MCA Assessment Update

Beginning the first week of April and through May, students at Sibley and district-wide will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). These assessments are given to students in grades 3-5, and are based upon the grade level expected achievement standards in reading and math. Fifth grade will also take a science test.

The math portion of these assessments will be taken on the computer, and will begin for some students before Easter break. Due to computer lab schedules, each class will take this test on an assigned day that may be different from other grade levels or classes. Classroom teachers will communicate with you which day their class is assigned to take the test.

A change in the math test this year, allows students to take the test up to three times within the testing window to improve upon their scores. Only their highest score will be recorded. The second round opportunity for testing would begin 14 calendar days after the completion of the first. Although teachers may recommend some students re-test, all students will have the opportunity. In fact, many students are excited about the new format as they work to improve themselves and set goals.

The reading MCA’s will be given using a paper and pencil format, and will take place on April 24 and April 26 for grades 3, 4, and 5. Unlike the math test, students will take this assessment only one time. May 10 is the date that all district fifth grades will take the science test. This is a computer based test like the math, but without additional testing opportunities.

The students have been working very hard this year, and the MCA’s are their opportunity to showcase their growth. Please encourage your children to get good rest, eat right, and do their very best on these assessments. The results of these tests help teachers plan their instruction for each child. In that way, it is also important to remind students that doing their best work will help us know how we can best help them grow even more.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me, or your child’s teacher, if you have any questions about these assessments. We are looking forward to celebrating their growth with you and them.

Reading Corps Members Awarded for 2013!

Sibley is excited to see Minnesota Reading Corps be another important component in our push to having students reading at grade level by 3rd grade.  For Sibley, 2013 will be our 4th year in a row that we have been awarded a Reading Corps member and they definitely have made a positive impact for our students. Members work with students in grades K-3 by providing them researched based interventions that assist those students in achieving their grade level targets in reading.  According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (2011), two thirds of the nation's 4th graders cannot successfully read grade-level texts.  Reading Corps members help us impact that statistic for the better.  Are you interested and want a challenge? Learn more about what this experience can provide you and apply here.

Jungle Book

Our 3-5 production of Jungle Book was a ton of fun.  Thank you to all the students, staff, and volunteers for making this such a success.  At Sibley, we believe in providing students the opportunity to perform; something essential to a quality arts experience.  This is another reason why our PTO is gracious in providing students the chance to work with Prairie Fire Theater again in the 2013 school year.  As a school and staff, we are excited to see so many Sibley students go on to the Middle School and High School with a passion for theater and the arts.  Thanks to our specialists for another great production.  Thanks to Minnesota Corrugated Box for providing our set material. 

2012-2013 School Calendar Approved

The Albert Lea Area School Board approved the calendar for the 2012-13 school year this past Monday Night.


Significant changes to the calendar include:

1. A Spring Break that will occur the week of March 4-8.
2. Student early outs have been removed from the calendar.
3. There will be no school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day.
4. Elementary conferences will be held later in the year so that they are now aligned with the trimester schedule.

Please click here to access the calendar.

Destination Imagination was a Success!!



Team members were: Ellie R., Emma R., Avery M., Anna G.,  to Makenzie K., Julissa G., Sydney C., Coly, I., Ami L., Jaxon H., Grant H., and Carissa R.



On March 17th, two teams from Sibley competed in an academic competition known as Destination Imagination in Rochester. These teams have been meeting after school to prepare for this event.  In DI, teams compete "on the spot" to solve problems and perform impromptu skits and plays.  In each, they are required to work as a group and think on their feet while judges present them complicated problems and "twists" that they must successfully complete to advance. Both Sibley teams made it through to the State Competition which will be coming up within the next month.  It is also important to note and thank Lorna Berg, Kelly Royce, and Anne Bonnerup as they volunteered their time to get these students ready for their competition.  Congratulations and Good Luck at State!  Want to know more about DI? Click here.

Congratulations to District's Teacher of the Year Finalists



Mrs. Kristen Seeger



Each year, our district and community nominates teachers who have made the lives of our students extraordinary by nominating them for our Teacher of the Year award.  This spring, five finalists were announced.  They are:  Nichole Brownlee, JoAnn Erickson, Wendy Greenfield, Kathie Lein, and Kristen Seeger.  We are particularly excited about Kristen's nomination and top 5 selection as she is also a teacher for us at Sibley in grade 4.  Thanks Kristen for your work with our kids.

Community Leaders are Readers

Sheriff Deputy's Ryan Shea

On Friday of last week, Sibley was host to several community members as they flooded the classrooms to read to students.  In celebration of Dr. Seuss birthday, each of them read one of his books.  It was also a great opportunity for students to learn about what some of our readers do for a living and the importance that reading plays in their jobs as well as their own enjoyment.  This is the second time we have sponsored the event which is organized by Linda Bottleson in her role as Sibley's volunteer coordinator.  Her position and work is supported by the Minnesota Reading Corps.  Read the feature article at the AL Tribune's following link and learn more about how you can get in involved in Reading Corps here.