WillardPublicSchools
 Student Focused | Strongly Connected | Success Driven
The Pride
August 19, 2016
In This Issue
Willard Parks
   
Youth Fall Soccer Registration Now Open
Registration Ends: August 20th   
Youth Fall Volleyball Registration Now Open
Registration Ends: August 20th   
Adult Coed Softball Registration Now Open
Registration Ends: August 20th   
Youth Fall Cheer Registration Now Open
Registration Ends: August 26th
Mighty Mites Football
Registration is August 25th and 26th from 5-7pm at the REC
Cowgirl Queens and Dusty Jeans Back To School Dance
August 26th  @ THE REC
Schools Out Day Camp For Sept 2nd
Pre register by August 26th to avoid late fee
Tumbling Toddlers Registration No
w Open
Register by the first class (Sept. 7th)
Youth Dance Class
Classes start Oct 11th.  Call the REC for availability.

     
District Office
Last week we not only welcomed back approximately 4,600 students, I also welcomed 600+ staff members to the new year.  I always enjoy the opportunity to visit with our staff.  They are exceptional individuals.  Often, I talk about learning and strategic goals for the year, focused on helping students succeed. 
 
This year I chose to talk about culture.  Many of you have heard the quote "Culture eats strategy for breakfast!".  I wholeheartedly believe this statement.  An organization which has poor culture is basically unhealthy and will not thrive.  Administrators discuss culture continually and understand that it is essential to our district.  Don Harkey, Co-Founder of People Centric, supported my theme this year as a special speaker for the welcome.  (Don is also a proud Willard parent.)  Don focused his thoughts around the following quote: "When you know your "Why" your "What" has greater impact!" 
 
To be a teacher you must know you're "What".  The "What" includes content knowledge, teaching strategy, curriculum, pedagogy, etc...  These are a given to apply for most any teaching job.  Willard teachers as a whole know "Why".  Click on the following link and watch the video clip for a visual representation of what I am saying.  Know Your Why??  Few kids will learn from teachers that don't know their "Why"!  I have great confidence knowing that Willard staff understands the "Why"!  Do you understand your "Why?" If you do, I guarantee that your days are better and your life is meaningful!
 
2016 - 2017 is going to be a tremendous year!
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Medlin 
Athletics & Activities
I never quite know how to start my first Pride of the school year.  I feel as though I don't do an adequate job of letting you know just how proud I am of our Tigers.  Not only do we have well over 350 student/athletes participating in our Fall programs, but we had close to 500 of them that worked hard over the summer to prepare for this season.  From Speech and Debate, Band, Drama, and Choir, to Football, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Golf, NO ONE represents our town and community better than our kids and coaches!
 
Football season gets started in a big way tonight as our Tigers travel to Nixa to open the season.  Coach Roweton and his staff have done a tremendous job getting them prepared and I'm excited to see the product on the field.  Kickoff is at 7:00 pm and gates will open at 6:00pm.
 
Softball also gets started tonight as they travel to Bolivar.  First pitch is at 5:00 pm.  Next week the girls will host Monett on Monday and Kickapoo on Thursday.  Good luck ladies!
 
Soccer starts their season tonight as they travel to Sedalia for the Smith-Cotton Tournament.  They will play one match tonight and two tomorrow before heading back to town.  Next week they host Joplin on Thursday starting at 5:00pm.
 
Volleyball has high expectations this season (as always!) and the girls will travel to Buffalo next Tuesday to start their season.  They will then travel to Hillcrest next Thursday.
 
Girls Golf will open their season next Thursday at Marshfield CC in the Seymour Invitational.  Good luck ladies!
 
Cross Country still has some time to train before they have their first competition on Sept. 3rd in Nixa.
 
It's Good To Be A Tiger!
 
Jeff Staley
Director of Activities
High School
The 1st full week is completed.  We are off to an awesome start with approximately 1,380 students in attendance 9th-12th.  Whether walking the halls, observing classes, or monitoring the cafeteria, I am impressed and proud of our students' behaviors and manners.  Respectful and courteous behaviors abound!
 
WHS adopted Canvas last year and continues to expand the use as a learning management system.  Teachers are finding innovative and creative ways to enhance learning and provide additional opportunity for learning with Canvas.  Parents can also access the courses, access assignments, view the instructional materials, course content, and more.  To sign up, parents can access step-by-step directions through the WHS website. 
 
Several curricular changes are taking shape this year.  The agricultural education program instructors, Mr. Asher and Mrs. Kimmons, spent a week at CASE training this summer as well as wrote a grant for equipment.  Students will greatly benefit from the increase of rigor and applications within the Ag program courses.  As well, Mr. Tobin has begun Career Explorations 1 preparing students to begin interning next semester.  Students are benefiting from a rigorous course with real-world application teaching skills relevant to life.  These and many other great opportunities are accessible to our students to develop skills and prepare them for a career and/or college.
 
It is GREAT to be a Tiger!  
 
Curt Graves
Principal
Middle School
WMS is off to a great start!  Our theme this year is "Our Leadership is Out of This World" with each team named after a space craft.   We will be focusing on finding the leader in every student and staff member throughout this year.   WMS will be utilizing LEAD, which is the middle school model of Leader in Me.  Through LEAD we will be working on implementing the 7 Habits for Highly Effective People within our own lives.  We are excited to see the changes that are in store for us as we continue to grow as leaders.  
 
