District Newsletter

Click here for WCCF Fall Harvest Festival Information: <http://www.willard.k12.mo.us/forms/wccf.pdf>http://www.will ard.k12.mo.us/forms/wccf.pdf

District Office Wash your hands, gargle with salt water, drink lots of water , etc..... I would guess local Doctors are tired of giving out this advice!

The last few days all Willard Schools have reported higher than normal absence due to illness. I thought that I would put out a few facts to help rumors not to spread wild. 1. Attendance in the district has remained strong. Willard schools maintain a yearly average attendance of 94+%. The worst daily attendance in any building has been 80%. The entire district average has remained over 90%. 2. There are NO confirmed cases of H1N1, however I am sure that many of students represent unconfirmed cases. Dr.'s are simply guessing if a student has the correct symptoms then they are most likely suffering from H1N1. 3. Administration has instructed nurses to work closely with parents to encourage students to stay at home until they have been fever free for at least 24 hours. 4. Much of the sickness is not the flu but upper respiratory infections, which has also added to the absentee list. 5. The district will not consider shutting down unless a building is affected to a much higher level. We will consult with Greene County Health Department before making any decisions regarding school closings. Some recommendations that I have received from the State are as high as 30% absence before considering closing school. I certainly hope we do not reach that level. 6. The district is bringing in sub-custodians to help with extra cleaning. I have asked all principals to enlist the help of teachers and students to wipe down desks and chairs at the end of each day. 7. The district has been identified as a site for H1N1 vaccine distribution. We currently do not have hard dates, times, or quantities which will be available. When we receive that information we will get it out ASAP! At this time we have not been assured that all staff will be eligible.

Once again, this is a time to utilize good health practices, hand washing, etc... I have quit shaking hands and giving hugs for a few days. (Sorry Nurse Charlotte! She is one of my favorite people in the district to get a smile and a hug. However, I have avoided the hug and only accepted the smile for a few days!) I would encourage all of us not to get caught up in the rumor mill. If you have questions please speak with your school nurse or administrator to get the facts!!

I hope this helps to bring some facts to our current status! Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities While the season has ended for softball and girls golf, the other fall sports are just starting their district play. Football, soccer, volleyball, and cross country will all find out if they get to advance to state competition over the next week and I wouldn't bet against our Tigers!

Football will host their final home game of the season tonight as they take on Marshfield in district play. They will finish their regular season next Thursday at Hillcrest. If the boys can win both of those games they will be in the playoffs! Good luck Tigers!

Willard will be the host site of the volleyball district tournament which will begin at 4:00 on Monday. Our volleytigers will open play at 8:30 that night against Parkview. The girls earned the 3rd seed behind Kickapoo and Webb City. The tournament will conclude on Tuesday with the semifinals and finals beginning at 5:00. Also, congratulations to the volleytigers on last nights victory over Marshfield.

Cross country will run in their district meet this Saturday at Nixa. The girl's race will begin at 11:00 and the boy's race at 11:30. Those who qualify will run next week in the sectional meet at Camdenton.

The soccer Tigers are having a hard time finding someplace to play that isn't flooded! But they still managed to squeak in a win vs. Rogersville last week before losing a heart-breaker to Neosho. The boys will be at Greenwood next Monday before hosting Hillcrest on Thursday. Districts will begin on Oct. 31st in Joplin.

The "Cutting Edge" will not be performing this Saturday in Warrensburg due to illness circulating in the band. Mr. Church is hoping to get them healthy in time to compete at Mizzou next Saturday. By the way, they pretty much brought home all the bacon last Saturday at the Ozarko Marching Festival at MSU. Great job Cutting Edge!

For those of you who like to eat...and eat...and eat...choir is having an all-you-can-eat pancake feed at the southside Applebee's tomorrow morning from 8:00am - 10:00am. I personally challenge anyone to beat my record (I won't disclose the number because I don't want to embarrass my wife).

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Director of Special Services "A Sporting Chance" bowling season has begun and practice is underway for 27 Willard Special Services students. All buildings are represented with students who will be practicing October 24th and November 7th at Sunshine Lanes.

Special Services "Breakfast with Santa" will be November 21st from 7-11 a.m. to support Willard's "A Sporting Chance" and Partners in Strength. Price will be $5.00 for pancakes, drink and a 5x7 photo with Santa. Holiday calendars are filling up quickly so pencil in this event to support our students with special needs! Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School The HS has been busy with activities and winding down the Fall season. Saturday, October 17th, WHS hosted the annual WHS Speech & Debate Tournament. The tournament brought students from southwest Missouri to compete in a variety of categories. Mrs. Spangler (WHS Speech / Debate Sponsor) and her team of students worked hard and did a great job setting up rooms and organizing the events.

WHS DECA chapter joined with other DECA District 11 chapters and traveled to Dallas Texas on October 13th through 15th. While in Dallas, the students examined different aspects of marketing strategies and visited businesses located in the metropolitan area. In their spare time, students visited Cowboy Stadium, Texas School Depository and President Kennedy's parade route. It was a great experience to collaborate with other DECA chapters while learning business strategies and tools.

WHS FFA / Ag students are currently in Indianapolis Indiana, for the National FFA Convention. At the convention, FFA members will have an opportunity to hear nationally recognized speakers and participate in breakout sessions with FFA leaders from other states. Willard will be represented by Scott Larson, who will be competing in Engineering Division I. Scott's project involves wood gasification ( Scott calculated the energy output produced by different wood types when charred ). We are very proud of Scott and his project.

WHS Theater is working hard in preparation of their "Red Ribbon Tours". The performance groups will provide skits and small one-act plays to promote making positive choices to other buildings within the district.

WHS FCCLA hosted their fall Blood drive on Friday, October 16th in the Auxiliary gym. FCCLA students set a goal for 2009-2010 of 135 units. Students, Parents, and Community members joined forces and "Crushed" the goal by collecting 152 units of blood!!!! Willard once again comes through in a big way towards saving lives.

A reminder about Parent / Teacher Conferences which will be held Tuesday, October 27th from 5:30pm - 8:00pm and Wednesday, October 28th from 5:30pm - 8:00pm. Please give us a call and set up an appointment to meet with your student's teachers ( HS 417-742-3524 ). Stewart Pratt, HS Principal

Willard Middle School Greetings from Willard Middle School. The weather has been somewhat dreary once again, but we did have one nice day of sunshine in the middle of the week, and still managed to get a great deal accomplished at WMS. Fall sports wrapped up, and winter sports are on the way. Boys basketball tryouts will be on Wednesday, Oct. 28th, from 2:45-5:00. Wrestling and Girls Basketball are also gearing up, and if you have any questions, please check with the coaches of each of these sports. By the way, make sure you have those physicals up to date if you want to play.

The science department played host to the Starlab this week, and it was a new and improved version with digital displays that the kids really enjoyed. Technology can really open doors that were previously unavailable to us, and we appreciate the fact that we are able to bring such things to the students of WMS. Next week will be our parent-teacher conferences, which will be on Tuesday and Thursday. Please make plans to come by and visit with the teachers, and see what our students have been up to so far. Putting out the effort to show your kids that their education is important to you makes it far more likely that it will become important to them as well.

Finally, we want to send out a big thank you to all of those in the district that helped to provide a special day for a special lady in our school. As many of you know, Tammy Woody is in the process of defeating cancer, and we all are looking for ways to help her in her efforts. This Thursday, while she was receiving treatments, hundreds of people wore a special T-shirt that displayed the message that we were in the battle with her, until she wins it once and for all. The show of unity and concern was awesome, and it meant a great deal to Tammy. The shirts are still available if you would like to be a part of this, and we thank each of you for your help and prayers along the way. Thanks for checking on us, and have a great weekend. (Remember, no school on Friday, 10/30!) Tom Merriott WMS Asst. Principal

Willard Central Elementary WC celebrated students hard work from the first quarter at Community Time this week. We recognized students with perfect attendance and awarded the coveted Special Area Superhero Capes to the classes that best demonstrated our character education words. We also honored Ms. Joe Venzlauf and Mrs. Tina Laturno for their countless hours of service in volunteering at WC as our 1st quarter Everyday Heroes.

Our 3rd grade had a busy week performing their musical concert On the Radio. This wonderful program shared songs throughout the decades starting back in the Great Depression. A very special thank you to Mrs. Chatman and the 3rd grade students for such an amazing evening. The 3rd grade students then geared up the next day to head to Diamond, MO to visit the George Washington Carver State Park and Museum. It was an excellent educational trip and the students represented our school and community very well.

We will be packing a full week of activities into next week: Oct. 27/29 Student Led Conferences Oct. 26-29 WC Book Fair and Red Ribbon Week Oct. 30 No School

Stay dry and healthy! Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary Welcome to cold and flu season! This week Willard East has had a record number of absences due to illness. We have seen everything from the flu, to Strep Throat, to upper respiratory illness, etc. You name it and we may have seen it here at Willard East. We hope we have reached our peak of illness and that everyone will recover over the weekend. Please continue to refer to the Willard East website for news and information.

We need to be healthy because we have lots of exciting things coming up next week! * Parent/Teacher conferences will be held Tuesday and Thursday evening. * The Book Fair opened today! * Principal Miller will be "slimed" at Tiger Pride on Friday! For the most current Willard East information and updates please tune in to our building website at: <http://willardeastelementary.edublogs.org/>http://willardea stelementary.edublogs.org/ Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary We had wonderful weather for our fall carnival this past Saturday. There was a great turn out of students, parents, and teachers for rides and games. Thank you to all the parent, teacher, and high school student volunteers that helped with the carnival. Also, many thanks to our PTO for putting on such a wonderful time for our students and families.

We are looking at a very busy week next week!

10/27 and 10/29 Parent/Teacher Conferences 10/26 Our Book Fair Starts 10/26 Red Ribbon Week 10/28 Super Tiger Celebration

Have a wonderful and safe weekend! Angela Stevens, Principal

Willard South Elementary Today we celebrated our first Tiger Pride Assembly of the year. CONGRATULATIONS to all of the students who received awards this quarter! Next week we are looking forward to Red Ribbon week, Parent/Teacher Conferences, Fall parties and NO SCHOOL on Friday. Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

The WCCF Fall Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the High School Commons Area. Join us for free hamburgers and hotdogs, a dessert auction and loads of fun for the entire family. Live music by The Old Wire Road!

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Homemade Ice Cream Auction at 6:30 p.m. Pie and Cake Auction at 7:00 p.m.

Proceeds from the auction benefit the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation. (Special auction items to benefit the Clint Anderson Medical Fund.) We hope to see you there!

Willard Parks and Recreation

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Thank you to everyone who registered for the 2009 Session 1 Basketball and Cheerleading Season for Recreational and Competitive Leagues. Practices will begin soon.

Willard's Fall Sports Leagues continue games. Thank you to everyone who is participating in the Fall Soccer and Volleyball League.

Safe Halloween 2009: Saturday 10/24/09 Saturday October 24th at 5:30pm at the Willard Recreation Center. This year we will be collecting new and used toys for deserving area children. This event is FREE to attend. Wear your costume and trick or treat from local businesses, play games, and walk through the Willard Haunted House. For more information call 742-2262.

HARLEM LEGENDS: Meet the Legends: Come to the Willard Recreation Center and meet Harlem Legends Founder Michael Douglas on Monday October 26th from 5:00pm 5:45pm in the Big Gym. This event is FREE to attend. Come, listen and watch tricks from the Legends. You will also get a chance to get autographs and take pictures with the players. This event is meant to prepare the community for the Harlem Legends Game on Monday November 2nd at Willard High School.

Harlem Legends Celebrity Basketball Show: TICKETS ON SALE NOW!! Willard Parks and Recreation and CoxHealth Fitness Centers present the Harlem Legends vs. the Willard All-Stars on Monday November 2nd at Willard High School at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students in advance at the Willard Recreation Center. The Harlem Legends are a group of professional athletes, former players from the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL, past USA Olympians, and other professionals. Legends include, Michael Douglas, Tyrone Hollywood Brown, Larry Shorty Coleman, Brandon McDonald, Woody Carter, Gator Rivers, Mike Glenn, Jimmy Bolden, L.T. Trahan, Wayne Arnold and Somer Easterwood. For more information call (417) 742-2262.

Grants Update: Willard Parks and Recreation has applied for grants from the US Soccer Foundation and USA Flag Football. Grants from these organizations will help purchase new sports equipment for the upcoming seasons.

Willard Park Board Openings: Are you interested in serving on the Willard Park Board? If so call Kate Gould at 742-5300 for more information.

Trees at Jackson St. Park: As you may have noticed, Empire Electric has cut down trees at Jackson St. Park. Empire Electric is offering a tree replacement program. At the next Park Board Meeting we will be selecting trees to plant at Jackson St. Park for replacements.

Parks and Recreation Website: Log onto <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com to keep up with everything going on in the Willard Parks and Recreation Department.

Willard Child Care at the Recreation Center: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and CoxHealth Fitness Centers. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm 9pm

Fun 5K Run: Saturday 8am 11/21/09 at the Willard Community Building. The Race will be held on the Frisco Trail. The fee to participate is $15 for those who pre-register. Registration forms are at the Recreation Center.

Willard Parks and Recreation Facility Rentals: Holding Fee: $25, Refundable Deposit: $75 (excluding the Pavilion). Rental Areas: Willard Community Building: $15 hour / kitchen $25 flat fee, Large Gym at the Recreation Center: $25 hour, Small Gym at the Recreation Center: $20, Murray Community Room/Patio/Kitchen: $15 hour, Classroom/Conference Room: $12 hour, Jackson St Park Pavilion: $7.50 hour. For more information contact Tina at (417) 742-2262

Camps: Out of School Camps: Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

Christmas in Willard: Willard Parks and Recreations Annual Christmas in Willard Celebration will be held on Saturday December 12th at the Willard Recreation Center. This years activities include a silent auction, a Christmas Movie and pictures with Santa. Log onto <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com for more information.

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes: Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

The James B. Staley Memorial Scholarship Fund has been set up at Commerce Bank in Willard. If you would like to donate to this Scholarship Fund, you may leave it at Commerce Bank or drop it by the Willard Schools District Office.

District Office

One of these days when I retire (or before) I have on my life checklist to write a book. The book will be about education, schools, leadership, relationships, power, etc.... I think one of the chapters will be titled: "What happens when people die??". I think most staff in two of our district buildings will be glad when the last bell rings today. Teachers and staff in these buildings are emotionally exhausted. Two separate accidents this week took the lives of three Willard students and the husband of one of our most respected staff members, Montene Staley. No books or college class prepares an administrator to deal with these situations. When this happens it all comes down to experience, common sense, compassion, and relationships. Teachers change their hat from instructor to counselor and mentor. Grades, curriculum, and MAP testing is repositioned to the back seat of things that are important. It has been my experience that great teachers and administrators shine brightly in times of tragedy. This week was no exception. Willard staff responded with outstanding performance.

My wife, Angie and I were talking last weekend and counted eleven incidents of student deaths in my career. Each one of these losses has created an etched memory that is very vivid. These losses leave us with many emotions including why? anger? sadness? and faith? As the grief begins to settle and time allows us to move forward we all need to take the opportunity to examine our own lives and realize that life is fragile. The end of the chapter in my book is mostly dependent upon each individual. I have seen lives changed because of another person's death. Lets all hope that there are eternal decisions made as a result of the accidents this past week. That would bring one positive ending to the chapter!

Have a restful weekend. Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities

Well, it has been several weeks since I have been able to sing the praises of our Tigers so, as you can imagine, the accolades have been piling up! The rain gauge has as well but I'm sick of that.

The football Tigers get a clean start as they begin district play tonight by hosting Bolivar. Game will start at 7:00 and bring a coat and blanket! They will then host Marshfield next week before traveling to Hillcrest after that. The top two teams will advance to the state playoffs.

The Volleytigers are ON A ROLL! After going through a bit of a dry spell, the girls responded by upsetting state ranked Nixa last week. They then defeated stated ranked Mt. Grove and Eminence on their way to winning the championship of the Licking Tournament!...and they were not done...They then capped the run off by defeating COC opponents Neosho and Carthage this week. The girls will be at Branson next Tuesday and at Marshfield next Thursday to wrap up their regular season.

The soccer Tigers are just trying to find a dry place to play! Over the past couple of weeks they have taken 2nd place in the Willard Invitational and defeated New Covenant. We will be hosting the Willard JV Tournament this Saturday before traveling to Rogersville, Neosho, and Catholic next week.

Congratulations to Kate Spangler and the Willard Speech and Debate kids! The Willard HS speech and debate program has earned significant recognition by the National Forensic League. Because your chapter achieved 100 degrees or more last year, it placed in the top 10% of NFL chapters nationwide and qualified for the NFL 100 Club. This award is important because it demonstrates your programs commitment to teaching essential life skills communication, research, listening, writing, and organization to a large number of students.

Congratulations to the following students for personal best times at the COC cross country meet Tuesday at Nixa: Jared Holmes, Caleb Shuck, Austin Mudd, Nick Freeman, Greg Hamilton, Rachel Flynn, and Layne Jackson; and Bailey Hession who finished 5th with a time of 19:38!

The softball Tigers have ended their season with a quarterfinal loss to Neosho in the district tournament. A BIG congratulations to the players and coaches who worked so hard all season long. They wore their Tiger uniforms with pride!

The Cutting Edge will be competing in the Ozarko Marching Festival this Saturday at MSU. They will then take their show on the road, as they will compete in Warrensburg next Saturday.

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Director of Special Services

Special services administrative staff attended the MO-CASE Special Education Administrators' Conference at Lake of the Ozarks held September 20-23rd. The conference was the 32nd annual event and is an opportunity to inform, train, and advise districts on special education law and best practices of educating students with special needs. Break-out sessions attended by process coordinators, assistant director and myself include: Section 504, RtI & LD & Reading, autism, post-secondary transition, OSEP "After Thoughts," ECSE, Funds Management, DESE updates and writing defensible IEPs. Additional sessions were attended, as well as the law conference and key note address. Our staff found this to be a conference worth the time. We are currently sharing information from each session with one another and preparing to inform appropriate staff of new requirements and obligations. Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School

The high school has had an emotional week after suffering the loss of three students, Abreanna McCarter, Samantha Gossett, and Brady Laughlin in a tragic automobile accident. WHS students and staff have the families of the students in our hearts and prayers, and have done a fantastic job of remembering each of the students through cards, letters, and support of the families. We would also like to say THANK YOU for all the words of support and encouragement provided by parents, community, and friends in neighboring Southwest Missouri communities.

Two Memorial Funds have been established:

The Brady Laughlin Memorial Fund - is established through Liberty Bank at 210 N West Bypass; Springfield MO

The Samantha Gossett Memorial Fund - is established through Fazoli's Restaurant at two locations: 2137 N. Glenstone and 2055 E. Independence; Springfield MO

Stewart Pratt, HS Principal

Willard Middle School

Greetings from Willard Middle School,

Another busy week is coming to an end, and with it comes the end of the 1st quarter of the school year. It is hard to believe, but the semester is half over, and the 1st quarter grades will be sent home next week. We encourage you to discuss how things are going with your student(s), and then come in the following week for the parent teacher conferences to address any questions that you may have. Our students, teachers, and staff are doing a great job as usual, and the school year is going well. As always, this is made so much easier with the support of the parents and community, and we thank you all for that.

This week we sent many of our students to the campus of OTC, and they were able to explore and examine some of the opportunities that await them in the near future. This has proven to be a great field trip for the kids, and many of them come back with a better understanding of what may be available to them as far as furthering their education, and preparing for a career after school. Making the connection between education and choices for the future is vital in motivating students to do their best, and this is one tool that will help in making that connection.

We are wrapping up fall sports, as the volleyball teams travel for the COC tourney this weekend, and the football teams conclude their seasons with a showdown with our old friends from Republic next week. With the end of fall sports comes the start of the winter seasons, and the wrestling team will begin practice on Monday, with basketball to follow soon thereafter. Neat things I noticed at WMS this week included the addition of a saltwater aquarium in Mrs. McDowell's room, with fish and other things that live in the sea to follow. This is really an exciting project, and we invite you to stop by and see it if you can. Mr. Reynold's class put their engineering skills to the test this week, in the building and then breaking of bridges, which is always an interesting display. Finally, it has been great to walk down the halls and enjoy the smells coming from Mrs. Robinson's Family and Consumer's Science classes, as they have been cooking up some great stuff all week. Of course, I feel it is my duty to stop by and sample these things if possible, and give positive comments to our future cooks. What a tough job I have! Great things are going on in all of our classes, and we thank you for checking on us. Tom Merriott WMS Assistant Principal

Willard Intermediate School

The cool and dreary weather has not kept things from moving at warp speed at WIS! Last Saturday 50 members of our running club along with 13 staff members and parents participated in a very chilly Sunshine Run. Several runners earned honors for placing within their age group. Way to go! Our fall fund-raiser winds down this week. As of today our students have sold over 1300 of our Tiger Savings cards! If you have not gotten your hands on one of these great money savers you have really missed out. You can still purchase one from our office.

WIS hosted our first skate night of the year last night. Thanks to our student council and sponsors for organizing this event! 180 of our students spent the evening having fun and helping a great cause. All of the proceeds will be donated to the families of the WHS students that lost their lives last week. Our next skate night is scheduled to take place in the spring.

A reminder that next week is red ribbon week at WIS. Students are encouraged to participate in each of our spirit-themed days as we strive to remain drug free. Have a great weekend! Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary

It has been a busy week at WC. Thank you to Nurse Tammy Dock for helping organize a successful health screening on Tuesday for our students. All of her hard work and the time and energy from our volunteers is greatly appreciated! We would also like to thank our PTO parents for their support and work in providing our Fall Parties this afternoon. The students had a wonderful time and enjoyed the mental break at the end of the day from all of the hard work this week!

As we look ahead to the coming weeks, please be looking for information on our next all school book club. This year we will be reading The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane. This is a wonderful story that our home and school family will be able to enjoy together. One book will be provided for each family at Student-Led Conferences. Look for reading activities to follow as we share in Edward's miraculous journey together.

Please mark your calendars for the following events:

Oct. 20 3rd Grade Music Concert at 7:00 Oct. 27/29 Student Led Conferences Oct. 26-29 WC Book Fair Oct. 30 No School

Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary

Upcoming events at Willard East:

• Oct. 20th = Bus Driver Appreciation Breakfast
• Oct. 22nd = 2nd Grade Program 2:30 and 7:00PM
• Oct. 23rd = Fall Parties Oct. 27th = Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Oct. 29th = Tiger Pride "Slime the Principal"/Parent/Teacher
• Conferences Oct. 30th = NO SCHOOL

For the most current Willard East information and updates please tune in to our building website at: <http://willardeastelementary.edublogs.org/>http://willardea stelementary.edublogs.org/

Willard North Elementary

Willard North is finishing up Fire Safety Week. Our students had our local fire department come to the school for a demonstration on fire safety. Students were allowed to sit on the fire truck and see all the gear firemen have to wear during a fire. We had a blast!

This week North is gearing up for the big Fall Carnival. This is our big PTO fundraiser. Carnival is this Saturday, October 17th from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Feature events will be the 3 in 1 Obstacle course, Two Man Joust, and the Wizzer. There will be fun for all.

Please come and join us on Saturday. This carnival is open to all! Angela Stevens, Willard North Principal

Willard Orchard Hills Elementary

It has been an exciting week at Willard Orchard Hills!

Tuesday, the staff celebrated Breast Care Awareness Month with PINK Day! The staff wore pink, we had pink treats and we celebrated Stacy Gray being Cancer Free! Here is a link to our pictures!

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/43515229@N04/sets/721576224527 88863/>http://www.flickr.com/photos/43515229@N04/sets/721576 22452788863/

We also celebrated getting our first WOHE shirt! The kids and staff looked great when we took our school-wide picture! We also had our first WOHE Tiger Pride assembly. Thanks to the Willard Varsity Cheerleaders and their sponsor Ms. Goldschmidt for coming to our assembly! Also big thanks to our Parent and Family Cadre for planning a great assembly.

