We are looking forward to seeing everyone tonight!
📸 More highlights from our 1st Annual Authentic Learning Showcase! 🎉
Our students absolutely shined as they shared their projects, and we couldn’t be prouder! From creative problem-solving to real-world applications, their hard work was on full display.
Check out these additional pictures capturing the excitement, engagement, and energy of the evening! Thank you to everyone who came out to support our students and celebrate authentic learning at Winterset Junior High! 💛🖤
📢 Winterset Junior High’s 1st Annual Authentic Learning Showcase was a huge success! 🎉
It’s our school, our story—and tonight, our students told that story through their authentic learning journeys. From start to finish, they showcased the incredible projects they’ve worked on this year, demonstrating why we are the Best Junior High in Iowa! 🏆
✅ Students knocked it out of the park with their presentations.
✅ Families showed up in full force to support their kids.
✅ Our amazing staff facilitated relevant, meaningful learning connected to the real world.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this event possible. We are proud, we are committed, and we are Winterset Junior High! 💛🖤 #BestJHInIowa #AuthenticLearning #OurSchoolOurStory
🎶✨ Winterset Junior High Choir Concert Spotlight! ✨🎶
Tonight, we had the privilege of watching our 7th and 8th grade choirs take the stage, along with some incredible solo performances, duets, and quartets! The talent and dedication of our students were on full display, and they delivered amazing performances! 🎤👏
Huge shoutout to Mr. Barrett for his leadership and passion in guiding our students to such a fantastic showcase. And a big thank you to Mrs. Obert for capturing all the memorable moments! 📸🎶
We are so proud of our incredibly talented students—what a night to remember! 💛🖤
📢 Join Us for the Authentic Learning Showcase! 📢
Winterset Junior High students have been working hard, and we can’t wait to share their incredible projects with you! 🎉
📅 Tuesday, March 4th
⏰ 4:00 – 7:30 PM
📍 Winterset Junior High
Come see our students in action as they showcase their learning through engaging presentations. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their hard work and dedication! 💡👏
🎉 Best Junior High in Iowa 🎉
Today, we handed out over 250 "Best Junior High in Iowa" T-shirts to every Winterset JH student! This isn’t just a slogan—it’s a commitment. Our goal is to create the best junior high experience in the state for our students, families, and staff—because our kids deserve nothing less.
Some days we win, and some days we fall short, but we are all in on building a school where students feel valued, connected, and empowered. Together, we are more than just a school—we are a community striving to be the Best Junior High in Iowa! 💛🖤
Big thank you to Winterset PTO for helping facilitate the purchase of these shirts—your support means the world to us! 👏 #BestJHInIowa #WintersetPride
🎶 We hope to see you tonight!
🏃♂️💨 Winterset Huskies Youth Speed & Agility Spring Break Clinic! 🏃♀️💨
The Winterset Boys & Girls Track programs invite all 3rd-8th grade students to a 4-day Speed & Agility Clinic over Spring Break! This camp is open to ALL young athletes looking to improve speed, acceleration, and agility—not just track athletes!
📍 Location: Winterset High School Competition Gym
📅 Dates: March 17-20 (Monday-Thursday of Spring Break)
⏰ Times:
• 3rd-5th Grade: 5:00-6:00 PM
• 6th-8th Grade: 6:00-7:00 PM
💲 Cost: $30 per athlete
👟 What to bring: Running shoes (NO spikes/sandals), workout clothes, & a water bottle.
🔗 Register online today! https://my-site-101167-108530.square.site/ Let’s get faster, stronger, and more agile together! 💪🐾
🚀 Spotlight on iJAG at Winterset Junior High! 🚀
This year, we introduced iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates) as a 7th and 8th grade exploratory course, led by the incredible Mrs. Jessica Vandewater! 👏 In its first year at WJH, iJAG has provided students with hands-on experiences in career readiness, leadership development, and community service, helping them explore potential career paths and build essential life skills.
Through engaging activities and real-world learning, students are gaining the confidence and tools they need for a successful transition into high school and beyond. 🎯 We’re proud to offer programs like iJAG that support our mission of college, career, and life readiness for all students! 💡
🎶 Sneak peek alert! 🎶 We're so excited about Winterset Junior High's upcoming Authentic Learning Showcase! Take a look at Paul Lichty’s incredible band project. Paul, our talented Band Instructor and professional musician, has created an inspiring project that showcases the amazing opportunities our students are engaging in. 🙌
How does it feel to be part of the Best Junior High in Iowa? ✨ Watching students dive into these hands-on learning experiences is truly inspiring and fulfilling! 🌟
Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we count down to the big day!
📢 Authentic Learning in Action! 🍎🥦👨🍳
Mrs. Devine’s Health students are taking their learning beyond the classroom and into the real world! As part of an authentic learning project, students used MyPlate to design a nutritious, well-balanced meal. But they didn’t stop there! They created eye-catching Canva flyers to market their meals, and after a round of voting, the winning meals were actually served in our cafeteria!
