Last Saturday I had the privilege of traveling to Branson with our contestants for the Sporting Chance Track meet. Rylea, Dalton, and Kylie spent the morning participating in track and field events and the afternoon at Silver Dollar City. Yes, they even talked me into riding the roller coaster Wild Fire against my better judgement. That was probably a once in a lifetime experience that I do not care to repeat!

On behalf of Willard East students and staff we hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you in the fall!

Principal Miller

Willard High School Special Services would like to thank Mike Crocker, Zoo Director, and Angela Gibson, zoo keeper, from Dickerson Park Zoo.  Mrs. Poulson’s Transition Class has been participating in a community-based program with the zoo and with the support of both Crocker and Gibson.  Students have been helping with clean-up of ice storm debris, trash pick-up and cleaning of various buildings at the zoo.  Each week when the duties have been completed, Angela Gibson provided our students with a zoo enrichment activity which included feeding lemurs and giraffes, observing monkeys being fed, and a very special visit to the lion’s den.  We appreciate the special treatment given to our students, which will contribute to the many wonderful memories from this zoo experience.  Five students from Mrs. Stonebarger’s Life Skills class also had animal experiences this past Tuesday as they visited the Gold home where they met Penny, a thirteen year old palomino Fox Trotter mare and Spunky, her four-year old offspring.  Learning hands-on how to pet and groom a horse while remaining safe, were components of this visit.  Mrs. Stonebarger and paraprofessionals Aimee Sims, Mitzi Albert, and Jenifer Irwin had instructed students by reading books about horses and reinforcing safety issues.  The students were well-prepared for their visit and used their newly-acquired skills with Penny.  Sounds of laughter and even groans were heard as  students hand-fed carrots to Penny and watched as horse-slobbers and carrots were flung everywhere.  This horse visit was such an enjoyable event for students, staff and parents who attended, and even for Penny.  She hasn’t been spoiled so thoroughly in a long time!

Districts teachers in Grades K-5  met this week to update and align the Social Studies curriculum.  With each GLE (grade level expectation) teachers developed an assessment and determined a DOK (depth of knowledge) level.  Lots of hard work was done and the Social Studies curriculum will soon be ready to be added to our district curriculum.

Congratulations to Graduates 

• 1.5 Gallons of gas to get to graduation                 =        $4.93

• A black gown and a goofy looking square hat       =        $46.00

• A high school diploma                                          =        Priceless

At this time I confirm that the graduating class of 2007 has met the requirements set forth by the State of Missouri and theWillard R-II School District.

This was the start and finish to my speech this weekend at Graduation.  It is always a thrill to see a community and a school come together to support graduates.  I challenged the young men and women to “Live Life!”  It is so easy to settle for the mundane and boring.  We can settle in front of our T.V. or we can grab hold of life and absolutely choke the passion out of it.  A K-12 contention of approximately 135 teachers led the graduates onto the floor and accepted a round of applause in thanks to all they have done to help them succeed.  I wish each and every graduate great success and blessings as they enter into the next stage of “Living Life!”

Kent

On Monday we honored Cathy Bennett and Vicki Webster, two very special members of the Willard School District.  They are on the count down to retirement with only five days remaining!  It has been on honor working with both of these outstanding teachers.   They will truly be missed by everyone.  As several of Cathy’s former students stated, “Have fun mowing the yard twice a day, spending time with your family, going to the zoo, sleeping late and doing anything you please.”  Best wishes to both of you in your retirement!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Tuesday, May 22nd-Transition Day for 4th grade to Willard Intermediate
• Wednesday, May 23rd-Willard South Field Day (rain date May 24th)
• Friday, May 25th-Tiger Pride Assembly at 9:00; students dismissed at 12:40

Thursday morning, aproximately 35 career opportunity presenters visited the Intermediate School and every student in the building got to spend time in different sessions, learning about these careers.  Coach Milleson from MSU, Joy Robertson from KOLR-10, Don Berry of the “Fishing Radio Show”, the National Guard, Cox Medical Systems Flight Nurses, and the Springfield Fire Department Bomb Robot were just a few of the many folks who came.  Dr. Bacon grossed the kids out with a dog heart full of heart worms, Mrs. Anderson impressed one group by wearing a live snake drapped around her shoulders, and Mrs. Jones showed off her gymnastics talents with one of her groups!  What a great opportunity for the kids to see and meet the many career opportunities that exist in our area.  Thanks to Mrs. Huffman and her committee for coordinating this awesome event!

Another great year goes down in the record books for Willard East! Thank you to everyone who participated in Field Day and the Conco Open House last weekend. A big ‘Thank you’ to Conco Quarries for their generosity this year! Once again Coach Wise, our special class teachers, and volunteers pulled of a very successful and ‘wet’ Field Day!

Congratulations to the Class of 2007! Many of our staff will be attending graduation this evening to witness the 1st Graduation ceremony at our beautiful new High School. We hope many of you can attend.

Next week a busy last week of school!

