|
|
We've updated our look & added friends!
As a parent, staff member or fan of Willard Schools we hope you'll enjoy reading about school happenings each week. In addition to the new look we've included a few new features as well.
* Easy Sharing
Just use the buttons at the bottom to send this issue to friends & family or post on social media.
* Manage Subscription
Use the link at the bottom to change your subscription. If you'd rather not receive The Pride or would like it sent to a different email address simply make the changes to your subscription.
* Connect with Your School
Each school's news section has a link to their website and Facebook page so you can get connected and stay informed.
* Quick Sign Up
The Join Our Mailing List box above let's anyone sign up instantly to receive their own copy of The Pride.
|
|
|
|
I thought we would have some relief from politics after the election. Unfortunately the country went straight from the election to the "Fiscal Cliff". I sometimes wonder if politicians really understand that the regular "world" outside of Washington is waiting for them to simply do their job??
I think the solution is very simple. Invite all members of the House to attend a meeting and clearly explain that those in attendance will stay until a decision is reached. The National Guard should be posted at the exits. Food and drink is provided with escorted trips to the restroom. My guess is we would have a decision in 3-4 days. Public Schools are one of the organizations waiting for their answer. Programs such as Special Education, Title Reading / Math, and the Free Lunch program hang in the balance of this decision. I am not blaming either party, I am simply asking them to do their job.
Willard spends approximately $2000 per student less than the Missouri State average. Missouri spends approximately $2000 per student less than the national average. If Willard spent the national average per student it would result in an additional $17 million dollars needed for the district. This would be an increase of 65% in funds. I am willing to put the Willard district side by side with any other public school and believe we would compare favorably with the vast majority.
Clearly, money is not always the answer. I don't pretend to know the answers for our country or I would run for election, however, I bet some good old Missouri common sense and a couple units from the National Guard blocking the doors would find a solution for the "Fiscal Cliff".
Have a great weekend!
Kent
Dr. Kent Medlin
Superintendent |
I'm just going to jump right in and start thanking people for an unbelievable Four-State basketball tournament. Without them it would not be possible: Thank you to CoxHealth, Freedom Bank, Commerce Bank, and Willard Care Center for sponsoring the tournament; Terri Hession and Jolene Welsh (hospitality room); Freedom Bank, Julie Kudrna, Jarvis Family Eye Care, Chet Cornelison, and Commerce Bank for serving as hosts; Freedom Bank, Greene Hills Country Club, and Kristina Keith for working the gates; Amanda McGee and Kelly Staley for working the players hospitality room, LaQuinta Inn for being such gracious hosts of the teams; and to Julie Hartley for being the glue that held everything together! I would also like to thank all of our coaches and players for demonstrating what it means to be a Tiger!
The Lady Tigers are 3-3 overall right now after going 1-2 in the Four-State. Congratulations to Amber Percival for making the All-Tournament team! They then defeated Stockton last night. Next week they will travel to Central on Thursday. Also, the Pink and White seeds will come out next week.
The wrestling Tigers are off to a 4-0 start as they defeated Marshfield, Camdenton, Rolla, and Kickapoo this week! They will look to continue their success this Saturday as they will compete in the Carl Junction Tournament. A special congratulations to Cody White on being named "Athlete of the Week" by the media! Next week they will be away as they wrestle Nixa and Reeds Spring on Tuesday and Central and Republic on Wednesday.
The Tigers will look to get back on track after losing to Parkview on Tuesday as they travel to Lebanon tonight. They are currently 3-2 on the young season as they went 2-1 in the Four-State. A special congratulations to Kolbe Kinghorn, Damon Wester, and Chris Kendrix for making the All-Tournament team! Next week they will be on the road as they travel to Marshfield on Friday.
Last weekend was super exciting for the Speech and Debate Team at the Monett Tournament. Robert Mitchell and Coner Wadle went to semi-finals in Extemporaneous Speaking and Conor and Cooper Dunn went in Duo Interpretation. Making it to finals and placing 6th in Duo Interp. was Wyatt Gregory and Jeremiah Puckett while Greg Hamilton and Derby Davis placed 2nd. We had four students in Humorous Interp. finals placing in the following order: Matthew Walters 6th, Derby Davis 5th, Cameron McMurtrey 3rd and Kayleigh Amstutz 2nd. Placing first was Dusty Bacon in Prose/Poetry and Greg Hamilton in Dramatic Interp. In Debate we also had a lot of success with Greg Hamilton placing 4th in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Caleb McMurtrey and Matthew Walters 3rd in Novice Public Forum Debate, and Dusty Bacon and Mercer Martin placed 2nd in Varsity Public Forum. The team won third place in Sweepstakes points and Mrs. Tobin won the Priscilla Bradford Coaching Award. What a great honor for our team!
It's Good To Be A Tiger!
Jeff Staley
Activities Director |
Saturday is a National ACT Test Date which WHS hosts. Several of our students will be participating. For more information please contact our guidance office. Next week we start EOC testing in Government. Additionally, classes are wrapping up final units of the semester and beginningthe prep work towards the final exams. If you have any questions regarding finals, information regarding 1st semester finals can be found on the high school web page.
