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The Pride
November 8, 2013

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Welcome to THE PRIDE
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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

Kid-Venture Days

$17.50 per child - Includes field trip

 

District Office

This time of the year starts to "STIR" old juices!!! Rick Stenberg, the local Edward Jones Rep. and I played football against each other in the late 1970's and early 1980's and were about ready to "Throw Down" at the last Chamber of Commerce meeting. It is FOOTBALL POST SEASON. Kids are pumped and we are up against Lee's Summit West. Lee's Summit is a great team, ranked #1 in the state in class 5. I have two words to say about that WHO CARES!!! If I learned anything over the years these are the "BEST OF TIMES!" This is the time when champions rise and fall. David always needs a Goliath. World War II needed a George Patton. And George Custer had every advantage of weapons and training and got whipped on the Battlefield. However David did not rush the battlefield foolishly when Goliath roared his challenge. He created a plan, calmly chose three stones, refused the armor and weapons that weighed him down, and took the field knowing the victory was already won. I have one message for the boys:

 

"THIS IS OUR TIME!!!!!".

  • Throw the stats out the window
  • Don't listen to the media
  • BELIEVE in yourselves and your team
  • Grab your brothers by the hand and trust them
  • Listen to your coach
  • BE SMART to keep down penalties
  • Take advantage of our opponents mistakes
  • PLAY EVERY MOMENT LIKE IT WAS YOUR LAST!!!
  • Most of all BE WILLARD and play with class!

I believe in you and your coaches!

Thank you for representing our community!

 

Dr. Medlin

Superintendent 

  
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Athletics & Activities

 

I had the pleasure of attending the Fall Choir Concert last Monday. They did an outstanding job (as usual!) but I couldn't help noticing something. As I looked at the different choirs, I noticed some volleyball players, some softball players, some soccer players, some football players.....well, you get my point. I'm not sure if I should say that we have "athletes participating in choir" or if I should say we have "choir students participating in athletics" and I'm not sure it really matters. What matters is that Willard students are diverse. They excel in many areas. And that's something we should be VERY proud of!!!

 

NUMBER 2.....That would be the number of district championships we have won this year now that soccer won the district title over Rogersville last night 4-1. It also represents the second year in a row that soccer has won their district title! The Tigers will get to host the Sectional match next Tuesday at 6:00pm vs. Carthage. Come out and support your soccer Tigers!!!

 

NUMBER 1.....That would be the state ranking of Lee's Summit West which is who our football Tigers will play in the District Finals on Monday at 7:00pm after soundly defeating Parkview on Wednesday 40-14! The Tigers are now 8-2 on the season and are primed to go get themselves an upset on Monday.

 

On Monday night, 37 Willard Band Students auditioned for the South Central Missouri Music Educators All District Band with 22 students making either the Honor, Concert, or Jazz Band. Jazz Band members are Carter Havens and Adam McCann. Members of the Concert Band are Anna Kis, Kaley Winkler, Zephan McGlasson, Lucas Slaughter, Jacob Cook, Kaden Bledsoe, Alex Harrison, Justin Randall, Patrick Flynn, Caitlyn Carpenter, Rebecca Stephenson, Tyler Austin, Tanner Gardner, William Dickens, and Matthew Gaede. Members of the Honor Band who are now eligible to audtion for the Misssouri All State Band are Derek Van Wyne, Kienen Wilson, Tyler Austin, Clayton Carter, and Adam McCann.

 

This weekend at Republic the Speech and Debate team won 4th place in both the Varsity and Novice divisions! Making it to semi-finals in Novice was Chance Curtis in International Extemporaneous speaking, and Samantha Powell in U.S. Extemporaneous, in Humorous Interpretation Noah Lawson, Brie Jarvis, and Luke Murray, in Dramatic Interpretation Aly Marshall, BreAnna Bates in Student Congress, and in Duo Cole Baker and Luke Murray. Placing in Finals at the Novice level was Cole Baker 2nd, and Mary Hannah Miller 1st in Humorous Interpretation, Maci Bowman and Ashlyn Shipley 3rd in Duo, and Kate Vincent 2nd in Student Congress! Chance Curtis and Kate Vincent also placed 4th in Public Forum Debate.

 

In the Varsity Division making it to semi-finals was Cameron McMurtrey in Humorous Interpretation, and Irish Amundson in Dramatic Interpretation. Placing in Finals at the Varsity level Conor Wadle 2nd In U.S. Extemporaneous, Jacob Burnett placed 5th in Original Oratory, in Humorous Interpretation Katelynn Wilson placed 5th, Wyatt Gregory and Jeremiah Puckett placed 4th in Duo, and Timothy Olson placed 6th and Dusty Bacon placed 1st in Student Congress. Conor Wadle placed 4th in Champ Lincoln Douglas Debate and Timothy Olson and Dusty Bacon placed 3rd in Policy Debate!

 

This past Saturday 37 WHS singers represented our school as they performed with the South Central MMEA District Honor Choirs. All-State Choir auditions were held as part of this event and 14 of our students were elgibile to audition. A big congratulations to Jenna Robinson, Kayli Owen, William Dickens, and Alec Inglett on being selected to the Missouri All-State Choir! This is the highest honor a high school singer can receive and is extremely difficult to achieve. Over 350 singers from our area particpated in this audition process with 32 being selected for All-State honors. These 4 students will represent our district and school in late January as they join the best singers from around the state to rehearse and perform with the Missouri All-State Choir as part of the Music Educators Convention.

