The Weekly Update #4
October 6th, 2026
Dear Middle School Families,
As we begin the month of November, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support of our students and our school. The first quarter has been filled with learning, growth, new experiences, and many opportunities for our students to demonstrate what it means to be a Maquoketa Cardinal.
We especially want to extend a sincere thank you to all of the families who attended Parent/Teacher Conferences in October. We value the opportunity to connect with families, celebrate student successes, discuss areas for growth, and work together to support each student. Education is most successful when schools and families work as partners, and we appreciate the time and commitment you make to your child's education.
As the 1st Quarter has come to a close we want to Celebrate Positive Behavior at Our Middle School! 🎉We are excited to share some wonderful news about our students’ behavior during the first quarter! An incredible 97% of our students have had zero or one Major/Minor behavioral referrals since the start of the school year! This is a fantastic testament to the culture, respect, and responsibility our students bring to our hallways and classrooms every single day.
As we move into the second quarter, we encourage students to continue developing the leadership habits that help them become successful learners and positive members of our school community.
We encourage students to put the Leader in Me habits into action every day. Be Proactive by taking responsibility for their choices, coming prepared, and focusing on what they can control. Begin With the End in Mind by setting meaningful goals, making a plan to achieve them, and reflecting on the progress. Put First Things First by using class time wisely, completing assignments, and making choices that support their learning and growth.
Strong leadership also means building positive relationships. Think Win-Win by working through disagreements respectfully, considering others' needs, and finding solutions that help everyone succeed. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood by listening without interrupting, asking questions, showing empathy, and considering another person's point of view before responding.
These habits are more than words—they are daily actions. Whether in the classroom, at home, during extracurricular activities, or in our community, we challenge students to make intentional choices, build others up, and take ownership of becoming the best version of themselves. Leadership starts with the choices we make every day!
A Few Reminders for November:
Veterans Day Celebration: On Wednesday, November 11, Maquoketa Middle School will celebrate Veterans Day with a morning program in the middle school gymnasium. This will be a special opportunity for our students and staff to honor and recognize the brave men and women who have served our country.
Attendance Matters: Every day of learning is important. Please make every effort to have your student at school and ready to learn each day. Our school day begins at 8:05am.
Encourage Academic Responsibility: Students should regularly check assignments, grades, and missing work and communicate with teachers when they need assistance.
Support Positive Behavior: We appreciate families reinforcing our school expectations for being respectful, responsible, and ready to learn.
November is also a wonderful time to reflect on the many things for which we are grateful. At the middle school, we are grateful for our students, who bring energy and personality to our building each day; our dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to support student learning; and our families, who partner with us in helping students thrive.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being an important part of our school community. When students, families, and staff work together and communicate openly, we create an environment where every student has the opportunity to grow, lead, and succeed.
We are proud of our students and look forward to all they will accomplish during the second quarter. Together, let's continue to make Maquoketa Middle School a place where every student feels supported, challenged, and inspired to be their best.
Go Cardinals!
With Appreciation,
Rachel Truelsen and Sara Nelson
Middle School Administration
8th Grade Literacy
Celebrating Our Young Writers! ✍️🇺🇸
Our 8th-grade students are putting their writing skills to work in Mrs. Ferguson’s and Mr. Fuss’s Literacy classes as they prepare essays for the VFW Patriot Pen Essay Contest. The essays will be submitted to the Maquoketa VFW, and the top three students will be selected to compete at the state level. We hope to see Maquoketa MS represented in the top three and recognized during our Veterans Day assembly. We are proud of our Cardinals for developing their writing skills while reflecting on the meaning of patriotism. Keep up the great work, young writers!
Celebrating Students and Staff Through Shoutouts
We love taking time to recognize the students and staff who make our middle school a great place to learn and grow! Our Student and Staff Shoutouts celebrate those who are Being Proactive, Putting First Things First, Thinking Win-Win, and showing leadership in their everyday actions.
Whether it’s a student demonstrating perseverance, a staff member going above and beyond, or someone making a positive difference for others, these shoutouts remind us that everyone can be a leader. Student shoutouts will be proudly displayed on the student’s locker as a special way to celebrate and recognize their positive contributions to our school community. We are proud to celebrate the small actions and big accomplishments that help make our Cardinal community stronger!
Keep leading, Cardinals!
Learning Life-Saving Skills in Physical Education!
7/8 grade students are learning valuable, real-world skills in Physical Education as they practice CPR! Through hands-on learning, students are developing the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency and potentially save a life. These lessons go beyond the gym, empowering our Cardinals with skills they can carry with them for a lifetime. ❤️
Creating and Building in Intro to Engineering! 🛠️
As we approached the end of the first quarter, 7/8 grade students in Intro to Engineering 1 and 2 put the finishing touches on their projects! Students worked hard to design and build a variety of creations, including wavy wooden cutting boards, paper towel holders, and string art projects. These hands-on experiences allow our Cardinals to develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and craftsmanship. We look forward to seeing their completed projects—great work, Cardinals!
5/6 Graders Cheer on the Quad Cities Storm
MS 5th and 6th grade students had an exciting opportunity to attend a Quad Cities Storm hockey game! This fun experience allowed students to build connections with their classmates, enjoy the excitement of hockey, and represent Maquoketa Middle School outside of the classroom.
Throughout the trip, students had opportunities to demonstrate their leadership skills by following directions, making responsible choices, showing respect for others, and being positive representatives of our school. They practiced being proactive, working together, and putting their best foot forward in a new environment.
We are proud of our students for showing what it means to be a Cardinal! Experiences like these remind us that leadership happens everywhere—not just in the classroom!
iJAG Students Make a Difference at Camp Courageous
Our Middle School iJAG students recently took a field trip to Camp Courageous in Monticello, IA to help prepare for the annual Camp Courageous Public Haunted Trail and Dance, a Halloween-themed community event. Students assisted with setting up equipment and getting the event ready for the community to enjoy.
This experience provided meaningful opportunities for students to practice leadership, teamwork, and service to others. By working together, taking initiative, and contributing to a community event, students put their Leader in Me skills into action. Habits such as Be Proactive, Think Win-Win, and Synergize were on display as students worked toward a shared goal. We are proud of our iJAG students for representing Maquoketa Middle School and showing how small acts of service can make a big difference!
JOI Club Spreads Kindness in the Community!
Our Middle School JOI (Junior Optimist International) Club continues to make a positive impact in our community! In October, JOI members volunteered their time to pass out candy during the Trunk or Treat event at Jackson Ridge Nursing Home. Through their willingness to serve others, our students demonstrated what it means to, Synergize, and Put First Things First. We are proud of these students for taking the initiative to spread kindness, build relationships, and make a difference in the lives of others. This was a joint effort with iJAG students. Participants include; Aubri Brundage, CJ Casel, Bella Thompson, Angel Collister, Mia Shearer, Josie Kuhle, Brooklyn Leslein, and Piper Delagardelle.
Way to go, Cardinals!