Waynesville R-VI School District

Thirteen students who are members of Beta were recognized for placing at the State Beta Convention at the Waynesville R-VI Board of Education meeting on March 24, 2025. The following Waynesville High School students were recognized by Courtney Long, executive director–secondary: • Don Cing - 1st place Biomedical • Siessa Kpessokro - 2nd place French • Kaydence Long - 4th place French • Serina Chen - 2nd place Math • Mason Thompson - 1st place Math • Elyssa Scarborough -1st place Psychology • Logan Giles - 4th place Psychology • Elaine Wu - 1st place Social Studies • Kyle Wilking - 1st place Social Studies • Carter Pondrom - 1st place U.S. History • Kimora Godwin - 5th place Speech • Citlali Arzabala - 3rd place Performing Arts Vocalist • Evelyn Carrol - 5th place Painting Pictured are Beta Co-sponsor Dawn Wilking, Mason Thompson and Beta Co-sponsor Tabitha Guzman.

Parker Preschool is taking applications for 2025-26 Parker Preschool is taking applications for students for the 2025-26 school year via a Google Form at https://forms.gle/xwNx74ykEuM8utWn8. Parker Preschool is a free preschool with the Waynesville R-VI School District. Students must turn age 4 by July 31, 2025, to be eligible for Parker Preschool, which is located inside the Parker Educational Center, next to Waynesville Middle School. In order to be eligible to attend the Parker Preschool program, the child’s birthdate must be between 8/1/2020 and 7/31/2021. Parker students begin at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and dismiss at 3:05 p.m. Doors open at 8:05 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, Parker begins at 8:45 a.m. and doors open at 8:35 a.m. Applicants will be chosen through a lottery drawing. The lottery drawing will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 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. Students must reside within the boundaries of the Waynesville R-VI School District. Please note that the link to the Google Form will close at 4 p.m. on April 13th. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Molinda Mitchell at mmitchell@waynesville.k12.mo.us.

Wood Elementary 4th and 5th graders performed their spring concert in March 2025. #wayschools

Freedom Elementary’s 4th and 5th graders presented a concert, “A Blast from the Past,” on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at the Waynesville High School Auditorium. These photos are from the 5th grade concert. #wayschools

Waynesville High School will host a Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at WHS. Egg hunts begin at 10:40 a.m. on the throws field at Waynesville High School. as follows: 10:40 a.m. Age 3 and under / pre-kindergarten - kindergarten 11:00 a.m. 1st - 2nd grade 11:20 a.m. 3rd - 5th grade The throws field is located on the east side of the WHS campus, near Tiger Stadium and the tennis courts.

SAVE THE DATE: 6 p.m. April 30 Community Salute to Service The community is invited to attend the Community Salute to Service at 6 p.m. 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. Those being recognized are asked to scan the QR code, fill out the brief form and then arrive at 5:30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. This event is open to high school students from throughout Missouri who meet the above criteria.

WMS StuCo wins Gold Award The Honor Council Committee of the Missouri Association of Student Councils is pleased to announce that Waynesville Middle School Student Council has been awarded the Missouri Association of Student Councils Honor Council Gold Award. The gold award recognizes the WMS Student Council’s outstanding performance as a council. Awards were presented at the 2025 MASC State Convention held March 13-15, 2025, at Poplar Bluff High School. The state convention brings together more than 1,000 student leaders from schools throughout Missouri for a three-day convention. Highlights include nationally known speakers, student-led workshops and breakout sessions, campaigning and election of state officer schools, scholarships and recognition of Honor Council recipients. Waynesville Middle School Student Council was recognized for its involvement at the local level, involvement in South Central District Student Council and involvement at the state level. Only 66 student councils in the state of Missouri met the criteria for the award. The honor is based on an application submitted by each school. Criteria are established to honor those councils that have a comprehensive program in promoting student activities and student leadership. Activities include school service, school spirit, community service, student and teacher recognition and leadership training activities. “Student Councils and student leaders make a positive contribution to their schools and help to create a positive educational climate,” said Honor Council Chair Jane Perrica in her letter to WMS. “We congratulate Waynesville Middle School for providing an atmosphere where students and Student Council can play a vital role in your school. Thank you to the Student Council advisors/sponsors for providing many opportunities for Student Council members to develop leadership skills. We also wish to recognize the principals and superintendents for supporting their student leaders in all of their endeavors.” #WaySchools

