Weather update on the Stampede in the Park
UPDATE AS OF 11:15 A.M. OCT. 10:
New Stampede in Park date set for 4th, 5th and 6th graders
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4th and 5th Stampede in the Park has been rescheduled
The Stampede in the Park for 4th and 5th graders will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
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6th grade Stampede has been rescheduled
The 6th-grade Stampede has been canceled for today as well due to unsafe running conditions and also has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
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Please note updated information about the information below appears above.
4th and 5th Stampede to be rescheduled
Due to the weather, the Stampede in the Park for 4th and 5th grades will not be held today (Friday, Oct. 10, 2025) and will be rescheduled for a later date. Students who were already on buses are returning to their schools.
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6th grade Stampede is still on
The 6th-grade Stampede is still scheduled for 12:15 p.m. today, as the rain is expected to move out by then.
Additionally, AVID students from both the middle school and high school participated, further enhancing their exposure to postsecondary and career opportunities.
Brig. Gen. Sean Crockett, the Deputy Commander U.S. Army Cadet Command, visited the Waynesville Tiger Battalion on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, at the Waynesville Career Center.
Crockett toured the facilities, spoke to the battalion and received a "State of the Battalion" briefing from the Tiger Battalion commanders and staff. He also recognized four outstanding cadets: LET 1 Jessie Lopez, LET 2 Nicholas Vaughn, LET 3 Sarah Ketchum and LET 4 Addison Bowling.
Lopez was recognized for “facing every challenge with a positive outlook and a desire to improve, making every task, no matter how difficult, a valuable learning experience for herself and those around her.”
Vaughn was recognized for being “the definition of a steady performer. He will take any task assigned to him and complete it on time, to standard and with limited supervision. He always maintains a positive attitude and is respectful to his peers.”
Ketchum was recognized for “epitomizing what a Cadet Leader looks like. She is a scholar, athlete and leader. She is a varsity basketball player, and is the 6th hour class leader because of her demonstrated leadership ability and potential.”
In addition to being the cadet captain and public affairs officer, Bowling was recognized for being a member of the Drill Team and Raider Team. “She has done an amazing job taking photos of all of our events, and telling our battalion story; far ahead of any of her predecessors. She is in the WCC nursing program and is currently applying for the Army ROTC nursing scholarship.”
Three individuals were inducted into the Wall of Leaders on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, during Showcase Waynesville Schools. The Waynesville R-VI School District Foundation inducted Janice Roam Dye and the late Dr. Ogden DeWitt as Lifetime Achievement - Alumni and the late Sadie Navarre as Outstanding Educational Professional.
Colin Long served as the emcee and Foundation President Cheryl Vernon provided a welcome and closing remarks. Waynesville Career Center students provided appetizers and the Waynesville Career Center’s floral arrangement class designed the flowers.
Sheree DeWitt spoke on behalf of her late husband, Ogden DeWitt. Janice Roam Dye then shared remarks, followed by Linda Ice and Ed Fisher, who spoke in memory of the late Sadie Navarre.
Their plaques now hang on the Wall of Leaders at WHS. Their plaques state as follows:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT – ALUMNI
Ogden DeWitt
A 1960 Waynesville High School graduate and talented athlete, Ogden DeWitt earned his doctorate from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1969. After three years in private practice and serving as Chief of Staff at Pulaski County Memorial Hospital, he joined the U.S. Army in 1973. During his career, he completed the Aviation, Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces Officer Courses as well as the Army War College. He served as the 82nd ABN Surgeon, Special Forces Surgeon and XVIII ABN Corps Surgeon. Rising to Brigadier General, he commanded two Army medical centers before retiring after 27 years to Waynesville. After 9/11, he cared for soldiers as a civilian physician at Fort Leonard Wood until 2012. A man of faith, he led Bible studies and served as a church deacon. Dr. Ogden DeWitt is honored with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement – Alumni Award.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT – ALUMNI
Janice Roam Dye
A 1964 Waynesville High School graduate, Janice Roam Dye embodies servant leadership as an educator, farmer, community leader and volunteer. She became the first woman to lead the Waynesville Career Center, securing millions in grants and greatly increasing enrollment. In Waynesville R-VI, she served as assistant principal, director of activities, home economics department chair and instructor. She also taught at Drury College and the University of Missouri. Her service includes the Missouri State University Board of Governors, Regional Technical Education Council, Waynesville R-VI Board of Education, and the Missouri Council of Vocational Administrators Leadership Academy. She was the first president of the Waynesville R-VI Foundation and remains active in her church, community and the American Angus Association. Jann is honored with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement – Alumni Award.
