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The Pride
September 19, 2014

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Your Voice
 
Each week this section will feature a 2 minute survey asking for your input on an important school issue. Please take a couple minutes to let Your Voice be heard.
Willard Parks
 
 

 

 

 

 

  
District Office
"Just Tell Me the Cost!!!!!"

The last several weeks I have focused my Pride article on the upcoming November 4th Bond Issue.  I am excited about the potential of these projects.  I went to discuss the bond with a group of men at a local restaurant.  We had a great discussion about the bond, laughed, and told some stories.  On the way out, one of the gentlemen shared "I just needed to know what it was going to cost me!"  Therefore, today I'm going to share the costs.  The Willard Schools tax levy has increased by only 5 cents during the last 10 years.  In 2004 the levy was $4.04 and now it is $4.09.  We are tied with Branson for the lowest rate when compared to other peer school districts:
  • Branson      $4.09
     
  • Nixa            $4.31
     
  • Ozark          $4.14
     
  • Republic     $4.28
     
  • Willard        $4.09
     
The levy increase is an additional $0.15 which would adjust the Willard levy to $4.24.  Willard would no longer have the lowest levy but would be in the middle of the group.  What will it cost the average Willard patron? If you own a home that has an appraised value of $100,000 the cost of the increase is $2.38 a month.  If you own a 100 acre farm appraised at $4,000 an acre the cost of the increase would be $6.00 a month.  I have shard with homeowners that the cost for that $100,000 home is less than a McDonald's Happy Meal and to the local farmer the added cost is less than a medium pizza at Pizano's in Willard.  These additional funds allow Willard Schools to complete communicated bond projects.  I hope this helps to make this issue easier to understand.  If you have questions regarding the calculations please contact me at the district office.

Have a great weekend!

Dr. Medlin
Superintendent
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Athletics & Activities
Well we are approaching the midway point of the Fall season and our Tigers continue to represent Willard with Pride!  We continue to make history and our kids continue to work through injuries and adversity to support their teammates!

The football Tigers ended a 15 year drought as they shut out Nixa last Friday night 21-0.  The Tigers are now 4-0 (2-0 in the COC) and are ranked #5 in the State in Class 5.  We will host Ozark tonight in another huge COC showdown.  Gates open at 5:30 and kickoff is at 7:00.

The VolleyTigers had a big district win over Lebanon on Tuesday running their record to an impressive 12-4 on the season!  They will start COC play next week as they travel to Nixa on Tuesday and will host Neosho on Thursday.  Both games will start at 5:00.

The softball Tigers went 2-2 in the Ozark Tournament last weekend and defeated Carthage on Tuesday.  The girls will be in the very tough Liberty Tournament this weekend before traveling to Ozark on Tuesday and hosting Branson on Thursday.

The soccer Tigers continue to be snake bit but also continue to improve and are saving their best for the stretch run on their season.  Next week they travel to Carthage on Tuesday before hosting the Willard Invitational next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Girls golf continues to have success.  Here are some results from the Greene Hills Invitational and the MSU Relays:

9/12 - Greene Hills Ladies Invitational
Team Score: 409 (3rd best team score in the past 8 seasons)
Team Place:  7th out of 14

Individual Scores
Brooklyn Teague - 98
Brooke Mitchals - 101
Katie Badger - 106
Tory Butler - 104
Hannah Scott - 119

9/16 - JV @ Mount Vernon (Team Scramble)
Team Score: 45
Team Place: 4th out of 7

9/18 - Missouri State Relays at Stewart
Team Score: 417
Team Place: 10th out of 20

Individual Scores
Brooklyn Teague - 97
Brooke Mitchals - 102
Katie Badger - 106
Tory Butler - 113
Hannah Scott - 117

The Willard Cross Country program will be hosting a triangular today starting at 3:30 pm at the High School.  Next week they will be at Nixa on Tuesday.

BTW.....The Cutting Edge will start their season next Saturday in Ozark! Details in next week's Pride.

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

Jeff Staley
Director of Athletics/Activities
  
High School
 

On October 6, WHS will be hosting a special guest, Jennifer Schiffman.  She will be conducting presentations for high school students, teachers, and even an evening session for parents on Digital Safety.  In the era of social media with facebook, twitter, snapchat, etc, the information and safeguards presented are extremely relevant for us all.  I invite our parents and patrons to attend the 6:30 PM presentation in the WHS Theater on October 6th.  More information is available on the high school website.

 

The DECA program, which emphasizes marketing skill, is partnering with the journalism department.  Marketing students will be completing a Sales unit and then applying their learned skills by assisting with Yearbook and Tribal Spirit ad sales.  Team teaching and application is often discussed in education.  At WHS, it is a reality!

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

Curt Graves

Principal

 

  
Middle School
  
Intermediate School
  
North Elementary School

 

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South Elementary School

Our 4th graders took their learning on the road this week! On Thursday, the fourth graders traveled to Jefferson City.  While there, they toured the Capitol Building, ate lunch in the court room, and ended the day by touring the Governor's Mansion.  They were excited to see all of the things they had been learning about in school in real life. 

