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The Pride

December 5, 2014
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Willard Parks

 

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

Traditions are cornerstones to families and communities.  I always smoke a turkey for Thanksgiving on my Big Green Egg, our family always does a family picture, and we watch football together. 

 

This week Willard hosts a long standing tradition in local basketball.  The Four-State Classic begins today.  This event schedules four school districts from four different states in a boys and girls varsity tournament in three days.  Select schools return year after year because of the hospitality and welcoming spirit in our community.  Local families / business' host the teams and help meet any needs.  The teams stay in Springfield Thursday and Friday nights visiting Bass Pro and other local attractions. 

 

We are proud to host this great opportunity to show school spirit, and support the great student athletes from the participating schools. Please enjoy the tournament and enjoy your time in our school community!  

 

I hope to see you this weekend at the games.
It is time for Tiger Basketball !!!!!
  
Have a great weekend!

Dr. Medlin

Superintendent 

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Athletics & Activities

 

If there was ever an event that illustrates just how amazing the community of Willard is, the Four-State basketball tournament is it!  I can't write THANK YOU big enough or enough times to all of our volunteers, sponsors, coaches, players, officials, and workers.  It fills my heart to listen to the coaches and players from the other schools gush about how they are treated EVERY time they come to Willard.  They say there is no other tournament like it anywhere!  It reminds me just how lucky we are to live in this community.
  
I will, however, try to thank some of the people who help make this tournament possible:
  
To Julie Hartley for her countless hours and tireless efforts to help make sure everything is in order.  This tournament would not happen without her!
  
To CoxHealth, Freedom Bank, Commerce Bank, and Mid-Missouri Bank for sponsoring the tournament.  Without your support, none of this would be possible.
  
To the Willard Athletic Booster Club for everything you do.
  
To Commerce Bank, Freedom Bank, LDS Church, Kip Baker Insurance, Mariena's Salon, and Mid-Missouri Bank for serving as team hosts.  I wish all of you could see the look on the player's faces when they see their welcome gifts!
  
To Terri Hession and Jolene Welsh for running the best hospitality room ever!
  
To Melissa Giboney for making sure all of the athletes' bumps and bruises are taken care of.
  
To Pam Hudson and the Willard Cheerleaders for putting in so much effort to help.
  
To Mel Hicks and the Tigerettes for entertaining us at halftime.
  
To the Willard Jazz Bands for creating and atmosphere that is second to none!
  
To Kelly and Meghan Staley for helping run the player's hospitality room.
  
To Darin VanStavern, Del Holderbaum, Garry Highfill, Debbie Mann, Rhonda Magnuson, and Andy Robinson for doing an outstanding job of working the table.
  
To all of our coaches and players for making us proud that you wear the "Willard" jersey!
  
I'm sure I've forgotten someone, but please know that I'm so thankful for everyone who made this year's tournament a success!
  
Well the Tigers have started the season 0-2 but are playing with great effort.  They will continue the tournament tonight as they play Ft. Scott at 8:30 Tomorrow they will conclude the tournament vs. Harrison, AR. at 5:45 Next Tuesday, we will host Parkview with the freshmen starting at 5:00.
  
The Lady Tigers fell to 1-1 on the season as they lost to Broken Arrow last night as well.  The girls will play Ft. Scott tonight at 7:00 and will play Harrison, AR. tomorrow at 2:30.  Next week, the ladies will host Stockton on Thursday.
  
The wrestling Tigers will open their season in style as they travel to Neosho this Saturday for the Neosho Tournament.  Wrestling will start at 9:00am.  Good luck Tigers!
  
Also, end-of-the-season football awards are starting to come out.  Congratulations to Hunter Yeargan, Tyler Larsen, Forrest Merrill, and Robert Richmond on making 1st Team All-COC!  And to Connor Jones, Corbin White, Nate Washington, Brady Dawson, and Sky Cope for making 2nd Team All-COC, and to Kyle Smith, Austin McMillan, and Joe McGuire for being selected Honorable Mention All-COC.
  
Great job guys and great season!
  
It's Good To Be A Tiger!
  
Jeff Staley
Director of Athletics / Activities
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High School

We often times recognize and celebrate extracurricular successes. And rightfully so, as these students and staff work extremely hard to achieve these honors.  However, high school is really about academic preparations, or college/career readiness. 

 

WHS is hosting the first-ever Academic Breakfast on December 16 at 7 AM.  Students and parents received invitations and have been requested to RSVP.  We want to celebrate the academic accomplishments of our students during this honorary breakfast.  Additionally, as one enters the high school, new TV monitors are visible in both the office areas and in the main hallway.  While we are still configuring, these monitors will display student recognitions.  These recognitions may be academic such as high ACT scores, college signings, scholarship awards, random acts of kindness, and more.

 

SGA is conducting the 2nd Annual Hygiene Drive.  Classes are competing for valuable competition points.  All goods received are donated to the Willard Food Pantry.  This is a great opportunity for WHS students to participate in the spirit of giving during the holiday season.

 

Next week, a number of high school students will be taking End-of-Course Exams (EOC's).  During the fall the total number of students is significantly smaller than in the spring.  On Saturday, December 13, we are hosting an ACT opportunity as well.

