Jackson joined more than 150 student musicians from across Iowa for a day of learning, rehearsing, and making music, culminating in a wonderful concert.
Honor band experiences are special opportunities for student musicians. They bring together talented students who work toward a shared performance that is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The music, preparation, and hard work come together for one moment in time. Once the final note is played, that particular performance can never be recreated or duplicated. It is a reminder of just how special live music can be.
Congratulations, Jackson, on a job well done! We are proud of you and appreciate the way you represent Central Lee!
Get a head start on your holiday shopping and join us Saturday, November 14th, from 9 AM–2 PM at Central Lee High School!
✨ Over 70 vendors!
🎁 Unique handmade gifts and holiday finds
🍔 Food trucks
🛍️ Shopping in BOTH gyms, the commons, AND outdoors!
Whether you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift, festive decorations, something special for yourself, or just a fun day of shopping, we've got you covered!
🎅 ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL YOUR HOLIDAY NEEDS!
Bring your friends, bring your family, and come support our Central Lee Art Club and all of our amazing vendors!
📍 Central Lee High School
📅 November 14
⏰ 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
We can't wait to see you there! 🖤💛
Central Lee FFA Labor Auction is tomorrow, November 12!
Join us tomorrow evening for our annual FFA Labor Auction at Central Lee High School!
Free Soup Supper: 5:30 PM
Auction Begins: 6:30 PM
Everyone is welcome to join us for dinner and an evening of supporting our Central Lee FFA members! All money raised through the labor auction goes directly back to student activities and opportunities throughout the year.
We greatly appreciate our community's continued support of our FFA chapter. We hope to see you all tomorrow evening! 💙💛
The jobs and opportunities that will define the next generation are being shaped right now by advances in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Our students are not just learning these subjects—they’re learning how to think, create, and problem solve in ways that will carry them far beyond the classroom!
One Week Until Show Time!
Just one week until our students take the stage for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! Join us November 14th and 15th on the CLHS Fine Arts Stage for this special production.
Our student actors, musicians, technical crews, stage design team, and many others have been working hard behind the scenes to bring this production to life.
One of the most special things about live theater is that no two performances are ever exactly alike. Each show is a unique experience that happens only once and can never truly be duplicated. Every performance is a moment to be shared, remembered, and celebrated.
Come support our students and experience the magic of live theater at Central Lee High School. We hope to see you there!
Celebrating the 4th Annual Central Lee Crossroads Honor Choir!
Central Lee High School was excited to host the 4th Annual Crossroads Honor Choir on Friday, October 30, 2026! More than 220 students in grades 5–8 from across the region came together for a full day of music, learning, and collaboration.
Students spent the day learning and rehearsing music, working on choreography, making new friends, and sharing their love of singing. We were fortunate to welcome two outstanding guest directors, Collette McClellen from Mid-Prairie High School and Bridget Owen from Tipton Middle School, who brought a wealth of experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the event.
We also want to recognize and thank the Central Lee High School instrumentalists who performed during the evening concert: Eliza Wagner, Greyson Garcia, Evon Merritt, Jackson Bowen, Micah Ashmore, Rylan Warner, and Trevin Ball.
Thank you for taking the time to learn and rehearse the music, giving up your Friday evening to be part of the performance, and serving as wonderful examples of the musicianship and dedication shared by Central Lee students. Your contributions helped make the concert a special experience for everyone involved!
Thank You to Our Participating Schools and Directors!
An event like Crossroads would not be possible without the dedication of the schools and directors who prepared their students and made the trip to Central Lee. We would like to extend a special thank-you to:
Danville Junior High School – Angela Kershner
Fort Madison Junior High School – Lisa Knipe
Cardinal Junior High School – John Calahan
Mid-Prairie Middle School – Luetta Ropp
Van Allen Elementary School – Alice Kenel
Wapello Jr/Sr High School – Jennifer Swope
Highland Junior High School – Allison Wright
Mt. Pleasant Middle School – Brooke Smith
Ft. Madison Elementary School – Chloe Bertschi and Annah Harting
WACO Junior High School – Mary Russell
Van Buren County Community School District – Robin Wendland
Central Lee Junior High School – Tracy Madsen
Central Lee Middle School – Heather Madsen
A Special Thank You to Our Behind-the-Scenes Crew!
