Willard Area Chamber of Commerce

On this #OneTeamOneWillardWednesday, we are thrilled to highlight our Willard Area Chamber of Commerce!

To the Willard Area Chamber of Commerce, “One Team, One Willard” means working together to help our community members succeed. That means supporting new and established businesses, local non-profit organizations, our schools, and our city government. “One Team, One Willard” means committing to the common good- and actively participating in making Willard the best it can be.

If you would like to be included in future #OneTeamOneWillardWednesday posts, email [email protected]

Board Candidate Filing Dates

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS (Public Notice of Filing) 

The Willard Public School District will accept declarations of candidacy from any person interested in running for a position on the School Board in the April 4, 2023 election. Persons interested may file at the Superintendent’s Office located at 500 E. Kime Street, Willard, Missouri. Filing will begin on December 6, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. and will continue from Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Filing will not occur on the following holidays when the school district office will be closed: December 23, 2022 through December 26, 2022. Filing will end on December 27, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. There are three (3) positions available with three year terms.

Substitute Teacher Shortage

Willard Public Schools is currently searching for quality substitute teachers to join our team. If you are a friendly and competent professional with an interest in education, this is the perfect position for you!

Applicants must have, or be able to attain, a Missouri Substitute Certificate and be available to work from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on assigned days. Additional role details are available upon request.

Visit our website to learn more about requirements, benefits, and sub rates.

Winter Break

We are officially less than two weeks out from Winter Break! As a reminder, we will have a half day on Thursday, December 22nd and students will return to kick off the second semester on January 4th.

Let's finish the first semester strong these next two weeks!

ESEA Parent's Right to Know

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires notification to parents when any of the following situations exist in a Local Education Agency (LEA) receiving federal funds. Additional information regarding these requirements can be found in the following manual.

All-State Band Members

Congratulations to our WHS Band students who received All-State honors last weekend. They auditioned with more than 1,200 students from across the state to be included as part of the Missouri All-State Band!

Christopher Wilson: All-State Bank - Honorable Mention, General Percussion

Riley Gugel: All-State Band - First Alternate, Contrabass Clarinet

Willard Instrumental Music Department Winter Concert

You are invited to attend our annual Winter Band Concert, held this Sunday, December 11th at 2:00 p.m. in the Willard High School Main Gym.

The concert will feature the 7th grade band, 8th grade band, and multiple groups from our high school band. The concert is free, welcome to the public and is a great way to usher in the holiday season!

Additionally, the band program will be taking monetary donations for their adopted family as well as hygiene products for the Willard Pantry, if you would like to contribute.

NJROTC Drone Team Top Guns Competition

The Willard NJROTC Drone Team competed at Alma High School for the Top Guns Competition! Here are the results:

• Minesweeper Event - 3rd place
• Carrier Landing Event - 2nd place
• Recon Event - 1st place
• Overall - 2nd place for the Willard NJROTC Drone Team!

The following cadets participated in the event:

• Tyler Akeman
• Wayne Hopper
• Levi Higginbotham
• Ethan Costello
• Eli Rhodes
• Wyatt Black

Great work, cadets!

Willard Success Program Recognized by Missouri Alternative Education Network

Our Willard Success program was recognized by the Missouri Alternative Education Network for the good things going on in our program! The information was shared by MAEN President Dan Davinroy, and an article was posted on the MAEN website. Read the article below.

Willard Middle School Theatre Presents Hercules

Our Willard Middle School Black Box Theatre invites you to their show, Hercules! See below the show's press release, written by 8th Grade student, Elizabeth Edgington.

Come one, come all! Willard Middle School welcomes you to our show Hercules! Where Hercules faces dangerous journeys and missions to save the girl of his dreams from Medusa's poison. However, Hercules is just a young human man. How will he defeat his challengers? Find out in our humorous modern remake of the Greek tale of Hercules. Where there is tons of laughter, love, adventure, and self discovery. 

