Thank you to all of our volunteers. Waynesville R-VI's volunteers were recognized for their dedication and support in every area from classroom assistance to extracurricular activities during the Annual Volunteer Banquet on April 8, 2025, at the Waynesville Career Center. Waynesville Mayor Sean Wilson served as the keynote speaker.
Volunteers were recognized by their building leaders, along with the Partners in Education (military units who volunteer with our schools), WayConnect Mentors, Partners on Patrol, PTO volunteers, the Community Based Instruction classes, Snack in a Pack volunteers and donors, and other district volunteers. The President's Volunteer Service Awards were awarded for those with more than 100 volunteers, including AmeriCorps members. (AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.)
The Partners in Education (PIE Partners) that were recognized, included the following:
DENTAC & MEDDAC & GLWACH, WECC
31st Engineer Battalion, East Elementary
84th Chemical Battalion, Freedom Elementary
2-10 Infantry Battalion, Partridge Elementary
1-48th Infantry Battalion, Thayer Elementary
35th Engineer Battalion, Thayer Elementary
Air Force 368th Training Squadron, Wood Elementary
795th Military Police Battalion, WSGC
701st Military Police Battalion, WMS, Parker Education Center
US Navy Detachment; Alternative Education Program
787th Military Police Battalion, WHS / WCC
Receiving special recognition were WayConnect Mentors, Snack In A Pack, Stephanie Peace’s Community Based Instruction (CBI) classes and Jade Jones and Jill Kelly.
Superintendent Hilary Bales presented the President’s Volunteer Service Awards as follows:
Bronze
100-249 Volunteer Hours
Ingrid Sundquist (101+ Volunteer Hours)
Kathy Mellecker (119+ Volunteer Hours)
Donna Brashear (120+ Volunteer Hours)
Memrie Schrump (221+ Volunteer Hours)
Whitney Worley (125+ Volunteer Hours)
Mary Hoare (129+ Volunteer Hours)
Sheree DeWitt (148+ Volunteer Hours)
Nina Bergmark (193+ Volunteer Hours)
Silver
250-499 Volunteer Hours
Pamela Tetreault (390+ Volunteer Hours)
Angela Brown (250+ Volunteer Hours)
Lastanton Neal (250+ Volunteer Hours)
Gold
500 or More Volunteer Hours
Jade Jones (2745+ Volunteer Hours)
Jill Kelly (2126+ Volunteer Hours
About the President’s Awards
In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.
Led by AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the value of volunteer time to be $28.54 per hour, and through their service, Americans invest billions in their local communities – to say nothing of the immeasurable impact volunteers have on others and the character of their communities.
Presidential recognition is a tremendous honor. Even though our volunteers do not seek recognition, their example can deliver a powerful message that encourages others to take action.
Waynesville High School’s FCCLA students made a big impression at the FCCLA State competition with six students receiving gold and nine receiving silver. Additionally, Nakhia Kirkman was inducted as Region 5 FCCLA historian and Faith Bohrer was installed as (what we believe to be) WHS’s first state officer of FCCLA -- vice president of public relations for FCCLA State. As a state officer, Bohrer will attend Nationals.
The FCCLA students who earned gold at the FCCLA State competition are as follows:
Gold
· Faith Bohrer
· Wyatt Carter
· Michael Soliz
· Mackenzie Workman
· Mackenzie Henderson
· Jolene Smith
The FCCLA students who earned silver at the FCCLA State competition are as follows:
Silver
· Abby Augenstein
· Ginger McElhaney
· Evelyn Kelley
· Xavey Hughes
· Zaylie Spicer
· Earning Bronze-
· Destiny Griffin
· Vaiden Matlock
· Kameron Wright
#wayschools
A parade of law enforcement, firefighter and emergency vehicles helped kick off the regional track and field event for Special Olympics on Friday, April 11, 2025, as they delivered athletes to Waynesville High School’s Tiger Stadium.
WHS students and staff lined the entrance and welcomed athletes to the Special Olympic track and field events. Waynesville R-VI Board of Education members and administrators also cheered on the athletes. WHS Student Government Association members assisted the athletes and with the games. #wayschools
Culver's custard sundaes arrived at Wood Elementary, courtesy of the USO and Culver's, on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child.
