Wood Elementary

Last day of school is today The last day of school for the 2024-25 school year for students in grades K-11 is today, Friday, May 23, 2025. Students will dismiss early on May 23 as follows: - Noon Grades 6-12 dismiss - 12:45 p.m. Parker dismisses - 1 p.m. Grades K-5 dismiss There are no afternoon sessions at Williams ______________________ All schools and buildings will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2025, in observance of Memorial Day. ______________________ Summer School is May 29 - June 26. There will be no school on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. ______________________ The first day of school for the 2025-26 school year is Aug. 18. The 2025-26 school year calendar is at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4597/WRV/5126636/25-26_School_Year_Calendar.pdf #WaySchools

REGISTER to pick up FREE MEALS for children ages birth to 18 Registration will close at 2:30 p.m. today to register for meals for pick up on May 30. OPAA! and Waynesville R-VI Schools are partnering to provide free meals through a drive-through service on four Fridays (May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20) at Freedom Elementary. All children in the community ages birth to 18 are eligible to receive the meals at Freedom; however, they must register in advance at https://forms.gle/V4jtfwCx1CHEvDoKA. The meals will be available through a drive-through service at Freedom between 12 and 1 p.m. on May 30 June 6 June 13 June 20 ____________________________________________ Details · The meals will be available on the following Fridays: May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20. Please indicate on the form which Fridays you will be available to pick up the meals. · All families will pick up their meals at Freedom Elementary between noon and 1 p.m. · Each bag will contain two breakfasts and two lunches for each child who has registered through the brief Google form at link above. ____________________________________________ Frequently asked questions 1. Are there income guidelines for this program? a. No. All children ages birth to 18 are eligible. 2. Does my child have to be enrolled in summer school to be eligible for this program? a. No. This program is open to the community. 3. Do I have to fill out the form each week? a. No. Please indicate on the form which Fridays you will be picking up the meals. 4. How is this program being funded and why is it being offered? a. The Federal Government is funding this program and OPAA! volunteered to participate so that families in our community could receive the meals. Children are most hungry during the summer months when regular school is not in session and OPAA! is partnering with Waynesville R-VI schools to help ensure that children have food on the weekends during summer school. #WaySchools #OPAA

The Red Cross partnered with the Waynesville R-VI School District to provide emergency preparedness in a fun and educational way to 1st graders in May 2025. Each 1st grader received a “Prepare with Pedro” story book, which has a safety checklist that families can use to learn and repeat safety preparedness actions together. #wayschools

From our Athletics Office: Elementary Volleyball Camp June 9-11 Volleyball camp will be offered for students who are currently in 1st through 6th grades (going into 2nd-7th grades this fall) on June 9-11 at the Waynesville Middle School Gym. Camp will begin at 2:30pm and end at 4:15 p.m. The cost is $30 per camper. Campers must BOTH register and pay at the links below: Register at https://forms.gle/tkALyajvu6DLxPGq7 Payment should be made at My School Bucks https://www.msbtickets.com/Athletics/schoolevents Our camp will be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and will consist of individual & direct instruction. Transportation will be arranged for students attending summer school. Parents/guardians will need to pick up their camper(s) at the main entrance of the Waynesville Middle School Gymnasium by 4:20 pm. Any questions please contact abarkley@waynesville.k12.mo.us or Athletic Director Cory Ace - cace@waynesville.k12.mo.us

Unauthorized individuals asking for donations and/or advertising We wanted to make you aware of reports we received of children asking for donations through cash apps, GoFundMe or cash donations that are claiming to benefit Waynesville R-VI Schools or students. In addition, we have received reports of individuals offering alleged advertising opportunities involving the district. Following a Tik Tok trend, children have allegedly been going door-to-door in neighborhoods asking for funds for sporting equipment or other items to benefit Waynesville High School teams. The scam works by directing donors to give cash only or to go to external platforms, such as cash apps and GoFundMe to make a donation. This is not an authorized fundraiser for Waynesville High School or any other Waynesville R-VI building or program. In another case, local businesses have allegedly been invited to advertise on weekly progress reports for students. Waynesville R-VI progress reports do not include advertising. If you are questioning whether a fundraiser is legitimate or not, please contact Communications and Marketing at 573-842-2040 or email PR@waynesville.k12.mo.us. #WaySchools

The Waynesville R-VI School District is now hiring teachers. For more information, scan the QR code or check out the openings at https://www.applitrack.com/waynesville/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1 or call 573-842-2094. #WaySchools

