WillardPublicSchools
 Student Focused | Strongly Connected | Success Driven
The Pride
January 30, 2015
In This Issue
Willard Parks
  
District Office
Willard Schools supports individuals who are seeking to grow in their skills and pursue positions in education.  Student teaching has long been a model that demonstrates a type of "internship" for future teachers.  Willard also has an internal three year administrative intern program.  Individuals must apply for the program and only five are selected to participate.  The program has helped interns gain administrative positions in the Willard district as well as other districts.
  
This week I was speaking with an intern and they asked what my highest priority was in hiring teachers / administrators.  Before I would share my thoughts I asked them to share their opinion.  Their answer focused on instructional ability.  They went on to say that if the candidate was not strong in content knowledge and pedagogy they could not add to the collective group of high quality teachers.  I agreed with the intern that this was a high priority criteria but was not on the top of my list. 

I asked a follow up question:  "Could you as a future administrator take a willing candidate and grow their knowledge base and pedagogy to a high quality level?"  They intern shared that they believed they could do that.  I then asked them if they could grow a person of average character and integrity to a high quality level.  The intern hesitated, so I then shared my belief. 

Willard staff are very willing to help an employee grow in their knowledge base and general teaching abilities, however,  the energy, time, and investment to grow a person's character and integrity is significantly greater.  I have always believed that teachers / coaches / sponsors possess the ability to help shape the character of young people.  That certainly occurred in my life and it continues to occur in the lives of young people throughout our school district.  One of my favorite quotes:  "Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you!"  Character and Integrity trumps every other hiring characteristic!

Have a great weekend!
Dr. Medlin
 
Athletics & Activities
There have been countless former Tigers who have put their name on the dotted line to continue their playing careers at the next level,  We have celebrated each one in our library and have done so with great pride.

National Signing Day (Wednesday, Feb. 4th) is something that is special.  The entire nation takes a day to recognize these student/athletes who have earned the right to get a college education through athletics.  In the past 12 years, Willard has never had more than 2 student/athletes sign on this day.   Well.....we have 6 this year!  Congratulations to the following:

Robert Richmond - Missouri Western - football
Forrest Merrill - Missouri State University - football
Chase Gerhing - Evangel - football
Quinton Puckett - Evangel - football/soccer
Michael Emery - William Penn - football
Dylan Owens - Abilene Christian University - soccer

Undoubtedly, we will have many more Tigers signing throughout the Spring and we will be honoring each one!

Good luck to the wrestling Tigers as they will compete tomorrow in the prestigious COC Wrestling Tournament in Branson!

Good luck to the Tigers as they travel to Kansas City for a game vs. Hogan Prep tomorrow afternoon.  The game will be held at Rockhurst High School with the JV contest starting at 2:00pm followed by the varsity.  Next week, the Tigers will host COC opponent, Ozark, on Friday.

Good luck to the Lady Tigers as they play in the Seneca Tournament next week.  Their first round matchup is vs. Neosho on Monday at 6:00pm.  They will play Seneca on Tuesday at 6:00pm with the championship round being held on Saturday.

Last weekend the speech and debate team competed against 36 schools from around the state.  The novice attended the tournament at Central and won 3rd place in sweeps! The varsity competed at Parkview and the team won 5th overall in sweeps!

 

Going to semi-finals at Central were the following: Derrick Barger in IX, Tory Butler in USX, Joe Amundson in HI, and Haley Wingender/Tory Butler in Duo.  Placing in finals were the following: Elijah Pitts 3rd place in IX, Jonah Perry 5th in HI, in DI Emily Smart placed 6th and Alysia Wells 5th, in Duo Ashlyn Wadle/Grace Black 5th and Joe Amundson/Kelsey Christianson, and John Dickens 1st in Student Congress.  In Debate Tory Butler/Katie Larson placed 4th in Public Forum debate and Derrick Barger won 1st in Lincoln-Douglas!

 

At Parkview the varsity had several advance, in semi-finals: Ryan Largent, Wyatt Gregory, and Brie Jarvis in HI, and Brie Jarvis/Lindsay Smith in Duo. Placing in finals were the following: Katelynn Wilson 2nd in HI, Wyatt Gregory/Jeremiah Puckett 4th and Jacob Burnett/Cole Baker 1st in Duo, and Emily Raney 2nd in Student Congress! Great Job!

 

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

 

Jeff Staley 
Director of Athletics/Activities
High School

The April 28th date for juniors to participate in the mandated state-wide ACT is quickly approaching.  WHS staff are excited as we have 23 students enrolled in the ACT prep semester course and 28 students in the TNT Rewards ACT prep intervention.  Each 4 � weeks the TNT Rewards ACT prep will rotate to another group of willing students.  These students receive specific instruction, practice, and test-taking strategies for each section of the ACT.  Additionally, several instructors teaching junior-level courses also supplement with subject specific ACT activities. 

 

In addition to scheduling, counselors are planning activities for all students to participate  on April 28.  Freshmen and sophomore activities will include exposure to an ACT practice test.  Seniors will receive instruction and preparation for graduating at JQH arena.  Additional activities including guest speakers and team building activities are being discussed with classes resuming in the afternoon.

