Lasada Pippen – a top-rated motivational speaker for students and educators – inspired middle and high school students with his message of “find your why and discover your how” on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Waynesville Middle School and Waynesville High School.
Known as “LP,” Pippen’s presentations on motivation and perseverance were the direct result of student input. Students specifically asked for an outside, nationally recognized speaker and selected Pippen because he is known for inspiring leaders, educators, professionals and students.
“This was an outstanding opportunity for our students,” said Courtney Long, director of student services. “LP shares stories that relate with students, which keeps them engaged. LP encourages students to set the bar higher and challenges students to prove that anything is possible with the right mindset. Many left with an understanding, or at least a better understanding, of their purpose.”
His presentation, “Greatness Has a Cost: Making Wise Decisions To Fuel Your Dreams” is designed to encourage individuals to find their why so that what they do becomes more powerful and their how becomes easier.
His website states, “Despite a challenging childhood marked by financial struggles, Pippen transformed from an underserved individual to a STEM graduate and engineering expert. LP, the first in his family to graduate college, forged a prosperous career as a computer engineer & cloud architect. But success didn’t satisfy LP’s ultimate passion. He shifted gears from thriving in the tech industry to pursuing his true calling – empowering others to unlock their potential and stay inspired for greatness.”
“For me personally, it’s much easier to wake up when you know why,” Pippen said. #wayschools
From our Athletic Office:
V/JV Baseball at Camdenton has been rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. on May 13, 2024. #wayschools
WHS students will present the musical, “Newsies,” at 7 p.m. April 18, 19 and 20 and at 5 p.m. on April 21 in the WHS Auditorium. The cost is $7 general admission; $6 student & staff; $5 children 10 & under.
From more than 150 essays, five Waynesville High School juniors were selected as finalists in the Laclede Electric Youth Tour Essay Contest.
Four of those finalists -- Sofia Mejia, Belle Mitchell, Seth Steuck and Brayden Weigelt -- received their Youth Tour Finalist Award and presented their essays at Laclede Electric Cooperative in Lebanon on April 11, 2024, to see who would make the top four spots for the Youth Tour all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June.
After taking a multiple choice test on electricity and Laclede Electric Cooperative, and presenting their essays, Sofia Mejia and Brayden Weigelt were selected for the Washington, D.C. ,Youth Tour, along with Abbie Brake of Conway High School and Desiree Gonzalez Serrano of Lebanon High School. One WHS finalist, Marissa Magnia, was unable to attend due to illness, but she still qualified for the Jefferson City Cycle trip in July. #wayschools
Waynesville Middle School Student Council completed the Polar Plunge in Columbia, Mo., raising $1,090 in support of Special Olympics athletes. #wayschools
Waynesville sixth graders are learning the concepts of energy transformation and energy conservation by making observations using everyday objects in their science labs. Team Spectacular students rotated among stations, making calculations and recording their observations. #wayschools
Madison Farley, a senior at Waynesville High School, received Honorable Mention in the Student Life Category in the Jostens North America Photo Contest 2024. Farley's photo will be featured in the 2025 Jostens Look Book. The Look Book is given to all schools who use Jostens to produce their publications. #wayschools
#wayschools
Mobil on the Run generously donated $500 to Waynesville High School on April 4, 2024. The Educational Alliance Program helps Mobil-branded retailers support neighborhood schools through the donation of $500 grants. The grants can be used for a wide range of programs based on the needs of the individual school, such as recreational equipment, chemistry labs and support for programs like accelerated math, family days, athletics and more. #wayschools
The Waynesville Career Center’s School of Practical Nursing will celebrate its 50th Anniversary from 4 to 7 p.m. April 18, 2024. All alumni, current and future students, past instructors, friends and their families are invited to attend.
Earlier this spring, we visited with Beth Goss, one of the graduates of the first class of 1974, to learn about her experiences. She is pictured in the center of the first row.
“My grandmother always knew that I would be a hair dresser or a nurse,” said Beth Goss. “I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse. I think you know that you want to be a nurse when you’re really young; it’s a calling.”
Once Goss was accepted into the WCC’s practical nursing program, her grandmother was determined that Goss would go.
“My grandmother was a hairdresser herself and raised me. She said that times were changing and that I needed to be able to support myself. She was really ahead of her time,” Goss said.
After passing the state licensure exam in 1974, Goss went to work at the Waynesville Hospital, where Perimeter Behavior Health is today. When word spread of the newly opened hospital at the Lake, she joined their team and retired in 2020 after 35 years with Lake Regional Health System.
“I am very grateful for what I was given at the program,” said. “My education has been very beneficial to me through the years.”
Goss remembers that the program wasn’t easy, but because of her strong foundation, she was able to pivot and adapt to the ever-changing role of LPNs in healthcare.
Her advice to this year’s class, “Always learn as much as you can. Improve yourself. Look forward and doors will open for you,” Goss said. “Don’t look for rewards for yourself. Let your reward be to help others.”