Students recognized for having artwork on display at Missouri Capitol Waynesville R-VI students were recognized for having their artwork chosen to be on display at the Missouri Capitol during Youth Art during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on May 19, 2025. In addition, Emma Trevino, a student at Wood Elementary, was recognized for having received the Governor's Mansion Award by First Lady Claudia Kehoe. The students were recognized by Mike Henson, executive director of elementary instruction, and Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, as follows: _________________________ Waynesville High School: • Riley Swanson • Sloan Storie • Brianna Brown-Myrick • Tisari Brown • Alyssa Strom • Mycha Humphrey • Josephine Andreasen • Rayne Kling • Lucas Cloutier • Aayden Mantle • Sofia Campbell • Miley Heimbach _________________________ East Elementary: • Briella Gould • Annika Kalaquin • Maddison McDermott • Charlotte Lynch _________________________ Freedom Elementary: • Lena Thompson • Adelyn Mendieta • Easton Gilmore • Ariel Middleton • Aubriella Rice • Katelyn Bogue • Nadia Timmons _________________________ Thayer Elementary: • Charolette Shoemake • Regan Batey • Carley Decker • Chloe Oyler _________________________ Wood Elementary: • Alyce Rhea • Caleb Polk • Sania Sinclair • Emma Trevino #WaySchools

The last day of school for the 2024-25 school year for students in grades K-11 will be Friday, May 23, 2025. Students will dismiss early on May 23 as follows: Noon Grades 6-12 dismiss 12:45 p.m. Parker dismisses 1 p.m. Grades K-5 dismiss No afternoon sessions at Williams

REGISTER to pick up FREE MEALS for children ages birth to 18 OPAA! and Waynesville R-VI Schools are partnering to provide free meals through a drive-through service on four Fridays (May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20) at Freedom Elementary. All children in the community ages birth to 18 are eligible to receive the meals at Freedom; however, they must register in advance at https://forms.gle/V4jtfwCx1CHEvDoKA. The meals will be available through a drive-through service at Freedom between 12 and 1 p.m. on May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20—every Friday during summer school. ____________________________________________ Details · The meals will be available on the following Fridays: May 30, June 6, June 13, and June 20. Please indicate on the form which Fridays you will be available to pick up the meals. · All families will pick up their meals at Freedom Elementary between noon and 1 p.m. · Each bag will contain two breakfasts and two lunches for each child who has registered through the brief Google form at link above. ____________________________________________ Frequently asked questions 1. Are there income guidelines for this program? a. No. All children ages birth to 18 are eligible. 2. Does my child have to be enrolled in summer school to be eligible for this program? a. No. This program is open to the community. 3. Do I have to fill out the form each week? a. No. Please indicate on the form which Fridays you will be picking up the meals. 4. How is this program being funded and why is it being offered? a. The Federal Government is funding this program and OPAA! volunteered to participate so that families in our community could receive the meals. Children are most hungry during the summer months when regular school is not in session and OPAA! is partnering with Waynesville R-VI schools to help ensure that children have food on the weekends during summer school. ____________________________________________ If the link above does not work, please copy and paste the following into your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1JNhYxU4yq7a3otBubOx1XHqDJtf6xc94e--XrISUVOcjLw/viewform?usp=header #WaysSchools #OPAA!

The Waynesville R-VI School District hosted its annual Elementary Track Meet on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Tiger Stadium on the Waynesville High School campus. Students in 4th and 5th grades from East, Freedom, Partridge, Thayer and Wood competed in multiple track and field events. The winners are as follows: 4th Girls 4 x 200 relay East Blue 4 x 100 relay Partridge 400 m Run Anais Williams Thayer 200 m Dash Makayla Nailor East Blue 100 m Dash Remme Holden Thayer 55 m Dash Remme Holden Thayer Shot Put Manula Saia East Blue Triple Jump Avery Fransico East Blue Long Jump Kimore Long East Blue 4th Boys 4 x 200 relay Partridge 4 x 100 relay Partridge 400 m Run Eric Njugna East Blue 200 m Dash Tyler Henry Freedom Grey 100 m Dash Leo Mariscal Partridge 55 m Dash Kayden Butler Freedom Grey Shot Put Chris Vaughn East Blue Triple Jump Weston Hoard East Blue Long Jump Jaxson Gall Partridge 5th Girls 4 x 200 relay East Blue 4 x 100 relay Partridge 400 m Run Aubrey Ross Freedom Grey 200 m Dash Jessicah Njuguna East Green 100 m Dash Jessicah Njuguna East Green 55 m Dash Sonice Darby Freedom Grey Shot Put Jessicah Njuguna East Green Triple Jump Parker Chandler Partridge Long Jump Olivia-Kate Simon East Blue 5th Boys 4 x 200 relay East Blue 4 x 100 relay Partridge 400 m Run Owen Weigelt Freedom Grey 200 m Dash Owen Weigelt Freedom Grey 100 m Dash Zamir Chestnut Partridge 55 m Dash Harrison Silengo Thayer Shot Put Julzius Holden-Pierson Thayer Triple Jump Grayson Trautmann Partridge Long Jump Eli Valaqu Partridge