WHS StuCo earns Silver Award The Honor Council Committee of the Missouri Association of Student Councils is pleased to announce that Waynesville High School Student Council has been awarded the Missouri Association of Student Councils Honor Council Silver Award. Awards were presented at the 2025 MASC State Convention held at Poplar Bluff High School. Waynesville High School Student Council was recognized for its involvement at the local level, involvement in South Central District Student Council and involvement at the state level. Only 66 student councils in the state of Missouri met the criteria for the award. The honor is based on an application submitted by each school. Criteria are established to honor those councils that have a comprehensive program in promoting student activities and student leadership. Activities include school service, school spirit, community service, student and teacher recognition and leadership training activities. Student Councils and student leaders make a positive contribution to their schools and help to create a positive educational climate. “We congratulate Waynesville High School for providing an atmosphere where students and Student Council can play a vital role in your school,” stated Honor Council Chair Jane Perrica in her letter. “Thank you to the Student Council advisors/sponsors for providing many opportunities for Student Council members to develop leadership skills. We also wish to recognize the principals and superintendents for supporting their student leaders in all of their endeavors.”

Vote for Waynesville High School’s Way-Med program! Nikki DenDekker's entry for the #DreamBigger2025 grant on behalf of promoting medical and SSTEM ideas in Waynesville High School’s Way-Med program has made the finals. Voting ends TOMORROW, March 19. You can vote once daily at https://www.sparklight.com/contest?fbclid=IwY2xjawJGbixleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZTQoHclW6-Oc9JBP5fgpCfDN3xJj6mrLcPIxcuTsCSm31ZQfeDNT8oZYA_aem_a4gS5B-1Vh_aDjpsjwDXzQ. (You may click the x below the “Like us?” and still vote.) Please note: Waynesville High School’s image looks like an operating room and you have to hover over the image to see the words, “Waynesville R-VI School.” Those with the most votes will be awarded $2,500.

Alailima named Missouri Scholars 100 Recipient and Copeland named Honorable Mention Renae Alailima, a senior at Waynesville High School, has been named a Missouri 100 Scholar – one of the top academic students in the state through the prestigious 2025 Missouri Scholars 100 program. In addition, Nathaniel Copeland, also a WHS senior, has been selected for Honorable Mention in the 2025 Missouri Scholars 100 program. The Missouri Scholars 100 statewide initiative recognizes outstanding academic achievement, honoring Missouri's top 100 graduating students and those who have earned honorable mention. Dr. Jason Whitt, WHS principal, announced the awards that honor exceptional commitment to academic excellence. This statewide initiative, organized by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of 100 outstanding students from the graduating class of 2025. Alailima will be recognized at a special luncheon hosted at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Mo., on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Missouri Scholars 100 is a competitive program that invited schools across the state to nominate candidates based on academic excellence. The selection process employs a formula considering the student's grade point average and ACT or SAT scores. Nominees must meet the criteria of an "Academic Decathlon," successfully navigating 10 challenging academic events to showcase their scholastic strength. To qualify, students must hold a minimum GPA of 3.750, a minimum ACT score of 29 or a minimum SAT score of 1280, rank in the upper 10 percent of their class, and engage in advanced coursework in mathematics, science, English and foreign language. Additionally, nominees must exhibit excellent attendance, exemplary citizenship within the school and active participation in the school's activities. Clark Mershon, executive director of the principals’ association, said, "The Missouri Scholars 100 Program is one of the premier academic recognition programs in the country. It is truly a celebration of learning. Students selected for this program have taken a rigorous course of study and maintained the highest academic standards."

There will be no school in the Waynesville R-VI School District March 17-21, 2025, for Spring Break.

