brandt (percussion), Ashley Benorden, Blake Stueben, Trystan Brandt, Nick Hayek and Joel Klemm.

Below – The Exeter Milligan Junior-Senior High Band performing at their Christmas Concert.

The Exeter Milligan Junior Senior High Christmas concert was held Monday, Dec. 19 in the Exeter Gymnasium under the direction of Mrs. Angie Murphy.

The evening was opened with the junior high choir performing “This Peaceful Night,” and “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!”

The junior high choir was joined by the senior high choir for a performance of “Whisper! Whisper!” which featured the senior high women.

The senior high women’s ensemble sang “Stille Nacht” and were accompanied by one of their members, Caitlin Murphy.  The group performed this number twice with the piano set in two different modes.  Both were beautiful renditions by the ensemble.

The Jazz Band performed “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” with Trystan Brandt performing an excellent trumpet solo.  

For their first number the junior-senior high band got the crowd swinging with “Santa Does Dixie” which featured an upfront Dixieland Band including Peyton Brandt on drums, Ashley Benorden, clarinet, Blake Stueben, saxophone, Trystan Brandt, trumpet, Nick Hayek, trombone and Joel Klemm, tuba.

The band moved on to the classic “Cantique De Noel” and did a beautiful rendition of “Sleigh Ride” before entreating the audience to stand a sing along to one verse of some of their favorite Christmas carols including: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Deck The Halls,” “Silent Night,” “The First Noel,” “Joy to the World,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”