In addition to USO volunteers and staff, Brig. Gen. Bradley Leonard, Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Deputy Commanding General, helped welcome students to show his support for April being the Month of the Military Child.
In four days Kelly Brownfield of the USO, the USO volunteers and Culver’s of St. Robert served more than 6,800 sundaes.
Two deliveries of Culver’s custard sundaes arrived at Williams Early Childhood Center on Thursday, April 10, 2025 – one for the morning classes and one for the afternoon classes, which included sundaes for the staff as well. The USO volunteers and staff greeted the students with smiles as they handed out the sundaes.
Each year the USO Missouri partners with Culver’s to give away custard sundaes to all students and staff in Waynesville R-VI School schools in celebration of the Month of the Military Child. #wayschools
Sirens may be sounding in the morning as Special Olympians arrive at Tiger Stadium on the Waynesville High School campus on Friday, April 11, 2025.
Waynesville R-VI school bus drivers are needed.
No experience necessary. Training will be provided.
Bus drivers receive pay while they are being trained.
The Transportation Department application is at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4597/WRV/3945367/Transportation_Application.pdf
For more information, please call Transportation at 573-842-2199 or email atronstad@waynesville.k12.mo.us.
Waynesville Sixth Grade Center students and staff enjoyed custard sundaes in celebration of the Month of the Military Child, compliments of the USO and Culver’s of St. Robert. USO volunteers and Kelly Brownfield of the USO helped hand out the treats on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at WSGC.
Purple Up Day (a day to wear purple) for the Month of the Military Child will be April 15. #wayschools
USO volunteers and staff handed out custard sundaes to East Elementary students in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The sundaes are compliments of the USO and Culver’s of St. Robert. By the end of the second day, more than 3,600 sundaes had been served. #wayschools
The community is invited to attend the Community Salute to Service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Waynesville High School gym.
This event is free and open to the public.
The Community Salute to Service will recognize high school students from throughout South Central Missouri who are joining/attending any branch of the U.S. military, National Guard, Reserves, an ROTC program at a college/university and/or a military academy.
This event is open to high school students from throughout Missouri who meet the above criteria.
Those being recognized are asked to scan the QR code below or go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2AMKIf1LQ4BYGglWIBOFniMxznYc91zNaEm-HVHK1GBHCQw/viewform?usp=sharing, fill out the brief form and then arrive at 5:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall on April 30.
Health Science students at the Waynesville Career Center must complete 30 sticks toward their phlebotomy certification. To show their support of the hands-on learning, Waynesville R-VI nurses, WCC staff, administrators, family and friends have volunteered to have students draw their blood in April 2025.
Students must complete 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary blood draws to be eligible for their Phlebotomy Technician certification exam. The certification process for their Certified Nursing Assistant requires completion of 100 on the job training hours in clinical settings in our community.
Health Science is a 1-year program that allows high school seniors to investigate and observe a variety of healthcare occupations. The course provides students with skills related to the healthcare industry such as taking vital signs, drawing blood, body mechanics, medical terminology, and other entry-level skills. In addition to receiving CPR and First Aid training, qualifying students will also be given the opportunity to take the state Certified Nurse Assistant examination. #wayschools
The preschool students and staff members at Parker Educational Center received custard sundaes, courtesy of the USO and Culvers, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child. USO volunteers, staff, and Culver’s of St. Robert make this event possible every year.
To show support for military children, please wear purple on April 15 for Purple Up Day. #wayschools
Emily Babcock, a sophomore at Waynesville High School, has been named the WHS Rotary Student of the Month for April 2025. She was recognized at the Rotary Club of Pulaski County meeting on April 8, 2025. Her parents are Vanessa and Robert Velasquez.
Babcock was chosen to represent the words personal courage and accountability. Her nominator stated, “Emily is definitely a student who displays accountability. She is always on time, retains a positive attitude and is a stellar student. In fact, she always has her assignments completed well in advance of their due dates. Emily is someone who always does the right thing even when no one is looking. Emily is going to do great things!'
