The River Valley speech team competed at the Marshall Speech Mini-Spectacular on Saturday, Feb. 25. There were 19 schools and over 270 competitors in the tournament which offered three preliminary rounds for all speakers and a final round.
“Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each community, and every believer. Above all it is a time of grace.” (Pope Francis) On Wednesday, Feb. 22, the Church began the season of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance and spiritual growth. At St. Mary’s Catholic School, Ash Wednesday looked different this year. Instead of gathering for an all-school Mass where all in attendance received ashes on their foreheads, a snowstorm closed school!
March madness is here with many of the winter high school sports teams playing some of their final games of the season. Some may even make it to the state playoff games! In addition, spring sports begin practicing in mid-March.
Minnesota 4-H held the Southwest BLU and TEEL leadership workshops on Feb. 18 at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall for 58 youth from across our region. Similar The annual 4-H Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) and Teens Engaged in Emerging Leadership (TEEL) workshop days were held in four regions across the state.
February is usually a very exciting month at Sleepy Eye Elementary School. We celebrate with Valentine’s and I Love to Read Month festivities, to name a few. February also marks the beginning of the end. As we round out the last half of our school year, teachers start contemplating what standards are left to complete before ushering students onto the next grade level. They also begin preparing students for the always looming MCA assessments.
Nine Sleepy Eye FFA chapter members competed in two Career Development Events (CDEs) at the SMSU Ag. Bowl in Marshall on Feb.
Three St. Mary’s High School students, Elle Kyllonen, Emily Ericksen, and Jenica Schroepfer, planned a Minnesota Honor Society group project to raise money for gift baskets for patients receiving chemotherapy at the New Ulm Medical Center.
On Saturday, Feb. 11, the River Valley speakers competed at the Mankato Loyola Crusader Classic. This tournament was much larger than the previous week, as there were 17 teams, from both A and AA schools in Minnesota— and River Valley took fourth place. This tournament offered a varsity final round as well as a novice final round. The novice category is open to any first year speakers or junior high speakers.
The Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter was recently recognized as a grant recipient of the Minnesota FFA Foundation’s Bend, Don’t Break Mental Health Wellness Program. The Bend Don’t Break Mental Health Wellness program is an important program for supporting youth in your local community. This program ensures that our leaders of tomorrow, students and teachers, are being cared for. Minnesota FFA is taking a stand on mental health.