April 7, 2023

Support Staff Member of the Year & Educator of the Year Finalists

Support Staff Member of the Year & Educator of the Year Finalists


The Willard School District presents two staff awards each year - Educator of the Year and Support Staff Member of the Year. For each award, nominations are accepted via online forms from staff, parents, students, and community members. The awards are presented at the district’s April 10, 2023 End-of-the-Year Celebration.


Before we announce the recipient of the Support Staff Member of the Year and Educator of the Year, we would like to recognize the finalists in each category.


Support Staff Member of the Year Finalists:

  • High School: Courtney Sly, Librarian Assistant 
  • Middle School: Corena Arnold, Food Service Manager
  • Intermediate North: Kelly Cofer, Secretary 
  • Intermediate South: Christian Taylor, Instructional Support Para
  • North Elementary: Liz Wiley, Academic Interventionist
  • Central Elementary: Beth Ryan, Para
  • East Elementary: Curtis Barker, Custodian
  • WOHE: Linda Welch, Custodian
  • South Elementary: Sara Brown, Nurse


Educator of the Year Finalists:

  • High School: Jill Wooldridge, Librarian
  • Middle School: Kara Wooderson, Science Teacher
  • Intermediate North: Megan Angel, Guidance Counselor 
  • Intermediate South: Autumn Farmer, Librarian
  • North Elementary: Dana Runyan, Instructional Coach 
  • Central Elementary: Jill Berry, 2nd Grade Teacher 
  • East Elementary: Amy Smith, 1st Grade Teacher
  • WOHE: Amber Carlyle, Cross Categorical Special Education Teacher 
  • South Elementary: Kelly Dunn, 4th Grade Teacher


Congratulations to each of our finalists! Thank you to all of you who nominated your colleagues. We are blessed with the best educators and support staff and are looking forward to celebrating another great year together!

Finalists Photos

Summer Discovery Enrollment Now Open

Summer Discovery Enrollment Now Open


Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade will have the opportunity to experience an integrated learning experience focused on Math, English, and Science investigations and design challenges throughout our Summer Discovery program. Students in 9th - 12th grade will take courses related to the credits they are working to attain.


If you have a student who will attend Summer Discovery in grades K-8, please complete this form. If you would like to register your child for Summer Discovery in grades 9-12, please contact a counselor at the high school.


Summer School Dates:

June 5th - June 30th


Summer School Time:

7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.


Shuttle Bus

Middle and high school students have the opportunity to ride a bus from WOHE to either the middle school or high school and back. Departure from WOHE is 6:45 a.m. and arrival back to WOHE is 2:45 p.m.. If your student would like to ride the bus, please select this on the form.


Summer Discovery TigerTALES

TigerTALES enrollment for Summer Discovery will be available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information.


*If you need to enroll more than one student, please complete a separate form for each student.

Summer Discovery Information
Summer Discovery Registration

Cox Care Mobile Shot Clinic

Cox Care Mobile Shot Clinic


The Cox Care Mobile will be in our District on April 26 in the Middle School parking lot and April 27 in the High School parking lot.


They will be offering Vaccines, Sport Physicals, and Hearing/Vision Screenings. Parents may sign up using the links below and will need to fill out the consent form and bring it to the appointment. If a student leaves to go to the Care Mobile and comes back to school they are not counted absent. See additional information below:


  • Sport physicals are free of charge to any student that has Medicaid, no insurance, or qualifies for free or reduced lunches. For all students with normal insurance, the cost is $10.
  • We carry both insurance and VFC vaccines for students and all school age required/recommended vaccines. Ages 4 through 18.
  • Hearing and vision screenings are free of charge.
  • Parents do not have to be present if paperwork is complete.


Please print and complete the Care Mobile Vaccine Consent form prior to the appointment.

