Our Willard Schools
The Pride
February 22, 2013

 
 
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District Office

It is comical how some individuals believe we make decisions regarding snow days. Some actually believe we simply rely on the local forecast, base our decision on what other districts do, or simply look out the window a few hours before school starts to see how deep the snow is! LOL! I only wish those individuals could follow me around for 48 hours prior to the decision.

 

Willard is blessed to have the National Weather Service located in our district and I have the cell number of the local staff. Two to three days prior to a significant predictable weather event I receive regular updates. The night before the event, and/or in the early morning hours, local superintendents participate in a conference. After the conference call several Willard employees drive district roads beginning at or before 4:00a.m. All individuals communicate and our goal is to make a decision by 5:30a.m. A reminder of the late start procedures were e-mailed to all parents on Wednesday. The "Late Start" option adjusts the start time of grades 7-12 to a 9:30a.m. start. The schedule for K-6 is unchanged. This option works well for many reasons:

 

  • HS students that drive to school are able to drive when it is fully daylight.
  • Local and state plows are able to clear roads more times prior to school starting.
  • Busses and students drive when rush hour traffic is already past.
  • Temperatures normally have risen a few degrees.
  • The Transportation Department is able to have more time to get busses started and warm.
  • Early morning rush hour traffic help to clear roads prior to busses and student traffic.

 

After dismissal there may be enough left for some good old fashioned sledding!

 

Have a great weekend!

Kent


Dr. Kent E. Medlin
Superintendent of Schools   
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Athletics & Activities

How do you think Spring sports is going to go next Monday? Forecast is for highs in the 40's and some rain/snow, yet Willard will have over 300 athletes, grades 7-12, starting their spring practices in three days. Let's wish them all good luck!

 

A huge congratulations to Conner Loderhose on his 6th place finish at the state wrestling tournament! This is quite an accomplishment and Conner is only a junior. Also, congratulations to Kaleb Crook, Thomas Massengale, Duane Faller, and Hunter Yeargan on an excellent showing at state.

 

Congratulations to our Tigerettes on finishing 2nd in the Hip-Hop division and 3rd in the Dance division in the Sugar Bears MSU Dance Invitational last Saturday. This qualifies the girls for the state meet this weekend in St. Louis. Good luck ladies!

 

The Lady Tigers and Tigers will begin their quest for the state tournament next week. All district games will be held at Parkview High School. The girls will open on Monday at 7:30pm vs. Neosho. The boys will begin on Tuesday at 7:30pm vs. Joplin. Both championship games will be on Thursday with the girls game starting at 6:00pm followed by the boys game at 7:30pm. Good Luck Tigers!

 

The Speech and Debate Team is rocking the end of the season! The last two weekends have been very exciting. Two weekends ago in Joplin several student went to semis including; Irish Amundson in OO, Hayden Onstott in HI, Greg Hamilton and Derby Davis in Duo, and in Story Telling Jake Brumfield and Emily Raney. Placing in finals were Mercer Martin 6th in Radio and 3rd in International Extemp. Cameron McMurtrey placed 4th in HI and placing first in Group Improv. was Greg Hamilton, Derby Davis, and Mrs.
Tobin! This last weekend we competed at MSU in the MSU/Glorida Deo tournament. We had 15 students in semi-finals and 8 went on to finals! In Semis Conor Wadle in US Extemp., Emily Raney in OO, Hayden Onstott in HI, Katelynn Wilson, Chenoa Schwenn, and Wyatt Gregory in Prose, and Chenoa Schwenn in Story Telling. Placing in finals; Mercer Martin 2nd in International Extemp., in HI Cameron McMurtrey 5th and Kayleigh Amstutz 4th, in Poetry Emily Raney 6th and Dusty Bacon 5th, in Radio Kienen Wilson 6th and Greg Hamilton 1st, and in Story Telling Kayleigh Amstutz 3rd. The whole team won 2nd place in overall Sweepstake Points! Wow Great
job!!!
 

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

 

Jeff Staley

Activities Director  

High School

We are saving lives today at WHS! FCCLA is hosting the 2nd Blood Drive of the school year in the auxiliary gym. The benefits are 3:1; for each blood donor, potentially 3 others benefit. Mrs. Hession, Mrs. Taylor, and Ms. Williams do a terrific job of organizing and hosting this event.

As we finish up the interdisciplinary unit for this year, a group of teachers and instructional coaches met with me Friday morning to discuss how to grow for next year. Our PLC steering committee will be gaining information in the coming weeks to promote the benefits of a similar unit and begin
calling for proposed topics. These interdisciplinary units are great team building activities for staff and students. The thematic unit develops great skills and conceptual knowledge beyond our traditional curriculum.