 

We also had our fundraiser kickoff assembly today.  Students will be bringing home their fundraising packets this afternoon.  Our fundraiser will run through October 3rd. Willard South families have always been very supportive of our fundraising efforts.  Last year we were also able to buy Mrs. Christensen a new piano for the music room and our school's Tiger t-shirts with our fundraiser money.  Thank you in advance for supporting our school! 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Lindsay Wallace

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East Elementary School

 

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Central Elementary School

 

"Heroes aren't born. They're made!" is the tagline on our PTO school shirts this year.  While we are using a superhero theme to excite our students, WC is looking at how each student can be a leader and a hero every day.  We are reading and applying Stephen Covey's The Leader in Me with our students and focusing students on the daily decisions and actions that build together to make them a leader.  We have great kids and now we want to focus on building great leaders - HEROES!

 

This week, the students were able to see leadership in action.  The high school drama students took on the challenge of hosting our kick-off assembly by writing and performing skits about being a hero for our students.  They stepped up to the plate as leaders!  Our students also saw Mrs. Sly, Ms. Dagney and Ms. Michelle sacrifice comfort, dryness, clothes and shoes to get students in to the building in the pouring rain on Wednesday.  It was an act of service and leadership!  Students also watched Coach Brown step up to the plate to help by leading Community Time and other activities when I was not available.  As a parent and staff member, I am blessed by the student and adult leaders we have surrounding us.  
  
Have a great weekend and remember, "Heroes aren't born.  They're made!"
  
Shane Medlin
Principal  

Orchard Hills Elementary School
How do you describe busy?  Stop by WOHE!  Our students have been preparing for our 5K run on the 27th by participating in the WOHE running club. Thank you Mrs. Pilch, our parents and our wonderful staff for participating in this event.  This year we have a traveling trophy for the Willard School that brings the most participants. Thanks to our new staff member Christie Schomber for working on that project.  She is a little partial to the trophy so she wants WOHE to win, but WIS is biting at our heels.....
  
This week professionally our staff is participating in A Place for Wonder training with our instructional coach Tiffany Houghtaling. We will provide more information about this piece of instruction at our Academic Spotlight in November. 
  
Students are working hard getting all the structures and routines down in and out of the classroom. We have a great group of kids and its exciting to see them perform to the best of their abilities. 
  
Last but not least EdCamp Springfield is this Saturday at WOHE!  Come one, come all to a relaxed professional development opportunity. We have some great prizes and the learning will be fantastic!
#itsgoodtobeatiger!
  
Dr. Rhonda Bishop
Principal
 
Special Services

This week I would like to highlight students who are participating in supported employment through a partnership with SWI. What is SWI?  


SWI Industrial Solutions is a private, not-for-profit corporation operating a manufacturing and light assembly facility for Springfield and Greene County residents. SWI's purpose is to provide meaningful employment for people with disabilities. SWI employees have proven they would rather earn money using their abilities than be given money for their disabilities.

 

Employment is always a goal for students as they begin their journey to independence.  Willard offers a variety of program options for students to prepare, practice and secure employment as they transition from high school to adulthood.  One of those options is working in supported employment locations such as SWI.  The goal for students that apply and are successful in their training phase, is that they are hired permanently after graduation.  

 

I recently visited our current student employees and while there, I enjoyed seeing former students who are still working 10+ years later.  They are now adults who have a sense of pride in what they do and are using the abilities that they have to be a productive citizen.  Some of the jobs that are being done include filling and bagging Easter eggs to be shipped across the world (some went to the White House Egg Hunt last year!), boxing and crating French's Onion Crisps, assembling boxes and tool kits to be sold locally and driving the forklift with product to the shipping areas.  All of these jobs are important.

 

We are proud of ALL of our students who are working and appreciate the assistance and supervision of Mrs. Mitzi Albert, Special Education Paraprofessional who attends the job site with the trainees daily and offers support as a liaison between the school and business. Thank YOU!

 

Don't forget to check the website for more information at Special Services

 

Have a great week,

 

Caryn McDonnell

Director of Willard Special Services 

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
What is Rigor?
  
Over the past year there has been a transition with curriculum from GLEs (Grade Level Expectations) to Missouri Learning Standards.  With that transition, teachers are teaching with more "rigor".  Rigor is a difficult word, and what does it mean for students?  As teachers, rigor is "creating an environment in which each student is expected to learn at high levels; each student is supported so he or she can learn at high levels, and each student demonstrates learning at high levels." (Blackburn, 2008).  The key words to this definition are expected, supported, and demonstrates.
  
It is very evident to Willard teachers there needs to be a classroom environment that supports "rigor".  This environment is safe and secure for students.  This environment supports positive language with students and focuses on progress at a student level.  As we support students across the district, rigor needs to be connected to their education.  We certainly want the best for Willard students.  As teachers our job is to support them so they can demonstrate their learning.  This can't be done without high expectations from teachers. 
As we focus on continued improvement in Willard Schools,  "Rigor" will be a focal point in our efforts!  
  
Angela Stephens
Director of Curriculum



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

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