Middle School Sign Up
High School Sign Up
Care Mobile Vaccine Consent Form

Willard Central Elementary 6th Annual Glow Run

Willard Central Elementary 6th Annual Glow Run


Willard Central Elementary is hosting their 6th Annual Runner in Me Glow Run on Friday, April 21, 2023. The $20 entry fee includes a t-shirt and glow gear bag. T-shirts cannot be guaranteed for registrations after March 28, 2023.


Schedule of Events:

  • 6:45 p.m.: Registration/Check-In. Concessions and Glow Gear for sale.
  • 7:15 p.m.: Little Leader Fun Run (preschool and under only)
  • 7:30 p.m.: Family Glow Run/Walk


Please return or mail the attached signed form and payment to Willard Central Elementary at 2625 North Farm Road 101 Springfield, MO 65802. Make checks payable to Willard Central PTO, as all proceeds benefit Willard Central PTO.

Registration Form

WMS/WHS Theatre Presents: Descendants, the Musical

WMS/WHS Theatre Presents: Descendants, the Musical


Willard Black Box Theatre is proud to present the Disney musical, DESCENDANTS on April 6th, 7th, and 8th. Our show features cast members from both Willard Middle School and Willard High School and a crew of students with over 125 involved. Show times are 7:00 p.m. nightly with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday as well. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each show. Tickets can be purchased for $6 at willard.booktix.com while they last. 


This high energy, exciting story about the troublemaking offspring of Disney evil villains like Jafar, Maleficent, and Cruella is based on the 3 Disney channel original movies. This show features songs you love like “Rotten to the Core”, “If Only”, and “ Break This Down”. Do they carry on their parents' evil ways or do they choose to be better than their parents? Find out live in this show of fun characters, fast-paced plot, and upbeat and catchy music that will have you singing. Email WMSDrama@willardschools.net for more info. See you there!


Press Release by Ta-mia Jones (8th grade)/ Poster by Allisyn Schartel (7th grade)

Purchase Tickets

NJROTC Competes in Navy Drill Nationals

NJROTC Competes in Navy Drill Nationals


The Willard NJROTC Drill Team competed in Navy Drill Nationals and the competition was intense with all 24 teams from around the nation present. This was the tenth year that the cadets of Willard NJROTC competed in the event, which is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. This year, for the first time ever, Willard High School NJROTC was awarded the Captain James H. Harvey Award which recognizes the NJROTC Unit that displays the highest degree of military decorum, personal conduct, and SPIRIT throughout the entire competition! Our cadets had the opportunity to get a photo in front of the USS Alabama as we left Pensacola. 


This group endured rough roads and lost key people along the way over the past few months, yet they persevered and continued to fight! In previous years they had 40-plus cadets able to compete in multiple events—this year they had 24 cadets competing in all events without giving up or giving in! Congratulations, NJROTC, Senior Chief Bishop would be exceptionally proud of his cadets!

WHS Winterguard Finishes Season

WHS Winterguard Finishes Season


Our WHS Winterguard wrapped up their season with a fantastic performance at the Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) Circuit Championships. They finished in 3rd place, earning the bronze medal in Scholastic Regional A class. This was their first appearance on the medal stand since 2017! Please congratulate these students on all their hard work throughout their incredibly successful season.

WHS Big Show & Senior Showcase

WHS Big Show & Senior Showcase


Willard High School is hosting its 14th Annual BIG Show Thursday, April 13th. The show is available during the school day for students and from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for the public, for free! This is a Superintendent's Juried showcase with cash prizes—showcasing K-12 Art, Senior Art Exhibition highlighting AP & Dual Credit Art, FACS, Yearbook, Greenhouse, Industrial Technology, Business, English, Foreign Language, Science, Recycling Club, and the Success Building. The Big Show is located on the Main Gym Mezzanine. All winners will be on Display at the District Office from May -September.

