The Willard R-2 Board of Education approved the 2007-08 school calendar at last weeks meeting.   Below is a text version.  A copy of the calendar should be on the District website later today.

August 6-10 :  New Teachers Training
August 13-15: Teacher Workdays
August 16: 1st day of School
September 3: Labor Day (No School)
September 14: End of 1st Mid Quarter
September 19: Grade cards out to students
September 28: Staff Workshop (No School)
October 17:  End of 1st Quarter
October 26: Parent Teacher Conferences (No School)
November 16: End of 2nd Mid Quarter
November 21-23: No School (Thanksgiving)
December 21: End of 2nd Quarter/1st Semester
December 24-31:  Christmas Break
January 1-3: Christmas Break
January 4: Teacher Workday No school for students
January 21:  No school (3rd snow day if needed)
February 6: End of 3rd Mid Quarter
February 11:  Grade cards out to students
February 18: No School (4th snow day if needed)
March 7:  End of 3rd Quarter
March 12: Grade cards out to students
March 17-19: Spring Break (Make-up Days if Needed)
March 20-21: Spring Break (Guaranteed)
March 24: Teacher Workshop (No School)
April 16: End of 4th Mid Quarter
April 21:  Grade cards out to students
April 25: Mini Break (No School)
May 20: Last day of school
May 21:  1st Snow day if needed
May 22:  2nd Snow day if needed

Dr. Kent E. Medlin
Superintendent of Schools
(Dr. Medlin was out of the office on Friday.)

Although the weather hasn’t exactly been conducive for sports such as golf, soccer, track, or baseball, all spring sports will begin practicing on Monday, Feb. 26th.  However, winter sports has some work left with district and state tournaments getting under way and the wrestling Tigers have gotten us off to a great start!

Congratulations to Taylor Ball, Garrett Mayfield, Caleb Gibbons, and Chris McMullin on qualifying for the state wrestling tournament which started Thursday night.  As of Friday morning, Tayor and Garrett are 1-1 and Caleb and Chris are both undefeated at 1-0.  They will continue wrestling tonight and Saturday.  Congratulations to Coach Fletchall and his wrestling Tigers.

The basketball Tigers will have their last home game before districts tonight vs. Bolivar starting at 6:00pm. Courtwarming festivities will be held during half time of the JV game and Senior Recognition will be held between the JV and Varsity games.  We will then be hosting the Class 4, District 9 Basketball Tournament which will begin tomorrow at 6:00pm with the Buffalo girls vs. Eldon girls followed by the Buffalo boys vs. Bolivar boys at 7:30.  The Tigers and Lady Tigers will begin their quest for a district title next week with the Lady Tigers playing Marshfield on Monday at 6:00pm and the Tigers will take on the winner of the Buffalo/Bolivar contest on Tuesday at 7:30.  Admission for all district games is $4.00

Congratulations to Josh Brock and Collin Edwards on signing baseball scholarships with Crowder and Coffeyville respectively.  Also, congratulations to Willard graduate Kelly (Hartley) Richardson on being named the new head volleyball coach at SBU.
 
CONGRATULATIONS to Chris McMullin on becoming the first Willard wrestler to bring home a state championship!  Also, to Caleb Gibbons on medaling by finishing 6th. Chris, Caleb and their coaches, Mike Fletchall and Kiiler Stephens, have worked very hard for this.  They did a great job of representing Willard at the state tournament.

It’s good to be a Tiger!
Jeff Staley
Director of Operations

Fifteen Willard staff attended the Children’s Mental Health Conference in Branson this past Saturday and were provided practical tools for working with children with a variety of disabilities.  It was a pleasant surprise to see Melissa Massey and seven of the North Tiger Tales workers sitting at the next table during the keynote. Others attending were Janet Turner, Maria Hobbs, Shannon Roberts, Amy Hall, Doris Wallace and Candi Price from Central. The conference, which included workshops on teen self injury, reactive attachment disorder, daily living skills for students with autism, and writing for mental health (presented by former Willard SLP Judy Young), was an opportunity to hear from experts from across the country.  Thanks to all who were in attendance.  

Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Besides being cold the Middle School has been hard at work with boning up for MAP test. 

Multi- Cultural Day is February 21st.  Ask your student what his or her participation might be.  They tell me Cowboy Culture is not one of the cultures to be covered.   Several countries and cultures will be presented by people of those countries. 

Remember the Spelling Bee on February 20th.  We have some great spellers at the Middle School.  By the way the Administration will only supervise and not participate in the Spelling Bee unless we can use spell check on our computers!

Our school musical is coming on March 1st.  Please add it to your calendars.

Dennis Twitchel, Assistant Principal

Most parents take for granted that school starts at 8:20 and ends at 3:30 here at the Intermediate School.  In fact, on any given day, you’ll find staff meetings, tutoring and club events that start as early as 7:15 in the morning, and continue on until 5:00 in the afternoon!  All of these things happen only because of the hard work of our staff, who give up their time at home to go the extra mile for our kids!  I appreciate all of their efforts to make our school a better place for kids to learn! 

Julie Germann, Principal

This week we celebrated Willard Central Night at the boys basketball game and a victory over Marshfield with our students performing our school song and the National Anthem.  Thank you to Mr. Staley and Mrs. Chatman for their hard work in making the evening such a success.  We would also like to thank the varsity Tigers for signing autographs after the game and setting such a positive example for our students.  We also celebrated fun and friendship at our Valentines Day parties.  Thank you to the PTO room parents for all of their hard work organizing the parties and making a special memory for our students. 

This week we also celebrated Board of Education Appreciation Week (a month late due to the ice storm).  Thank you school board members for all you do for our students, teachers, schools, and community.  Your hearts for kids and making decisions that keep student needs first help to make Willard such a wonderful school district.  We appreciate your tireless efforts for our kids!!

It has been a great week of learning and celebration at Central.  As we look ahead to next week, please remember that we have school pictures on Tuesday, February 20^th. 

Have a great weekend and keep On Track for Success.    Shane Medlin, Principal

Today is Teacher SWAP day at Willard East. Once a year we SWAP teachers so everyone can walk in the shoes of other great teachers in the building. A good time was had by all. Be sure to ask your student who their teacher was today. Next Saturday is our annual February Fling and we look forward to seeing everyone at Willard East from 9:00AM 12:30PM.

Melinda Miller, Principal

We have been busy all week!  Last night our Title One teachers had a reading night for their students!  I want to thank Cyndi Clutter and Leslie Arnold for all they do to help make our readers successful.  They are always supporting our staff and students and it is appreciated!  Next week is a big one at Willard North. Monday, is President’s day and a snow makeup day. On Tuesday, February 20th, we will host our semi-annual volunteer day.  We love to have our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends come to help support our school.  We will also have spring pictures and group pictures on Thursday for our students.  We also hope the week brings some warmer weather so we can get our kids outside! 

Have a wonderful weekend! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

CONGRATULATIONS WILLARD SOUTH STUDENTS!!  We have 375 students who remained fight free for the first 100 days of school.  In order to celebrate our success, we will have a school wide party on Tuesday, February 20th. It is a great to know that Willard South students are respectful and take pride in following the rules.  Have a wonderful weekend!  “Willard South is ROARING with excitement!”

Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal