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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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Kid-Venture Days
$17.50 per child - Includes field trip
School is out Oct. 25th join us at THE REC!
6:30am to 6:30pm
Halloween Events
Boo Bash
Grades 5th-8th
7:00pm to 10:00pm
$5.00 - Live DJ/Costume Prizes
Dungeon of Doom
Oct. 25th - 26th
5:30pm to 10:00pm
$3.00 to enter
Trunk or Treat - Safe Halloween
Oct. 26th
5:30pm to 8:30pm
FREE EVENT!!! |
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Example of True Willard Student Leaderhip!
One of my favorite quotes is "Leadership will rise and fall in the eye of a storm!" Leadership is not entirely a learned behavior. Often individuals demontrate leadership characteristics early in life. This last week the Willard Softball Team won the district championship and advanced in state playoffs to the Sectional Championship. Unfortunatley, they were unsuccessful in their attempt and lost the contest. However GREAT LEADERSHIP and EXEMPLIARY CHARACTER was demonstrated in the defeat. The following letter was written by the Home Plate Official about our team and one of our Senior Captains. I just would like to take the time and commend the Willard High School softball team on their outstanding season.I also had the privilege to officiate their sectional game in Columbia on Wednesday.The sportsmanship displayed by the players, coaches and fans was second to none.The community of Willard should be proud to be represented by such an outstanding group of young ladies and their coaches.Upon the completion of the contest, something very special happened that I still am taken back by.After the game, which was a tough loss, the pitcher from Willard sought out the officials to thank us.She came all the way across the diamond and through some of the Hickman fans to shake our hands, this is a moment I will always remember as an official.I don't know the young lady and had never met her but I will always remember her because of her actions during and after the game.She never once made a gesture while pitching; she just received the ball back from the catcher and threw again.She could teach a lot of people about character, both adults and children.It is moments like this, why I officiate.I do write some complementary reports but seldom does someone make an impression as this young lady did.One of the other officials made the comment afterwards that she does this every game, wow.This is a true testament to her and her family.Thank you so much for letting me be part of this opportunity.I would suggest her to speak at your next sportsmanship summit.
The young lady refered to in the note was Willard Seniro Micki Andrus. I will bet my paycheck that this young lady will be a success in life. She has learned how to be a leader at a young age. I appreciate the example that she and the other Lady Tigers have set for me and everyone else that calls themselves a Willard Tiger!!!!!!
Have a great weekend! Dr. Kent Medlin Superintendent of Schools |
"Success is peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. When do we know that we have succeeded? When asking ourselves this question, we should forget what others think...They DON'T KNOW!. We should be more concerned with our character than with our reputation." This is an excerpt from my Coaches Bible that was given to me by our FCA group. Our student/athletes "succeed"!!!
The softball Tigers ended their season with a loss to Columbia Hickman in the sectional game on Wednesday. The ladies had a great year finishing 19-12, 3rd in the COC, and District Champs! Also, a special congratulations to Olivia Rhoten, Allison Davis, Bridget Rippe, Hanna Hendrix, and Miki Andrus on making 1st Team All-District. Great job ladies!!!!
The football Tigers won a nail biter last Friday over COC rival Republic 22-21! This runs their record to 5-2 on the season and will look to build on that tonight as they travel to Branson. The Tigers are currently ranked 2nd in our district!
Congratulations goes out to the Marching Band for earning the Top Spot First Place at the Missouri State University Ozarko Competition on Saturday. The Band won their individual class in prelims and in the Open Class Finals swept the top honor by a mere 0.12 points over Nixa. There were only 3.72 points separating the top 7 bands in finals making this one of the closest competitions at MSU in a long time. The Band also earned Awards for the Outstanding Percussion and Color Guard in both prelims and finals as well as Kayli Owen being named the Outstanding Soloist (Flute), and Kaley Winkler and Kayli Owen were named the Outstanding Drum Majors. The Band will next compete at UCM in Warrensburg this coming Saturday.
The volleytigers defeated Webb City on Tuesday before falling last night to Republic. The girls will travel to Ozark next Tuesday and to Marshfield on Thursday. Good luck ladies!
The soccer Tigers are 5-1 in the COC after defeating Branson last night 3-2! They also finished 2nd in the Kickapoo Classic last weekend, defeated New Covenant (forfeit), and defeated Monett.....Pretty good week! Next week they will travel to Rogersville
on Monday, to Neosho on Tuesday, and will host Catholic on Thursday....busy week!
What a great first tournament for the speech and debate team! The Novice competed at Glendale.Making it to Semi-finals was Madison Powell in Dramatic Interpretation, and Noah Larson in Humorous Interpretation.In Finals in Humorous Interpretation Mary Hannah Miller took 4th Place and Cole Baker took 2nd Place.In Dramatic Interpretation Aly Marshall took 5th place and In Duo Interpretation Maci Bowmen and Ashlyn Shipley earned 6th place! At the Kickapoo Varsity tournament Emily Raney made it to Student Congress Super Session. In Dramatic Interpretation Semi-Finals were Kayleigh Amstutz and Irish Amundson.In finals of International Extemp Merecer Martin took 1st, in Humorous Interpretation Ryan Largent placed 3rd and Cameron McMurtrey took 1st.In Policy Debate Mercer Martin and Dusty Bacon placed 4th!
