WHS Wind Ensemble receives Exemplary rating
The Waynesville High School Wind Ensemble received Exemplary ratings (the highest rating possible) and positive remarks from all three judges at the Concert Band Classic held at Parkview High School in Springfield, Mo., on April 16, 2024. The band put on a superb performance, playing three selections, and afterward the judges used the remaining 20 minutes to come up on stage for a clinic with the band.
"All three judges said that our band has an extremely mature sound and they are excited to hear us in the future," said Jared Sabatasso, who directs the wind ensemble.
WHS Jazz Band receives Exemplary rating,
will perform tomorrow (April 23) at WHS
The Waynesville High School Jazz Band received an Exemplary rating at the Ava Golden Blues Jazz Festival at Ava, Mo., where 28 bands from around the state participated on Saturday April 6, 2024.
“We are thrilled to announce that the jazz band received an Exemplary rating from all three judges,” said Band Director Jared Sabatasso. “The students performed with precision and poured their hearts out on stage.”
Three WHS students – Seth Steuck-Alto Saxophone, Yediel Santana-Horta-Tenor Saxophone, and Nicholas McMurray- Trombone – also received an outstanding musicianship award, which are normally selected from students who perform solos during a performance.
“We are proud of all these musicians and their accomplishments,” Sabatasso said.
The jazz band is under the direction of Jared Sabatasso.
The jazz band will preform during the WHS band concert at 6 p.m. April 23, 2024, in WHS auditorium if you want a chance to come out and hear these fine musicians.
Waynesville JROTC Drill Team finishes 3rd in NATION
The Waynesville JROTC Drill Team finished 3rd overall in the nation at the U.S. Army Cadet Command Rocky Mountain Drill Nationals among a field of more than 50 teams on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Denver, Colo.
They were awarded the Norwich Cup for their 3rd Place Overall finish.
Their results also included the following:
Armed Division 3rd Place Overall
2nd Place Armed Exhibition
3rd Place Armed Regulation
6th Place Color Guard
Unarmed Division 4th Place Overall
1st Place Unarmed Regulation
9th Place Unarmed Exhibition
6th Place Color Guard
Individual, Dual & Quad
1st Place Unarmed Exhibition Quad (Jennifer Boyd, Kylee Gravette, Annalyse Rivera, Avery Higdon)
2nd Place Armed Exhibition Solo (Joseph Mendiola)
3rd Place Unarmed Exhibition Dual (Jennifer Boyd & Annalyse Rivera)
4th Place Armed Exhibition Solo (Lord Torres)
4th Place Armed Exhibition Quad (Chris Torres, Lord Torres, Joseph Mendiola & Aiden Rivera)
Joseph Mendiola 8th Place Individual Drill Down (IDD) out of more than 500 Cadets.
USO volunteers, staff from the USO Missouri and Culver's team leaders handed out Culver's custard sundaes to all Waynesville Middle School students and staff 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 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
The Waynesville R-VI Board of Education elected new officers on April 15, 2024, as follows: President Janel Rowell; Vice President Rick Harne, Secretary Andy Anderson and Treasurer Charles Quinn. Members also include Aaron Pondrom, Layne Lercher and Mike Keeling.
Cutlines:
Megan Ace swears in Mike Keeling and Janel Rowell following their election on April 2 to the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education. They will each serve a three-year term.
Superintendent Hilary Bales presents a House Resolution from State Rep. Bill Hardwick to outgoing Board President Paul D. Shultz II who did not seek reelection. Shultz served on the board for nine years, the last six as president.
Superintendent Hilary Bales recognized the outgoing officers for their service: President Paul Shultz II, Vice President Rick Harne, Secretary Janel Rowell as Board and Treasurer Andy Anderson. #wayschools
#wayschools
From our Athletic office:
JV/V baseball at Kickapoo will play as scheduled
V girls soccer will play as scheduled
JV girls soccer will only play one half
Golf practice has been cancelled
Middle School track at Camdenton has been postponed to April 30, 2024
Middle School track practice tonight, April 18, has been canceled
Middle School softball at Lebanon has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date
Middle School softball practice tonight, April 18, has been canceled
#wayschools
The public is invited to attend both of these events. #wayschools
USO volunteers, staff from the USO Missouri and Culver's team leaders handed out Culver's custard sundaes to all Waynesville Sixth Grade Center students and staff on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child.
Culver's leadership team members flew in from Wisconsin to help serve at the Waynesville Sixth Grade Center and East Elementary. They included Culver's President and CEO Rick Silva, COO Jim Esposito, and Abby Bucchholz, the social media and digital media marketer. In addition, the local St.Robert Culver’s Owner Shawn Morris helped serve, along with Zachary Henley, Paul Hammell and other team members. USO Executive Director Amanda Schmidt (Missouri and Kansas) and Center Operations Manager Kelly Brownfield (Fort Leonard Wood), USO staff members and USO volunteers also helped serve the custard.
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.
Superintendent Hilary Bales welcomed everyone and thanked them for preparing and serving thousands of sundaes and recognizing all Waynesville R-VI students during the Month of the Military Child. #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 12, 2024, as they delivered athletes to Waynesville High School’s Tiger Stadium.
