It was our privilege to host a Veteran’s day assembly Friday afternoon.  The last week in October we notified parents through our email system that we would be having an assembly and if they knew of a Veteran we invite them to join us.  We received numerous email responses thanking the school for supporting the Veteran’s.  The Veteran’s represented theaters of combat from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.   WHS NJROTC provided leadership for the assembly along with amazing armed and unarmed drill work.   Captain Tong was our guest speaker and provided a powerful message discussing the history of Veteran’s Day and the meaning to serve our country.   The end of the assembly was a moving experience, the WHS students and staff gave our Veteran guests a standing ovation with cheers, whistles, and thunderous applause.  For at that moment, 1200 clapping, cheering students and staff demonstrated honor and respect for our guests who gave, or currently giving, for our country.  After school on Friday I went home and reflected upon the assembly.  I logged on to my computer and looked at scanned pictures my father gave me of my grandfather in WWI with gas mask and full gear ready for departure for France.  Grandpa is gone, and I do not think I ever comprehended the price he paid for my freedom to think, speak, and demonstrate my beliefs in our great country.  I challenge you to find a Veteran and thank them for their service.  Have a great Veteran’s Day weekend.

Stewart Pratt

This week, while taking a “walkabout” through the hallways I noticed serveral classes in “lab” areas. As I entered the rooms you could feel the energy as students were actively discussing, examining, and analyzing problems in front of them. Watching the students tackle the lessons, I was reminded how often things appear simple on the surface, but upon further investigation become quite different. In activities involving lab settings, many life skills can be touched upon as students work to complete a simple assignment. The process of “learning by doing” is one tool used to help students “connect” the classroom to life.

 If you’ve ever had to move to a new town, taken a new job, or moved to a different school,  the “newness” can be stressful as you search to find answers or make connections.  This senario causes the same rollercoaster of emotions that many new students to the high school feel in those intial first weeks of class.  Our counseling department had a fantastic idea to assist these (new to the district) students  in making connections,  and also wanted to show them that there were other  new students that felt like they were “in the same boat”.  This week the WHS counseling department hosted a “New Student Luncheon”. We invited all the new students in (grades 9 & 10 on Tuesday and grades 11 & 12 on Wednesday) to eat lunch together and socialize with each other .  Although many of the participants blamed Ted Keller and Ron Hurst for poor weather which prevented the groups from outdoor grilling of burgers and hotdogs they still were able to enjoy a great meal that the counseling staff provided ( although its tough to beat a grilled hotdog ). The counseling staff then guided the groups through some teambuilding activities to answer questions and to introduce each other.  I heard a highly successful principal from another school district once make a statement about his school staff and students, ” we want to build relationships, to overcome obstacles“.   This is  another example of why our school system is so successful, it is demonstrated in the willingness of our staff to build faculty / student relationships. 

Welcome new WHS students and a great job by our counseling department!

A Rose:    To WHS Students who are welcoming our newly enrolled students entering the High School

A Rose:    To HS Communication Arts ( #1 in COC ) and HS Mathematics ( #3 in COC ) Students and Faculty for leaving ”claw marks” all over the MAP test.

A Thorn:   To the lightning which “knocked out” our phones and air conditioning on Tuesday.

A Rose:   To AT&T for repairing the phone system along with WHS Maintenance Dept. and Allen’s Mechanical for repairing the AC on Tuesday.

A Rose:   To WHS Students who “chewed up” the ACT test and raised out ACT Composite scores for 2007.

A Rose:   To WHS Students for their questions and feedback in the class assemblies held on Tuesday.

A Rose:  To WHS Students, Parents, and Faculty who have made 2007-2008 begin with a smooth start.

  “Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s level of aspiration and expectation.”

                               Jack Nicklaus (1940 – )
                               American golf champion

     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

Another busy week has come to a close at Willard High School. Instrumental music, vocal music, theater, baseball, track, agriculture, DECA, FBLA, soccer, golf, and industrial technology are just a few of the programs that are in competition this spring. Add to that the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP Test), and that makes for a full week! I am extremely proud of our students and their efforts on the MAP test. I remember how stressful standardized testing can be and our students and staff has done an outstanding job of preparing for this critical time of the year.

