Waynesville Middle School

The WMS Track & Field teams competed in the COC East Championship Meet on Tuesday, May 6 in Springfield. Congratulations to the following athletes on their 1st place finishes! 8th Girls 200 M - Brooklynn Weigelt 8th Girls High Jump - Brooklynn Weigelt 8th Boys 4x200 - Taufetee, McArthur, Hake, Wright 8th Boys 4x400 - Callaway, Davis, Wright, Curry 8th Boys High Jump - Amari Taufetee 7th Boys 400 M - Trevyn Brown 7th Boys High Jump - Trevyn Brown

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. Here are the ones for Wednesday afternoon. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Mrs. Rebecca Proctor is an amazingly dedicated, knowledgeable and patient English teacher. She has helped my son time and time again. She actively participates in my son’s IEP meetings and keeps me informed of his progress. I am so blessed that she’s my son’s English teacher. Mrs. Gard is an amazing teacher! We couldn't do it without her. She is smart, funny, kind, compassionate, giving and honestly cares about her students. She has a way of teaching that gets kids involved so they feel proud of themselves for learning. This year my son has more confidence knowing he can learn and if he doesn't get it right away, he knows he will. He has grown by leaps and bounds – above all in his reading. His teacher (Lamkins) has sparked a love for reading in him. We are incredibly grateful for Mrs. Loyd—an exceptional teacher and an even more extraordinary human being. Her kindness, support and genuine care have made a lasting impact on our entire family. Thank you for being a light during both joyful and difficult times. She (C. Selle) has been a viral role model for our child! So happy she will be his LEAP teacher in 7th grade! She (Mrs. Whitehead) listens to my son's needs. Mrs. Schaub, you have been such an incredible light in our child’s life. It’s clear to see how much he adores you—and it’s no wonder why. You’ve helped him feel seen, valued and inspired, and we are beyond thankful for the positive impact you’ve had on him. Band is my son’s favorite class. Mr. Inman is his band teacher. When he tells me about his day, he always says how much he enjoys band and what a great teacher Mr. Inman is. Thank you, Mr. Inman, for having such a positive effect on my son’s school day! Mrs. Outten’s kindness and patience have truly made a difference in our daughter’s life. Her unwavering positivity and nurturing approach have fostered a genuine love for learning. Her dedication to helping her reach her goals while keeping learning fun is nothing short of inspiring. She (Dailey) is an awesome teacher who has helped my granddaughter this year not only in the classroom, but also with confidence. She has helped her progress. Mrs. Chrisman has nurtured my son’s leadership skills and helped him discover his voice, while encouraging him to be kind, helpful and inclusive. Most importantly, she’s created a learning environment where he feels loved, supported, and valued. She (Justine Swan) is an awesome person. She has helped my grandson in so many ways. She really cares about the kids. Mrs. Laurie and Mr. Phinn have helped our son develop a true love of learning. They have helped him to have more confidence and have empowered him to continue to strive to do his best. He always looks forward to going to school because of these teachers. I just wanted to say thank you and that we appreciate Mrs. Mendez for always advocating for our children that have been academically challenged in reading. We are so grateful for Mrs. Mendez and her passion to always help each child and never leaving a child behind. Mrs. Lane has gone above and beyond to help her class this year. She has helped them through tough school work, as well as the hard lessons of growing up. She handles each child and each situation with poise and care. My child has had such a positive experience with Mrs. Mueller. She is so understanding and patient. I am so grateful every day for her. Mrs. Luketic always goes above and beyond to help our child be successful in anything he does! We are so thankful for her and her positive attitude. She has helped in so many ways! Mrs. H. Miller has promoted exceptional growth with my daughter’s reading skills and spelling. My daughter is always excited to come to school because Mrs. Miller creates a positive, fun and creative learning environment to help promote academic success with all her students. Mrs. Blankenship really strives to make a positive impact on every child in her class! Her love and compassion for teaching shows in every child! My child enjoys going to school every day! Mrs. Pat is absolutely lovely, very caring for kids and has helped my daughter overcome some emotional difficulties whenever she had a sad moment in school. My daughter adores her. She (Mrs. Rigsby) goes above and beyond for her students. My daughter loves her!

