Waynesville R-VI School District

Snack in a Pack fundraiser to be held on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

Thirteen Waynesville High School students have qualified to compete at the National Beta Convention by placing at the Beta State Convention in Branson on Jan. 16-18, 2025. The following WHS students are eligible to compete at Nationals this summer: · Don Cing – 1st place Biomedical 11th grade · Siessa Kpessokro – 2nd place French 10th grade · Kaydence Long – 4th place French 11th grade · Serina Chen – 2nd place Math 11th grade · Mason Thompson – 1st place Math 12th grade · Elyssa Scarbrough – 1st place Psychology 11th grade · Logan Giles – 4th place Psychology 12th grade · Elaine Wu – 1st place Social Studies 11th grade · Kyle Wilking – 1st place Social Studies 12th grade · Carter Pondrom – 1st place US History 12th grade · Kimora Godwin – 5th place Speech Division 2 · Citlali Arzabala – 3rd place Performing Arts Vocalist · Evelyn Carrol – 5th place Painting Division 2

Waynesville High School students in Thespian Troupe 1669 competed at the Missouri State Thespian Conference in St. Louis on Jan. 8 - 11, 2025, earning excellent or superior ratings in nine different events. One student has qualified for an international competition. “I am so proud of my students,” said Director Maria Butler of Thespian Troupe 1669. “Their hard work and dedication have helped to get them where they are. Every event we competed in we placed either Excellent or Superior.” The four ratings available to judges include Superior, Excellent, Good and Fair. The results are as follows: 1. Citlali Arzabala competed in Musical Theatre Solo Performance and received a Superior rating on the song, “Last Midnight from Into the Woods” by Steven Sondheim. With a Superior rating, Arzabala will move forward to compete at the International Thespian level in July 2025 in Indiana. 2. Alexandra Kelley competed in Scenic Design and received an Excellent rating for her Addams Family set recreation. 3. Josie Andreasen and Hailey Sansom competed in Hair & Makeup design and received an Excellent rating on their design of a character from Shakespeare's “The Tempest.” 4. Hailey Sansom competed in Stage Management and received an Excellent rating on her binder from “Game of Tiaras” by Don Zoldis. 5. Eli Prather and Maleah Johnson competed in Acting Duo and received an Excellent rating on their performance from “The Very Bad Girl Scouts” by John P. McEneny. 6. Madi Waugh, Natalie Lockwood, Montara Owens and Payton Rushing competed in Acting and received an Excellent rating on the piece from “Who Killed Aunt Caroline?” by Grant Richards. 7. Aeris Kim competed in Acting Monologue and received an Excellent rating on the piece from “I Never Sang for my Father” and “Forced Marriage.” 8. Mycha Humphrey competed in Costume Construction and received an Excellent rating on the costume she made from “Game of Tiaras” by Don Zoldis. 9. Teegean Duke and Addison Bowling competed in Musical Theatre Duet Solo and received an Excellent rating for the song “Ready Set, Not Yet” from Beetlejuice the musical song by Alex Brightman, Kerry Butler, and Rob McClure.

The public is invited to the Waynesville Career Center’s Open House from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. In addition to tours and demonstrations, the center will provide free hot dogs to visitors. More information about the programs that are offered is at https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/o/wcc. The career center is located at 400 G.W. Lane St. in Waynesville.

This year the Waynesville R-VI School District will be presenting the Rising Star and the Support Superstar Awards. The public is invited to nominate individuals for these awards. The Rising Star Award will be presented to a staff member who is new to the field of education (5 or fewer years of teaching/school experience) and has already demonstrated the ability to have a positive impact on students. The nominee must be returning to the Waynesville R-VI School District for the 2025-2026 school year. Click on https://forms.gle/AgF2yZuYQHcETJgj9 to vote for your Rising Star! The Support Super Star Award will be presented to a staff member that has worked in the school district for at least one year. Support staff who have already announced their intent to retire or leave the district at the end of the year are not eligible for the award. Any non-certified employee is eligible for this award. Click on https://forms.gle/PvpzKBPmbCoe8jir7 to vote for your Support Superstar! Nominations will close at 3 p.m. Feb. 7, 2025. #wayschools