WHS MSHSAA Large Ensemble Results

WHS MSHSAA Large Ensemble Results


Congratulations to all three WHS bands on fantastic performances at their state assessment yesterday! Wind Symphony earned an Exemplary (Gold) rating. Symphonic and Concert Bands were both awarded an Outstanding (Silver) rating.


Mark your calendar to see these groups along with our middle school bands perform at our spring concert coming up on April 18, 2023!

2023 WHS Graduation Information

2023 WHS Graduation Information


Graduation is right around the corner, so we wanted to share some preliminary details with you!


Graduation tickets are not required! Students may invite as many friends and family as they would like. Graduation will take place on Sunday, May 14th at 3:00 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena located at 685 South John Q Hammons Parkway, Springfield, MO 65807. Doors will open at 2:00 p.m., Seniors will begin check-in at 1:30 p.m. at Hammons behind the arena.

2023 - 2024 Willard Pre-Kindergarten Screening Dates

If your student is four or five years old and intends to enter kindergarten next school year, please explore our pre-kindergarten opportunities.


Overview

Our tuition-based pre-k has a home in each of our five elementary buildings. Students attend all day, five days per week, and follow the district calendar. Students will experience all aspects of school—including special area classes like art, music, and P.E., taught by certified teachers—fully preparing learners socially and academically for kindergarten.


Tuition

Tuition is based on your student's free and reduced lunch status. If you qualify for free or reduced lunch pricing, tuition is waived. If you qualify as full-pay lunch pricing, tuition is $450/monthly.


2023 Screening Dates

  • Willard North Elementary: April 12, 2023
  • Willard South Elementary: April 18, 2023
  • Willard Orchard Hills Elementary: April 20, 2023
  • Willard East Elementary: May 9, 2023
  • Willard Central Elementary: May 17, 2023


Unsure which elementary school to call home? Click here for our interactive District Boundary Map.

Pre-Kindergarten Info

Upcoming District Events

Friday, April 7

V/JV Baseball @ Marshfield 10:00 A.M.

V Track @ Pitt State University Relays 3:00 P.M.

Saturday, April 8

HS Band - Missouri Day of Percussion

HS Speech & Debate NSDA Congress Districts @ Parkview High School

Freshman Baseball @ Ozark/Kickapoo 10:00 A.M.

Monday, April 10

No School

V Boys Golf - SPS Invitational (Millwood) 8:30 A.M.

JV Track @ Ozark High School 4:00 P.M.

Freshman Baseball @ Glendale High School (DH) 4:30 P.M.

7th/8th Softball vs Carthage Jr. High 4:30 P.M.

Tuesday, April 11

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

JV/V Girls Soccer @ Republic 4:30 P.M.

7th/8th Softball @ Webb City Jr. High 4:30 P.M.

JV/V Boys Tennis @ Nixa 4:30 P.M.

V/JV Baseball VS Republic 4:30 P.M.

Wednesday, April 12

V Boys Tennis @ Springfield Invitational

7th/8th Track - Willard Invitational

JV Boys Golf - Buffalo (Dream Valley) 9:00 A.M

College Signing Day - Spring 2:40 P.M.

Freshman Baseball @ Republic 4:30 P.M.

7th/8th Softball vs Springfield Catholic MS 4:30 P.M.

Thursday, April 13

V Boys Golf - Ozark Invitational (Freemont Hills) 8:45 A.M.

V Track @ West Plains Relays 1:30 P.M.

JV/V Boys Tennis vs Neosho 4:30 P.M.

V/JV Baseball @ Carl Junction 4:30 P.M.

JV/V Girls Soccer vs Carl Junction 5:00 P.M.

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

Friday, April 14

V Baseball @ Columbia Tournament

V Boys Tennis @ Rockwood Tournament

V Girls Soccer - Willard Classic Tournament

7th/8th Softball @ Ozark Jr High 4:30 P.M.

Freshman Baseball @ Lebanon High School (DH) 4:30 P.M.



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

District Calendar
Athletics Website
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