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. Here is our first set for Wednesday morning. (We’ve included highlights from some of the longer notes.) Coach Rowland makes PE fun for his students. My students enjoy learning new games and practicing for special events throughout the school year with Coach. Ms. J-G (Johnson-Gonzales) is an amazing music assistant program teacher! Her kindness & encouragement have helped my daughter find her voice & grow in confidence this year. Thank you for making music fun, meaningful, and something she looks forward to. Ms. Mason, you help Voices students find a way for their voice to shine brighter. Thank you for growing a love for music! Mrs. Underwood went out of her way to challenge my son and provide activities and resources, so now he is completing work three grades above his level. She is wonderful to work with as she took my concerns and quickly helped initiate services that were needed outside of the classroom. Ms. Tami and Ms. Sonja have been so amazing all year for our daughter. We have watched her absolutely blossom. Her confidence levels have soared. She jumps out of the car every morning without looking back. These two have helped prepare her to start kindergarten next year. Coach Wise is such a positive role model for the young men on his baseball team. He provides support and positive feedback, providing words of encouragement when the boys need it most. He often expresses to them that he believes in them both as individuals, as well as the team! My daughter loves having a teacher (Mr. Rideout) who is eager to learn and teach! She (Mrs. Stockfisch) is always showing how much she cares for the students. My son has felt seen, cared about, and loved by her. He’s had a wonderful year and I know she is a huge part of that. She’s also great with communication! I believe Mr. Hyatt has played a huge role in my son’s growth. He loves how Mr. Hyatt is always engaging with them including at recess. It’s great seeing a teacher with so much energy, and care for his students. She (Mrs. Hetzler) makes accommodations I would never dream of asking someone to make for him and that speaks volumes to how well she knows and loves him! His verbally expressed communication is limited but being able to ask if he wants to see her and having him pop up out of a morning funk is just about the highest form of flattery he can offer. Ms. Smith is very kind and compassionate. She works hard with Justin and he comes home talking about how much he loves her. East elementary has been such a wonderful school for us! On a field trip there are photos of (Ms. Sabine) just allowing my son to be completely himself and naturally curious about his surroundings. I really appreciate her leaving room for him to just be! Ms. Connely has truly stepped in as an extended mother figure—she is patient, holds my son accountable, and, most importantly, believes in him. As a single parent now, I take great comfort in knowing he is set up for success under her guidance. May God continue to bless you as you do what you do best. My son is always excited to go to school. Loves his teacher (Mrs. Wilking) and classmates. Mrs. Stockfisch provided consistent support and communication. The highlight for me this year was watching my son actively reading again to compete in the ReadBowl 2025. He met his goal and was recognized as one of the top 25 readers in his school. Thank you, Mrs. Podwoski, for not only advocating for all my babies since forever ago, but always keeping their best interest the main focus of all educational goals and always working with my babies as if they were your child. Grateful, thankful and extremely blessed to have had you as a part of our journey!! Mrs. Gage has been an incredible teacher. Whenever my child feels unsure or nervous, she responds with patience and kindness, never showing frustration. She’s always encouraging and truly puts in the effort to help every student understand. My daughter has improved in so many ways in both her reading and math. We are extremely satisfied with Mrs. Wells and the dedication she has to her students. She speaks very highly of Mrs. Wells and looks forward to going to school every day. I don’t interact with her often, but seeing her (Ms. Ash) and having her recognize whose mom I am was really special. I appreciate that she knows my kiddo well enough to recognize me too! Thank you all (Hedgehog Bus Route) for working hard to make sure my kiddo is content on the bus. He’s gone from rarely wanting to ride to being sad on days he isn’t on there!