On a final, complimentary note, Steve Siebold's 164th mental toughness secret states "Champions Do What's Right". I have been reminded of this by our students this week as they have exhibited characteristics of champions. I am personally proud of our student section's spirit and sportsmanship at activities. The character and dignity that our performers have shown has been exceptional both in victory and defeat. Within the hallways, students have looked out for each other and shown great respect. WHS students are champions by doing what is right.
It is truly great to be a TIGER!
Thank you for making Willard High School the premier high school in the Ozarks!
Curt Graves Principal
|
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe will be a sight to see!! Stop by Friday or Saturday at 7pm to watch the wonderful production! You will not be disappointed!
Planning for high school and beyond has been the focus for 8th graders during a week long Career Unit through Social Studies classes since Thanksgiving. Scheduling for high school will be at the end of January. Students should be getting some ideas about the classes they may want to take in high school and what they may want to do after high school.
The next Girls Night Out for middle school girls and their adult female guest will be next Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Therewill be refreshments, crafts, and animal guests. Young ladies who wish to attend need to sign up in the Counseling Center.
Amy Sims
Principal |
Willard North had their first Party With Principal last Friday Night. We had around 60 students show up for the event. Students ate dinner with the principal as well as played games and made crafts in the evening. We ended the night with shopping at the Santa Shop and a movie for all. Thank you to all the students who came and especially the teachers who chose to be a part of the night. Friday night at 6:30 we will be performing our 4th grade Music Program in the High School Theater. Students will be performing "A Gingerbread Christmas" for parents and guest. If you would like to see a great holiday performance that is free, come out and join us Friday at 6:30. Have a great weekend!
Angela Stevens
Principal |
Tuesday evening, we celebrated our annual Willard South Make-It Take-It night. Each and every year our family participation continues to grow. This year we continued this tradition by packing every square inch of our cafeteria. This family event was started over 10 years ago by our Family and Community Team Cadre. I would like to thank all of the teachers, staff members, parents and students who helped make this a memorable evening. Everyone enjoyed decorating cookies, making ornaments and listening to our talented After School Actors perform the bells. It was a great start to the upcoming busy holiday season.
The first Tuesday of every month students and staff members participate in our Hats on for Community Service activity. Everyone who participates, by wearing a hat to school, donates a canned food item for our local food pantry. In addition to collecting the food, our Student Council representatives collect the food outside each classroom, sort the cans and write the expiration date on the top. This helps our volunteers at the Willard Food Pantry organize the donations for our patrons. I am proud to announce that so far this year we have collected over 25 boxes of food! This is one quick and easy way for our students and teachers to continue helping our local families.
Kara Crighton-Smith
Principal |
This week our Student Council learned about "random acts of kindness." The students were given a secret mission to complete 7 random acts of kindness in 7 days. The students will be keeping track of the things they do and reporting back to our group. You would not believe the excitement in the room! Kids can sometimes get a bad "wrap" this time of year for being greedy and/or only thinking of what they can GET for the holidays. These students are going to practice what they can GIVE. It is a very powerful lesson and no child is to young to learn the joys of giving! Why don't you join us? How many random acts of kindness can you carry out in 7 days?
Melinda Miller
Principal |
Central Elementary School
|
Willard Central Elementary is enjoying a busy December. We gathered for our Family Reading Night with our All-School Book Club on Thursday evening. A full house celebrated the reading of our book together with our own "Talent-palooza". Students shared their unique abilities/talents while celebrating the love of reading together. On Tuesday, Dec. 11th, our 4th grade students will share their Christmas Music Program. They have been hard at work rehearsing for the big day and we are in for a holiday treat. We hope you can join us for their performance at 7:00.
You can find out more about the exciting things happening at Willard Central by visiting our school's blog at http://willardcentralparents.wordpress.com/ .
Shane Medlin
Principal |
Orchard Hills Elementary School
|
The district has been very busy this week with Common Assessment training. Representatives from elementary grade levels have been working to align our district curriculum to the Common Core Standards. We have worked on both Mathematics and English Language Arts. The work these teachers are doing is very appreciated!
I need to correct a mistake I made in the Pride last week. Our 4th grade program, How the Penguins Saved Christmas, is Thursday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m. We hope to see you there.
Dr. Rhonda Bishop
Principal |
Vision for Early Childhood Special Education in Missouri
Families, staff, and the community will work together to effectively meet the individual needs of young children with disabilities through a variety of early childhood special education services. These services will be family focused, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, community sensitive, and cost effective. Multiple resources will be used to enhance each child's future by assuring that trained staff and equitable early childhood special education services are available to children and families across the state.
Recently, I have been able to observe a few of our littlest tigers in our early childhood special education (ECSE) classes. I can see the impact that this programming is having on them as they prepare to enter school. Currently, we have 45 students, ages 3-5, enrolled at Willard. I am proud to say that our ECSE programs are addressing all the criteria mentioned above in the vision statement created by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). A balance of concepts including personal care, behavior and social skills, academic learning, communication, gross/fine motor skills and more are addressed for each of our students. These skills are vital to the overall success of a student as they enter school. Without a doubt, our students with special needs benefit greatly from the efforts of teachers, therapists, parents and staff who work with them each day. THANK YOU to all who serve our littlest tigers. They are tomorrow's future!
Caryn McDonnell
Director of Special Services |
|
|