We’ve received so many messages for Teacher Appreciation Week that we are continuing to showcase them this week as well. Thank you to everyone for your submissions. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Mrs. Rice is a wonderful teacher and loves all her students. She goes over and beyond to make sure that every child has a chance at learning. She has been so patient and kind with my son. Even though it's her first year teaching kindergarten, she's rocking it! Ms. Powell -- Ensuring my child is meeting their goals, working hard to show progress in every child. Mrs. Nelson has been absolutely wonderful! My son has made a big change and impact this school year because she is patient with him and teaches him so much! We were so blessed to have her as his teacher! Dr. T. Smith has been amazing. My daughter had some struggles last year at her old school before we moved and started to dislike school. Once we moved here and she got put into Dr. Smith’s class, she started enjoying school and her work improved so much! Mrs. Rice is an amazing teacher. Our daughter loves coming to school every day. Thank you so much for the homework that really helps our daughter to develop good reading and writing skills. She always says, “Mrs. Rice is the best teacher in the whole world.“ Mrs. Beal and Mrs. Kaylee have both been amazing with my son; he has grown and learned so much this year. They have been so understanding and patient with my wild boy. Their positive attitude and understanding has really helped my son. I'm forever grateful. Mrs. Myers has been amazing. Her kindness and dedication to her class have made such an impact on my little girl. She communicates with me and at the end of each week I see pictures of all the things they did that week. It helps me see a day in my daughter’s life. The dedication, patience and understanding Mrs. Steward and Mrs. Kathy Jo have is amazing. Mrs. Steward sends pictures of fun activities they do. She has amazing communication when it comes to concerns I may have or any questions. She truly loves the kids like they were her own. My daughter and son ride their bus for the AM class at Williams. The bus driver and the helpers are absolutely amazing as my girl has struggled tremendously with bus rides. They have been patient, kind and understanding of her struggles. I will be forever grateful for their kindness. In my daughter’s words, “Mrs. Lindenmayer is the best teacher ever. I hope I have her next year.” She has made a huge impact; my daughter trusts her to confide in her. She even checked on me occasionally knowing I was pregnant, now that's a teacher who truly listens to her students. Mrs. Parrish has great communication skills and has truly helped my daughter grow this year. I am forever grateful Thank you. Ms. Stockfisch often sends gentle reminders over the weekend for any activities coming up that WE need reminded of. Over the snow days this year, she sent out a daily incentive/challenge activity for students to participate in and share with her. I can tell she loves teaching. Our son, Thomas, loves Mrs. Rigsby's class so much! He looks forward to school and is sad that preschool is about to come to an end, which means he will no longer be in their class. He asks how come school isn't opened on the weekends because he wants to be at school every day. Mrs. Schaub is kind and supportive to my daughter. She encourages her to do her very best in everything. She has taught my daughter so much. I am thankful my daughter had such a great teacher for her first school year! Our family moved to the area in March, and we were nervous about transitioning our kids to a new school. Wow, what a warm welcome at Thayer Elementary! Our children are thriving. We deeply appreciate the ease with which we've been able to communicate with our children's teachers about their progress. Mrs. Diedrich is very kind and professional. I have seen great academic improvements with my son. She doesn’t give up on her work no matter how difficult it may get and she doesn't allow the children in her class to give in and give up when they face challenges. Alissa Rigsby, I want to thank you for the incredible impact you’ve had on our son this year. We’ve seen such growth in his confidence and love for learning, and it’s clear your encouragement and teaching have made all the difference. Before the start of school, our daughter was very nervous and shy when it came to interacting with anyone outside of her immediate family, but with Mrs. Rigsby’s gentle encouragement and understanding, we’ve seen her come out of her shell and be more confident. Mr. Rodden is a no-nonsense, straight to the point teacher that holds high standards and accountability in his students. This is exactly the teacher that my son needed! He fostered critical thinking and self-awareness in projects that allowed them to learn through the process to success. #wayschools

From our Athletic Office; Elementary Soccer Camp May 27-29 Soccer camp will be offered for students between the age of 8 yrs-12 yrs old May 27-29. Camp will begin at 6:00 PM and end at 8:00 PM. The cost is $30 per camper. Registration Link (You must be registered to participate. Payment alone does not secure participation in the camp): https://forms.gle/w9nBtAVUqH5F8jjo9 Registration will close May 21st, 2025 at 3:30 PM Payment should be made at My School Bucks https://www.msbtickets.com/Athletics/schoolevents Our Camp will be Tuesday through Thursday and will consist of individual & direct instruction. Parents/guardians will need to drop off their camper(s) at the grass soccer field (Anderson Field) by 5:50 pm and pick their camper up no later than 8:00 pm Camp will be led by both boys and girls Waynesville coaches and players. Any questions please contact Eric Thornburg ethornburg@waynesville.k12.mo.us , Josh Mize jmize@waynesville.k12.mo.us, or Athletic Director Cory Ace - cace@waynesville.k12.mo.us