OUTSTANDING EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL
Sadie Navarre
A dedicated choir teacher, Sadie Navarre built a culture of excellence at Waynesville High School. She grew the program from one choir in 1964 into multiple ensembles, including Chamber Choir, Show Choir, Girls and Boys Glee Clubs and a faculty choir. Her legendary productions blended artistry, emotion and technical brilliance, leading students to excel at state competitions. She wrote the WHS Alma Mater, ran the district choral contest and served as president of both the Waynesville Community Teachers Association and the South Central Missouri State Teachers Association. She also directed the Waynesville United Methodist Church choir, gave private lessons, mentored educators, collaborated with parents and championed arts education. Sadie Navarre is honored with the 2025 Outstanding Educational Professional Award.
Nominations are open
The Wall of Leaders is located behind the bronze tiger at the main entrance to WHS. Nominations are now open for the next class of Wall of Leaders. The nomination form is at https://www.waynesvilleschoolsfoundation.com/_files/ugd/a24d3c_229d1799114b4fa9b538220648165958.pdf.
The Wall of Leaders rubric that outlines the criteria for a nominee is at https://www.waynesvilleschoolsfoundation.com/_files/ugd/a24d3c_a99e51eda5ea41309f8fcc17822ca54b.pdf.
Waynesville High School students and recent graduates were awarded a total of $26,500 on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, prior to the Homecoming varsity football game.
To see more photos from this event, please go to the Waynesville High School Facebook page.
The following students and 2025 graduates received $100 for each AP test on which they scored a 3 or higher this past spring:
Danely Aguilar
Renae Alailima
Abigail Alford
Alexander Alvarado
Joshua Amos
Josephine Andreasen
Citlali Arzabala
Itzel Arzabala
Autumn Asbell
Bri Ash
Ellyia Bagby
Dashayla Bean
Evan Beck
Breanna Bednarik
Alayna Beels
Christie Bennett
Kameron Birenbaum
Tristan Boerner
Faith Bohrer
Benjaman Borchardt
Addison Bowling
Collin Box
David Boyd
Kyle Briner
Jacob Brown
Tisari Brown
Rikku Carlson
Evelyn Carroll
Hailey Carter
Serina Chen
Juliet Choi
Aleksander Cichocki
Vung Ciin
Don Cing
Ethan Cole
Kaitlyn Colgan
Mackenzie Colgan
Justyce Collier-Ford
Nathaniel Copeland
Elizabeth Cox
Kaden Crone
Rozalyn Daley
Connor David
Zayda Dent
Ella Dewitt
Ahmed Diallo
Kaitlynn Dirck
Riley Dunkel
Haley Emmett
Emmalie Erlewine
Elvin James Esguerra
Tristen Ferraro
Drew Fidler
Noah Forte
Seira Fowler
Olivia Frommelt
Samantha Gadsden
Klaus Gillette
Wyatt Glaspell
Kimora Godwin
Aaron Gonzales
Ulysses Gonzales
Alexis Good
Keegan Graves
Elijah Green
Oliver Grife
Jashon Hamilton
Gregory Harless
Chloe Hayes
Royce Hayes
Braden Hays
Madison Hite
Kayden Hoke
Jay'Merie Howard
Maleah Johnson
Peter Johnson
Sheila Jones
Rayne Kling
Reilly-Ann Knowlton
Kameren Knox
Siessa Kpessokro
Levi Kriebs
Grey Landreth
Nicolas Lederle
Danica Leet
Brooklynn Lercher
Lauryn Lercher
Jillian Logan
Kaydence Long
Jalen Lymon
Laila Lyons
Aayden Mantle
Alyssa Mar
Kiera Matesowicz
Christian Matras
Calley McCall
Sofia Mejia
Hailey Melchiorre
Tyler Millius
Chloe Moredock
Isabella Moredock
Sean Morrison
Andre Morse
Shannon Moynihan
Victor Munguia
Carl Myers
Caleb Myrick
Savannah Nelson
Hallie Newberry
Aiden Odle
Alexander Olds
Dakota Osborn
Kai Owens
Juliet Piper
Athena Pittman
Luke Pollman
Kaylee Putman
Kamden Raines
Ella Reddick
Jayden Rene
Sophia Roark