Oh.....and Winter sports have already started practicing. Just sayin'

 

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

 

Jeff Staley

Director of Activities 

   
High School

WHS faculty, staff, and students are honoring Veterans on Friday, November 8. The NJROTC, band, and choir will perform. This is another opportunity and example of how great our students are at WHS! Sportsmanship, respect, and honor are great traits that our students continue to exhibit in many arenas.  

 

Next week, more than 80 students and numerous staff will be producing the musical: Cats. Performances are November 12, 14, 15, and 16 at 7:30 PM. An afternoon matinee performance is also scheduled for November 16 at 2 PM. The students have been diligently preparing.  

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves

Principal   

 

Middle School
The Willard Middle School Student Council is holding a Thanksgiving food drive from November 11-November 22 before school in the student union. For every two items or $1 donated, you will receive one ticket to be placed into one of three buckets. At the end of the drive, one ticket will be drawn from each bucket to receive one of 3 fabulous prizes the student council is giving away. Please see the fliers around the school for more information and please help our school help Willard families in need.

Winter Guard: Auditions will be Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (November 12, 14 and 15) from 3:00-6:00 pm. There will be a mandatory Parent Meeting on November 12th at 6:00 p.m.

The 5th Annual WMS Washington DC Trivia Night is Saturday, November 23 at 6 pm in the WMS upper gym. Teams of up to 10 people compete against each other to help students raise money for the DC trip. Tickets are $10 per person. Get a team together and join us for a night of games and trivia! See Mr. Biggers or email wmstrivia@gmail.com for tickets. A special thanks to the Dickerson Park Zoo, Zotts Creamery and Honda of the Ozarks for sponsoring this event.

Thanks for checking in on us!!
  
Amy Sims
Principal
Intermediate School

North Elementary School
Willard North took some time to celebrate and honor the Veterans this week at an assembly on Wednesday. Mr. Anderson put together a great presentation for our visiting veterans and students were able to honor past and present family members who served in the armed forces. A special Thank You to the NJROTC for joining us and presenting an Armed Exhibition for the students and guests. Every year we try to honor our soldiers, and we were especially excited this year to have two Willard North dads return home from active duty - Joseph Campbell and Robert Dalke.

Enjoy the weekend. It is suppose to be beautiful!

Angela Stevens
Principal      

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South Elementary School

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East Elementary School

Willard East Student Council is featured in the Cross Country Times this week! Be sure to pick up a copy here in town or let us know and we can get you a copy. Great kids doing great things!

 

Let's showcase some technology information this week.....Monday our teachers learned about the texting app Remind101 and iPad app Futaba. Your child's teacher may have sent you some information to sign up for classroom text messages. Futaba is a collaborative game app for up to four students to work on various learning targets.

 

Then, on Tuesday our teachers headed to Nixa to learn with other elementary teachers from Nixa and Ozark. Mrs. Kramer, Mrs. Jackson, and Miss Smith presented ways to use iPads in the primary classroom to a room full of elementary teachers! It's exciting to have experts in our building.

 

Finally this weekend some of our teachers will be traveling to Kansas City for a full day of learning at EdcampKC. This is a FREE technology event put on by teachers in the KC area. We are excited to bring back and share our learning!  

 

Melinda Miller

Principal 


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Central Elementary School


Orchard Hills Elementary School

 
Special Services

It's been a great week of learning for both the teachers and students. You've probably heard about the tri-district STAR summit efforts in this PRIDE article, so I won't add to that. However, because of that type of effort, we are constantly challenging ourselves to look for new ways to serve students. In the special services department, teachers are working hard everyday to creatively meet the needs of their learners. An example of this would be the new vocational skills class at the high school.

 

The vocational skills class was implemented this fall and currently has approximately 16 students enrolled under the supervision of Mrs. Jillian Pointer and her team. The course is designed to address the skills needed to gain and maintain supported employment and transition to life after graduation. Students work in various stations on tasks including sorting, clerical duties, packaging and more. These tasks are similar to jobs that they could apply for at the Springfield Sheltered Workshop. It is important to remember that no matter what the "disability", everyone has "abilities" that can help them be independent and productive in life. We are proud of their work and the teachers who continually think outside the box for kids!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Caryn McDonnell

Director of Special Services   


   
Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
Teachers from Willard, Ozark, and Nixa School Districts participated in an inaugural event on Tuesday - the first annual STAR Summit. This day was an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate and discuss educational topics and best practices in instruction.

Willard teachers came away from this day of professional development energized and excited about the many great things happening in our schools, as well as with some new ideas to add to their practice. This event allows all district teachers to work together to serve the needs of students across the southwest region.

I would like to thank Dr. Medlin for initiating the conversation about this event, and the entire administrative team, the instructional coaches, and our amazing technology department for their support of this day. Most of all, I thank our teachers, 50 of whom presented workshops in all three districts, for their professionalism and collaborative spirit. Our teachers made STAR Summit the success that it was!

Danielle Sellenriek
Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment 



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