WOHE gives a big WOHE Tiger Roar to the Willard Football Tigers as they take on Bolivar tonight! Good luck!! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

Willard South Elementary

Tonight we will be celebrating FALL with our annual PTO Chili Supper from 6:00-8:00 here at Willard South Elementary. Please come and join us for great food, fun games and a silent pumpkin auction. This year we will also have a special parent/child game time beginning at 7:00. You and your child will enjoy a pie eating contest, hall fill, people scavenger hunt and a treasure hunt. The cost is $5 per team with prizes being awarded to the winner of each game. We hope to see you here this evening! Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

The WCCF Fall Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the High School Commons Area. Join us for free hamburgers and hotdogs, a dessert auction and loads of fun for the entire family. Live music by The Old Wire Road!

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Homemade Ice Cream Auction at 6:30 p.m. Pie and Cake Auction at 7:00 p.m.

Proceeds from the auction benefit the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation. (Special auction items to benefit the Clint Anderson Medical Fund.) We hope to see you there!

Willard Parks and Recreation

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Willard Parks and Recreations month of fun has begun. Check out some of the upcoming special events that the Parks and Recreation Department is offering in the coming weeks.

Halloween Movie in the Park: DOUBLE FEATURE Come to Jackson Street Park on Saturday October 17th, for Willard's 2nd Annual Movie in the Park Double Feature. This event is free to attend and hot dogs and hamburgers will be sold. Showing will be Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters. Go to <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com to view the official trailers for the event. The movies begin at 7pm.

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Get your tickets fast before they sell out!

Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit <http://www.kellymillercircus.com/>www.kellymillercircus.com Tickets are on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262.

Safe Halloween 2009: Saturday October 24th at 5:30pm at the Willard Recreation Center. This year we will be collecting new and used toys for deserving area children. This event is FREE to attend. Wear your costume and trick or treat from local businesses, play games, and walk through the Willard Haunted House. For more information call 742-2262.

Harlem Legends Celebrity Basketball Show: TICKETS ON SALE NOW!! Willard Parks and Recreation and CoxHealth Fitness Centers present the Harlem Legends vs. the Willard All-Stars on Monday November 2nd at Willard High School at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students in advance at the Willard Recreation Center. The Harlem Legends are a group of professional athletes, former players from the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL, past USA Olympians, and other professionals. Legends include, Michael Douglas, Tyrone Hollywood Brown, Larry Shorty Coleman, Brandon McDonald, Woody Carter, Gator Rivers, Mike Glenn, Jimmy Bolden, L.T. Trahan, Wayne Arnold and Somer Easterwood. For more information call (417) 742-2262.

Willard Park Board Openings: Are you interested in serving on the Willard Park Board? If so call Kate Gould at 742-5300 for more information.

Trees at Jackson St. Park: As you may have noticed, Empire Electric has cut down trees at Jackson St. Park. Empire Electric is offering a tree replacement program. At the next Park Board Meeting we will be selecting trees to plant at Jackson St. Park for replacements.

Parks and Recreation Website: Log onto <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com to keep up with everything going on in the Willard Parks and Recreation Department.

Current Sports Registrations: Register NOW!! Recreational Basketball Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Basketball for ages 3 -14. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturdays beginning November 7th.

Recreational Cheerleading Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Cheerleading for grade K 8th. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturday beginning November 7th.

Willard Child Care at the Recreation Center: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and CoxHealth Fitness Centers. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm 9pm

Fun 5K Run: Saturday 8am 11/21/09 at the Willard Community Building. The Race will be held on the Frisco Trail. The fee to participate is $15 for those who pre-register. Registration forms are at the Recreation Center.

Willard Parks and Recreation Facility Rentals: Holding Fee: $25, Refundable Deposit: $75 (excluding the Pavilion). Rental Areas: Willard Community Building: $15 hour / kitchen $25 flat fee, Large Gym at the Recreation Center: $25 hour, Small Gym at the Recreation Center: $20, Murray Community Room/Patio/Kitchen: $15 hour, Classroom/Conference Room: $12 hour, Jackson St Park Pavilion: $7.50 hour. For more information contact Tina at (417) 742-2262

Camps: Out of School Camps:

Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

Christmas in Willard: Willard Parks and Recreations Annual Christmas in Willard Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 12th at the Willard Recreation Center. This years activities include a silent auction, a Christmas Movie and pictures with Santa. Log onto <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com for more information.

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes: Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st - November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

District Office

Homecoming 2009

I am not too old to remember my High School Homecoming!!! I was always disappointed because my football coach would not allow players to be escorts for queen candidates. He thought it would distract us from playing well. He was probably right!! I still remember our theme was "Another One Bites the Dust!" That has almost been 30 years ago, but it is etched in my memory. I am thrilled that the tradition of homecoming is still alive and well in Willard Missouri. SGA (Student Government Association) has worked hard to prepare an atmosphere honoring the spirit of Homecoming. Special events this week have included:

· Class-wide spirit contests every day this week · Friday afternoon pep-assembly · A parade after school · Homecoming ceremonies before the football game · Homecoming dance after the game.

Homecoming is a special time for our community. Tonight we will fill the football stadium with Willard fans. Alumni groups often meet for homecoming with classmates that no longer live in Willard. The atmosphere tonight will be exciting. Well over 350 kids will participate during the evening including:

· Athletes · Cheerleaders · Dance Team members · Band members · ROTC cadets · SGA members · Court candidates / escorts

Tonight many students will be making memories they will tell to their kids. Currently my family only has a history of two generations in Willard, including my wife Angie and our children Lacey (WHS Class of 2005), Jarred (WHS Class of 2005), and Allie (WHS Class of 2012). We will be joining other proud parents taking pictures of our daughter as she participates in the activities. The most important thing is that if you are a first generation Willard student, or a 5th generation Willard student, tonight can be a great evening and a lasting memory!

Have a great weekend! Go Tigers!

Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities We all know that Tigers can roar....but our Tigers roar on key! I couldn't say it any better than Mr. Lawley so here is what he sent out about our kids competing in the all-district choir auditions: WHS Choir added 21 more students to All District Honors this past weekend bringing the total to 37!!! This may have been a record breaking Fall for WHS Choirs! 21 WHS Juniors and Seniors made All District Honor Choir! Highly competitive: for example 130 sopranos auditioned - less than 50 made the cut - WHS had 5 sopranos that rose to the top! There were at least 5 schools who had 0 students selected on any part. 12 of our juniors and seniors made TOP 25 - placing them in competition for ALL STATE HONORS! (Lecil Thedell, Brooke Lawley, Becky Farr , Alisa Lechner, Lindsey Sloan, Jacob Stoll, Jacob Robinson , Caleb Fare, Brock Wade, Jon Carleton, Drew Raby and TJ Chatman!!!) We had 4 with ALL STATE STATUS!!! Brooke Lawley - soprano, Lindsey Sloan - alto, T J Chatman - bass, and Jacob Stoll - tenor alternate. Congratulations to the following students who made 11th and 12th Grade All District Choir: Stephanie Hale, Lecil Thedell, Amelia Montgomery, Amanda Allen, Brooke Lawley, Becky Farr, Madison Williams, Alisa Lechner, Lindsey Sloan, Jacob Stoll , Jacob Robinson, Caleb Fare, Zach Page, Mitchell Bolton, Brock Wade, Adam Masters, Jon Carleton, Brock Baker, Drew Raby, Daniel Nilsen, and T J Chatman 16 Freshman and Sophomores made All District Choir: Stephanie Lingenfelter, Lexi Locke, Maddison Scott, Emily Crotts, Jasmin Routh, Shelby Baker, Mason Donnell, Matt Bryant, Charlie Bird, Austin Moore, Jacob Trammell, Ben Nilsen, Josh Badger, Cody Hall, Josh Stevens, and Nathan Olson. The All District Concert is Saturday, November 7 at 4:30 p.m. at Evangel University's Chapel. The concert is free - please invite family and friends!

It's Homecoming week and the festivities are already starting. There will be a Homecoming Parade today at 3:00 that will go through downtown Willard. Then come out and cheer on your Tigers as they take on COC rival, Republic. Homecoming queen will be crowned during pre-game at 6:30. Kickoff is at 7:00.

The soccer Tigers continue to impress southwest Missouri as they defeated Carl Junction last Thursday. They then stunned the area by defeating the #1 ranked team in Southwest Missouri, Carthage, 3-1 on Tuesday. The Willard Fall Classic got underway last night as the Tigers defeated Hillcrest 2-0 in the first round. Other first round games will continue tonight. Play will then continue on Saturday with games starting at 8:00am.

Congratulations to the softball Tigers as they defeated Kickapoo and Waynesville last weekend in the Hillcrest Tournament. The girls then defeated Buffalo on Monday. They will be playing in the Branson Tournament on Saturday before hosting the district tournament next Wednesday. The first game will start at 2:00 and our Tigers will play at 5:45 vs. Neosho. Good luck ladies!

If you haven't seen our cross country Tigers run, you have to find some time to do so. It is awesome! We hosted the Willard Invitational last Thursday and our coaches and kids did great. A special congratulations to Bailey Hession for winning the girls division by a margin of two hours (just kidding, but she did win by a bunch!). Their next meet is this Saturday at Camdenton.

The volleytigers continue to play tough against the toughest part of their schedule. They will travel to Ozark next Tuesday and host Nixa on Thursday.

The Cutting Edge will open their competitive marching season this Saturday at the Parkview Marching Festival. It will be held at JFK Stadium with our preliminary performance scheduled to start at 4:45 and finals are scheduled to start at 8:15pm.

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Director of Special Services Special services administrative staff attended the MO-CASE Special Education Administrators' Conference at Lake of the Ozarks held September 20-23rd. The conference was the 32nd annual event and is an opportunity to inform, train, and advise districts on special education law and best practices of educating students with special needs. Break-out sessions attended by process coordinators, assistant director and myself include: Section 504, RtI & LD & Reading, autism, post-secondary transition, OSEP "After Thoughts," ECSE, Funds Management, DESE updates and writing defensible IEPs. Additional sessions were attended, as well as the law conference and key note address. Our staff found this to be a conference worth the time. We are currently sharing information from each session with one another and preparing to inform appropriate staff of new requirements and obligations. Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School This week has been packed with events and happenings. Let's start off with the Willard Choir members who auditioned for Honor Choir. Honor Choir is divided into two audition groups, 11th & 12th grade auditions held at Central HS and 9th & 10th Grade auditions held at Drury University. WHS students under the direction of Mark Lawley rose to the occasion.

In the Junior & Senior level WHS has 21 students qualify for All District Honor Choir: Stephanie Hale, Lecil Thedell, Amelia Montgomery, Amanda Allen, Brooke Lawley, Becky Farr, Madison Williams, Alisa Lechner, Lindsey Sloan, Jacob Stoll , Jacob Robinson, Caleb Fare, Zach Page, Mitchell Bolton, Brock Wade, Adam Masters, Jon Carleton, Brock Baker, Drew Raby, Daniel Nilsen, and T J Chatman.

WHS had 16 students in the Freshman and Sophomore category qualify for All District Honor Choir: Stephanie Lingenfelter, Lexi Locke, Maddison Scott, Emily Crotts, Jasmin Routh, Shelby Baker, Mason Donnell, Matt Bryant, Charlie Bird, Austin Moore, Jacob Trammell, Ben Nilsen, Josh Badger, Cody Hall, Josh Stevens, and Nathan Olson.

Fantastic job by WHS vocalists!

WHS Theater is working hard for the Fall show. If you walk by the WHS theater you may hear hammering and banging as set construction in underway, or you may hear melodious sounds as Mrs. Chappell and Mrs. Dunn guide students through singing performances. We will keep you posted as we move closer to opening night.

This week was the final week of practice before WHS Band's first "Marching Band" competition. This Saturday, October 3rd "The Cutting Edge" will kickoff their marching season at Parkview HS (JFK Stadium). The Football Game previews have been awesome, and we look forward to watching the entire performance in competition. Please check the Band Website for performance times.

Homecoming Week at WHS has been a huge success. This week students matched their clothing attire to corresponding "day themes". Monday was "Jungle Day", Tuesday - "Sports Day", Wednesday was "Superhero Day" ( very interesting ), Thursday was "Pirate Day", and today ( Friday ), is our Black / White Tiger Pride Day. Tonight the coronation festivities begin at 6:30pm with the game beginning at 7:00pm. Make sure you come early and get a good seat for all the action.

Senior Parent Reminder: The senior class is placing orders for graduation supplies ( cap & gown, announcements, etc. ). Senior students met with Josten's on Wednesday and picked up order forms. If you need extra order forms we have them in the HS Office. Next Wednesday October 7th, Josten's will be in the commons area during all lunch periods (11:20am - 12:45pm) to take Senior graduation orders. Stewart Pratt, HS Principal

Willard Middle School Greetings from Willard Middle School. I want to start off this week by offering up a special thank you to this fantastic community, for all of the donations, volunteers, and attendees that were involved to make our "Growl Nite" a huge success. Even though the weather did all that it could to place a dark cloud over the festivities, Tiger Pride kicked in, and the event was seamlessly moved indoors, and never missed a beat. We had a great crowd, and everyone really seemed to enjoy the afternoon. Things went so well that we are discussing moving indoors for next year as well, so if you have any input you would like to share concerning Growl Nite, please let us know.

This week all of our athletic teams were again in competition, including our Cross Country teams, who hosted their only home event. A special note of recognition goes out to our 7th grade volleyball team, which remains undefeated on the year, and are really playing well. On Wednesday, we held a "Meet Me at the Pole," and over 100 students and faculty members showed up to have a moment of silence/prayer before school. What a great group of people. A note for next week, the OHHS club, (Operation Hometown Hero Supporters Club) will be holding their yearly Support the Troops rally in front of Murfin's Market. This will be on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 3-5pm. We invite you to get involved, or at least drive by and give the kids a honk.

Finally, you should have gotten the mid-term report cards for your students in the past week. If you have any questions please feel free to let us know. The kids are doing a great job so far, and we look forward to this being a very successful year. We are four weeks away from the end of the quarter, and ask that you plan now to drop by for parent-teacher conferences, which will be held on Oct. 27-29th. This is a great time to get any questions answered , and show your students that you care about what they are doing. We hope to see you then, and thanks as always for your support of our students and school. Tom Merriott, WMS Asst. Principal

Willard Intermediate School The month of October brings with it cooler weather, football games, and a busy month at WIS! Our 100+ member running club has been preparing for their annual participation in the Sunshine Run. Race day is 10/10 at 7:30. We wish everyone luck.

Our fight free program has challenged our students to go 20 days in a row without a physical altercation. If they can do this they will get to witness one of our fearless administrators eat several live bugs! (I wonder who volunteered to do that??)

WIS is proud to recognize that 144 of our students completed over 1100 hours of reading over the summer participating in the Greene County Library summer reading club. The names of these students are posted in the trophy case at the main entrance to the building. Way to go!

Upcoming events: 10/4 - Hampton Family's Extreme Home Makeover Show airs on ABC 10/10 - Sunshine Run 7:30 am 10/15 - WIS Skating Party @ Skateport 6-7:30 pm 10/19-10/23 - Red Ribon Week 10/27 and 10/29 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 10/28 - iChoose assemblies 10/29 - iChoose store 10/30 - No school

Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary Staying with the theme of this school year, the Willard Central Elementary Legion of Superheroes arrived on the scene during Community Time today on October 2. During an assembly, super students displayed their specialized abilities in a brief demonstration for students and staff. The fearless Super Guy (AKA-Shane Medlin) appeared on the scene and encouraged students to build on their strengths, show a unity of purpose and be empowered with responsibility. After Community Time, the entire school had their picture made. The whole school was arranged in this year's school symbol of Superman, which was taped off on the gym floor. Be sure to look at Willard Central's blog for future pictures of this great event! Presented by: Libbie Hampton (Administrative Intern)

As we look ahead to the month of October, please mark your calendars for these important dates:

Oct. 12 PTO Meeting at 6:00 Oct. 16 Fall Parties at 2:45 Oct. 20 3rd Grade Music Concert at 7:00 Oct. 27/29 Student Led Conferences Oct. 26-29 WC Book Fair Oct. 30 No School

Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard North Elementary This week at Willard North has moved at warp speed. This week students in 4th grade are displaying their landform projects in the hallways. They are simply amazing. We had a blast at our first Super Tiger this year. Second grade gave us a preview of their music program and we honored classrooms with special class awards. The PTO created a great commercial for our upcoming fall carnival filled with fun and lots of laughs.

We invite you to join us at McTeacher Night next week at the McDonald's on the corner of 160 and Hunt Road. The night is October 6th from 4:00 to 8:00. We look forward to seeing you there!

Have a safe and fun weekend! Angela Stevens, Principal

Willard Orchard Hills Elementary There are many great things going on at Willard Orchard Hills Elementary. We just wrapped up our first fundraiser. Thanks to everyone who participated! Reading Assessments are in full swing. The halls are filled with student work. Our building is becoming a home.

In addition to getting in the groove of the school year, Coach Wickwar, our physical education teacher, has taken on the task of getting our staff in shape. Three days a week at 7:00 in the morning you will find half the staff in our gym working out. Coach W. sets up a fitness circuit, guides our progress, shows us how to improve our form, and offers encouragement. We have just finished our third week of training. It takes 21 days to make a habit and we are 12 days away from making it happen! There is something about group commitment that makes rolling out of bed early much easier! I would like to thank Coach W. for taking on this important task!

School Pictures are October 1st!

Have a great week! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

Willard South Elementary Fall is in the air! The cooler weather is bringing lots of exciting events to Willard South. We held the White Tiger Marketplace on Saturday, September 19th. We had a good turnout and raised over $1300. This money will be used to help numerous families throughout the district with various needs.

Please help support WS Technology by attending McTeacher Night on Tuesday, October 6th from 4:00-8:00 at the McDonald's on Chestnut Expressway. The money raised will be used to support technology in all classrooms. We will also have our first music performance of the year on Thursday, October 8th at 3:00 and 7:00. Our fourth graders will be performing Lemonade for students, parents and staff. It is sure to be an exciting event!

Have a great FALL weekend! Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Website: Visit us online at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com

October Bash: Saturday October 10th at 7pm at the Recreation Center. Come to the 2009 Willard Parks October Bash Dance! This dance is open for all ages and is FREE to attend. Participants can listen to great music and enjoy cake and punch! Don't miss this event.

Halloween Movie in the Park: DOUBLE FEATURE Come to Jackson Street Park on Saturday, October 17th, for Willard's 2nd Annual Movie in the Park Double Feature. This event is free to attend and hot dogs and hamburgers will be sold. Showing will be Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters. Go to <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com to view the official trailers for the event. The movie begins at 7pm.

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Get your tickets fast before they sell out!

Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday, October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit <http://www.kellymillercircus.com/>www.kellymillercircus.com Tickets are on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262.

Safe Halloween 2009: Saturday, October 24th at 5:30pm at the Willard Recreation Center. This year we will be collecting new and used toys for deserving area children. This event is FREE to attend. Wear your costume and trick or treat from local businesses, play games, and walk through the Willard Haunted House. For more information call 742-2262.

Harlem Legends Celebrity Basketball Show: TICKETS ON SALE NOW!! Willard Parks and Recreation and CoxHealth Fitness Centers present the Harlem Legends vs. the Willard All-Stars on Monday November 2nd at Willard High School at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students in advance at the Willard Recreation Center. The Harlem Legends are a group of professional athletes, former players from the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL, past USA Olympians, and other professionals. Legends include, Michael Douglas, Tyrone Hollywood Brown, Larry Shorty Coleman, Brandon McDonald, Woody Carter, Gator Rivers, Mike Glenn, Jimmy Bolden, L.T. Trahan, Wayne Arnold and Somer Easterwood. For more information call (417) 742-2262.

Current Sports Registrations: Register NOW!! Recreational Basketball Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th

Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Basketball for ages 3 -14. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturdays beginning November 7th.

Recreational Cheerleading Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Cheerleading for grade K - 8th. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturday beginning November 7th.

Fall Sports: Fall Soccer and Volleyball games continue. Call Shawn at 742-2262 if you have any questions about the ongoing seasons.

Willard Child Care at the Recreation Center: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and CoxHealth Fitness Centers. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am - 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm - 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm - 9pm

Thank you New Sponsors: Willard Parks and Recreation wishes to thank its newest sponsors. The new sponsors are Pizza Hut and Allied Waste Services. Thank you!

July December Program Guide: The Willard Parks and Recreation 2009 July December program guides are ready. You may pick up your free copy at the Willard Recreation Center and at Willards City Hall. Copies are going fast so be sure to get your copy as soon as possible.

Fun 5K Run: Saturday 8am 11/21/09 at the Willard Community Building. The Race will be held on the Frisco Trail. The fee to participate is $15 for those who pre-register. Registration forms are at the Recreation Center.

Willard Parks and Recreation Facility Rentals: Holding Fee: $25, Refundable Deposit: $75 (excluding the Pavilion). Rental Areas: Willard Community Building: $15 hour / kitchen $25 flat fee, Large Gym at the Recreation Center: $25 hour, Small Gym at the Recreation Center: $20, Murray Community Room/Patio/Kitchen: $15 hour, Classroom/Conference Room: $12 hour, Jackson St Park Pavilion: $7.50 hour. For more information contact Tina at (417) 742-2262

Camps: Out of School Camps:

Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K -6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

Christmas in Willard: Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center. Visit <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com for more information.

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes: Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

4 X 8 Sign at the Recreation Center: Did you know that you can purchase a 4 X 8 advertising sign at the Recreation Center? The sign is a 4 X 8 aluminum sign that gets hung in the gym at the Recreation Center. The cost is $400 (which includes the making of the sign) for the first year and $240 for every year after. Contracts are for a one year period. If you would like to purchase a sign please call Kevin at (417)742-2262.

Magazine Article: Willard Parks and Recreation is featured in the 2009 Summer MO Recreation and Parks Association magazine. Check it out.

There are two ways to get there: Go to <http://www.mopark.org>www.mopark.org and under the announcements click on Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine Online and then use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 magazine

Or you can copy and paste <http://www.mopark.org/displaynewsletter.cfm>http://www.mopa rk.org/displaynewsletter.cfm and use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 Magazine.

Thanks,

Kevin McDonald Willard Parks and Recreation Director

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

District Office

Courts Upholds Constitutionality of Collective Bargaining Policy Allowing Multiple Representation for Teachers.

One of the secrets for creating a great school district is to establish a relationship between staff and administration that is built on trust and collaboration. I believe that we have worked hard at Willard to establish this type of environment. In recent years courts have allowed teachers to exercise the right to collectively bargain. The law is not well defined in Missouri and allows for the process of Meet and Confer to satisfy this procedure. Meet and Confer is practiced in our district. Meet and Confer is a process that brings representatives from both teacher groups (NEA and MSTA) to a common table to discuss issues regarding salary, benefits, work environment, etc& NEA, (National Education Association) recently sued the Springfield School District challenging the process. NEA asserted that districts should only allow one representative union with exclusive representation of teachers. The case was settled this month in favor of the Springfield School District allowing for multiple groups to be represented by teachers. I believe this was a positive decision from the courts. NEA and MSTA clearly have philosophical differences. I believe that teachers choose which organization to join based upon the value set of each particular organization. True collaboration appreciates input from all parties involved and does not require only one point of view to be representative of the entire group. It is my opinion that this was not only a win for Springfield Schools, but all Missouri School Districts, teachers, and ultimately children.

Have a great weekend!

Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities I don't do this very often but I'm going to this week. Occasionally, young adults will stand up and do something that says "We are here, so you had better be ready for us!". Well, our Middle School Tigers did just that this week. Here is a rundown of their week: The football tigers swept the 7th and 8th grade games vs. Bolivar, the volleytigers defeated Strafford, and the cross country tigers went to Bolivar where the boy's team finished 2nd and the girl's team finished 1st! I'd say our young Tigers let out quite a roar this week. Congratulations!

The football tigers are continuing to work hard and get better as they refuse to use their tough schedule as an excuse. After a tough loss last week to Webb City, the tigers will travel to Carthage tonight to take on the blue and white tigers. Game time is 7:00. I have been very impressed that through their struggles early on they continue to wear their jerseys with "Willard" on the front with great pride! Success is coming very soon!

The volleytigers fought very hard in their 4th place finish last Saturday in the Lori Endicott Tournament. They finished 2nd in their pool before falling to eventual champion Jeff City Helias in the semis (3 games) and then to Kickapoo in 3 games in the 3rd place match. The girls then played hard but came up short against Glendale on Tuesday before bouncing back to defeat Fair Grove last night. They will play in the Kickapoo Classic this Saturday before hosting Kickapoo next Tuesday and Rogersville on Thursday.

The soccer tigers had a good week as they came from behind to defeat Central 4-1 on Monday, lost a heartbreaker 0-1 to Ozark on Tuesday but then defeated Aurora 6-0 last night in the first round of the Monett Tournament. They will continue the Monett Tournament Saturday at 9:00 vs. Carl Junction. The tigers will then host Monett on Monday and travel to Carl Junction next Thursday.

The softball tigers competed hard in the Ozark Tournament last Saturday before struggling this week vs. Nixa and Neosho. The girls will look to get back in the win column as they play in the Branson Invitational this Saturday. They will then host Buffalo on Monday, Webb City on Tuesday, and travel to Carthage on Thursday.

Congratulations to Bailey Hession on her 3rd place finish in the Bolivar Cross Country meet last week! The lady tigers ended up with a 4th place finish as a team. Also, congratulations to Billye Redburn for finishing 3rd out of 75 players in the Pearson Golf Invitational!

Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Willard High School We have ended another great week at the High School! Last Saturday ( Sept. 12th ) FBLA members assisted the March of Dimes in raising funds. "Bikers for Babies" was a contribution drive surrounding motorcycle riders from all over the Ozarks. WHS students assisted in setup, registration of participants, food preparation and distribution of breakfast. Motorcyclists began the ride at Evergreen Church parking lot and ended near Nixa at the old Fox Hollow Softball Complex.

A reminder to parents about "Growl Night" this weekend. Many clubs and organizations from the HS will be participating in the event.

HS SGA ( Student Government Organization ) is working hard on the fast approaching Homecoming Week. A week full of Homecoming activities throughout the week for students. On Thursday October 1st we will have a Bon Fire Rally behind the HS, Friday, Homecoming Assembly 7th hour, Homecoming Parade at 3:00pm ( parade route to be revealed later ), Football game and Coronation at 7:00am, followed by Homecoming Dance in the HS commons at 9:00pm - 12:00am.

Many activities and events are occurring at the HS. Please check the Willard Website for more information about events and calendar.

Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School Greetings from Willard Middle School. It has been busy as always around WMS this week, as we get ready for "Growl Nite," and all the fun that comes with this event. We hope to see as many students and community members as possible, and remind you to make a point to stop in and see what is going on if you can. As always, the activities will be on the east side of WMS, between our building and the football field. We are hoping for good weather, but if rain does come, we will move inside and still have a great day. Come by and say hi, and enjoy a fun event with us.

All of our fall sports teams were in action this week, and it proved to be a good week for Tiger fans. The cross country teams began their season with a 1st place finish by the girls, and a 2nd place showing for the boys. The 7th and 8th grade football teams both tasted victory, as did both volleyball teams. It was a great way to start the seasons, and we look forward to many more exciting contests ahead.

Next week's events include the final days of the book fair in the library, "Meet Me At the Pole" on Wednesday morning before school, and a special GNO (Girl's Night Out) on Thursday the 24th. This event will be from 2:30-5:30, and you should see Mrs. Treadway for more information or to sign up if you are interested. It should be a fun activity for our young ladies. Also, we encourage you to see Miss Graves if you would like to be a part of the Drama Club, and get in on the fun every Thursday from 2:30-3:30. Who knows, maybe the next great young actor or actress from Southwest Missouri is walking the halls of WMS, and they don't even know it yet. Find out if that person might be you!

Finally, we remind you that school will not be in session on Friday, Sept. 25th. We hope the kids will use the three day weekend in a positive way, and come back ready to go for the second half of 1st quarter. Yes, it is hard to believe, but we have already reached mid-term, and before we know it , the time will be here to get that turkey cooked and visit with Aunt Lola and Uncle Alvin for Thanksgiving. For some reason it seems the years just keep going by faster, so I encourage you to enjoy them as they come, and make the best of each day. Thanks for checking with us, and thanks for letting us work with your kids. Tom Merriott WMS Asst. Principal

Willard Intermediate School Where does the time go? Here we sit at the mid-point of the first quarter and it seems we just started. It is great to see everybody into their "routine" and great instruction and learning going on! One of the most influential "new" things on the teaching/learning process at WIS this school year is our focus on incorporating technology into daily lessons.

Thanks to the generosity of the district and many hours of training and planning by our teachers it is now a very common thing to see lessons imbedded with digital media. We know that there is still much work to be done but I am incredibly proud of the strides that have been made to "catch up" with the digital world in our teaching.

A reminder that our mid-quarter grades will go home with students on Monday the 21st. Parents are encouraged to visit with their child about their academic progress and to contact their teachers with and questions or concerns. Also a reminder that school will not be in session on Friday 9/25 for our teacher professional development day. Have a great weekend! Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary It has been a super week at WC! I have truly enjoyed seeing the learning and teaching taking place in each classroom this week. From kindergarten students writing descriptive stories full of details about family visits to the pumpkin patch to observing 4th grade students measuring the height of 1st grade students and graphing the information together , the building has been abuzz with the sounds of learning.

We kicked off our PTO fundraiser at Community Time on Thursday. We are blessed to have such wonderful community support through these fundraisers to help purchase playground equipment, interactive SMARTBoards, school t-shirts and so many other things make school so enjoyable for students. Thank you in advance for all you do for Willard Kids!

As we look ahead to the coming days, please mark your calendars for the following events:

Sept. 25 NO SCHOOL Teacher Professional Development Day Sept. 29 Picture Day Sept. 29 Mr. Zs PTO Fundraiser Packets Due Oct. 2 HS Homecoming Football Game

Have a great weekend and don't forget to Dare to be Heroic! ~ Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary This month I would like to spotlight some of my classroom blogs. Teachers are required to implement technology and one way to do that is through classroom blogs as communication with parents and to post links to use during instruction. Please feel free to go our school website and look around. You can also click on the links below and take a look at some of the great things my teachers are doing!

You will notice that these are very different but useful.

Mrs. Ball's Kindergarten - <https://gball.wikispaces.com/>https://gball.wikispaces.com/ Mrs. Kramer's 1st Grade - <http://mrsrobinkramer.blogspot.com/>http://mrsrobinkramer.b logspot.com/ Mrs. Carter's 2nd Grade - <http://bmcarter.edublogs.org/>http://bmcarter.edublogs.org/ Mrs. Hillenburg's 3rd Grade - <http://lisahillenburg.wordpress.com/>http://lisahillenburg. wordpress.com/ Mrs. Hayter's 4th Grade - <http://mhayter.wordpress.com/>http://mhayter.wordpress.com/ Mrs. Miller Library - <http://88miller.wordpress.com/>http://88miller.wordpress.co m/

Tiger Pride assembly Friday Sept. 24 2:30! Students will get Tiger Pride Tshirts AND our school-wide picture.

Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary With mid-quarter behind us, fall is quickly approaching. Willard North Elementary has already been buzzing with activity. Last Friday the 11th, students from second grade invited their grandparents to come in and join them for cookies and tea. Grandparents were also treated to a show from the students who performed What a Wonderful World.

Kindergarten has been learning all about apples this week. We are counting apples, graphing apples, cooking apples, and of course eating apples.

Third grades are also bringing in their community projects. They are on display in the third grade hallway. They look absolutely amazing.

Students also learned more about the Constitution for Constitution Day.

Just a reminder there is no school next Friday, September 25th.

Future-cast:

9/21 Early Out 3:00 9/24 Kindergarten Open House 6:00 9/25 NO SCHOOL 9/30 First Super Tiger Celebration 2:30

Angela Stevens, Willard North Principal

Willard Orchard Hills Elementary Willard Orchard Hills has settled in! Our classes are doing phenomenal work. Our new playground is a hit with the students. If you have not been to WOHE, we will be glad to give tours! I personally love the commons area. We have kicked off our first fundraiser. If the students meet their goal, Coach Wickwar and I could become human pizzas! Next week no school for students on Friday! Have a great week! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

Willard South Elementary Thanks to the continued support of our PTO, we have our t-shirts again this school year. This tradition started over thirteen years ago when Willard South became an Accelerated School. This was a reform process for schools across the United States. The Accelerated Schools program is one that focuses on three very important key words, STRENGTH, UNITY & EMPOWERMENT. Due to the commitment of our PTO, students and staff can demonstrate the true meaning of these words by wearing their school shirt every Friday. Students received these shirts today!

This Saturday we will be having our very first White Tiger Market Place here at Willard South Elementary! The money raised during this activity benefits all of our families across the district kindergarten through 12th grade. At this time we could really use some help with set-up this Friday from 6-8 and also on Saturday anytime from 7:00-2:00. Any of you that like to shop, want to get an early start on you Christmas shopping, or want to volunteer some time are welcome to "COME ON DOWN!" Chrysta Forrest, our social worker will be glad to help you-help us.

Don't forget that next week will be a four day week for students. School will not be in session on Friday, September 25th due to a teacher workday.

Have a wonderful weekend! Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

New Sponsors: Willard Parks and Recreation wishes to thank its newest sponsors. The new sponsors are Pizza Hut and Allied Waste Services. Thank you!

Fall Sports: The 2009 Willard Parks and Recreation fall soccer and volleyball season has begun. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the season please call (417) 742-2262.

Website: Visit us online at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com

MOVIES: THIS SATURDAY!! Upcoming Movie in the Park Events: Held at Jackson St. Park

Come to the Willard Movie in the Park Series on the dates listed below. Bring your entire family for a night of fun and movies. We will be selling hot-dogs and hamburgers.

September 19th: 8:00pm: Bolt (view preview at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com)

October 17th: 7:00pm (Double Feature): Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit <http://www.kellymillercircus.com/>www.kellymillercircus.com Tickets are on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262. Get your tickets fast before they sell out!

Harlem Legends Celebrity Basketball Show: TICKETS ON SALE NOW!! Willard Parks and Recreation and CoxHealth Fitness Centers present the Harlem Legends vs. the Willard All-Stars on Monday November 2nd at Willard High School at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students in advance at the Willard Recreation Center. The Harlem Legends are a group of professional athletes, former players from the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL, past USA Olympians, and other professionals. Legends include, Michael Douglas, Tyrone Hollywood Brown, Larry Shorty Coleman, Brandon McDonald, Woody Carter, Gator Rivers, Mike Glenn, Jimmy Bolden, L.T. Trahan, Wayne Arnold and Somer Easterwood. For more information call (417) 742-2262.

Soccer Drive: Thank you to everyone who attended the Willard Soccer Drive on Saturday September 5th at the Recreation Center. Around 200 people received free soccer equipment for the upcoming fall soccer season. Items given out included soccer balls, cleats and shin guards. The items were donated to the Willard Parks Department from the Kansas City Wizards Professional Soccer Team.

Project Playground Auction: Thank you to everyone who participated in the Willard Project Playground Silent Auction on Saturday September 5th. Around $300 was raised for Project Playground. Project Playground is Willards Project to purchase and install a new playground at Willards New Highline Soccer Park.

Aquatic Center: Thank you to everyone who helped make the first year of the new Willard Aquatic Center a success. The last day of operation at the Aquatic Center is Monday September 7th. This year was a huge success. The pool will reopen in May 2010.

Willard Child Care at the Recreation Center: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and CoxHealth Fitness Centers. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at

Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am - 10am

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm - 9pm

Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm - 9pm

October Bash: Saturday October 10th at 7pm at the Recreation Center. Come to the 2009 Willard Parks October Bash Dance! This dance is open for all ages and is FREE to attend. Participants can listen to great music and enjoy cake and punch!

July December Program Guide: The Willard Parks and Recreation 2009 July December program guides are ready. You may pick up your free copy at the Willard Recreation Center and at Willards City Hall. Copies are going fast so be sure to get your copy as soon as possible.

Fun 5K Run: Saturday 8am 11/21/09 at the Willard Community Building. The Race will be held on the Frisco Trail. The fee to participate is $15 for those who pre-register. Registration forms are at the Recreation Center.

Willard Parks and Recreation Facility Rentals: Holding Fee: $25, Refundable Deposit: $75 (excluding the Pavilion). Rental Areas: Willard Community Building: $15 hour / kitchen $25 flat fee, Large Gym at the Recreation Center: $25 hour, Small Gym at the Recreation Center: $20, Murray Community Room/Patio/Kitchen: $15 hour, Classroom/Conference Room: $12 hour, Jackson St Park Pavilion: $7.50 hour. For more information contact Tina at (417) 742-2262

Willard Rummage Sale: Saturday October 3rd 8:00am - 12:00pm : Come to the Willard Recreation Center on Saturday October 3rd and shop from various Willard Community members. This is just a HUGE YARD SALE (but in-doors of course)

Camps:

Out of School Camps:

Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

School Holiday Camp: September 25th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09,

Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

Safe Halloween 2009: Saturday October 24th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center. Visit <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com for more information.

Christmas in Willard: Saturday December 12th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center. Visit <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com for more information.

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes:

Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

4 X 8 Sign at the Recreation Center: Did you know that you can purchase a 4 X 8 advertising sign at the Recreation Center? The sign is a 4 X 8 aluminum sign that gets hung in the gym at the Recreation Center. The cost is $400 (which includes the making of the sign) for the first year and $240 for every year after. Contracts are for a one year period. If you would like to purchase a sign please call Kevin at (417)742-2262.

Magazine Article: Willard Parks and Recreation is featured in the 2009 Summer MO Recreation and Parks Association magazine. Check it out.

There are two ways to get there:

Go to <http://www.mopark.org>www.mopark.org and under the announcements click on Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine Onlineand then use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 magazine

Or you can copy and paste <http://www.mopark.org/displaynewsletter.cfm>http://www.mopa rk.org/displaynewsletter.cfm and use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 Magazine.

Upcoming Sports Registrations:

Recreational Basketball Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Basketball for ages 3 -14. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturdays beginning November 7th.

Recreational Cheerleading Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Cheerleading for grade K 8th. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturday beginning November 7th.

Thanks,

Kevin McDonald Willard Parks and Recreation Director

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

District Office

Teachers need your help!!! In 1984, the state of Missouri initiated the Career Ladder Program. This program offered salary incentives for teachers to work over normal contract hours to support student learning. The program consists of 3 levels offering teacher incentives of $1,500, $3,000, and $5,000 per year for this additional work. These incentive levels have not changed for the last 25 years, however teachers have continued to participate in the program for the benefit of their students. The State of Missouri is now threatening to suspend funding for this valued program. The program not only offers our teachers a bit more pay, it provides thousands of hours in tutoring to our local schools. The Willard Board of Education and Administration has submitted the following letter of support to many State Officials all the way from local representatives to Governor Nixon. Teachers and students need your help to write letters to our state officials in support of this valued program. Willard district representatives and senator include:

* Shane Schoeller shane.schoeller@gmail.com * James Viebrock Jim.Viebrock@house.mo.gov * Eric Burlison Eric.Burlison@house.mo.gov * Dan Clemens dan_clemens@senate.mo.gov

Thank you for your help! Kent

The Willard Board of Education discussed Career Ladder Funding on August 20, 2009 at the regular monthly meeting. Several teachers attended presenting their opinion to the issue. Willard is a long time participant of the State Career Ladder Program. Willard is located four miles north of Springfield, MO. Springfield clearly has a much greater local wealth in comparison to Willard, however, the supplement of Career Ladder funding has allowed our district to be more competitive with the Springfield School district salary schedules. The Willard Board of Education directed administration to determine a fair method of distributing budgeted Career Ladder matching funds in the event that the State of Missouri fails to fund their portion of this valued program.

The risk of not funding this program has always been understood by districts. DESE, as well as other state officials have made districts keenly aware that this is one of the last items approved for funding and is funded retroactively. It is my hope that our local and state legislatures understand the implications of failing to fund this program.

Career Ladder has direct impact on the academic success of Missouri children. In 2008-2009, over eight thousand hours of student / teacher non-contract hours occurred to support Willard students. Almost half of this time was spent tutoring students struggling in the classroom. Willard supported this effort by offering special tutoring busses for these students at local expense. In total Willard students received the benefit of over twenty thousand hours from teachers above and beyond their normal contract hours. I will challenge anyone of the opinion that this program has not increased the learning opportunities for our children.

Very few disagree that teachers are overworked and under paid. Missouri has the ability to boast that our children exceed national averages in achievement. Rural schools use this program to attract and retain high quality teachers to their district. Failing to fund this program compounds the problem of staffing poor rural schools. Lastly, this income will come straight from the teachers pocket. If Career Ladder is discontinued some teachers could lose as much as 12-15% from their income. This loss will force many to look for a second income to make ends meet at home.

The Willard Board of Education, Administration, and staff ask that you would champion public education and support children and teachers by supporting the continued funding of the Missouri Career Ladder program for the 2009-2010 school year and future years.

Sincerely, Willard Board of Education

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities

I realize that I use the phrase "It's Good To Be A Tiger" at the end of every pride. Sometimes, when you use something too often, it looses its meaning or value. Well, I'm here to tell you that last night it felt so good to be a Tiger that I had goose bumps! Within a two hour period, our Tigers defeated Lebanon 6-0 in varsity soccer and 3-0 in jv soccer; the softball Tigers defeated Branson 8-3; and the volleytigers swept Bolivar in 2 games in freshmen, jv, and varsity to remain undefeated!

Tonight the football Tigers will take the field against Webb City in a huge COC showdown. The game will be broadcast by MediaCom and replayed this weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00.

The volleytigers will look to continue their great play this weekend as they host the Lori Endicott Invitational. Pool play will start at 8:00am with bracket play starting at 5:00pm. Come out and support the volleytigers! Next week they will host Glendale on Tuesday and will travel to Fair Grove on Thursday. Both games start at 5:00.

The softball tigers will play in the Ozark Tournament this Friday and Saturday. They will then play at Nixa on Tuesday and will host Neosho on Thursday. Good luck ladies!

The soccer tigers will have their first home game of the season next Monday as they host Central. The boys will then travel to Ozark on Tuesday before playing in the Monett Tournament next weekend.

Cross Country will have their second meet of the year next Tuesday at Bolivar. Running will start at 4:00 (and would end for me at 4:02 but thankfully our kids are awesome!).

The girls golf team will play in the Nixa Tournament on Monday at Hidden Valley. They will then play in the Pearson Invitational on Wednesday and the Rogersville Tournament on Thursday.

By the way....rumor has it that if the band's performance Friday night was any indication then this year's show is going to be special. Great job band on opening night!

It's Good (Great) To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Director of Special Services

Technology is everywhere and our special services classrooms are no exceptions! Ron Keys, special services teacher at Willard Central, shared how he uses his new Smart Board daily to provide "hands-on" instruction for high-needs students. His students with limited range of motion enjoy dragging down letters for spelling lessons and numbers for math. Students with limited attention span and visual problems are able to watch the large screen and engage in lessons with enthusiasm. The bright flashes and large-as-life images keeps the attention of all his students. Being a luddite (a person who is adverse to adapting to technology), I had to be shown how Smart Boards, projectors and flip cameras are changing the way our special services students are learning. It is exciting seeing our students respond to instruction via Smart Boards and to hear the enthusiasm of our teachers! Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School

The High School is in full swing with numerous athletic and activity events. Classrooms are in a steady routine as 1st quarter progress marking period approaches next Wednesday ( Sept. 16th ). Meet the Teacher night (Thursday Sept. 10) was a big success as parents and grandparents walked the halls to meet teachers and get a feel for their students daily routine.

During Meet the Teacher night, I was visiting with a group of parents about how fortunate we are to have a community who supports our school system so well. As I arrived home later that evening, I was looking at my calendar and noticed Constitution Day is Thursday, September 17th. We are fortunate because of the sacrifice of other generations who drafted the early documents of our country and the people who have sacrificed to keep the foundations of those documents intact. Many of our classrooms will have brief mini lessons surrounding the U.S. Constitution. Our staff and students thank the Willard School District community for all they have done, and will do, in supporting our school.

Parent Portal Signup - If you have internet access and would like to signed up for Parent Portal, please call 742-3524.

Calendar reminder: WHS Parent-Teacher Conference will be Tuesday, October 27th ( 5:30pm - 8:00pm ) and Wednesday, October 28th ( 5:30pm - 8:00pm ). If you would like to set up an appointment with your students teachers please call 742-3524.

Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School

Greetings from Willard Middle School. After enjoying the Labor Day weekend, it was back to work this week at WMS, and the activities are now in full swing. Our kids are getting involved and back in the groove of school, and actually seem to be enjoying things so far. We had another group of students travel to Branson this Friday to visit the Titantic museum, as this is a trip the kids really gain knowledge from, as well as having a fun day together. Fall sports all kick off action next week, with the football, volleyball, and cross country teams getting an opportunity to measure what they have learned against area competition. We look forward to great seasons from all of them, and wish them the best. We will also be holding our WMS library book fair, going on Sept. 17th to the 24th. This is a great chance to pick up some neat things to read at an affordable price. Finally, we again invite you to mark you calendars for next Saturday, Sept. 19th, as we will be holding the annual Growl Nite at the Middle School. Many activities will be going on, including a car show, live music, games, silent auctions, bingo, and most importantly, FOOD!! It all gets started at 2pm, and runs until 7pm that evening. We hope to see you there, and thank you for checking on us this week. See you next time. Tom Merriott, Assistant Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation

(417)742-2262 www.cityofwillard.org

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Website: Visit us online at www.willardparks.com

Harlem Legends Celebrity Basketball Show: Willard Parks and Recreation presents the Harlem Legends vs. the Willard All-Stars on Monday, November 2nd at Willard High School at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students in advance at the Willard Recreation Center. The Harlem Legends are a group of professional athletes, former players from the Harlem Globetrotters, NBA, NFL, past USA Olympians, and other professionals. Legends include, Michael Douglas, Tyrone Hollywood Brown, Larry Shorty Coleman, Brandon McDonald, Woody Carter, Gator Rivers, Mike Glenn, Jimmy Bolden, L.T. Trahan, Wayne Arnold and Somer Easterwood. For more information call (417) 742-2262.

Soccer Drive: Thank you to everyone who attended the Willard Soccer Drive on Saturday, September 5th at the Recreation Center. Around 200 people received free soccer equipment for the upcoming fall soccer season. Items given out included soccer balls, cleats and shin guards. The items were donated to the Willard Parks Department from the Kansas City Wizards Professional Soccer Team.

Project Playground Auction: Thank you to everyone who participated in the Willard Project Playground Silent Auction on Saturday September 5th. Around $300 was raised for Project Playground. Project Playground is Willards Project to purchase and install a new playground at Willards New Highline Soccer Park.

Aquatic Center: Thank you to everyone who helped make the first year of the new Willard Aquatic Center a success. The last day of operation at the Aquatic Center was Monday September 7th. This year was a huge success. The pool will reopen in May 2010.

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday, October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit www.kellymillercircus.com. Tickets are on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262. Willard has already sold over 100 tickets to the Circus. Get your tickets fast before they sell out!

