Critter's and Co.

Yesterday, Greg Olson with Critter's and Company visited our school. He taught our students about having a positive attitude through his animals and stories. He mentioned that our attitude is what we feel on the inside and choose to show on the outside. We need ask for help, like the bird's family, we need to be flexible like the owl, we need to keeping trying "bit by bit by bit . . ." like the hedgehog, and be ourselves like the turtle and kangaroo.

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween fun in fifth grade!

Waiting their turn to guess the ooey gooey items

in the canisters . . . sticky, but fun!

Next station . . . cake walk style Halloween game.

Students won a goody bag if their number was drawn.

 Last station . . . yummy food made by the room parents.

The punch with dry ice was a hit!

 Students enjoyed dressing up in their favorite costumes . . . in addition to

getting a break from our busy schedule to be silly and

have a good time celebrating Halloween.

A big thank you to the room parents who organized the food and activities.

The party was a success and it wouldn't have been possible

without your willingness and hard work.

Fall Conferences this week!

Fall Conferences are scheduled for this Thursday, November 3rd, Friday, November 4th, and next Thursday, November 10th. Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Loos, and I are meeting with you if we have your student in our math class or reading class, so most of you will meet with one of us for 15 minutes and then go to the other teacher's classroom for another 15 minute conference. We feel this new method is best, as we will be able to discuss individual math and reading questions/concerns specific to your student. Due to this new method we do have a very FULL schedule, so please do your best to be punctual. We look forward to meeting with you all again!

Have a great week!

1st Week!

We had a great first week! We "celebrated" in the gym with the whole school on Tuesday. All staff and I are excited to see and celebrate all of the successes students experience this year.

In our homeroom, the students and I had many wonderful discussions about routines, rules, and how we are going to interact as a kind community. They had such great ideas and I'm really looking forward to how they live out what we agreed upon.

This week started with the new experience of switching for math and reading. The fifth graders seemed to be ready to dive into their reading and math books and lessons. They did a great job gathering their materials and going where they needed to go on time. We are taking a lot of time teaching students about independent skills and hope to see that they are becoming more and more independently responsible as the year progresses.

Looking forward to more and more exciting days and weeks ahead!

Fall Interviews

It has been great to meet everyone these past two days. I'm excited to start off another great school year at Sibley! Remember to bring your homework activity to school on Tuesday. Your bag of 4-6 things should be with you, so your classmates and I can learn a little about you during the first few days of school.

Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you on Tuesday.

Experiential Field Day

 Attempting to balance

 Teamwork . . . Strategize

 Seeing success! They did balance for over 2 minutes after a few tries!!

It was a fun day of canoeing, rock climbing, and experiential activities.

I was very impressed with the teamwork and cooperation I witnessed today.

They are a great bunch of students! Best wishes in sixth grade!!

Field Trip to Historical Museum

 Jail

 Church

 Immigration activities

Making rope

Field Trip Wednesday

We will be attending an Experiential Field Day at Brookside this Wednesday, June 1st. Our day will include canoeing, rock climbing at the rock gym, and experiential education activities through District #241's Experiential Education program. Make sure to sign your child's permission slip, if you haven't done so already. Students  need to bring a sack lunch on the trip and remember to wear appropriate clothing for the weather.

Early Out

Students will be released from school at 12:05 this coming Tuesday, May 24th and on the last day of school Thursday, June 2nd. Please make sure arrangements are made for rides, etc. on those days. Thanks!

5th Grade Recognition

Wednesday, May 18th  at 6:30 p.m.
Southwest Little Theater

See you there!!

Red Shirt Friday!

Red Shirt Friday

We understand that there will be a deployment of local troops in the next few weeks. To support our armed services and their families Sibley students and staff are asking for everyone to wear a red shirt this Friday, April 29th. We know deployments of loved ones have a large impact on children, so please consider supporting this effort.

We learned about red shirt fridays through their website. For more information, please check out their site at redshirtfridays.org. Their mission is to show support for our servicemen and women. They are not a political organization and do not discriminate whether or not one supports or does not support the war. They care only about making their support of our servicemen and women known to our fellow Americans and the world. 

Wear red on Friday!

Have a Great Break!

Remember no school Thursday, April 21st through Monday, April 25th. You have been working so hard. Take some time to relax and spend with your family and friends. Be safe and have fun! Your only homework is to read a bit in your book. AR goals are due Friday, April 29th.

See you on Tuesday!

Morning Muffins!

On Wednesday, April 20^th Sibley PTO is sponsoring Morning Muffins.  We will serve muffins, bananas, and juice in the gym from 7:30 a.m. to 8:10 a.m.  We hope your family is able to join us for breakfast at school to start the day together!

Time for the MCA's

The following note is going home today regarding the upcoming MCA tests. Please ask your student about it, if they do not show it to you. Thank you!!

April 6, 2011

Dear Families,

During the next few weeks students will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments known as the MCAs.  You will receive your child’s score (usually before school starts next fall), which compares him or her to other children in the same grade level throughout the state of Minnesota.

We will be testing in our Reading and Math groups.

Reading Tests:  Tuesday, April 12^th & Wednesday, April 13th

Math Tests:     Eaton: Wednesday, May 4^th and Thursday, May 5th

                           Schaefer: Monday, May 2^nd and Wednesday, May 4th

                           Sorlie: Monday, May 2^nd and Thursday, May 5th

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERY STUDENT

IS HERE ON THE DAY OF THE TEST!

Brain research shows that in order for a student’s brain to operate at it optimum, it needs plenty of rest and good nutrition.

Looking for some ways to help your child be prepared?

·        Encourage your child to work hard everyday.

·        Start the day off right the morning of each test:

1.     Get a good night’s sleep

2.    Eat a nutritious breakfast

3.    Keep a positive attitude

·        Help your child to arrive at school on time.

·        Ask your child how the test went after each testing date.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We want to make sure this important information gets home.

Please sign and return the bottom part once you have read this letter.

Please feel free to call us with any questions/concerns.

Parent Signature______________________________            Date________________



Science Unit: Levers & Pulleys

Discussing their hypothesis during our lever experiment.

Testing their hypothesis with their materials.

Teamwork!

We learned about all three classes of levers and that they each need a fulcrum, force, and effort.

Next we learned about pulleys.

We tested different ways to lift a milk jug off the ground with pulleys.

Multiple ideas were tested. Then students recorded and discussed their observations.

Valentine's Day party

 We enjoyed a game of blowing tissue hearts across the room with straws. 

 

 

 

 

 Both teams showed a great amount of teamwork and everyone participated!

 Fun times with friends!

Thank you to our room moms, Mrs. L., Mrs. W., and Mrs. H. 

for their time in organzing our classroom parties this year!

Science Projects

Each 5th grade student will be responsible for completing a science project by the beginning of March. In class, students have identified a problem that they are interested in researching. They are now working on finding facts about their problem and will complete a research paper soon. Students will also be required to complete an experiment relating to the problem they identified. This project will require some work to be completed at home. Please ask your student what they have selected to study for their project. They will need to do an oral presentation at the end of the project, so it will be good practice for them to explain to you what they are studying. There are many pieces to this exciting project . . . more details and specific expectations will come as we get further along in our process.