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The Pride
August 23, 2013

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Welcome to THE PRIDE
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. 
 
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Willard Parks
Fall Volleyball and Soccer
Registration Deadline

Saturday, August 24th. The Recreation Center is open 8:00am to 5:00pm

 

Doggie Dive @ The WAC

Saturday, September 7th 12:00pm-3:00pm

 

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https://www.facebook.com/WillardParksAndRec

District Office
Welcome to the Grind!!!!!
  
Each year the Willard staff comes together as a group on two different occasions. At the start of the year and at the end of the year. This year my message to the staff was entitled, "Welcome to the Grind!" (Wow Dr. Medlin that is pretty motivating. How long did it take you to think up that title??)
  
I have always felt bad for people that hate their job. I don't care how much their salary is if they dread their job day in and day out. It is simply not worth the money. If a teacher or administrator has begun to look upon their building or classroom as a "grind" they should pack up and do something else that will make them happy. However, just because those of us that love our job don't view the day as a "grind" doesn't mean that it is easy.
  
For the last eleven years I have spoken to teachers at Willard and encouraged them to hang on while we work through this difficult new improvement plan or teaching initiative. I can hear myself in the past saying "In two years we will be over the hump and the hard work will be complete". This year I stepped back and realized that I had probably been lying to them all these many years. Therefore I tried my best in a humble way to share with all teachers that it is not going to get easier. The work is hard but it is valuable. Change is difficult but it is necessary for improvement. The future is unclear however I believe there is a path forward and we must find it.
  
Teaching is not for everyone, it is not easy, and it is not lucrative, but it has a great reward in the end! I love it!
  
Welcome to the Grind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend!
  
Dr. Kent Medlin,
Superintendent   
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Athletics & Activities
Most of you have heard of "Shark Week", well this is "Jamboree Week" for the Tigers.
  
Softball is jamboreeing (Is that a word?) at Monett tonight starting at 5:00pm
 
Soccer is jamboreeing (yes, I'm sticking with it!) at Kickapoo starting at 6:00pm. and football is jamboreeing at Parkview at 7:00pm.
  
The volleytigers will be jamboreeing at Willard next Tuesday starting at 5:30pm vs. Mtn. Grove and Reeds Spring.
  
Next week the softball Tigers will host Hillcrest on Wednesday and will travel to Kickapoo on Thursday.
  
The football Tigers will open their season on the road as they travel to Marshfield on Friday.
  
Cross Country and Golf will not start their seasons until the following week.
  
Be sure to catch all of the updates and results as Willard Athletics is now on Twitter and Facebook. Can't believe I just said that!

It's Good To Be A Tiger!
  
Jeff Staley
Director of Athletics/Activities   
High School

What a great Meet the Teacher turnout on Thursday evening!Our new freshmen counselor, Mr. Burns, expressed to parents that they should feel welcome in our building.I want to extend that sentiment.Please feel free to visit.Communication is a vital component to a successful school year.If you were unable to attend the Meet the Teacher event, all the presentations from counselors can be found on the WHS website for review.

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves

Prncipal 

Middle School
  

WOW, what a start to the year!! The students have hit the road running! Core classes have been working the first pre-assessment and pushing forward with the first unit of study. Encore classes have started off with exciting new projects that have engaged students from the start.

 

Next week will be the beginning of our Tiger Time. There are some exciting changes that are taking place this year in Tiger Time. iTime will be working on differentiating instruction for students in order to meet their needs. eTime will be working on project based learning, with the first project based around Tiger Pride. The students will be working on 21st Century Standards in eTime as they develop authentic projects (http://p21.org/overview/skills-framework).

 

Last but definitely not least, 1:1 technology initiative. Students have went through a 1:1 technology bootcamp for 4 days. They have learned things like: how to transport their device correctly, how to put your device to sleep/hibernate, and how to login to My Big Campus. The students are eager to get the laptops and excited for the possibilities. We have 590 students that have leased a laptop and 72 students that will be utilizing the netbooks. We are excited about the opportunities this will provide our students. The technology department has been working overtime to get all the laptops ready for students. We planned on issuing the devices by Friday but are short by 80 laptops. They should be rolling these out to all students by the beginning of next week. Thank you for your patience as we work through this process.

 

"Student Focused, Strongly Connected, Success Driven"
We are proud to be the WMS Tigers!

 

Amy Sims and Stephanie Walters

Principal and Assistant Principal  

Intermediate School
Physical Fitness Monday

Monday was a very special day at WIS! Every student in the building spent 50 minutes in our main gym listening to a brief explanation of the how and why of our new fitness program followed by the opportunity to get their heart rates up with some of our new equipment. From the red faces and excitement I saw on our students as they came out of the gym I think it is safe to say that the time was both fun and purposeful! This success is due in large part to Coach Highfill and our other special class teachers. Students will begin their first round of fitness assessments next week which will help guide the development of our ability groups. Monday's are going to be a great day at WIS this year!