Willard Child Care at the Recreation Center: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and Cox Health. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm 9pm

MOVIES: Upcoming Movie in the Park Events: Held at Jackson St. Park

Come to the Willard Movie in the Park Series on the dates listed below. Bring your entire family for a night of fun and movies. We will be selling hot-dogs and hamburgers.

September 19th: 8:00pm: Bolt October 17th: 7:00pm (Double Feature): Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters

October Bash: Saturday, October 10th at 7pm at the Recreation Center. Come to the 2009 Willard Parks October Bash Dance! This dance is open for all ages and is FREE to attend. Participants can listen to great music and enjoy cake and punch!

July December Program Guide: The Willard Parks and Recreation 2009 July December program guides are ready. You may pick up your free copy at the Willard Recreation Center and at Willard's City Hall. Copies are going fast so be sure to get your copy as soon as possible.

Fun 5K Run: Saturday, 8am, 11/21/09 at the Willard Community Building. The Race will be held on the Frisco Trail. The fee to participate is $15 for those who pre-register. Registration forms are at the Recreation Center.

Willard Parks and Recreation Facility Rentals: Holding Fee: $25, Refundable Deposit: $75 (excluding the Pavilion). Rental Areas: Willard Community Building: $15 hour / kitchen $25 flat fee, Large Gym at the Recreation Center: $25 hour, Small Gym at the Recreation Center: $20, Murray Community Room/Patio/Kitchen: $15 hour, Classroom/Conference Room: $12 hour, Jackson St Park Pavilion: $7.50 hour. For more information contact Tina at (417) 742-2262

Willard Rummage Sale: Saturday, October 3rd 8:00am - 12:00pm : Come to the Willard Recreation Center on Saturday October 3rd and shop from various Willard Community members. This is just a HUGE YARD SALE (but in-doors of course)

Camps: Out of School Camps:

Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center. Start planning now!

School Holiday Camp: September 25th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY, STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

Safe Halloween 2009: Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center. Visit www.willardparks.com for more information.

Christmas in Willard: Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center. Visit www.willardparks.com for more information.

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes: Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th - October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st - November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect, self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center. 2 more sessions this year (8/3 9/28) & (10/5 11/23).

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

4 X 8 Sign at the Recreation Center: Did you know that you can purchase a 4 X 8 advertising sign at the Recreation Center? The sign is a 4 X 8 aluminium sign that gets hung in the gym at the Recreation Center. The cost is $400 (which includes the making of the sign) for the first year and $240 for every year after. Contracts are for a one year period. If you would like to purchase a sign please call Kevin at (417)742-2262.

Magazine Article: Willard Parks and Recreation is featured in the 2009 Summer MO Recreation and Parks Association magazine. Check it out.

There are two ways to get there:

Go to www.mopark.org and under the announcements click on Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine Onlineand then use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 magazine

Or you can copy and paste http://www.mopark.org/displaynewsletter.cfm and use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 Magazine.

Upcoming Sports Registrations: Recreational Basketball Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th

Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Basketball for ages 3 -14. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturdays beginning November 7th.

Recreational Cheerleading Session 1: Registration September 16th October 16th Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Session 1 Cheerleading for grade K - 8th. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games will be played on Saturday beginning November 7th.

Thanks,

Kevin McDonald Willard Parks and Recreation Director

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

District Office

I have been saddened this week by the actions of some individuals across our community as well as our state and country that have put public schools and children in the middle of a political argument. Educators have too much to do to worry about politics! Blame lands on those on the far left as well as those on the far right. The controversy concerns an upcoming speech from President Obama directed to the youth of our country. I have been an administrator for 19 years and I have never returned more phone calls and e-mails concerning any other issue. I said to one concerned parent that our country has become so polarized that it has become paralyzed. I have had calls saying "it is against the law to show this speech" and another saying "if you don't show this speech it is discrimination and censorship." It appears that I am not going to win in this situation. One parent said, "it is the job of the parents, not the schools to teach about morals and values ." I agree with this, but realize the failures by parents recognized in the suspensions of their children for inappropriate behavior, disrespect, drug use, defiance, etc... Willard Schools proudly support Character Education programs such as Abstinence and Character Word of the Month. Our schools proudly display signs encouraging values such as honesty, integrity, hard work, discipline, respect, etc... Our teachers are expected to demonstrate these character traits in their interactions with children. If I am ever stripped of the ability to encourage positive values in the public schools, I think it will be time for a new career or early retirement! It does not matter if I chose to vote for President Obama or not, I will respect him as our President. I have copied below the e-mail that I sent to staff on Wednesday. If I choose to allow the speech to be viewed by students it will be the end of next week at the earliest. Administrators will notify parents of our intention after the speech is reviewed. I would ask that all of us demonstrate integrity and respect as we deal with this volatile issue.

Respectfully, Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

To: All Staff
From: Dr. Medlin

President Obama has communicated that he intends to give a speech directed to all students in the United States on September 8th. This intention has raised many opinions from our community in support of this effort, as well as those in opposition to this effort. I refuse to get caught up in the political wrangling associated with this video presentation. President Obama, and the office of the presidency, is due respect as the leader of our country. However, due to the sensitive nature of this issue I am mandating that this speech not be viewed live in Willard classrooms. Willard procedures requires video material to be viewed by staff members prior to student viewing. I have directed staff to record this speech. It will be reviewed within 48 hours and a decision will be made to allow or not allow the speech to be presented to students. Administration will also determine if it is appropriate for all grade levels or should only be viewed by older students. Once again our decision will in no way be based upon political motivations but based upon what is best for Willard students.

If the decision is made to allow students to view the video any parents written request to exclude their child from viewing the speech will be accommodated. We will be in contact will all staff after the presidential address.

Please be sensitive to this issue with your students.

Dr. Medlin

Director of Activities

The football Tigers are looking to improve on last week's game as they will host the Ozark Tigers tonight at 7:00. It will be "Ozark Food Harvest" night and they will be accepting canned food donations at the gate. Also, the Willard Chamber of Commerce will be giving someone $5,000 at halftime during the golf ball drop. Tickets will be sold during pre-game and the first half. We are expecting a large crowd tonight so come early, get a good seat and be loud in cheering on the Tigers!

The softball Tigers continue their roller coaster season as they looked very impressive this week in their 2-0 victory over Bolivar on Tuesday. The girls had a small setback last night losing to Republic but have a chance to get back in the win column tonight as they travel to Strafford. They will host Ozark next Tuesday and travel to Branson on Thursday. All games will start at 5:00.

The Volleytigers are off to a great start! All three teams are undefeated as they swept through Buffalo on Tuesday and won all 3 matches in 2 games last night vs. Hillcrest! The girls are on the road next week as they travel to Central on Tuesday and are at Bolivar on Thursday. We will be hosting the Lori Endicott Invitational next Saturday.

Congratulations to the soccer tigers as they were victorious in their first game at Aurora. They then lost a hard-fought battle last night in Joplin. The tigers will also be on the road next week as they travel to Webb City on Tuesday and to Lebanon on Thursday. Game times are at 4:30.

I know the golfing Tigers finished 9th out of 20 teams in the Seymour Tournament last week but I'm sorry that I don't have individual results. I will make sure that I have those for next week.....and I LOVE golf!

Cross Country will open their season this Saturday as they run in East Newton in the Southwest Coaches Association meet. Good luck!

From what it sounds like (every morning from my office at 6:30!) the Cutting Edge has another incredible performance lined up for this season. They will be making their debut tonight.

A special "thank you" to the Willard Chamber of Commerce and Instant Imprints for the idea of Tiger Friday. The Tiger Pride shirts turned out great and if you didn't get a chance to get one on the first order, we will be having a second order through each school soon. The pride in this community is unbelievable!

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Willard High School

The high school calendar is full of activities, athletics, and events as we close the 3rd week of 2009. To assist parents with the busy calendar and classroom progress, we offer two (2) very useful tools. If you have internet access, our "Parent- Link" portal allows parents access to their student's attendance, grades, homework assigned, and discipline. If you would like to sign up for "Parent-Link" access, please call 742-3524 and ask to sign up for "Parent-Link". The second tool is our web-based activities calendar. If you have an active student or you enjoy coming to HS activities, just look at our calendar at <http://www.willard.k12.mo.us/whs/index.html>www.willard.k12 mo.us/whs/index.html then click on student information - activities calendar. You will find all the events and happenings at Willard Middle School and High School. This is a great way to be on top of the events surrounding your student.

Parents & Students, don't forget WHS "Meet the Teacher Night" on Thurs., Sept 10 - from 6:00pm - 7:30pm. A great opportunity to meet our staff and "put a name with a face".

Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School

Well, it is beginning to feel normal again to be at school, and the kids seem to be settling into their routines, such as finding all of their classes and getting their lockers open. Life is good! Thursday night (Sept. 3rd) we held our Back to School Night at the Middle School. It was great to see so many parents come out and support the kids, who seemed to really enjoy showing their moms and dads around their school. We appreciate the efforts of those who helped to make this night successful, and are thankful to have such great kids, as well as parents and grandparents.

Our next major event will be Growl Nite, which will be from 2-7pm on Sept 19th. This has proven to be a favorite among the students, as well as the community. There will be food, activities, silent auctions for amazing baskets of goodies, and even live music. Growl Nite t-shirts are on sale, and if you have any questions or would like to help out, we would love to hear from you as soon as possible.

One of our focuses this year is community service, and specifically, recycling projects around the school. In conjunction with this, a new club is being launched, called the Conservation Club. One of their key activities will be overseeing the recycling projects, and keeping awareness in the forefront of the students and staff. Another new club this year will be the FCA, which stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. We encourage you to check these out, or any of our other clubs or athletic teams. There is something for everyone at WMS, and the more you are involved , the better your chance for overall success. Give one a try, and take advantage of the many opportunities available.

Finally, we are once again planning to take a trip to Washington D.C. this spring, and besides being a great chance to see history in person, and make a connection to many of the things we learn in the classroom, this trip is really a blast, and the kids will remember it for a lifetime. If you have any interest, or would like more information, please give us a call. Thanks for checking with us, and have a great Labor Day weekend.

Tom Merriott, Assistant Principal

Willard Intermediate School

As the third week of the school year comes to a close and everyone is settling into their routines, WIS looks forward

to the start of many of our after school activities. Most of our school clubs will begin in the next few weeks. Spanish club met this week and will meet again on October 6th. Running club, Scrapbooking club and Friday morning choir all meet next week. These are great ways for our students to try something new in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. WIS offers several other clubs that students may join throughout the year. We hope to appeal to the various areas of interest our students have. Students are encouraged to check with the club sponsors for details on how to join. Parents can check out the WIS building calendar at http://wistigers.wordpress.com for dates and times.

Enjoy the holiday weekend and the early fall weather! Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary

It is hard to believe that we are already off and running into September. School is fully underway and it is exciting to see the learning taking place in the classrooms. This week I enjoyed the opportunity to see 2nd grade students fully enjoyed in math station activities through our new math series. It was wonderful to see 5 different math activities taking place at the same time as students traveled from station to station solving a variety of problems. This experience reinforced that the brain is truly an amazing thing!! To see students sitting at the same table solving the same problem with the same manipulatives in completely different ways was a joy to observe. Even better, was listening to them explain the thinking behind their answers to justify their thought processes. This math class is a great analogy for life. There is not one set way to solve problems in life and I am encouraged to see our students becoming critical thinking problem-solvers rather than assuming there is only one correct way to reach a desired solution. As we go through this school year with this new math series, we must remind ourselves that while this change can be difficult, the reward will be life-long learners and problem-solvers in math and all other areas beyond.

As WC looks ahead this month, please mark the following dates on your calendars:

Sept 7th No School for Labor Day

Sept 14th PTO Meeting at 6:00

Sept 25th No School for Teacher Professional Development

Sept 29th Picture Day

Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary

You may have noticed on the calendar and the sign in front of the school that this coming Friday is our first Hats on for Community Service. The 1st Friday of each month students are allowed to wear a hat by donating $.25 for our community service project of the month. If EVERY student wore a hat and/or donated $.25 we could raise approximately $80 each month.

Over the course of the school year our school is asked numerous times if we would be willing to raise money for various causes. Cancer foundations, WCCF, Diabetes, American Heart Association, and that is just to name a few. We will host Hats On for 9 months. We have the opportunity to raise $720 to support local causes.

Septembers Hats on service project = The Brymer Family

In August the 3 year old brother of a Willard East student lost his life. During the summer months he bravely fought as hard as he could until he could fight no more. Currently the family is working their way through various medical bills and the cost of a funeral for their child. Lets come together and show our support to relieve a little financial strain for this grieving family.

Today we raised over $450!!!! Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary

The first few weeks of school are behind us and we are settling into a nice routine, teachers and students alike. We want to thank the PTO for the new pavilion that is located in our playground area. It provides the students with a nice amount of shade during recess. We will be looking to place some interactive activities underneath the pavilion for the students as the year progresses.

Please ask your children about the technology in their classrooms. Teachers are using smart-board lessons and projectors in all the classrooms. The students are having fun with this technology. In kindergarten a math activity can be projected onto a screen for all the students to see. The students love seeing a large image of what they are working on. In third grade, teachers have recreated math games so they are interactive on the smart-board. Students are using this technology everyday, and it is very exciting!

Next, Tuesday, September 8th, 1st grade will be having a Parent Night from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Teachers will be using this meeting to go over classroom procedures and to answer any questions.

Enjoy the three day Labor Day weekend! Angela Stevens, Principal

Willard South Elementary

We encourage all parents to attend our first PTO meeting of the year. We will be meeting on Tuesday, September 8th at 6:00 in the library. We will be electing new officers for the year, establishing goals, deciding on fund raisers and so much more! Your attendance and participation at all levels is greatly appreciated.

Don't forget picture day on Thursday, September 10th. Bring you best SMILE!

Have a wonderful three day weekend! Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation (417)742-2262 <http://www.cityofwillard.org>www.cityofwillard.org

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Website: Visit us online at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com

Willard to offer Child Care at the Recreation Center: HAS BEGUN Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and Cox Health. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am - 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm - 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm - 9pm

MOVIES: Upcoming Movie in the Park Events: Held at Jackson St. Park

Come to the Willard Movie in the Park Series on the dates listed below. Bring your entire family for a night of fun and movies. We will be selling hot-dogs and hamburgers.

September 19th: 8:00pm: Bolt

October 17th: 7:00pm (Double Feature): Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit <http://www.kellymillercircus.com/>www.kellymillercircus.com Tickets are on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262..

October Bash: Saturday October 10th at 7pm at the Recreation Center. Come to the 2009 Willard Parks October Bash Dance! This dance is open for all ages and is FREE to attend. Participants can listen to great music and enjoy cake and punch!

July December Program Guide: The Willard Parks and Recreation 2009 July December program guides are ready. You may pick up your free copy at the Willard Recreation Center and at Willards City Hall. Copies are going fast so be sure to get your copy as soon as possible.

FREE Soccer Equipment Drive: Saturday September 5th: 9am - 1pm Come to the Willard Recreation Center on Saturday September 5th to pick up FREE Soccer Equipment. The Kansas City Wizards Professional Soccer Team has donated hundreds of soccer balls, cleats, shirts, goalie gloves and water bottles to the City of Willard. In turn the City of Willard will be distributing these items for FREE to the community. Come and pick up the free items. While picking up the items please bring your child. Items will be limited to two items per child per family. Dont miss this chance to receive free soccer equipment for the upcoming fall soccer season.

Project Playground Auction Continues: The Willard Project Playground Silent Auction continues on Saturday September 5th from 9am - 1pm during the Soccer Equipment Drive. Come and bid on items and help Willard purchase and install a new playground at Willards New Highline Soccer Park.

Fun 5K Run: Saturday 8am 11/21/09 at the Willard Community Building. The Race will be held on the Frisco Trail. The fee to participate is $15 for those who pre-register. Registration forms are at the Recreation Center.

Willard Parks and Recreation Facility Rentals: Holding Fee: $25, Refundable Deposit: $75 (excluding the Pavilion). Rental Areas: Willard Community Building: $15 hour / kitchen $25 flat fee, Large Gym at the Recreation Center: $25 hour, Small Gym at the Recreation Center: $20, Murray Community Room/Patio/Kitchen: $15 hour, Classroom/Conference Room: $12 hour, Jackson St Park Pavilion: $7.50 hour. For more information contact Tina at (417) 742-2262

Willard Rummage Sale: Saturday October 3rd 8:00am - 12:00pm : Come to the Willard Recreation Center on Saturday October 3rd and shop from various Willard Community members. This is just a HUGE YARD SALE (but in-doors of course)

Camps: Out of School Camps:

Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center. Start planning now!

School Holiday Camp: September 25th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Aquatic Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

Aquatics: The Willard Aquatic Center is closing September 7th. The daily admission rates are as follows: Children 3-12: $3, Adults 13&Older: $4, Seniors 55+: $3.

Hours: M-F 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Sat 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sun 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows:

Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

4 X 8 Sign at the Recreation Center: Did you know that you can purchase a 4 X 8 advertising sign at the Recreation Center? The sign is a 4 X 8 aluminum sign that gets hung in the gym at the Recreation Center. The cost is $400 (which includes the making of the sign) for the first year and $240 for every year after. Contracts are for a one year period. If you would like to purchase a sign please call Kevin at (417)742-2262.

Magazine Article: Willard Parks and Recreation is featured in the 2009 Summer MO Recreation and Parks Association magazine. Check it out.

There are two ways to get there:

Go to <http://www.mopark.org>www.mopark.org and under the announcements click on Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine Online and then use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 magazine

Or you can copy and paste <http://www.mopark.org/displaynewsletter.cfm>http://www.mopa rk.org/displaynewsletter.cfm and use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 Magazine

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes: Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th - October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st - November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center. 2 more sessions this year (8/3 9/28) & (10/5 11/23).

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

Safe Halloween 2009: Saturday October 24th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center

Christmas in Willard: Saturday December 12th, 2009 at the Willard Recreation Center

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

District Office

The old saying goes: "The only two things no one can avoid is death and taxes!". Taxes are never a quality topic for a positive conversation, however, property taxes are the primary source of local revenue for public schools. Every year during the month of August public schools are required to have a Tax Rate Hearing that is posted for the public prior to the meeting. Due to a decrease in the personal property assessed valuation for 2009 the tax rate ceiling for operating funds has risen to $3.21, in comparison to the 2008 tax rate ceiling of $3.19. This allows the Board of Education to increase the operating tax by two cents without a vote of the community patrons. It was my recommendation and agreed upon by the Board of Education to not increase taxes for the 2009-2010 school year. It was our opinion that many of our community patrons have suffered from the decline in the economy and we would not add to that stress. In comparison to other peer districts, Willard has the lowest Operating Tax rate and the second lowest total tax rate. Branson has the lowest total tax rate in the comparative districts however, it must be understood that their wealth in property tax assessment allows for a lower tax which still results in a much higher total revenue balance for their district. To make a long story short, I believe we are doing more with less! I have listed the comparative districts below for your review. If you have questions in regard to the tax rates please give me a call at the district office.

Operating Debt Total

Branson $3.20 $.70 $3.90 Willard $3.1995 $.7905 $3.99 Republic $3.44 $.84 $4.28 Nixa $3.24 $1.07 $4.31 Ozark $3.24 $.90 $4.14

Branson Assessed Valuation = $650(+) Million Willard Assessed Valuation = $301 Million

Have a great weekend!

Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities The softball Tigers got off to a roller coaster start this week. The girls struggled in their opener losing to Reeds Spring. However, as our Tigers do, they came back the next night and thumped Kickapoo 8-1! They will get back to action next week as they host Bolivar on Tuesday, Republic on Thursday, and travel to Strafford on Friday. All games will start at 5:00.

The football Tigers get started tonight as they travel to Rolla. Game time is 7:00. Next week's home opener vs. Ozark will be "Food Harvest Night". We will be taking canned food items at each gate that will go to the Food Harvest of the Ozarks.

Soccer and volleyball both get started next week and I hope to be bringing good news next Friday on their results. Volleytigers will be at home all week as they host Buffalo on Tuesday at 6:00 and Hillcrest on Thursday at 5:00. Soccer will be on the road all week as they travel to Aurora on Tuesday and Joplin on Thursday. Both games will start at 4:30.

I'll have more results next week!

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Special Services What an incredible ECSE staff we have, as I witnessed this morning during their weeky staffing. Process Coordinator Susie Thieman, who oversees our early childhood special education program, kept things moving as teachers Stacey Wade, Colleen Appleby, Cindy Kisling and speech pathologists Susan Shikany and Donna Carney, met to review screening data on nine little ones, discussed progress on six children currently in our program and prepared to test five more. During this staffing, motor therapists Maria Harless and Angie Havens were interacting with an adorable three year old who they were assessing for services. What a well-oiled "machine" the team proved to be and what important work they do to ensure our children 3-5 receive appropriate educational services and strive to support parents. Thank you to each of these gals who truly care about our little ones and who work diligently to provide each a great educational beginning. Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School As some of you may have heard the State of Missouri developed and implemented a standardized test to replace the MAP test at the secondary level. The End of Course Exam or EOC was in its trial run last year and the staff at WHS was in full gear preparing for a test they knew little about. The week before school started WHS received the EOC test scores, which reflected the outstanding performance that we had hope for. This news was shared with the WHS staff, where the reaction was relief and excitement. On September 8th we will share the great news with the entire student body at the Honors Assembly. Eric Ramsey, Assistant Principal

Willard Middle School Greetings from Willard Middle School, after our first week of the 2009-2010 school year. It is hard to believe that summer vacation is actually over, but it was great to see all of the students coming in on Tuesday morning, with mostly smiling faces, actually happy to be here. The other neat thing was to see that most of the teachers had that same look! As usual, the first few days were filled with people looking for the right classes, trying to open their lockers, and getting onto the correct bus at the end of the day. By the end of the week, things were smoothing out, and by Monday we expect to be running up to speed. We continue to grow in our numbers, as we currently have over 660 students in the 7th and 8th grades combined. Fall sports are all in practice mode, and the games will begin in a few weeks for volleyball, football, and cross country. We wrapped up our week with our yearly "Activities Day," which was centered around the 09-10 theme for WMS, which is State/National Parks around the country, including camping and other outdoor activities. We had around twelve different stations that the kids were able to attend, and they seemed to really enjoy them all. We had people from the Conservation Dept., an old fashion storyteller around the campfire, live snakes and birds, making of ice cream, RV tours, and several outdoor games. It was a great way to welcome the kids back, and set the stage for the fantastic year to come. Thanks to all those who made this possible, and thanks also to the parents who have trusted us with their kids for this year. We promise not to let you down, and look forward to working with you to keep this week's smile on your child's face for the entire year. Thanks for checking on us, and have a great week. Tom Merriott, Assistant Principal

Willard Intermediate School What a week at WIS! It has been so exciting to see all the new faces as well as those that are just a summer older back at school. Thanks to the hard work of our teachers, custodians, and maintenance department the building looks awesome. Every student I have seen this week had a smile on their face and seemed glad to be back to school (I know, hard to believe!).

As we begin our journey Around the World in 180 Days together I am confident the 09-10 school year will be special for everyone involved. So hang on tight and enjoy the ride! Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary The Willard Central Legion of Superheroes ventured back to school this week and immediately jumped in to using their special abilities to develop new friendships while beginning the learning tasks ahead of them for the year. I would like to thank the PTO for helping us kick-off the year with a BBQ on our Meet the Teacher Night. We had an excellent turnout for the evening and students enjoyed meeting their teachers and connecting with friends while getting to enjoy dinner and play on the new climbing rock-wall purchased through last year's PTO fundraiser.

To continue growing together as a new school community, we started Community Time this week. It was exciting to bring all of our new faces together to learn the WC School Song and share in some beginning of the year celebrations. Please take some time to visit us at 8:25 any morning for Community Time. You will enjoy seeing our school family in action as we celebrate each other and the learning taking place at WC.

