District Newsletter

Willard R-II Central Office

I was invited to attend the Greene County Comprehensive Planning meeting last week. This group is led by the Greene County Commissioners. They are attempting to get their arms around the growth in the county. Willard is not alone dealing with growth. Republic, Strafford, Fair Grove, and Rogersville are also witnessing above average growth. This commission is attempting to address how this growth should occur with respect to ground water, septic, roads, and other utilities. In the past 20 years Nixa has grown from a district smaller than all other COC schools to the largest COC school. It is difficult to predict the next community that may realize that rate of growth. Some say that community will be Willard. The News-Leader reported last week that Springfield had lost over 1,000 students in the past year. More of those students from Springfield came to Willard than any other district. This next month we will be discussing a long term growth plan at our regular school board meeting. This plan will analyze growth in our district for the next 10 years. Ten years ago the Willard district had 2,909 students. This year we have 4,047 students. It is clear that Greene County is not the only organization that needs a plan for future growth!

Have a great week!

Kent

Dr. Kent E. Medlin Superintendent of Schools

Director of Operations

Well, the 20th annual Willard Tri-State Classic has come and gone and once again Willard showed why this community is known for its hospitality. I cannot begin to thank everyone involved enough for their countless hours of hard work that goes into making this tournament a success. I would also like to congratulate Coach Killingsworth and Coach Evans for, once again, leading their respective teams to a great showing in the tournament. Our kids played hard and I was proud of how they represented Willard. This was displayed when for the first time in recent memory, both teams won the sportsmanship awards! A special congratulations to R. Rust, K. Bracamonte, and M. Blair for making the All-Tournament Teams.

The boy's and girl's will resume their seasons this week. The Lady Tigers will be at Kickapoo on Tuesday (not Monday which is on the Coke schedules) with the JV starting at 6:00. The Tigers will be at Glendale on Tuesday and it will be a three game night with the 9th graders starting at 5:00 followed by the JV and then the varsity. They will then host Lebanon on Friday in another three game night with the freshmen starting at 5:00.

A big congratulations to the wrestling Tigers on their 3rd place finish in the Neosho Tournament this past Saturday. The Tigers had seven wrestlers make it to the semi-finals and four make it to the finals! The Tigers will be at Marshfield this Thursday in a double dual with Marshfield and Camdenton.

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

Willard High School

The end of the 1st Semester is fast approaching and brings many questions to surface. We know the Christmas Break is important to families. We do not want to diminish the importance of family time, but strongly urge parents not to allow students to miss the week of December 17th December 21st or "Finals Week".

The Final Exams are a great tool which provides our faculty a measure of your students successes and indicates areas we (Teachers and Staff) can improve upon. Attendance is a major factor in successful learning and student attendance has been a primary focus for our staff. We have set a goal to have 95.5 percent attendance for the 2007-2008 year or better. Currently we are not meeting that goal and ask that you assist us in encouraging students to attend school. We (Parents, Teachers, and Staff) are a team to move Willard Schools from "One of the Best" in Southwest Missouri to "The Best".

Let all of us work together to minimize student absenteeism.

Stewart Pratt, Principal

Willard Intermediate School

It is always interesting to see the changes that take place in everything around us during the holiday season. Frosty mornings, Christmas trees and holiday music remind all of that this is the time of year to give back to those around us. WIS is no exception. Our parents, students, and staff recently collected food for families in need in our community. Through this generosity we were able to make the holidays a little more joyful for 30 families! A special "thanks" to Willow Brook Foods for the turkey's and to our counselor Mrs. Skaggs for coordinating the whole project.

If you are needing a little help getting into the holiday spirit come see our honor choir perform their holiday concert next Monday Dec. 10th at 7 PM.

Have a great week!

Tom Davis, Assistant Principal

Willard Central Elementary

The cool nip in the air has finally made it feel like the Holiday Season. As we look ahead to this week, we are collecting canned goods, other food items and personal hygiene items for Christmas baskets. The WC Student Council will be collecting and organizing these items to share with Willard families in the spirit of giving this Christmas season. Everyones generosity is greatly appreciated and a blessing to those who give as well as receive.

Tuesday evening, we are looking forward to our Family Reading Night sponsored by the Communication Arts Cadre. The evenings events will be based around The Tale of Despereaux. The WC families have been reading this book together and we have been celebrating the story of this heroic mouse each morning at Community Time. Please plan to join us between 6:00-7:30 for literacy games, soup taste testing, a dungeon maze, making your own mouse trap and several other activities related to Despereauxs adventures. Rumor has it that soup will be dumped over the principal at Community Time if more than 100 students and their families attend the reading night. Personally, I think we will more than double that goal. I am already planning for which tie goes best with Pea Soup.

We are looking forward to another amazing week at Willard Central as we "Reach for the Stars". Shane Medlin, Principal

Willard East Elementary

Thursday Nov. 29 Willard East 1st grade teachers and Reading Recovery teachers hosted a very successful Family Reading Night! Students read books to their parents, played word games and reading games and enjoyed some warm winter snacks on a cold and windy evening. We hope you enjoyed this event and a big thank you to Mrs. Daugherty for providing childcare so our 1st graders could enjoy their time with their parents.

Upcoming Willard East Events: Tuesday Dec. 4 - Flip Flop Girls Family Night Thursday Dec. 13 - 2:30PM and 7:00PM 4th Grade Christmas Program Friday Dec. 21st - Christmas Parties!

Melinda Miller, Principal

Willard North Elementary

We have had a great week at Willard North! Everyone returned from the Thanksgiving holiday break ready to go! Our Super Tiger Celebration was wonderful this week! The 3rd graders did selections from their program on November 19th, we gave a BUNCH of awards to some well deserving kids and of course, I had to pay up and dress in a chicken suit because of our Read-A-Thons Deal or No Deal. It was a lot of fun and I am so proud of our students for reading over 60,000 minutes during that time!

Willard North Student Council is collecting items for gift baskets for our families this year. We are also collecting items for our emergency bags for our classrooms. If you are interested in helping us, please call our office at 742-2597.

Here are some of the exciting events coming up at Willard North:

December 11th-13th- Santa Shop December 14th-PAT Preschool Screenings-Willard North Library-8:00-1:30 call 742-5490 for an appointment December 17th- 4th Grade Christmas Program at Willard High School December 18th-Mrs Bishops Christmas Caroling Event-grades 2-4 and Tiger Tales Tiger Preschool Christmas Program at Willard North December 19th- 4th Grade Christmas Program-Matinee 9:45 a.m. Super Tiger Celebration: 2:30 P.M. December 21st-Holiday parties Pajama Day Polar Express Activity

Have a wonderful week!! Rhonda Bishop, Principal

Willard South Elementary

I believe that everyone came back from their Thanksgiving break well rested and ready for school! The month of December is full of activities for the entire family. I hope that you are able to attend some of the special events that we have planned.

DECEMBER CALENDAR 3rd-PTO meeting at 6:00 in the library 4th-Make It Take It Night 6-7 in the cafeteria 11th-2nd Grade Music Program 10:45 & 7:00 14th-PJ Day & Deal/No Deal Fundraiser Assembly 3:00 19th & 20th-Santa Store

Kara Crighton-Smith, Principal

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