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The Pride
March 21, 2014

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In This Issue
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
Check the website for new fitness classes and times!
  
District Office
Kindergarten screening dates for FY 2014-15

 

Parents should call the school the student will attend for an appointment.  Please bring the following items with you to the screening:  immunization records, proof of residency, social security card, and birth certificate.  All kindergarteners are required to have an eye exam before entering kindergarten. 

 

Orchard Hills - April 18th   (417-869-0600)

Central - May 6th   (417-831-4440)

East - May 7th   (417-742-4639)

North - May 8th   (417-742-2597)

South - May 9th   (417-862-6308)

 

 

 

This week the BOE voted unanimously to re-hire 360(+) Willard certified teachers and 90(+) Willard coaches.  These talented, hard working, caring, passionate individuals are the districts greatest asset.  I don't know all the reasons that Willard has been blessed to have this group of individuals however, they are truly uncommon! 

 

 I believe that if you walk like a duck, quack like a duck, look like a duck,  and run with ducks, sooner or later you become a duck!  Therefore, if you act like a great teacher, dress like a great teacher, present lessons like a great teacher, and run with great teachers you often become a great teacher!  Administration relies on great teachers to pour into others.  (I have had the benefit of many great educators pouring into me!) Together we add up to more than simply the sum of our individual parts.  We make each other better!  I am thankful for all these individuals and look forward to their continued service for our district.

 
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Kent Medlin
Superintendent 

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Athletics & Activities
The winter season has officially come to an end and guess what.....the first spring sports contest is today!  There is no break, but who wants one when our Tigers are doing such amazing things?!!

Post-season awards are already starting to come in for the basketball teams.  Here is what we know so far:  Lady Tigers - Ali Perry - 1st Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-COC.  Mallory Kurtz - 2nd Team All-District.  Tigers - Chris Kendrix - 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-COC, and COC Player of the Year.  Zachorey Barr - 2nd Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-COC.  Skylar Baker - 2nd Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-COC.
As many of you know by now, the Tigers lost in the Quarterfinals to Columbia Hickman 54-57.  However, if you weren't there, I can assure you that you would have been proud of our Tigers and how hard they fought.  They represented us with PRIDE!!!!

The baseball Tigers will open their season tomorrow in Columbia at 12:00 vs. Hickman (yes, same school).  They will follow that with a game vs. Kirksville at 3:00.  Next week, they will host the Willard Lead-Off Tournament on Thursday, Friday, andSaturday.  Good luck baseball Tigers!

The soccer Lady Tigers open their season next Tuesday at home vs. Rogersville.  JV will start at 4:30 followed by the varsity.

The track Tigers open with a home meet vs. Republic and Carthage next Thursday.  The meet will start at 4:00pm.

Over the last few days, 20 DECA students competed in the Missouri DECA Leadership Conference & Competition. There are 12 districts in Missouri DECA, and there are over 9000 student members in our state. Each state event had 20-24 other teams or competitors, representing the best students in each district. Competing at this level is an exciting challenge for our students, and they represented Willard SO well!

We had 4 International Qualifiers and 2 additional finalists! Please join me in congratulating the following awesome students!

Breanna Jeffries & Maddi Reynolds, Finalists, Sports & Entertainment Promotion Plan

International Qualifiers:
Gavin Holle, 2nd Place, Automotive Services Marketing
Conor Wadle, 3rd Place, Principles of Marketing
Katie Larson & Robert Mitchals, 3rd Place, Advertising Campaign

Katie Larson also received the Lead 63 Award for our district, for the outstanding leadership skills she has demonstrated through this year.

Robert Mitchals has been selected as Missouri's candidate to run for National DECA's Central Region Vice President! He will campaign during the International Competition, and if elected, will serve 13 US states, and Manitoba, Canada, during next year. This is an amazing accomplishment!

At the Start of Spring Break the Speech and Debate Team was busy at the National Speech and Debate Association District tournament to qualify for nationals this summer in June.  Our team did an outstanding job.  In Semi-finals were: Katelynn Wilson and Cameron McMurtrey in HI, Kimberly Jones in DI, and Irish Amundson and Kimberly Jones in Duo.  Placing in finals were Wyatt Gregory and Jeremiah Puckett 5th in Duo and Timothy Olson and Dusty Bacon 4th in Policy Debate.  Qualified to head to Kansas City to Nationals in June are Ryan Largent in Humorous Interp., Mercer Martin for the third year in a row in International Extemp., and Conor Wadle in Lincoln -Douglas Debate! Great Job!!!

