Fairfield Community Schools -

Bragging rights were on the line Friday afternoon when the students of Benton Elementary took on the staff in a winner-take-all game of basketball. Prior to the contest, sixth grade teacher Lindsay Kauffman was honored for her 11 years of girls basketball coaching at Fairfield, to which Kauffman announced this week she is stepping away from the program. As for the actual hoops, the staff had a decided height advantage buoyed by the assistance of state champion Brea Garber. The scoreboard shut off with so many points scored. It was a 'tie'!

Fairfield High School will be hosting a bevy of camps this summer. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s being offered. More information on any of the camps can be directed to Sheila Miller in the FHS athletic office. Camp registrations are due by May 5, or a late fee will be added for each camp registration after the 5th. Boys Summer Youth Camps Football - $40 May 22-25 Grades 6-8 - 3:30-5:30 p.m. -AND- July 11-14 Grades 1-5 - 5:30-7 p.m. Tennis - $35 June 5-9 Grades 6-8 - 10 a.m. - noon Grades 3-5 - 1-2:30 p.m. Baseball - $40 June 26-30 Grades 3-5 - 10-11:30 a.m. Grades 6-8 - 12-1:30 p.m. Grades K-2 - 1:30-3 p.m. Basketball - $45 July 17-20 Grades K-2 - 9:30-10:50 a.m. Grades 3-5 - 11 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. Girls Summer Youth Camps Tennis - $35 May 29-June 2 Grades 6-8 - 10 a.m. - noon Grades 2-5 - 1-2:30 p.m. Softball - $35 June 5-9 Grades 6-8 - 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Grades 2-5 - 1-2:30 p.m. Basketball - $35 June 12-16 Grades 6-8 - 10-11:30 a.m. Grades 3-5 - 12-1:30 p.m. Grades K-2 - 1:30-2:30 p.m. Cheerleading - $35 Grades K-6 - 5:30-7 p.m. Volleyball camp is TBD

The 12th Man Club Golf Outing is set for Sunday, June 25, at Maxwelton Golf Club in Syracuse. The four-man team scramble begins at 1 p.m., an annual fundraiser to help support the Fairfield football program. Full details, registration and sponsorship opportunities as well as program details can be found at the link below: https://sites.google.com/fairfield.k12.in.us/12thmanclub/home

Fairfield's Work-Based Learning class spent an afternoon exploring downtown Goshen. While completing their list of challenges, students learned about the benefits of small businesses and all there is to experience right in their own backyard. The class would like to thank the Goshen Business Community for welcoming our students and providing a fun learning experience, the Chamber for the use of the conference room, as well as thanks to Janus Motorcycles, The Soapy Gnome and Springer Printing for giving our students some behind-the-scenes tours.

Fairfield High School students accompanied sociology teacher Ryan LeCount to Faith Mission in Elkhart for a service project. Aside from a tour of the facility, students were able to serve lunch as well as learn about the purpose and structure of Faith Mission. The trip was part of a class unit on social stratification.

BREAKING NEWS: Fairfield High School girls basketball coach Brodie Garber has decided to step away from the program, effective immediately. He told the program this afternoon in a meeting at the school. A statement from Garber: “I have decided to step down as girls basketball coach at Fairfield High School. By no means was this an easy decision. I have several heartfelt thank you’s. Thank you to my family for their support and allowing me to do something I have thoroughly enjoyed. To the many administrators that I have worked with throughout the years, you have constantly supported and believed in me and I greatly appreciate that. My coaching staff has been amazing. Winning was nice, but spending quality time with you guys in the gym was even better. To all the young ladies I’ve been able to coach. You all hold a special place in my heart. Whether you are a current player or past player, I look forward to supporting you in the years to come. Lastly, thank you to the Fairfield Community for your constant support of Fairfield Girls Basketball. Thank you, Brodie Garber" A statement from Fairfield Community Schools superintendent Dr. Carrie Cannon: "I am sad to hear but fully understand the next journey in his life. It's sad to have coach Garber step down, but we fully understand and support his decision, and are proud of what he has brought to Fairfield Community Schools as a basketball coach, but also a person of high character and educator. “Coach Garber has built a great program that consists of mental toughness, high character players and a great feeder system that is demonstrated by our Lady Falcons on a daily basis. We will be looking for the same type of values, skill set and leadership qualities from our next ladies basketball coach. “Coach Garber will still be a teacher here at Fairfield Community Schools and we are luck to still have him in that capacity. We want to thank coach Garber for everything he has brought to our basketball program and the personal investment he has brought to the girls' lives.”