Babcock is an outstanding student that carries a 3.88 grade point average, ranking in the top 11% of her class, and has a 98.52% attendance rate. She is on the wrestling team and a member of the Powerlifting Club. She was 1 of 3 students chosen to be a part of the Youth Leadership Forum on Fort Leonard Wood and is a member of our Comprehensive School Improvement Plan committee. Upon graduation, Babcock plans to work in the medical field. #wayschools
Officer David Gomez – a nationally renowned speaker – wants the community to know how to protect children from becoming victims online.
Gomez will speak at 6 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2025, in the Waynesville High School Auditorium.
This event is free of charge, open to the public and is being sponsored by:
· Pulaski County Opioid Committee
· City of Waynesville
· Four Rivers Community Health Center
· Waynesville RV-I Foundation
Gomez will share what he has learned as a law enforcement officer who has operated multiple undercover social media accounts to arrest predators and track down missing children. He will also speak about the dangers of social media, normalization of drugs in social media, and the influence of drugs and alcohol on the youth population.
You can find Gomez educating others on YouTube, giving a Ted Talk, positively influencing youth in his hometown, and traveling the country helping youth (and parents) make better choices about digital devices and drugs and alcohol.
USO volunteers, Kelly Brownfield of the USO, and St. Robert Culver’s Owner Shawn Morris helped serve custard sundaes at the Waynesville Career Center on Monday, April 7, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child.
Each year the USO Missouri partners with Culver’s to give away custard sundaes to students and staff in Waynesville R-VI School schools in celebration of the Month of the Military Child. About 60 to 70 percent of all Waynesville R-VI students are military impacted.
Students at Thayer Elementary received a special treat – custard sundaes courtesy of the USO and Culvers, on Monday, April 7, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child.
In addition to USO volunteers and staff, Brig. Gen. Bradley Leonard, Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Deputy Commanding General, helped welcome students to show his support for April being the Month of the Military Child.
In just the first day of their deliveries to Waynesville R-VI students and staff, Kelly Brownfield of the USO, the USO volunteers and Culver’s of St. Robert served more than 2,000 sundaes.
Waynesville High School students and staff received Culver’s custard sundaes, courtesy of the USO and Culvers, on Monday, April 7, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child.
In addition, Major General Christopher G. Beck, Commanding General of the Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Arzabala, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Command Sergeant Major, and Superintendent Hilary Bales helped welcome students to the cafeteria and show support for April being the Month of the Military Child.
St. Robert Culver’s Owner Shawn Morris helped serve the sundaes, as well Area Operations Manager Megan Kidd (of the USO of Kansas and Missouri) and Center Operations Manager Kelly Brownfield (Fort Leonard Wood USO), USO staff members and USO volunteers.
Each year the USO Missouri partners with Culver’s to give away custard sundaes to all students and staff in Waynesville R-VI School schools in celebration of the Month of the Military Child. About 60 to 70 percent of all Waynesville R-VI students are military impacted.
#WaySchools #USO #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild #PurpleUp
From our Athletics Office:
Several athletic events/contests for Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, are cancelled. This includes the following:
- Lebanon Track & Field Cancelled 4/4
- Girls Soccer at Parkview SW Shootout Cancelled 4/4-4/5
- W.I.N. (6th-8th grade) Flag Football Cancelled 5/5
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Additionally, activity buses will not run tonight, 4/4.
There will be no Middle School Practices, 4/4.
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Only WHS baseball will practice at the high school until 4:45 p.m. 4/4
Two Waynesville High School senior athletes have officially committed to competing in Track and Field at the collegiate level. Lenayah Thomas has signed with Kentucky State University, while Madison Roberts will join Quincy University. The signing ceremony took place at Waynesville High School on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. #wayschools
Chris Gamello visited Waynesville Middle School during Tiger Time to talk with students about having a career in public broadcasting on April 1, 2025.
In addition to sharing his educational journey, Gamello encouraged students to work on their word pronunciation now since it can help them in a future career and in public speaking.
This is what students said about his presentation:
“His profession does interest me since he got to watch many different types of sports”.(Rayven)
“He talked about why he does the things that he loves. It’s important to do what you like so you can enjoy life more. His career would interest me because I like to talk”. (Brianna S.). #wayschools
