The Learning Continues

By February, the school year has settled into a steady rhythm. Routines are established, expectations are clear, and the early energy of fall has shifted into the consistent work of learning. This is the time of year when growth becomes more visible, not always through dramatic breakthroughs, but through daily effort and gradual progress. Students are practicing skills more deeply and applying what they know in new ways. For some, progress shows up in noticeable leaps. For others, it builds quietly over time. Helping students recognize that growth, whether big or small, strengthens their confidence and reinforces that effort truly matters.

This part of the year is also a reminder that productive struggle is a healthy part of learning. When work feels challenging, it often means students are stretching and developing new skills. Specific feedback from teachers, steady encouragement at home, and strong relationships all play an important role in helping students persist. A simple conversation about what your child is learning or noticing improvement in their effort can make a meaningful difference. February is not about rushing ahead. It is about staying steady, supporting growth, and building habits that will carry students successfully through the rest of the year.

We have our VIP Dance next Friday from 6:30-8pm at the Central Building.

https://waseca.ce.eleyo.com/course/1383/winter-spring-2026/vip-dance

Floor Hockey sessions for ages 2-3, 4-6 and 7-12 starts next Tuesday and we still have spots available.

https://waseca.ce.eleyo.com/course/1404/winter-spring-2026/floor-hockey-tykes

https://waseca.ce.eleyo.com/course/1413/winter-spring-2026/floor-hockey-camp

Preschool Open House is next Monday from 5:30pm-6:30PM

Registration deadline for Guys and Doll at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is February 13th--this trip includes motorcoach transportation, lunch and admission to the show! Trip is Wednesday March 18th-Departure at 10am from Owatonna Target Parking lot, lunch is at 11:15am, show is at 1:00pm and return time is 4:30PM.

You can register here: https://waseca.ce.eleyo.com/course/1379/winter-spring-2026/guys-dolls-at-chanhassen-dinner-theatre

At Hartley, the work continues at a strong pace. Our students and staff are working extremely hard to meet, and exceed, the next level of benchmarks in both math and reading. The effort and determination we are seeing each day is impressive, and we are very much looking forward to sharing this progress with families during our March conferences.

In addition to academic growth, we continue to prioritize the social-emotional well-being of our students through our Character Strong SEL curriculum. January’s focus on empathy helped students build understanding and compassion for others. As we move into February, our character focus will shift to perseverance—encouraging students to keep going, even when things are feeling challenging.

We are also excited to be celebrating "I love to read month" with special reading events every Wednesday! Students are working hard to "Level Up and Read" so they can all be part of the special celebration at the end of the month!

We Celebrate All Our Waseca Intermediate School Family

We are having a fantastic year with our students and staff. The family of support has been evident for our students throughout the year. We look for continued support as we move past the halfway point of the school year. This constant support helps to ensure all of our students meet their academic goals and their sound work ethic continues until the last day of school. Please continue to encourage your student to engage in school work, stay involved in school, and work hard on a daily basis in class.

We have many unique learning opportunities during the last few months of school. Anything from field trips and school wide celebrations to morning walk and talk, morning clubs, and engaging curricular activities, Waseca Intermediate offers connection, belonging, and a variety of opportunities for students.

Our environment pushes students to attempt to reach the edge of their current understanding. We encourage students to push past their current comfort zones in learning to attain new skills and knowledge. In order to acquire the skills necessary, our school needs to recognize where that point of new knowledge is and provide a stable and supportive environment to reach their new levels of knowledge and skill.

If you get the chance, ask your student what they enjoy about coming to school. The academic voices of every student are amplified by allowing them to share their experience. We are proud of the students at WIS and know that every student makes our school the fantastic learning environment it is.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA’s) will begin with reading and math around April 13th and continue until early-May with science. Our 4th, 5th and 6th grade students will all take the math and reading tests. Our 5th grade students will take the science test as well. As always, please ensure your students are getting plenty of rest, eating well, and staying healthy. Encourage your students to give us their best effort as they show where they are currently at.

Waseca Public Schools does a tremendous job educating its youth with the support of our families. We are well-aware of how important your efforts are in helping all of our children reach their full potential. Thanks for your support of our educational community!

John Huttemier

Principal

Snow Week is winding down, and honestly it’s been a big win. The dodgeball tournament had 16 teams, and over 300 students showed up to the Snow Week dance 😄 Now we’re gearing up for testing season and heading toward the end of the second trimester. Winter activities are wrapping up too—it’s been a really successful year overall. We’re also almost done with registration for the 2026–27 school year, which feels wild to say already.

Geography Bee Winners

Huge congratulations to our Geography Bee winners! 🌍🐝 Your hard work, curiosity, and impressive knowledge of the world truly paid off. We’re so proud of everyone who participated and took on the challenge—what an awesome accomplishment. Way to represent and keep exploring the world one question at a time!

1st place - 8th grader Kolby Lindquist

2nd place - 8th grader Charles Galle

3rd place - 8th grader Shannon Sanchez

This winter season, we celebrate the dedication, teamwork, and school spirit shown by our student-athletes and activity participants. Whether competing on the court, the ice, the stage, or behind the scenes, our students continue to represent our school with pride, resilience, and heart. Their hard work—often balancing practices, performances, and academics—does not go unnoticed. Congratulations to all who made this winter one to remember!