WillardPublicSchools
 Student Focused | Strongly Connected | Success Driven
The Pride
May 6, 2016
In This Issue
Quick News
 
As we head toward the end of the school year, it's time to start thinking about summer school.  Get more info and register here.

 
Willard was recently recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation as one of the Best Communities for Music Education. Only two districts in Missouri received the designation, Willard and Liberty.
Willard Parks
   
       
District Office
Teacher Appreciation Week!

You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. -American Adage, Source Unknown

Can you even imagine walking in the shoes of a teacher???  Everyday you are responsible for a large group of children for the entire day.  You are given an expectation that the group must maintain order and you are responsible to help them learn complex material at a high level of proficiency.  Each and every day one of your young ones require extra special attention because something is out of balance in their life.  Often they look to the teacher to help restore balance.  A student has no money for lunch so the teacher gives them money out of their pocket.  A student has head lice and is out for a day.  He returns back to the classroom the following day thinking to himself "everyone knows" and is greeted by the teacher with a smile and a comment, "I'm glad you're back!"  A student appears withdrawn and sad.  The teacher asks if they are OK and the student responds that their dad was just sentenced to prison.  The teacher makes a mental note to continually provide additional positive reinforcement to the child.  I could go on and on about other real life teacher examples.  Anyone that decides to walk in the shoes of a teacher should be prepared for sore feet and calluses.  I appreciate the many outstanding teachers that helped me become who I am today.  I greatly appreciate Willard Teachers and how they are helping young people become the best that they can be today and tomorrow!

Have a great weekend
 
Dr. Medlin
Superintendent 
Athletics & Activities
2003.....That was the last time Willard's golf program advanced out of the district tournament...until now!  Congratulations to Coach Stone and the golfers on advancing 4 players to the Sectional Tournament at Rivercut this Monday.  Here were the results:
Team Score: 350
Team Place: 3rd out of 11

Individuals
Brayden Swearengin - 84 (8th Place - All-District)
Jacob Shackelford - 86 (10th - All-District)
Taylor Hession - 89 (15th - All-District)
Sage Whiting - 91 (Sectional Qualifier)
Damian Engelbrecht - 107

Once again, Willard has the privilege of hosting several district tournaments (We've kind of gotten use to doing it!).  On Saturday, May 14th, we will be hosting the Class 5 District 10 baseball tournament.  There will be two games (11:00am and 1:00pm) on that day.  However, our Tigers will not be playing as they received the #1 seed and a subsequent first round bye in the tournament! 
On Monday, May 16th, we will be hosting the Class 3 District 9 soccer tournament.  Our girls received the #2 seed and will play Branson at 6:00pm.

Back to baseball, the Tigers have had a great week as the defeated Carthage and Harrison, Ark. and will travel to Bolivar to take on the state-ranked Liberators tonight.  The team is 19-9 on the season and will travel to Carl Junction next Thursday and will go to Kickapoo next Friday (make-up of a rainout).

The soccer Tigers will end their regular season next Tuesday as they travel to Ozark.  Good luck ladies!

Track competed in the COC meet at Ozark last night.  The boys finished in 4th place and the girls finished in 7th.  Here are the medalists:
COC Medalists

Boys:
Ryan Kern COC Champion in the 200m Dash
Josh McGuire COC Champion in the Shot Put and Bronze in the Discus
Nate Swadley Silver in the Shot Put
Hunter Yeargan SIlver in the 100m Dash
Brock Howard Bronze in the High Jump

Girls:
Savannah Yeargan Silver in the Discus and Bronze in the Shot Put
Brooklyn Bolin Bronze in the Pole Vault

A great day for Willard choir kids at the State Music Festival in Columbia last Saturday.

The following received 1 ratings:
Tiarra Crews, Mixed Double Maggard, Sam Bird, Girls Baker, Zephan McGlasson, Girls Creed, Girls Britton, Girls Bird, Corrienne Thedell, Boys Bushnell, Emalee Flatness, and Anna Bird. 

Entries receiving 2 ratings were: 
Siena Kragel, Amanda Maggard, Mariah Krueger, Girls Brown, Mixed Bowman, Mikenzi Hayes, and Bailey Freeman. 

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

Jeff Staley
Director of Activities/Athletics
High School
So many teachers have impacted so many students' lives.  Teachers spend tireless hours planning instructional units, tutoring, giving feedback, and instructing.  Stacks of papers go home in the evenings to be graded after their own children go to bed.  They come early and stay late to organize for the day and tutor struggling students. As 'Teacher Appreciation Week' concludes, I encourage all to send a note to an instructor that impacted our lives. 

Today, Friday, May 6, is the last official high school class day for graduating seniors.  Many return early next week to complete finals in the auxiliary gym on Monday and Tuesday mornings.  Graduates return on Wednesday evening, 6:30 PM for baccalaureate.  Then, they return on Friday morning for graduation practice in the main gym. 