Chloe Cripe received quite an announcement two weeks ago, shocking perhaps. “When she showed me the letter, it took me a good second to figure out why she was showing me a letter from Baltimore, and I didn’t see the Carson Scholars logo,” Cripe said of the moment her mother showed her the acceptance letter. “I opened it and went into shock.”. “I opened it and went into shock.” Cripe, who was nominated earlier this year as a Carson Scholars candidate, found out she was indeed a scholarship winner and went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this past weekend to receive her accolades. Cripe received a $1,000 scholarship, a medal, and Fairfield receives a trophy on Cripe’s behalf as one of the national winners. Cripe was nominated for the honor for her work in the community in combination with her work as a student. The Fairfield sophomore has a laundry list of activities that keep her busy, including 4-H and her church, and is one of the top students in her sophomore class. Cripe is shown in Pittsburgh with Dr. Ben and Mrs. Candi Carson, the co-founders of the Carson Scholars Fund, and Devon Harris, who was the keynote speaker at the conference in Pittsburgh. In the second photo is Chloe with her influential educator, FJSHS art teacher Kim Amor, along with her Carson Scholars medal.

Attention parents of incoming sixth graders for next year! There are appointments available for two band sign-up nights, the first on Wednesday, April 26, from 5-8 p.m., and the second on Friday, April 28, from 5-7 p.m. at the Fairfield coliseum (located near the band and choir rooms at the Jr/Sr high school. Representatives of the Quinlan & Fabish Music Company will be there with instruments to try out. For more information, contact Dakota Pederson at dpederson@fairfield.k12.in.us

A 'give back night' is going on tonight at Culver's for Fairfield junior Aislin Hunsberger. Money raised tonight from 5-8 p.m. via purchases at area Culver's restaurants will go to a fund to help Hunsberger travel to New York in June as part of the 2023 Scholastic National Art Awards, to which Hunsberger is a Gold Medalist! Stop in at Culver's from 5-8 p.m. to help out one of our own!

