Windom Eagle Families,

As we head into May, the checkered flag is in sight! Just like in a great race, our students have been navigating twists, turns, and straightaways all year long. Now, with the finish line approaching on Wednesday, May 29 at 12:35 PM, it can be tempting to let off the gas. But here at Windom Middle School, we’re staying focused and committed to the very end.

This time of year is about finishing strong—not just academically, but in CHARACTER, responsibility, and EFFORT. A race isn’t over until you cross the line, and we’re encouraging all of our 5th–8th grade students to keep their eyes on growth. Whether that means pushing through a tough assignment, supporting a classmate, or reflecting on how far they’ve come, every lap still counts.

Let’s keep that growth mindset alive as we wrap up the school year. Celebrate progress, learn from mistakes, and know that every day still holds value. The checkered flag may be waving soon—but the journey of learning never really ends.

We’re proud of our Eagles and can’t wait to finish this year with strength and pride!

With gratitude,
Dane Nielsen
Middle School Principal

Windom Eagle Families,

Middle school is a time of incredible growth—not just in academics, but in character. As our students learn who they are and who they want to become, your partnership as parents and guardians is more important than ever.

At school, we talk a lot about taking responsibility, showing respect, and focusing on what we can control: our attitude, effort, and response. We know that mistakes will happen—middle school is full of learning moments. But what matters most is how our students choose to respond when things don’t go their way.

You can help by reinforcing this mindset at home. Encourage your child to reflect on their choices, take ownership of their actions, and resist the urge to get caught up in what others are doing. It’s easy to point fingers; it takes real character to look inward and ask, “What can I do better next time?”

Together, let’s help our Eagles grow into young people who are kind, resilient, and responsible—on the good days and the hard ones.

With appreciation,

Dane Nielsen
Middle School Principal

As we approach Teacher Appreciation Week from May 5th to May 9th, we are thrilled to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication and hard work of our outstanding teachers at Windom Area Schools.

Our teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the lives of our students, inspiring them to learn, grow, and achieve their fullest potential. Their passion, commitment, and creativity enrich the learning experience for each and every student.

Our teachers come early and continue to work into the evening, our teachers go above and beyond to ensure that every student receives the support and guidance they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They create lesson plans, provide individualized attention, and serve as mentors and role models, leaving a lasting impact on our Windom Eagles.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, let us take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to our educators for their unwavering dedication, their tireless efforts, and their profound commitment to the success and well-being of our students. Whether it's a simple thank you, a heartfelt note, or a small token of appreciation, let's show our teachers how much they are valued and cherished.

To all of our incredible teachers at Windom Area Middle School, thank you for everything you do. I'm so very proud to work alongside remarkable teachers here at Windom Area Schools.

With a grateful heart,

Dane Nielsen

Windom Eagle Families,

We encourage all parents to actively engage with their student's academic journey through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. This valuable tool allows you to monitor your student’s progress and stay informed about their learning achievements. You can customize your preferences to receive updates via email or text—receive as many or as few notifications as you prefer.

To get started, simply log in at: Infinite Campus Parent Portal

Staying connected with your student’s academic life is crucial, and we highly recommend making regular check-ins a part of your routine. If you have any questions or need assistance accessing the portal, please do not hesitate to contact our office for support.

The busy month of May is here! So much culminates this month and we have much to celebrate. We have opportunities to support our students at Eagle Achievement presentations (April 30) or at the CEO trade show May 7, Awards Day May 16 and ultimately the graduation commencement ceremony on May 23. While we press on to graduation, remember we have a number of athletic events throughout May as well as a couple concerts graduation week. This is a very good busy time of the year!

Please watch Facebook for senior tributes being published daily. During our conversations we talk about the seniors' high school career as well as plans moving forward. One question I ask is "which staff members have been exceptionally helpful to you during your time at Windom Schools?" Of course students thinking in the here and now mention teachers they currently have, but we know there are dozens of educators over the course of the last 13 years that have had an enormous impact on all our students. Despite the individual being mentioned, the seniors usually name folks for the same reason - they show they care and help me. That's it - it is simple, but oh so important. Windom students are the luckiest students in the state! Every day for 13 years of school, staff shows up with one purpose - to help. It might be help with a math problem, or a question on an essay, or help with advice on future plans.

In addition to our teaching staff, our coaches and advisors formed another theme of acknowledgement. Our seniors are able to be very articulate about the benefits of involvement outside of academics. Life skills such as time management, accountability, teamwork, living for the current moment and being present were all themes highlighted as seniors recount the great memories with the coaches and advisors in their lives.

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5-9 - take a moment and reach out to an educator to let them know how much you appreciate the positive impact they have in life of your student. I want to wish a very heartfelt thanks to our teaching staff who day in and out show up and are driven by the purpose of helping students succeed.

Have a great closing month to the school year!

Bryan Joyce

High School Principal

All district residents should have received an informational brochure in the mail about the upcoming Arts and Athletic Facilities Improvement Vote on May 13, 2025. We encourage you to review the information. Voting can be done in the district office from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM through May 12.

Join Us for Upcoming Community Information Meetings:

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 5:00 p.m.
The Nest Lobby at Windom Middle and High School

Please learn more about the process, facility needs and proposed plan by visiting the informational project webpage on the district website. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work to provide the best for our students and community.

Windom MS & HS enjoys a positive attendance rate over 93%! This is outstanding, and a tribute to the amazing relationships our students build with our staff. We have witnessed amazing growth for many students and improvement in overall attendance and communication throughout the year and it has had a tremendous impact on academic performance, keep it up!

Reminder - if your student will be absent, please let our office know by calling 507-831-6910 or by emailing attendancemshs@isd177.com. We now have an office cell phone that you can text/call - the number for the office cell is 507-221-3511. All absences require a notice within 48 hours, at that point the absence becomes unexcused.

Email: bjoyce@isd177.com, dnielsen@isd177.com

Website: https://windomasdmn.sites.thrillshare.com/
Location: 1400 17th St. PO Box 177 Windom, MN 56101
Phone: (507) 831-6910, (507) 221-3511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WindomAreaSchoolDistrict/
X: @Windom_Eagles