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Student Focused | Strongly Connected | Success  Driven
The Pride
February 21, 2014

Administration
Board of Education
  
I NEED EVERYONE'S HELP!!!
 
 I have been criticized in the past at home and at school for never asking for help.  Angie and I have moved 11 times in our almost 30 years of marriage.  A couple of those times we completed the entire move almost single handed without help.  We have built two homes from the ground up, constructed large additions and/or remodeled every home except one.  Most of the work was done by our immediate family.  
 
I love doing that type of work, it is therapy for me. However, in some areas I know I have to have help. This is one of those areas!!!  I need your help to be positive and supportive of the following decision.  The decision is being made from options, none of which are positive.  I know the decision will not make everyone happy however, someone has to make the decision and that someone is me!    
 
Willard has scheduled every possible snow make-up day prior to  May 23rd.  State law requires the district must make up one additional school day.  Therefore, a day must be scheduled to return after Memorial Day, or a Saturday must be scheduled.  I have made the decision that Willard Schools will tentatively schedule Saturday, March 29th as a make-up day for students.  This decision is currently tentative dependent upon any additional days of school cancellation due to inclement weather.  If school is cancelled  additional days the decision may be altered.  
 
I am hoping to provide parents the information early so appropriate planning may occur.  I clearly understand this is not common practice.  I am asking parents and staff for their support to make this a normal day of high quality learning for all Willard Students.  It is important to our district to have strong attendance and instruction for this day.  Please help me to make this happen!

Have a great weekend!
It is going to be beautiful!
 
Dr. Kent Medlin
Superintendent

 

 
 

Last night's board meeting began on a somber note, as we took a moment to offer our thoughts and prayers to the family of the Springfield student who lost her life this week, and to the school district who has had to deal with an unimaginable circumstance. I am certain that teachers and classrooms throughout our district not only shared in the sorrow, but also continued to "educate" students on how to prevent such an event from taking yet another victim.

On a lighter note, we enjoyed yet another academic spotlight which demonstrates how technology redefines classroom practice. Willard East students are using technology to not only take more traditional instruction to a different level through using ipads and computers, but they have experienced the "global classroom" where they can interact with students and teachers from across the country in real time, thanks to computers and the internet. Such a concept would have only been possible through a complicated set of cameras, TV's and special networking even just a few years ago, but now is something available simply by turning on their technology device!

Another highlight of the night was a presentation by Eagle Scout Candidate Connor Poulson. He is preparing a project to donate signage for the baseball field complex, and part of that preparation was to do a presentation seeking permission from the board to move forward with the project. Willard Schools enjoys the opportunity to support our students in their quest to seek excellence in their outside interests, and supporting a young man on his journey to become an Eagle Scout is one of the easier decisions we got to make! We wish Connor well with the project!

In last week's Pride, Dr. Medlin outlined some changes to our board meeting structure. The board agreed last night to begin holding "Study Session" meetings the first week of each month. The purpose of those meetings is two-fold. First, as the name implies, the meeting allows the board time to study important issues and then allow time for the information to be further researched and digested before a final vote on the issue is held. That study time often involves lots of conversation, which tends to take long periods of time during our current regular session meetings. So, the second goal of the study session meeting is to limit the topics to just a few key issues, and then allow sufficient time for the healthy conversations needed to make better informed decisions. These sessions will be "open" meetings, which patrons are welcome to attend.

Throughout the meeting, through the instant access of social media, the board was proud to learn of the continued successes of our wrestling program, as all 7 of the wrestlers who
qualified for state have advanced on to their next levels of competition! Congrat's to our wresting Tigers!

  
Athletic & Activities
High School

 

Saw a chicken fly by my bedroom window this morning....we don't own chickens....it's that windy!

 

Congratulations to Niko Chavez, Kyle Caldwell, Kaleb Crook, Connar Loderhose, Thomas Massengale, Hunter Yeargan, and Skyler Cope on qualifying for the State Wrestling Tournament in Columbia!  Willard did two things that we have never done before....finished second in the district tournament as a team and qualified 7 wrestlers!  Good luck this weekend in Columbia!

