Waynesville R-VI School District

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!

Waynesville R-VI hosted Kindergarten Kickoff on Friday, May 2, 2025, to a packed house. Parents learned about summer school and preparing their students for the start of kindergarten. #wayschools

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

Parker Preschool applicants will be chosen through a lottery drawing. The lottery drawing will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Parker Educational Center. Applicant families are welcome to attend the drawing. Parents will be notified by May 16 if their child is accepted into the program. #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

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

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

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.

The community is invited to attend the Community Salute to Service at 6 p.m. today, 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. #wayschools

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

Hundreds of guests took a “trip around the world” at the Tiger Festival of Nations, sampling food and learning about multiple countries, on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Waynesville High School. #wayschools

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

Waynesville R-VI hosted the District Art Show on April 25, 2025, at Waynesville High School. Six students were selected as Best of Division and Best of Show as follows: Best of Show: Aubrey Fields, WHS, 11th Grade, Mrs. Luttrell/Ms. Rushing Best of Division K-2: Ender Frick, Thayer Elementary, 1st Grade, Teacher: Mrs. Erlewine Best of Division 3-5: Shan Sorrel, Freedom Elementary, 4th Grade, Teacher: Ms. Biart Best of Division 6-8: Fionna Alexander, WMS, Teacher: Mrs. Edwards Best of Division 9-10: Carolyn Gerbus, WHS, 9th Grade, Teacher: Mrs. O'Barr Best of Division 11-12: Brianna Brown-Myrick, WHS, 11th Grade, Mrs. 0'Barr

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

Four events at WHS this afternoon and evening! The Waynesville Boys and Girls Varsity Invitational Track and Field Meet begins at 3:15 p.m. Friday, April 25, 2025, at Tiger Stadium. Admission is $4 per person. (The tennis meet is already under way.) The District Art Show, featuring work from students in grades K-12, will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. April 25 in the Lecture Hall at Waynesville High School. This event is free and open to the public. In addition, the Spring Tiger Festival of Nations will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 25 in the WHS Ninth Grade Center. This event is free and open to the public. Waynesville High School will present the musical, “Margaret’s Mind,” at 7 p.m. April 25 and 26 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, in the WHS Auditorium. Tickets are $7 per person.