 

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 is available to students in the office and posted on the high school website.

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves

Principal 

 

  
Middle School
Our WMS Tigers came back from the break rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to go! 
 
Tickets are on sale for the Drama Club's production of "The Little
Princess" on December 11-13 at 7:00 pm in the WMS Black Box Theatre. All tickets are $5 and can be purchased in advance from Ms. Graves or at the door. This year, students can also purchase tickets with Tiger Bucks that they have  
earned in various ways throughout the school day, a new incentive program here at WMS
 
Activities are keeping the school hopping with something going on just about every day after school, just take a look at our web site and calendar if you want to know what is going on and when.  There is Archery, Academic Team, Speech & Debate, Coding Club, Golf Club, basketball games, wrestling, tutoring, rehearsals, practices and much more.   Mrs. McDowell's Science Club is preparing for their Science Olympiad Competition in February. Any students interested in that should stop by her room to sign up and attend the next meeting on December 18th!  December Book Club will be reading "Murder on the Orient Express" and meeting after school on December 10th! http://ms.willardschools.net/ 

Save the Date:  WMS Book Fair is coming December 15 - 19th !!

We are gearing up for our annual Willard Middle School Talent Show to be held on December 19th!  If your student sings, dances, plays an instrument, is a talented comedian, or has some other special talent, then this event is for them!  Tryouts for the talent show will be Wednesday, December 10th after school in Mrs. Witt's room.  Students need to sign up and get a permission slip from Mrs. Lovelandby Tuesday, December 9th to get an audition spot.  Audition times will be communicated at a later date.
  
The WMS Student Council will be hosting the Annual Grandparents Breakfast onDecember 19th from 8:00-9:00 am in the WMS cafeteria.  Students are encouraged to invite their grandparents to this event.  Invitations can be picked up from Mrs. Coffer, Mr. Post or in the office. 

Thanks for checking in on us!
 
Amy Sims
Principal 

 

Intermediate School

 

North Elementary School

On Thursday night Willard North students attended skate night at Skateland.  This was organized by the Student Council and was a way for them to raise money.  We had a great turnout and the students loved to show off their skating skills! Thanks to our Student Council and the parents who brought out their kids to enjoy the night.   

 

Looking Ahead...

 

4th Grade Program-Monday, December 8

Santa Shop-Tuesday, December 9-11

PTO Family Fun Night-Thursday, December 11

Have a wonderful weekend!

Amanda Hambey

Principal

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South Elementary School
 Our Make-It Take-It Night was packed with family members on Thursday evening.  This was our 15th year to celebrate the holiday season with this family event.  Everyone enjoyed making an ornament, decorating cookies, watching our After School Actors perform and even got to see Santa.  
Willard South and Academy Sports will be giving away 13 boys and 13 girls 20 inch bicycles this Holiday Season.  All first and second grade students at Willard South are eligible for this giveaway.  Below is a link to a flyer with specific details regarding the drawing.  The drawing will take place at 10:00 am on Friday, December 19th during an assembly.  Don't miss out on this special giveaway!!!
 


Kara Crighton-Smith

Principal 

 

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East Elementary School

 

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Central Elementary School
WC students and staff enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Before the break, students welcomed their grandparents to school for our "Thankful for Grandparents" day.  Students shared activities from the classroom, holiday treats and some great memories with their grandparents.  Thank you to the more than 350 grandparents who visited to make the day special for our students!
As we look ahead to December, mark your calendars for the following events:
Dec. 8th - PTO Meeting 6:00pm
Dec. 16th - 4th Grade Music Concert 7:00pm
Dec. 18th - PTO Parties 2:45pm
Dec. 19th - End of 2nd Quarter & Early Dismissal 12:30pm

 

Shane Medlin

Principal


Orchard Hills Elementary School

 

  
Special Services

It didn't take long for the teachers or the students to get back in the groove of learning.  I have watched some amazing things in classrooms this week and want to share two particular interactions that I had.

  • The first was with a small group of students who had just finished reading the book SOLD in Mrs.Tourville's English 2 class.  The students were working on creating a poster that would show what they learned from the reading.  The project will serve as their assessment, in place of a  multiple choice, short answer or T/F exam.  I was impressed with the creativity that was being used by the teacher to help students process the information and demonstrate their learning tailored to their learning styles.  The students said that this was much more effective than a test, because they really had to "know" the information, yet it was fun!

  • The second conversation I had was with a young lady who has aspirations to be a baker after she graduates. She is participating in one of the school to work job settings in the high school cafeteria.  When I came in to observe her, she was smiling and assisting the kitchen staff with a task in preparation for lunch.  She was working diligently, while everyone else was busy with their own task.  It was apparent to me that she realized that the job skills she was practicing today will help her find meaningful and gainful employment outside of school.  She has goals and dreams and is working to take the first step.  She was a  pleasant young lady and I wish her the best in her future career!

Both of these examples are evidence of learning in very unique ways and I love that Willard allows for a variety of learning to take place, helping kids to be focused, connected and driven.

 

Don't forget to check our website at http://willardspecialservices.weebly.com

 

With PRIDE!

Caryn McDonnell

Director of Special Education

 

Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment




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

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