
🌟 February’s Capturing Kids’ Hearts Theme: KINDNESS! 🌟
At Winterset Junior High, recognition and affirmation are at the heart of our culture. Our staff is spreading kindness by lifting up students and each other with meaningful shoutouts! 💙🙌
Check out these incredible affirmations from our staff—proof that a little kindness goes a long way! 💛




💛 Kindness is Contagious at Winterset JH! 💛
This month, our staff is going above and beyond to recognize the incredible students and colleagues who make Winterset such a special place. ✨ From heartfelt affirmations to uplifting shoutouts, kindness is radiating throughout our school!
A simple "You made my day!" or "I appreciate you!" goes a long way, and we love seeing our students and staff lift each other up. 💬💛
Let's keep the kindness train rolling—who will you celebrate today? 🚂💛




❄️Due to predicted snow forecast, we will be closed today. Stay safe, Huskies!


🎷🎶 Winterset JH Jazz Band Shoutout! 🎶🎷
Huge applause for our six talented Winterset JH Jazz Band students who participated in the first-ever Jack Oatts MS Honor Jazz Band this past weekend at Earlham HS! 👏👏👏
These students were nominated and selected from across the Des Moines metro and did an amazing job representing Winterset:
🎺 Gannon Dowie – Trumpet
🎶 Sawyer McDonald, Tyson Frease, Ryker Hansen, and Paige Christy – Trombone
🥁 Lucas Moetsch – Drumset
They spent the day rehearsing with top middle school jazz musicians and wrapped it up with a fantastic concert performance! 🎼🎤
🔥 Special shoutout to Mr. Paul Lichty, our very own Winterset JH Band Director, who had the honor of serving as the guest conductor! What an incredible experience for him and our students!
Winterset has a proud, proud tradition of excellence in music, and these students are carrying that legacy forward! 🎶🎷
Way to go, Gannon, Sawyer, Tyson, Ryker, Paige, and Lucas! 🎉



🌟 **Valentine's Day Dress-Up Day!** 🌟
Hey WJH! 💕 Get ready to spread the love this Friday, February 14th, by dressing up for Valentine's Day!
💖 7th graders: Wear PINK
❤️ 8th graders: Wear RED
Let's make it a colorful and fun day! 💫 #ValentinesDay #DressUpDay #WJH


⏳ The countdown is on! With only 16 school days left until the big night, planning for our Authentic Learning Showcase is in full swing! 🎉
Over 50 students have signed up to present their projects, and we can't wait for you to see all the incredible work they've been doing. This will be an amazing night of Presentations of Learning, showcasing the talent, creativity, and hard work of our students.
🗓️ Mark your calendars: Tuesday, March 4th from 4:00-7:30pm at Winterset Junior High. We hope to see you there! 🌟


🌟 Celebrating the Power of Positivity at WJH! 🌟
At Winterset Junior High, we’re building a culture of encouragement and recognition! Over the past few weeks, we've seen an incredible wave of student-to-student and student-to-staff shoutouts—words of appreciation, encouragement, and gratitude filling our hallways. 📝💙
Whether it’s a kind note to a classmate, a thank-you to a teacher, or a high-five for a job well done, our students are making a difference by lifting each other up. This positive energy is contagious and truly makes WJH the Best JH in Iowa!




📢 Winterset Junior High—The Best in Iowa! 🖤💛
All year long, we've challenged our students to be a part of something bigger than themselves—to use their power to make Winterset Junior High a truly special place. In just 21 school days, they will take the stage to showcase that impact.
On Tuesday, March 4th, families and community members will get to see firsthand the incredible projects our students have created at the 1st Annual Authentic Learning Showcase. This event is more than just a presentation—it's a celebration of deep learning, creativity, and the power of authentic experiences.
This is why Winterset Junior High deserves the title—Best JH in Iowa! 😊💡 We can’t wait to share this night with you!



