The Waynesville High School boys tennis team hosted senior night on April 21, 2025. The following seniors were recognized: Ryu Melendez, Brode Evans, Elvin James Esguerra, Aiden Sherohman and Logan Giles.
The Waynesville Boys Tennis Invitational started at 8 this morning, April 25, 2025, at Waynesville High School. #wayschools
Danika Em, a senior at Waynesville High School, has signed to dance at St. Louis University. Her signing was held at WHS on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. #wayschools
Waynesville High School students have been rehearsing for their upcoming debut of the musical, “Margaret’s Mind,” which opens for the first time on a U.S. stage tomorrow (April 24, 2025) in Waynesville High School’s Auditorium.
The musical “Margaret’s Mind” includes not only WHS Theatre students and Troupe 1669 performers, but also students in choir, band, art, construction technology, JROTC and others.
The musical will be performed at 7 p.m. April 24, 25 and 26 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, in the WHS Auditorium. The ticket price is $7 per person.
Waynesville High School has announced its WHS 2025 Prom Court. This year’s Prom theme is an Evening of Enchantment and the event will be held Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Nutter Fieldhouse on Fort Leonard Wood. Pictured are court members Paityn Oxendine, Sofia Mejia, Chloe Santos and Amaya Colquitt and in the back, Gavin Quitugua, Brayden Weigelt, Kyle Wilking and Seth Steuk. #wayschools
Superintendent Hilary Bales recognized Waynesville High School students for volunteering to be Special Olympics Unified Partners (Tiger Buddies) and assisting with Special Olympics athletes and the competition during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 21, 2025. Bales also recognized their sponsors Stephanie Peace and Karen Wilkerson with certificates.
The following WHS students received certificates:
· Danely Aguilar
· Faith Bohrer
· Sophia Freemeier
· Kaliopee Hibler
· Jay'Merie Howard
· Xavye Hughes
· Michael Kelsey Jr.
· Laila Lyons
· Arianna Newkirk
· Richard Peace
· Yisel Perez
· Kalee Rhoades
· Pyper Rose
· Anthony Scott
· Aylen Stark
· Mackenzie Workman
· Katlyn Zamiska
Three Waynesville High School students were recognized for medaling at the State Wrestling Class 2 Championships. Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, recognized the following All State Wrestlers during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 21, 2025:
· Dakota Nix 5th Place
· Addison Brown 6th Place
· Yisel Perez 3rd Place
Waynesville High School FCCLA students were recognized for their Gold, Silver and Bronze finishes at the Missouri Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America competition during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 21, 2025. Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, recognized the following students for placing at the FCCLA State Competition:
Gold:
· Faith Bohrer
· Wyatt Carter
· Michael Soliz
· Mackenzie Workman
· Mackenzie Henderson
· Jolene Smith
Silver:
· Abby Augenstein
· Ginger McElhaney
· Evelyn Kelley
· Xavey Hughes
· Zaylie Spicer
Bronze:
· Destiny Griffin
· Vaiden Matlock
· Kameron Wright
April 28-May 4 Athletic Schedule
Two Waynesville High School FCCLA students were recognized for being elected State officers in the Missouri Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America organization during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 21, 2025.
Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, recognized the following students for being elected state officers:
· Nakhia Kirckman was inducted as Region 5 FCCLA historian
· Faith Bohrer was installed as vice president of public relations for FCCLA State
Faith Bohrer and Nakhia Kirckman (center) are pictured with their advisors Crystal Bohrer (left) and Katelynn Hawk (second from right) and Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction.
Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, recognized Waynesville High School Student Council for receiving the Silver Award from the Missouri Association of Student Councils. This award recognizes councils for their involvement at the local level, the South Central District Student Council and state level. #wayschools
Weigelt receives $1,000 MSBA scholarship
Brett Manie from Missouri School Boards Association presented Brayden Weigelt with the Region 8 MSBA Future Builder Student Scholarship during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on April 21, 2025. The regional award amount is $1,000 and qualifies Weigelt to automatically advance to the statewide competition where one student will be selected for an additional $1,500.
Brayden Weigelt is pictured with his family, Superintendent Hilary Bales and Brett Manie from MSBA.
#WaySchools #MSBA
Waynesville High School staff members received an update about the district, which included information about the upcoming HVAC renovations at WHS this summer, from Waynesville R-VI Superintendent Hilary Bales during their Super Session on April 14, 2025. Afterward, Dr. Jamie Goforth, assistant superintendent of personnel services, led staff in a communication activity. #wayschools
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
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
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.
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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
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.
