On Monday May 13th students and staff from the Middle School participated in their give back day to the community. The students and staff went to 36 different sites around the community to help with projects. They spent the morning painting, weeding, planting, mulching, and cleaning at the various sites.

We had a ton of support from the community to make the day possible. Whether it was donations of money, food, supplies or helping chaperone that day, we couldn’t have done it without you.

We would like to thank the following businesses and individuals for supporting the Middle School Orange & Black Give Back day: Mahaska Bottling, West Liberty foods in Mt. Pleasant, the Washington Lions Club, Hills Bank & Trust, CBI Bank & Trust, Latta Harris LLP, Washington PIE group, Wal Mart, Hy Vee, Michelle Bartholomew, Tricia Kroll, Dana Mc Dole, Katie Lujan, Hanna Marner, Kelly Smith, Mike & Susan Van Osdol, Dana Patterson, Tasha Hesseltine, Rhiannon Long, Melanie Rothe, Rachel Berdo, Pamela Vongpanya, Jon & Jessica Read, Nathan Fishback, Mike & Marcy Murphy, Nicole Kitchen, Heather Greiner, Stacey Chenoweth, Janet Conrad, Tammy LaBelle, Amy Kleese, Russ Vander Pol, Robin Rees, Julie Evans, Nick Morrison, Randi Dale, Nicole Stoutner.

The Washington MS 7th/8th grade Band earned a Division I rating at SEIBA Large Group contest at CCA on April 17th. Their scores were 33, 33 and 32 out of a possible 35 points. A I+ rating cutoff is a 34. It was the 10th year in a row the band has received a I or I+ rating at SEIBA Large Group. Their selections included Colonel Bogey March, Salvation is Created, and March Diabolique. After the band's performance, two of the three judges came up and did a clinic with the band. Director, Craig McClenahan, had challenged the band before this contest to get the judges to compliment them on dynamics. He offered the band a pizza party if they could get at least one judge to specifically compliment them on their dynamic contrasts. The first clinician complimented them on their nice dynamics within the first two minutes of his clinic which gave way to a small, but enthusiastic celebration by the band members. The band will be performing next at the Pella Tulip Time Parade on Friday, May 3rd.