Eagle Eye - November 2025

Our Middle School Pie Sale is officially underway! From now until November 9th, families can order delicious Baker’s Square pies to enjoy over the holidays. Support our middle school enrichment programs and student activities at the same time.

Pie Pickup:

The Nest/Blue Gym Lobby
Tuesday, November 25th | 3:30–8:00 PM

This year, all sales are online only. Simply scan the QR code on the flyer or visit www.vancoevents.com/us/DHVP to place your order.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping make this a sweet success for Windom Middle School!

At Windom Middle School, attendance matters. Regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success. When students miss school, even for excused reasons, it becomes more challenging for them to stay caught up and connected to their learning.

We understand that absences happen due to illness, family emergencies, or appointments. What’s most important is that parents contact the school each time their child is absent. Please call the middle school office at 507-831-6910 ext. 300 or email attendancemshs@isd177.com by 10:00 a.m. the day of the absence (or within 48 hours).

It’s also important for families to know that, as principal, I am (Mr. Nielsen) required by state law to send attendance notification letters even when parents have communicated about absences. These letters help us document attendance carefully and keep families informed as we monitor each student’s time in school.

Consistent attendance and clear communication between home and school help every student thrive, academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for working with us to ensure your child’s success through regular attendance!

Our middle school students are truly a great group of young people. They bring energy, creativity, and kindness to our school every day. At the same time, middle school is a time of learning and growing, and sometimes that means mistakes happen. When they do, we hold students accountable and help them learn from those moments so they can make better choices next time.

I want to be clear that while we value every student, I can’t allow and our teachers shouldn't have to deal with behaviors that disrupt the learning of others. Every student deserves a focused, safe, and positive learning environment.

Parents, please take a few minutes each evening to ask your student about their day. What went well, what was challenging, and whether they are making choices that lead to positive attention or negative attention. Together, we can help our students learn responsibility, respect, and the power of making good decisions.

Thank you,

Mr. Nielsen

We have completed the first quarter of the school year, and it was fantastic. Our school days are full of academic achievement, support and opportunities for students to grow as human beings. Our evenings have been full of entertaining events to show our Eagle Pride at Football, Volleyball, Soccer & Cross Country. Additionally, our FFA teams and Trap teams have had an outstanding start to the year. The high school experience has been on full display as our students have the opportunity to either compete in some of the best events our area has to offer, or be in attendance in the crowd supporting the Eagles. As our Eagles compete in postseason play, thanks for the support that our community provides to our amazing student-athletes!

November is one of my favorite months for 2 reasons: our annual Veteran's Day program and the Thanksgiving holiday. The Windom community has had a tremendous loss very recently with the passing of Babe Crowell. Babe served our school for many years and served proudly in the American Legion Post 206. Babe was a tremendous supporter of our students and his love of country permeates throughout our Veteran's Day Program. I know Babe will be looking down proudly as our student come together with our community to honor all veterans at our Veteran's Day Program on Tuesday, November 11 at 9:30 in the Nest. Thanksgiving ends the month of November and provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on what we are thankful for. I am thankful for our awesome staff at Windom Schools who show up everyday to help students find success. In school we are in the people business. Sometimes it is messy - that means we are growing. Take a moment to thank a staff member for their presence in the life of your student.

I want to close with a segway to the video below. I have included a 2 minute video showcasing Simon Sinek regarding consistency. So often we look for the "quick fix" or the easy way through something. True growth cannot be seen one day to the next, but only through consistency over the course of weeks and months. Staying the course of progress is often difficult as our society champions easy, quick, new, etc. It is hard to be consistent - but it is also the best path forward to true growth and achievement. Whether a student is taking a challenging course, an athlete is struggling through a hard season, or someone is working through a difficult peer relationship, showing up and doing the work everyday is the only way to make gains over the course of time. If your grade is not what you want it to be? Show up and do the work. Friends not being nice? Show up and do the work. Not getting enough playing time? Show up and do the work. Disagreements with coaches or teachers? Show up and do the work. The world is run by those who show up, and those who consistently bring effort and positivity will win the day in the long run. We are half way through semester one - continue to progress forward by showing up, everyday, and doing the work. Our staff is with you and will help you build the habits of consistency that will serve you so well into adulthood.

Here's to a thankful, prideful, patriotic and consistent month of November,

Bryan Joyce

High School Principal

We don't always get things right the first time, and often times we have to ask for help. Our students have the opportunity for help outside of school hours everyday at Windom Schools. Every one of our teachers makes time to meet with students before/after school and we offer Eagle Elevation hour M, Tu, Th & F 3:30-4:15 as well as Study Table every W. Please encourage your student to reach out for help when needed and if not currently getting the results they hope for, speak to a teacher or any other staff member about looking at the current approach. Let's celebrate process over product and the efforts to grow that will lead to future success for students.

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