She also encourages LPNs to always keep learning to expand their own capabilities.
As the youngest to graduate in that first class, Goss is happy to hear of the 50th anniversary celebration.
“It’s a wonderful program and there will always be a tremendous need for nurses,” Goss said.
Musical "Newsies" to be presented April 18, 19, 20 and 21 at WHS
Waynesville High School students will present the musical, “Newsies,” at 7 p.m. April 18, 19 and 20 in the WHS Auditorium. They also will perform a 5 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 21.
The musical includes performances by WHS Theatre Department students, Thespian Troupe 1669 members, WHS Choir members, along with the orchestra, which is made up of students, staff and community members.
The cost per person is $7 General Admission; $6 Student & Staff; $5 Children 10 & under. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the show.
___________________
About the musical
The Musical Theatre International website at https://www.mtishows.com/ states the following about the musical, “Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story, Newsies features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. Featuring the now classic songs “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe,” Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, perfect for the whole family and every audience.”
The Waynesville Career Center’s School of Practical Nursing will celebrate its 50th anniversary from 4 to 7 p.m. April 18 at the WCC. All alumni, current and future students, past instructors, friends and their families are invited to attend.
Kindergarten Kickoff for the Waynesville R-VI School District will be held at 5:30 p.m. May 1 at Parker Educational Center, 909 U.S. Route 66 in Waynesville. To be eligible to attend kindergarten in the 2024-25 school year, a student must be age 5 before Aug. 1, 2024.
Emergency vehicles will be using their sirens as they transport athletes who are participating in Special Olympics at Waynesville High School today, Friday, April 12, 2024. They will be driving from the Waynesville City Park to WHS Tiger Stadium. #wayschools
USO volunteers, staff from the USO Missouri and Culver's team leaders handed out Culver's custard sundaes to all East Elementary students and staff on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in celebration of April being the Month of the Military Child.
Culver's leadership team members flew in from Wisconsin to help serve at East and the Waynesville Sixth Grade Center on Tuesday. They included Culver's President and CEO Rick Silva, COO Jim Esposito, and Abby Bucchholz, the social media and digital media marketer. In addition, the local St.Robert Culver’s Owner Shawn Morris helped serve, along with Zachary Henley, Paul Hammell and other team members. USO Executive Director Amanda Schmidt (Missouri and Kansas) and Center Operations Manager Kelly Brownfield (Fort Leonard Wood), USO staff members and USO volunteers also helped serve the custard.
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.
Superintendent Hilary Bales welcomed everyone and thanked them for preparing and serving the thousands of sundaes and recognizing all Waynesville R-VI students during the Month of the Military Child.
The community is encouraged to wear purple for the Month of the Military Child on April 15, which is Purple Up Day. #wayschools
Applications for Parker Preschool due tomorrow!
Parker Preschool in Waynesville is now taking applications for PRESCHOOL students for the 2024-25 school year. Forty preschool students will be selected for the program through a random lottery. Applications for the lottery will close at 4 p.m. TOMORROW, Friday, April 12, 2024.
Parents who are interested in enrolling their students at Parker may apply for the lottery at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I4kLS-ybKn-ExuykdRSOvjJ_ek_UijyBbP-yNjemKJA/closedform. Please note that the link to the Google form will close at 4 p.m. on April 12.
Eligibility to apply to be in the lottery drawing:
· Students must turn age 4 before Aug. 1, to be eligible for Parker Preschool, which is located inside the Parker Educational Center, next to Waynesville Middle School.
· Students must provide their child's transportation to and from the center
· Students must reside within the boundaries of the Waynesville R-VI School District.
Applicants will be chosen through a lottery drawing at 1 p.m. on April 25. Parents will be notified by May 3 if their child is accepted into the program.
Students who are selected to attend through the random drawing will:
· participate in a screening in June
· need to complete the enrollment process with the Waynesville R-VI School District
NOTE: The If you have any questions please email mmitchell@waynesville.k12.mo.us.
Williams Early Childhood Center staff participated in a fundraiser for Snack in a Pack and raised $1,500 for SIAP on April 8, 2024.
Edward Parker, custodian at Williams, organized a fun-filled evening for staff that included a meal, prizes and games with assistance from Billy Thompson, custodian at Williams.
About Snack in a Pack
Snack in a Pack (SIAP) is a supplemental food program that feeds approximately 550 students in the Waynesville R-VI School District over weekends and extended school breaks. SIAP is a 100% donation-driven program that relies on the generosity of its partners, donors and community volunteers to continue its mission to feed hungry children and improve educational success.
The current cost of maintaining the program is $2,500 per week at roughly $4 per student. The program costs an average of $100,000 a year and relies solely on donations from organizations and members of the local community to operate successfully.
To donate to SIAP, go to https://www.waynesville.k12.mo.us/Page/6844.
If you are interested in hosting a fundraiser or setting up a Snack in a Pack donation box for your location, please email spack@waynesville.k12.mo.us or call (573) 842-2250 for more information. #wayschools
#wayschools