For Friday of this Teacher Appreciation Week, we are showcasing some more of the many messages we’ve received. Thank you to everyone for your submissions. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) My child has grown dramatically while being under Mrs. Schaub this school year. She is nurturing and encouraging of her students. 10/10 would recommend!! We love Mrs. Schaub!! Dear Ms. Chavez, Thank you for making such a meaningful difference in my child’s life. Your care, patience, and encouragement have helped him grow in ways I never imagined. We’re so grateful for all that you do, and we appreciate you. Mr. Sanford created a warm & welcoming atmosphere for my daughter when she transferred to Freedom. His kindness ensured she felt valued and supported. As an exceptional teacher, he inspires his students to embrace their potential and strive for greatness. Mrs. Reith is very kind and sweet. And if my daughter has trouble, she's patient with her to help her understand – even if it takes a whole class period to help! And if a student has an issue with anything, she listens with care. Ms. Cartagena makes work and learning less stressful for my child. Thank you, Ms. Cartagena! She (Tara Lindenmayer) is very dedicated to her job as a teacher. She always makes sure kids understand and always gives her students a very entertaining way to make them do good in the class. Coach Boeh has not only been an exceptional golf coach, but also a dedicated mentor who goes above and beyond to support our son in the classroom, on the course and in life. Thanks to his support, our son has not only become a better golfer, but also a more confident and well-prepared young adult, both academically and personally. Mr. Sanford has helped my child to grow in areas of school work that he needed worked on. He has helped him to love reading and become great at it. My daughter absolutely adores Ms. Cobb—so much so that she loves to play “teacher” at home and always pretends to be Ms. Cobb! It’s clear that Ms. Cobb has made a lasting impression, not just through her teaching, but through her kindness and care. Ms. B at Parker brings such joy and energy to the classroom! She greets her students with such excitement that my daughter can’t wait to see her each morning—she literally runs to her with a big smile. We’re so thankful for the way she makes every child feel special and excited to learn. He (Mr. Durrett) makes Social Studies fun. I never thought I would enjoy learning about history or even what it was. I find it so interesting in comparison to today. Ms. Tetreault’s ability to make learning fun has sparked my daughter’s interest in math this year. Her ability to make even the most challenging lessons into an exciting, interactive experience has helped boost my daughter’s confidence in the classroom. She shows that she truly cares. Because of Ms. Carr my daughter knows her letters, numbers and shapes. She can write them and she even writes her name. She is getting better and better every day. My daughter LOVES Ms. Carr! Because of Mrs. Powell, my daughter knows how to read so much better; she’s learning how to make sentences and is getting a little better at math. My daughter really looks up to her and loves her! She is an amazing teacher. Mr. Mezzacappa and Mr. Rodden are AMAZING teachers that go above and beyond for their students! Mrs. Shelton has made my daughter's move to Wood the best it could have possibly been. She made my daughter feel loved and welcomed. My daughter has grown so much in all academic areas and her independence. Mrs. Shelton is the kind of teacher that I look up to. Mr. Sanford has been an exemplary teacher and one of the most impactful ones my child has had. His patience and dedication far exceed the role of his classroom as he has been accommodating to concerns and supportive with action plans. Mrs. Sazonov is an incredible teacher. She teaches with passion, patience and her kind heart. Our child with special needs has learned and improved so much in her class. He loves going to school and giving his teacher a hug every morning. Dr. Olney is an exceptional teacher who has truly made a lasting impact on my child’s education and growth. She has an incredible ability to make learning fun and engaging, using creative activities that inspire curiosity and excitement in her students. She ensured everyone is successful. Mr. Thorpe has been a pivotal contributor to the confidence my child has built in their reading and writing skills this year. Thank you for highlighting the strengths of each and every one of your students to support their success this school year. Mr. JG (Johson Gonzalez) has been an absolute blessing for my child. Math has always been a subject of struggle and this year they have excelled due to the diligence of Mr. JG. He has worked hard to find ways for students to make sense of the content and to build student confidence in the subject matter.