NJROTC students are in Alabama competing this week as well. They are at nationals for the shooting competition. The Tigerettes are competing in state competition on Saturday. Next Monday and Tuesday, WHS girls and boys basketball teams begin district play at Parkview. Due to the weather and travel conditions, speech and debate students are not traveling to Neosho this weekend. Good luck to all our student competitors!

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!


Curt Graves

School Principal
 

 

Middle School
The short week didn't stop our students from learning and fully participating in WMS activities! We all came back refreshed from the long weekend and were surprised with a bonus day on Thursday. Friday's short schedule had the students moving quickly through their classes but no time was wasted.

Track officially starts next Monday and some of the students got a head start on paperwork, fees and even a little practice. Girls softball tryouts begin on Monday.

Already looking toward next year, a cheer meeting is scheduled for Monday for those students interested in trying out for next year. Auditions for next year's Thespians are scheduled to begin on Wednesday after school. The end of third quarter seems right around the corner on March 8 and then Spring Break! Now, THAT, is something to look forward to!

Amy Sims
Principal
Intermediate School

WIS is excited to announce a very special event that will soon take place for our students. It was recently announced that our school is the winner of the Springfield-Greene County Library District "Big Read" contest.

 

Willard Intermediate's application was selected out of fourteen other area schools to win a visit from noted Newbery-winning author, Avi. An author of more than 70 books for young people, Avi's "Seer of Shadows" is the 2013 Big Read title for young readers.

 

On April 2nd Avi will visit with approximately 100 students from WIS and Central Elementary about his literary accomplishments and the story writing process. This is a super cool opportunity for our students to visit with an accomplished author!

 

Our Librarian, Ms. Staley, is currently running a contest that is open to all of our students to win a seat at this event and we encourage everyone to participate. Thank you to the Springfield-Greene County Library District for making this event possible!

Tom Davis
Principal
North Elementary School

Despite the snow day on Thursday, all students came to school today ready to learn and excited about the day. Willard North raised a collective $1500.00 for the Willard Chidren's Charitable Foundation! The winning class with the most contributions for the Penny War was Kindergarten. Congratulations Kindergarten, and thank you Willard North students for all your hard work!

 

This week we kick off our PTO fundraiser. Money raised will go to help with renovations and technology for our library. If you haven't been to the Willard North Library yet this year, we have made some updates and changes. It's very exciting.

 

Have a great weekend!


Angela Stevens
Principal 
 

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South Elementary School

The National Education Association annually sponsors Read Across America. Now in its sixteenth year, the program focuses on how important it is to motivate children to read, in addition to helping them master basic skills. The nationwide reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, community centers, and more participate by bringing together kids and books! Willard South Elementary will celebrate Read Across America week February 25th-March 1st. Below are the special activities we have planned for this celebration.

  • Monday, February 25th--Dress up like your favorite story book character!
  • Tuesday, February 26th--Grrrrrr....wear your TIGER GEAR and show your Willard Tiger Pride!
  • Wednesday, February 27th--Wear STRIPES from head to toe!
  • Thursday, February 28th--Snuggle up with Seuss-PJ day!
  • Friday, March 1st--Wear your crazy "Seussical" hat and/or socks!

Students also have the opportunity to win a book and storybook character stuffed animal. Students who participate each day in our Read Across America activities will have their name entered in the drawing. The office will draw the name of one student from each class to win the items at the end of the day on Friday, March 1st. So, have your child show their enthusiasm and love of reading by participating in these school wide Read Across America activities.

 

Kara Crighton-Smith

Principal  

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East Elementary School

Today we kick-off our Read-a-thon! For the next two weeks our students will be reading and collecting pledges to try to meet personal goals, class goals, and our school goal of $4,000. When we reach our goal we will rent a bounce house for the students for the day!

 

One added incentive will be that Coach J & Mr. Morton will wear Angry Bird costumes in the bounce house! Prizes included Barnes and Noble gift cards, Pizza parties, trophies and some small added incentives during the week

Our culminating activity will be a Family Reading Night Tuesday night March 5th with Backyard Burgers and activities for the whole family.

 

Melinda Miller

Principal 

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Central Elementary School

While the weather outside is frightful, school is warm and delightful. A special thank you to Mr. Rodney for having the sidewalks cleared and ready to welcome students in to school on Friday! We would also like to thank and applaud our bus drivers for keeping our kids safe and sound on the way to school. Here are some school activities as we look ahead to thawing out and the month of March.

 

February
25 - PTO Carnival Planning Meeting 5:30

 

March

4 - PTO Meeting 6:00 pm
4-8 - March Out Hunger Food Drive
8 - Early Dismissal 12:30
8 - End of 3rd Quarter
11-15 - Spring Break
26 - 1st Grade Concert 7:00 pm

 

Shane Medlin, Principal  


Orchard Hills Elementary School
 
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