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
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Additionally, activity buses will not run tonight, 4/4.
There will be no Middle School Practices, 4/4.
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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
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
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.
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 Basketball Development & 3 vs. 3 Camp
April 14, 21, and 28Camp will begin at 6:00 PM and end at 7:30 PM. The cost is $30 per participant.
Register here: https://forms.gle/QdMvbknUgH9Wg828A
Registration ends April 11th, 2025
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
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.
Braylin Scott, a senior at Waynesville High School, has signed to play football at William Woods University. His signing was held at WHS on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. #wayschools
Hall recognized as District's Teacher of the Year
Sam Hall was recognized with a standing ovation from the audience for being named the 2024-2025 Waynesville R-VI School District Teacher of the Year on March 24, 2025, during the Board of Education meeting. Courtney Long, executive director–secondary, and Mike Henson, executive director-elementary, presented Hall with a plaque.
Hall is the teacher for the Missouri Options program at Waynesville High School.
A retired Marine, Hall has taught in the district for 8 years. He has been responsible for approximately 70 students graduating from WHS in the past three and a half years. He works with students preparing them for the Hi-Set assessments and helping to make sure they meet all graduation requirements.
The District Professional Development Committee designed and implemented the selection process. Hall will represent Waynesville in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Regional Teacher of the Year process over the summer. The regional winner will represent the region in the Missouri Teacher of the Year process.
Fourteen Thespian students were recognized for receiving Excellent and Superior ratings at the Missouri State Thespian Competition during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on March 24, 2025. The following Waynesville High School students were recognized by Courtney Long, executive director–secondary:
• Alexandra Kelley - Excellent rating, Scenic Design
• Josie Andreasen and Hailey Sansom - Excellent rating, Hair & Makeup Design
• Hailey Sansom - Excellent rating, Stage Management
• Eli Prather and Maleah Johnson - Excellent rating, Acting Duo
• Madi Waugh, Natalie Lockwood, Montara Owens and Payton Rushing - Excellent rating, Acting
• Aeris (Liam) Kim competed - Excellent rating, Acting Monologue
• Mycha Humphrey - Excellent rating, Costume Construction
• Teegean Duke and Addison Bowling - Excellent rating, Musical Theatre Duet Solo
• Citlali Arzabala - Superior rating, Musical Theatre Solo Performance
Vernon to become head WHS principal
Brian Vernon, the head principal of Waynesville Middle School, will become the head principal of Waynesville High School, effective July 1, 2025. He will fill the vacancy created by Dr. Jason Whitt who is returning to the Kansas City area to be closer to family.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to build on their success and lead future growth,” Vernon said.
Vernon is committed to student success and fostering a positive school culture. He has served as the head principal at Waynesville Middle School since 2019 and has experience at the elementary, middle and high school levels in the Waynesville R-VI School District. He began his career as a middle school S.A.V.E. teacher, then became a PE teacher at East Elementary and later at Waynesville Middle School. Prior to his current role, Vernon served as an assistant principal at Wood Elementary and Williams, Waynesville High School and Waynesville Middle School.
Vernon holds a bachelor’s in physical education from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo., a master’s in educational administration and an educational specialist both from Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo. He is a 1998 graduate of WHS.
Thirteen students who are members of Beta were recognized for placing at the State Beta Convention at the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on March 24, 2025. The following Waynesville High School students were recognized by Courtney Long, executive director–secondary:
• Don Cing - 1st place Biomedical
• Siessa Kpessokro - 2nd place French
• Kaydence Long - 4th place French
• Serina Chen - 2nd place Math
• Mason Thompson - 1st place Math
• Elyssa Scarborough -1st place Psychology
• Logan Giles - 4th place Psychology
• Elaine Wu - 1st place Social Studies
• Kyle Wilking - 1st place Social Studies
• Carter Pondrom - 1st place U.S. History
• Kimora Godwin - 5th place Speech
• Citlali Arzabala - 3rd place Performing Arts Vocalist
• Evelyn Carrol - 5th place Painting
Pictured are Beta Co-sponsor Dawn Wilking, Mason Thompson and Beta Co-sponsor Tabitha Guzman.
Summer School registration is now open online!
For more details and to sign up your student, click here https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/o/wrv/page/summer-school.
Please note that you should register your student for the grade they will be GOING INTO this fall.
Partridge and WHS students, please note the locations of your summer school.
