Winterset Junior High School

Days 3 and 4 of our Washington, DC trip were packed with unforgettable experiences for our students! 🇺🇸 We explored the historic Gettysburg National Military Park with an engaging battlefield tour, enjoyed a peaceful Tidal Basin walk, and visited the powerful Martin Luther King Jr. and Thomas Jefferson memorials. We also discovered the charm of Old Town Alexandria, toured the fascinating Army Museum, and took in stunning views of the Potomac River from George Washington’s backyard at his Mount Vernon estate.

Day 2 of our Washington, DC adventure was truly unforgettable! 🇺🇸 Our students honored history with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the solemn Changing of the Guard. We explored the powerful Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima) and toured the deeply moving Holocaust Museum. The day continued with a visit to the White House, followed by reflection at the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials. We wrapped up the evening surrounded by the inspiring beauty of the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool.

Such meaningful experiences that will stay with us forever! Stay tuned for more from this incredible journey. ✨

🚀 Today marks the start of an amazing adventure for our incoming 9th graders from Winterset Community School District! 🇺🇸 We kicked off our trip to Washington, DC with an inspiring tour of the US Capitol, learned about the Library of Congress and Supreme Court, and paid tribute at the WWII Memorial and Washington Monument. Seeing these iconic landmarks up close and learning about our country’s history has been nothing short of incredible. Stay tuned for more highlights from this unforgettable journey! ✨

🏐 4 DAYS LEFT 🏐 Camp registration deadline is June 20th! Register today to guarantee a camp shirt the day of camp. See you soon! 💻 Register Online Here: https://wintersetclubvolleyball.square.site/

🎉 Winterset Junior High had the incredible honor of representing the Winterset Community School District at the IASB Summit on Student Success! 🎉 We are beyond proud to be part of a district where everyone—from the school board and district administration to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and engaged community—is united by one powerful focus: student learning and growth. A HUGE shoutout to our amazing 8th grader, Arthur Davis, who wowed the audience with his presentation on thriving in a system that champions essential skills like effective communication, collaboration, growth mindset, and critical thinking/problem solving. Arthur was truly articulate, confident, and charismatic—what a star! 🌟

🌟 Hats off to the incredible Winterset Junior High staff for an outstanding 2024–25 school year! 🌟 Our team has truly gone above and beyond—supporting students, partnering with families, and lifting each other up every step of the way.

Summer is officially here! It is a great time to register for our youth camps this summer! Register Online Here: https://wintersetclubvolleyball.square.site/

🎉 Congratulations to our 2024-25 Winterset Junior High American Legion Award recipients: McKinley Kaysen and Nicholas Gondek! 🎉 These two outstanding students were voted by their teachers for exemplifying the highest standards of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service—qualities that truly embody the spirit of our school and community. 🇺🇸✨ Thank you Mr. Beem for facilitating the program! Your service is greatly appreciated.

🎉 What an amazing way to wrap up the 2024-25 school year at Winterset Junior High! 🎉 On Friday, May 30th, our 8th graders enjoyed a special day starting with a trip to the Iowa Theater to watch The Outsiders 🎬, followed by fun and games at City Park 🌳. Meanwhile, our 7th graders spent the morning engaged in passion activities that sparked creativity and connection before joining their peers at the park for some well-deserved playtime. We will miss all of our student! Enjoy summer break!

🎬✨ Celebrate an incredible year at Winterset Junior High with our 2024/25 Recap Video! ✨🎬 Take a moment to see how our students, staff, and community have come together to R.I.S.E.—focusing on Real-world Application, Integration of 21st Century Skills, Self-Worth and Connections, and Encouraging authentic relationships. This video highlights the major accomplishments and initiatives that have shaped a successful school year aligned with our strategic priorities and Profile of a Graduate. Every step we take is part of our bold pursuit to become the Best Junior High in Iowa—a goal grounded in excellence across attendance, behavior, academics, and community impact. Watch how we continue to build authentic connections, foster student leadership, and provide meaningful learning experiences that prepare our students for college, career, and life. https://youtu.be/cgt4Vh35iOs?feature=shared

