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The River Valley Speech team kicked off their tournament season on Saturday, Feb. 5 with a small group competing in the Worthington Trojan tournament. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s competitive speech season had to be completed virtually. Therefore, for the majority of the speakers competing this season, this was their first ever “in-person” speech tournament.

The Sleepy Eye FFA announced the January Members of the Month: Jake Price, Nora Coulson, and Yuridia Fernandez. Officer of the Month is Gracie Sellner.

Adriana Martinez, kindergarten Nolan Deibele, kindergarten Karin Barka, 1st grade Kiara Hanson, 1st grade Grace Wersal, 2nd grade Isabella Seifert, 2nd grade Breckin Peterson, 3rd grade Mark Urbano, 3rd grade Sarahi Nino Espinosa, 4th grade Taya Bastian, 4th grade Ian Lushine, 5th grade Lydia Boomgarden, 5th grade Ava Kunkel, 6th grade PHOTOS PROVIDED JP Montemayor, 6th grade .

It’s long been an accepted thought in education that students have different learning styles. Some students react well to reading textbooks and listening to lectures to absorb the information a course covers. Some students have better results when they experience the lesson in a more hands-on way. Reinforcing classroom lessons with real experiences—learning by doing—is an excellent way to keep students interested in what they’re learning and invested in the outcome. Following are stories of how two local teachers have expanded classroom lessons to include the “real thing.”

Some of my favorite hymns in the United Methodist Hymnal are by Charles Albert Tindley. I will be astounded if you know that name, as I will be surprised if you know any of the hymns he composed. Indeed, I suspect that even most United Methodists do not know those hymns by Tindley (in our hymnal!) which I enjoy so much.

Paraprofessionals were honored last week at Sleepy Eye Public School with a free lunch from food service, donuts, coffee and juice from Mr. Cselovszki and Ms. Sam Schmit, and Subway sandwiches from the Wellness Committee. Pictured, front from left: Kelly Neubarth, Jessica Herzog, Yazmin Martinez, Julie Ludewig, Kayla Jacobsen, Christina Carlson, Deb Kruse, Jayne Borth, Suzanne Kanzenbach. Middle: Sarah Trebesch, Kaitlyn Holmgren, Eva Thoms, Nicole Domeier, Lisa Riederer, Judy Schueler, Barb Seifert, Samantha Eastvold. Back: Sofia Tabitas-Lopez, McKenzie Metzler, Anita Johnson, Arlene Dietl, Rachel Liner, Kari Schieffert, Karen Okerman, Deanna Nelson, Faith Helget, Rachel Roberts, Judy Maasz. Not pictured: Kathy Ahlrich, Luis Lopez, and Mary Maas. PROVIDED

The annual Spelling Bee was held at Sleepy Eye Public School on Friday, Jan. 28. The overall winner was Jesus Moncada (center) who was also the 7th grade winner. Pictured from left: 5th grade winner Lydia Boomgarden, 8th grade winner Meteo Hornsby, Moncada, 6th grade winner Kelsey Ladd, and Overall Runner Up Rheanna Stone. PROVIDED