And we're off! Our Beanstack Winter Reading Challenge has officially begun, and we are off to a great start. Just a reminder to keep your student logging their reading over break for a chance to win individual and building-wide prizes, as well as an awesome grade-level prize--a trip to the Iowa Theater to watch The Wild Robot! Minutes can be logged digitally (instructions for downloading the Beanstack app are in the backpack) or on the paper log students can get in the library. Happy reading and happy holidays!

🎄✨ We've had an amazing time bringing the holiday spirit into our learning! From building gingerbread houses in math 🏠➗, to festive coloring in Kindergarten 🎨, and so many fun dress-up days 👗🎅 – it's been a week full of creativity and joy! 🎁❤️ We can’t wait to continue the fun and learning next week! 🎉🎄

📣 Join us Friday, 12/20, to support the Winterset Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) and Winterset Schools!

🎄🧥 Lost & Found Wonderland! 🧢🎄 We’ve got: 👕 Jackets for every season 🧢 Hats of all styles 🧤 Gloves with and without pairs 🚰 Enough water bottles to hydrate a small village and MORE! 💥 The Deadline: You have until Winter Break to claim your long-lost treasures! After that, these items will be off to spread joy at local nonprofit organizations. ⏳ Don’t wait—check it out before it’s too late! Who knows, maybe that "missing" hoodie has been on vacation here the whole time. 😉

🎨✨ Join us TONIGHT for the Kindergarten & 1st Grade Glow Art Show! 🖼️ 📅 When: Tuesday, Dec. 10th ⏰ Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 Where: Elementary School Don’t miss this special showcase of our young artists' glowing creations! 🌟 See you there!

Additional information will be shared on the WLL Facebook page

Join us at the elementary school on Tuesday, December 10th, for our Kindergarten and 1st Grade Glow Art Show! 📅 Date: Tuesday, December 10th 🕠 Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM 📍 Location: Elementary School Come and see your little artists shine! We look forward to celebrating their creativity with you.

Preschool family fun night is Wednesday! We can't wait to see everyone! 🍎🍪🍏✏️

🌟 This month, we’re helping students reflect on their experiences and take responsibility for growth. Let’s partner to inspire thoughtful, responsible learners! 💡✨

🎄 Winterset Preschool & Elementary Holiday Dress-Up Days 🎄 It's time to spread some holiday cheer! Our school will be participating in festive dress-up days to celebrate the season. Participation is completely optional! We’d love to see everyone have some fun! Get ready to showcase your holiday creativity! 🌟

🏆 State Bowling Competition Recap 🎳 On November 23rd, the State Bowling Competition was held at Bowlarama in Des Moines. Our talented Winterset School athletes, along with adult athletes, showcased incredible skill and sportsmanship. 🎖 Results: 🥇 Gold Medalists: Sam Stephens Abby Swanson Banks Karen Bush 🥈 Silver Medalists: Alexis Willcox Rose McGee 🥉 Bronze Medalists: Drew McCuskers Charles Williams 🏅 5th Place: Shawn Gilbride A special shoutout to Angela Jones and Monty Lynch, who also advanced to state but were unable to attend due to illness. Wishing them a speedy recovery! 💙 We are so proud of all our athletes for their hard work and achievements! 💡 Interested in joining Special Olympics? We offer a variety of sports and would love to have more athletes join our amazing team. For more information, contact 515-468-1649.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving break 🦃

❄️ Winter Weather Reminder! ❄️ Brrrr! The chilly temps are here! 🥶 Please make sure your student is ready for the cold with: 🧢 Hat 🧤 Gloves or mittens 🧥 Warm winter coat All students will enjoy outdoor recess unless the "feels like" temperature drops below 10°F. Let’s keep everyone cozy and ready for fun! ❄️😊

🍔 McTeacher Night 🍟 TONIGHT! Support Winterset Elementary PTO! Come see your favorite teachers at McDonald's! Our Winterset Elementary staff will be taking over and working behind the counter for one night! 📅 Date: November 19th 🕔 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 📍 Location: Winterset McDonalds A portion of all proceeds from 5-7 PM will go directly to Winterset PTO. Come grab a meal, say hello, and support our school!

🚧✨ C is for Construction! 🏗️🔤 Our TK classroom was buzzing with creativity for Letter C Day! From building blocks to crafting mini construction zones, the kids explored, built, and learned. It was all about teamwork, imagination, and a little bit of "constructive" fun! 🛠️🚜

Come see your favorite Winterset Elementary teachers in action at McDonald's! 🍟👩‍🏫👨‍🏫 📅 Date: November 19th 🕔 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 📍 Location: Winterset McDonalds Our amazing staff will be serving up your favorite meals, and a portion of all proceeds will go directly to support Winterset PTO! Let’s make it a night to remember—grab some food, say hi, and help support our school! See you there! 🍔❤️

🌟 The 2nd and 3rd Grade Glow Show was a shining success! 🌟 https://youtu.be/5ugt-gyb9Uo?si=IC4WaUMVwTvQIaXS We had over 200 visitors come to see the amazing exhibit, and it was a night to remember! A huge thank you to Mrs. Sussman for making this glow-tastic event possible and to all the families who came out to support their talented students. Your encouragement truly lit up the night! 💡✨ Here’s to our wonderful school community and all the creativity that glowed brightly in our halls! 💛

🌟 Exciting Evening at WES! 🌟 Join us tonight at the elementary school for our 2nd & 3rd Grade Art Glow Show from 4:30-6:30 PM! Come see our students’ incredible glow-in-the-dark artwork and enjoy a night of creativity and fun! 🎨✨ Stick around for the PTO Meeting from 6:30-7:30 PM to hear about all the amazing things happening at WES and how you can get involved. We can’t wait to see you there!

3rd grade had a blast today at the Iowa Wild game for their “Wild About Education Event”! Thanks to the Winterset Education Foundation for funding the trip!

This holiday season, let's support local families! 🦃 We’re collecting items for Thanksgiving meal sides. Please consider donating to the PAW Pantry by November 21st.