Fifteen Waynesville High School students have qualified for the state Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competition. The WHS students qualified at the Regional Meeting at Rolla Technical School on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, where students competed in STAR events and ran for regional and state office positions. WHS students who will serve as officers are as follows: · State FCCLA - Faith Bohrer · Region 5 Historian - Nakhia Kirkman WHS students earning gold medals and advancing to state are as follows: · Abby Augenstein and Ginger McElhaney in Chapter Service Project Display for their Over and Under Drive · Evelyn Kelley – Chapter Service Project Portfolio for her Convoy of Hope Project · Mackenzie Workman and Mackenzie Henderson – Chapter Service Project Portfolio · Destiney Griffin – Entrepreneurship · Kameron Wright – Fashion Construction · Wyatt Carter and Michael Soliz – Interior Design · Zaylie Spicer – Personal Finance · Faith Bohrer – Professional Presentation on her Emotional First Aid Kit · Mary Grace Allen – Promote & Publicize FCCLA · Vaiden Matlock – Sports Nutrition · Jolene Smith – Teach or Train- 1st place · Xavye Huges – Teach or Train- 2nd place Those earning silver medals are as follows: · Giani Milton and Brextin Moore – Sports Nutrition · Lela Burnham – Career Investigation · Anna Kempen – Chapter Service Project Display for her Toy Drive · Brady Harpel and Evalina Maira – National Programs in Action- Safe Driving Practices. Prior to the competition and to gain experience and practice, both Bohrer and Allen presented their projects at Waynesville Middle School. Bohrer’s presentation, “Emotional First Aid,” focused on social emotional learning. “Faith was able to keep our students captive and engaged,” said WMS Counselor Neftali Perez. “Words cannot express how grateful we are to see a former WMS student give back to others. Faith's contribution of service and leadership didn't just make an impression on WMS students and staff, but even greater, it made an impact that I believe will have lasting effects.” Speaking to 7th and 8th grade FACS classes, Allen shared the history of FCCLA and highlighted how the organization helps prepare students for their futures. “It’s always inspiring to see former students, like Mary Grace, doing great things and stepping up as leaders for the next generation,” said WMS FACS Teacher Gina Ray. “The students participated in hands-on activities that allowed them to experience firsthand the value of being part of FCCLA.” #wayschools

Waynesville 6th graders on Team Spectacular debated about what makes a resource renewable to better understand how humans may affect the environment. #wayschools

An ambulance is being dispatched to Waynesville High School at approximately 6:55 p.m. today (Jan. 23, 2025) to treat an adult with a medical condition. The individual will decide what, if any, further medical treatment is necessary. #wayschools

When it comes to reading, Waynesville 6th graders are making a name for themselves – nationally – for reading the most minutes. Four classrooms at the Waynesville Sixth Grade Center are ranked in the top 100 in the nation in the READBowl. They are as follows: · Tammi Stockfisch's class – 18th place · Jody Taylor's class – 62nd place · Abby Swearingen's class – 72nd place · Shannon Shrum's class – 74th place Malcolm Mitchell, a Super Bowl champion, author, keynote speaker and Founder/CEO of Share the Magic Foundation, founded READBowl. Students compete to read for the most minutes for four weeks – from the 2nd Monday in January to the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl Sunday. “We have a Leader in Me football group, and they have sparked the interest for reading and wanting to try and win this competition,” said Library Media Specialist Angela Houf. “This is part of our Love of Reading Week (Feb. 3-7) and it is so exciting to see so many of our students participating in this competition.” The Waynesville Sixth Grade Center is the only school in Missouri to make the top 100 leaderboard so far in this year’s ReadBowl.

An ambulance was dispatched to Partridge Elementary at approximately 1:30 p.m. today (Jan. 23, 2025) to treat an individual student with a medical condition. A parent/guardian has been contacted and will decide what, if any, further medical treatment is necessary.

Dr. Jamie Goforth, assistant superintendent of personnel services, presented the Community Recognition Plaque to St. Robert First Assembly of God Church for their generous donations to the Snack in a Pack Program on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting. The church recently provided in-kind donations valued at $6,048 to support the Snack in the Pack program, which provides nutritious entrees and snacks to more than 450 Waynesville R-VI students over holidays and weekends who might otherwise go hungry. Individuals may purchase items on Snack in a Pack’s wishlist on Amazon by going to https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LHIMQ7EWYF88?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0mX3iE-AI-Xf3Uduuqm1vFAZijuNuR9jPQaW5sWIriR4PhKuUvbyoWiRY_aem_mIl9GAcqe4re-lHai-Yegg Donations to Snack in a Pack may be mailed to Snack in a Pack, Community Resource Office, 12225 Pulaski Ave, Bldg. 8041, Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473, or you may call 573-842-2250.

