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The Governor presented the State of the State Address this week. A significant portion of the speech was dedicated to education. Missourians place a high value on education. They realize that children can experience a better future by investing in their education. Communities can prosper by supporting their local school. New business will be attracted to communities due to a well educated work force. Missouri will be paid back well over 100% of every dollar invested in the education of children. Governor Nixon pledged support for increased funding in Missouri schools totaling in excess of 150 Million Dollars. While this sounds attractive it is a long ways from filling the $400 Million dollar hole that exists in K-12 education funding. The suggested breakdown is:
- $17 Million dedicated to early childhood education.
- $34 Million dedicated to higher education
- $100 Million dedicated to k-12 education.
We are a long ways from a final state budget normally passed in May. Many questions are being asked regarding equity of funds between districts across the state. I look forward to the continued conversations. On a second note, I would like to give a shout out to Nick Heatherly. Nick is the City Administrator for the City of Willard. The District and the City of Willard currently has an excellent relationship. We depend upon each other to support our community and ultimately our kids. I met with Nick this morning regarding a current project and as usual he was informative, supportive and helpful. Thanks again Nick for your efforts! Have a great weekend! Kent Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools |
Here at Willard, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes gives each coach a "Coach's Bible". I would like to share something from it. "During a recent NFL game, I watched as two future Hall of Fame coaches took the field. The announcers had previously spoken with a player who had played for both coaches. They asked him what the difference was in coaching styles. He said that one coached by fear, the other by love. When asked which he preferred, he shared that both can be effective, but that love lasts forever." Pretty cool.
Our Tigers have now won 5 out of their last 6 games after defeating Rogersville on Tuesday which runs their record to 12-6 on the season. Tonight they will take on COC foe Ozark. We will also be having our Hall of Fame induction ceremony at halftime of the varsity game. We will be inducting Flora Mitchell and Don Berry. It should be a great night so come out and support our Tigers! Also, next week they will travel to Webb City on Tuesday before hosting Carthage on Friday. Friday's game will be held at the middle school....that's right, we are going back to the old gym!
Congratulations to our wrestling Tigers as they finished 5th in the very tough COC tournament last weekend. A special congratulations to Cody White on winning a COC championship in the 160lb weight division! Next week we will be hosting the district tournament which will start on Friday at 5:30 and conclude on Saturday. The top 4 in each weight division will advance to the state tournament.
Jeff Staley
Activities Director |
It is busy at Willard High these days. Students are competing in a number of activities as well as preparing for EOC assessments. Counselors are in classrooms preparing students for pre-enrollment and providing information regarding courses for the 2013-14 school year. The February 9 ACT National Test Day is also approaching quickly for students. Next Tuesday, February 5, will mark the middle of the 3rd quarter!
I visited a classroom earlier in the week where students were working in groups, using technology, peer editing, and conferencing individually with the instructor. Students were engaged, on task, and learning in a very positive environment. With all the busyness surrounding us this time of year, I am reminded what great students and staff we have.
It is a GREAT time to be a Tiger!
Curt Graves
Principal |
If you haven't seen the interviews of our students and staff about Tiger Time please check it out on the district website under Academic Spotlight http://www.willardschools.net/. It has been exciting to see how this structure has helped improve student learning this year. We're also excited about the opportunity to make it even better next year!
There are a couple of ways students are giving back to other kids over the next few weeks. One way is through the FCAS collection of toothbrushes for children in Africa. Another way is by bringing in coins to benefit the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation. Our goal is to raise $1 per student which would equal $702 dollars.
Upcoming events:
King and Queen of Hearts Dance this Friday from 7-9pm
Mulan musical auditions February 7th and 8th
Tiger Tones tryouts February 4-6
Thanks for checking in with the Middle School! Stephanie WaltersAssistant Principal |
Parents,
Today advocates across the country will be "going red" for the 10th annual National Wear Red Day to stand in the fight against heart disease.This disease still kills more women than all cancers combined. Helping to raise awareness is as simple as putting on your favorite piece of red clothing to remind those in our school and in our community that heart disease is a fight no woman, or man, should have to fight alone. Students and staff at Willard North are wearing red today.
