Right Guard- Cadet SGM Aiden Rivera
National Colors- Cadet LTC Kaden Crone
Missouri State Flag- Cadet Major David Boyd
JROTC Battalion Colors- Cadet Captain Addison Smith
Left Guard- Cadet Captain Aubrey Ellison
WCC Director Sam Callis provided area administrators with a tour of the facilities and WCC culinary arts students planned, prepared and served a meal under the direction of Jon Dye, their instructor.
Danielle Padilla, Trinity Bennett, Brelan Liggins and Joshulynn Shipp served the meal, which began with a mixed green salad, topped with pears, feta cheese and dry cranberries in a cranberry vinaigrette. The entree included a cast iron roasted chicken breast, served over cheese tortellini and roast butternut squash, broccoli and green beans. Dessert was a chocolate chunk brownie with pumpkin filling, cinnamon spiced ice cream with sea salt caramel sauce and candied pecans.
UPDATE as of 11:10 a.m.: Water is restored to East, Perimeter and Transportation
Water has been restored to East, Perimeter and Transportation as of 10 a.m. today (Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025). East Elementary students are in class and learning as usual.
While the water has been restored, we are postponing today’s and tomorrow’s (Nov. 21 and 22) Gratitude With Grown Ups at East Elementary. Make-up dates will be sent at a later time.
Attendance is at 92 percent and our staff and students quickly adapted. Bottled water was available by request. An ample supply of bottled water and hand sanitizers continue to be on hand. Custodians were able to flush the toilets using water provided by the Waynesville Rural Fire Department.
While the majority of our students are in attendance today, if you ever feel anxious about circumstances, you are welcome to check out your student.
A huge thank you goes to our staff, students, maintenance, parents, the City of Waynesville, Waynesville Rural Fire Department and the Pulaski County Health Department for collaborating with us.
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Previously published
East Elementary, Perimeter Education Center and the Transportation Department are temporarily without water this morning, Nov. 20, 2025.
Water service is expected to be restored to the area by noon.
Extra bottles of drinking water and hand sanitizer are being delivered to the impacted buildings. Additionally, the fire department is providing water for flushing toilets.
We will make a decision about whether or not we will host today’s Gratitude with Grown Ups by noon today, so look for an email and/or text.
A big thank you goes to the Waynesville Rural Fire Department and our district’s maintenance team.
Kramer was selected as one of the most outstanding educators in our area from more than 480 nominations from local community members, parents and fellow educators.
Her nominator said, “Tina has spent years making a profound difference in the lives of her students, particularly those on the autism spectrum. As an educator, she creates a welcoming and supportive environment where children learn to love school, feel understood and gain confidence in themselves. Through her patience, expertise and unwavering dedication, she helps many students develop essential communication and social skills that once felt out of reach. Her influence extends far beyond the classroom, touching families and shaping futures. There is truly no teacher in the district more deserving of recognition than Tina.”
As part of this recognition, Kramer received a certificate and a Visa gift card in honor of her dedication and excellence in education from local St Robert McDonald's Department Manager Ulissa.
Eight current Waynesville High School students and two former students have been awarded national recognition from the CollegeBoard BigFuture Program for their high performance on AP tests and/or the PSAT as 10th and 11th graders.
The current students received the following awards based on their exceptional achievements:
School Recognition Award: Serina Chen, Vung Ciin and Kaden Crone, Keegan Graves, Brooklyn Lercher and Carson Sutphin
Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award: Kaden Crone, Brooklyn Lercher and Carson Sutphin
First Generation Recognition Award: Brionna Ash, Vung Ciin and Kalee Rhoades
Two former WHS students were also named:
· Alexis Good-Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and School Recognition Award
· Andre Morse-School Recognition Award
Students are eligible for awards by:
· scoring in the top 10% of PSAT/NMSQT test takers in their high school, state's first generation test takers and/or state's rural and small town test takers OR earning a 3 or higher on two or more distinct AP exams in the 8th, 9th and/or 10th grade.
· earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 or higher
The band is under the direction of Jared Sabatasso and assistant directors Chance Inman, Brady Perkins and Andrew Tiefenbrunn.
The Rotary Club of Pulaski County donated $450 to the Snack in a Pack program, which provides supplemental food items to Waynesville R-VI students who might otherwise go hungry over weekends and holidays.
Suzanne Wilber, past president of the Rotary Club, presented the check to Courtney Long, executive director of secondary instruction, on Nov. 18, 2025.
About Snack in a Pack
Snack in a Pack (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.
Making a donation:
· Food donations may be dropped off at Pick Educational and Volunteer Center or at the Waynesville R-VI Administration Building in Waynesville.
o Much needed items include
§ canned chicken
§ canned tuna
§ canned ravioli and other pastas
§ peanut butter.