Both middle schools in the Waynesville R-VI School District were recognized for being named 2025 Best Middle Schools by U.S. News and World Report and Waynesville High School was recognized for being named in the top 100 high schools in Missouri on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting. Waynesville Sixth Grade Center and Waynesville Middle School earned the 2025 Best Middle Schools badge, which will be on display in their buildings, along with banners. WHS was named in the top 100 high schools in Missouri by U.S. News and World Report. The 2025 public middle school rankings were released in November. The schools earned the U.S. News and World Report badge for being among the top 40 percent of all elementary schools in Missouri. #wayschools

The Waynesville Sixth Grade Center hosted its Diversity Night on Jan. 16, 2025, with 186 students in attendance. Students and their families enjoyed crafts and snacks while learning about seven countries – India, China, Sweden, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico and Australia. In each room, Lighthouse team members shared a slideshow, offered information about the country, led students in a craft and offered a snack.

All elementary schools in the Waynesville R-VI School District were recognized on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, for being named 2025 Best Elementary Schools by U.S. News and World Report during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting. East, Freedom, Partridge, Thayer and Wood have earned the 2025 Best Elementary Schools badge, which will be on display in their buildings, along with their "Best of the Best" banners. The 2025 public elementary rankings were released in November. The schools earned the U.S. News and World Report badge for being among the top 40 percent of all elementary schools in Missouri.

Waynesville 3rd-5th graders in STEM/PLTW investigated the structures and functions of the human body and then shared what they learned with Waynesville Middle School students as one of their final projects of the first semester. The students are in the Science Technology Engineering Math/Project Lead the Way Launch and Gateway Medical Detectives programs. The students explored and investigated the structures and functions of the human body. The multiage teams of students also dissected and analyzed sheep hearts and brains. Finally, the learning module ended in December with 3rd-5th graders in the STEM/Launch program hosting a Health Care & Human Body Symposium in the WMS lower commons. During this time, STEM/Launch students shared and displayed their knowledge, prototypes and learning experiences with WMS students. WMS students not only served as guests, but also as peer evaluators of the presentations. #wayschools

There will be no school in the Waynesville R-VI School District on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Waynesville R-VI Superintendent Hilary Bales praised Waynesville Career Center staff members for their successful, engaging and innovative AMI lessons during their Super Session on Jan. 15, 2025. After Bales provided an update on ongoing district initiatives, Dr. Jamie Goforth, assistant superintendent of personnel services, led staff in a communication activity.

Enrollment has opened for the 2025 Tiger Preschool, a temporary preschool that is staffed by Waynesville High School juniors and seniors who are enrolled in the Child Development 2 class. Tiger Preschool is scheduled to begin Feb. 26, 2025, and the Meet the Teacher for Tiger Preschool is scheduled for Feb. 25, 2025. Dates are subject to change, due to inclement weather days. To qualify for enrollment, a child must be between the ages of 3-5, be potty-trained and not already in kindergarten. The enrollment form is at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUXt1Umz2Vc_dFu0Ttj_KgOLzpuNcyeYpc_Wh09lIhjuDqaw/viewform. For more information, contact Chrystal Bohrer via email at cbohrer@waynesville.k12.mo.us or check out the Tiger Preschool webpage at https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/o/whs/page/tiger-preschool.

Waynesville Middle School students participated in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, led by the Waynesville AmeriCorps Program. AmeriCorps members facilitated the activities as a part of national service to help improve communities. WMS students participated in service learning and volunteer projects, such as making dog toys for the Waynesville Animal Shelter, making cards for veterans and first responders, bookmarks for libraries, creating kindness rocks with positive messages to be shared throughout the community, and making bird feeders to give to nursing homes and homemade laundry detergent to distribute laundromats and shelters. #WaySchools #ServMO #MLKDay #AmeriCorpsinMissouri #CallToAction

Stuffed animals received “healthcare checkups” on Jan. 16, 2025, at Parker Educational Center and Williams Early Childhood Center with health science students from the Waynesville Career Center conducting the “checkups.” The collaboration between the health science students and preschool programs allowed the high school seniors to gain practice and interaction with pediatric patients, while preschool students learned that pet ownership includes regular medical checkups. The WCC's health science course is a 1-year program offered to high school seniors that provides students with skills related to the healthcare industry such as taking vital signs, body mechanics, medical terminology and other entry-level skills. Students receive CPR and first aid training. Qualifying students will also be given the opportunity to take the state Certified Nurse Assistant examination. More information about the program is available at https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/o/wcc/page/health-science-2024. #wayschools