The Albert Lea High School Speech Team participated at the Mankato Loyola Speech tournament on Feb. 9.

Winners were: Gracie Thomas, first place in serious prose and Liam Moore, fourth place in creative expression.

Kindergarten registration coming up

These dates have been set for kindergarten registration:

– Tuesday, March 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the board boom at Brookside

– Thursday, March 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the board room at Brookside.

Children must be 5 by Sept. 1 to be eligible for kindergarten.

Third-graders study light

Sibley third-graders spent most of Valentine&8217;s Day studying light. They found out that light can reflect or bounce back. A mirror reflects or bounces back light very well. They found that light can be refracted or bent.

They put a pencil in a glass of water and observed that the pencil looked broken or bent.

Some objects are opaque (they won&8217;t let light pass through) and some objects are transparent (light can pass through).

Students used flashlights and prisms to bend white light to make rainbows of colors.

Career planning open house set

On Thursday, Albert Lea High School will offer a career planning and registration open house from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the high school. Online registration for the 2008-09 school year will be taking place on this night. Career information and ALHS offerings will be showcased at this event. All ALHS registration information can be found at the Albert Lea Web site, www.albertlea.k12.mn.us and click on high school.

Lakeview program brings art to life

Art came alive at Lakeview Friday as third- and fourth-graders danced, sang and created artwork all about &8220;Snow Days,&8221; the theme for their 2008 program.

Students practice fight song

Third-graders in Ann Hareid&8217;s room at Lakeview have been practicing the school fight song each morning. They will be ready for the next big game.

&8220;Go Tigers, Fight, Fight, Fight!&8221;

Southwest to host career day

Southwest Middle School will host its annual career day Feb. 27. Eighth-grade students will hear a panel of six speakers representing the six career pathways under which all jobs fall. They are: arts and communication; business, management, marketing and technology; engineering, manufacturing and industrial technology; health sciences; human services; and natural resources, agri-science and military. All students will select two career pathways to hear more about in break-out sessions.

This is the third year of career day. These speakers and businesses are participating.

Arts and communication: Kari-Ella Fjeldberg, Classic Reflections; Jason Howland, KAAL TV; Robert Tewes, Crescendo; Glen Parsons, theater; Harlan Bang, artist; and Ryan Heath, photographer.

Business, marketing and management: Bill Leland, real estate; Clint McGill, Wells Fargo; and Jerry Noland, computers/ Riverland Community College.

Engineering: Mark Thomas, Minnesota Aviation; Steve Jahnke, city engineer; Phil Wacholz, Zenk, Read & Trygstad; Mike Sundblad, Project Lead the Way; Bob Bender, industrial welding/ Riverland Community College; Darrick Schewe, technician.

Health sciences: Pat Blake, nursing supervisor; Bill Villarreal, sports medicine; Dawn Thompson, Good Samaritan Center; Richard Buringa, nurse anesthetist; Dr. Mathew Kirsch, Austin Medical Center orthopedic surgeon; and Kellie Thompson, oncology nurse.

Human services: Deb Flatness and Jay Crabtree, Albert Lea Police Department; Mark Light, Albert Lea Fire Department; Daniel Kolker, attorney at Peterson, Savelkoul and Benda; Jill Barickman, probation; Wendy Greenfield, education.

Natural resources and agriculture: Richard Hoffman, environmental; Jeanine Vorland, area wildlife; Dan Erickson, agriculture; and Sgt. Matthew Vilven, National Guard.