 

While making observations this week, I watched students in FACs classes use Socrative to complete a review activity and gain immediate feedback on their progress.  In a Social Studies class, students were accessing Schoology to receive feedback on an exam.  During a Foreign Language class, the instructor facilitated the use of Infuse Learning to access a visual learning activity.  Other classes are using Google classroom and Canvas to provide materials, link videos, give assessments, and provide feedback.  Technology has become embedded in how we learn at WHS.  Students and teachers are doing amazing things with the technology tools available to them.

 

It is GREAT to be a Tiger!

 

Curt Graves

Principal

Middle School
  
Intermediate School

 

North Elementary School

We had a great week at Willard North!  The weather was beautiful and the students enjoyed their time outside!  We held our Super Tiger on Wednesday and celebrated student achievements.  

 

The 2nd grade students have been working on a fun after Christmas break writing project Students wrote creative narratives about what would happen if they got stuck inside a snowglobe.  They explained how they got inside, what adventures they had (including several who met up with Elsa, Anna and Olaf) and finally how they managed to get out.  Students then posed for a picture of themselves inside the snowglobe and designed a snowy background scene that matched their stories.  The students really showed their creativity while using many writing skills they have been learning all year.
 

Looking Ahead...

WCCF Change a Life Coin Drive- February 2-6

*Don't forget to send in change all week long!  Part of the proceeds will be going to support Aaron Pearson's family!


 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Amanda Hambey

Principal

South Elementary School
Please keep Mrs. Pearson, our Willard South Kindergarten teacher, and her family in your thoughts and prayers.  Her husband, Springfield Police Officer Aaron Pearson, was recently injured on duty. 

If you would like to show your support by sending a card to the family or monetary donation to the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, they can be submitted to the Willard South Elementary office.  We will forward the items to the family.

Your thoughts, prayers and support for Officer Pearson and his family are greatly appreciated.

Kara Crighton-Smith
Principal 
East Elementary School

We would like to welcome baby Case Matthew Sweet born last weekend to our kindergarten teacher Mrs. Sweet. Mom and baby are doing great!


Thank you Mrs. McHaffie for our prize closet
extreme makeover! Check out the pictures and how great it looks.





Melinda Miller
Principal
Central Elementary School
The Leader in Me principles seek to equip students for their future while inspiring greatness, one child at a time.  Fruits of these efforts have already been experienced with students leading change by stepping up and taking action.  As students have worked on their persuasive writing this quarter, the hearts of students have come out supporting needs in our community and in our school.  

One of our 4th grade student leaders stepped up this week at Community Time and shared her idea for supporting and thanking the unsung praises of our staff members.  Caitlyn Friebe encouraged our students to make Friday a "Not Forgotten Day" to honor and recognize those things we take for granted in our school by our custodians, paraprofessionals, food service staff members, bus drivers and countless other staff members.  She encouraged students to write a card, say thank you or even share a hug to thank them for taking care of us.  I appreciate Caitlyn's heart and her desire to serve and honor others.  If we can take Caitlyn and other students who are choosing to step up and lead as an examples of our future, we are in great hands and we have a bright future ahead of us!

Caitlyn's challenge to our students was divine timing as our staff recognized Mr. Jeff, Ms. Linda and Mr. Keith this week for Custodian Appreciation and their service to our school family.  We appreciate all they do to keep WC looking great and keeping things clean so we can stay healthy!
  

WC is ready for Chapters 4 and 5 of our All-School Family Book Club!  Snuggle up and enjoy the adventures of Humphrey together over this cold, winter weekend!

 

Shane Medlin, 

Principal

Orchard Hills Elementary School

Congratulations to WOHE's "District Office Art Show" winners. Their artwork will be on display at the district office building until Feb. 9, 2015. Winners are: 4th graders Erica T. and Kendall D., 3rd graders Reagan T., Alexia S., Bryson M., Aiden E., Kason S. and Fianna H., 1st graders Hyder B. and Shyanne V., Kindergarteners Brandt S. and Teagan S. Congratulations to these awesome Tiger Artists! If you have a chance, stop by and see their creations!

 

Dr. Rhonda Bishop

Principal 

Curriculum & Instruction

It is hard to believe the month of January is just about over.  The district curriculum department has been busy this month training teachers and learning about the new MAP state assessment that will be given in May of this school year for grades 3 -8.  Students who are used to taking the paper pencil version of the assessment will now be taking it on line for the first time.  With the use of technology in the schools and Willard's one-to-one initiative, students will be well prepared for the new interface to come.  This assessment will still cover the same content as the paper pencil test which are language arts, math, and science.  Taking this assessment online offer many digital "help" tools for students.  With the online assessment students will be able to highlight, strike out answers, change the color of the background, and use a grid line to mark their place in different passages they read.  Teachers are doing a great job introducing students to use these new tools.  State assessments are taking on a whole new look with technology, but our students are up for the challenge with the help of one-to-one!

 

Angela Stevens

Director of Curriculum & Instruction





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