For Thursday afternoon of this Teacher Appreciation Week, we are showcasing some more of the many messages we’ve received. Thank you to everyone for your submissions. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Ms. Dameron maintains a consistent communication pattern, ensuring timely responses to my inquiries via the application. My child’s overall experience at school is highly positive. Ms. Crabtree has been exceptional; her assistance and unwavering kindness have been instrumental. Throughout our interactions, she has consistently demonstrated a positive outlook and has gone above and beyond to provide support when necessary. Mrs. Pollman & Mrs. Wilking encourage students to do their absolute best and make healthy food choices. They both are amazing and my children are always saying how much their teachers encourage them and help them every day -- always making sure they’re learning and growing. She (Mrs. Volkmer) is very intelligent, positive and beautiful. My daughter loves talking to her because she gets positive energy. My son loves history and he has an amazing history teacher (Amy Smart). Mrs. Benson allows her students to experiment, be creative, and grow and explore. She is making a positive difference in each child’s life by giving practical, hands-on activities that reinforce the curriculum while making it fun for the students. Miss Debra is always friendly and welcoming when the children get on the bus in the mornings. She takes the time to wave at parents, and ensures that the children are safe and secure! Mrs. Taylor helps my children enjoy music by letting them experiment with different instruments and styles of music. She also goes above and beyond by making the concerts fun and interactive for the students. My kids love her! Miss Alyssa gives smiles and encouragement to all the children in the school, and listens to them and makes them feel important. Ms. Connolly reinforces the curriculum and teaches her students in a way that trains them for success. She jokes and laughs with them, and creates an environment of respect. Mr. John knows my children’s names, and laughs and jokes with them when they pass in the hallways. He is always a friendly face for them, and they get excited to see him. Ms. Friend is always welcoming and helpful, and is a cheerful and calm presence! She treats all students with kindness and respect. Ms. Dawn is the best lunch lady ever! She makes my child feel welcomed and special whenever they see her, and always has a smile on her face. Mrs. Beauchamp instills a love of reading in her students. She has taken the time to write out recommendations for titles she knew my children would enjoy when we needed a nudge to get them motivated to read, and she makes the library a cozy and welcoming environment. "I cannot thank Mrs. Parker and the WCC program enough for guiding my daughter through the career she’s choosing to pursue. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity she was given along with the time and money WCC has put into my child’s future. My daughter has never been one to love or have an interest in school, but Mrs. Parker has really made a huge impact on her these last two years. I appreciate the time she gives towards these kids and how she really makes it enjoyable. I appreciate her (Carisma Rush) for giving time one hour before school for tutoring and helping him improve. Ms. Warburton teaches my seven year old son, who says, "She's pretty nice;" high praise from him! My wife and I think she's doing a great job, our son has made a lot of progress this year, undoubtedly because of her teaching. Ms. Cole teaches our daughter and she likes going to school every day—an impressive feat for a 2nd grade teacher. Our daughter has developed by leaps and bounds this school year and Ms. Cole has been a big part of that. Mr. Kincaid makes leaning fun. Math is a harder subject for our student and he makes it easily understandable. With the challenges of military life and having to PCS in the middle of the school year, my daughter was overwhelmed at the thought of starting over in a new classroom. But from the moment she stepped into Mrs. Wilking’s class, she was welcomed with warmth and kindness.