Join us on December 8th at 7:00 p.m., December 9th at 7:00 p.m., and December 10th with a matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. and a final show at 7:00 p.m. that day. 

It is the perfect family-friendly play for all ages to enjoy. The Willard Middle School theater department has spent months working on this fantastic musical for everybody to love. The program will have a marvelous cast and crew of 60+ of Willard Middle School’s very own students! 

When asked what makes this play different compared to all the other shows Willard has had, director Amanda Graves, responded, “This show is a fun throwback to the 80s. It's a spoof of mythology in a way you haven't seen before!” Cast member, Bella VanHooser, answered, “There is a very large cast in it, and we all work together very well! I play a bird and I get to rap and beatbox.”

Tickets are on sale NOW! Hurry fast and get your tickets before they are sold out! You can purchase tickets online for $6 per person. Before and during intermission for every show, there will be games for kids to play and a silent auction with wonderful items to bid on! Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Future Tigerettes Clinic and Performance

The Willard Future Tigerettes Clinic will be hosted on Thursday, January 5, 2023, with a performance at the WHS boys basketball game on Friday, January 6, 2023. The clinic on Thursday will take place at Willard High School.

Grades K-4 are eligible for $20 per dancer (cash or check accepted). Cost includes admission to game for the dancer plus one parent/guardian. To register, scan the QR code at the bottom right corner of the flyer OR you can register here. Pre-register by December 9, 2022 to guarantee a t-shirt.

Participants may be photographed and/or videoed to showcase our fun time together on social media outlets.

All questions and concerns should be directed to Bobbi Sweeten or Kylie McCoy.

Grief and Loss Workshop in Partnership with Burrell Health

Willard Middle School is excited to partner with Burrell to offer monthly workshops at WMS surrounding topics that commonly impact adolescents and their families.

The hope is to provide information, resources, and practical tips for the adults in our students' lives. These workshops will be open to all parents and staff members in the Willard School District!

Please use the link below to RSVP for our first workshop on Grief and Loss.

Friday, December 9

FREE Child Development Screenings - Parents as Teachers

HS Speech & Debate Tournament @ Bolivar

9th/JV Boys Basketball vs Hillcrest 4:30 P.M.

7th/8th Girls Basketball vs McDonald County 5:30 P.M.

Saturday, December 10

HS Speech & Debate Tournament @ Bolivar

Boys V Wrestling @ Carl Junction

Boys JV Wrestling @ Harrisonville

7th/8th Boys & Girls Wrestling - COC Tournament

HS Band - Springfield Christmas Parade 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Sunday, December 11

MS/HS Band - Christmas Concert 2:00 P.M.

Monday, December 12

Girls 7th Basketball - COC Tournament @ Carl Junction

Girls 8th Basketball - COC Tournament @ Branson

Girls V Wrestling @ Nixa Invitational

JV/V Girls Basketball vs Marshfield 6:00 P.M.

Tuesday, December 13

Willard Food Pantry 10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

9th/JV/V Boys Basketball vs McDonald County 4:30 P.M.

JV/V Girls Basketball @ Rock Bridge 5:30 P.M.

JV/V Boys & Girls Wrestling vs Rolla 6:00 P.M.

Wednesday, December 14

9th/JV Boys Basketball vs Kickapoo 5:00 P.M.

Thursday, December 15

9th/JV/V Girls Basketball @ Central 4:30 P.M.

Parents as Teachers Christmas Celebration at Central Elementary 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

7th/8th Boys Basketball @ Branson 5:30 P.M.

Board of Education Meeting - East Elementary Spotlight 7:00 P.M.

Friday, December 16

V Girls Wrestling @ Eldon

9th/JV Boys Basketball vs Marshfield 4:30 P.M.

For additional details, please visit our District Website Calendar or our Willard Athletics Website.These calendars will have the most up-to-date information of what's going on, so be sure to check them regularly. We can't wait to see you at our various events!