The Fall season has begun and Mother Nature can’t make up her mind!

The softball Tigers started their season with a resounding 11-3 victory over Kickapoo on Tuesday.  The girls will be playing in the Joplin Tournament all weekend.  They will host Marshfield next Tuesday in the first home game at their newly remodeled field.  A HUGE “thank you” to the Booster Club and all softball parents on the tireless work.  The field got a new fence, new scoreboard, new dugouts, new tractor, and a new storage shed!

Football begins their season tonight in the Jamboree held at JFK Stadium in Springfield.  They will taking on Parkview, Cassville, and Neosho.  The scrimmage will begin at 7:00.   They will begin their real schedule next Friday by hosting Central at 7:00.  It will be nice to be back home this year!  The complex is taking shape with new lights, new grandstands, new goal posts, new scoreboard, and a new flag pole (compliments of Morelock/Ross) all completed and the new restrooms and concession stand will be finished soon.

The soccer Tigers will be opening their season next Thursday in the Willard Fall Classic.  Play will continue through the weekend.

The volleytigers will open their season at Central on Monday.  Game time is 5:00.  They will then travel to Fair Grove on Tuesday and will have their home opener on Thursday vs. Hillcrest.

A special congratulations to Cassie Robinson on her first place finish in the girls golf match vs. Nixa!

Jeff Staley, Activities Director

District MAP results were made available last week and we have been busy evaluating our own scores and doing comparisons with other schools in the COC.  Last year, Willard R-II was 4th in Communication Arts in the COC and this year we have moved into 3rd place!  Last year , Willard R-II was 5th in Math in the COC and this year we have moved into 4th place!   A big congratulations for that improvement overall!

 Congratulations also to HS Communication Arts for scoring the highest in the COC!  Grade 3 in both Communication Arts and Math were 2nd in the COC! 

Our composite ACT scores went from 21.9 last year to 22.3 this year.  The state composite for the past two years has been 21.6.  Willard R-II continues to exceed the state composite score and showed a larger increase last year than has been shown for several years. 

A full report of achievement scores will be given at the September board meeting.  Have a great weekend!

It’s that time of year when MAP results start to trickle in from the state department. As we do not have individual student reports yet, we do have building-wide results.

Math State Target = 35.8

Willard East = 57.3 :)

Communication Arts State Target = 42.9

Willard East = 59 :)

Willard East continues to score above the state targets but there is always work to be done. Teachers work in collaborative teams to review and analyze this information. Once all the data is analyzed our school works to provide the best learning environment possible for all students to be successful on these high stakes tests. As always we are proud of the hard work of Willard East teachers and students!

More information can be found on the DESE Website.

Getting MAP results each year often becomes a “good news, bad news” venture for our schools, but at Willard Intermediate we have lots to celebrate about our students’ achievements last year.  195 students in our building scored in the ADVANCED catagory of either the Communication Arts or Math MAP Test.  In Communication Arts we scored 10% higher than the state benchmark, and in Math we scored 23% higher than the state benchmark for adequate yearly progress.  We are proud of those accomplishments, but the work is never done, as we continue to strive toward even greater student achievement.  “Bring Your Best Game!”

It has been such a great start to our year!!  Every piece has fallen into place and we are back to business.  The heat has cooperated and we have been able get outside and enjoy our new walking track on the playground.  Thank you PTO for making this huge project happen!   We are also excited about our new parking lot in the front.  Again, this is another project that has helped our campus function more efficiently. How funny that asphalt makes us so happy! Have a wonderful week!

Rhonda Bishop, Principal

This first full week of school has been full of learning!  I have had the pleasure of sitting in on lessons in every classroom in the building and I have seen first hand the learning and teaching taking place.  It is great to see students already composing stories, creating community maps,  and strengthening reading strategies.  It is also wonderful to see how students and teachers are coming together to form new classroom teams and partners in learning. 

This week also marked the beginning of Community Time.  Together we are starting our days celebrating learning and each other’s accomplishments.  It is a treat to watch kindergartners’ faces as they learn the WC school song and hand movements and to see our new 4th grade students step us as the student role models for the school.

We would like to invite WC parents to our Parent Orientation Night on Thursday, August 30th.  This evening is designed for parents and teachers to sit down together to go over grade level and classroom expectations for learning.  Childcare will be provided and these informational opportunities will be held in 2 sessions to accommodate parent needs.  The sessions will run from 6:00-6:30 followed by a 15 minute break before a repeat second session is offered from 6:45-7:15.  Please plan to join us for this informational evening.