Jackson Roby
Alianna Rodriguez
Bradley Rodriguez
Darrell Rodriquez
Logan Rodriguez
Elizabeth Rothmel
Payton Rushing
Aidan Sanders
Elyssa Scarbrough
Ethan Scarbrough
Morgan Scobee
Braedon Serrano
Stanley Sikora
Eleanor Silengo
Bella Simmons
Addison Smith
Eve Smith
Ivy Smith
Logan Spahn
Seth Steuck
Sloan Storie
Kayla Stuckey
Carson Sutphin
Riley Swanson
Joe Miguel Telebrico
Jackson Thibodeau
Mason Thompson
Clarence Torres
Julian Vassallo
Caden Vaughn
Ivan Velasco
Ki Ventura
Mia Verry
Thomas Romulo Walters
Madilyn Waugh
Brayden Weigelt
Xavier Weston-Rios
Henry Westphall
Jackson Westphall
Cambria Wilcox
Kyle Wilking
Aaron Williams
Alexis Williams
Emilee Williams
Elijah Wooden
Elaine Wu
Brooklyn Young
Brooklyn Zamora
Justin Zuber
Sienna Zuber
Julianna Zuno
The Drive4 UR Community event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Ed Morse Ford in St. Robert to support Snack in a Pack. SIAP will receive $30 per each test drive (1 per household) for up to 200 test drives. A pre- and post-survey must be completed in order for SIAP to receive a $30 donation for driving.
PreRegistration is strongly encouraged for the text drives by scanning the QR code or going to https://d4urc.com/W64XR. (It will state Ed Morse Ford East.)
Snack in a Pack provides meals on weekends and holidays for Waynesville R-VI students who might otherwise go hungry.
To test drive a vehicle, an individual must be at least 18 years of age and a licensed driver.
VOICES to perform tonight during Showcase Waynesville Schools
The VOICES Choir, an honor choir for students in grades 4-6, rehearsed on Wednesday in preparation for their performance tonight (Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025) at Showcase Waynesville Schools at Waynesville High School.
The VOICES Choir is under the direction of Vanessa Mason and assistant directors Laura Taylor, Beth Gibson, Amanda Johnson-Gonzalez, Lisa Martin and Terri Heiby.
Showcase Waynesville Schools is hosted by the Waynesville R-VI School District Foundation and is free and open to the public.
* Showcase schedule at a glance *
- 5 to 6 p.m. WHS 1st Floor
Guests will view student artwork and students will demonstrate their artistic and robotic skills on the first floor fine arts wing of WHS.
- 6 to 7 p.m. WHS Auditorium
Waynesville R-VI students will perform dance, musical and choral numbers in the WHS Auditorium.
- 7:15 p.m. WHS Bronze Tiger
Close friends, family members and community leaders are invited to stay for the formal Induction ceremony into the Wall of Leaders – Janice Roam Dye and the late Dr. Ogden DeWitt as Lifetime Achievement - Alumni and the late Sadie Navarre as Outstanding Educational Professional. Wall of Leaders inductees.
VOICES to perform tonight during Showcase Waynesville Schools
The VOICES Choir, an honor choir for students in grades 4-6, rehearsed on Wednesday in preparation for their performance tonight (Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025) at Showcase Waynesville Schools at Waynesville High School.
The VOICES Choir is under the direction of Vanessa Mason and assistant directors Laura Taylor, Beth Gibson, Amanda Johnson-Gonzalez, Lisa Martin and Terri Heiby.
Showcase Waynesville Schools is hosted by the Waynesville R-VI School District Foundation and is free and open to the public.
* Showcase schedule at a glance *
- 5 to 6 p.m. WHS 1st Floor
Guests will view student artwork and students will demonstrate their artistic and robotic skills on the first floor fine arts wing of WHS.
