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The Pride

November 21, 2014
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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

 

Christmas on the Frisco

November 22nd

Visit: http://www.christmasonthefrisco.com

 

Turkey Trot

November 27th

Visit : http://www.willardparks.com/thanksgiving-turkey-trot.html

 

Winter Basketball Registration

December 1st - 13th

Visit: http://www.willardparks.com/youth-basketball.html

 

Santa's Workshop

December 13th

Visit: http://www.willardparks.com/santas-workshop.html 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

  
District Office

While I was blankly staring at products at a local retailer this week, I overheard a parent chastising their child with the often heard quote, "What were you thinking?".  It spurred me to reflect on how we help students learn thinking skills within the classroom.  The term "Thinking Skills" is not a new term for educators in classroom and lesson design.  Leaders such as Howard Gardner, Art Costa, and Ron Brandt have provided direct correlations to thinking skills and student success.

 

Here are three practical approaches that Willard staff utilize to improve students' thinking skills.  1) Teaching forThinking - Teachers and administrators establish and develop a rich environment for improving thinking.  Lessons and classroom design are intentional in design and foster student creativity, ideas, and learning styles. 2) Teaching of Thinking - Thinking is a skill. Like athletes or musicians, thinking must be practiced and refined.  Willard teachers instruct students in skills and strategies for thinking as well as habits of mind.  In classroom settings, students are given the opportunity to hone their problem-posing, problem solving and reflective thinking skills.  3) Teaching about Thinking - Teachers help students understand how they think and how the brain learns and processes.  As children mature, we assist them in understanding that the human brain is the seat of learning.  

 

The skills of thinking are critical to students' future successes.  Administrators and classroom teachers are always seeking opportunities to assist students in improving critical thinking skills. As you have additional time with your children over the upcoming holidays, embrace those teachable moments and encourage them to share exactly what they are thinking.  It may give you an opportunity to improve their skills and you may be amazed by their responses.

 

Have a great weekend

 

Stewart Pratt

Assistant Superintendent 

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Athletics & Activities

Here we go!  Winter sports officially started on Monday and our Tigers don't stop until March.  I'm excited to see what memories they will give us this year.

 

The basketball Tigers and Lady Tigers will be hosting a jamboree this Saturday.  The girls will start it off at 1:00pm followed by the boys at 3:00pm.  Other schools participating are Reeds Spring, Gainesville, and Strafford.  Admission is $2 for everyone so come out and get a preview of what the season holds for our Tigers!  The Lady Tigers will then travel to Monett for their regular season opener on Monday.  It is a 3-game night with the freshmen starting at 5:00pm.

 

The Willard High Academic Team brought home its first trophy of the season last night at the Buffalo Varsity Invitational tournament. Team captain Kaelyn Yarbrough led Caitlyn Carpenter, Troy Grider, Mallory Craig and Wyatt Gregory to come from behind and win in the final round over Springfield Catholic to take first place. These players are great representatives of our school, and look forward to bringing home more trophies throughout the season.

 

Last weekend the speech and debate team traveled to Lebanon to compete.  

In the novice division the following students went to semifinals, Ashlyn Wadle in U.S. Extemp, Jonah Perry and Alysia Wells in HI, Hailey Rawhouser in DI and Katie Lawson and Kelsey Christianson in Student Congress.   Going to finals and placing, Tory Butler 1st in U.S. Extemp, Zach Kauffman 5th in HI, Kira Ray 2nd in DI, and Ashlyn Wadle and Grace Black 4th in Duo.  In debate Ashlyn Wadle placed 3rd in Novice Lincoln-Douglas.

 

In the varsity division the following students made it to semifinals, Debra Wekesa in IX, Conor Wadle in USX, Macy Greenup and Hayden Onstott in DI, Anna Gillespie and Debra Wekesa, as well as, Samantha Powell and Katelyn Graham in Duo, and Katie Schroeder in Student Congress.  In finals and placing, Hayden Onstott 3rd in HI, Kayleigh Amstutz 2nd in DI, in Duo Lindsay Smith and Brie Jarvis 3rd and Wyatt Gregory and Jeremiah Puckett 1st, and in Student Congress Emily Raney 1st.  In debate Wyatt Gregory and Jeremiah Puckett, as well as, Emily Raney and Lindsay Smith placed 4th in Champ Public Forum.  Conor Wadle placed 3rd and Cole Baker placed 1st in Champ Lincoln Douglas!

We placed 4th in both divisions and 4th overall in sweeps!  

 

It's Good To Be A Tiger!


Jeff Staley
Director of Athletics / Activities
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High School

We truly have great students at WHS!  On Thursday, November 20, the 3rd World Simulation involving 350 students and more than 35 staff drew to a close with a student-led debriefing session.  Students shared experiences from the simulation and also heard from a Convoy of Hope representative.  The activity was student-driven and student-led promoting community amongst students and facilitating learning in a variety of genres.  Congratulations to our student-leaders and participants on a valued experience and job well done!

 

It is a short week next week with classes on Monday and

Tuesday only.  Upon return in December, students will be on the fast track to semester finals and Christmas break.  Finals are scheduled for December 17, 18, and 19.  A finals bell schedule has been revised allowing additional time for completion of comprehensive final exams.  WHS does have a couple of dual credit courses through local universities that dictate earlier final completion due to scheduling.  Otherwise, all students are expected to complete finals during the scheduled times.  The finals schedule will be made available to students and posted on the high school website December 1.