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

Jeff Staley
Director of Activities

 

High School

This week has been 'No Text and Drive' week.  SGA organized a high-quality assembly on Thursday morning with Sergeant Pace, Missouri Highway Patrol officer, and Mr. Penka, owner of Easy Autos, speaking.  Students were asked to sign a pledge to be safe while driving.  Mr. Penka is working with schools and the Missouri Highway Patrol to communicate this important message including a donated new car to one lucky Southwest Missouri student.  Students are highly motivated by the new car being given away!

 

Thursday and Friday evening, March 20 and 21, WHS students are performing in the theatre at 7:30 PM.  This is part of the interdisciplinary unit on creativity.  In the commons, students are also able to comment on giant whiteboards as to what they would still like to learn.  Art work and writing pieces will be displayed over the next few weeks as well.

 

March 21 and 22, WHS is hosting the Language Arts Department (LAD) Fair for southwest Missouri.  Students will be submitting work and being judged from all ages and from several different categories.  Set up begins on Friday afternoon with judging and tabulation of results on Saturday.

 

Finally and most important...WHS students are awesome!  The courtesy, respect, and sportsmanship exhibited by students during assemblies, at games, in hallways, and in the classroom have been tremendous.  Even Sergeant Pace of the Missouri Highway Patrol complimented our students as being one of the best large groups he has presented too.  Please help me in letting our students know how much we appreciate their efforts and positive behaviors when opportunity arises.

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves,

Principal 

Middle School
 
Intermediate School
North Elementary School

 

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South Elementary School

 

This week we jumped right back in the swing of school with our annual Parent Appreciation Dance on Tuesday evening.  This is a free event for our Willard South families.  It is a night filled with dancing, music, snacks, face painting, book walk and other games. A big thank you to our DJ, Greg McKan, and all of our countless volunteers.  

 

In addition to the dance, we also supported our local Care to Learn chapter with an fundraiser on Tuesday evening.  This year it was Fudge Wars! It was a big success.  Patrons paid $3 to try some samples and vote on their favorite fudge.  It was yummy!!!  All proceeds from this event go to our local Care to Learn chapter to help families in our community with health, hunger and hygiene needs.  

 

At this time we are accepting enrollment paperwork for the Willard South Tiger Cubs Preschool.  This is a tuition paid preschool for students who will be four years old by August 1, 2014.  This program is offered to students who reside in the Willard South Elementary attendance area.  You can find more information on our school website.  http://ws.willardschools.net/  

 

Kara Crighton-Smith

Principal 

 

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East Elementary School

 

Before Spring Break Willard East hosted our Family Reading Night to celebrate the culmination of our school-wide book read Charlotte's Web. We enjoyed a relaxing evening as a school family with dinner, activities, and prizes. Dinner was delicious provided by Mr. Bill Johnson! He even added a special touch with saut�ed peppers and onions for hamburgers or hot dogs. Thanks Bill!

 

Melinda Miller

Principal  

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Central Elementary School

Willard Central students and teachers gladly welcomed Spring this week and the return of sunshine and outdoor recess!  On Friday morning, we celebrated our students' hard work from the 3rd Quarter at our Terrific Tiger Celebration!  Students were recognized for perfect attendance as well as showing the Willard Way for being Respectful, Responsible and Ready to Learn.

 

This week was also a bitter-sweet week for the WC Family as Mrs. Miles' retirement was accepted by the Board of Education (we were hoping they wouldn't accept it!).  Mrs. Miles' has been a teacher leader in Willard and has been at WC since the school doors opened.  Mrs. Miles is the definition of a life-long learner, a professional respected both locally and across the state, and a passionate teacher for kids!  While she will be greatly missed, we are excited for her to enjoy the next leg of her journey (and her precious little grandbabies!).

 

Shane Medlin

Principal


Orchard Hills Elementary School

 

 

 
Special Services

 

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

Willard Public Schools are blessed to have a high-quality group of professionals who provide materials, service, and instructional support to students and teachers in our building Library Media Centers.  Our library media specialists are dedicated to assisting students and teachers in becoming effective users of information and enhance the love of reading. This is their daily mission.  

 

In addition, these specialists are challenged to look far into the future of what students will need, and to bring that vision into a reality in current practice. Willard Library Media Centers are not places where individuals are forced to sit quietly and read to themselves.  These centers are full of exciting learning opportunities, collaborative spaces, technology to produce projects and communications, to research, and to read.  

 

Libraries don't look the way they did just a few years ago, and the specialists at Willard Schools are taking on the challenge to continue to grow into a 21st Century model.  I am excited to see the many new ways these leaders will provide programs for students and connect to the school community and beyond!


Have a great weekend,

Danielle Sellenriek
Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

 




Willard Public Schools | 417-742-2584
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Willard, MO 65781

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