Waynesville High School

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!

Congrats to Tiger Baseball on their Academic Success!!!!!!

Some Waynesville R-VI buses are running late this morning (Tuesday, May 6, 2025), due to a shortage of drivers. In addition, a couple of the tablets that power BusQuest, our online bus system, are not working. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Students in Waynesville High School’s Way-Med class will have an opportunity to study and then perform mock surgeries, thanks to a $2,500 grant through Sparklight’s #DreamBigger contest. The Sparklight grant helps fund STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities and will provide tools to help give the Way-Med classroom a medical facility look and feel. "The #DreamBigger grant will add a medical training space to my classroom, giving students real-world experiences to help prepare them for careers in the medical field," said Nicole Den Dekker, who teaches the Way-Med career-embedded health studies course at Waynesville High School. "With this grant, we’ll be able to purchase medical equipment such as laparoscopic surgery tools with cameras and other surgical supplies. These tools will supplement our coursework by encouraging students to practice mock medical procedures. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to design their own tools for simulated surgeries. This grant will help inspire my students to be lifelong learners, and to dream, explore and pursue their future career in healthcare." Students, staff and community members helped WHS secure the grant by voting for the WHS Way-Med program in an online contest. #wayschools

An ambulance was dispatched to Waynesville High School at approximately 11:20 a.m. today (Thursday, May 1, 2025) to treat an individual student with a medical condition. The individual's parents have been notified and will determine what, if any, further medical treatment is necessary.

Sophia Freesmeier, a senior at Waynesville High School, has signed to play basketball at Central Methodist. Her signing was held at WHS on Friday, April 25, 2025. #wayschools

On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Waynesville High School National Art Honor Society helped beautify the park for the Sapper Event that was held the next day. The students who participated included Riley Swanson, Mia Verry, Sloan Storie, Pursyphani Jones, Brianna Brown-Myrick, Brooklyn Young, Elizabeth Cox, and Aidan Sanders, along with art teacher Sarah Luttrell. #wayschools

Athletic Events Canceled for April 30, 2025

107.9 The Coyote delivered pizza to one of Katelynn Hawk's classes on April 25, 2025, in recognition of her being named Teacher of the Week. Hawk was nominated for the honor by a member of the community for her dedication and passion in teaching. #wayschools

An ambulance was dispatched to Waynesville High School at approximately 8:30 p.m. this evening (Tuesday, April 29, 2025) to the Waynesville Middle School track meet to treat an individual student with a medical condition. The individual's parents have been notified and will determine what, if any, further medical treatment is necessary.

Waynesville R-VI will host a Kindergarten Kickoff at 5:30 p.m. on May 2, 2025, at the Parker Educational Center. This is for parents of students who will be going into kindergarten this fall. Future kindergartners are welcome to attend as well. Please see the flyer for more details or call 573-842-2092. #wayschools

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.