 

The basketball district tournaments are set.  Our boys earned the #1 seed and will play the winner of the Joplin/Neosho game in the semifinals on Tuesday, March 4th.  Our girls received the #2 seed and will play Neosho in the semifinals on Monday, March 3rd.  Finals for both teams will be on Thursday, March 6th.  Girls will start at 6:00pm followed by the boys at 7:30pm.  Courtwarming is this Friday and it should be a great night as we will be inducting our newest member of the Activities Hall of Fame, Dr. John Crighton!  MORE 

 

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

  

Jeff Staley

Director of Activities 

 

 

This week, our wrestlers are in Columbia for State Wrestling.  They are having a tremendous year and 1st round matches on Thursday were no exception!  We are anticipating even bigger things today!

 

We host Neosho for basketball tonight.  Courtwarming is tonight between the JV and varsity games.  Following, SGA has made some changes hosting a dodgeball / movie night instead of a traditional school dance.  Students have shown interest in these changes and we are anticipating a lot of fun.

 

WHS will be hosting back-to-back district basketball tournaments over the next couple weeks.  Next week is the Walnut Grove Class 1 Districts.  The first week of March is the Willard Class 5 District.  Game times and dates can be found on the high school website.

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves
Principal

 

 

  
 

 

 
  
 Orchard Hills
Middle School

Lot's of exciting and great things happened this past week at Willard Orchard Hills. Teachers, staff and students have continued to show their Fabulous February flair by dressing in their favorite beach attire, their most comfy P.J's, and their pirate gear.  Friday is favorite book character day.  We can't wait to see what Coach Sweet comes dressed as!!

 

This past weekend, Willard Orchard Hills had the pleasure of hosting it's 4th elementary music teacher workshop/seminar.  Twice a year, Mrs. Kuchta, WOHE's music teacher, hosts this area wide event in which elementary music teachers from all over SW Missouri come together at Willard Orchard Hills to collaborate and learn from each other as well as from featured guest clinicians who are brought in from other parts of the country.  Music teachers from Willard, Springfield, Mt. Vernon, Monett, Marshfield, Aurora, Strafford, Pleasant Hope, Flippin (AR), as well as current music under-graduate students from area universities including Evangel, Drury, and MSU were in attendance.  Master music teacher & guest clinician Sandy Knudson from the Norman, OK school district presented on the topic of how music teachers can be supporting literacy in the music classroom!!  It was a GREAT session for all!!! 

 

Dr. Rhonda Bishop

Principal

  

This past Friday, the WMS Jazz Band made their debut performance at the Parkview High School Jazz Festival. This was a ratings only jazz festival and we are pleased to announce they received straight Honor I ratings! Congratulations specifically to Zach Gibby for receiving the Outstanding Soloist Award. Up next for the jazz band is the 47th Annual Drury Jazz Festival to be held on Saturday, March 1st.

WMS will be hosting an archery tournament this Saturday from 7 am until 10 pm.  Please come by to support our middle school competitors.

BOOK CLUB - Feb. 27th, after school until 3:30 pm. Please sign up in the library - bring a wrapped book for Book Exchange.

Magazine Sale is still going on in the library! Orders are due this coming Friday, Feb. 21st. Questions should be directed to Ms. Wilcox. Proceeds go to support the library. 
 
On the half day last Friday, students participated in the ROAR GAMES.  This was the showcase day for our Olympic project based learning.  Students developed opening ceremonies, award ceremonies, closing ceremonies, public relations, website, games, and theme.  Feel free to browse the website that our students created.  
 

Thanks, 
Amy Sims
Willard Middle School Principal

 
  
South Elementary
Special Services


   

 

Congratulations to Willard East Elementary for raising the highest percentage of funds for the Annual "Change A Life" fundraiser which benefits Willard Children's Charitable Foundation (WCCF).  The students and staff at Willard East raised an average of $4.82 per student totaling $1465.98!  This is incredible!  The district goal was to raise $1.00 per child.  


As the winner, they have earned the right to hang the WCCF "Change A Life" banner in their halls until February 2015 (it is currently being proudly displayed at Willard North).  This banner will be presented to their student body on Friday, February 28th during their Tiger Pride Assembly.  Congratulations to an amazing effort!


Willard North came in with a close second place finish at a $4.48 per student average for a total of $1317.54! We are extremely proud and appreciative of each of our schools and the efforts that were made to support this amazing organization. All monies raised will directly benefit Willard students!


Have a great weekend!

Caryn McDonnell

Director of Special Services

 

 

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