- 6 to 7 p.m. WHS Auditorium
Waynesville R-VI students will perform dance, musical and choral numbers in the WHS Auditorium.
- 7:15 p.m. WHS Bronze Tiger
Close friends, family members and community leaders are invited to stay for the formal Induction ceremony into the Wall of Leaders – Janice Roam Dye and the late Dr. Ogden DeWitt as Lifetime Achievement - Alumni and the late Sadie Navarre as Outstanding Educational Professional. Wall of Leaders inductees.
The Waynesville Raider Team traveled to Camp Arrowhead (Marshfield) on Sept. 27, 2025, to compete in the Ozark High School Raider Meet. This was also the 3rd ROTC Brigade qualifier for Army Raider Nationals.
In a field of more than 30 teams, Waynesville’s Mixed Team finished 5th overall, finishing 3rd on the Gauntlet. They were also 5th on the Physical Team, 6th on the Cross Country Litter Rescue, 7th on the 1 Rope Bridge and 11th on the 5k Run.
Next up is the Waynesville/Fort Leonard Wood Raider Meet, on Oct. 4, 2025, hosted by the 31st Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade.
Xin Chen, a 2022 Waynesville High School graduate, has been awarded a rootEd Alliance Transfer Scholarship of up to $12,000 per year, renewable for up to five years. This scholarship—worth as much as $60,000 per student—will support Chen as she pursues a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Missouri State University.
“We are thrilled that Xin Chen is being recognized for her hard work and commitment to her education,” said Superintendent Hilary Bales. “The selection process was particularly competitive this year, which makes her accomplishment especially noteworthy.”
rootEd scholarships are exclusively available to students from high schools, such as WHS, that partner with rootEd.
“These rootEd scholarships recognize both the hard work these students have already demonstrated and the tremendous potential they hold for the future,” said Noa Meyer, Chair of rootEd Alliance. “Congratulations to Xin Chen - rootEd is honored to be in your corner as you take this next step.”
About rootEd
rootEd Alliance, a national nonprofit, partners with rural high schools across Missouri to ensure every student graduates with a plan for what’s next – whether college, career training, military service or entering the workforce. Since launching in Missouri in 2018, rootEd advisors have supported more than 54,000 students across the state in defining and pursuing their goals. Now, thanks to a significant increase in state funding through Missouri’s fiscal 2026 budget, signed in July 2025, rootEd is serving 174 schools statewide and reaching approximately half of all rural high schools in Missouri with a dedicated college and career advisor.
Showcase Waynesville Schools to be held THURSDAY;
3 to be inducted into Wall of Leaders
The Waynesville R-VI School District Foundation will host Showcase Waynesville Schools from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at Waynesville High School. Following the performances, three individuals will be inducted into the Wall of Leaders.
“We invite everyone – from family members to the community—to come see our student’s artistic talents and to watch the performances on stage,” said Foundation President Cheryl Vernon.
From 5 to 6 p.m. student art pieces will be on display, along with art and robotics demonstrations. At 6 p.m. students will take the stage for dance, instrumental and choral performances.
During the performances, the three individuals who will later be inducted into the Wall of Leaders will be introduced via video. The formal induction ceremony of Janice Roam Dye and the late Dr. Ogden DeWitt as Lifetime Achievement – Alumni, and the late Sadie Navarre as Outstanding Educational Professional will begin at 7:15 p.m. in front of the Wall of Leaders, which is located directly behind the bronze tiger statue.
This year’s Showcase Waynesville Schools is free and open to the public.
* Schedule at a glance *
- 5 to 6 p.m. WHS 1st Floor
Guests will view student artwork and students will demonstrate their artistic and robotic skills on the first floor fine arts wing of WHS.
- 6 to 7 p.m. WHS Auditorium
Waynesville R-VI students will perform dance, musical and choral numbers in the WHS Auditorium. Wall of Leaders inductees will be introduced via video.
- 7:15 p.m. WHS Bronze Tiger
Close friends, family members and community leaders are invited to stay for the formal Induction ceremony into the Wall of Leaders – Janice Roam Dye and the late Dr. Ogden DeWitt as Lifetime Achievement - Alumni and the late Sadie Navarre as Outstanding Educational Professional