The entire community is welcome and invited to attend WHS graduation ceremonies.  With the change in venue to JQH, parking and seating is available to all.  The Class of 2016 is an outstanding group and I am looking forward to honoring our graduates and celebrating with them on May 14, 8 PM!

It is GREAT to be a Tiger
 
Curt Graves
Principal
Middle School
Track has wrapped up their season this week and what a season it was!!  Here are the results of the COC Track meet on Monday.
Team Results from Mondays COC Track meet are:
7th Grade Girls = 7th Place
8th Grade Girls = 4th Place
7th Grade Boys = 3rd Place
8th Grade Boys = 6th Place

These athletes took home a 1st Place Medal:
Kailey McMain, Neely Bridges, Gabby Martinez, & Kylie Votaw in the 4x100m Relay
Tassi Bolin in Pole Vault
Kaitlyn Burson in Shot Put and Discus
Eli Aye in High Jump and Long Jump
Marshall Swadley in Shot Put & Discus
Austin Joplin in Triple Jump

These athletes took home a 2nd Place Medal:
Addy Adamson in Discus
Kailey McMain in the 100M Dash
Sydney Pyrah in the Mile
Eli Aye in the 200M & 400M Dash
Blake Hultgen in the 800M & Mile Run
Austin Joplin in the Long Jump & 100M Dash
Brendan Wooliver in the High Jump

These athletes took home a 3rd Place Medal:
Brendan Wooliver in the 400M 

There were 4 students that Broke School Records in Track this year. They are:
Kaitlyn Burson in Shot Put throwing 39"4" and in Discus throwing 95'4 1/2"
Blake Hultgren in the Mile coming in at 5:07.55
Eli Aye in the Long Jump reaching 18' 1/2"
Marshall Swadley in the Discus throwing 130'6"

As you can tell we had a highly successful group of athletes this year who worked hard and accomplished a LOT!

Amy Sims
Principal   

Intermediate

Orchard Hills
The end is near and the times are busy! The end of the year looks to be a very fun time at Orchard Hills. We held our second Kindergarten screening on Tuesday and it was fun to meet the future WOHE Tigers and families. MAP testing is complete and today we are hosting our MAP reward day as a way to tell our students thanks for all the effort they put forth during testing. Field Day is also quickly approaching which should be fun for all. We are so thankful for a great year at WOHE. Thank you to all who contributed to this wonderful year in some way, big or small. We can't do it alone and value every contribution made to our school and students.

Wishing you a blessed weekend,

Dr. Prevo
Principal
Central
It was another great week at WC!  The high school singers of Fast Forward entertained our students.   Our 3rd grade student visited the George Washington Carver Monument to learn about a famous Missouri inventor.  Our students showed off their amazing artwork at Fine Arts Night thanks to the amazing Mrs. Mello and her ArtyParty Student Leaders.  

Another highlight of the week was celebrating our school's 20th year of learning!  Thank you to all of the parents, past staff members and community members for celebrating this day with us.  Thank you to the student leaders who led the ceremony, added to the WCE Time Capsule and served our guests during their visit.  It was a wonderful journey down memory for lane for our school while celebrating the amazing future that lies ahead.

As we look ahead to next week, more memories will be made as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.  Our 4th grade students will visit the Intermediate School for their Transition Day and they will also celebrate their time at Central with our 4th grade reception at the Tower Club.  And speaking of fine dining, our 2nd grade students will host their annual Hotdog Restaurant on Friday.  

Dr. Shane Medlin
Principal
East

North

South
Special Education
May is here and it's time to celebrate all of the wonderful things that are happening across the district. Here are just a few highlights!

 

Students participated in the Annual A Sporting Chance state track meet in Branson, MO on Saturday, April 30.  15 students participated in track and field events and all were recognized for their efforts.  This is the first year that we have had Early Childhood Students participate and that was amazing for our team!  A great big THANK  YOU to Jessica Gomes for coordinating the practices and events this year.  GREAT JOB ATHLETES!  

 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!  On Monday, our Special Services staff including teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, counselors and office staff were treated to a lovely meal and a small gift in appreciation for all they do everyday to serve kids.  We have an amazing team and they serve kids with excellence!

The Annual Fishing with Friends Day coordinated by Maria Harless, Physical Therapist, was exceptional this year.  Over 150 individuals participated in a day of fishing, archery, rifles, and sensory activities along with a delicious picnic provided through donations.  You can see by the photos, that some caught more than fish!  The sun was shining and volunteers from the Bois D'Arc Conservation Unit and our own Building Trades classes helped make this a day to remember.

Have a great weekend!
 
Caryn McDonnell
Director of Special Service s
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment




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