The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Elementary School is one of the three buildings that make up Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District #5, whose administrative offices are located at 217 E.17th Street, Gibson City, Illinois.
The Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Elementary School is a K-5 facility located at 902 N. Church, Gibson City, Illinois, 60936. Situated in central Illinois, the one story building is the educational center for approximately 520 students from the communities of Elliott, Foosland, Gibson City, Melvin, Sibley, and the surrounding rural areas. The elementary schools Early Childhood Education program is located off site at 112 W. 12th Street in Gibson City.
The Elementary students day begins at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 3:18 p.m. Kindergarten consists of 5 full-day sections, with a morning half-day option also available. There are four sections of grades 1-5. Section numbers vary based on grade enrollment. The average number of students in each class is 21 for the 2007-08 school year.
The education of students in the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Elementary School covers all major curricular areas. In addition, students in grades K-5 receive daily 30-minute physical education classes, 30-minute general music classes twice each week, one 30 minute library class, and one 45-minute art class each week. Instrumental music is offered beginning in fifth grade. Kindergarten receives abbreviated PE and music classes, as well as a 45-minute art class. Each of the special area classes has a curricular area specialist who instructs the classes. Under the guidance of the classroom teachers, students also visit the buildings computer lab at least once a week.
Title Reading, Reading Recovery, Reading Improvement, Accelerated Reader, gifted class offerings and Response to Intervention lessons are also available to GCMS Elementary students.
The GCMS district is a member of the Ford County Special Education Co-op. While GCMS provides the elementary school with a primary special needs teacher, two learning disabilities teacher, and a School Social Worker, additional student support through the special education co-op includes a speech pathologist, a school psychologist, physical therapist and occupational therapist.