• 4th Graders will be attending ‘Transition Day’ at the Intermediate school on Tuesday.
• Tiger Pride Thurday at 2:30. We will recognize 2nd Semester Honor Roll.
• LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!  Friday May 25th Dismissal at 12:40.

Principal Miller

While our time is limited in this school year, the excitement cannot be contained!  Everyone is read for the end!  It has been a great year that had many challenges!  We have all changed due to the circumstances we have endured, but we did with the TIGER PRIDE we are famous for! 

I would like to celebrate our Teacher of the Year, Teresa Palmer.  If  you have ever traveled the halls of Willard North, you know the type of art teacher she is.  Mrs Palmer has the distinct gift of making everyone an artist.  Her projects are wonderful and the students love her class.   My personal favorite is the pottery unit each class gets to do.  I must say, I have a pretty good dinosaur displayed in my office that was constructed last year.  Mrs. Palmer can bring out the inner artist in the principal!  It has been our joy at Willard North to have Mrs. Palmer as our art teacher.  I appreciate all the things she does and mostly her caring, humorous, and faithful attitude.  Congratulations on being our Teacher of the Year!

Our Employee of the Year is Mary Butler.  Mary B, as she is fondly called at our school, has received this award many times.  The reasons are very clear.  Mary B is a hard working, dedicated employee who goes the extra mile to make sure everything is right.  She is always at work, she can do anything, and the extra touches she provides to everyone are noticed and appreciated.  Mary loves everyone and the feeling is mutual.  Students flock to her like sheep.  She encourages everyone with her smile and positive attitude.  We are blessed to have Mary B work at Willard North.  Don’t get any ideas either!  She is ours and you can’t have her! 

Have a wonderful week!

Rhonda Bishop, Willard North Principal

Willard Central teachers love to make learning fun, active and engaging for students.  This week they went above the call of duty to make instruction meaningful and exciting for students.  4th grade students completed their economics study with a Market Day in which each student collaborated to provide a good or service to sell to their fellow classmates.  Students earned money for good attendance, getting their work in and for good behavior, then were ready to spend their earnings in the student created market place purchasing things such as snow-cones, renting video games, chocolate covered strawberries, manicures and pedicures, face painting and much much more.  This hands-on day provided students with applicable understanding of supply and demand, money management, and marketing an item.  Meanwhile the 3rd grade students are busy researching and working on their living museums of famous inventors and scientists.  This interactive project literally brings science and history to life as students transform themselves into these famous individuals. 

As we look ahead to our last week of school, we will have our Field Day on Thursday, May 24th.  On Friday, we will be concluding our year with our 4th Quarter Terrific Tiger Celebration at 9:00.  Don’t forget our early dismissal at 12:40.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for helping keep Willard Central “On Track for Success.”

 Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard Central teachers love to make learning fun, active and engaging for students.  This week they went above the call of duty to make instruction meaningful and exciting for students.  4th grade students completed their economics study with a Market Day in which each student collaborated to provide a good or service to sell to their fellow classmates.  Students earned money for good attendance, getting their work in and for good behavior.  Then they were ready to spend their earnings in the student created market place purchasing things such as snow-cones, renting video games, chocolate covered strawberries, manicures and pedicures, face painting and much, much more.  This hands-on day provided students with an applicable understanding of supply and demand, money management, and marketing an item.  Meanwhile the 3rd grade students have been busy researching and working on their living museums of famous inventors and scientists.  This interactive project literally brings science and history to life as students transform themselves into these famous individuals. 

As we look ahead to our last week of school, we will have our Field Day on Thursday, May 24th.  On Friday, we will be concluding our year with our 4th Quarter Terrific Tiger Celebration at 9:00.  We will then be dismissing after lunch at 12:40. 

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for helping keep Willard Central “On Track for Success.” 

Shane Medlin, Principal

What an exciting week this has been for our special services students! Around 35 students from Mrs. Shikany and Mrs. Stonebarger’s Life Skills classes were treated to a very special day at the Andy Dalton Conservation fishing ponds and archery range. On hand to assist our students with handling bait worms, staying out of the ponds, taking needed breaks and a variety of other activities, were several HS alternative school students and teachers, special services staff and volunteers from the community.Many perch, catfish, largemouth bass, turtles and even sticks were caught with much enthusiasm. We all enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, while visiting, before heading to the archery range. We want to thank our physical therapist, Maria Harless, for making this special outing possible. Maria’s grant-writing provided funding from Bass Pro’s Larry Whiteley. Thank you Maria and Larry for this very fun day! Our fourth-graders are one step closer to making the transition to Willard Intermediate School. Special needs students from the four elementary, along with special services teachers and paras, visited Willard Intermediate Friday, where they had the opportunity to meet principal Julie Germann, counselors Melissa Skaggs and Lonnie Compton, special services teachers Cindy Kisling and David Anderson, as well as other staff. A complete tour of the building ended with refreshments in the cafeteria where students were given the opportunity to ask questions and hear about life at Willard Intermediate. We feel this is an important event for our students, and feedback from students and parents indicate appreciation. Thanks goes to Melissa Baker for her organizing, refreshments and all other duties which contributed to the morning.