Please note: This is NEXT YEAR'S calendar! The first day of school for the 2025-26 school year is Aug. 18. The 2025-26 School Year Calendar is at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4597/WRV/5126636/25-26_School_Year_Calendar.pdf

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.) I can honestly say Mrs. Sinclair’s patience, kindness and love for teaching has changed both of children’s lives. I couldn't imagine anyone else getting my girls through kindergarten. She leaves a positive impact on the students and parents. She (Mrs. Butler) goes out of her way to make sure she truly understands a student and is able to find a way to help motivate them. She has had my son this year and last, and was his case manager last year. She has gotten through to him when others couldn’t. She’s truly amazing! Mrs. Montgomery excels in building relationships with her students. My student feels cared for and loves coming to school each day. Mrs. Montgomery also incorporates hands-on learning experiences and emphasizes the importance of reading each day. Ms. Morris is my daughter’s amazing 5th grade teacher! Her kindness, patience, and dedication have made a difference. Thank you for creating a space where she feels seen, supported and inspired to grow. I believe these gentlemen (Waynesville Middle School band instructors) are making positive impacts on everyone they teach. This is literally one of the best school bands I've ever heard. I've never been so impressed by a school band. My daughter is more excited about school and life in general because of this opportunity. Mrs. Lane is very involved with the parents and has great communication skills. I know my child is in good hands with her. She is also one to give praise to the children and the parents, which I appreciate because sometimes it’s nice to hear you’re doing great or that your child is doing great. I have two students at Thayer and they both have developed a love of art through Mrs. Erlewine's art classes. My students love to come home and share about their art projects and as a parent, I love being able to see what they are completing through the Artsonia app. My daughter’s specific words yesterday were, "I wish I can take Mrs. Fuentes to 5th grade with me!" Thanks for loving my daughter and making her actually want to be at school. You have such a nurturing and comforting impact on her life and she expresses it every day! Huge thanks to Jessie at the front desk—you’re the heartbeat of the school! Your welcoming smile, calm energy and willingness to help do not go unnoticed. Thank you for being the first friendly face we see and for holding it all together behind the scenes. My son has been having trouble listening and paying attention and these 2 (Henson and Johnson) have been amazing with him this year. He can't stop talking about how much he loves them. She (Mrs. Harne) is there for my son when he needs to be comforted and always gets him his snacks. She also loves my son's smile and hugs him whenever she can. Mrs. Beauchamp brings her love of reading to all the students at Thayer. She provides engaging lessons in the library and is very helpful in finding exactly the right book for her students. My students enjoy visiting her library weekly and bringing home books to share with us! I appreciate Mrs. Williams for all the realness she serves to these spunky 4th graders. She is a rockstar and I love the patience and humor with the kids. Mr. Thorpe engages with his students on such a personal level, that it drives them to do well in class. He meets them where they are as a person and connects with them, which makes my child WANT to be there. My son says he is fun in class and makes them laugh while teaching. Mrs. Diedrich is not just an educator; she is someone who cares about her student's growth and success. She is patient, kind and explains concepts that make an impact on them. She inspires them. She is very much appreciated each and every day. Thanks for the patience and kindness you (Mrs. Brand) have shown! Our daughter loves you very much we are so grateful for you! Mrs. P. (Pimentel) has been a vital asset to my daughter's success this school year. She has gone through rough times and Mrs. P. ALWAYS goes above and beyond to help ensure she is safe, heard and helped. She is one of our favorite people! Shoutout to our incredible LEAP teacher Ms. Morris—you make all the difference! Thank you for your dedication to your students where they are and helping them grow with confidence! Mrs. Taylor makes learning about music fun and exciting. She is always bringing in new music and techniques for her students to try. My students have really enjoyed practicing and performing their grade level concerts this year. As a parent, I have also enjoyed the variety and engagement of the after school music concerts.

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!

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.

