Here is the WMS Athletic schedule for the week. Go Tigers!!
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
Waynesville Middle School students celebrated April being the Month of the Military Child on April 9, 2025, with custard sundaes, courtesy of the USO and Culvers. USO volunteers and staff helped serve the students.
Each year the USO Missouri partners with Culver’s to give away custard sundaes to 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
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.
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.
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.
Here is the WMS Athletic Schedule for the week. Go Tigers!!
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
Chris Gamello visited Waynesville Middle School during Tiger Time to talk with students about having a career in public broadcasting on April 1, 2025.
In addition to sharing his educational journey, Gamello encouraged students to work on their word pronunciation now since it can help them in a future career and in public speaking.
This is what students said about his presentation:
“His profession does interest me since he got to watch many different types of sports”.(Rayven)
“He talked about why he does the things that he loves. It’s important to do what you like so you can enjoy life more. His career would interest me because I like to talk”. (Brianna S.). #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.
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.
WMS Tiger Baseball falls to Lebanon 11-5 in the first game of the night. The B game is up next.
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.
Here is the WMS Athletic schedule for the week! Go Tigers!
The WMS Softball season is underway! The Lady Tigers are competing in the Branson Festival today. They start the day against Ozark. Go Tigers!
Bailey Poncia, a 7th grade math teacher at Waynesville Middle School, was recognized for being selected as one of Missouri's Outstanding Beginning Teachers for 2024-2025 by her educator preparation program at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She was presented with a certificate by Courtney Long, executive director–secondary during the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on March 24, 2025. #wayschools
St. Robert Alderman John Moore who also serves as Mayor Pro Tem visited the Waynesville Middle School during Tiger Time to talk to students about his career on March 25, 2025. Moore shared with students his educational journey, encouraging students to stay in school and pursue an education.
This is what our students had to say about the presentation:
“Give back and help the community and don’t drop out of school cause it will make your life harder. I think it is important because if you don’t focus on your education, it will be harder to continue it later on” (Kelsey H).
“Follow your dreams. Don’t quit school and become what you want. Wear your seatbelt. Don’t quit school!” (Nicole J).
“Stay in school and enjoy life. It’s important for education and just life in general” (Brianna S.)
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.
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.
WMS StuCo wins Gold Award
The Honor Council Committee of the Missouri Association of Student Councils is pleased to announce that Waynesville Middle School Student Council has been awarded the Missouri Association of Student Councils Honor Council Gold Award.
The gold award recognizes the WMS Student Council’s outstanding performance as a council.
Awards were presented at the 2025 MASC State Convention held March 13-15, 2025, at Poplar Bluff High School. The state convention brings together more than 1,000 student leaders from schools throughout Missouri for a three-day convention. Highlights include nationally known speakers, student-led workshops and breakout sessions, campaigning and election of state officer schools, scholarships and recognition of Honor Council recipients.
Waynesville Middle School Student Council was recognized for its involvement at the local level, involvement in South Central District Student Council and involvement at the state level. Only 66 student councils in the state of Missouri met the criteria for the award.
The honor is based on an application submitted by each school. Criteria are established to
honor those councils that have a comprehensive program in promoting student activities and
student leadership. Activities include school service, school spirit, community service, student
and teacher recognition and leadership training activities.
“Student Councils and student leaders make a positive contribution to their schools and help to create a positive educational climate,” said Honor Council Chair Jane Perrica in her letter to WMS. “We congratulate Waynesville Middle School for providing an atmosphere where students and Student Council can play a vital role in your school. Thank you to the Student Council advisors/sponsors for providing many opportunities for Student Council members to develop leadership skills. We also wish to recognize the principals and superintendents for supporting their student leaders in all of their endeavors.”
#WaySchools
