Waynesville High School

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.

Check out the WHS newsletter at https://secure.smore.com/n/4a3m2k

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

Waynesville High School students and staff received Culver’s custard sundaes, courtesy of the USO and Culvers, on Monday, April 7, 2025, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child. In addition, Major General Christopher G. Beck, Commanding General of the Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, Command Sgt. Maj. Jorge Arzabala, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Command Sergeant Major, and Superintendent Hilary Bales helped welcome students to the cafeteria and show support for April being the Month of the Military Child. St. Robert Culver’s Owner Shawn Morris helped serve the sundaes, as well Area Operations Manager Megan Kidd (of the USO of Kansas and Missouri) and Center Operations Manager Kelly Brownfield (Fort Leonard Wood USO), USO staff members and USO volunteers. 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 #USO #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild #PurpleUp

The Waynesville High School Counselors Newsletter for April 2025 is available at https://secure.smore.com/n/6z2mb.

From our Athletics Office: Several athletic events/contests for Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, are cancelled. This includes the following: - Lebanon Track & Field Cancelled 4/4 - Girls Soccer at Parkview SW Shootout Cancelled 4/4-4/5 - W.I.N. (6th-8th grade) Flag Football Cancelled 5/5 _____________________________________ Additionally, activity buses will not run tonight, 4/4. There will be no Middle School Practices, 4/4. _____________________________________ Only WHS baseball will practice at the high school until 4:45 p.m. 4/4

All events for Friday April 4th and Saturday April 5th are cancelled. Track & Field @ Lebanon Cancelled 4/4 Girls Soccer @ Parkview SW Shootout Cancelled 4/4-4/5 No Middle School Practices 4/4 Only Baseball will practice at the HS until 4:45 PM 4/4 W.I.N. (6th-8th grade) Flag Football Cancelled 5/5 *Activity buses will not run tonight April 4th.

April 6-12 Athletic Event Schedule

Two Waynesville High School senior athletes have officially committed to competing in Track and Field at the collegiate level. Lenayah Thomas has signed with Kentucky State University, while Madison Roberts will join Quincy University. The signing ceremony took place at Waynesville High School on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. #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 R-VI 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.

Current 5th and 6th Grade Boys Basketball Development & 3 vs. 3 Camp April 14, 21, and 28 Register here: https://forms.gle/QdMvbknUgH9Wg828A Camp will begin at 6:00 PM and end at 7:30 PM at the Waynesville High School Gym (enter at the gym entrance). The cost is $30 per participant. Payment should be made at My School Bucks https://www.msbtickets.com/Athletics/event/tom4zlcj Our Camp will consist of individual & direct instruction along with 3 vs. 3 competition. Parents/guardians will need to drop off their camper(s) at the Waynesville High School Main Gym entrance by 5:50 PM and pick their camper up no later than 7:40 PM. Camp will be led by Waynesville Basketball coaches and players. Any questions please contact Head Basketball Coach Anthony Caruso acaruso@waynesville.k12.mo.us or Athletic Director Cory Ace - cace@waynesville.k12.mo.us