· Individuals may purchase items directly on Snack in a Pack’s Amazon Wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LHIMQ7EWYF88?ref_=wl_share
· Monetary donations may be made online through MySchoolBucks at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/catalog/getproduct?productKey=ZZJNGFJ7X20WNYU&OPTZZJNGFJ7X20WNYU=ZZJNGFJ7XH0WSFK
· Monetary donations also may be mailed to:
Snack in a Pack
Community Resource Office
Pick Educational and Volunteer Center
12751 Pulaski Ave.
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
After his visit, students observed a peer-led debate as part of the final stage of their mock election project—before taking part in a schoolwide voting activity.
Training provides strategies to support educational needs
The Waynesville R-VI School District offered a free special education training session on Nov. 13, 2025, for parents and guardians of students with IEPs and 504 plans. This was the second session in the Tiger Pride Series.
During the session, families learned practical and effective strategies to support their child’s educational needs, including key questions to ask, when to request a meeting, and how to navigate real-life advocacy scenarios with confidence.
Presenters included Dr. Elizabeth Washington, executive director of student services, and Shauna Smith, district special education coordinator.
The third in the series will be “Navigating Transition Between Buildings” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 2026, at Parker. This is highly recommended for parents of students who will be moving to a new building in fall 2026.
Route 66 Shootout to be held Dec.19–20 at Waynesville High School
The annual Route 66 Shootout will take place on Friday, Dec.19, and Saturday, Dec. 20, at Waynesville High School.
The third class of the WHS Athletic/Activity Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized prior to the 7:30 p.m. game on Friday, Dec.19.
Robert "Bob" Slaughter (Coach/AD)
Robert Sumter (Athlete/T&F & XC)
1974 Track & Field (Team)
Game Schedule
Friday, Dec.19
4:30 p.m. – Waynesville (Girls) vs. Capital City
6:00 p.m. – Poplar Bluff (Boys) vs. Capital City
7:30 p.m. – Waynesville (Boys) vs. Northwest Cedar Hill
Saturday, Dec.20
12:30 p.m. – Waynesville (Girls) vs. St. Elizabeth
2:00 p.m. – Northwest Cedar Hill (Boys) vs. Poplar Bluff
3:30 p.m. – Waynesville (Boys) vs. Hazelwood East
Admission
$10 per person for the weekend
$6 per person per day
All individuals over age 5 are required to purchase a ticket, including senior citizens, season pass holders, annual pass holders, and staff with athletic passes, as these are not regular season games.
First Baptist Church recently donated food items valued at $386 (based on weight) to help Snack in a Pack, which provides supplemental food items to Waynesville R-VI students who might otherwise go hungry over weekends and holidays. Dr. Charles and Letitia Slider made the delivery on behalf of the church.
About Snack in a Pack
Snack in a Pack (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.
Making a donation:
· Food donations may be dropped off at Pick Educational and Volunteer Center or at the Waynesville R-VI Administration Building in Waynesville.
o Much needed items include
§ canned chicken
§ canned tuna
§ canned ravioli and other pastas
§ peanut butter.
· Individuals may purchase items directly on Snack in a Pack’s Amazon Wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LHIMQ7EWYF88?ref_=wl_share
· Monetary donations may be made online through MySchoolBucks at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/catalog/getproduct?productKey=ZZJNGFJ7X20WNYU&OPTZZJNGFJ7X20WNYU=ZZJNGFJ7XH0WSFK
· Monetary donations also may be mailed to:
Snack in a Pack
Community Resource Office
Pick Educational and Volunteer Center
12751 Pulaski Ave.
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
The Fort Leonard Wood Thrift Shop recently donated food items valued at $433.40 (based on weight) to help Snack in a Pack, which provides supplemental food items to Waynesville R-VI students who might otherwise go hungry over weekends and holidays.
About Snack in a Pack
Snack in a Pack (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.
Making a donation:
· Food donations may be dropped off at Pick Educational and Volunteer Center or at the Administration Building in Waynesville.
o Much needed items include:
§ canned chicken
§ canned tuna
§ canned ravioli and other pastas
§ peanut butter.
· Individuals may purchase items directly on Snack in a Pack’s Amazon Wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LHIMQ7EWYF88?ref_=wl_share
· Monetary donations may be made online through MySchoolBucks at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/catalog/getproduct?productKey=ZZJNGFJ7X20WNYU&OPTZZJNGFJ7X20WNYU=ZZJNGFJ7XH0WSFK
· Monetary donations also may be mailed to:
Snack in a Pack
Community Resource Office
Pick Educational and Volunteer Center
12751 Pulaski Ave.
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473
Special Education Training: Advocating for your Child on Thursday
Waynesville R-VI is offering free special education training sessions for parents and guardians of students with IEPs and 504 plans.
