Dr. Jamie Goforth, assistant superintendent of personnel services, presented the Community Recognition Plaque for April 2026 to Brad Shelton of Maries County Bank during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education on April 20, 2026.
Maries County Bank was recognized for donating hats and for their ongoing support of the Waynesville R-VI students.
Pictured are Dr. Jamie Goforth, assistant superintendent of personnel services, and Brad Shelton, St Robert Branch President at The Maries County Bank.
WMS earns recognition for student growth in math
Waynesville Middle School was recognized as a top-performing school in Missouri for student growth in mathematics during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 20, 2026, by Superintendent Hilary Bales.
The honor came from the PRiME Center at Saint Louis University, which highlighted the school’s strong student growth in math during the 2024-25 school year. The PRiME Center identifies Missouri schools where students show the most progress over time, focusing on how much students improve.
Pictured are Superintendent Hilary Bales, Rebecca Douglas, Taylor Tetreault and WHS Principal Brian Vernon who served as WMS principal during the 2024–25 school year; second row: WMS Principal Brent Dunning, Matthew Wilson, Joe Kincaid, Michael Johnson-Gonzalez. Not Pictured: Joe Wald, Jamie Scholl, Bailey Poncia, Dawn Woods.
Honor Council
WHS SGA received the Missouri Association of Student Councils Honor Council Silver Award, which recognizes councils for their involvement at the local, the South Central District Student Council and state levels.
Special Olympics School of Character
The Special Olympics School of Character is an award given to schools that take active steps toward making their school environment more inclusive. WHS received the Gold Award and was recognized for students being involved in the CBI class, Tiger Buddies and SGA.
Waynesville Middle School Student Council was recognized for receiving the Gold Honor Council Award and Special Olympics School of Character Gold Award by Superintendent Hilary Bales during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 20, 2026.
Honor Council
WMS STUCO received the Gold Honor Council Award from the Missouri Association of Student Councils. The award honors councils that have a comprehensive program in promoting student activities and student leadership. Activities include school service, spirit, community service, student and teacher recognition and leadership training activities.
This is the fourth consecutive year WMS STUCO has received this prestigious award.
Special Olympics School of Character
WMS STUCO is one of three middle schools in the State of Missouri to receive the prestigious Special Olympics Missouri School of Character Award this spring.
The award, established in 2014 in partnership with the Missouri Association of Student Councils (MASC), recognizes schools that demonstrate involvement in inclusive youth leadership, Unified Sports® and community engagement. It celebrates schools that foster a supportive community, promoting character development through sports and leadership.
For Youth Art Month from March 9 to April 9, students from across the state are selected to have their artwork displayed in the 3rd-floor Rotunda of the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Hendricks was one of the four selected from Waynesville High School. At the closing ceremony of the Youth Art Month, 15 students were selected for the top awards. Hendricks received the Fine Arts Coordinator Choice Award for her alternate self-portrait in colored pencil titled "Masking." She received a $100 gift certificate sponsored by Blick Art Materials. Hendricks’ teacher is Sarah Luttrell.
Author Luge Hardman, Publisher Lindsay Teal-Parrott and Superintendent Hilary Bales are pictured.
Students recognized for having artwork published
Waynesville R-VI students were recognized for having their artwork published in the Missouri Art Education Association's Show Me Art Coloring Book during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education on April 20, 2026.
Students designed a coloring page based on their favorite outdoor activities, such as cycling, fishing, camping, sports, etc. and submitted their work for consideration in the publication.
Arianna Haslim's artwork took 1st place at the middle school level, and Emiyah Glover's artwork is featured as the back cover design winner.
Mike Henson, executive director of elementary, and Courtney Long, executive director of secondary, presented certificates to the following:
Freedom Elementary:
• Fiona Qui, 4th grade
• ZaRiyah McCaster, 5th grade
• Kyndal Osborne, 5th grade
Thayer Elementary:
• Jace Taylor, 4th grade
• Isabella Mendoza, 4th grade
• Olivia Davis, 5th grade
• Mina Figueroa, 5th grade
Wood Elementary:
• Ezekiel Mason, 4th grade
• Emiyah Glover - Back Cover Design Winner, 5th grade
Waynesville Middle School:
• Mya Klontz, 7th grade
• Mayzee Magee, 8th grade
• Ellery Earnest, 8th grade
• Arianna Haslim - 1st Place Middle School, 8th grade
Waynesville High School
• Roxanne Acklin, 9th grade
• Kimari Stuart, 12th grade
Three Waynesville Career Center students have qualified to compete at the 2026 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta. They are:
· Collin Box (not pictured)
· Sadie Faughn
· Lauryn Lercher
Courtney Long, the executive director of secondary instruction, recognized the trio for qualifying for the international competition during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 20, 2026.
Nine Waynesville Career Center students have earned the right to compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta in June 2026 by placing at the top during the Missouri SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference.
The following students will compete at Nationals:
· Alexis Meyer, Audio Radio
· Emily Van Loan, Audio Radio
· Kaydence Stubblefield, Cosmetology
· Ellyia Bagby, Nail Care
· Hunter Alexander, Programming
· Alessander Eggart, Video News
· Ruby Hisatake, Video News
· Hannah Ussery, Video News
· Denver Wheeler, Video News
Three Waynesville Career Center students were honored for being selected as Breaking Traditions Award winners by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
These outstanding non-traditional career and technical students were recognized as follows:
· Jimmie Jo Sufficool - Richland High School - Auto Body
· Brookelynn Humphrey - Iberia High School - Auto Service
· Teegean Duke - Waynesville High School - Carpentry
They are pictured with Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, who presented them with certificates during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 20, 2026.
Layne Lercher, Richard Oxendine and Mike Rawlings were sworn in as members of the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education on April 20, 2026, after the election results were certified. The oath of office was administered by Board Executive Secretary Megan Ace.
Andy Anderson, Layne Lercher and Rick Harne were recognized for having served their three-year terms, along with the entire board for their service this past year.
Past officers were also recognized and new officers were selected for the 2026–27 school year: Layne Lercher as president, Janel Rowell as vice president, Mike Keeling as secretary and Charles Quinn as treasurer.
#WaySchools #TeacherProudTuesday
Thayer, Partridge and Wood Elementary students and staff received Culver’s custard sundaes donated by Culver’s on Monday, April 20, 2026, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child. Volunteers delivered and handed out the custard. The custard sundaes will be delivered to Waynesville R-VI Schools throughout the week. More than 60 percent of Waynesville R-VI students are military impacted.
The Waynesville R-VI School District will host its annual District Art Show on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at Waynesville High School.
This event will showcase artwork from students in grades K-12 within the district. In addition, the Tiger Festival of Nations will also be held from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday (April 17) in the Ninth Grade Center at Waynesville High School.
Both the Lecture Hall and the Ninth Grade Center entrance are located on the east side of the WHS campus (on the Tiger Stadium side) at 200 G.W. Lane St. in Waynesville. Both events are free and open to the public.