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves

Principal

 

  
Middle School

 WMS fall sports are underway! 

 

Wrestling hosted Neosho and Ozark last night.  The kids did an awesome job on the mat. Looking forward to a great wrestling season!  

 

8th grade boys basketball made the tigers proud this week.  These boys worked their heart out at the Branson tournament and walked away champions!  Way to go boys!!! 

 

Every year, Willard Middle School spends time on November 11th to honor veterans.  This year students wrote letters to an unknown veteran at the beginning of the year.  On Veterans Day, each veteran that attended our celebration received a letter from a student.  Yesterday, a student received a letter back from the "unknown" veteran he wrote.  The student was very grateful and visibly moved by the response.  

  

This weekend is the annual celebration of Christmas on the Frisco Trail.  One of the events is the lighting of the trail.  We are excited that students at WMS have worked on a display for this fun filled event.   The lighting will take place at 5:15 on Saturday.  Other events will be taking placed throughout the day http://www.christmasonthefrisco.com/  

 

 

 

See you there!!

Amy Sims

Principal 

 

Intermediate School

Willard Intermediate wrapped up another successful Thanksgiving food drive this week.  Classes were challenged to collect specific food items, our Life Skills class sorted and organized the food donations, and building staff donated cash to purchase frozen turkey's.  The food was then assembled into baskets to be distributed to over 20 families in our school community. 

 

Thank you to everyone that was involved in this project and it is our hope that the food baskets help to make the Thanksgiving holiday a little brighter for these families!

 

Tom Davis

Principal
North Elementary School

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  We have so many things to be thankful for at Willard North!  I am very thankful for the hard working maintenance crew who are working all weekend to have heat back up and running for Monday morning!  

  

 

I am also very thankful for my hard working students and staff who make me love my job!  I observed some classes participating in Reading Buddies this week.  We have 5th grade students reading to 1st graders and 4th grade students reading to kindergarteners. I love to see the relationships between these students.  It is so powerful when an older student takes interest in a younger student. 

 

 

Looking Ahead...

Super Tiger-Tuesday, November 25 @ 2:30

Thanksgiving Break-November 26-28

Willard North Skating Party-December 4 @ Skateland from 6-8

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Amanda Hambey

Principal 

 

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South Elementary School

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East Elementary School

We are really excited about getting our PTO back up and running. Over the past couple of months a group of parents have been getting together to plan some activities and organize PTO. We are in the beginning stages and really excited about the ideas and involvement of our parents.

 

We have two co-presidents: Christina McHaffie and Billie Middleton. If you would like to be involved please let us know and we will put you in touch with these gracious ladies. Even if you can't be involved in everything we would LOVE to have you be a part of any events you are available.
  
Student Council: This week we hosted our first Student Council meeting. Students nominated other students in their class that they thought would be good leaders. We are using the book The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey as our guide for our meetings this year.
  
In the spirit of thanksgiving....THANK YOU for sharing your students with us. We have the best and most rewarding job to serve you and your students. We are blessed with all your support!
  
Happy Thanksgiving from Willard East!
  

Melinda Miller

Principal 

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Central Elementary School

 The Willard Central school family has enjoyed several opportunities to celebrate our students and community members the past couple of weeks.  Last Tuesday, WC honored the service of our veterans.  Thanks to the service men and women who protect our freedoms and to their families who love and support them while they are away from home.  Check out the video of our students' real life heroes from Veterans Day on Facebook page.   https://www.facebook.com/WillardCentral
 

Last Thursday evening, staff, families and the surrounding community showed up to support and bless Mrs. Lindsay Katrosh in her battle against breast cancer.  Thanks to everyone's generosity, over $9,350 was raised to support the Katrosh's with their medical bills and her missed work.  Highlights of the evening included a visit from the Springfield Batman who was a hit with big brother Katrosh, but not as much with little sister! The music and talents of Dallas Jones entertained the audience while they enjoyed some amazing varieties of chili. Congratulations to Jennifer VanWinkle for winning the chili cook-off! The live dessert auction was a

wonderful time with some amazing culinary treats! Our own Mrs. Sherry

Rush's cinnamon rolls stole the hearts and wallets of bidders. The silent auction was also a success with an autographed fiddle by Charlie Daniels taking center stage in the bidding war.

 

 

 

On Tuesday this week, our 2nd grade students performed their music concert of "Stone Soup; A Rock Opera" for students, family and friends.  Thank you to our students and Mrs. Chatman for a great program.

This week, Mrs. Pindris, speech pathologist, and her husband Thomas welcomed their first child into their family.  Baby girl Nevaeh arrived sooner than expected, but mom and baby are doing well.  Congratulations to the Pindris family on their beautiful blessing!
  
Looking ahead to next week, we will celebrate Grandparents on Tuesday, Nov. 25th as we share why we are "Thankful for Grandparents".  We are looking forward to this time with our families and we hope each of you enjoys a blessed Thanksgiving with your families and loved one

 

Shane Medlin

Principal


Orchard Hills Elementary School

 

  
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