We would also like to invite you to view Willard Central’s new blog at http://willardcentralkids.edublogs.org/.  Our new Computer Lab Instructor, Michelle Bougher, has worked hard to create an informative and easy to navigate site.  Her hard work is greatly appreciated and she is a wonderful addition to the WC Team.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to “Reach for the Stars.” –Shane Medlin, Principal

At 211 degrees a person simply has hot water.  When you add one more degree of energy the water transforms and an incredible amount of energy is released in the form of steam.  This steam can be used to make dinner, power a locomotive, or even generate electricity.  That one extra degree is the same amount of energy as the degree from 150 to 151 degrees, however the result is dramatically different.  We never know as educators when just one more attempt will help a student understand a concept or when one more word of encouragement will provide the motivation needed for success.  At Willard R-II, we continue to dig finding ways to change good practices into great practices.  There is no doubt that we have plenty of extra degrees of heat this week!!!  The custodians and maintenance have done a great job with our buildings over the summer.  Cooks and bus drivers had to put up with the heat yesterday to ensure that kids were served.  Secretaries had to make order out of chaos.   Para’s had to begin to establish those special relationships that help make kids successful.  Teachers got the opportunity to do what they love most.  The Administrators got a good night sleep because they were worn out from solving problems.  I was able to visit most buildings yesterday and witnessed calm, organized, clean buildings.  Most of all I observed students learning.  It is clear that many are providing that one extra degree of effort to make great things happen.  It is going to be a great school year!!

Have a great weekend! 

Kent

The first two days went very smooth.  This is thanks to all the wonderful staff and students we have in this school district. 

We were lucky to have 6 speakers on Friday to talk with students about different cultures.  South America,  Chile, Japan, Asia, Africa, and Australia were the topics discussed.  The students did a great job listening and participating in the multicultural day. 

It is GREAT to be back!! Amy Sims, Willard Middle School Principal

     On Thursday morning August 16th, over 1200 students and staff desended upon the high school campus to begin the new school year.   A level of energy encompassed the building as friendships which became “rusty” over the summer months were quickly renewed with hugs, high-fives, and conversations about summer activities.  

We received several suggestions from selected students indicating the HS should continue the “two day” school week for the remainder of the school year.  I guess it is difficult to return for some, but by the excitement demonstrated on Thursday and Friday, it appears many were ready and sense a fantastic year on the horizon. 

Stewart Pratt, WHS Principal

Willard Central is off to a wonderful start!  Our theme for 2007-2008 school year is “Reach for the Stars.”  To ensure the best education for the 402 students in our care, we are thrilled to welcome the following team members to the Willard Central Family:

Mrs. Terrie Sexton, 3rd Grade
Mrs. Melanie Jones, 3rd Grade
Miss Lauren Baer, 4th Grade
Mrs. Michelle Bougher, Computer Lab
Mrs. Debbie Gromer, Counselor
Mrs. Tonya Lyons, Special Services
Miss Allison Tourville, Special Services
Mrs. Tanya Barnett, Special Services
Mrs. Candace Follis, ESL
Miss Aimee Sims, Paraprofessional
Miss Lindsay Stanton, Paraprofessional

We are looking forward to starting our Community Time on Monday morning and we are excited for the amazing year ahead of us.  Please join us at Willard Central as we “Reach for the Stars” this year.

Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard South SUPER TIGERS are on the prowl! We are off to a great start for the 2007-2008 school year.  I want to welcome all of our new students and staff members to Willard South.  I am looking forward to working with every student, parent and staff member this year. 

New Members of the Willard South Staff:

• Mrs. Lindsay Wallace-Kindergarten
• Mrs. Jeri Washington-2nd Grade
• Mrs. Clara Hayter-3rd Grade
• Mrs. Colleen Appleby-Early Childhood Special Education
• Mrs. Susan Shikany-Speech/Language
• Mrs. LeaAnn Smith-ASSIST
• Mrs. Candace Follis-ESL Paraprofessional
• Mrs. Mary McKee-Paraprofessional
• Mrs. Nancy Jones-Paraprofessional
• Mrs. JoAnn Provinge-Cook
• Mrs. Dana Pratt-Cook
• Mr. Dennis Dye-Custodian