Please make plans to attend our Back to School Night on Monday, August 22!  We would love for you to "walk your student's schedule" between 6:00 and 7:00 and stay for the short Introduction to LEAD meeting for all at 7:00 in the cafeteria.  
 
Parent meeting for football is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23 right after practice. Please try to attend since the schedule, requirements, meals, etc. will be discussed. 
 
The first Drama Club meeting of 2016-17 will be on Thursday, August 25th from 2:30-4:30 (special 2 hour meeting) and will be followed by a parent meeting (one at 4:30 and another at 5:00). All students are invited to attend! They will play games, membership information will be distributed, and shows for 2016-17 will be announced! See Ms. Graves if you have questions.
 
SAVE THE DATE:   September 12 is picture day!

Amy Sims
Principle
Intermediate
Willard Intermediate opened its doors last Thursday to over 700 of the best and brightest students in Southwest Missouri.  The start of a new school year is always a special event and we are honored to have the opportunity to guide and teach these young people over the next 9 months.  We look forward to helping each of them make their mark on the building and community while they are here!

Each of our teams will be hosting a Team Night over the next few weeks to give parents the opportunity to visit their student's teacher and classroom.  We encourage all WIS families to take advantage of this time as it will help get the new school year off to a great start.  Check our building calendar for specific times and dates.

Enjoy the weekend!  
Tom Davis
Principal
Orchard Hills
The school year is off to a fantastic start. It has been quite refreshing to have teachers and students, and their energy, back in the building. There has been a focus on building positive relationships and establishing positive routines and expectations. I am so thankful for the effort our teachers are investing in relationships as I am confident that this foundation will serve our students well throughout the rest of the year. Below you can see teachers investing in relationships with each other and students enjoying their friends as well.
 

 
 
 
 
Blessings,

Dr. Prevo

Central
Willard Central is off to a great 2016-2017 school year!  Our students were welcomed to WC by our PTO at the Meet the Teacher cookout.  More than 600 hotdogs were served and we enjoyed a full house of smiling faces as the new year started.  Our WC staff is also busy preparing for year 2 of the Leader in Me process.  We will soon be working on creating Student Leadership Notebooks and setting personal and academic goals for the school year.  

In addition to our new students, WC is also welcoming several new staff members:
Mr. Chip Gann - Counselor
Mrs. Jill Berry - 2nd Grade
Mrs. Christa Hernandez - Kindergarten
Miss Katie Orlando - Kindergarten
Miss Brittney Jurin - Administrative Assistant
Miss Jenifher Rodriguez - Paraprofessional
Mrs. Becky Haley - Food Services Manager
Mrs. Corena Arnold - Food Services

We are looking forward to an amazing school year as Together, we are Learning, Leading, Leaving a Legacy.

Dr. Shane Medlin
Principal
East
Happy New Year from Willard East! We are excited to announce new staff to Willard East this year. In other news we will be starting our fall fundraiser tomorrow and have some pretty awesome Willard tumblers for $11. Let us know if you'd like one. They are pretty sweet for Willard spirit!

New Staff:
Kindergarten - Miss Ashley Greer
1st Grade - Mrs. Nicole Waddell
1st Grade - Mrs. Melanie Lopez
4th Grade - Miss Kayla Bobeen
4th Grade - Miss Tara Hicks
4th Grade - Mrs. Jayme Moore
Para Professional - Mr. Zach Rippe

1st Week of School Top 5:
5 - Huge pieces of pizza on the 2nd day of school!
4 - All of our students made it home safely on the 2nd day of school during the rain storm.
3 - We have 0ver 600 followers on our school Facebook page.
2 - Our 1st "Brag Board" student was posted.
1 - All our Kindergartners came back every day!

Melinda Miller
Principal
North
 Willard North is on a mission this year to "Unlock the Knowledge!"
  
"Knowledge will bring you the opportunity to make a difference." Claire Fagin
 
It was a great first week at Willard North.  I spent the week reading to the classes and building relationships with the students.  The teachers worked hard on team building, establishing routines and setting expectations for the year.  The students were excited to be back to see their friends and teachers.  
 
We have added a few new faces to Willard North:  
Megan Angel - 4th Grade
Tricia Taylor - Computer
Taylor Holton - EC Para
Lindsey Aldridge - Para
Nicki Blaeuer- Para/Adaptive PE
Shawna Walker - Nurse
 
 
 
 
Looking ahead...
Wednesday, August 31-Super Tiger @2:30
Friday, September 2-No School
Wednesday, September 7-Picture Day K-4
 
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
#wnetigers    
 
Have a great weekend!
Amanda Hambey
Principal 
South
The 2016-2017 school year is off to an amazing start!  We have completed our first full week of school and it was success. We currently have 468 Preschool-4th grade students enrolled.  I would like to welcome several new staff members to our Willard South team this year.  They have been a great addition to our WS family! 

  • Mrs. Kara Adams--3rd Grade
  • Mrs. Linda Collier--Special Education
  • Mrs. Bethany Collins--Preschool
  • Mrs. Kerrie Hendrix--4th Grade
  • Mrs. Megan Motlagh--Computer Lab
  • Mr. David Stockton--Library Media 
  • Mrs. Patrice Tuttle--Special Education
  • Mrs. Melissa Turner--2nd Grade
 
   



Kara Crighton-Smith
Principal
Special Education

Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment




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