🌟 Celebrating Our May Students of the Month! 🌟 These exceptional students have demonstrated the PACK behavior expectations at a high level—being Professional, Accountable, Caring, and Kind every day. Their dedication to these values helps build the positive, respectful, and supportive environment we strive for at Winterset Junior High, where authentic relationships and student ownership are at the heart of our community. A huge congratulations to: Emilie Karp, Daucia Low, Linken Reed, Breyden Rutledge, Mckenzie Brown, Amber Capps, Drake Nordstrom, and Tegan Summers! 🎉 Your commitment to showing respect, taking responsibility, and caring for others truly reflects the spirit of our school and the principles we uphold. You are shining examples of what it means to rise to the occasion and be the Best Junior High in Iowa. A big THANK YOU to Jones Creek Apparel for generously sponsoring this month’s Students of the Month rewards. Your support helps recognize and celebrate our student leaders who embody our core values and inspire us all. Keep up the great work, everyone! 💙👏

🎶 What a fantastic night at the Winterset Junior High Band and Choir concert! Our talented musicians truly sounded spectacular, showcasing their hard work and passion on every note. Great job, students—you make us proud! 👏 A big shoutout to Mr. Lichty and Mr. Barrett for their dedication and leadership in bringing out the best in our performers. Your hard work truly shines through!

🚀 Winterset Junior High’s 7th graders had an amazing day exploring the Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus! They dove into hands-on sessions in Automotive, Computer Information Science, Criminal Justice, Bio-Technology, Wind/Solar Energy Technicians, and Robotics. Plus, they got to shoot some hoops in the DMACC wellness facility! 🏀

🐾 Welcome Kathleen to our school family! 🐾 We’re thrilled to introduce Kathleen, a wonderful black lab who joins us as a Facility Dog alongside our School Resource Officer, Officer Garrison. Kathleen plays a special role in supporting student wellness and engagement, helping create a positive and comforting environment for everyone. She’s already been a huge hit with both students and staff, bringing smiles and calm moments throughout the day. Kathleen also assists with community outreach and helps promote officer wellness, making her an invaluable part of our school community. Please join us in giving Kathleen a warm welcome! We’re excited to see the positive impact she will continue to have on our school.

To any incoming Kindergarten - 8th grade Students Registration is now open for youth volleyball camps! See dates below. To register online please follow this link: Online Registration Form We hope to see you there! Please contact Kalie Schult if you have any questions. kschult@winterset.k12.ia.us

In the grand map of life, school is the launchpad, offering endless routes and boundless opportunities. 🌟 Each lesson is a turn on the road, each friendship a new path to explore. 🚀 So, grab your map and chart your course—adventure awaits!"

☀️📚 START YOUR SUMMER OFF RIGHT—by not owing the library your entire lemonade stand profits! 🍋💸 All library books are due by this Friday, May 16! If you don’t return them, we’ll assume you’re trying to take “Warriors: Fire and Ice” on a tropical vacation—and we will charge you. 🏖️🐱📖 Turn 'em in, cool kids. Start summer free, fun, and fine-free! 😎🕶️ #BookItBeforeYouBeachIt #FineFreeFunshine #ReturnTheBookOrWeLook

The Winterset Boys and Girls track programs will be hosting youth speed and agility training and testing sessions this summer for all incoming 3rd-8th grade students. Please visit the link to register: https://tinyurl.com/wintersetspeed

🌟 Throwback to Junior High Kickball! 🌟 Who remembers those intense kickball games that defined Junior High PE? Bragging rights were always on the line! 😄 Well, last Friday in 8th Grade PE, period 3, we experienced a game for the ages! Congratulations to the winning team—Brooklyn Tadlock, Mckenzie Brown, Macy Landers, Kayla Roberts, Blakely Rethmeier, Lucie St. John, and Brooklyn Roberts—who brought the energy and secured a victory with a score of 14-10! 🎉⚽️ Way to go, team! Keep that spirit alive! 🙌💪

🎉 Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week at Winterset Junior High! 🌟 In honor of our incredible teachers, Mr. Sussman, along with Dr. Corey St. John and Kendra Alexander, organized a delightful pancake and sausage breakfast, along with a car wash for our staff! 🚗 We know how busy teachers are, and it can be tough to find time to get a car wash. We hope they enjoyed this special treat and felt the appreciation from our community! Thank you to all our amazing educators for your hard work and dedication! 💙✨