For Teacher Appreciation Week, we invited families to share how their child’s teacher is making a positive impact—and the response was incredible! Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in kind words. Here are the ones for Wednesday afternoon. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Mrs. Rebecca Proctor is an amazingly dedicated, knowledgeable and patient English teacher. She has helped my son time and time again. She actively participates in my son’s IEP meetings and keeps me informed of his progress. I am so blessed that she’s my son’s English teacher. Mrs. Gard is an amazing teacher! We couldn't do it without her. She is smart, funny, kind, compassionate, giving and honestly cares about her students. She has a way of teaching that gets kids involved so they feel proud of themselves for learning. This year my son has more confidence knowing he can learn and if he doesn't get it right away, he knows he will. He has grown by leaps and bounds – above all in his reading. His teacher (Lamkins) has sparked a love for reading in him. We are incredibly grateful for Mrs. Loyd—an exceptional teacher and an even more extraordinary human being. Her kindness, support and genuine care have made a lasting impact on our entire family. Thank you for being a light during both joyful and difficult times. She (C. Selle) has been a viral role model for our child! So happy she will be his LEAP teacher in 7th grade! She (Mrs. Whitehead) listens to my son's needs. Mrs. Schaub, you have been such an incredible light in our child’s life. It’s clear to see how much he adores you—and it’s no wonder why. You’ve helped him feel seen, valued and inspired, and we are beyond thankful for the positive impact you’ve had on him. Band is my son’s favorite class. Mr. Inman is his band teacher. When he tells me about his day, he always says how much he enjoys band and what a great teacher Mr. Inman is. Thank you, Mr. Inman, for having such a positive effect on my son’s school day! Mrs. Outten’s kindness and patience have truly made a difference in our daughter’s life. Her unwavering positivity and nurturing approach have fostered a genuine love for learning. Her dedication to helping her reach her goals while keeping learning fun is nothing short of inspiring. She (Dailey) is an awesome teacher who has helped my granddaughter this year not only in the classroom, but also with confidence. She has helped her progress. Mrs. Chrisman has nurtured my son’s leadership skills and helped him discover his voice, while encouraging him to be kind, helpful and inclusive. Most importantly, she’s created a learning environment where he feels loved, supported, and valued. She (Justine Swan) is an awesome person. She has helped my grandson in so many ways. She really cares about the kids. Mrs. Laurie and Mr. Phinn have helped our son develop a true love of learning. They have helped him to have more confidence and have empowered him to continue to strive to do his best. He always looks forward to going to school because of these teachers. I just wanted to say thank you and that we appreciate Mrs. Mendez for always advocating for our children that have been academically challenged in reading. We are so grateful for Mrs. Mendez and her passion to always help each child and never leaving a child behind. Mrs. Lane has gone above and beyond to help her class this year. She has helped them through tough school work, as well as the hard lessons of growing up. She handles each child and each situation with poise and care. My child has had such a positive experience with Mrs. Mueller. She is so understanding and patient. I am so grateful every day for her. Mrs. Luketic always goes above and beyond to help our child be successful in anything he does! We are so thankful for her and her positive attitude. She has helped in so many ways! Mrs. H. Miller has promoted exceptional growth with my daughter’s reading skills and spelling. My daughter is always excited to come to school because Mrs. Miller creates a positive, fun and creative learning environment to help promote academic success with all her students. Mrs. Blankenship really strives to make a positive impact on every child in her class! Her love and compassion for teaching shows in every child! My child enjoys going to school every day! Mrs. Pat is absolutely lovely, very caring for kids and has helped my daughter overcome some emotional difficulties whenever she had a sad moment in school. My daughter adores her. She (Mrs. Rigsby) goes above and beyond for her students. My daughter loves her!

For Teacher Appreciation Week, we invited families to share how their child’s teacher is making a positive impact—and the response was incredible! Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in kind words. Here is our first set for Wednesday morning. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Coach Rowland makes PE fun for his students. My students enjoy learning new games and practicing for special events throughout the school year with Coach. Ms. J-G (Johnson-Gonzales) is an amazing music assistant program teacher! Her kindness & encouragement have helped my daughter find her voice & grow in confidence this year. Thank you for making music fun, meaningful, and something she looks forward to. Ms. Mason, you help Voices students find a way for their voice to shine brighter. Thank you for growing a love for music! Mrs. Underwood went out of her way to challenge my son and provide activities and resources, so now he is completing work three grades above his level. She is wonderful to work with as she took my concerns and quickly helped initiate services that were needed outside of the classroom. Ms. Tami and Ms. Sonja have been so amazing all year for our daughter. We have watched her absolutely blossom. Her confidence levels have soared. She jumps out of the car every morning without looking back. These two have helped prepare her to start kindergarten next year. Coach Wise is such a positive role model for the young men on his baseball team. He provides support and positive feedback, providing words of encouragement when the boys need it most. He often expresses to them that he believes in them both as individuals, as well as the team! My daughter loves having a teacher (Mr. Rideout) who is eager to learn and teach! She (Mrs. Stockfisch) is always showing how much she cares for the students. My son has felt seen, cared about, and loved by her. He’s had a wonderful year and I know she is a huge part of that. She’s also great with communication! I believe Mr. Hyatt has played a huge role in my son’s growth. He loves how Mr. Hyatt is always engaging with them including at recess. It’s great seeing a teacher with so much energy, and care for his students. She (Mrs. Hetzler) makes accommodations I would never dream of asking someone to make for him and that speaks volumes to how well she knows and loves him! His verbally expressed communication is limited but being able to ask if he wants to see her and having him pop up out of a morning funk is just about the highest form of flattery he can offer. Ms. Smith is very kind and compassionate. She works hard with Justin and he comes home talking about how much he loves her. East elementary has been such a wonderful school for us! On a field trip there are photos of (Ms. Sabine) just allowing my son to be completely himself and naturally curious about his surroundings. I really appreciate her leaving room for him to just be! Ms. Connely has truly stepped in as an extended mother figure—she is patient, holds my son accountable, and, most importantly, believes in him. As a single parent now, I take great comfort in knowing he is set up for success under her guidance. May God continue to bless you as you do what you do best. My son is always excited to go to school. Loves his teacher (Mrs. Wilking) and classmates. Mrs. Stockfisch provided consistent support and communication. The highlight for me this year was watching my son actively reading again to compete in the ReadBowl 2025. He met his goal and was recognized as one of the top 25 readers in his school. Thank you, Mrs. Podwoski, for not only advocating for all my babies since forever ago, but always keeping their best interest the main focus of all educational goals and always working with my babies as if they were your child. Grateful, thankful and extremely blessed to have had you as a part of our journey!! Mrs. Gage has been an incredible teacher. Whenever my child feels unsure or nervous, she responds with patience and kindness, never showing frustration. She’s always encouraging and truly puts in the effort to help every student understand. My daughter has improved in so many ways in both her reading and math. We are extremely satisfied with Mrs. Wells and the dedication she has to her students. She speaks very highly of Mrs. Wells and looks forward to going to school every day. I don’t interact with her often, but seeing her (Ms. Ash) and having her recognize whose mom I am was really special. I appreciate that she knows my kiddo well enough to recognize me too! Thank you all (Hedgehog Bus Route) for working hard to make sure my kiddo is content on the bus. He’s gone from rarely wanting to ride to being sad on days he isn’t on there!

