Reschedule Reminders!

Conferences rescheduled due to weather - March 21st
PTO's Family Fun Night - March 22nd
PTO's Morning Muffins - March 22nd

Literacy Tutors with Reading Corps sought for 2013-2014

Next school year, Sibley Elementary School will once again be host to a Minnesota Reading Corps (MRC), Literacy Tutor position as well as a Volunteer Coordinator. MRC is an AmeriCorps program that is reducing illiteracy among our youngest generation (K-3). Did you know that one in every five third-graders in Minnesota does not read at grade level?

MRC works with Minnesota schools, volunteers, families and community partners to provide proven, data-driven literacy models to at-risk children. All members are trained in state-of-the-art literacy research and become the vehicle of these proven methods as they work one-on-one with identified students throughout the year.
Children who don’t read at grade level by the end of third grade are at high risk of falling behind in all school subjects. This is why, MRC and Sibley are teaming again to recruit and train a member for next school year. Please help us spread the word. Our program this year has had great success as several of the students are now at their appropriate grade level in reading.
If you, or someone you know is interested in helping serve as a literacy tutor, don’t hesitate to call or inquire with Sibley’s Principal, Ross Williams at 379-5081. He can answer any questions you have. Details about the position can be found at the following link or you can apply online here.

When you serve full-time for one year with MRC, you may be interested in their health care coverage, a semimonthly stipend and an education award of $5,550. Service adds to any successful career and spending a year in a school is an ideal way to make connections and find your career path. Building our communities is a shared responsibility. Who better than you to help us end illiteracy in Minnesota?

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)

If you are a parent of a 3-5 grader and attended the spring musical, you will also have been provided information about the upcoming state assessments known as the MCA's.  This is a required assessment that is given to all students in grades 3-5 in Reading, Math, and Science.  Grade 5 is the only grade that will take the Science assessment.  All of these are given via the computer and therefore "online."  Depending upon the grade, you'll be getting further information from the school and classroom as we approach the month of April.  We do get asked about them often and wanted to be sure you had information about them; what they are, why they are given, and what they mean for you as parents.  Attached are also a few pictures illustrating Sibley's proficiency on these assessments over the last few years.  We have done well and will continue to improve.  That results of these assessments validates the learning we monitor each year and with each student.     

As a parent, if you have any questions about these assessments, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or me.  

Grades 3-5 Aristocats

Just before our break, students in grades 3-5 put on "The Aristocats," on March 1st at the high school auditorium.  It was a fun night and always great to see the hard work pay off.  Here are a few pictures of that night.  Thanks to them for their work.  Thanks to those in attendance for your donations as every little bit helps us continue to fund and provide extra opportunities for our students. 

Community Leaders are Readers

On March 1st, Sibley was host to several of our community leaders who decided to join us as we closed out "I Love to Read Month" and in celebration of Dr. Seuss birthday.  Each of those pictures visited classrooms and read to and with the classroom.  Students were also able to visit with them and ask questions about the nature of each of their "jobs" and what they do within our community.  Linda Bottleson, a Reading Corps volunteer, coordinates this event for us each year. Keep on reading!



Front row: Mary Schroader ALPD, Steve Shahan - HyVee, Tiffany Witter - Fountain Centers, Pat Stumme - Senior Resources, Linda Laurie - School Board. Back L-R: Lory Peterson - Oak Park Place, Deb Flatness - ALPD Detective, Sarah Schultz -Albert Lea Trib. Randy Kerr - Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, Kim Nelson - Child Care Center, Rich Murray - Former Representative, Brad Skinness - Accentra Bank, Mike Funk - Superintendent , Joel Erickson - Interim Pastor First Lutheran, Not Pictured Chris Harverux Fireman, Al Schallock Fireman.