WHS students lined the entrance and welcomed athletes to Special Olympics. WHS Student Government Association members also assisted the athletes and with the games. #wayschools
Lasada Pippen – a top-rated motivational speaker for students and educators – inspired middle and high school students with his message of “find your why and discover your how” on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Waynesville Middle School and Waynesville High School.
Known as “LP,” Pippen’s presentations on motivation and perseverance were the direct result of student input. Students specifically asked for an outside, nationally recognized speaker and selected Pippen because he is known for inspiring leaders, educators, professionals and students.
“This was an outstanding opportunity for our students,” said Courtney Long, director of student services. “LP shares stories that relate with students, which keeps them engaged. LP encourages students to set the bar higher and challenges students to prove that anything is possible with the right mindset. Many left with an understanding, or at least a better understanding, of their purpose.”
His presentation, “Greatness Has a Cost: Making Wise Decisions To Fuel Your Dreams” is designed to encourage individuals to find their why so that what they do becomes more powerful and their how becomes easier.
His website states, “Despite a challenging childhood marked by financial struggles, Pippen transformed from an underserved individual to a STEM graduate and engineering expert. LP, the first in his family to graduate college, forged a prosperous career as a computer engineer & cloud architect. But success didn’t satisfy LP’s ultimate passion. He shifted gears from thriving in the tech industry to pursuing his true calling – empowering others to unlock their potential and stay inspired for greatness.”
“For me personally, it’s much easier to wake up when you know why,” Pippen said. #wayschools
From our Athletic Office:
V/JV Baseball at Camdenton has been rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. on May 13, 2024. #wayschools
From more than 150 essays, five Waynesville High School juniors were selected as finalists in the Laclede Electric Youth Tour Essay Contest.
Four of those finalists -- Sofia Mejia, Belle Mitchell, Seth Steuck and Brayden Weigelt -- received their Youth Tour Finalist Award and presented their essays at Laclede Electric Cooperative in Lebanon on April 11, 2024, to see who would make the top four spots for the Youth Tour all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June.
After taking a multiple choice test on electricity and Laclede Electric Cooperative, and presenting their essays, Sofia Mejia and Brayden Weigelt were selected for the Washington, D.C. ,Youth Tour, along with Abbie Brake of Conway High School and Desiree Gonzalez Serrano of Lebanon High School. One WHS finalist, Marissa Magnia, was unable to attend due to illness, but she still qualified for the Jefferson City Cycle trip in July. #wayschools
WHS students will present the musical, “Newsies,” at 7 p.m. April 18, 19 and 20 and at 5 p.m. on April 21 in the WHS Auditorium. The cost is $7 general admission; $6 student & staff; $5 children 10 & under.
Waynesville Middle School Student Council completed the Polar Plunge in Columbia, Mo., raising $1,090 in support of Special Olympics athletes. #wayschools
Waynesville sixth graders are learning the concepts of energy transformation and energy conservation by making observations using everyday objects in their science labs. Team Spectacular students rotated among stations, making calculations and recording their observations. #wayschools
Madison Farley, a senior at Waynesville High School, received Honorable Mention in the Student Life Category in the Jostens North America Photo Contest 2024. Farley's photo will be featured in the 2025 Jostens Look Book. The Look Book is given to all schools who use Jostens to produce their publications. #wayschools
#wayschools
Mobil on the Run generously donated $500 to Waynesville High School on April 4, 2024. The Educational Alliance Program helps Mobil-branded retailers support neighborhood schools through the donation of $500 grants. The grants can be used for a wide range of programs based on the needs of the individual school, such as recreational equipment, chemistry labs and support for programs like accelerated math, family days, athletics and more. #wayschools
The Waynesville Career Center’s School of Practical Nursing will celebrate its 50th Anniversary from 4 to 7 p.m. April 18, 2024. All alumni, current and future students, past instructors, friends and their families are invited to attend.
Earlier this spring, we visited with Beth Goss, one of the graduates of the first class of 1974, to learn about her experiences. She is pictured in the center of the first row.
“My grandmother always knew that I would be a hair dresser or a nurse,” said Beth Goss. “I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse. I think you know that you want to be a nurse when you’re really young; it’s a calling.”
Once Goss was accepted into the WCC’s practical nursing program, her grandmother was determined that Goss would go.
“My grandmother was a hairdresser herself and raised me. She said that times were changing and that I needed to be able to support myself. She was really ahead of her time,” Goss said.
After passing the state licensure exam in 1974, Goss went to work at the Waynesville Hospital, where Perimeter Behavior Health is today. When word spread of the newly opened hospital at the Lake, she joined their team and retired in 2020 after 35 years with Lake Regional Health System.
“I am very grateful for what I was given at the program,” said. “My education has been very beneficial to me through the years.”
Goss remembers that the program wasn’t easy, but because of her strong foundation, she was able to pivot and adapt to the ever-changing role of LPNs in healthcare.
Her advice to this year’s class, “Always learn as much as you can. Improve yourself. Look forward and doors will open for you,” Goss said. “Don’t look for rewards for yourself. Let your reward be to help others.”
She also encourages LPNs to always keep learning to expand their own capabilities.
As the youngest to graduate in that first class, Goss is happy to hear of the 50th anniversary celebration.
“It’s a wonderful program and there will always be a tremendous need for nurses,” Goss said.