The Waynesville High School Music Department presented its Spring Concert with Jazz Band II, Jazz Band I, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble performing on March 11, 2025, at the WHS Auditorium. All seniors (see list below) were recognized and two received prestigious awards during the concert. Senior Dylan Liegey, who performed a solo on the flugelhorn, received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. Senior Seth Steuck, who performed a solo on the tenor saxophone, received the John Philip Sousa Award. The seniors also recognized Band Director Jared Sabatasso and assistant directors Chance Inman, Keisha Jarrett and Andrew Tiefenbrunn, and Color Guard Director Bailey Poncia with gifts of appreciation. The seniors who were recognized were Jade Anderson Evan Baxter Evan Beck Justyce Collier-Ford Rikku Carlson Luke Cassidy MacKenzie Colgan Jayla Courtney Andre Dunz Alessandra Ellet William Figueroa Fionn Gallagher Elijah Guillory Chloe Hayes Morgan Heimbach Dylan Henderson Peter Johnson Jianna Knighten Derrick Liegey Dylan Liegey Connor Long Sofia Mejia Montara Owens Giahnna Rice Chloee Santos Tristan Simental Seth Steuck Edwin Taylor JeNaiya Turner Thomas Walters Henry Westphall Matthew David Wilson Sienna Zuber

Jarrett selected for Disney teacher celebration Keisha Jarrett, a music teacher at Waynesville Middle and High Schools, is one of only 12 teachers in the nation to be selected to attend the Imagination Campus Teacher Celebration sponsored by Disney on May 1-4, 2025. “I’m incredibly excited to represent Waynesville and bring back valuable professional development insights to share with my colleagues and students,” Jarrett said. The celebration is part of National Teacher Appreciation Week, when educators from across the country are being recognized for their dedication to inspiring students every day. The teachers will be challenged to use problem solving skills and collaboration in a variety of educational settings. They will also explore how Disney Imagineers marry imaginative design, storytelling and practical considerations in theme park design. They will also practice proper breath control, diction and character development in a musical theater setting.

Samuel Hall says being a teacher is the closest thing he has found to being a Marine – and he should know. Hall served as a Marine for 20 years, then spent a few years working in business, but has since found his calling in education. “Teaching is the closest profession I have found to being a Marine—you have the ability daily to make a difference in a person’s life,” Hall said. Hall was named the Waynesville R-VI Teacher of the Year on March 13, 2025. “His skillset is unmatched,” Dr. Jason Whitt, WHS principal. “Mr. Hall has been responsible for approximately 70 students graduating from WHS in the past 3.5 years. These students would not have graduated, if it were not for him.” For the past 8 years, Hall has been a teacher in the Waynesville R-VI School District and he currently serves as the Missouri Options/at-risk teacher at Waynesville High School. “Every teacher reaches students, but Mr. Hall reaches some of the hardest to reach kids,” Whitt said. Whether he’s helping a student prepare for the Hi-Set (high school equivalency) exam or recovering credits, Hall refuses to give up on students – even working up until the day of graduation to help a student finish one last credit hour. “When many would have given up, he has never quit. His compassion and caring, but firm attitude gets the most out of students,” Whitt said. “He is the best MoOptions teacher in the State of Missouri and is one the best teachers that I have ever met.” But Hall will tell you he’s the one who is learning every day. “I learn humility, kindness and empathy from my students, along with how blessed I am,” Hall said. Teacher of the Year criteria includes professional activities, professional development, leadership, community involvement, contribution and accomplishments within the education field. Teachers participate in interviews with the Teacher of the Year Committee. During the interview portion, the committee learns more about the candidate’s teaching philosophy, how they interact with and impact students, as well as those issues that they view as a priority in education. “During his interview, one thing that stood out was his advice to new teachers,” said Courtney Long, executive director of secondary. “Mr. Hall said, that teaching is a career, not a job. He readily admits that you’ll be tired at the end of the day, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve made a difference.” Hall’s professionalism and passion for helping students extend beyond helping them meet their immediate goals. “He focuses on teaching students to think critically so they can make good decisions now, and in the future,” said Mike Henson, executive director of elementary. Hall will advance to the regional competition. Regional Teachers of the Year from around the state will then move on to the state Teacher of the Year process. #wayschools