The Novice and Varsity took 7th in sweepstakes at both tournaments out of 31 schools! Great Job!
Good luck to the cross country tigers as they prepare for the district meet on Oct. 26th in Nixa. The top 15 individuals in the meet will advance to the sectional meet in Camdenton.
Jeff Staley
Director of Activties It's Good To Be A Tiger! |
Counselors have been busy getting into classrooms to meet with students this week and will continue these meetings next week.ASVAB and PSAT tests have also been given this week.The FCCLA Blood Drive in the auxiliary gym is taking place on Friday.The students and Mrs. Hession do a terrific job organizing this event.
The high school will be busy Friday evening and all-day Saturdaywith the Willard Speech and Debate Tournament.Twenty-five high schools will be represented at the tournament.
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for October 22, 5:30 -8:30 PM.Appointments can be made through the high school office if parents choose.Come and go visits are also welcome.There will be no school on October 25.
Finally, I want to say, "Thank you", to our students, and I want to say, "Congratulations", to our parents. I've had the opportunity to observe our students in the classrooms, hallways, and cafeteria. I've watched senior nights, COC league cross country, homecoming activities, pep assemblies, etc...I am proud of how our high school students carry themselves and respect each other on a daily basis.They are representing themselves, their school, their community, and their families very well. It is GREAT to be a Tiger!
Curt Graves
Principal |
Central Elementary School
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It has been a full week at Willard Central. Tuesday was our Fall Picture Day. Our 3rd Grade students also shared their great musical program, "The Elephant Child". Thank you to Mrs. Chatman and our students for a wonderful concert and to Mrs. Mello for great stage scenery as they sang this story to life. On Friday, we recognized the hard work of students with our 1st Quarter Terrific Tiger Celebration at Community Time.
We are looking forward to a full week next week with Student-Led Conferences to partner with parents on student learning. Mrs. Roth is busy setting up for the Book Fair, and our PTO Fundraiser will end on Monday.
Have a great weekend! Shane Medlin Principal |
Orchard Hills Elementary School
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Math instruction is a targeted focus for Willard Orchard Hills this year. Over the past few years, it has been noted that while our MAP scores in Communication Arts have been making slow and steady growth, our math scores have not been increasing at the same rate. In third grade this year, we are using differentiated instruction extensively. It makes logical sense to teach based on student need in the same way we provide reading and writing instruction to students.
What does this look like? Teachers are using pre-formative information from Mastery Connect to group students based on the skills they need to learn. Teachers then focusing on this instruction based on student need. For example, if 1/3 of the students are pretty confident in the unit objectives and have many of the objectives correct on the pre-formative, they are grouped together, Students who need more support are also grouped together. Formative assessments are given as checkpoints to determine if students are moving in the right direction with understanding of the concepts. We are then able to provide more remediation or enrichment based on the needs of the students. Each time a new unit is presented, the groups are reassigned based on the knowledge of the students. It is exciting to have a tool such as Mastery Connect to give us instant feedback to make grouping student easier. We look forward to working out the details and seeing if this improves our student achievement! On another note, don't forget the WOHE 5K this weekend! We will be ready to run at 8:00 am at Willard Orchard Hills Elementary! Hope you join us! Dr. Rhonda Bishop Principal |
On Wednesday, several students from the high school transition program toured the facilities of Hammons Field, home of the Springfield Cardinals! Dressed in their new Cardinal's t-shirts, students and staff looked ready to cheer on their favorite local team. Although there wasn't a game, the students had the opportunity to tour the grounds, meet and take photographs with Louie the Cardinal and enjoy a pizza party for lunch. It was a great day and a nice break from the regular routine of the school day.
The entire month of October has been filled with a variety of activities that bring awareness to students with special needs and it is always amazing to see and feel the support of our community here in Willard in this area. We would like to say THANK YOU to Freedom Bank of Willard who sponsored this memorable day for students and staff!
Have a great weekend!
Caryn McDonnell
Director of Special Services |
Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
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On Tuesday, October 15, Willard Schools welcomed the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO), Ozarks Teacher Corps, to the district. Willard has partnered in the past with CFO and our schools have been the recipients of grants totaling nearly $45,000. A trust from CFO funds the Ozarks Teacher Corps, which develops a cadre of talented teaching candidates from area universities who explore rural education issues, serve as teacher interns in small schools, and commit to teaching in their respective home communities for at least three years. The purpose of the Ozarks Teacher Corps is to encourage young people to become educators and return to their rural hometowns as teacher-leaders.
The group visited both Willard Middle School and High School, dropping in on a variety of classrooms to observe and ask questions of our teachers and students. To end the day, the group headed to East Elementary and the classroom of new teacher Stephanie Sechler, herself a graduate of the Ozarks Teacher Corps program. Ms. Sechler's students are participating in a grant program she secured with Placeworks, which teaches students to communicate with words, sounds, their faces and bodies. The Teacher Corps participants were able to partner with students in the class for story writing and skits and much fun was had by all. It was an exciting day to have the opportunity to showcase the many great things happening in Willard Schools, as well as to host soon-to-be teachers and see their eyes capturing every detail, and hearing their questions which clearly reflected their interest and awe of the craft of teaching. Have a great weekend, Danielle Sellenriek Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment |
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