As we look ahead to next week, don't forget to mark your calendars for Thursday, August 27th for Parent Orientation. During this evening, your child's teacher will provide 2 opportunities to inform you about classroom/grade level routines, expectations and curriculum. You are welcome to attend either session. Session 1 will be from 6:00-6:30 and Session 2 will be from 6:45-7:15. This is a time for adult conversations about learning so we ask that you make childcare arrangements to ensure quality and timely discussion. Childcare will be provided in the gym if you are unable to make other arrangements.

It has been a great first week and we are looking forward to a SUPER year as we unleash the HERO in all of us!! Have a great weekend and Dare to be Heroic! Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary Happy New Year from Willard East!!! New Teachers to East are Ashley Ferguson 1st grade, Brittany Smith 1st grade, Hanna Key 2nd Grade, and Dana Meads joins us as a Reading Recovery teacher from Willard South.

Technology additions: We are well on our way to becoming 21st Century learners and teachers. 1st grade through 4th grade have interactive Smartboards and EVERYONE has a projector. Teachers and students will be learning how to use these new tools to enhance their learning experience. We are very excited but realize that we are all learning at different levels. Feel free to call the office and set up an appointment to see these new tools in action.

Be sure to check out our newly updated school blog! Each teacher has also created a blog that is linked to our school website with lots of new information for our new school year. <http://willardeastelementary.wordpress.com/>http://willarde astelementary.wordpress.com/ Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary We had a WONDERFUL start to the school year at Willard North! We were excited to have students back from summer break and ready to learn. There are a few new teacher faces this year. Jamie Peters is our new kindergarten teacher. Mr. Gugel teachers one of our 4th grade technology classrooms, and Ms. Green also teaches 4th grade. We are excited to have them at North Elementary.

Students were excited to find their classrooms equipped with projectors this year. We have also installed a smartboard in the library for all students. I am thrilled about the technology upgrades that we have this year, and the teachers are thrilled to be using this new technology with students in their classrooms.

Our first early out Monday is the 24th. Just a friendly reminder that we will be dismissing at 3:00.

Our school theme this year is Super Heroes!! We have a SUPER team of teachers, students, and staff and are looking forward to an amazing year! Angela Stevens, Principal

Willard Orchard Hills Elementary We have had a fantastic first four days at WOHE! Our building is fantastic! We now have phones and internet so we are linked to the outside world! They are working diligently on our playground so hopefully (if the weather holds) we will be playing in the back instead of the parking lot by the end of next week. Just to let you know who our staff is:

Kindergarten: Sarah Blakemore, Tammy Cook, Rachel Faulk First Grade: Wendy Dorland, Debbie Newman, Lee Anne Peterson Second Grade: Karen Bench, Meg Horne, Heather Johnson Third Grade: Dana Burnich, Laura Hurd, Tara Palmer Fourth Grade: Stacy Gray, Laura Pyles Reading: Cyndi Clutter, Sandra Hodum Special Services: Tonya Lyons, Allison Tourville, Ashley Ellis, Colleen Applby,Stephanie Koenneman, Anne Wyman, Dagney Ogle, and Mel Hicks Special Classes: Phil Wickwar, Miranda Bryant, Joni Turner Counselor: Ashley Perryman Cooks: Susan Murphy, Jeanne Rahn, Ellie Deckard Custodians: Dan Howard, Brad England, Darlene Hammers Secretaries: Janet Miller and Marcy Allen Nurse: Melody Crouch

Our staff has been amazing and they are the reason our days have ran so smooth! We are looking forward to our first full week of school next week! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

Willard South Elementary We are off to a great start to the 2009-2010 school year. We currently have 368 students enrolled at WS and 20 classroom teachers. I would like to welcome new classroom teachers Miss Charity Hodum, Miss Whitney Rand, Mrs. Jaime Roweton, Mrs. Cindy Kisling and Mrs. Kara Witherspoon to the WS TEAM!

The first part of the school year is always an exciting time. However, this year the excitement has reached a new level. All PK-4th grade classrooms have been equipped with SMARTboards and projectors. The integration of technology in the classrooms will be a valuable tool as we teach students. We are fortunate to have a district that supports technology. Here is to a new year full of rewarding opportunities!

Have a wonderful weekend! Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation (417)742-2262 <http://www.cityofwillard.org>www.cityofwillard.org

Kevin McDonald: Director Shawn Trent: Interim Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Website: Visit us online at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com

Back to School Bash: Thank you to everyone who attended Willard's Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 22nd at the Willard Recreation Center.

Willard to offer Child Care at the Recreation Center: HAS BEGUN Willard Parks and Recreation has begun child care at the Willard Recreation Center. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and Cox Health. The child care takes place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at

Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm 9pm

MOVIES: Upcoming Movie in the Park Events: Held at Jackson St. Park

Come to the Willard Movie in the Park Series on the dates listed below. Bring your entire family for a night of fun and movies. We will be selling hot-dogs and hamburgers.

September 19th: 8:00pm: Bolt

October 17th: 7:00pm (Double Feature): Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday, October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit <http://www.kellymillercircus.com/>www.kellymillercircus.com Tickets will be on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262. Log onto <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com and take part in the online circus poll.

July December Program Guide: The Willard Parks and Recreation 2009 July December program guides are ready. You may pick up your free copy at the Willard Recreation Center and at Willard's City Hall. Copies are going fast so be sure to get your copy as soon as possible.

MUSIC: Upcoming Music in the Park Events: Held at Jackson St. Park

August 29th: 600pm: Meyer Bluegrass Band

September 26th: 6:00pm

FREE Soccer Equipment Drive: Saturday September 5th: 9am 1pm Come to the Willard Recreation Center on Saturday September 5th to pick up FREE Soccer Equipment. The Kansas City Wizards Professional Soccer Team has donated hundreds of soccer balls, cleats, shirts, goalie gloves and water bottles to the City of Willard. In turn the City of Willard will be distributing these items for FREE to the community. Come and pick up the free items. While picking up the items please bring your child. Items will be limited to two items per child per family. Dont miss this chance to receive free soccer equipment for the upcoming fall soccer season.

Project Playground Auction Continues: The Willard Project Playground Silent Auction continues on Saturday September 5th from 9am 1pm during the Soccer Equipment Drive. Come and bid on items and help Willard purchase and install a new playground at Willard's New Highline Soccer Park.

Camps: Out of School Camps: Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center. Start planning now!

School Holiday Camp: September 25th Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K - 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am - 6:00pm

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Aquatic Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

August Sports Registrations: Recreational Soccer: Registration August 1st - 31st Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Soccer for ages 3 14. Fees are $35 per player. All games will be played at the NEW Highline Soccer Park. Games are on Saturdays beginning September 12th.

Recreational Volleyball: Registration August 1st - 31st Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Volleyball for kindergarten 14 years old. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games are on Thursdays and Fridays beginnings September 11th.

Tiger Select Competitive Volleyball: Registration: August 1st 31st Season Begins: September 10th & 11th Fee: $100 per player Ages: 5th 7th grade

Mens Fall League Basketball: Registration: August 1st 31st Fee: $225 per team Ages: Over 17th

Aquatics: The new Willard Aquatic Center is open. The daily admission rates are as follows: Children 3-12: $3, Adults 13&Older: $4, Seniors 55+: $3.

Hours: M-F 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Sat 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Sun 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows: Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

4 X 8 Sign at the Recreation Center: Did you know that you can purchase a 4 X 8 advertising sign at the Recreation Center? The sign is a 4 X 8 aluminum sign that gets hung in the gym at the Recreation Center. The cost is $400 (which includes the making of the sign) for the first year and $240 for every year after. Contracts are for a one year period. If you would like to purchase a sign please call Kevin at (417)742-2262.

Magazine Article: Willard Parks and Recreation is featured in the 2009 Summer MO Recreation and Parks Association magazine. Check it out.

There are two ways to get there:

Go to <http://www.mopark.org>www.mopark.org and under the announcements click on Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine Online and then use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 magazine

Or you can copy and paste <http://www.mopark.org/displaynewsletter.cfm>http://www.mopa rk.org/displaynewsletter.cfm and use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 Magazine

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS: Willard Rummage Sale: Saturday, October 3rd 8:00am - 12:00pm at the Willard Recreation Center

Safe Halloween: Saturday, October 24th at the Willard Recreation Center

Ongoing and Upcoming Classes: Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th - October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st - November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center. 2 more sessions this year (8/3 9/28) & (10/5 11/23).

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

Art-Classes: Willard Parks and Recreation is teaming up with Art-Works Studios to offer Art classes for youth and adults at the Willard Community Building. Official class schedules and fees will be released soon.

Thanks,

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard (417) 742-2262

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

"At every crossroads that leads to the future, tradition will provide 10,000 men to protect the past!!!!!"

Any person that has served in a leadership capacity in an organization that is working to improve effectiveness and efficiency understands this quote very well. As improvement begins comments may surface such as:

• We can't do that.
• That's not the way we have done it in the past.
• Why do we always have to be changing?
• Don't worry just ignore him long enough and they will change what they are doing AGAIN!
• It worked well enough for me when I was growing up so it should be good enough now!

All of these statements represent a LOSER mentality. Please dont get me wrong. I dont like to change just to make people work harder. I want to change in order to improve and help people gain more through smarter and more efficient efforts. Willard R-II Schools is an incredible place for children. We are supported by a community that is desperately proud of their schools. I believe we have the best leadership in the State. Our teachers are fantastic in their skills and hungry to learn how to improve. Our classified employees are dedicated to helping in the student learning process. (Faye, one of our bus drivers has decided to teach her students sign language this year!) Activity sponsors and coaches teach our children morals, values, and teamwork. And one of the most important elements is that our community believes in us. I am thrilled to be back in session and believe that 2009-2010 is going to be a unique and exciting year for Willard. As we continue to press into the future lets all remember that at the crossroads we may have to fight some battles but the troops at Willard will absolutely destroy any barrier that stands in the way of achieving excellence for our kids!

I would like to thank all staff for their efforts which led to a great start of school.

Have an incredible weekend!

Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities Fall is a time when the Tigers are full of optimism and hope. This year is no exception as our squads are preparing for their season openers, coaches go without sleep, and the fans anticipate the results of everyone's hard work.

The football Tigers will start their season tonight at 6:30 at JFK Stadium in Springfield. They will be participating in the Jamboree with Neosho, Cassville, and host Parkview. This will allow new head coach Brock Roweton to evaluate his team before next week's opener at Rolla. Game time is 7:00. Coach Roweton has over 80 players grades 9-12 this year and there is a definite buzz surrounding the program!

Coach Clark Giboney has managed to take his cross country Tigers to another level. This year there are currently 27 athletes who are running cross country. They have been running all summer and look to take their first steps towards success on Sept. 5th at Nixa.

The softball Tigers will start their season on Monday at Reeds Spring, game time at 5:00. They will then travel to Cooper Sports Complex on Tuesday to take on Kickapoo. Coach Brown is very excited about her squad this year as she has 24 girls playing softball. Good luck ladies!

The soccer Tigers will have to wait awhile before breaking in their new press box as they open their season with four straight away games. Their first game is not until Sept. 1st as they travel to Aurora. Game time is 4:30. Coach McGee is very excited about this year's squad as they return many starters from last year's 17-4 team.

Coach Matt Stone has the girls golf team working hard and preparing for their short, yet intense season. Their first match is next Tuesday at Nixa and their first tournament is at Marshfield on the 31st of August.

A special congratulations to the Willard Tigers Cheerleaders! The JV squad won their division at Regionals for the 4th year in a row! The varsity squad finished 3rd which qualifies them for the state tournament in November. A huge thank you to Coach Goldschmidt, booster club, and the countless parents who volunteered their time in order for the Regional tournament to be a success.

It's Good To Be A Tiger!

Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Special Services Willard Special Services enjoyed a back-to-school picnic on Monday, Aug. 10th, with approximately 115 people in attendance. Introductions of office staff, new teachers and paraprofessionals were made and welcomed into our department. The evening was enhanced with bagpipe music provided to us by Janet Turner's brother, who was visiting from Carson, Washington. This special music helped to complete an evening of delicious food, wonderful fellowship and meeting family members. We appreciate all who joined us and who look forward to working with our students.

What a busy, busy school year this is already proving to be! The special services administrative staff is working hard to receive appropriate paperwork on each of approximately 40 special services students transferring into the district and ensuring these students receive their needed services. Besides the new students, we welcome seven new teachers, four paraprofessionals, and a certified occupational therapist assistant. Each new staff member will be an important part of the incredible staff we currently have in place. We are off to a great start and are eager to educate our students with special needs! Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School The first week at WHS has been very good. We are so appreciative of MoDOT and the City of Willard for working diligently to complete the intersection at Jackson and 160. MoDOT workers opened the intersection at 6:30am on Tuesday just in time for all the students and parents coming to the HS and MS.

WHS activities are in full swing, with Band meeting every morning at 6:30am, Vocal Music is preparing for performances, choir auditions and the trip this spring, and Theater auditions are coming for the Fall Musical. Another WHS activity competing through the summer is our Vocational Agriculture students. Below we have listed some of the winners at Ozark Empire Fair and Missouri State Fair.

Grace Madsen OEF - Gala Grand Champion Pen of Chickens OEF - Grand Champion Real Time Carcass Swine OEF - Grand Champion- Bantam

Ansen Smith OEF & MO State Fair Division Grand Champion - Gelbvieh

Alex Smith OEF & MO State Fair Reserve Division Gelbvieh

Ethan Patteson OEF Blue Ribbon Vegetables

Karissa Brown OEF - Blue Ribbon Vegetables - - MO State Fair Grand Champion Cucumbers

Chad Cook OEF Blue Ribbon Agricultural Mechanics

Erica Atkinson OEF Grand Champion Cow Calf Pair Angus

Scott Larson MO State Fair Champion - Division 1 Engineering Ag-Science Fair Qualifies for National Competition

Congratulations to these young people for working hard on their projects and representing Willard well at both OEF and MO State Fairs.

Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School Greetings from Willard Middle School, after our first week of the 2009-2010 school year. It is hard to believe that summer vacation is actually over, but it was great to see all of the students coming in on Tuesday morning, with mostly smiling faces, actually happy to be here. The other neat thing was to see that most of the teachers had that same look! As usual, the first few days were filled with people looking for the right classes, trying to open their lockers, and getting onto the correct bus at the end of the day. By the end of the week, things were smoothing out, and by Monday we expect to be running up to speed. We continue to grow in our numbers, as we currently have over 660 students in the 7th and 8th grades combined. Fall sports are all in practice mode, and the games will begin in a few weeks for volleyball, football, and cross country. We wrapped up our week with our yearly "Activities Day," which was centered around the 09-10 theme for WMS, which is State/National Parks around the country, including camping and other outdoor activities. We had around twelve different stations that the kids were able to attend, and they seemed to really enjoy them all. We had people from the Conservation Dept., an old fashion storyteller around the campfire, live snakes and birds, making of ice cream, RV tours, and several outdoor games. It was a great way to welcome the kids back, and set the stage for the fantastic year to come. Thanks to all those who made this possible, and thanks also to the parents who have trusted us with their kids for this year. We promise not to let you down, and look forward to working with you to keep this week's smile on your child's face for the entire year. Thanks for checking on us, and have a great week. Tom Merriott, Assistant Principal

Willard Intermediate School What a week at WIS! It has been so exciting to see all the new faces as well as those that are just a summer older back at school. Thanks to the hard work of our teachers, custodians, and maintenance department the building looks awesome. Every student I have seen this week had a smile on their face and seemed glad to be back to school (I know, hard to believe!).

As we begin our journey Around the World in 180 Days together I am confident the 09-10 school year will be

special for everyone involved. So hang on tight and enjoy the ride! Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary The Willard Central Legion of Superheroes ventured back to school this week and immediately jumped in to using their special abilities to develop new friendships while beginning the learning tasks ahead of them for the year. I would like to thank the PTO for helping us kick-off the year with a BBQ on our Meet the Teacher Night. We had an excellent turnout for the evening and students enjoyed meeting their teachers and connecting with friends while getting to enjoy dinner and play on the new climbing rock-wall purchased through last year's PTO fundraiser.

To continue growing together as a new school community, we started Community Time this week. It was exciting to bring all of our new faces together to learn the WC School Song and share in some beginning of the year celebrations. Please take some time to visit us at 8:25 any morning for Community Time. You will enjoy seeing our school family in action as we celebrate each other and the learning taking place at WC.

As we look ahead to next week, don't forget to mark your calendars for Thursday, August 27th for Parent Orientation. During this evening, your child's teacher will provide 2 opportunities to inform you about classroom/grade level routines, expectations and curriculum. You are welcome to attend either session. Session 1 will be from 6:00-6:30 and Session 2 will be from 6:45-7:15. This is a time for adult conversations about learning so we ask that you make childcare arrangements to ensure quality and timely discussion. Childcare will be provided in the gym if you are unable to make other arrangements.

It has been a great first week and we are looking forward to a SUPER year as we unleash the HERO in all of us!! Have a great weekend and Dare to be Heroic! Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary Happy New Year from Willard East!!! New Teachers to East are Ashley Ferguson 1st grade, Brittany Smith 1st grade, Hanna Key 2nd Grade, and Dana Meads joins us as a Reading Recovery teacher from Willard South.

Technology additions: We are well on our way to becoming 21st Century learners and teachers. 1st grade through 4th grade have interactive Smartboards and EVERYONE has a projector. Teachers and students will be learning how to use these new tools to enhance their learning experience. We are very excited but realize that we are all learning at different levels. Feel free to call the office and set up an appointment to see these new tools in action.

Be sure to check out our newly updated school blog! Each teacher has also created a blog that is linked to our school website with lots of new information for our new school year. <http://willardeastelementary.wordpress.com/>http://willarde astelementary.wordpress.com/ Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary We had a WONDERFUL start to the school year at Willard North! We were excited to have students back from summer break and ready to learn. There are a few new teacher faces this year. Jamie Peters is our new kindergarten teacher. Mr. Gugel teachers one of our 4th grade technology classrooms, and Ms. Green also teaches 4th grade. We are excited to have them at North Elementary.

Students were excited to find their classrooms equipped with projectors this year. We have also installed a smartboard in the library for all students. I am thrilled about the technology upgrades that we have this year, and the teachers are thrilled to be using this new technology with students in their classrooms.

Our first early out Monday is the 24th. Just a friendly reminder that we will be dismissing at 3:00.

Our school theme this year is Super Heroes!! We have a SUPER team of teachers, students, and staff and are looking forward to an amazing year! Angela Stevens, Principal

Willard Orchard Hills Elementary We have had a fantastic first four days at WOHE! Our building is fantastic! We now have phones and internet so we are linked to the outside world! They are working diligently on our playground so hopefully (if the weather holds) we will be playing in the back instead of the parking lot by the end of next week. Just to let you know who our staff is:

Kindergarten: Sarah Blakemore, Tammy Cook, Rachel Faulk First Grade: Wendy Dorland, Debbie Newman, Lee Anne Peterson Second Grade: Karen Bench, Meg Horne, Heather Johnson Third Grade: Dana Burnich, Laura Hurd, Tara Palmer Fourth Grade: Stacy Gray, Laura Pyles Reading: Cyndi Clutter, Sandra Hodum Special Services: Tonya Lyons, Allison Tourville, Ashley Ellis, Colleen Applby,Stephanie Koenneman, Anne Wyman, Dagney Ogle, and Mel Hicks Special Classes: Phil Wickwar, Miranda Bryant, Joni Turner Counselor: Ashley Perryman Cooks: Susan Murphy, Jeanne Rahn, Ellie Deckard Custodians: Dan Howard, Brad England, Darlene Hammers Secretaries: Janet Miller and Marcy Allen Nurse: Melody Crouch

Our staff has been amazing and they are the reason our days have ran so smooth! We are looking forward to our first full week of school next week! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

Willard South Elementary We are off to a great start to the 2009-2010 school year. We currently have 368 students enrolled at WS and 20 classroom teachers. I would like to welcome new classroom teachers Miss Charity Hodum, Miss Whitney Rand, Mrs. Jaime Roweton, Mrs. Cindy Kisling and Mrs. Kara Witherspoon to the WS TEAM!

The first part of the school year is always an exciting time. However, this year the excitement has reached a new level. All PK-4th grade classrooms have been equipped with SMARTboards and projectors. The integration of technology in the classrooms will be a valuable tool as we teach students. We are fortunate to have a district that supports technology. Here is to a new year full of rewarding opportunities!

Have a wonderful weekend! Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation (417)742-2262 <http://www.cityofwillard.org>www.cityofwillard.org

Kevin McDonald: Director Courtney Wendel: Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation/Aquatics Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

Back to School Bash: Come to the 2009 Willard Parks and Recreation Back to School Bash Dance on this Saturday August 22nd from 6pm - 8pm at the Willard Recreation Center. This event is FREE to attend. Enjoy great music to dance to, free cake and much more!

Willard to offer Child Care at the Recreation Center: Willard Parks and Recreation will begin child care at the Willard Recreation Center on August 18th. This child care service is sponsored by the City of Willard and Cox Health. The child care will take place in the small classroom at the Recreation Center. Fees are $4 per child for up to two hours or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $24 for 12 times (up to 24 child care hours). This child care service may be used for any activity held at the Recreation Center including the Cox Fitness Center, Sports activities, etc. The parent or guardian must remain on the property while their child is in child care. The child care is only available for 18 months to 10 years old.

The hours for the child care at Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 8am 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 5pm 9pm Tuesday & Thursday: 3pm 9pm

MOVIES:

Upcoming Movie in the Park Events: Held at Jackson St. Park Come to the Willard Movie in the Park Series on the dates listed below. Bring your entire family for a night of fun and movies. We will be selling hot-dogs and hamburgers.

September 19th: 8:00pm: Bolt

October 17th: 7:00pm (Double Feature): Beetle Juice & Ghostbusters

Kelly Miller Circus: Sponsored by PAL Youth Boxing Willard Parks and Recreation Presents the KELLY MILLER CIRCUS on Tuesday, October 20th at Jackson St. Park in Willard. This one ring wonder is a traveling Tent Circus that features clowns, elephants, tigers, horses, trapeze artists, and much more. For more information on the Kelly Miller Circus visit <http://www.kellymillercircus.com/>www.kellymillercircus.com Tickets will be on sale at the Willard Recreation Center for $10 for adults and $6 for kids. Two shows will be held. One show at 4:30pm and one show at 7:30pm. For more information on this event call Kevin McDonald at (417) 742-2262. Log onto <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com and take part in the online circus poll.

July December Program Guide: The Willard Parks and Recreation 2009 July December program guides are ready. You may also pick up your free copy at the Willard Recreation Center and at Willards City Hall. Copies are going fast so be sure to get your copy as soon as possible.

FREE Soccer Equipment Drive: Saturday September 5th: 9am - 1pm Come to the Willard Recreation Center on Saturday September 5th to pick up FREE Soccer Equipment. The Kansas City Wizards Professional Soccer Team has donated hundreds of soccer balls, cleats, shirts, goalie gloves and water bottles to the City of Willard. In turn the City of Willard will be distributing these items for FREE to the community. Come and pick up the free items. While picking up the items please bring your child. Items will be limited to two items per child per family. Dont miss this chance to receive free soccer equipment for the upcoming fall soccer season.

Project Playground Auction Continues: The Willard Project Playground Silent Auction continues on Saturday September 5th from 9am 1pm during the Soccer Equipment Drive. Come and bid on items and help Willard purchase and install a new playground at Willards New Highline Soccer Park.

CLASSES: Hula Hoop Classes: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Hula Hoop Classes. All adults and children ages 12 and older are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run September 9th - October 7th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

Beginner Belly Dancing: The Willard Parks & Recreation Department will offer Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. Costs for the lessons are $40 per participant. Please make all checks payable to Willard Parks and Recreation. This program will be a 5-week session and will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Limited spots available. Classes will run October 21st - November 18th. Classes will be held at the Willard Recreation Center.

