Waynesville High School

There will be no school in the Waynesville R-VI School District on Friday, April 18, 2025. All offices will be closed on April 18 as well.

Next week's Waynesville Tiger Athletic Schedule

National Speaker David Gomez spoke with Waynesville High School students about how to protect themselves online, the dangers of vaping and how to ask for help. #wayschools

Gomez shares online dangers & tips for parents to help protect their children Officer David Gomez – a nationally renowned speaker – shared information about how easy it is for adult predators and/or people who want to cause harm to become “friends” with students on social media, citing incidents from his undercover experiences. He also spoke of the dangers of those “relationships” during his public presentation on April 14, 2025, at Waynesville High School. Gomez also shared startling details about the nicotine content and progression of the vape industry over the past decade. He shared that because of their candy-like flavorings, people are deceived about the harmful effects of vaping. “Even when students want to stop, they often need help because of the levels of nicotine they have been inhaling,” Gomez said. Also during his discussion about drugs, Gomez showed the slang words and emojis that drug dealers use to communicate both the kind and the quantity they have available frequently on social media. In addition to speaking with the public, Gomez spoke with middle and high school students earlier in the day about how to protect themselves online, the dangers of vaping and how to ask for help for themselves and for friends in need. Gomez promotes updates on new trends predators use on social media and drug trends on his own social media. His Facebook page is @deputygomez and both his Instagram and Youtube accounts are @officergomez. Videos of some of his previous presentations are available online. ______________________ What can parents do? During his presentation, Gomez recommended these best practices: 1) No wifi devices in bedrooms, including cell phones and Chromebooks. (He recommends buying your child a separate alarm clock.) 2) Cell phone checks (parents should check to see what’s on their child’s cell phone.) 3) No private messaging of random adults 4) Set a screen time and stick to it 5) Fewer than 200 friends on any given app

Michael Kelsey Jr., a senior at Waynesville High School, has signed to play football at Evangel University. His signing was held at WHS on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. #wayschools

NextHome Realty–Team Lisa Ellis donated multiple pairs of shoes to Waynesville High School through the Shoes from the Heart program. Pictured are Billi Barrett, college and career advisor and Cherie Gaono, counselor, along with Daniela Horstman and Manda McCombs from NextHome Realty–Team Lisa Ellis. #wayschools

Waynesville JROTC finishes 2nd in Nation The Waynesville High School Drill Team took 2nd overall in the nation at the Rocky Mountain National Invitational Drill Competition in Denver on Saturday, April 12, 2025. “Our cadets don’t just show up—they compete with purpose, precision, and pride,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Steven Tetreault, JROTC instructor. “We've built a reputation for excellence, and that’s something our entire community can be proud of." Waynesville’s JROTC has ranked in the top 3 in the nation during the past three years. "Over the last three years, this team has shown true perseverance—finishing 3rd, then 2nd, and now 2nd again at the Rocky Mountain Drill Nationals,” Tetreault said. “That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built on hours of practice, strong leadership and a deep commitment to each other and the standard we set. This team has made its mark, and the legacy they leave behind is something special." More than 50 teams from throughout the United States competed at the national competition. "Placing second at the Rocky Mountain Drill Nationals is a testament to the hard work and relentless drive of our entire team, but especially to the leadership of our eight seniors,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Steven Tetreault, JROTC instructor. “They’ve set the standard, led by example, and built a legacy that will inspire future cadets for years to come. This achievement belongs to every one of them." The results at Nationals are as follows: - 2nd Place Overall. - 1st Place Unarmed Regulation. - 1st Place Unarmed Quad Exhibition (Annalyse Rivera, Tiare Fau, Teyla Byrom, Addison Smith). - 1st Place Individual Drill Down (Peyton Stuart). - 2nd Place Armed Exhibition Solo (Lord Torres). - 3rd Place Armed Division Overall. - 3rd Place Armed Quad Exhibition (Aubrey Ellison, AustinBailly, Aiden Rivera, Trevor Skyles. - 3rd Place Unarmed Dual Exhibition (Peyton Stuart, Addison Smith). - 4th Place Unarmed Overall Division Overall. - 4th Place Armed Exhibition Dual (Aubrey Ellison, Max Jorgensen). “We are extremely proud of this team, our cadets, and this program,” said Col. (Ret.) Charles Williams. “We thank the class of 2025 for their leadership. We will miss them.”

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.

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.

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.

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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.

Next week's Tiger Athletic Schedule April 14-20