The Evolution of Henry Sibley High School

Recently, there has been much talk over the major schedule change beginning next year at Sibley. Many students are either for or opposed to altering the original seven-hour day to six hours. This brings to surface many new issues that arise from this modification: less time for electives, longer class periods, etc. Many students, especially underclassmen, do not realize that this significant transformation joins a long list of changes that have occurred throughout Henry Sibley’s history, some of which have been just as controversial.

One of the more recent changes that has caught many students by surprise over the past couple of years has been the composition of our school lunches. The food being offered at our school has changed a lot. A Sibley graduate from the class of 2012 recalls a time when lunches offered a lot more than it does today. “The Grab-n-Go was actually a Grab-n-Go ---you never had to wait in line. There were a lot more snacks and a lot more selection.” This contrasts with the fact that the Grab-n-Go seems to be inactive this year altogether. The graduate remembers ice cream, iced coffee, hot chocolate, Gatorade, big muffins and gooey cookies, just to name a few of the food options available. As delicious as these options sound to teenagers, they admittedly aren’t the healthiest. The school has been trying to offer more beneficial options by getting rid of foods with less nutritious value, and replacing them with healthier options.

Another recent physical change to Sibley High has been the renovations. The old building’s interior was restructured in 2006. This resulted in a whole new look for the hallways of Sibley: a new weight room, new cafeteria and new office quarters. The school’s technology was updated and new Macintosh computers for the teachers and students were purchased. The new technology is continuously being updated with MacBook Airs, iPads and more.

An even more controversial change that occurred over a couple of decades was the logo representing Henry Sibley High School. The mascot has always remained the “Sibley Warriors” however the look of the mascot has evolved over the years. Up until 1996, the logo was an Indian head. However, this sparked groups to argue against the logo, calling it insensitive to Native Americans. The logo was then changed to a griffin until 1999, when it became the familiar logo we have today, the knight. Even the knight has undergone changes. Just a couple of years ago, though, the logo was changed to the knight and shield we now use with the letter “S” on it.

Over the years, these changes to Henry Sibley High School have played a significant role into shaping what Sibley is today. As we Sibley Warriors approach the new schedule for next year, we should keep in mind that it is a part of our evolution as a school and that it is a natural process. If you don’t change, then you don’t evolve. Sibley is changing and evolving, and controversy is sure to follow. We’ll see what the results are a few years down the road.

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