Sports aplenty from Fairfield's spring teams last week. They needed an extra day to rid the snow, but Fairfield boys golf emerged with a three-stroke win, 170-173, over NorthWood Tuesday at Meadow Valley. Brayden Miller led the Falcons with a 39 and Carter Kitson chipped in a 42. Jayce Smith’s 45 pushed the junior high golfers to a 210 to clip Lakeland and Prairie Heights Thursday at Wawasee Golf Club. Saturday was a rough weather day, but Fairfield’s varsity shot 318 to finish third at the Manchester Invite. Miller shot 71 to lead the team, Kitson had a personal best 78 and Miles Nine added an 82. The JV competed at the Plymouth Invite, and despite sleet and sticking precipitation, Jasper Carl was second overall with his 85 to highlight Fairfield’s day. Tennis was nearly flawless Tuesday in a 5-0 shutout of West Noble. The side only gave away two games in its whitewash of the Chargers, shutouts pitched by Addison Mast and Elyse Yoder in singles play and the duo of Amanda McGuire and Elise Schwartz in doubles. Yoder and the one dubs duo of McGuire and Schwartz both won three-set marathons to push Fairfield past Warsaw, 4-1, Thursday night. Mast added a huge win at one singles, beating Addie Lind 7-5, 6-4 in a showcase of two of the top singles players in northern Indiana. Baseball held off a Garrett rally in the seventh to win, 5-4, Tuesday. All of Fairfield’s runs came in the fourth, Keegan Miller adding an RBI in the process. Garrett scored three in the seventh to put the pressure on, but Landon Miller closed the door in relief to complete the win. Starter Alec Hershberger struck out 14 in six innings of work. Keegan Miller fanned 10 and went the distance on the hill as Fairfield won at Lakeland, 14-2, Thursday evening. Michael Slabaugh had a pair of doubles, a homer, and drove in four. Friday against No. 6 New Prairie, Cohen Yoder had an RBI but the Cougars were too tough in a 9-2 win. Fairfield bounced back Saturday with a 14-4 win against visiting Concord. Yoder reached base four times, scored three times and drove in three, Slabaugh tripled and walked twice, and Donovan Mast added a double and run scored. Softball edged Garrett, 2-1, Tuesday. Jasylynn Hall had two hits, a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases to pace the victors. Makenna Steele homered and drove in four to lead Fairfield to a 10-6 win at Lakeland Thursday night. Ava Bontrager added a double, homer and three RBIs. The JV also got the dub, 8-3, at Lakeland. Fairfield doubled up Prairie Heights, winning the boys track meet, 86-44, and the girls, 76-51, Tuesday night at home. Olivia Deward won the sprints for the Lady Falcons, taking the 100 (13.72) and the 200 (29.25) while Madelyn Culp hurdled her way to win at 110 (18.04) and 300 (53.94). Jalyn Stofleth added wins in pole vault (7-0) and long jump (14-11.25). Marco Garcia led the way for the boys in three events, taking the 100 (11.66), 200 (24.24) and long jump (18-4). Nick Hofer and Ethan Hochstetler went 1-2 in the throws, Hofer winning the shot put (45-2) and second in discus, while Hochstetler won disc (129-4) and second in shot. At Saturday's Goshen Relays, Nick Hofer led the Falcons with a win in shot put, sending the pill 47-7 for honors. Other top threes for Fairfield included the 4x100 relay second (46.62), the 800 sprint medley third (1:50.21) and Ethan Hochstetler third in discus (135-10). Fairfield hosted Lakeland in a boys-girls junior high track double dual Wednesday, and saw the home side win both matchups, the girls 70-48 and the boys 82-35. Highlights for the girls included 100 and 200 hurdles wins from Shelby Miller at 19.12 and 34.52, and a double from Joya Holsopple in pole vault (10-0) and long jump (14-8). Gavin Abbs led the boys with three wins, taking the 100 dash (13.28), 110 hurdles (20.50) and long jump (16-10). Wyatt Mast add added wins in the 800 (2:29.53) and high jump (4-8). Holsopple set the Fairfield school record with a pole vault of 10-6 in the meet at Westview Friday evening. She added wins in long jump (14-7.5) and the 100 (14.10) to highlight the evening. Westview won the girls meet 65-53. The Westview boys rolled 97-21, the 4x100 relay the lone Falcon win at 52.25.

New Paris Fire Department has a special guest speaker Tuesday evening in Mary Irvin. With over 30 years of special education teaching experience, Irvin spoke at NPFD and completed a training to support strategies and skills in working with special needs populations. Irvin spoke primarily to working with students with Autism, but most strategies would be great for all students with special needs.   “It was a great opportunity for me to meet with firemen and discuss possibilities with future partnerships to support familiarity and comfort of families with loved ones with special needs and emergency personnel,” said Shanda Branneman, Director of Special Education with Fairfield Community Schools. “I look forward to future field trips, fostering connections with individual families, and making families aware of important initiatives in Elkhart County, such as Project Lifesaver.”

Millersburg students took part in a unique way to research basketball players: by becoming the players themselves! Students took a deep dive into the histories of players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, then became them by dressing up and also turning themselves into wax museum exhibits as part of sharing their findings. Among the players who were researched were Bryant, James, Stephen Curry, Shaquille O'Neal, Lisa Leslie and Maya Moore.

Staff at New Paris Elementary School did more than just survive this week before Spring Break. All staff participated in a week-long SURVIVOR challenge! Teams of six exceeded expectations as they wrote notes of encouragement, nominated students and staff, made positive parent phone calls home, covered recess duties for each other, provided a meal for a colleague so they didn't have to cook one night this week, created team spirit days, wrote jokes to be read on announcements every day and so much MORE!! Pages could be filled with the stories of how this week has impacted staff, students and families in a positive way while keeping the energy and fun factor high as we near Spring Break! Students joined the fun by rooting for their favorite team, recognizing hard work in each other and completing random acts of kindness throughout the entire week as well!