Please note: This is NEXT YEAR'S calendar! The first day of school for the 2025-26 school year is Aug. 18. The 2025-26 School Year Calendar is at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4597/WRV/5126636/25-26_School_Year_Calendar.pdf

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, the VOICEs Honor Choir had the joy of singing for the Springfield Cardinals baseball game. The Waynesville R-VI VOICEs Honor Choir consists of students in grades 4-6 from Wood, Thayer, Partridge, Freedom, East, and the Sixth Grade Center. The students were led by Vanessa Mason and supported by Amanda Johnson-Gonzalez, Beth Gibson, Hannah Macarthy and Laura Taylor. VOICEs Honor Choir is directed by Vanessa Mason and Keisha Jarrett, and also supported by Terri Heiby.

For Teacher Appreciation Week, we invited families to share how their child’s teacher is making a positive impact—and the response was incredible! Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in kind words and stories. We’ll be sharing several of these messages each day this week. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) I can honestly say Mrs. Sinclair’s patience, kindness and love for teaching has changed both of children’s lives. I couldn't imagine anyone else getting my girls through kindergarten. She leaves a positive impact on the students and parents. She (Mrs. Butler) goes out of her way to make sure she truly understands a student and is able to find a way to help motivate them. She has had my son this year and last, and was his case manager last year. She has gotten through to him when others couldn’t. She’s truly amazing! Mrs. Montgomery excels in building relationships with her students. My student feels cared for and loves coming to school each day. Mrs. Montgomery also incorporates hands-on learning experiences and emphasizes the importance of reading each day. Ms. Morris is my daughter’s amazing 5th grade teacher! Her kindness, patience, and dedication have made a difference. Thank you for creating a space where she feels seen, supported and inspired to grow. I believe these gentlemen (Waynesville Middle School band instructors) are making positive impacts on everyone they teach. This is literally one of the best school bands I've ever heard. I've never been so impressed by a school band. My daughter is more excited about school and life in general because of this opportunity. Mrs. Lane is very involved with the parents and has great communication skills. I know my child is in good hands with her. She is also one to give praise to the children and the parents, which I appreciate because sometimes it’s nice to hear you’re doing great or that your child is doing great. I have two students at Thayer and they both have developed a love of art through Mrs. Erlewine's art classes. My students love to come home and share about their art projects and as a parent, I love being able to see what they are completing through the Artsonia app. My daughter’s specific words yesterday were, "I wish I can take Mrs. Fuentes to 5th grade with me!" Thanks for loving my daughter and making her actually want to be at school. You have such a nurturing and comforting impact on her life and she expresses it every day! Huge thanks to Jessie at the front desk—you’re the heartbeat of the school! Your welcoming smile, calm energy and willingness to help do not go unnoticed. Thank you for being the first friendly face we see and for holding it all together behind the scenes. My son has been having trouble listening and paying attention and these 2 (Henson and Johnson) have been amazing with him this year. He can't stop talking about how much he loves them. She (Mrs. Harne) is there for my son when he needs to be comforted and always gets him his snacks. She also loves my son's smile and hugs him whenever she can. Mrs. Beauchamp brings her love of reading to all the students at Thayer. She provides engaging lessons in the library and is very helpful in finding exactly the right book for her students. My students enjoy visiting her library weekly and bringing home books to share with us! I appreciate Mrs. Williams for all the realness she serves to these spunky 4th graders. She is a rockstar and I love the patience and humor with the kids. Mr. Thorpe engages with his students on such a personal level, that it drives them to do well in class. He meets them where they are as a person and connects with them, which makes my child WANT to be there. My son says he is fun in class and makes them laugh while teaching. Mrs. Diedrich is not just an educator; she is someone who cares about her student's growth and success. She is patient, kind and explains concepts that make an impact on them. She inspires them. She is very much appreciated each and every day. Thanks for the patience and kindness you (Mrs. Brand) have shown! Our daughter loves you very much we are so grateful for you! Mrs. P. (Pimentel) has been a vital asset to my daughter's success this school year. She has gone through rough times and Mrs. P. ALWAYS goes above and beyond to help ensure she is safe, heard and helped. She is one of our favorite people! Shoutout to our incredible LEAP teacher Ms. Morris—you make all the difference! Thank you for your dedication to your students where they are and helping them grow with confidence! Mrs. Taylor makes learning about music fun and exciting. She is always bringing in new music and techniques for her students to try. My students have really enjoyed practicing and performing their grade level concerts this year. As a parent, I have also enjoyed the variety and engagement of the after school music concerts.

