As part of a local Honor Flight, Sibley's 5th-grade students had an opportunity to write letters to the veterans participating in the flight.

This event hit especially close to home for us. One of our own Sibley students’ family members helped organize the flight, making this project possible. Additionally, the parent of one of our staff members was among the honored veterans on the flight! Having these direct connections made the experience even more powerful for our school family.

These Honor Flights provide our nation's heroes with the recognition they so deeply deserve, taking them to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in honor of their service and sacrifice. Knowing our 5th graders helped make their experience extra special with personal messages of gratitude fills us with incredible pride.

We are tremendously proud of all our servicemen and women, past and present. The bravery, dedication, and sacrifices of our veterans and active-duty military families inspire our entire school community. Thank you for setting an example of selfless service for our students every single day.

Sibley Elementary

🎉 Big leaders in the making! 🏈✨

Next week is Homecoming Week, and our 4th graders are stepping into the spotlight! They’ve been working hard behind the scenes, practicing their leadership skills to help lead Halverson’s upcoming assembly.

We couldn't be prouder to see these older students step up, set a fantastic example for our younger grades, and bring the ultimate school spirit! 📣💙

Get your school spirit gear ready. It’s going to be an incredible week!

Mrs. Tran's 1st period kicked off this morning's Walking for Wellness class with a little playground fun! ALHS is a great place to be!

From the music room to the playground, rich play fosters deep learning every single day! 🎵🛝 A massive shout-out to our incredible PTO (HW SPARK) for the new Octoplay—it has officially been a HUGE hit with the students this fall! Thank you for continuously investing in our kids' growth, play, and everyday smiles. ❤️✨

Staff wellness is always a priority! ☕ Beyond our regular walks, we’ve officially launched our monthly Coffee & Chat gatherings hosted by rotating grade levels. A massive shoutout to our amazing 2nd-grade hosts for making the first one such a hit with all the delicious treats—especially those legendary JERDEE bars! Thank you to everyone who came out to connect and recharge. Who’s ready for next month? 🎉

🎭 Bringing Stories to Life! 🎭 Huge shout-out to Mrs. Boyenga’s 1st grade class for diving headfirst into a Wit & Wisdom routine! Using tableaux (frozen scenes made of creative poses and expressive faces) these students brought their story comprehension to life. It takes real focus, teamwork, and confidence to express big ideas without speaking a word, and this class tackled the challenge brilliantly. Way to set the bar high and make learning dynamic! 🌟📚✨

What a fantastic turnout at the Halverson Back to School Picnic! 🎉

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to celebrate the start of the new school year with us. Fun was truly had by all!

We want to extend a special shoutout to:

🙌 Our amazing volunteers: Thank you for giving your time, energy, and helping hands to make this event run smoothly.

🍔 Our Grill Masters: You worked non-stop to cook up a staggering 400 hot dogs and hamburgers to keep our crowd fed and happy!

Events like this show just how strong and supportive our school community is. Every single volunteer, griller, and attendee is deeply appreciated.

Here’s to a wonderful school year ahead! 🎒✏️ ❤️

Homecoming is upon us! Dress-up days for Early Learning + Elementary - GO TIGERS!

A huge thank you to our friends at the Moose for their generous donation of school snacks for the Hawthorne kids! 🍎🍪 Fueled kids are happy learners, and our community is so fortunate to have partners who step up to care for our students. Thank you for helping us keep those bellies full and minds sharp! 💙 Hawthorne appreciates you!

Ask Mrs. Schewe about her "I can't wait to tell you!" Board in 4th grade! Thank you for making kids feel SEEN, Mrs. Schewe!

When a child feels truly seen, their whole world expands, and so does ours. In our classroom families, our walls are lined with big hopes, quiet dreams, and brave beginnings. Community isn't just a lesson here; it’s the daily practice of lifting each other up and proving that we never grow in isolation. Here’s to every dream taking root today, and the classroom family growing together to reach them. ✨🌱

Buzz off, bees! 🐝💥 Our creative 2nd graders found the ultimate way to stay safe outside today with Mr. Wilson-dodging bees and practicing their best strikes with pool noodles! 😂 A massive shoutout to our incredible PTO for going all out to protect our kids. They hung kid-friendly bee traps with sugary bait around the play area so our students can safely get their fresh air. Thank you to our amazing community for always rallying around our kids to keep school fun and safe! 💛🖤

🫀 Learning in Action with Wit & Wisdom! 📚

Our 4th graders are diving into a brand-new reading adventure! As part of Albert Lea’s Wit & Wisdom ELA curriculum, students are opening up their newest text: "The Circulatory Story" by Mary K. Corcoran.

This vibrant book takes readers on a journey through the human body, following a blood cell as it travels through arteries, veins, and the heart. Through Wit & Wisdom, our students aren't just practicing reading skills; they are building deep background knowledge, exploring science concepts, and mastering rich new vocabulary.

💬 Connect at home! Ask your 4th grader tonight:
• What is the main job of a red blood cell?
• What’s one cool fact you learned about the heart today?
• How does the author make learning about science fun?

We love seeing our students' curiosity light up as they explore how literacy and science connect. Keep up the great work, 4th grade!

Future lifelong readers in the making! 🎒 Kindergarten Media Center orientation was a huge success thanks to Mrs. Seeger. Students learned how the library works and checked out their very first books!

🎉 Enjoy the Long Weekend! 🎉

Quick reminder: No school on Friday or Monday. Have a fantastic 4-day break! We look forward to seeing all our students back in class on Tuesday! 📚✨

Enjoy the long weekend!

Seeing our English Language learners thrive starts with one simple thing: making sure they know they belong. ❤️ Mrs. Madore has an incredible gift for making every EL student feel seen, valued, and celebrated for exactly who they are - rich heritage, native language, and all. Thank you, Mrs. Madore, for being a champion and turning diversity into our community's greatest strength!

💙 Thank You, Hawthorne Community! 👮‍♂️🚌 What an amazing day at Hawthorne Elementary! Today was all about connection and safety, starting with warm smiles at Breakfast with a Cop, then with interactive Bus Safety Training. Prioritizing Relationships: Our students loved sharing breakfast and getting to know our local officers in a fun, relaxed environment. Putting Safety First: Hands-on bus safety taught our young learners how to stay secure and confident on their rides. A huge thank you to our local police officers, transportation team, staff, and families for pouring into our kids today. We are so grateful for a community that puts our students first! 💙✨

Another Wednesday, another HW Walk! The crew is growing!

Seeing our students' big smiles and excitement at last night's Back to School Picnic was the absolute best part of the evening—their joy is our WHY! 🌟 A massive thank you to our families for your incredible grace and patience while waiting for dinner! 🍕 Green Mill worked non-stop to get hot pizzas out to our huge crowd! Domino’s stepped in right away to make sure everyone was fed! At Hawthorne, children and families always come first, and last night proved what a wonderful school family we have. 💙 📸 Parents: Drop your favorite photos of your kids enjoying the picnic in the comments! 👇