KenKarJu-Ryu 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect , self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center. 2 more sessions this year (8/3 - 9/28) & (10/5 - 11/23).

YOGA: 8 week sessions at the Willard Recreation Center. Classes are every Monday night at 6pm. Fees are $25 for Cox Members and $65 for non Cox members.

Childrens Dance Classes: Let your child grow through dance and experience its magic. These children dance classes offer an excellent way to keep fit, learn coordination, rhythm, social skills, confidence, and its FUN! The fall eight-week dance session will begin October 13th thru December 10th. Creative Dance is offered on Tuesday afternoons for ages 3-5; Ballet & Tap classes are available and offered on Tuesday or Thursday depending on age and/or level for ages 5 & up, fee is $50. Combination classes of Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 9 & up with prior dance experience will be taught on Tuesday evenings, fee is $65. Limited spaces are available so call Ms. Patrice today for class availability and registration information at 818-3659.

Art-Classes: Willard Parks and Recreation is teaming up with Art-Works Studios to offer Art classes for youth and adults at the Willard Community Building. Official class schedules and fees will be released soon.

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Aquatic Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community.

CAMPS: Out of School Camps: Willard Parks and Recreation offers various camps throughout the entire year. All camps will be held at the Willard Recreation Center. Start planning now!

School Holiday Camp: September 25th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

School Holiday Camp: October 30th Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm.

Holiday Camp: 12/21/09, 12/22/09, 12/23/09, 12/28/09, 12/29/09, 12/30/09, Camp is for grades K 6th. The fee to attend is $17.50 per day. A snack lunch must be brought to the camp. Camp hours are 7:00am 6:00pm

August Sports Registrations: Recreational Soccer: Registration August 1st - 31st Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Soccer for ages 3 14. Fees are $35 per player. All games will be played at the NEW Highline Soccer Park. Games are on Saturdays beginning September 12th.

Recreational Volleyball: Registration August 1st 31st Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Recreational Volleyball for kindergarten 14 years old. All games will be played at the Willard Recreation Center. Fees are $35 per person. Games are on Thursdays and Fridays beginnings September 11th.

Tiger Select Competitive Volleyball: Registration: August 1st 31st Season Begins: September 10th & 11th Fee: $100 per player Ages: 5th 7th grade

Tiger Select Competitive Soccer: Registration: August 1st 16th Season Begins: August 29th Fee: $100 per player Ages: 8-14 years old

Mens Fall League Basketball: Registration: August 1st 31st Fee: $225 per team Ages: Over 17th

AQUATICS: New Aquatic Center: NOW OPEN!! The new Willard Aquatic Center is now open. The daily admission rates are as follows: Children 3-12: $3, Adults 13&Older: $4, Seniors 55+: $3.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is now available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows: Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

4 X 8 Sign at the Recreation Center: Did you know that you can purchase a 4 X 8 advertising sign at the Recreation Center? The sign is a 4 X 8 aluminum sign that gets hung in the gym at the Recreation Center. The cost is $400 (which includes the making of the sign) for the first year and $240 for every year after. Contracts are for a one year period. If you would like to purchase a sign please call Kevin at (417)742-2262.

Magazine Article: Willard Parks and Recreation is featured in the 2009 Summer MO Recreation and Parks Association magazine. Check it out.

There are two ways to get there:

Go to <http://www.mopark.org>www.mopark.org> and under the announcements click on Missouri Parks and Recreation Magazine Online and then use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 magazine

Or you can copy and paste <http://www.mopark.org/displaynewsletter.cfm>http://www.mopa rk.org/displaynewsletter.cfm and use the drop down tab and click on Summer 2009 Magazine

Thanks,

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard

_________________________ Bob Andrus, Technology Director Willard R-II School District

District Office

I have a friend that I see regularly and almost every time we visit he brings up how much he hates his job. It is clearly a weight that he is not able to handle because it spills out continually. I am sure that the weight affects every area of his life including the time at home with family. I cannot imagine a job that I hate going to every day. In 22 years of education I had 1 year that I look back on and try to forget. It was not a good year and I did not like what it was doing to me. So I quit!!! And I was led to Willard. Wow, how blessed I am to be here. I LOVE MY JOB!!! I am surrounded with people that are incredible at what they do. I am constantly amazed at the outcomes from this group of professionals. No, I am not in some fantasy and I did not take extra blood pressure medicine this morning! I simply love what I do. I never have to look far to see kids smiling because they have become excited about new learning. I never have to look far to find a teacher that is smiling because some child finally has understood a concept after multiple attempts at instruction. I never have to look far to find a principal that fights for their staff because they are deeply committed to them and their efforts. I never have to look far to find a situation that will make me smile when I am having a hard day. I hope I do not take what I have for granted because I am truly thankful! Willard is a team. We may be in 7+ different buildings. Some of us are teachers, custodians, secretaries, board members, bus drivers, administrators, etc... We all play different parts in this educational concert. Today the music has started to become very quiet but all you have to do is stop, and listen very carefully because when school takes up again in August the music will begin, the harmony will develop from each building and department and the outcome will be fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope each of you have an incredible and restful summer. Enjoy the music!

Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities Well, this is my final wrap-up of this year's activities and I don't have enough space to say everything that is in my heart. The Tigers had some failures but that was overwhelmed by our successes. We should be proud of our students, coaches, directors, parents, and community. They represented us with class not just in Southwest Missouri, but across the country as well.

It is truly an honor and privilege to serve in the Willard school district.

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Special Services Even after having been rescheduled due to the massive storm that knocked out power to the high school, Partners in Strength was a huge success. Over 30 students with special needs and their families attended. The night kicked off with hamburgers and hot dogs graciously provided by some generous sponsors. After eating to their hearts content, the students teamed up with over 50 HS athletes and ROTC students. The 12 teams (The Bengals, Cardinals, Bumblebees, Sea Horses, Cobras, Fighting Irish, Panthers, Stallions, Butterflies, Rebels, Ghostriders and the Indians) designed team T-shirts, got their faces painted by the cheerleaders, and developed some team pride.

After 12 triumphant entries into the gym by the teams, the games were on! There were kids everywhere engaged in various events with basketballs, scooter boards, obstacles and even whoopee cushions. We also had over 20 HS athletes doing lifting demonstrations, some with over 500 pounds! Adding to the excitement was the fantastic play by play of Mike Graves, the voice of the Tigers!

This special night could not have happened without the help of many!

Special Services wants to wish everyone a safe and relaxing summer! Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School The end days of 2008-2009 school year are here, and I wanted to inform you of a program we are very proud of. Our Communication Arts department has "zoned in" on reading strategies to improve student literacy. Rene Flatness works with students in Reading Strategies classes to assist students in raising reading levels. WHS students were involved in a study conducted by MSU Reading, Foundations, and Technology Department, to examine the success of the strategies we have implemented and strategy success rate. The research article has been accepted to be published in the Journal of Reading Education. WHS students have shown marked gains in reading levels under Mrs. Flatness, and we are excited about what is happening with our students who have literacy difficulties. WHS Communication Arts department does an outstanding job of examining the best strategies to assist our students literacy skills.

In closing, would like to say the 2008-2009 year has been outstanding, and I appreciate all the hard work invested by students, parents, community, and staff. Have a great summer!!! Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School Greetings from Willard Middle School. We have come to the end of another great year, and what a year it has been. We have come from seeing faces with a look of fear and concern , mostly on how to get the lockers open, to a group of kids who are ready for the next chapter in life. Half of our current students will be making the move to the high school, and we wish them well on their journey. Those remaining will make up our "seasoned veterans," and will be asked to set a good example for next years incoming 7th graders. (And help them get those lockers open!)

Even though it is the last week, we are still in the business of learning. Most students completed at least a few final exams this week, and I got to see some exciting projects in the classrooms, including the construction of roller coasters in Mrs. Rummel's science class, and building and working with homemade kites in Mr. Wilson's room. Concepts dealing with mass, motion, inertia, lift, drag and others were all discussed, and the kids had a great time while learning. We will finish our year with a talent show and the Character Education assembly on Friday, and send the kids, the teachers, and all those who make this work, home for the summer. We again thank the parents and community for all you have done to help make this a great year, and the clock begins to tick, as we look forward to bringing them back next fall. Thanks again, and have a great summer. Tom Merriott, Assistant Principal

Willard Intermediate School All I can say is "Thank You!" to everyone that made this year so great at WIS. It almost seems impossible that we have spent a whole school year together. Even though our current 6th graders are anxious for school to be out for the summer they will be missed! We wish them continued growth and success as they make the move on to the Middle School next year. As we bring our "ipod" theme to a close we are excited to announce our them for next year: Around the world in 180 days. It should be quite a ride!

We wish everyone a fun-filled and safe summer and we look forward to seeing our new 5th and 6th grade students in August. Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary 2008-2009 was a wonderful school in which the students and teachers proved WC is Wild About Learning! It was an amazing school year full of memories, laughs, and student learning. From wonderful family nights to wrestling crocodiles to our PTO Carnival, it has been a year to remember. A special thank you to the students, parents and staff members who made this such a wonderful year.

As we look ahead to next year, we want to wish our students and staff members who will start new adventures at WOHE, WS , WIS the very best. You will be greatly missed, but I am confident of the wonderful opportunities in store for everyone. We are blessed to have such a strong school district with so many unique and amazing schools! WC would also like to welcome our new students from WN and WE. We are excited for our new journey to begin!! (after a short summer break! J)

Keep checking the WC Blog for summer updates and have a relaxing and safe summer! Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary Dear Willard East 4th Graders of 2008-2009, Five years ago you and I started our Willard East journey together. It was an exciting time for all of us. You were finding your way as Kindergartners and I was finding my way as your principal. Memories from that year may be blurry but what is very clear is how proud I am of the students you have become. Five years ago your enthusiasm for school was contagious and as you move onto a new school you still have that same energy and enthusiasm for school. I hope that when you look back on your time at Willard East Elementary you know how much your teachers cared for you and wanted you to succeed. We look forward to hearing about your future activities. Thank you for the memories and "raising" me as a principal. Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary Willard North is on the downhill slide! Our last day will be a 1/2 day with school being dismissed at 12:30 p.m. I would like to thank everyone who has made 2009-2010 a successful school year for Willard North. I want to thank Mrs. Stevens for doing an excellent job of being the principal at Willard North. I wish her the best of luck next year and Willard North is blessed to have her.

On a similar note, I would like to thank the Willard North school community for 9 wonderful years. I have truly enjoyed working with your children, the families, and the staff. All of you are exceptional and it has been my joy to be a part of this team. I am looking forward to my challenge of opening a new school and spreading the vision of excellence of the Willard R-II District. Keep in touch! Go Tigers!!

Rhonda Bishop :)

Willard South Elementary I want to thank everyone for making this such an extraordinary school year. We have around 100 student who will be moving to the new Willard Orchard Hills Elementary building next year. I know that they will have a wonderful experience but they will be missed here at Willard South. I would also like to wish the following staff members the best of luck next year as they move on to other districts, buildings, or the wonderful life of retirement. We will miss you Sarah Jordan, Dana Meads, Colleen Appleby, Miranda Bryant, Joni Turner, Sharon Hammonds, Kathy Latimer, Becky Moore, Dennis Dye and Sherry Rush. Have a WONDERFUL and RELAXING summer break! Kara Crighton-Smith

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation (417)742-2262 <http://www.cityofwillard.org>www.cityofwillard.org

Kevin McDonald: Director Courtney Wendel: Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

New Staff, New Ideas, a New Era in the Willard Parks Department

NEW WILLARD AQUATIC CENTER SET TO OPEN: See Below

Visit us on the web at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com

Movie in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting Movie in the Park on May 22nd at 9:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Playing will be the movie Kung Fu Panda. The event is free to attend and hamburgers, hotdogs and other concession items will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and family members for a fun night!

Out of School Bash: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting its first Out of School Bash on Friday May 22nd 7:00pm -8:45pm at the Willard Community Building. Kids can enjoy free pizza, great music to Dance to and fun games. Admission is a canned food item to benefit the Willard Food Pantry.

Willard to Host Springfield Cardinals: Come and meet a Springfield Cardinal on Tuesday June 2nd from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the Willard Recreation Center. This event is free to attend and open to the public.

City of Willard/Chamber of Commerce Outing to the Springfield Cardinals Game: Thursday June 4th 7:10pm. Tickets are $6 and are on sale at the Willard Recreation Center.

AAD Shade Structure: Willard Parks and Recreation has applied for a grant from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) for $8000 for Shade Structures to go over the bleachers on the baseball/softball complex. If awarded, these structures will be installed in the fall of 2009.

Program Guide Sponsors Thank you to the 2009 Fall Willard Parks and Recreation Program Guide Sponsors:

Casey's General Store First Choice (Willard) CoxHealth The 2009 Fall Program Guides will be ready for pickup in July!

Big Truck Petting Zoo: Friday May 29th 10am at the Willard Recreation Center. Participants can hear a truck story, sing a truck song and pet the trucks local emergency and MODOT vehicles.

New Aquatic Center Set to Open! The Willard Parks Department has scheduled the opening of the new city pool, the Willard Aquatic Center (WAC), for May 23, 2009. The City of Willard began construction of the new pool last fall after an evaluation of the old pool built in 1993 showed it would take approximately $200,000 in repairs and renovations to bring it up to standards including the new federal standards set by the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. The new pool will feature zero depth entry, toddler slides, spray features, two slides, a one meter diving board and a three meter diving board. The Parks Department plans to offer more programs at the new pool including swimming lessons, water aerobics, Jr. Lifeguard instruction and family swim every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. Special events like Dive in Movies and Mid-Night Swim are some of the special events also scheduled. The daily admission rates are as follows: Children 3-12: $3, Adults 13 & Older: $4, Seniors 55+: $3. Season passes are now available for purchase at the Willard Recreation Center, 133 N State Highway Z, or by calling (417)742-2262.The cost for the new Willard Aquatic Center is $2.6 million. The City of Willard is using revenues from an existing Willard capital improvements sales tax and the Greene County Park Tax approved by the voters in 2006 to help pay for the cost of the new pool.

Swimming Lessons: Swimming lesson registration is underway. For more information including course descriptions, schedules, and fees, go to willardparks.com. Search under the Aquatics tab.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is now available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows:

Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

Rental times can be set at any time the facility is not already booked. Recreation Center front desk staff, as a general rule of thumb, will not be responsible for booking these rentals. This is to avoid any double-bookings. Any inquiries should be directed to me. If I am not available, encourage them to leave a message on my voicemail. I always call people back as soon as possible when a message is left. After May 22, all rentals will be made at the Willard Aquatic Center through the front desk staff.

Freedom Fest 2009: Saturday July 4th, 2009 Car Show: 11am 3pm Celebration Carnival: 1pm - 5pm & 7pm 10pm Parade: 6pm Location: Willard Intermediate School

The City of Willard Parks and Recreation Department presents Freedom Fest 2009. The theme this year is Back to our Roots. Freedom Fest will take place on Saturday, July 4th 2009 at Willard Intermediate School. Festivities include good music, great food, fun games and the biggest Fireworks Show ever in Willard's History. If you are interested in participating in the Parade or would like to rent a food booth, please call (417)742-2262. Spots are limited so reserve today! The deadline to register is June 15th.

New Contract with Coke: The City of Willard Parks and Recreation Department is entering into a new contract with Ozarks Coke Cola. The contract includes Ozarks Coke Cola purchasing and installing 6 new scoreboards for Willard's new Highline Soccer Park. The contract is worth over $27,000 to the Willard Parks Department. The new scoreboards will be installed in the coming weeks and will be used for the Willard Spring Soccer Season. Ozarks Coke Cola will also be donating drink coolers for the new Highline Soccer Park as well as the new Willard Aquatic Center set to open May 23rd. The contract was voted on and approved by the Willard Board of Mayor and Alderman on the recommendation of the Willard Park Board. For more information on this new contract call (417)742-2262.

Summer Camp Registration: 2009 Summer Camp Theme: Around the World in 80 Days!

Willard Parks and Recreation will be providing summer camp for children who have completed Kindergarten thru completion of 5th grade. Session 1 camp will run May 26th - June 26th. Camp hours will be 7:00am -6:00pm Monday through Friday. Campers will need a lunch brought to camp each day. 2 daily snacks will be provided. Daily activities, camp shirts and field trips are included in the tuition fee. Tuition fees are $95 per week (prepay weekly- no prorated weeks are available). First week of camp is $76 due to Monday May 25th being a holiday. If entire session 1 tuition fees are paid in full, there is a $5 discount per week. Registration forms are available at the Willard Recreation Center.

Willard's First Music in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting its first Music in the Park event on Saturday May 30th at 6:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Performing will be Willard resident Brock Wade. Brock is a young up and coming musician. Dont miss this event.

Willard Play Group:

COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community. For more information please call (417)742-2262.

Recycling:

Willard Parks and Recreation has begun a new recycling program. A recycling tub collecting bottles is available at the Recreation Center and will be available at all spring sports locations.

Willards First Triathlon:

Willard Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Ridge Runner Sports and CoxHealth will be hosting our first Triathlon on Saturday June 20th beginning at the Community Building. The Triathlon entitled the Frisco Runaway Triathlon is $40 to participate. The race includes running, swimming and biking through and around Willard. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Triathlon Distances:

Swimming: 300 Yards

Biking: 12 Miles

Running: 5K

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009:

Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect, self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Session 1: 1/5 2/26

Session 2: 3/2 4/30

Session 3: 6/1 7/23

Session 4: 8/3 9/28

Session 5: 10/5 11/23

Beginner Belly Dancing:

Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. The cost is $40 per participant. This program is a 5 week session and will be held on Wednesdays from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Spots are limited. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Session 1: 1/14 2/11

Session 2: 2/18 3/18

Session 3: 4/1 4/29

Session 4: 5/6 6/3

Spring Sports Update:

This season over 800 people are participating in the Willard Spring Sports Seasons which include youth & adult volleyball, youth soccer, youth flag football and competitive youth baseball.

Current Registrations:

Recreation Baseball / Softball: May 1st 31st

Adult Softball: May 1st 31st

Please call us if you have any questions.

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard (417)742-2262

District Office It is my pleasure to participate in confirming the Class of 2009 at tonight's Graduation Exercises. Two hundred and sixty eight seniors are in their final practice as I am writing this Pride article. The excitement is evident. Several cars are marked with shoe polish saying "Class of '09" or "Senior '09". My favorite is a pickup truck with the word "FINALLY" written in the back window. I am not sure if the truck belongs to a student or a parent. Either way, it is a good day. My message to the seniors is a quote from David Henry Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the Life you have imagined".

Dr. Janell Royal Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities Spring sports are starting to wind down and the tigers are ready to finish strong!

The baseball tigers ended their regular season with a victory over Bolivar on Monday which gave them an 18-6 record! This also earned them a #1 seed in the district tournament which will be held at Greenwade Field here in Willard. The tigers will open district play against Hillcrest at noon on Saturday. Semifinals will start at 4:00 on Monday and the championship will be held on Tuesday starting at 6:00. A very special "thank you" to everyone involved in helping make the baseball field ready for the district tournament after it suffered significant damage from last Friday's storm.

The soccer tigers will start their district tournament as the #5 seed at Joplin on Monday. They will play the #4 seeded Hillcrest on Monday at 3:30. Semifinals are on Tuesday starting at 5:30 and the championship is on Thursday at 6:00. Good luck ladies!

The track teams will head down to Branson on Saturday for their district meet. Events will start at 11:00 with the top 4 in each event moving on to the Sectional meet at Ozark next Saturday.

Congratulations to Mark Lawley and the choir department on an outstanding performance at World's of Fun last Saturday. Below is Mark's summary of the event: We won 3 - THREE - 1 - 2 - 3 TROPHIES at the Festival of Choirs at Worlds of Fun! There were 68 choirs in the competition!!!!! Class 5 (Large Choir) 1st place: WILLARD HIGH SCHOOL Concert Choir 2nd place: WILLARD HIGH SCHOOL FESTIVAL WOMEN'S CHOIR Open Class (More than 1 choir entered) 1st place: WILLARD HS CHAMBER CHOIR!!! Thanks Parents for a fabulous year!!!!! All 5 Choirs earned a I: which will add 5 plaques to our wall of plaques!!! Concert Chamber Men's Women's 9th Grade!

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Open this link to view District activities.

<http://plus.calendars.net/willard_activity/d05/04/2009?disp lay=W&style=B&positioning=A>http://plus.calendars.net/willar d_activity/d05/04/2009?display=W&style=B&positioning=A

Special Services

2nd Annual Partners in Strength Rally - Monday, May 18th

The Rally was postponed last Saturday due to power outages from Friday's storms. We have rescheduled this event for Monday, May 18th. WHS weight lifting students will partner up with students with disabilities to compete in this "Strong Man" type rally. Last year we had 60+ athletes competing together. It's an incredible event to witness and participate in. Come out and support our student athletes. The event is being held at Willard High School. Burgers/hot dogs are being served from 5:30-6:30 for all who want to participate. The rally begins promptly at 6:30pm. We will have dessert and wrap up the evening at approx. 8:30pm.

If are involved in helping with the event, please report to the high school commons by 4:45. We will go over the schedule and determine your assignment. Amy Stroder, Asst. Director of Special Services

Willard High School Congratulations to the Class of 2009! WHS

Willard Middle School Greeting from the Middle School. We just completed our next to last week, and the clock is ticking on the 08-09 school year. The kids are getting excited about coming to the end, and going on summer vacation, and there are probably a few teachers, and maybe even some administrators that feel the same. The year has gone by so quickly, and though we are excited about summer being here, it is also a time to reflect on the fact that another chapter is coming to a close, and that many of these kids will be moving on in life, and we will not be seeing them on a regular basis, if at all again. It has been an enjoyable year, and we wish the 8th graders the best as they begin high school, and look forward as always to the incoming 7th graders making their way to the Middle School.

This weeks activities included the Art Portfolio Night, where some amazing artwork was displayed, and the Drama Club Encore ceremony, which is always a treat. Ms. Graves does a fantastic job with this group, and this event is designed to give the students a taste of an "Oscar Award" type presentation, including some delicious deserts and all the trimmings. We also hosted an end of the year "Roundup" with academic teams from other area schools joining the WMS team, enjoying an old fashion cookout, and a night of friendly competition and fellowship. Don't forget that next week will be the time to show off that talent that you have been hiding, as the 8th grade talent show will take center stage, with a possibility of a few of your favorite teacher acts also getting involved. It has been a great year, and we thank all of those who helped to make it that way. This is a great place to work, and even better place to learn. Thanks for checking with us, and have a great week. Tom Merriott WMS Asst. Principal

Willard Intermediate School We all know how busy the end of year can be but I think this week would win the prize for "how many things can you cram into 5 days"! On Monday our 6th grade White team traveled to the Bois D'arc conservation area to complete a water ecosystems unit they have been working on in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation. They were glad to have great weather and I know that lots of fish were caught. On Tuesday evening we celebrated the 5th grade Red and Black teams DARE graduation. Wednesday was the district transition day. All 4th grade students got the opportunity to tour our building in preparation for the transition to our building. WIS looks forward to having them next year. Our 6th grade student also toured the Middle School and they are ready to make the move! Thursday we had our final iChoose assembly of the year. 10 student were the lucky winners of our $50 cash prizes. Thursday evening saw the majority of our 6th graders back at school for their end-of-the-year party. Thanks to our student council and teacher/parent volunteers that made this event a success. Friday the weather cooperated and we were able to have our 5th grade field day. The students had a great time and we appreciate all the parent help that made it possible. Tom Davis, Principal

Willard East Elementary Thank you Coach Wise for another wonderful Field Day!!! Tuesday we held our annual Field Day at the HS track. The rain and storms held off just long enough for all grade levels to get in all their activities. We would like to give a special "shout-out" to the special class teachers and parents who volunteered to run events ALL DAY! These volunteers were real troopers for a very windy day.