To make this project even more meaningful, Mrs. Devine partnered with our Food Service Director, who spoke with students about meal planning and nutrition. NOW, students are putting their skills to the test—heading to Fareway to shop for ingredients for the meal they’ll prepare and serve at our Authentic Learning Showcase!
This is real-world learning at its best—students engaging in critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving while making an impact on their community. We can’t wait to see (and taste!) the results! 🍽️👏
Winterset Junior High hosted its first-ever Public Speaking Workshop, and our students knocked it out of the park! 🎤✨ Check out this video showcasing their hard work as they practiced for the upcoming Authentic Learning Showcase.
With guidance from 10 public speaking experts, students focused on the H.U.E.S of public speaking: Being Heard, Understood, Expressive, and Standing Tall. Their confidence grew with every presentation, and the feedback they received was invaluable.
We are so proud of their dedication and can't wait to see them shine on March 4th! 🎬👏
https://youtu.be/0Y4Vky6scik?feature=shared
🚀 The countdown is on—just THREE school days until the Authentic Learning Showcase! 🚀
Join us on Tuesday, March 4th, from 4:00-7:30 PM at Winterset Junior High to see firsthand what makes WJH the Best Junior High in Iowa—our incredible students, teachers, staff, and supportive community!
Come celebrate the hard work, creativity, and learning of our students as they showcase their projects. We can't wait to see you there! 🎉
🎤 Winterset Junior High’s 1st Annual Public Speaking Workshop! 🎤
Today, over 80 of our incredible students took the stage to present their Authentic Learning Showcase projects to 10 public speaking experts from the Des Moines Metro Area and WCSD. With a focus on the H.U.E.S. of public speaking—Being Heard, Understood, Expressive, and Standing Tall—students received valuable feedback and put their skills to the test.
The best part? Their engagement, enthusiasm, and willingness to grow! It was inspiring to see them step up, interact with professionals, and refine their presentations. This experience was all about building confidence and preparing for the big day on March 4th. We are so proud of their effort! 👏🎉
🎉 Real-world learning in action! 🎉
Winterset Junior High students took a trip to JA Finance Park in Des Moines, where they stepped into the shoes of working adults—balancing budgets, managing expenses, and making financial decisions based on real-life income scenarios. 💰📊
Schools need to teach real-life skills, and we are! This hands-on experience gave students a powerful look at personal money management, career planning, and the financial choices they’ll face in the future. 💡🔑
🧱💡 Building Strong Arguments—Brick by Brick! 💡🧱
Who knew Legos could help build more than just towers? In this engaging activity, students broke down the structure of arguments using claim, evidence, reasons, reasoning, and counterclaim—and then built them back up using Legos!
Each color represented a different part of the argument, turning abstract concepts into hands-on learning. Working in small groups, students analyzed written arguments and "built" their understanding—literally! This creative approach reinforced key vocabulary while making argument writing more interactive and fun. 🏗️📚
📢 Order in the court! ⚖️👠
Our 7th grade literacy students kicked off their argument unit with a mock trial: The Case of Cinderella and the Missing Glass Slippers! 👩⚖️📝
In this engaging activity, students stepped into the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and jury members to analyze evidence, develop arguments, and determine—is Cinderella guilty of theft? 🏰🔍
This hands-on experience not only sparked interest in argumentative reading and writing but also helped students strengthen their critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. 🎯
Stay tuned as students continue to build their skills throughout this unit! 📚💡
📢 Mark Your Calendars! 📢
In just 2 short weeks (only 9 school days to go!), Winterset Junior High is opening its doors to the Winterset Community for our 1st Annual Authentic Learning Showcase! 🎉
📅 Tuesday, March 4th
⏰ 4:00 – 7:30 PM
📍 Winterset Junior High
Families and community members will have the chance to see and hear firsthand from students about the deep learning and incredible projects they’ve worked on this year. 🏆💡
We strongly encourage you to put this on your calendar and come support our 7th and 8th graders, as well as the amazing teachers and staff who are working hard to make this night a success! 🙌
We can’t wait to see you there!
🌟 Best Junior High in Iowa? We think so! 🌟
Being part of Winterset Junior High is a true blessing! These pictures capture just a glimpse of the amazing, fun, and engaging experiences happening here every day. From Friday morning coffee deliveries to students diving deep into real-world learning projects, our students aren’t just mastering core content—they’re also developing and demonstrating essential Profile of a Graduate skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
It was a GREAT Friday at WJH, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! 💛🖤 #BestJHInIowa
🎶✨ The Winterset Junior High Jazz and Concert Bands were absolutely phenomenal this evening! ✨🎶 Under the leadership of Mr. Paul Lichty and the entire Winterset Music Department—alongside an incredibly supportive community and, let’s be honest, some seriously talented musicians—WJH Band continues its tradition of excellence. Bravo to all the students for their hard work and outstanding performances! 👏🎺🥁