🎉 Next Week: National School Counseling Week! 🎉
We’re celebrating our amazing school counselors with fun dress-up days all week long! Check out the schedule below and join us in showing appreciation for the incredible work they do. 👏💙
Let’s make this week one to remember!
#SchoolCounselingWeek #ThankYouCounselors #DressUpDays


🍪💌 Want to send your student a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day?
🎉 Through our PTO fundraiser, you can send cookies to your child at school! 🍪❤️
It’s the perfect way to show them you care.
Order now and make their day extra special! 💕 #ValentinesDay #PTOFundraiser #SweetTreats #CookieLove


Come check out the Winterset Art Center's open house this weekend!🎨


🎉 Congratulations to Our January Students of the Month! 🎉
Winterset Junior High is proud to recognize our January Students of the Month for demonstrating PACK expectations at the highest level! These students consistently show Professionalism, Accountability, Caring for themselves and others, and Kindness in everything they do.
👏 January Students of the Month:
🌟 Emma Rush
🌟 Sawyer McDonald
🌟 Owen Sheridan
🌟 Kara Knutson
🌟 Sydney Cook (not pictured)
🌟 Linken Reed
🌟 Drew Gross
🌟 Addie Good
We are so proud of these students for being outstanding role models in our school community! Keep up the great work!









📢 BIG NEWS, WINTERSET! 🎉
When you have the best Junior High students in Iowa, the most dedicated teachers and support staff, engaged families, a supportive community, and a district committed to excellence with a clear vision for success—you get the Best Junior High in Iowa! 💙💛
To celebrate the connections and unity of Winterset Junior High, every student and staff member will receive a "Best Junior High in Iowa" T-shirt! 🙌 We are proud of our school, our people, and the incredible things happening every day at WJH!


🎉 A Proud Tradition at Winterset Junior High! 🇺🇸
Each morning, our school day begins with a hallmark of unity and respect as students lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. This daily practice is more than just words—it’s a moment to come together as a school community and reflect on the values we share.
We’re proud of our students for stepping up and taking on this leadership role, setting a positive tone for the day ahead. Thank you for representing Winterset Junior High with pride and purpose!


🎉 What a great day at Graham's Cafe! Our students had a blast enjoying the fun atmosphere and spending time together. It's always wonderful to see our students out in the community, building connections and creating memories. Thank you to everyone who made this day special! 🥳







🎤✨ Foundations of Public Speaking Assembly ✨🎤
Today, Winterset Junior High students participated in an inspiring Foundations of Public Speaking assembly, focusing on the key elements of effective communication. Students and staff learned the importance of:
✔️ Being heard and understood
✔️ Expressing themselves with clarity
✔️ Standing tall with confidence
The presenter also emphasized bringing energy, enthusiasm, and earnestness to every speaking opportunity. This assembly is the first in a two-part Public Speaking Workshop designed to help our students grow as effective communicators.
These skills are critical as we prepare for our Authentic Learning Showcase on March 4th, where students will present their projects publicly. We're excited to see their confidence and skills shine! 🌟
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success! 🖤💛 #WintersetJH #EffectiveCommunicators #AuthenticLearningShowcase





🌟 Thank You for a Wonderful Morning Muffin Mingle! 🌟
A big thank you to all the families, students, and staff who joined us for our Morning Muffin Mingle! 🍩☕ It’s always such a joy to see families spending time together and creating meaningful moments right here at school.
Your participation helps strengthen the sense of community that makes Winterset Junior High so special. 💛🖤 We’re grateful for the connections made and the conversations shared over a delicious breakfast.
We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future. Thanks for being part of what makes our school the Best Junior High in Iowa!





Due to the cold temperatures our buses are gelling, therefore we will be closed today.


🌟 Shoutout to Rose McGee! 🌟
Rose McGee represented at the Special Olympics, showcasing her amazing basketball skills! 🏀 She wowed us all with her dribbling, target passing, and basket shooting. Rose did an outstanding job 🙌
We're also excited to share that Rose has decided to participate in Unified Cheer at the state competition in March! 🎉👏
Winterset Junior High is so proud of you, Rose! Keep shining and showing everyone what hard work and determination look like. 💛🖤 Way to go! 🎉



📣 You're Invited! 🥳
Join us for the Morning Muffin Mingle on Wednesday, January 22nd, from 8:30-8:45 AM in the Winterset Junior High Commons! 🧁☕🍊
Enjoy a muffin, coffee, and juice while spending a special moment with your student to start the day. We look forward to seeing our Winterset Junior High families there! 💛🖤