Here are a few dates to make sure you have on your radar:

-Wednesday 8/28 is Picture day
-Thursday 8/29 is our Tiger Savings Card kick-off assembly
-No school Monday 9/2 for Labor Day
-Thursday 9/5 is our first ever parent information night from 6:30-8:00
  
Tom Davis
Principal 
North Elementary School
  

We have had a great first week of school at Willard North Elementary. This year we are "HAPPY" - Having A Positive and Productive Year. This theme leads to new and exciting things at Willard North. This year our fourth grades are one-to-one chrome books. This allows for great education expansion in the area of technology. We are also currently continuing our plans to convert our library into a learning commons with different media centers.

 

At Meet the Teacher night it was great to see returning students as well as new students starting at Willard North. Information was sent home on Standards Based Grading (SBG) with each parent. I would encourage you to read the current material you received. We will continue to send out information on SBG as we approach the first quarter grading period.

 

Again, we are excited and anticipate a HAPPY year filled with lots of learning!

 

Angea Stevens

Principal

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South Elementary School
 

It has been a full week of learning at Willard South! Students are learning about our school wide behavior expectations. This consistent routine helps to ensure students are learning and safe. We follow our ROAR expectations...Respect each other, Observe Safety, Attitude is everything and Responsible for your choices. This is our fourth year to implement these procedures and the results are paying off for our entire building!

 

I would also like to thank all of the amazing teachers here at Willard South. They are doing an amazing job at starting the school year off on the right foot. They work extremely hard to ensure students are learning both academically and socially. I have walked through classrooms and been amazed at the progress, focus and dedication of both teachers and students. I am confident that we will have another productive year due to their countless hours of preparation, dedication and commitment. THANKS again for all you do to ensure students are learning!

 

Student Focused|Strongly Connected|Success Driven

Kara Crighton-Smith

Principal 

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East Elementary School

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Central Elementary School
  

Students got in to the swing of learning during this first full week of school. From Kindergarten students diving in to good books and writing their own stories to 4th grade teachers and students embarking on the use of Chromebooks for learning, students are showing they are Wild About Learning.

 

We will have Parent Orientation next week on Thursday, August 29th, to discuss classroom expectations, learning standards and routines. Classroom teachers will be offering 2 sessions and Mrs. Jones and I will be offering 2 sessions to discuss Standards-Based Grading and our district's assessment platform, MasteryConnect.
 

6:00-6:25 Session 1-Classroom Orientation

6:30-6:55Session 2-Classroom Orientation OR SBG/MasteryConnect

7:00-7:25 Session 3-SBG/MasteryConnect

 

 

We hope you can join us for this evening to partner together to support student learning.

 

Shane Medlin

Principal 


Orchard Hills Elementary School

Willard Orchard HIlls is up and running for the 2013-2014 school year. This year we celebrate our 5th school year. Our first kindergarten class are now fourth graders! Its hard to believe so much time has passed.

 

We would like to welcome our new faculty and staff to WOHE this year. Mrs. Mary Blackburn teaches fourth grade, Mrs Autumn Farmer and Miss Devin Bowen are new to the second grade team, Mrs. Dana Mead new to our building for reading and Mrs Janet Fortney is new to our building in special services. We also welcome Miss Heidi in the cafeteria and Mrs. Plummer in special services.

 

In addition to new staff, we welcome over 50 new students and families to our WOHE family! We are so excited about the upcoming year!

 

Rhonda Bishop

Principal 

 
Special Services
 

The first full week of school was a success! Students are working hard to develop routines and procedures that will carry them through to the end of the school year. Teachers have done a fantastic job helping students to feel comfortable with their new surroundings, new faces and new schedules. As I visited several special education classrooms over the last few days, I saw students smiling and enjoying the process of learning. No matter what the subject or topic, learning should be enjoyable! I appreciate our teachers providing excellent instruction, but also the effort they make that creates a positive climate for their learners. As a parent of two children in this district and as a Willard employee, there's a piece of mind that comes with knowing that when your child goes to school, they are happy and safe. I am confident with these things in place, student learning can be maximized and growth can occur.

 

Have a great weekend!

Caryn McDonnell

Director of Special Services

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
The first full week of school has been filled with exciting new changes in curriculum and learning activities district-wide. In elementary classrooms, teachers have teamed to provide new learning environments, implemented new strategies to provide mathematics support, and have gathered a first writing sample from our budding authors. In the middle grades, new programs are being implemented to support technology initiatives and brain-healthy learning. The high school has added to its repertoire of virtual and blended learning environments. I am not sure who is more excited to be back to school - the students or the teachers! As we embrace the changes and progress in curriculum and instructional practices, we hold fast to the most important thing - doing what is best for each individual student. In Willard, our students, teachers, and parents know that is something to count on and be proud of. It's going to be a full year of learning and we are well on our way!

Danielle Sellenriek
Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment



Willard Public Schools | 417-742-2584
500 E Kime
Willard, MO 65781

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