For Teacher Appreciation Week, we invited families to share how their child’s teacher is making a positive impact—and the response was incredible! Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in kind words and stories. We’ll be sharing several of these messages each day this week. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Ms. Godwin has been amazing for my son! She knows how to keep him grounded and focused on working hard! Mrs. Thornburg has made a challenging year for our little learner a good one. We moved mid-year and relocated to MO from SC. The progress our little learner has made in math is amazing. Thank you so much! Mrs. Tillott is my son's favorite teacher this school year. She makes it a point to encourage him to apply himself to his fullest, and she recognizes his potential as a gifted writer and reader. She has made him want to strive for better this school year, and onward into high school! My child has not told me the art teacher's name but comes home excited about the class and projects every week. We are lovers of arts and crafts in our household and it has been refreshing to see the teacher helping our little learner to foster growth in her artistic skills. Mrs. Babb has helped my Kindergartner to meet her fullest potential this school year. She has grown her into a confident reader. She loves each of her students, and never fails to embrace their unique attributes. She (Ashlee Hetzler) goes above and beyond for her students, and she cares about each one personally. Mrs. Brand always has a positive attitude and is also very encouraging towards her students. She has offered tutoring to her students and my daughter has improved so much this year and loves going to school even more. I have never encountered a more dedicated educator and he (Mr. Phinn) is a blessing! My son struggles with math and writing and Mr. Phinn has helped him so much. He is a master of differentiation! He has helped my son grow socially/emotionally and has been a wonderful role model. Ms. Koch will never know how much of a difference she has made in my child's life. My daughter has been through a lot and it was hard to even get her to school until she started FFA. Ms. Koch has consistently believed in my daughter so much that now she has more confidence and enjoys going to school. Mrs. Harrison is an amazing SPED teacher; she works hard to help all her students be successful at school. She is patient, kind, and loving. My student knows her room is a safe place when they need a break from the regular classroom. Mrs. Harrison builds strong relationships with her students. Mrs. Curran and Mrs. Romero have gone above and beyond to build relationships with my child. He requires substantial support and they always meet his needs. Academically he has grown and prospered this year. In the past he has had several office referrals, but they have worked with him and taught him strategies to be successful. Mrs. Vogtman made every single day special for her class. My daughter was challenged and inspired by being in her class. Most weeks she was sad to see Friday come because that meant no school for two days. Mrs. Vogtman is everything I could want in a kindergarten teacher. These two (Ms. Carr and Ms. Stephanie) are rockstars in my child's eyes. As my child's first teachers, these two have made an enormous difference in her confidence, skills and knowledge. They not only teach but encourage, love and guide their little ones and set them up to succeed. Mrs. Groves has helped my daughter come out of her comfort zone. She has pushed her academically, but also in her confidence and curiosity. Her encouragement and understanding doesn't go unnoticed. She is very much appreciated by our family! Mrs. T. Smith has always been kind, thoughtful and respectful both with us as parents and with the children as well. She truly is making a difference in the children’s lives and teaching them to be good human beings. She even made it a point to get to know my son who is very shy. She (Sabine Reed) has made such an impact in my daughter's life in such a little amount time. She is so understanding of her needs. Ms. Cooper shows endless support and commitment towards child development and education. My child constantly expresses how amazing his teacher has been throughout the school year. Mrs. Lund works very hard to build relationships and teach her students. My student has grown so much in their reading, writing and math skills this school year. They can write complete sentences and form paragraphs, read with fluency, and completes addition and subtraction. Mrs. Lindenmayer has been amazing at communicating with home and helping to support our son in all of his needs. He always leaves school with something positive to share and is excited to learn. Mrs. Oxendine has supported our son with his reading and he enjoys seeing her each day! We are grateful for all that she does!