Welcome!

In an effort to provide more direct and ongoing communication with Sibley's school families and the larger community, I have created this page. It's content will be developed to provide small bits of information whenever there is a need. I encourage you to subscribe to this blog so that you will know whenever new content is available.

District Aims:

Safe, healthy, welcoming schools;
Increase student opportunity and achievement;
Operate in the most effective and efficient manner.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Don't be Caught Cold!

Winter will be soon upon us. Please take time now, to ensure your child/children has/have appropriate cold weather clothing. Hats, mittens, boots, snow pants, and winter coats are some of the essential items.

We do spend time outside when the air temperature and wind chill are 0 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This time outside may come in the morning before school and during lunch recess. With at least a 15 minute recess, they need proper clothing to enjoy this needed time outside safely. Even if the morning temperature or wind chill is below zero, there is a good chance that by lunch time, that it will be above 0, and we will be heading out. Please help your child to be prepared for these chilly days.

Thank you so much for making sure that all of our Sibley students are ready to have a great time enjoying our Minnesota winter!

Conference Success

Prior to conferences, a letter came to families expressing the importance of our collaboration with you in an effort to ensure the success of our students. In that letter I encouraged 100% participation at conferences.  This year, Sibley had 98% of families in attendance over three days.  Although we have always had great attendance, I think this year was one of the highest.  I want to thank every family for coming and for the feedback you provided me over that time.  I enjoy hearing about the good things that are happening for your child here at school as well as those things you would like to see us improve upon.  Thanks again for being there and for providing the educational support that you can outside of the school day.  Together, we make a difference.

Friday, November 11, 2011

"Attitudes That Make a Difference"

On Tuesday of this past week, Sibley was host to Critters and Company who specialize in Natural Education.  The theme was, "Attitudes that Make a Difference." Critters and Company uses a unique medium of live animals and the art of story telling to share with children relationship building concepts.  The topics addressed were as follows, and the animals that were demonstrated to help teach that idea or theme is in parenthesis. 
      
      Red Lored Amazon
      
    • Asking for help (Red Lored Amazon)
    • Flexibility (Great Horned Owl)
    • Be Ourselves (Wallaby and the Tortoise)
    • Pay Attention (Snake)
    • Do No Harm (Dove)
    • Little Bit by Little Bit (Hedgehogs)
We hope you had a chance to visit with your child about the assembly and if you haven't, it is never too late.

Great Horned Owl







Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sibley Celebrates our Veterans!

On November 11th, 2011 Sibley will be hosting a special assembly in honor of Veteran's day.  We are certainly fortunate to have the freedom and country that we do have.  Without our Veterans and the commitment that they have made to serve, we would not be, or have, what we do today.  It is important that we all recognize this, and truly appreciate those that have put their lives on hold, in danger, and continue to do so, in an effort to allow us the liberty and freedom we have come to appreciate as Amercians.  Supt. Dr. Funk, who has also served overseas on two deployments with the Army National Guard, will be saying a few words as well.  Thank you Veterans for your unselfish commitment to our country.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Sibley's 2011 Mural us UP!

This year’s theme for the Sibley Mural was “Reading”.  Last spring each 4th grader made a design centered around a specific theme or idea.  This year's design winner was Morgan Bjorklund.  This fall 5th graders painted the new reading mural which is now hanging on the outside of the school.  This is a tradition we have had at Sibley for many years and we hope to continue it.  Every year then, new art is hung based upon a building them or community initiative.  We think it is pretty cool.

Gifted and Talented development

In an earlier post, I made mention of our developing our Gifted and Talented program in grades 3-5.  With the exception of Junior Great Books, we have several after school day options for students that we are looking to develop further.  All of them are in need of interested volunteers to keep these young minds challenged and excited.  If you have an interested in any of those listed below, please contact me.  Each program carries a weekly commitment with most starting in January and continuing through April.
  • Destination Imagination - An outside of the school day activity in which students in K-12 work in teams to solve mind-bending challenges and present their solutions in a Tournament format.  Challenges are designed to be solved in 8-16 weeks prior to the tournament held in Rochester during the months of either March or April.
  • Science Olympiad - Devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition for outstanding achievement.
  • Chess Club - Designed to teach children to be analytical thinkers, motivated learners, and critical problem solvers. 
  • Junior Great Books- Designed to build young minds, improve critical thinking and student achievement with outstanding literature and shared inquiry to help our students become independent thinkers and readers. (This is a school day program.)