Sam Callis, director of the Waynesville Career Center, spoke to the Rotary Club of Pulaski County on March 11, 2025, about the 19 programs that are offered at the WCC. The WCC serves nine high schools and approximately 550 students. Programs are available for both high school and adult students. Callis also spoke about the continued growth in career and technical fields now and well into the future. Following his speech, Callis was presented a Rotary coin from Suzanne Wilber, president of the Rotary Club. #wayschools

Freedom Elementary hosted its first leadership day Friday, March 7, 2025. Guests from both the Waynesville R-VI School District and neighboring districts were greeted by the Freedom's Assembly Leaders, Spirit Squad and Student Lighthouse Team. Their day included a performance by the Tiger Beat bucket drummers and a tour of the building led by Freedom's Lighthouse Team highlighting aspects of Leader in Me throughout the school. Following their tours, staff and parent Lighthouse panels shared how they support Leader in Me within the school and what "Big Rocks" each group is working toward. #wayschools

Community leaders volunteered to conduct mock interviews with Waynesville Career Center students in March 2025. Volunteers included soldiers from the 787th Military Police Battalion, Homeland Defense MSCoE, Chemical Defense Training Facility (CDTF), and Combat Training Company (CTC), as well as civilians from the Army Continuing Education System (ACES). Students provided resumes and answered questions related to their career field. Mock interviews are part of the college and career ready experiences that help prepare students for the real world. #wayschools

Jaylee Gettys, a junior at Waynesville High School, has been named the WHS Rotary Student of the Month for March 2025. She was recognized on March 11 at the Rotary Club of Pulaski County meeting. Her parents are Melanie and Ashley Rogers and Jayme and Krystal Gettys. Gettys nominator stated, “Jaylee Gettys is an extreme example of someone who always displays integrity. She has consistently shown integrity in Nutrition and Wellness through her honesty, responsibility and strong work ethic. Whether collaborating on group projects, completing assignments or participating in food labs, she always does the right thing—even when no one is watching. Jaylee takes pride in submitting her own work, asking for help when needed instead of taking shortcuts, and she owns up to mistakes with a positive attitude. In the kitchen, she follows recipes carefully, measures ingredients accurately and ensures that teamwork is fair and respectful. Her actions set a great example for her classmates, showing that integrity is important. Jaylee is going to do great things!” Gettys is an outstanding student that carries a 3.97 grade point average and has a 96% attendance rate this year. She is on the varsity volleyball team and has played as a Waynesville Tiger since 7th grade. She is also a member of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. Upon graduation, Gettys plans to become an educator and teach science or anatomy. #wayschools