A festival of this size takes a small army of people working behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly and keep transitions throughout the day as seamless as possible.
A huge thank-you to our custodial staff for preparing the gym and assisting throughout the day to make sure everything was ready for our students and guests.
We also want to extend a special thank-you to Amy Fogarty for preparing supper for all of the students attending the festival. Feeding and caring for more than 220 students is no small task, and we truly appreciate her time and generosity!
To everyone who helped organize, prepare, serve, coordinate, ran admissions and made the day happen, thank you. Your contributions are often behind the scenes, but they make an event like Crossroads possible!
Thank you to all of the participating schools, directors, students, and volunteers who helped make the day a success. We are proud to provide opportunities like Crossroads that bring students and music programs together from across our region.
220+ students, a day full of music, and countless new connections!
We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another year of the Central Lee Crossroads Honor Choir!
In case you missed it, last Friday, Aubree Bunnell and Drake Newton ran at the Iowa High School State Cross Country Meet in Fort Dodge. Bunnell placed 30th, running a time of 20:02.1, setting a new personal best and improving her school record. Newton placed 25th running a time of 16:58.8, tabbing himself as the fastest freshman in 2A.
This was an excellent way to cap off the Fall Sports seasons! Congratulations to Aubree and Drake! We are extremely proud of their hard work to earn this accomplishment.
Go Hawks!
Live Results of the Races:
Girls: https://results.wayzatatiming.com/meets/79752/events/xc/2938195
Boys: https://results.wayzatatiming.com/meets/79752/events/xc/2938191
Today we recognize National First Responders Day and the brave individuals who are so dedicated to keeping our community safe.
EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and law enforcement officers are there when people need help most. We’re grateful for all they do! 🚓🚒🚑
Get ready for the winter sports seasons by grabbing some apparel and gear from the online apparel stores at the below links. BSN provides numerous designs and options in each of the stores, so make sure to check them out.
The stores close November 2nd!
🏀 Girls and Boys Basketball: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/ykPSw8XsSC
🎳 Girls and Boys Bowling: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/hwLKuZkoDx
📣 Basketball Cheer: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/VZGBsEpNTh
🩰 Impulse Dance Team: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/WSUNNax3wt
Keep up to date with the latest performances, announcements, and happenings of the Activities Department.
Link: https://app.smore.com/n/e8zdn
Topics Included: Sports Nutrition, Fall Sports, Cross Country State, Impulse Dance, Athlete Spotlight, Announcements, Vacancies
Congratulations to Drake Newton and Aubree Bunnell on qualifying for the State Cross Country Meet! Drake placed 4th and Aubree placed 5th at the State Qualifying Meet, earning her second consecutive trip to state! Best of luck to both runners next week!
If you are interested in ordering a shirt to represent this great achievement, follow the link below and fill out the form for what you are wanting to order. Orders must be completed before October 25 in order for Elite Sports to get the order finished in time.
Shirt Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd13NBOOCgsDvBsH-QckwLH4QdzWshrrGRgCSRmtpcQNX4KmA/viewform
Quentin Solstad, freshmen at Central Lee High School, was recently selected for participation in the 40th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 3,000 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition. Guest conductors of the choirs include Joy Augustine, 5th/6th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; Ryan K. Riewerts, 7th/8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir; Jorie O’Leary, 7th/8th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; and Dr. Jeremy Manternach, 9th Grade Mixed Honor Choir. The 2026 Opus Honor Choirs will perform at 4:00 p.m. on November 19th at Stephens Auditorium in the Iowa State Center in Ames. The Opus Honor Choir Festival is made possible by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc.
In just a couple of hours, our Cross Country Teams will compete at the Class 2A Site 3 State Qualifying Meet in Iowa City. The top 3 teams at each site, as well as a minimum of 5 individuals will qualify for the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge next week. Our two teams have had strong seasons thus far, now it is time to cap it off with excellent effort and determination to achieve their goals.
Good luck, Hawks!
📍 Iowa City Kickers Park
🕥 4:00pm
🎟️ $5 per car