On Sept. 9, 2025, the Waynesville R-VI School District hosted a Tiger Pride Night at the Parker Educational Center, highlighting special education services and supports. During the event, families received an overview of special education, including parent and student rights, as well as roles and responsibilities within the process.
Presenters included Shauna Smith, district special education coordinator and Dr. Elizabeth Washington, executive director of student services. Dr. Jamie Goforth, assistant superintendent of personnel services, helped coordinate the event.
The next session in the Tiger Pride Night special education training series, Advocating for Your Child, will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the Parker Educational Center. Families are encouraged to attend and learn effective strategies to support their child’s educational journey.
Pictured (from left to right): Cheryl Vernon, Tina Rowden, and Melissa Sharp.
Kaden Crone, a senior at Waynesville High School, has been named the WHS Rotary Student of the Month for September 2025. His parents are Kimberly and James Crone.
One of his nominators stated, “Kaden is always kind and respectful in class. He does not speak over others. He stays on task and listens intently when others are speaking. He is polite and pleasant.”
Crone is an outstanding student who carries a 4.4 grade point average, ranking in the top 1 percent of his class, and has a 99 percent attendance rate for all four years of high school. Crone is involved in many activities and clubs at WHS, including serving as the commander of the JROTC Battalion and captain of the WHS Esports Team. He also is a member of the JROTC Drill Team, National Honor Society, WHS Debate Team, WHS Boys Golf Team and has served on the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan committee. Upon graduation, Crone plans to become a trauma surgeon for the Army. He is applying to multiple colleges and plans to use an ROTC scholarship.
The dates and times are as follows:
· Cheer clinic: Saturday, Sept. 13: 9 a.m. to noon at WHS Gymnasium
· Practice: Thursday, Sept. 18: 5 to 6:15 p.m. at WHS Gymnasium
· Performance: Friday, Sept. 19: Halftime of the home varsity football game at Tiger Stadium
To attend, a student must BOTH register and pay the clinic.
Register at https://forms.gle/q9d1nNbnWMvpPVv98
******Registration Closes Sept. 12, 2025******
Please make your $35 payment at https://www.msbtickets.com/Athletics/schoolevents after registering to confirm your registration.
Sign up for Future Cheer REMIND and announcements by texting the message @25fallyc to 81010
3 to be inducted into Wall of Leaders
Three individuals are scheduled to be inducted into the Wall of Leaders on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, during Showcase Waynesville Schools of Homecoming week.
Those being inducted are as follows: Janice Roam Dye and the late Dr. Ogden DeWitt as Lifetime Achievement - Alumni and the late Sadie Navarre as Outstanding Educational Professional.
The Waynesville R-VI School District Foundation, led by President Cheryl Vernon, oversees the Wall of Leaders program. The induction ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 7:15 p.m. in front of the Wall of Leaders, which is located directly behind the bronze tiger statue inside the main entrance of Waynesville High School.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT – ALUMNI
Janice Roam Dye
A 1964 Waynesville High School graduate, Janice Roam Dye embodies servant leadership as an educator, farmer, community leader and volunteer. She became the first woman to lead the Waynesville Career Center, securing millions in grants and greatly increasing enrollment. In Waynesville R-VI, she served as assistant principal, director of activities, home economics department chair and instructor. She also taught at Drury College and the University of Missouri. Her service includes the Missouri State University Board of Governors, Regional Technical Education Council, Waynesville R-VI Board of Education, and the Missouri Council of Vocational Administrators Leadership Academy. She was the first president of the Waynesville R-VI Foundation and remains active in her church, community and the American Angus Association. Jann is honored with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement – Alumni Award.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT – ALUMNI
Ogden DeWitt
A 1960 Waynesville High School graduate and talented athlete, Ogden DeWitt earned his doctorate from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1969. After three years in private practice and serving as Chief of Staff at Pulaski County Memorial Hospital, he joined the U.S. Army in 1973. During his career, he completed the Aviation, Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces Officer Courses as well as the Army War College. He served as the 82nd ABN Surgeon, Special Forces Surgeon and XVIII ABN Corps Surgeon. Rising to Brigadier General, he commanded two Army medical centers before retiring after 27 years to Waynesville. After 9/11, he cared for soldiers as a civilian physician at Fort Leonard Wood until 2012. A man of faith, he led Bible studies and served as a church deacon. Dr. Ogden DeWitt is honored with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement – Alumni Award.
OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL
Sadie Navarre
A dedicated choir teacher, Sadie Navarre built a culture of excellence at Waynesville High School. She grew the program from one choir in 1964 into multiple ensembles, including Chamber Choir, Show Choir, Girls and Boys Glee Clubs and a faculty choir. Her legendary productions blended artistry, emotion and technical brilliance, leading students to excel at state competitions. She wrote the WHS Alma Mater, ran the district choral contest and served as president of both the Waynesville Community Teachers Association and the South Central Missouri State Teachers Association. She also directed the Waynesville United Methodist Church choir, gave private lessons, mentored educators, collaborated with parents and championed arts education. Sadie Navarre is honored with the 2025 Outstanding Educational Professional Award.
Additional information about Showcase Waynesville Schools will be published at a later date.
Waynesville High School will celebrate Military Appreciation Night on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, before and during the varsity football game at Tiger Stadium.
All active duty service members and military retirees with a military ID will be admitted to the game FREE of charge.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Waynesville R-VI’s Homecoming will be held on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. This year’s theme is “Deep Sea Roar: A Homecoming Quest.”
Schools will let out early, with students in K-5 being dismissed at 1 p.m. and students in grades 6-12 being dismissed at noon. Parker Educational Center and Pick Educational and Volunteer Center students will dismiss at 12:45 p.m. There will be no afternoon session at Williams Early Childhood Center.
The Homecoming Parade will start at 2:30 p.m. The route begins on Benton Street on the square, turns onto Historic Route 66 and continues to Waynesville Middle School.
Following the parade, the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Community Pride Night from 4:30 to 6 p.m., featuring a free hot dog roast and celebration. There will be giveaways from area businesses and organizations in front of the Waynesville High School gym.
Homecoming Court Coronation will be at 6:25 p.m. inside Tiger Stadium. The Waynesville Tiger football team will play Ozark at 7 p.m.
Admission to Tiger Stadium is $4 per person for school age and up without a pass.
A partner on patrol is an adult member of our community who:
· provides a positive influence to help create a safe school environment
· increases visibility and adult presence
· provides encouragement while assisting with supervising students
“Partners on Patrol add one more layer of safety for our students,” said Superintendent Hilary Bales.
A Partner on Patrol spends at least one hour each week being a positive presence in the hallways at Waynesville Sixth Grade Center, Waynesville Middle School, and/or Waynesville High School while assisting with supervising 6th - 12th grade students between classes. Partners on Patrol do not replace principals or school resources officers, but instead deliver big smiles, dispense positive affirmations, and perhaps share a few corny jokes while increasing adult visibility and presence.
Volunteers who are interested in becoming a Partner on Patrol should complete the Google Form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk6ThdYJd3XTcnpZMx5mlCrQ5WAQ1OjEQzBqtVK9-dqsEiZw/viewform?usp=header
Partners on Patrol volunteers must complete an initial background check (the form is available for download at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4597/WRV/4649828/Front_and_Back_Volunteer_Application_Fillable_Updated_6.25.pdf. Background check forms are also available at schools and at the Administration Building. If selected to be a Partner on Patrol, an additional background check will be required. Once approved, Partners on Patrol will attend a brief training session and then pick a time to be present for at least one hour each week.
For more information about the program, please email community@waynesville.k12.mo.us or call 573-842-2250.
There will be no school in the Waynesville R-VI School District on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in observance of Labor Day and all offices will be closed.
A parent/guardian has been notified and will determine what, if any, further medical treatment is necessary.
Waynesville High School will celebrate Military Appreciation Night on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, before and during the varsity football game at Tiger Stadium.
All active duty service members and military retirees with a military ID will be admitted to the game free of charge.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
About 68% of Waynesville R-VI students are military impacted. Waynesville R-VI's tagline is where the orange and black unite with the red, white and blue.
Highway T is temporarily down to one lane as traffic is being directed around the bus. The students will be taken home via another bus.
Parents of students on the bus are being contacted by the transportation office.
Understanding special education will be the first topic in a series of Tiger Pride Nights focusing on special education. The first one will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Parker Educational Center, 909 U.S. Rte 66, in Waynesville, next to the middle school.
The session will provide:
· an overview of special education
· parent and student rights
· roles and responsibilities