The next Tiger Pride Night session will be “Advocating for Your Child” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at the Parker Educational Center. Presenters will share practical strategies to help support their child’s educational journey.
The third in the series will be “Navigating Transition Between Buildings” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 2026, at Parker. This is highly recommended for parents of students who will be moving to a new building in fall 2026.
Happy Veterans Day
All Waynesville R-VI schools have been or will be honoring Veterans with activities including concerts, breakfasts, assemblies, round table discussions with Veterans and writing heartfelt letters of thanks.
Today (Nov. 11, 2025) our JROTC and Waynesville High School Tigers Pride Marching Band will participate in the Veterans Day Parade in St. Robert. The parade follows the 11 a.m. Veterans ceremony that is hosted by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce.
There will be no school and all offices will be closed today (Nov. 11, 2025) in observance of Veterans Day.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the statewide Annual Performance Reports (APRs) for the 2024-25 school year on Nov. 6, 2025, and the Waynesville R-VI School District has received 90 percent of possible points. This is the highest Waynesville R-VI has received since MSIP 6.
“We invite our community to celebrate this accomplishment because every data point represents a student who is learning and growing,” said Waynesville R-VI Superintendent Hilary Bales. “This level of growth and achievement is only possible through the very hard work of our teachers and combined efforts of our students, staff, parents and community.”
APRs demonstrate the progress being made toward meeting the standards and indicators in the sixth iteration of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6). The report measures multiple areas including academic achievement, continuous improvement, attendance and readiness for success beyond high school.
Bales noted that data plays an essential role in the district’s continuous improvement efforts. “We use data as a tool for reflection and action,” she said. “Our teams analyze assessment results, attendance patterns and growth measures to evaluate our strengths and identify areas for growth. This allows us to make informed decisions that strengthen instruction, enhance student support and ensure continued progress.”
Each year, the district reviews its performance from the previous year and identifies actionable steps to make meaningful improvements. “Our work is never done,” Bales said, “but we do want to celebrate with our community the success from this past year — because it truly takes all of us.”
MSIP is Missouri’s accountability system for evaluating and classifying public schools. It sets expectations for instructional practices and student outcomes, aiming to ensure every graduate is prepared for success in college, career, and life.
Waynesville High School inducted 84 students into the National Honor Society during the induction ceremony on Nov. 6, 2025, in the WHS Auditorium.
Leading the ceremony were NHS President Kimora Godwin, Vice President Brionna Ash, Secretary Aubrey Fields, Public Affairs Chair Hailey Melchiorre and Social Chair Sheila Jones.
NHS advisors are Stephanie Kramme and Dalton Quick.
The following WHS students were inducted:
Emmanuel Aguirre
Abigail Augenstein
Emily Babcock
Emma Beatty
Ayana Bishop
Ziarlene Bituin
Olivia Bone
Landon Boswell
Aliyah Bowers
Ava Byers
Selena Charbonier
Juliet Choi
Nicolas Cruz
Connor David
Damien Dickow
Hunter Emerson
Brooklyn Enslen
Emmalie Erlewine
Olivia Frommelt
Jack Giffen
Bernd Gillette
Elijah Green
Madison Grimes
Reagan Grosvenor
Abigail Hanna
Gregory Harless
Aminah Harmon
Myah Harris
Rian Hartt
Cassandra Hays
Rachel Heberling
Benjamin Hicks
Karlie Horne
Erica Hull
Hector Johnson
Sophie Johnson
Riley Jones
Evelyn Kelley
Anna Kempen
Cameron Knuckles
Emily Leboeuf
Nicolas Lederle
Haneul Lee
Danica Leet
Sirenedi Maldonado
Calley McCall
Aydan McClinton
Lillian McCutcheon-Jones
Myla Miller
Remington Minard
Karina Narcotta
Imanuelle Navayra
McKenna Ogden
Destany Oster
Ivy Moon Radwan-Rodowicz
Alexis Rase
Tre'Von Reed
Sophia Reed
Claire Reed
Everett Rinck
Lily Romero
Conner Ross
Taylor Sandidge
Enyel Guadalupe Sanjurjo
Zoey Self
Gabriel Sinden
Chloe Smith
Angela Speed
Brooklyn Stephens
Jariah Stevens
Luke Thompson
Elizabeth Tipeni
Isabella Torres
Anel Torres
Saya Tully
Nicholas Vaughn
Dailey Vernon
Sophia Wagasky
Clay Walkup
Aidan Walsh
Autumn Werner
Aden Westerman
Madyson Wilk
Brooklyn Zamora
