WillardPublicSchools
 Student Focused | Strongly Connected | Success Driven
The Pride

  
May 22, 2015
In This Issue
Willard Parks

Summer @ THE WAC - Opens May 21st

http://www.willardaquatics.com/

 

Summer Adventure Camp - Starts May 26th

http://www.willardparks.com/summer-adventure-camp.html

 

Splash Bash - May 23, 2015

http://www.willardaquatics.com/splash-bash.html

 

Indoor Garage Sale - June 6, 2015

http://www.willardparks.com/indoor-yard-sale-with-city-wide-sale.html

 

Freedom Fest - June 27, 2015

http://www.willardfreedomfest.com/

 

Midnight Swims - July 11 & August 1, 2015

http://www.willardaquatics.com/midnight-swim.html

 

Back to School Dance - August 21, 2015

http://www.willardparks.com/back-to-school-dance.html

 

Triathlon/Jr. Triathlon - August 22, 2015

http://www.willardparks.com/frisco-runaway-triathlon.html

 

http://www.willardparks.com/splash-n-dash-jr-triathlon.html

 

Doggie Dive - September 12, 2015

http://www.willardaquatics.com/the-doggie-dive.html

    

    

District Office

 Never Stop Learning!

  

 

Posters have been taken off the wall.  Computers have been disassembled or covered.  Laptops have been checked in for maintenance. Desks have been cleared off for summer cleaning.  It is time for summer break.  Most staff try to put on a great face but underneath they are tired.  The last few days of the the school year demand incredible amounts of time and energy.  Adrenaline and coffee are helping some across the finish line.  That's the way I want to finish.  There was a time in my past I walked into a school gym.  The district was struggling to meet budget and unfortunately, funds had been pulled from maintenance.  The gym looked rough!  The floor had little wax left because it had been several years since it was re-coated.  The walls had some paint peeling, and the carpet in the lobby showed some threads in heavy use areas.  Some people would look at that and be embarrassed.  I had a thought that was a bit different.  I thought to myself "think of all the joy, fun, and memories that have occurred in this room.  Think of the lives that were enhanced because of the energy that was given.  Think of how the room may have paid a heavy toll, but the benefit to kids was worth every scratch, skid mark, broken light, etc..." 

 

When teachers end the year tired it should never be interpreted it is because they are "tired of the kids".  Most of them have simply expended all the physical and emotional fuel in their tanks.  However, I have an incredible belief in teachers, especially Willard Teachers.  A bit of time off for themselves and their families and they will begin thinking and get excited about their "new kids" they will greet in the fall.  Their internal tanks will fill to capacity and once again they will be ready to give it all back to kids.  I have always been told it is not how you start, but how you finish.  I want to finish similar to the old gym.  Many Willard staff members give all they have to kids and realize that in the process they are going to get tired and look beat up due to the heavy toll.  They accept that the expenditure is worth the positive results for kids.

 

Willard staff is full of educational champions!  Go get filled up!

Enjoy the summer!!!

Dr. Kent Medlin 

  
Special Services

9th Annual Fishing with Friends Day

 

On May 12 we were blessed with an absolutely beautiful day for our 9th Annual Fishing with Friends Day.  A group of 60 special needs students along with staff and other volunteers spent the day at the Bois D'Arc Conservation Area for a morning of fishing, a delicious picnic lunch and then an afternoon of archery.  Our secondary students also had the opportunity to shoot pellet rifles on the range and all activities were provided under the supervision of the Missouri Conservation Department.  Many of the students had a special buddy from Mr. Vaughn's building Trades class or the High School Fishing club who enthusiastically assisted them with the fishing, archery and riflery.   

 

Our delicious picnic lunch was generously provided by some participating families, a MS fundraiser and the HS ROAR.  The cooks and organizers for our lunch were Sharla Beuerlein (former HS SPED teacher), Carol Bourbina (former motor paraprofessional) and Wayne Harless (HS paraprofessional).   All students and staff were given a matching t-shirt and the sea of safety yellow around the pond was truly a sight to behold!  The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to enjoy the outdoors and it directly relates to services they receive through Adapted PE, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.  Even though the weather may be unpredictable, one thing constant and for certain is the smiles when a fish is caught whether a 6 oz perch or 3 lb bass!

 

Submitted by Maria Harless, Physical Therapist

 

Have an incredible summer and thanks for another amazing year!

 

Caryn McDonnell
Director of Special Services  





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