2012 GT Program Summary

Gifted and Talent Development Program

New this year to the Albert Lea Area School District is the redesigned Gifted and Talent Development program. Several changes and additions have occurred across grade levels. Focusing on goals set out by the National Association for Gifted Children, our program is integrally connected to our district mission of equipping all students to think, achieve, and care. The opportunities created for our students are intended to meet the needs of our students with unique academic needs by providing challenging educational programs and services to help them reach their full potential.

Prior to this year, several opportunities were offered to our students. Math Masters, Spelling Bee, Science Fair, and Young Authors/Young Artists gave elementary students options for enrichment and extension. At the middle school, Geography Bee, Math League, and History Day were some of the opportunities, with the high school offering such options as Robotics, Honor Choir and Band, SuperMileage, Mock Trial, Career Day, State Capitol and History Days.

New to our program this year was DestiNation Imagination, an international program for kindergarten through university students with its purpose being to teach creative problem solving strategies. Teams of students met for several months prior to competition, working on challenges involving technical, scientific, fine arts, improvisational, structural or service-learning themes. Our district had 10 teams, from the four elementary schools, middle school and high school, and were coached by volunteers who committed an incredible amount of time to collaborating, researching, designing and building. Nine teams participated in the regional tournament, with seven of those teams progressing to the state competition. Student and leader enthusiasm was apparent, as indicated by students’ comments. “Participation in the DI tournament was the best thing I have ever done!” “It stretched my mind”, “I didn’t know that I could be so smart,” “Now, I think that I want to be engineer”, were some of the comments heard from involved students.

This year approximately 75 students were involved in Chess Clubs. The opportunity to learn and play chess as well as develop strategies was an exciting focus for these after-school meetings. Clubs at each of the four elementary buildings, Southwest Middle School, and Albert Lea High School were coached by staff and volunteers. Elementary students had the opportunity to compete in a tournament held at the Albert Lea Family Y on Apr. 14. The response of students to the Chess Clubs was overwhelming, as indicated by the large number of students pursuing their interest in chess.

Students identified as having specific academic strength in grades three through five had the opportunity this year to receive additional instruction during the school day. These pull-out groups were instructed by the Gifted and Talent Development Coordinator using materials and activities that foster the development of critical thinking, abstract thinking, creative thinking and problem-solving.

The Gifted and Talent Development program is evolving with plans to continue the current offerings while adding additional opportunities over the next years. At the forefront of all programming is our district’s focus on student learning and providing resources with a strong research-base that will best meet the needs of our students.

Social and Academic Success are equally important

Schools have always been places that represent the larger community and country in which they are found.  A goal of any quality school should be providing a student with experiences that will allow them to be successful as adults.  Depending upon who you ask, the word "success" carries with it a variety of interpretations, but most of them will support the notion that it involves a level of continued improvement. Learning and success go hand in hand as new knowledge gained and applied, usually is associated with a level of success or accomplishment.  In other words, without building onto the knowledge or skills one already has, they will not be able to "get where they want to go," in life.

In school, we learn about math, science, social studies, and a myriad of other topics within academic content areas.  Each of the experiences that are provided in these areas, gives us the opportunity to try our hand at each and to meld ideas from many.  These experiences improve who we are and make life satisfying, interesting, and successful.  All of them help in stimulating us towards great things and ways that we can contribute positively to our community and world.

Schools are also places where social and emotional learning is as important as academic learning.   Both, impact how well we are able to contribute to the larger community.  Without the support from both school and home,"success" will be hard to come by.  We need to teach students about logical consequences for choices made.  These consequences could be anything but enjoyable, but they are necessary.  When students do not get along, or make poor chances, schools and parents need to support the child through this learning process.  This sometimes involves admitting that a mistake was made and then developing a plan moving forward.

Through this process, it also helps students learn about empathy.  Without empathy, one only thinks of themselves and not the impact that choices and situations have on other people.  Even when an individual is wronged, if they have been taught about the importance of empathy, they will have arrived at a new level of social success.  To do so, requires collaboration and a commitment between school and home.  If a mistake is made, own it.  Then, make a committed effort to changing one's behavior and the perception that may exist.

Remember, the most successful folks in life, are not just those that have achieved a level of academic success, but also those that know how to work well with others.

Empathy = Success.

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.