Kindergarten Screening - Willard East successfully screened 48 new students for next year's Kindergarten class! We are very excited about our new little guys and girls and enjoyed getting to know our new parents. We look forward to welcoming these students to Willard East next year.

Summer Office Hours - Ms. Betty and Nikki will be in the office answering phones until Wednesday June 3rd. The office will re-open for business July 21st.

2009-2010 Calendar - We only have 5 more days of school yet we are already planning for next year's calendar. No rest for the weary!!! * New Student Enrollment = July 29th - 30th * Meet the Teacher Night = Thursday August13th * 1st Day of School = August 18th 2009-2010 Theme - Together East Achieves More (Sports theme)

Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary Willard North had a great week!!! Students were able to participate in Field Day on Wednesday. Even though it was a windy day, we were able to be outdoors and enjoy the sun! Students participated in several different events from the shoe toss to relay races and a tire roll. Thank you to Coach Bills and all teachers and staff who help put on the event!

We had a groovy time at the 70's themed talent show on Thursday night. We had over 20 participants for the talent show. Winners were:

1st place - Finn Wartick on the drums

2nd place - Jordan Staley - The Climb

3rd place - Christian Smart - Live this Life

Students performed to a packed house. It was a hard decision for our judges because all the students did a fabulous job! We enjoyed the show and look forward to it next year.

Remember the last week of school is next week. We will be dismissing at 12:30 and Super Tiger will start at 9:00.

Principals Rhonda Bishop and Angela Stevens

Upcoming Events to Look Forward:

4/19 Library Program Assembly 4/22 Super Tiger 9:00

Willard South Elementary It is hard to believe the end of the year is only a few days away. This week our fourth grade students visited Willard Intermediate. Student were very eager to see their new building especially the lockers! They also celebrated when they return to Willard South with a pizza party compliments of our wonderful PTO. On Tuesday, our entire building will be enjoying the warm weather outside with FIELD DAY! We have lots of fun activities planned for everyone. Our final Tiger Pride Assembly will take place on Thursday, May 21st at 2:00. I hope you are able to attend! Kara Crighton-Smith , Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation (417)742-2262 <http://www.cityofwillard.org>www.cityofwillard.org

Kevin McDonald: Director Courtney Wendel: Sports Coordinator Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation Specialist Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

New Staff, New Ideas, a New Era in the Willard Parks Department

Visit us on the web at <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com.

Movie in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting Movie in the Park on May 22nd at 9:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Playing will be the movie Kung Fu Panda. The event is free to attend and hamburgers, hotdogs and other concession items will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and family members for a fun night!

Out of School Bash: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting its first Out of School Bash on Friday May 22nd 7:00pm - 8:45pm at the Willard Community Building. Kids can enjoy free pizza, great music to Dance to and fun games. Admission is a canned food item to benefit the Willard Food Pantry.

Willard to Host Springfield Cardinals: Come and meet a Springfield Cardinal on Tuesday June 2nd from 6:30pm - 7:30pm at the Willard Recreation Center. This event is free to attend and open to the public.

City of Willard/Chamber of Commerce Outing to the Springfield Cardinals Game: Thursday June 4th 7:10pm

New Aquatic Center Set to Open! The Willard Parks Department has scheduled the opening of the new city pool, the Willard Aquatic Center (WAC), for May 23, 2009. The City of Willard began construction of the new pool last fall after an evaluation of the old pool built in 1993 showed it would take approximately $200,000 in repairs and renovations to bring it up to standards including the new federal standards set by the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. The new pool will feature zero depth entry, toddler slides, spray features, two slides, a one meter diving board and a three meter diving board. The Parks Department plans to offer more programs at the new pool including swimming lessons, water aerobics, Jr. Lifeguard instruction and family swim every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. Special events like Dive in Movies and Mid-Night Swim are some of the special events also scheduled. The daily admission rates are as follows: Children 3-12: $3, Adults 13&Older:$4, Seniors 55+: $3.Season passes are now available for purchase at the Willard Recreation Center, 133 N State Highway Z, or by calling (417)742-2262.The cost for the new Willard Aquatic Center is $2.6 million. The City of Willard is using revenues from an existing Willard capital improvements sales tax and the Greene County Park Tax approved by the voters in 2006 to help pay for the cost of the new pool.

Swimming Lessons: Swimming lesson registration is underway. For more information including course descriptions, schedules, and fees, go to willardparks.com. Search under the Aquatics tab.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is now available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows:

Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

Rental times can be set at any time the facility is not already booked. Recreation Center front desk staff, as a general rule of thumb, will not be responsible for booking these rentals. This is to avoid any double-bookings. Any inquiries should be directed to me. If I am not available, encourage them to leave a message on my voicemail. I always call people back as soon as possible when a message is left. After May 22, all rentals will be made at the Willard Aquatic Center through the front desk staff.

Freedom Fest 2009: Saturday July 4th, 2009 Car Show: 11am 3pm Celebration Carnival: 1pm - 5pm & 7pm 10pm Parade: 6pm Location: Willard Intermediate School

The City of Willard Parks and Recreation Department presents Freedom Fest 2009. The theme this year is Back to our Roots. Freedom Fest will take place on Saturday July 4th 2009 at Willard Intermediate School. Festivities include good music, great food, fun games and the biggest Fireworks Show ever in Willard's History. If you are interested in participating in the Parade or would like to rent a food booth please call (417)742-2262. Spots are limited so reserve today! The deadline to register is June 15th.

New Contract with Coke: The City of Willard Parks and Recreation Department is entering into a new contract with Ozarks Coke Cola. The contract includes Ozarks Coke Cola purchasing and installing 6 new scoreboards for Willards new Highline Soccer Park. The contract is worth over $27,000 to the Willard Parks Department. The new scoreboards will be installed in the coming weeks and will be used for the Willard Spring Soccer Season. Ozarks Coke Cola will also be donating drink coolers for the new Highline Soccer Park as well as the new Willard Aquatic Center set to open May 23rd. The contract was voted on and approved by the Willard Board of Mayor and Alderman on the recommendation of the Willard Park Board. For more information on this new contract call (417)742-2262.

Summer Camp Registration: 2009 Summer Camp Theme: Around the World in 80 Days!

Willard Parks and Recreation will be providing summer camp for children who have completed Kindergarten thru completion of 5th grade. Session 1 camp will run May 26th June 26th. Camp hours will be 7:00am 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Campers will need a lunch brought to camp each day. 2 daily snacks will be provided. Daily activities, camp shirts and field trips are included in the tuition fee. Tuition fees are $95 per week (prepay weekly- no prorated weeks are available). First week of camp is $76 due to Monday May 25th being a holiday. If entire session 1 tuition fees are paid in full, there is a $5 discount per week. Registration forms are available at the Willard Recreation Center.

Willards First Music in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting its first Music in the Park event on Saturday May 30th at 6:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Performing will be Willard resident Brock Wade. Brock is a young up and coming musician. Dont miss this event.

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community. For more information please call (417)742-2262.

Recycling: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun a new recycling program. A recycling tub collecting bottles is available at the Recreation Center and will be available at all spring sports locations.

Willards First Triathlon: Willard Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Ridge Runner Sports and CoxHealth will be hosting our first Triathlon on Saturday June 20th beginning at the Community Building. The Triathlon entitled the Frisco Runaway Triathlon is $40 to participate. The race includes running, swimming and biking through and around Willard. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Triathlon Distances: Swimming: 300 Yards Biking: 12 Miles Running: 5K

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect, self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Session 1: 1/5 - 2/26 Session 2: 3/2 - 4/30 Session 3: 6/1 - 7/23 Session 4: 8/3 - 9/28 Session 5: 10/5 - 11/23

Children's Dance Classes:

Register now for Children's Dance. Hurry, spots are limited.

Creative Dance: Ages 3-5: Classes on Tuesday Afternoons Ballet and Tap: Ages 5 & up: Classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays Jazz: Ages 9 & up: Classes on Tuesdays

Classes are 8 weeks. The fee is $50 - $65. Registration forms are availability at the Recreation Center. For more information please call Ms. Patrice at 818-3659 or 833-8631

Beginner Belly Dancing: Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. The cost is $40 per participant. This program is a 5 week session and will be held on Wednesdays from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Spots are limited. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Session 1: 1/14 - 2/11 Session 2: 2/18 - 3/18 Session 3: 4/1 - 4/29 Session 4: 5/6 - 6/3

Spring Sports Update: This season over 800 people are participating in the Willard Spring Sports Seasons which include youth & adult volleyball, youth soccer, youth flag football and competitive youth baseball.

Current Registrations: Recreation Baseball / Softball: May 1st - 31st Adult Softball: May 1st - 31st

Please call us if you have any questions.

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard (417)742-2262

District Office

One of my favorite quotes is, "Leadership rises and falls in the eye of a storm!" Friday gave all of us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate leadership. I had planned to come to school Friday morning and write my "Pride" article about Teacher Appreciation Week. Needless to say by that evening when I went home I had not had an opportunity to sit down at my computer but I had witnessed many things to be proud about. It is a hard job to be a teacher on days of bad weather. Kids are distracted and hard to settle, but the difficulty becomes exponential when the sirens start to blare and the power goes out. Friday, students and teachers had to remain in "duck and cover" for well over an hours time. I went to the buildings to find elementary students singing. Teachers were providing distractions which basically reassured children that in the midst of a storm they were still safe and secure. Teachers were then faced with teaching students the remainder of the day without power and once again they rose to the occasion. Due to the fact that the weather subsided and it became pretty outside recess was probably longer than normal. However, I walked by many classrooms to find that teaching continued. I should not have been surprised. Willard teachers are simply incredible. I did not hear one gripe about remaining in classes. We decided early that with cell phones jammed, home phones down, and no power that we were not going to send students home to a possibly unsafe situation. It would have been so easy for teachers to criticize that decision, but instead I heard understanding and agreement. As one of the people that work hard to lead this district it is reassuring to know that when we are trying to stand in the eye of the storm, the wind is howling and the rain is beating down, I can turn around and find a staff full of committed individuals standing there with me, arms locked side by side.

Thank you for your efforts on Friday and your never ending support of Willard kids!

Have a fantastic week!

Kent

Kent Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities

Well, Mother Nature threw us a curve ball Friday, but as is the Willard way we are dealing with it and moving forward. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who helped on Friday and who is helping this week to repair the damage to the buildings. We are truly blessed that damage was only to structures and not to people!

The baseball tigers are on a winning streak and they are hoping to ride it into the district playoffs! After defeating Rogersville, the tigers raised their record to 17-6 on the season. This comes on the heals of wins over Catholic and Carthage earlier in the week and a heartbreaking loss at Ozark on Wednesday. The tigers will be at Bolivar on Monday, and at Kickapoo on Tuesday before starting district play next Saturday at Greenwade Field. Due to damage caused by Friday's storm, we are trying to fix the baseball field in time for the district tournament. A decision will be made on Thursday as to where the district tournament will be held. I will put more detailed information in Friday's Pride.

A big congratulations to the girls soccer team on their double overtime victory over Carthage on Tuesday! The girls will be at Lebanon on Monday and will host Parkview next Thursday before starting districts next Saturday.

The track teams competed in the COC and as of now I do not have the results but here are the results from earlier meets: At Ozark on last Thursday, the JV boys track squad finished 4th. Congratulations to the following medal winners: 2nd- Drew Jordan, 110 m high hurdles Sawyer Vincent, pole vault Jacob McGuire, shot put and discus 3rd- Drew Jordan, 300m hurdles Tim Maus, shot put Brandon Anderson, discus Congratulations to the following girls for earning medals at the JV track meet in Branson: Haiden Bowman - 1st place in the 100m Kim Pearl - 3rd place in the 1600m and 3rd place in the 3200m Annette Rosier - 3rd place in the discus Also congratulations to Jordan Beene, Haiden Bowman, Kim Pearl and Annette Rosier for their personal bests of the season.

Congratulations to the WHS Choir department which had 51 students compete at the MSHSAA State Solo and Ensemble Festival at Mizzou on Saturday! WHS had 12 events that earned State Honor "I" ratings Girls Ensemble: Brooke Lawley, Stephanie Sechler, Cassie Robinson, Hannah Masters, Lindsey Sloan, and Alisa Lechner Mixed Ensemble: Amanda Allen, Brooke Lawley, Lindsey Sloan, Alisa Lechner, Mitchell Bolton, Zach Page, TJ Chatman and Drew Raby Solos: Lindsey Sloan, Kyle Bird (piano), Hannah Masters, Drew Raby, TJ Chatman, Sean Scott, BJ Lyons, Nathan Olson, and Mitchell Bolton Men's Ensemble: Mitchell Bolton, Zach Page, Josh Lindsey, Sean Scott, Brandon Compton, TJ Chatman, Zach Nilsen, and Geoff French The Following earned State Honor "II" ratings: Solos: Cristina Todea, Timothy Huskisson, Brooke Lawley, Brock Wade, Tyler Inglett, Mixed Ensemble: Jackie Fugitt, Lecil Thedell, Becky Farr, Malory Tuck, Tim Huskisson, Kyle Bird, Geoff French, BJ Lyons Mixed Ensemble: Cristina Todea, Jasmin Routh, Joanna Chastain, Kari Halle, Austin Moore, Matt Bryant, Nathan Olson, Aaron Stark Mixed Ensemble: Cassie Robinson, Grace Madsen Chelsey Thomas, Karley Murphy, Tyler Inglett, Jonah Nadeau, Sawyer Vincent, Seth Wallace Girls Ensemble: Jackie Fugitt, Lecil Thedell, Nancy Ann Adams, Morgan Lenz, Becky Farr and Taylor Lindsay

Congratulations to the Willard High School Thespians and Crew! In competition April 24th and 25th, Readers Theater placed 1st in MSHAA STATE THEATRE and One Act placed 2nd! In addition, Amber Alcorn was selected to receive the state award for best supporting actress. BRAVO! Willard was the only school that qualified in both events to advance out of districts to state competition, an accomplishment magnified by the state performance results for both groups! One Act Cast: Amber Alcorn, Paula Jo Branstetter, Elizabeth Kreiger ,Margaret Moore, Lindsey Stokes, Christine West, Chase Ridgley, Sean Scott, Michael Stoll Readers Theater Cast: Nancyann Adams, Joseph Adams, Blake Andrews, Kyle Bird, Bethany Bumpers, Travis Burbee, Brandon Compton, Rebecca Farr, Kelsey Gilmore, Miranda Greene ,Nathan Halle, Garrett Holle, Tyler Inglett, Breigh Jusino, Hannah Masters, Dakota Paris, Samantha Reid, Mark Rose, Doug Seeley, Jacob Stoll, Clint Unruh

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Special Services

What a very special evening last Tuesday was for eight students participating in our therapeutic riding program! Tuesday was the final night of the six-week session and Therapeutic Riding of the Ozarks and director Kent Crumpley made it a night students, parents and volunteers will remember. Individual cookies with students' name and picture of their horse was presented to each, along with a certificate, medal and lots of praise for progress and courage. Our students were so excited, parents proud, and volunteers both proud, yet sad their time with the children was over. Watching the bonds develop between volunteers from the Sac River Cowboy Church, school and community with students was heart-warming and long-lasting. I want to thank each volunteer who gave their time as horse-handler, side-walker (and trotter!), gate keeper, organizer, and fund-raiser. What an incredible group of people who generously honored our students and contributed to their success.

Please join us this Monday, May 18th, for the second Partners in Strength Rally. What an incredible event this proved to be last year and will be again as 50 high school athletes partner with over 40 of our students with special needs in some friendly competition, fellowship and team building. Last year's event proved to be a unique, special event which evoked warm responses such as - "I saw my pride go to a new level," "not one person left the school Saturday untouched by what had taken place," and "I don't know another district whose athletic department would join hands with the special education department to give all types of students such an amazing experience....what an amazing district!"

We invite every staff member, community member, and parent to attend the Rally and cheer on both our athletes and students with special needs. The event begins at 9:00 in the HS Commons with the Parade of Champions entering the gym around 9:15. Free donuts and coffee, hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks will be available for all. Join us and witness true Partnerships in Strength. Sandy Gold, Director of Special Services

Willard High School

On Tuesday May 5th, Willard High School hosted Senior Scholarship Night. Guest presenters and college representatives came to announce scholarship recipients. This year 2.6 million dollars of scholarships was awarded to the WHS Senior Class. The Class of 2009 hosted 75 Honors Diploma recipients, 65 College Prep Certificate recipients, and 112 A+ Grant Scholarship recipients. It was a great evening for seniors, parents, and faculty

On Friday May 8th, two WHS students traveled with Mr. Atkinson to Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark for State Industrial Technology Competition. In Advanced Woodworking division Tyler Earl scored 94/100 in entry ( Morris Chair ), and Radu Todea placed 1st in Technical Drafting Competition. Great Job Tyler and Radu!

We are very proud of our students and staff, for handling themselves in adverse conditions last Friday (May 8th) with the weather. A special thanks to the Maintenance Team, Custodial Team who worked diligently to keep everything going, and to the HS Kitchen staff for adapting to the power issues and feeding 1250+ students and staff without a hitch..

Graduation is this Friday, May 15th at 7:30pm. Have a great week. Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School

Greetings from the Willard Middle School. We are all thankful to have the power back, and that we did not sustain any major damage here at our building from last Friday's storm. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who did have damage, and hope the repairs can be made soon and return life back to normal. The weather did put a bump in the road for several activities that we had planned for last week, but we will push forward and make the most of what is left in this school year, and look to enjoy many exciting events that are still on the calendar. One thing from last week that I want to report on was the trip to Kentucky that our Archery Club was able to go on, where they competed with nearly 5000 other archers from all over the country. Our team did fantastic, and our top scorers were Timothy Tallboys on the boys side, and Danielle Gaddy for the girls. In all, we had 19 students compete in this Nationals Tourney, and congratulate them on their efforts, and those of their coaches and sponsors.

We encourage any student who has a "special talent" that they would like to share to sign up for the Spring Talent Show by this Friday, May 15th. This is always a great deal of fun, and is made even better when we have several different acts to choose from. There is also a meeting for anyone who would like to go on the Washington D. C. trip for next year, which will be held on May 19th at 7pm. The Drama Club will also be having their Encore Awards Ceremony next Thursday, May 21st. This is a great event, made even better because there are all kinds of deserts that will be served afterward. Our time is short, but our list is long. Much to do before we call it a year, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for checking on us, and have a great day. Tom Merriott WMS Asst. Principal

Willard Intermediate School

I have always been told that the true colors of an individual are most visible when they are placed in a stressful situation. Friday gave everyone in the building an opportunity to demonstrate this fact. At approximately 8:00 am, while students were just arriving at school, the Willard area was slammed by some of the strongest wind I have ever witnessed. Our students and teachers calmly went to designated shelter areas in the building as the power first flickered and then went out. We found ourselves sitting in the dark with the wind and rain pounding the building while the storm sirens sounded outside.

Although the building suffered some minor damage and the power never came back on, everyone was kept safe from harm and we did our best to have a normal rest of the day. I am so proud of the way our students handled themselves! I would also like to thank our teachers who spent the day keeping everyone calm and working around the many changes that came their way throughout the day. Quite an end to teacher appreciation week! (Thank you PTO for all the good stuff). Thanks also to our kitchen staff, custodians, and office staff that demonstrated a "whatever it takes" mind-set which helped the building to run smoothly on a very not normal day.

We look forward to calmer spring weather! Tom Davis, Principal

Willard East Elementary

Well it appears that I have kept you up to date about the happenings at Willard East for the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I was perched on the roof of our school as a reward for our students reaching the Read-a-thon goal. As you can imagine everyone had fun with this event. I was well taken care of that day with food, water, Starbucks and lots of company. Students read to me from the playground and checked on me when they were at recess. This even was definitely a success and we are looking forward to next year's event!

Last Friday we celebrated our April Tiger Pride and East Extravaganza. For meeting our Box Tops challenge students made "human sundaes" out of their classroom teachers and Principal Miller. Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Dorland, Mrs. Puckett, Mrs. Beckler and Mr. Gann were also "slimed" with sundae toppings. With our raffle, basket auction, and food service we raised approximately $3,600!!! Our community always comes through for us and we appreciate everything you have done.

Kindergarten screening - Thursday and Friday we screened 48 future Willard East students. < /p > < p > Upcoming events in May:

• 12th = Field Day
• 13th = 4th Grade Transition Day
• 15th = HS Graduation
• 19th = Field Day rain date
• 21st = Tiger Pride Assembly 2:30
• 22nd = Last day of School 12:30 dismissal

Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard Central Elementary

Thank you to our wonderful PTO, parents, and staff members who came out for the carnival on Saturday. It was a successful event full of fun, food and wonderful prizes. (Not to mention whip cream pies in the face for Coach Brown and me. Our faces have never been smoother!!) Thanks again to everyone for their support of WC students through the carnival.

The fun and action continued after a full weekend with Kindergarten Screening on Monday and Tuesday. We were excited to meet our future Willard Tigers and their families. It looks like we have a wonderful group of students joining us next year. On Wednesday, our 3rd and 4th grade students visited Hammons Field for WeatherSchool and a Springfield Cardinals baseball game as their reward for all of their hard work on the MAP. I am very proud to say that our students received compliments from fans in attendance for their great behavior as well as from the 80+ parents that joined us for the game. Thursday, Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Keys students shared their musical performance at Community Time. They did a wonderful job and the entire school was proud of their hard work!

It has been a wonderfully busy week and we expect more of the same in the coming days. We will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 11th-15th. Please look for information coming home from our PTO to find out more about the festivities for the week. Wednesday the 13th, will be our transition day for 4th grade students to visit the Intermediate School for next year. Tuesday the 19th, will be our Field Day and we will celebrate a great school year on the 22nd with our Terrific Tiger Celebration. We will dismiss early for the last day of school at 12:30.

We are excited about a strong finish to the school year while staying Wild About Learning! Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard North Elementary

We saw a great crew of five year olds come through on Monday and Tuesday for kindergarten screening. They are ready to start school this next fall, and were excited to be in the building!

Title One kicked off their last reading night for the year. Students came in and read some of their favorite books to their parents and made yummy s'mores to celebrate their reading successes this year.

Kindergarten sang their hearts out at their music program on Thursday night to the tune of "Little Red Hen". Thank you to Mrs. Reed for putting on another great performance!

The weather decided not to cooperate last Friday, so our field day will be rescheduled for Wednesday the 13th.

Principals Rhonda Bishop and Angela Stevens

Upcoming Events to Look Forward:

• 4/11 4th grade Jefferson City Field Trip
• 4/13 Field Day
• 4/14 Talent Show 6:30
• 4/15 High School Graduation

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation (417)742-2262

• Kevin McDonald: Director
• Courtney Wendel: Sports Coordinator
• Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation Specialist
• Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

New Staff, New Ideas, a New Era in the Willard Parks Department

Visit us on the web at http://www.willardparks.com

New Aquatic Center Set to Open! The Willard Parks Department has scheduled the opening of the new city pool, the Willard Aquatic Center (WAC), for May 23, 2009. The City of Willard began construction of the new pool last fall after an evaluation of the old pool built in 1993 showed it would take approximately $200,000 in repairs and renovations to bring it up to standards including the new federal standards set by the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. The new pool will feature zero depth entry, toddler slides, spray features, two slides, a one meter diving board and a three meter diving board. The Parks Department plans to offer more programs at the new pool including swimming lessons, water aerobics, Jr. Lifeguard instruction and family swim every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. Special events like Dive in Movies and Mid-Night Swim are some of the special events also scheduled. The daily admission rates are as follows: Children 3-12: $3, Adults 13&Older:$4, Seniors 55+: $3.Season passes are now available for purchase at the Willard Recreation Center, 133 N State Highway Z, or by calling (417)742-2262.The cost for the new Willard Aquatic Center is $2.6 million. The City of Willard is using revenues from an existing Willard capital improvements sales tax and the Greene County Park Tax approved by the voters in 2006 to help pay for the cost of the new pool.