As we close March on the athletic calendar, Fairfield varsity baseball and tennis joined softball and track with games played. Baseball started 1-1, losing to Goshen 5-1 on Tuesday in the home opener, but rallying with a big 11-1 at Tippecanoe Valley on Thursday. A five-run fifth for the RedHawks broke open the contest that Fairfield led 1-0 going into the frame. Alec Hershberger had the lone RBI on a double for Fairfield. At Tippy, Cohen Yoder had three hits and three runs scored and Owen Garrison added a double and three runs driven in. Keegan Miller got the win on the hill, striking out five in four innings. Fairfield has one more game before break, hosting Adams tomorrow morning. Softball ran its record to 5-0 with a string of impressive wins over quality opponents. Last Friday, the Lady Falcons piled up 16 hits including a homer from Makenna Steele in a 12-2 win at Bremen. Three days later, Fairfield hung 17 hits on Northridge in a 16-8 result in Middlebury. Steele, Bailey Willard and Jasylynn Hall all homered and drove in 12 of the team’s runs. Slow and steady won the race at NorthWood on Tuesday, as Fairfield spoiled NorthWood’s first game at its new stadium in a 9-2 final. Hall had a triple and two runs scored and Steele struck out 10 in the circle. In its third game of the week against Northern Lakes Conference opponents, Fairfield visited Concord and used a six-run sixth inning to rally for a 9-4 victory. Faith Berkey picked up the pitching win, allowing just four Concord hits and helped her own cause with a double and three RBIs. Fairfield returns to action April 10 with a home contest against Wawasee. Tennis (1-0) opened with a Northeast Corner Conference win Thursday, allowing just four games to Lakeland in a 5-0 result. Abby Gall at three singles and the duo of Malles Behles and Ella Branneman at two doubles both won via shutouts. Addison Mast at one singles and the one dubs combo of Amanda McGuire and Elise Schwartz gave up just one game, and Elyse Yoder at two singles won 6-2, 6-0.

Do you love to be outdoors and want to be a vibrant part of the beautification of our growing campuses? Fairfield Community Schools is looking for a highly motivated individual to become our Coordinator of District Grounds! Among the responsibilities will be maintaining of our new turf fields for baseball and softball at the Jr/Sr high school as well as maintaining each of the three elementary school grounds. Knowledge and experience in mechanical equipment, sprinkler systems, artificial turf fields, winter snow removal, computers, electrical and HVAC, and general building repair are among the highly preferred skills we seek in the coordinator. Applicants must have (or get) and maintain a 3b and 7a pesticide license, have a valid driver’s license and CDL ‘B’ with bus endorsement and yellow card, and also be able to lift up to 80 pounds (50 repetitively). Good people skills are also highly desired - are you a self-starter with good communication? Are you a team player? Are you flexible? Are you able to adapt to an ever-changing landscape, both figuratively and literally? If so, visit https://fairfieldcsd.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=2321 Or you can call Tim Leer at (574) 831-2188 or email tleer@fairfield.k12.in.us

Through the K-Kids Program, the Kiwanis organization recognized a Benton fourth grader who has made significant improvement this school year. Charleigh Larson was nominated by her teacher, Haley Raber, for her improved work in the classroom. “Charleigh is a very bright and dedicated student,” began Raber. “Her positivity is infectious, and she never gives up when faced with a challenge. She works incredibly well with others. In a group, Charleigh normally takes charge in a kind and considerate way. She is such a well-rounded student and individual.” In the photo are Benton Elementary principal Carla Hochstetler, Charleigh Larson, Haley Raber and Fairfield Community Schools superintendent Dr. Carrie Cannon.

The soothing tones of music were whistling through Millersburg today as the school put on its Spring Music Program. The afternoon performance precedes another one this evening at 6 p.m. if you want to make it out to see the talented kids at MEMS sing!

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