In the coming weeks, we will be participating in our Heart Challenge Obstacle Course in PE. This course teaches us the flow of blood in our body and how our blood picks up oxygen in the lungs and disperses it throughout our body. (oxygenated and deoxygenated blood) We will be learning the importance of exercise and cardiovascular activity and how this helps prevent heart disease and stroke. Please continue to encourage your children to make healthy choices! Angela Stevens Willard North Principal |
This week we celebrated our monthly Tiger Pride Assembly on Tuesday afternoon. Students received numerous awards for their hard work in their classrooms, lunchroom and specials. We also recognized two very special volunteers who come several times a month to help out with our lunch buddy program. Michelle Stallings and Pam Baumgardner volunteer at Willard South during their lunch break to mentor students. They work for Ferrell Duncan in Springfield. A BIG THANK YOU goes out to these two individuals and the Ferrell Duncan Clinic for their commitment to our students. We truly appreciate the time and effort they put forth each month to build a special relationship with students.
Don't miss out on these special activities next week!!!
- February 4th-8th--WCCF "Change a Life" District Fundraiser--send in your loose change to help students across our district.
- February 4th-14th--Student Council SMENCIL Sale from 8:15-8:40 in the front hallway ($1 per pencil)
- February 5th--HAT DAY (wear a hat and bring in a canned food item for our local food pantry)
Kara Crighton-Smith
Principal |
Willard East February Top 10 Things to be Thankful For:
10. Unusually warm weather for playing outside. 9. Parent volunteers. 8. Substitute teachers who brave all the germs to fill in for teachers. 7. School nurse to help during the flu season. 6. Custodians to keep the germs away. 5. Kleenex, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes. 4. Read-a-thon support (stay tuned for more info) 3. 4-day Holiday Feb. 15-18 2. Hard working TEACHERS! 1. And most of all the STUDENTS we serve!
Happy February!!!
Melinda Miller
Principal |
Central Elementary School
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While Mr. Medlin's away, the teachers will play....at inside recess that is! Even though we went from highs in the 70s to a single digits seemingly overnight, it hasn't slowed anyone down at Willard Central.
Mr. Medlin is away at the Florida Educational Technology Conference with other administrators learning more about supporting teachers and students in the classroom. Back here in chilly Missouri, we've been busy learning, too. This week we found out that a partnership between Willard Intermediate and Willard Central is paying off with a visit from the prolific children's author, Avi. Springfield-Greene County Library sponsored a contest for this author visit, and now we will be sending a dozen WC 4th graders over to the Intermediate School on April 2nd for this rare opportunity to meet Avi!
In other news, we're preparing for the upcoming weeks activities. McTeacher Night will be held on Monday, February 4th at the West Chestnut McDonalds to help raise money for our school. A WCCF fundraiser next week will also let our students make a donation to a great cause and allow them to participate in Hat Day on Wednesday, Feb. 6th. See your PTO newsletter for more details!
Natalie Roth Librarian
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Orchard Hills Elementary School
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This week has been an exciting one at Orchard Hills! On Wednesday we kicked off our Annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser at our Tiger Pride Assembly. We had the privilege of having Mr. Joe Pallikkathayil who is the American Heart Association youth and community programs director for the state of Missouri come and kick off our event.
Over the next two weeks our gym will be transformed into a human heart in which every Orchard Hills student will get to explore. Along with this amazing obstacle course, the students will raise money for the American Heart Association.
On Friday, Orchard will kick off American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day by encouraging our teachers and students to wear red!
I hope everyone has a great Super bowl weekend!
Coach Sweet |
February 1st marks the end of the first assessment period for our MAP-A students. Although most students aren't even thinking about the end of year state assessments, these students have been working daily to demonstrate proficiency on their targeted goals since the beginning of January. The next assessment period will be February 4, 2013 - March 1, 2013. We are proud of their work!
ABOUT MAP-A ASSESSMENTS
The MAP-Alternate (MAP-A) is a portfolio-based assessment that measures student performance based on alternate achievement standards. The MAP-A is aligned with Missouri's Show-Me Standards. The MAP-A assessment relies on the involvement of teachers to customize the assessment for each student. The MAP-Alternate (MAP-A) is designed only for students with significant cognitive disabilities who meet grade level and eligibility criteria.
Who takes the MAP-A Assessment?
The decision as to how a student with disabilities is chosen to be eligible for the MAP-A assessment is determined by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team using DESE-established criteria. If a student becomes eligible for the MAP-A assessment, they do not participate in the Grade-Level or End-of-Course assessments. Students must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the MAP-A assessment.
Communication Arts is assessed at grades 3-8 and 11.
Math is assessed at grades 3-8 and 10.
Science is assessed at grades 5, 8 and 11.
Caryn McDonnell
Director of Special Services |
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