Swimming Lessons: Swimming lesson registration is underway. For more information including course descriptions, schedules, and fees, go to willardparks.com. Search under the Aquatics tab.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is now available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows:

Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

Rental times can be set at any time the facility is not already booked. Recreation Center front desk staff, as a general rule of thumb, will not be responsible for booking these rentals. This is to avoid any double-bookings. Any inquiries should be directed to me. If I am not available, encourage them to leave a message on my voicemail. I always call people back as soon as possible when a message is left. After May 22, all rentals will be made at the Willard Aquatic Center through the front desk staff.

New Contract with Coke: The City of Willard Parks and Recreation Department is entering into a new contract with Ozarks Coke Cola. The contract includes Ozarks Coke Cola purchasing and installing 6 new scoreboards for Willards new Highline Soccer Park. The contract is worth over $27,000 to the Willard Parks Department. The new scoreboards will be installed in the coming weeks and will be used for the Willard Spring Soccer Season. Ozarks Coke Cola will also be donating drink coolers for the new Highline Soccer Park as well as the new Willard Aquatic Center set to open May 23rd. The contract was voted on and approved by the Willard Board of Mayor and Alderman on the recommendation of the Willard Park Board. For more information on this new contract call (417)742-2262.

Summer Camp Registration: May 1st 15th: Register now! 2009 Summer Camp Theme: Around the World in 80 Days!

Willard Parks and Recreation will be providing summer camp for children who have completed Kindergarten thru completion of 5th grade. Session 1 camp will run May 26th June 26th. Camp hours will be 7:00am - 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Campers will need a lunch brought to camp each day. 2 daily snacks will be provided. Daily activities , camp shirts and field trips are included in the tuition fee. Tuition fees are $95 per week (prepay weekly- no prorated weeks are available). First week of camp is $76 due to Monday May 25th being a holiday. If entire session 1 tuition fees are paid in full, there is a $5 discount per week. Registration forms are available at the Willard Recreation Center.

Movie in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting Movie in the Park on May 22nd at 9:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Playing will be the movie Kung Fu Panda. The event is free to attend and hamburgers, hotdogs and other concession items will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and family members for a fun night!

Willards First Music in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting its first Music in the Park event on Saturday May 30th at 6:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Performing will be Willard resident Brock Wade. Brock is a young up and coming musician. Dont miss this event.

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community. For more information please call (417)742-2262.

Recycling: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun a new recycling program. A recycling tub collecting bottles is available at the Recreation Center and will be available at all spring sports locations.

Willards First Triathlon: Willard Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Ridge Runner Sports and CoxHealth will be hosting our first Triathlon on Saturday June 20th beginning at the Community Building. The Triathlon entitled the Frisco Runaway Triathlon is $40 to participate. The race includes running, swimming and biking through and around Willard. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Triathlon Distances: Swimming: 300 Yards Biking: 12 Miles Running: 5K

Freedom Fest: Preparation continues for Freedom Fest 2009. This 4th of July Celebration will be held Saturday July 4th. Visit <http://www.willardparks.com>www.willardparks.com in the coming months for details.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect, self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Session 1: 1/5 2/26 Session 2: 3/2 4/30 Session 3: 6/1 7/23 Session 4: 8/3 9/28 Session 5: 10/5 11/23

Childrens Dance Classes: Register now for Childrens Dance. Hurry, spots are limited.

Creative Dance: Ages 3-5: Classes on Tuesday Afternoons

Ballet and Tap: Ages 5 & up: Classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays

Jazz: Ages 9 & up: Classes on Tuesdays

Classes are 8 weeks. The fee is $50 - $65. Registration forms are availability at the Recreation Center. For more information please call Ms. Patrice at 818-3659 or 833-8631

Beginner Belly Dancing: Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. The cost is $40 per participant. This program is a 5 week session and will be held on Wednesdays from 7:00pm 8:00pm. Spots are limited. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Session 1: 1/14 2/11 Session 2: 2/18 3/18 Session 3: 4/1 4/29 Session 4: 5/6 6/3

Spring Sports Update: This season over 800 people are participating in the Willard Spring Sports Seasons which include youth & adult volleyball, youth soccer, youth flag football and competitive youth baseball.

Upcoming Registrations:

Recreation Baseball / Softball: May 1st 31st

Adult Softball: May 1st 31st

Please call us if you have any questions.

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard 417-742-2262

Kindergarten screening dates for FY2009-10

• Willard Central/Willard North: May 4 & 5
• Willard East/Willard South: May 7 & 8

Parents should call the school the student will attend for an appointment after Spring Break. Children who will be attending Orchard Hills will be screened at Willard South and Willard Central. Mrs. Rhonda Bishop, Orchard Hills Principal, will be attending screenings at Willard South and Willard Central, to greet her new students. Please bring the following items with you to the screening: immunization records, proof of residency, social security card, birth certificate. All kindergartners are required to have an eye exam before entering kindergarten.

• Willard Central: 831-4440
• Willard East: 742-4639
• Willard North: 742-2597
• Willard South: 862-6308

District Office

As we have turned the calendar page to May, the last month of the school year, excitement is brewing over the many end of year activities and the anticipated celebration for the Senior Class of 2009 Commencement. One of my favor quotes is by Henry Dave Thoreau which I believe applies to all Willard graduates. Thoreau states "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Willard graduates can go confidently in any direction they choose. There is no doubt in my mind that they have been presented the best education possible. The teachers and staff have dedicated time, knowledge, and experience to provide many opportunities for each student to receive an excellent education. When you find the direction of your dreams remember the valued life lesson of friendship, compassion and service to others. Living your life is a sense of learned pride. Proud to be a Willard student and soon to be graduate. Remember that Willard Pride is a part of the life you live and will connect you to your future. Congratulations to seniors and all other students and they finish this school year and begin to anticipate the next.

Dr. Janell Royal Assistant Superintendent of Schools

Director of Activities

Rain, rain, go away! Come again some other day! Needless to say, it has been difficult getting in games this past week but we do have some good news to report for our Tigers.

Congratulations to the Willard High School Thespians and Crew! In competition April 24th and 25th, Readers Theater placed 1st in MSHAA STATE THEATRE and One Act placed 2nd! In addition, Amber Alcorn was selected to receive the state award for best supporting actress. BRAVO! Willard was the only school that qualified in both events to advance out of districts to state competition, an accomplishment magnified by the state performance results for both groups!

One Act Cast: Amber Alcorn, Paula Jo Branstetter, Elizabeth Kreiger, Margaret Moore, Lindsey Stokes, Christine West, Chase Ridgley, Sean Scott, Michael Stoll.

Readers Theater Cast: Nancyann Adams, Joseph Adams, Blake Andrews, Kyle Bird, Bethany Bumpers, Travis Burbee, Brandon Compton, Rebecca Farr, Kelsey Gilmore, Miranda Greene, Nathan Halle, Garrett Holle, Tyler Inglett, Breigh Jusino, Hannah Masters, Dakota Paris, Samantha Reid, Mark Rose, Doug Seeley, Jacob Stoll, Clint Unruh.

The baseball Tigers have become a force to be reckoned with. After defeated Cassville (who was 12-0 at the time, and are now 12-1 thanks to the Tigers!), they lost a heartbreaker to Branson in 12 innings on Tuesday. They are currently 15-5 on the year and are tied for 2nd place in the COC. Weather permitting they have a busy week ahead as they host Lebanon on Saturday with a 10:00am start. They will then play at Catholic on Monday, host Carthage on Tuesday, go to Ozark on Wednesday (make-up of rain-out), are at Rogersville on Thursday, and host Marshfield on Friday. It will be busy! Good luck to the baseball Tigers.

The soccer Tigers are starting to play better and are hoping to win some games as they host the Willard Invitational this weekend. Games start tonight and will finish up tomorrow (weather permitting!). The girls will host Camdenton on Monday, travel to Carthage on Tuesday, and host Central on Thursday. Good luck girls!

Congratulations to Daphne Merrick on signing a volleyball scholarship with Missouri Southern on Monday.

Also, congratulations to Coach Killingsworth on becoming our new boy's basketball coach!

It's Good To Be A Tiger! Jeff Staley - Director of Operations

Open thislinktoview Districtactivities.

Special Services

Please join us on Saturday May 2nd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a spaghetti supper benefiting one of our special services students. Stephen Wingfield has been in the Willard district since early childhood, and is currently in the 6th grade at the Intermediate building. His mother, Heather, is a paraprofessional at Willard Central, where she has been for several years. Stephen has been going through chemotherapy in St. Louis due to being diagnosed with PTLD, a lymphoma that can occur in transplant patients. He had a kidney transplant in 2000. This family always has a smile on their faces, even through something this devastating. Come to Willard North Elementary on Saturday and enjoy some spaghetti, rolls, and desserts. There will also be entertainment from the Sonshine Dance Troupes. There will be a silent auction with many great items, including a suite for a Springfield Cardinals game for 18 people!! We will also have a raffle. The cost of the dinner and entertainment is free, however, donations will be accepted.

Remember that our 2nd annual Partners In Strength rally will be held on Saturday May 9th from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the High School Commons and Main Gym. If you have students that will be participating, please send your registration forms back to the schools as soon as possible. This is a wonderful event that will be sure to pull at your heart strings. Don't miss it!!! Everyone is invited to attend.

This week our district lost a dear member. Pam Jackson, mother of Kyle who is a senior at Willard and Evan who is a sophomore at Willard, passed away unexpectedly this week. Pam has been an involved parent, supporting both our educational efforts, and involving herself in many activities. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations for a trust fund that has been established for Kyle and Evan, care of the funeral home. Please keep their family in your thoughts and prayers. Janet Turner, Special Services Process Coordinator

Willard High School

Here are some events and happenings at WHS:

Helping Hooves: Help your friends and neighbors by helping us raise money during the first-ever Helping Hooves fundraising week happening all across the Willard School District from May 11-15! The action-packed weeks activities are being organized by Helping Hooves a local group of dedicated parents and high school students giving our special needs kids the support they deserve to master new skills, and increase their strength, confidence and self-esteem through horseback riding therapy. Be the first to win the Helping Hooves trophy! If you or your parents have some spare change, bring your money to fill up your elementary schools saddlebag between May 11th and 15th. Have a sweet tooth? For just $1, you can buy candy bars from Willard High School kids, selling these goodies on behalf of our cause.

We believe in our special kids and this organization. Since Helping Hooves is totally volunteer, 100% of your fundraising donations collected this week go directly to therapy costs at Therapeutic Riding of the Ozarks-the areas only nationally accredited center. Help us help our special needs kids. Any questions? Contact Carrie Hudson at 742-6865. The Helping Hooves fund is a component fund of the Willard Childrens Charitable Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

Prom was held last Saturday April 25th at the Oasis Inn Convention Center. Our students looked great and we had a good time celebrating the 2008-2009 school year. You can view some of our students in their "Prom Attire" on the Spfld News-Leader website. Here is the web address:

http://www.news-leader.com/section/SPECIALS02

End of Course Exams are happening at WHS this week. Tuesday we completed Communication Arts test and Thurday we completed Biology. WHS students did a great job giving their best effort to the statewide test. We will finish on May 5th and May 7th with Algebra I exams.

Seniors are almost finished with just a few days left. Seniors will be taking Final Exams on Monday May 11th and Tuesday May 12th. Senior Baccalaureate is Sunday May 10th at the HS Theater with Graduation on Friday May 15th, at WHS Staduim.

Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Middle School

Greetings again from WMS. This has once again been a busy week, and it is hard to believe there are only 15 school days left. This week our students got to travel to Ozark Technical College and take an informative tour of the campus, and learn about opportunities for higher education. The 8th grade had their end of year dance on Thursday night , and had a great time as usual. The COC track meet was rained out, and the Ozark Softball Tourney was in danger of the same. Track is rescheduled for Monday, and info on the softball tourney is pending. We had our buy one get one free book fair in the library, and many students got to save some money on books they will hopefully enjoy over the summer months. Next week, we will have our end of year choir and band concerts, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings respectively. These will be in the school gyms, and begin at 7 pm, so come out if you can and enjoy the talents of these students, as they show off what they have learned this year. The choir will also be traveling to Six Flags next week, and we hope the rain will stay away for them on that trip. Finally, we will be recognizing Multi-Cultural day next week, and will be hosting several guest speakers and presenting information to help our students get a glimpse of how others in our world live, and how it varies from life in Southwest Missouri. This has been a great deal of fun in the past, as well as very informative for our students, and we look forward to seeing what this year brings as well. Three weeks left, and so much to get done in that time! Thanks for checking on us. Tom Merriott WMS Asst. Principal

Willard Intermediate School

If April showers bring May flowers what does May rain bring? The wet weather kept us indoors this week but it has not limited the activities at WIS. Monday night we hosted our Fine Arts night and talent shows. What a crowd! Thanks to all our parents that came out to support the hard work of our students. It was great to see the art projects and writing fair pieces on display. Everyone was entertained by the awesome performances by our students (and teachers) at the talent shows. Tuesday night we were treated to an evening performance by both the Willard North and WIS Honor Choirs. Thursday Morning we had a group from Character Connex visit to share a positive message about respect and other positive character traits. Today our teachers have been busy finishing up their final day of MRI training. This yearlong program has helped us to be much more effective at incorporating reading strategies into daily instruction.

Upcoming WIS events: May 4-8 - Teacher appreciation week May 5 - 5th grade field trip May 8 - School wide career day

Tom Davis, Principal

Willard Central Elementary

It has been an action-packed week at Willard Central. Thank you to Mrs. Mello, Mrs. Roth, and Mrs. Chatman for organizing a wonderful Fine Arts Night on the Tuesday evening!! It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying all of the artwork, book fair and student concerts together. On Friday, top selling students from the Mr. Zs Fundraiser had the chance to silly-string me at Community Time. It was a fun and slightly messy way of rewarding their efforts!

As we look ahead to Saturday, please plan to come to our PTO Carnival from 3:00-5:00 in the afternoon. There will be games, food, inflatables, dunk tanks, and local emergency vehicles on display. There will be a live auction at 4:00 with many wonderful items (Walt Disney World Trip, Branson get-away) and the basket raffle will take place at 5:00. It will be a wonderful time of family fun for all!

After the carnival, please make your way up the road to Willard North Elementary for the fundraiser for Stephen Wingfield. Stephen is a former WC student and his mom, Heather, works at WC. We hope you can come out and support their family.

As we look ahead to next week, we are excited to welcome future WC Tigers to school on Monday and Tuesday with our Kindergarten Screening. Wednesday, 3rd and 4th grade students will be heading to Hammonds Field for WeatherSchool and the baseball in honor of their hard work on the MAP test.

We will see you at the PTO Carnival. Have a great weekend and stay Wild About Learning! Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard North Elementary

We had a BIG week at Willard North!!! We were all in anticipation of the upcoming Super Tiger! This Wednesday we had 49 mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, teachers, and friends cut their hair for Locks of Love. It was a moving assembly with Willard's very own Alyssa Inglett speaking of her success story battling cancer. Alyssa's mother also spoke during the assembly and shared her thoughts and feelings. This is a disease that has touched many of us on so many different levels. We are so proud of all that donated yesterday. Willard North has made the Locks of Love assembly a tradition for 5 years and running. Throughout the course of this, our volunteers have donated enough hair to make 81 wigs!!!

We also got a special treat this week with Fast Forward from the high school performing for the students. There was a lot of singing and dancing, not just on stage but in the audience too. We had a blast!

We are ending the week and the year with our Celebration of Learning Sock Hop Friday Night. Festivities begin at 6:00 and last until 8:00. What a great way to end the week!

Have a safe and fun weekend! Principals Rhonda Bishop and Angela Stevens

Future-cast of Upcoming Events: May 1 Celebration of Learning 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm May 4 Kindergarten Screening May 5 Kindergarten Screening Title One Reading Night 4:00pm - 6:00pm May 7 Kindergarten Music Program 7:00 pm May 8 Field Day Mother's Day Tea 1st grade

Willard South Elementary

We had a fabulous assembly on Wednesday morning with a performance from the WHS Fast Forward group. They did an outstanding job singing, dancing and interacting with the audience. The students and teachers enjoyed the performance. I want to thank Mr. Lawley for sharing his talented group of students with Willard South. Your students brought a smile to everyone's face!

Next week: W 5/6-Field trip for 3rd and 4th graders to the Springfield Cardinals game Th 5/7 & F 5/8-Kindergarten screening from 8:00-3:00

Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

For information on the Willard Children's Charitable Foundation, please contact Judy Craig at 742-2506 or Dr. Kent Medlin at 742-2584.

Willard Parks and Recreation   (417)742-2262

• Kevin McDonald: Director
• Courtney Wendel: Sports Coordinator
• Brandon Eckhardt: Recreation Specialist
• Tina Christiansen: Front Desk Programmer

New Staff, New Ideas, a New Era in the Willard Parks Department

Thank you to everyone who attended the Willard Rummage Sale and MSU Day on Saturday April 25th at the Recreation Center. The event was a huge success.

Parks Update: The Renovation is almost complete on the Willard Baseball Complex. We have about 1 weeks left of work. We are finishing painting and putting in the in-field dirt mix on the fields.

Willard's New Highline Soccer Park is complete. Games and practices for soccer & flag football will be played here.

Summer Camp Registration: May 1st - 15th: 2009 Summer Camp Theme: Around the World in 80 Days!

Willard Parks and Recreation will be providing summer camp for children who have completed Kindergarten thru completion of 5th grade. Session 1 camp will run May 26th June 26th. Camp hours will be 7:00am - 6:00pm Monday through Friday. Campers will need a lunch brought to camp each day. 2 daily snacks will be provided. Daily activities , camp shirts and field trips are included in the tuition fee. Tuition fees are $95 per week (prepay weekly- no prorated weeks are available). First week of camp is $76 due to Monday May 25th being a holiday. If entire session 1 tuition fees are paid in full, there is a $5 discount per week. Registration forms are available at the Willard Recreation Center.

Movie in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting Movie in the Park on May 22nd at 9:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Playing will be the movie Kung Fu Panda. The event is free to attend and hamburgers, hotdogs and other concession items will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and family members for a fun night!

Willards First Music in the Park: Willard Parks and Recreation will be hosting its first Music in the Park event on Saturday May 30th at 6:00pm at Jackson St. Park. Performing will be Willard resident Brock Wade. Brock is a young up and coming musician. Don't miss this event.

Willard Receives Big League Help: Willard Parks and Recreation has received a grant in the amount of $2000 from the St. Louis Cardinals Care Foundation. Funding for this grant comes from Cardinals players, the team's ownership group, local business, and Cardinals fans. This grant will be used for purchase new baseball equipment for the upcoming Willard Baseball League. Willard applied for this competitive grant in November 2008. Over its entire history the Cardinals Care Foundation has distributed over 12 million dollars in and around Cardinal Country.

US Soccer Foundation Grant: Willard Parks and Recreation has been awarded a grant in the amount of $4000.00 from the US Soccer Foundations grant making program. Willard is one of 27 communities selected nation wide and one of two communities selected in Missouri to receive a grant. The grant was applied for last October / November. The grant will be used in the following ways:

$3,000 in Eurosport product credit for Player Equipment and Uniforms

$1,000 in Kwik Goal product credit for Team Equipment

Willard will use the funds to help support the Willard Spring Soccer League and the opening of the new Highline Soccer Park. The US Soccer Foundation awarded a total of 1.2 million dollars in grants in 2009 all across the United States. The US Soccer Foundation is a major charitable arm in the United States. Its goal is to "To enhance, assist and grow the sport of soccer in the United States."

Thank you Sponsors: Thank you to the newest Willard Recreation Center Sponsors:

• Junction Cafe Casey's
• Willard Care Center
• Downtown Bar-B-Q
• Sawyer Tire Program Select

Willard Play Group: COME OUT & PLAY with Willard's Playgroup! Come play every Wednesday from 9am - 11am at the Willard Recreation Center. This is a new opportunity for parents and kids to play, socialize and just have fun. Moms and Dads are invited to bring their infant through Pre-K aged children for FREE PLAY , STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES & MONTHLY WORKSHOPS. This playgroup is free and open to the community. For more information please call (417)742-2262.

Swimming Lessons: Swimming lesson registration is underway. For more information including course descriptions, schedules, and fees, go to willardparks.com. Search under the Aquaticstab.

Pool Rentals: The Aquatic Center is now available for booking private rentals. The rates are as follows:

Under 75 people: $100/hour 75-150 people: $125/hour 151+ people: $150/hour

Rental times can be set at any time the facility is not already booked. Recreation Center front desk staff, as a general rule of thumb, will not be responsible for booking these rentals. This is to avoid any double-bookings. Any inquiries should be directed to me. If I am not available, encourage them to leave a message on my voicemail. I always call people back as soon as possible when a message is left. After May 22, all rentals will be made at the Willard Aquatic Center through the front desk staff.

Recycling: Willard Parks and Recreation has begun a new recycling program. A recycling tub collecting bottles is available at the Recreation Center and will be available at all spring sports locations.

Willards First Triathlon: Willard Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Ridge Runner Sports and CoxHealth will be hosting our first Triathlon on Saturday June 20th beginning at the Community Building. The Triathlon entitled the Frisco Runaway Triathlon is $40 to participate. The race includes running, swimming and biking through and around Willard. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

Triathlon Distances:

• Swimming: 300 Yards
• Biking: 12 Miles
• Running: 5K

Scholarship Grant: Through a generous donation, over $500 is available in the Sports Scholarship Program Fund. This provides a total of 14 scholarships for the 2009 year. If you are interested in signing up for a sports scholarship please email parkdir@cityofwillard.org .

Freedom Fest: Preparation continues for Freedom Fest 2009. This 4th of July Celebration will be held Saturday July 4th. Visit http://www.willardparks.com in the coming months for details.

KenKarJu-Ruy 2009: Register now for KenKarJu-Ryu martial arts. This family oriented art focuses on courtesy, respect, self-discipline, self-defense, self-improvement, physical fitness and FUN! Classes are offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30pm 7:30pm at the Willard Community Building for anyone ages 7 and up. The fee is $50 for the entire eight week session. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

• Session 1: 1/5 - 2/26
• Session 2: 3/2 - 4/30
• Session 3: 6/1 - 7/23
• Session 4: 8/3 - 9/28
• Session 5: 10/5 - 11/23

Childrens Dance Classes: Register now for Childrens Dance. Hurry, spots are limited.

• Creative Dance: Ages 3-5: Classes on Tuesday Afternoons
• Ballet and Tap: Ages 5 & up: Classes on Tuesdays & Thursdays
• Jazz: Ages 9 & up: Classes on Tuesdays

Classes are 8 weeks. The fee is $50 - $65. Registration forms are availability at the Recreation Center. For more information please call Ms. Patrice at 818-3659 or 833-8631

Beginner Belly Dancing: Willard Parks and Recreation will be offering Belly Dancing Classes. All adults are eligible to attend. The cost is $40 per participant. This program is a 5 week session and will be held on Wednesdays from 7:00pm - 8:00pm. Spots are limited. Registration forms are available at the Recreation Center.

• Session 1: 1/14 - 2/11
• Session 2: 2/18 - 3/18
• Session 3: 4/1 - 4/29
• Session 4: 5/6 - 6/3

Upcoming Registrations: Recreation Baseball / Softball: May 1st - 31st

Adult Softball: May 1st - 31st

Please call us if you have any questions.

Kevin McDonald Parks and Recreation Director City of Willard 417-742-2262