An ambulance was dispatched to Waynesville Middle School at approximately 1:35 p.m. today, May 5, 2025, to treat an individual student with a medical condition. A parent/guardian has been contacted and will decide what, if any, further medical treatment is necessary. #wayschools

Sixteen of the 17 finalists whose essays qualified them for the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce Civics Bee on April 29, 2025, were Waynesville Middle School students. The top three winners from the live civics competition were: 1st place: Brandon Bullard from Waynesville Middle School (Trophy and $500 cash award) 2nd place: Charlie Fan from Ladue Middle School (Trophy and $250 cash award) 3rd place: Grant Good from Waynesville Middle School (Trophy and $125 cash award). These three are now eligible to compete in the state competition. A portion of the news release issued by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce is below: Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber Hosts National Civics Bee® for Pulaski County Middle Schoolers The Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce proudly hosted the 2025 National Civics Bee® in Pulaski County, Missouri, on April 29, 2025. This initiative, presented in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, encourages young Americans to engage in civics and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Seventeen local finalists advanced from the first-round civics essay competition to participate in the live event, which featured two rounds of civics questions followed by a Q&A round. A distinguished panel of judges, Judge Kevin Hillman, Luge Hardmon, and COL James Scott evaluated the participants on their understanding of civic principles, the clarity and effectiveness of their responses, and their use of examples, evidence, and primary sources to support their answers. The judges were impressed by how well-prepared the finalists were, their thoughtful choice of topics, and their ability to confidently answer challenging questions. The event was held at the Parker Educational Center in Waynesville, with David Lowe as the emcee. The top three finalists of the local competition were as follows: Brandon Bullard from Waynesville Middle School (1st place), Charlie Fan from Ladue Middle School (2nd place), and Grant Good from Waynesville Middle School (3rd place). “This competition offers a wonderful opportunity for our middle school students to explore issues that matter to their communities, helping them understand the importance of civic engagement and responsible citizenship,” said Cecilia Murray, Executive Director of the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce. “We are proud to support young people as they discover their voices, build leadership skills, and take meaningful steps toward shaping a brighter future for us all.” Brandon Bullard, the first-place winner, shared, “My experience with the National Civics Bee was informative and brought insight into how my community functions. It also encouraged me to become involved with my community and educate myself on civics topics.” Brandon received $500 for placing first, the second-place winner received $250, and the third-place winner received $125 in cash prizes. All three finalists will advance to the state competition, hosted by the University of Missouri’s Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy on Aug. 6 in Columbia. They will compete for additional prizes and the chance to represent Missouri at the National Championship in Washington, D.C., this fall 2025. National prizes include a $100,000 529 college savings plan for first place, $25,000 for second place, and $15,000 for third place. The Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce congratulates all participants and encourages Pulaski County students to apply for next year’s competition. For more information about the National Civics Bee, visit: https://civics.uschamberfoundation.org/ About National Civics Bee® The National Civics Bee a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s The Civic Trust, is an annual nonpartisan competition aimed at improving civics education and literacy among middle school students, their families, and communities. The National Civics Bee helps elevate civics as a national priority through a network of state and local chambers across the country. The National Civics Bee is made possible through the generous support of its founding partner, the Daniels Fund, Citizen Travelers, and other funders. #wayschools

The Waynesville Middle School bands presented their concert to a standing room only audience on April 28, 2025. #wayschools

The Waynesville Middle School choirs held their Spring Concert on April 28, 2025, in the Waynesville High School Auditorium. #wayschools

From our Athletic Office: Waynesville 6th-8th Grade Soccer Camp Who: Currently enrolled (24-25) 6th-8th grade boys & girls Location: Waynesville MS Dates: May 12-15 & May 19-22 Time: 3:00 PM-5:00 PM REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON May 8, 2025 @ 3:00 PM For more information you can email Eric Thornburg ethornburg@waynesville.k12.mo.us or Jessica Babb @ jbabb@waynesville.k12.mo.us. Register Here: https://forms.gle/RAjLPL9QjgzvDohD8

Register for Waynesville 6th-8th soccer camp here! https://forms.gle/Kbs335jwULUGKT5f7

Lady Tiger Softball falls to Nixa in game two, concluding their season. We are proud of the girls for all of their growth this spring! 🥎

Lady Tiger Softball falls in a nail biter to Neosho in the 1st round of the COC Tournament. They will play again at 3.

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

WMS Softball finished out the Conway Tournament with a 16-12 win over Licking. Go Tigers!

Congrats to the WMS Baseball Tigers on their 3rd place finish at the Conway Tournament!

Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, recognized Waynesville Middle School Student Council for receiving the Gold 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.