Waynesville R-VI School District

The Waynesville High School girls soccer team won 6-0 against Parkview on April 15, 2025, at Tiger Stadium. Prior to the game, the seniors -- Sofia Mejia, Kamden Raines, Karina Cruz, Nysa Alvarez, Jordyn Hanf, Mariah Palmer and Kyleigh Saalmann – were recognized. More photos from the game and senior recognition appear on the Waynesville High School Facebook page. #wayschools

The Waynesville Sixth Grade Center Hope Squad collected and donated more than 500 items to the Armed Services YMCA and then toured the facility. The Hope Squad partnered with the Armed Services YMCA Fort Wood Marketplace Food Pantry located at Fort Leonard Wood for its second semester service-learning project. “This was a great opportunity for our WSGC students to participate in such a worthy and meaningful cause,” said Theresa McNutt, one of the Hope Squad advisors. “Hope Squad members said they learned the importance of helping others who are in need and giving back to our community.” The food and household drive was a homeroom competition with the homeroom that collected the most items – Jonathan Durrett’s classroom – winning a movie and popcorn. Hope Squad members toured the food pantry and would like to thank everyone who donated items and those who made the trip possible. Hope Squad would also like to thank Shelley Emperato for allowing our students to visit the ASYMCA and providing them with the opportunity to learn more about the services and resources the ASYMCA offers. The Hope Squad advisors are McNutt, Kim Ramirez and Jody Taylor. #wayschools

Law enforcement officials were called to East Elementary at approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2025, to assist with adults in an individual family-related matter. Students were not impacted, they remained safe and continued to work in their classrooms as usual.

This month’s #TeacherProudTuesday shout-out goes to Angela Houf, a library media specialist at the Waynesville Sixth Grade Center. Her nominator wrote, “Mrs. Houf spends countless hours in and outside of school planning activities that are meaningful to her students. She collaborates with kids to develop ideas and ensure their voices are heard. Mrs. Houf does an excellent job building relationships with students quickly. She is so motivating to my child and is her safe place to go when she has a concern.” To nominate a Waynesville R-VI teacher for #TeacherProudTuesday, please complete the form at https://forms.gle/CGYYJiuAvyvSwQhs6. #WaySchools #TeacherProudTuesday

National Speaker David Gomez spoke with Waynesville Middle School students this morning about how to protect themselves online, the dangers of vaping and how to ask for help. He will be speaking to parents and the community at 6 p.m. tonight (April 14), about how to protect children from becoming victims online and provide info about the “normalization” of drug use on social media. This event is free and open to the public at Waynesville High School Auditorium. #wayschools

For the first time ever, Waynesville High School took two jazz bands to the Golden Blues Jazz Festival in Ava, Mo., and both WHS Jazz Bands received an Exemplary rating, which is the highest rating a group can receive. In addition, several musicians received an outstanding soloist award: · Seth Steuck-Tenor Saxophone · Dylan Liegey-Lead Trumpet/Flugelhorn · Kayden Wass-Trombone · Kevin Conner-Alto Saxophone · Zoey Heacock- Alto Saxophone “The jazz bands represented Waynesville School District and themselves to the highest standards,” said Director of Bands Jared Sabataso who also directs the jazz bands. “We are so proud of all the students and their accomplishments.” All three judges rated the groups and gave a 20-minute clinic after each performance.

To show support for military children, please wear purple on April 15 for Purple Up Day.

Monday night! 6 p.m. WHS Auditorium 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

WHS track and field athletes earn top finishes Waynesville High School track and field athletes are celebrating big wins—taking 1st place in the girls 4x100 relay on April 10 and the boys high jump on April 11, 2025. The girls 4x100 relay team—made up of senior Lenayah Thomas, junior Lexi Bigelow, senior Madison Roberts, and junior A’Nyyah Tollison—won their event at the Girls Nite Out Meet in Springfield, where 43 teams competed. “This is especially impressive given the number of teams and athletes at the meet,” said Head Coach Mike Rawlings. This same group placed 6th at State last year. “In 30 years of coaching, I can’t recall another time we’ve had a girls relay team that placed at State return with the exact same lineup,” Rawlings said. “These athletes keep getting better, and I’m excited to see how they progress.” In the boys high jump, junior Brandon Jackson was the only jumper to clear of 6’4” to take 1st place at the Hillcrest Jim Vaughan Invitational, outjumping 63 other competitors from 46 schools in Springfield, Mo., on April 11. “He won in a jump off,” Rawlings added. “We’ve seen him steadily improve, but pulling this off under pressure was a great achievement.” #wayschools #It'sAGreatDaytoBeATiger

TODAY! Waynesville High School will host a Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at WHS. Egg hunts begin at 10:40 a.m. on the throws field at Waynesville High School. as follows: 10:40 a.m. Age 3 and under / pre-kindergarten - kindergarten 11:00 a.m. 1st - 2nd grade 11:20 a.m. 3rd - 5th grade The throws field is located on the east side of the WHS campus, near Tiger Stadium and the tennis courts.

Compliments of the USO and Culver's, USO volunteers and staff handed out Culver's custard sundaes to Partridge Elementary students on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child. To show support for the military children, the community is invited to wear purple on Purple Up Day, which is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. #wayschools

Students at Freedom Elementary received custard sundaes courtesy of the USO and Culvers, on Wednesday, April 9, 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. #wayschools

Waynesville Middle School students celebrated April being the Month of the Military Child on April 9, 2025, with custard sundaes, courtesy of the USO and Culvers. USO volunteers and staff helped serve the students. 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. #wayschools

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.