I appreciate the efforts of many individuals who have worked extremely hard to make the testing time run smoothly. Our counseling staff has put in endless hours of work, and will continue for the next couple of days to finalize this process. Mr. Ramsey and Mr. Cook worked to provide snacks and water for our students with the volunteer help of several patrons and businesses. They also have worked with Mrs. Brenda Grass to develop an enjoyable time of celebration for our students who have earned free time today 6th and 7th hour through our MAP incentive program. These things can not happen without a great deal of planning and extra supervision from our staff.

Finally, I must recognize our instructional staff that work hard each day to make sure that our students are appropriately prepared for the MAP. Their efforts are directly related to the performance of our students. We are proud of the recognition that our district received last year for Distinction in Improvement from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We look forward to seeing the results of our labor when test scores come back to us next fall.

Don Tuck

Principal

The following letter was submitted by Mrs. Donna Fishel, to the Cross Country Times editor for publication:

Letter to the Editor
Willard Cross Country Times
Willard, MO  65781

Dear Ms. Scott,

The students and staff of Willard High School’s new broadcast journalism program would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to Conco Quarries, Inc. for their very generous financial contribution to our program.  Thanks to their support, we were able to purchase three brand new iMac computers that will now enable students to edit their original video news stories and special projects.   

This time last year, the Willard High School broadcast journalism program was just a dream. This ‘dream’ class started off the year with lots of enthusiasm, but very little equipment, all of it outdated.  We were fortunate to begin building the program, thanks to an A+ grant, which got us half the way to our collective dream of creating a student-produced broadcast journalism program.  Now, with Conco’s generous gift, our dream is closer than ever!

Conco’s commitment to our children and to our schools has been evident in many ways.  This support represents another example of their corporate leadership and stewardship.  Willard is extremely fortunate to have them in the community.

Thanks, Conco, for helping our dream come true!

Sincerely,

Donna Fishel
Journalism Adviser
Willard High School

I echo Mrs. Fishel’s sentiments, and wish to thank Conco Quarries for their continued support of Willard High School.

Don A. Tuck
WHS Principal

It has been an extremely busy week as many of our programs have been in high gear.  In addition, our FACS department is hosting a blood drive with the Community Blood Center, Friday.  The Counseling Center is excited to report that Spring scheduling will start next week.  Although illness has struck hard at the high school, we want to commend Charlotte and Elaine on the great job that they have done caring for all the students during this difficult time.  We also want to thank everyone who helps make the district tournament possible and run so smoothly.  Have a great week! 

Eric Ramsey, Assistant Principal

Willard High School staff and students are always up to something that deserves special mention.  Many times it is the more visible programs, such as athletic teams, vocal and instrumental music, theater, and JROTC that get the spotlight.  This morning as I made my rounds through the building, I happened to step inside Mrs. Laurie Stonebarger’s classroom to take a peek.  Mrs. Stonebarger and her staff work with our severely handicapped students.  The work that these educators do with our students never ceases to amaze me.  They are currently completing a project on the building of birdhouses.  I was able to view several of these and I see the need to recognize these students as well as the staff that serves them.  These students are learning so many practical things that will help them to be successful in life after high school.  I commend Mrs. Stonebarger, Mrs. Albert, Abby Fugitt, Jennifer Irwin, and Aimee Sims for their efforts.  You are making a difference for these students.
Have a good weekend,

Don Tuck, Principal

Last week I was able to travel to Tan-tar-a for the Missouri Music Educators Conference.  It is hard to describe the pride that I felt as I enjoyed the performance of the Willard High School Concert Choir under the Direction of Mr. Mark Lawley and Mrs. Candace French.  Their performance was outstanding as was apparent based on the ovation that they were given by the audience.  I might add that this was no typical audience, but one made up of mostly music educators from across the state of Missouri.  I commend Mr. Lawley, his staff and students for their representation of the Willard R – II School District.  I also want to recognize Mr. Chris Church, Mrs. Victoria Meraz, and Mr. John Paul Chapman for their instrumental accompaniment during the performance.  There have been several moments in the past three years that stand out for me as principal of WHS, this moment goes on the list. 

Have a good weekend,

Don Tuck, Principal