Waynesville High School kicked off Academic Week with a banquet to recognize WHS students who have a 3.7 or higher grade point average or who met the GPA growth requirement. Throughout the evening, WHS Theatre Troupe 1669 students performed musical arrangements to promote their upcoming performances. In addition, Tricia Foster recognized Dr. Jason Whitt for starting Academic Week at WHS The students who were recognized (by class year) are as follows: ____________________ Sophomores Russell Aden Danely Aguilar Harley Atchison Emily Babcock Ethan Baxter Alayna Beels Jasmine Benefield Christie Bennett Tallon Bennett Trinity Bennett Andrew Boda Faith Bohrer Olivia Bone Landon Boswell Collin Box Kaleyah Buttner Christian Campbell Sophia Campbell Wyatt Carter Riley Chase Aleksander Cichocki Vung Ciin Kaitlyn Colgan Jeramyah Creighton Ella DeWitt Riley Dunkel Grace Foster Ulysses Gonzales Elijah Green Raeleigh Green Gregory Harless Brady Harpel Tiana Harper Jeffrey Hickey Reilly-Ann Knowlton Kameren Knox Siessa Kpessokro Levi Kriebs Nicolas Lederle Danica Leet Brooklynn Lercher Vaiden Matlock Liam Moore Evolet Morris Andre Morse Dakota Nix Holly Oehlerking Brayden Ornot Dejah Pelliccia Chase Phinn Juliet Piper Samantha Powell Tre'Von Reed Everett Rinck Aleyris Rivera Darrell Rodriquez Conner Ross Ethan Scarbrough Zoey Self Hailey Sexton Joshulynn Shipp Logan Spahn Kayla Stuckey Cori Swartz Joe Telebrico Hannah Ussery Ivan Velasco Jocelynn Velazquez Aden Westerman Bella Wethington Cambria Wilcox Aaron Williams Deon Wold Chihiro Yoshida ____________________ JUNIORS Abigail (Dante) Alford Autumn Gwen Asbell Brionna Ash Beatrice Caterina Azara Arkadian Baumeister Breanna Bednarik David Boyd Kyle Briner Ashya Burton Ava Byers Shelby Cannon Markell Carter Serina Chen Juliet Choi Don Cing Kaden Crone Adrian Cueto Francisco Arismendy Cueto Francisco Connor David Haley Emerson Haley Emmett Emmalie Erlewine Aubrey Fields Samantha Gadsden Jaylee Gettys Wyatt Glaspell Kimora Godwin Noah Goerl Isidro Gonzalez Alexis Good Keegan Graves Regan Grosvenor Riley Grosvenor Trey Guill Jashon Hamilton Braden Hays Zacheriah Heighton Miley Heimbach Madison Hite Karlie Horne Sheila Jones Jakob Kalanquin Christopher Knight Grey Landreth Haneul Lee Lauryn Lercher Luke Lockhart Kaydence Long Laila Lyons Zetalyn Mansapit Alyssa Mar Aden Maust Cheyenne McClain Hailey Melchiorre Alexis Meyer Chloe Moredock Isabella Moredock Victor Munguia Carl Myers Sydney Myers Imanuelle Navayra Arianna Newkirk Ashlyn Osborn Dylan Pelkey Isabella Pereyra Luke Pollman Kaylee Putman Alexis Rase Kalee Rhoades Mason Rodden Elyssa Scarbrough Stanley Sikora Eleanor Silengo Addison Smith Eve Smith Ivy Smith Angela Speed Sloan Storie Kaitlyn Sullivan Carson Sutphin Jackson Thibodeau Luke Thompson Clarence Peter Torres Emily Trottier Kaelyn Tyree Emily Van Loan Caden Vaughn Ki Ventura Jesslene Vinson Cooper West Jackson Westphall Emilee Williams Elaine Wu ____________________ SENIORS Renae Alailima Nysa Alvarez Josephine Andreasen Citlali Arzabala Dashayla Bean Evan Beck Alexis Bennett Tristan Boerner Rikku Carlson Luke Cassidy Anna Chen MacKenzie Colgan Conner Cook Nathaniel Copeland Taylor Cornelison Karina Cruz Kaitlynn Dirck Andre Dunz Alessandra Ellett Ethan Esguerra Elvin Esguerra Drew Fidler William Figueroa Haylee Fort Asia Frazier Josseline Galvan Logan Giles Kurt Hauer Chloe Hayes Dylan Henderson Mackenzie Henderson Kadence High Brandon Howard Maleah Johnson Peter Johnson Michael Kelsey Jianna Knighten Jillian Logan Connor Long S'ence Maldonado Aayden Mantle Kiera Matesowicz Sofia Mejia Caleb Myrick Dakota Osborn Montara Owens Yisel Perez Carter Pondrom Kamden Raines Giahnna Rice Ethan Rothmel Johnathon Schultz Bella Simmons Aiden Smith Aniyah Smith Seth Steuck John Swanson Riley Swanson Mason Thompson Lord Torres Faith Valdes Julian Vassallo Mia Verry Damian Walley Thomas Romulo Walters Madilyn Waugh Brayden Weigelt Kyle Wilking Alexis Williams Matthew Wilson Cameron Wilson Elijah Wooden Mackenzie Workman Aiden Ybarra Justin Zuber Sienna Zuber #wayschools

Waynesville R-VI Superintendent Hilary Bales and Dr. Jerrod Wheeler, superintendent at Knob Noster, met with U.S. Representative Mark Alford on March 11, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. They spoke about the importance of federal Impact Aid in educating Waynesville R-VI and Knob Noster students. Bales also spoke with Alford about the importance of funding for our JROTC programs. Bales is attending the Spring 2025 National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, and has been elected to the NAFIS Board of Directors.