If you are planning to register your child for kindergarten in the fall and they have not been screened, please schedule an early childhood screening appointment as soon as possible. Early childhood screening is a free quick and simple check of how your child is growing and developing and is required by the state for your child to start kindergarten. Call Julie at 379-4843 or e-mail jsager@albertlea.k12.mn.us .

Upcoming events at Southwest Middle School

March 11,12: TEAE testing

Test of Emerging Academic English is a reading and writing language proficiency test for English language learners in grades 3-12. It was designed to assess progress in acquiring the academic English language. For K-2 learners, reading and writing is assessed with a teacher observation rating.

 April 16: MTELL testing

The Mathematics Test for English Language Learners is a computer-delivered mathematics test in grades 3-8 and 11 with simplified English that reduces the confounding effects of language on mathematics performance. Students may listen to test items as well as read them. Pictures and diagrams help students understand the language in the test items. The MTELL assesses the same grade level academic standards as the MCA-IIs.

April 17: Eighth-grade Riverland Community College campus visits

This event includes a presentation, tour of both Austin and Albert Lea campus and an opportunity for all eighth-grade students to visit four programs.

April 18: Tiger Trot

This event is Southwest Middle School’s only fundraiser for the entire year. To make a pledge, get involved or register for the event contact Marsha Langseth at SWMS, 379-5240 or check out the Web site at http://swa1.albertlea.k12.mn.us/Documents/tigertrot09.pdf

April 21-24: MCA II testing

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are the state tests that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind. The reading and mathematics tests are used to determine whether schools and districts have made adequate yearly progress toward all students being proficient in 2014. Science is required for No Child Left Behind but is not included in progress calculations at this time.

Reading and mathematics tests are given in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. Science tests are given in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school, depending on when students complete their life sciences curriculum.

The schedule is as follows:

April 21: Grade 8 — Math (segments 1 and 2); Grade 7 — Reading (segments 1 and 2)

April 22: Grade 8 — Math (segments 3 and 4); Grade 7 — Reading (segments 3 and 4)

April 23: Grade 8 — Reading (segments 1 and 2); Grade 7 — Math (segments 1 and 2)

April 24: Grade 8 — Reading (segments 3 and 4); Grade 7 – Math (segments 3 and 4)

Please help prepare your student by making sure he or she does the following:

* Brings a Number 2 pencil to use.

* Brings his/her own silent, hand-held calculator which can be used on portions of the math test (Southwest Middle School does have some calculators available, but not enough for all students).

* Gets plenty of sleep the night before and has a good breakfast the morning of all the tests.

Please encourage your student to do their best.

April 27 – May 22: MCA Science testing – grade 8 (exact testing day TBA)

May 4 – May 22: MAPS testing, grades 7 and 8 in reading and mathematics (exact testing schedule TBA)

ALHS to hold ‘Music in Our Schools’ vocal concert

Everyone is invited to join the Albert Lea High School choirs celebrate the power of music in our students’ lives at their concert at Monday, March 2, Tat 7:30 pm in the High School Auditorium. The high schools choirs will be featured including the Tiger Choir, Varsity Choir, Concert Choir, and small ensembles. The choirs are directed by Diane Heaney. Tickets for the concert are $7 and $5 and are available at the door. Music concert passes are also good for this concert.

March has been designated as Music in Our Schools Month by the Music Educators National Conference. This year’s theme is “Music! Just Imagine…”

Students involved with vocal music in Albert Lea are highly involved in many other school activities including sports, band and orchestra, mock trial, speech, cheerleading, BPA, FFA, National Honor Society and numerous other clubs and organizations. Their names can often be found on the honor role lists for every school term. They serve as positive community role models and ambassadors for Albert Lea wherever they perform.

Eight-grader advances

to Southeast Minnesota Final Spelling Bee

Two Regional spelling bees were held Feb. 17 at the Southeast Service Cooperative in Rochester. Seventy students participated in the two Regional Spelling Bees. Mark McGivern, an eighth-grader at Southwest Middle School, earned fifth place and advanced to the final spelling bee on Tuesday, March 3, at 9 a.m. at the Southeast Service Cooperative in Rochester. Co-sponsors are McNeilus Steel Inc. and KM Telecom. The winner of the final will advance to the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. on May 26-27.