Elementary School

🚨Important reminders! • Today, Thursday October 26th is an EARLY DISMISSAL day at 12:45 pm. Parent/Teacher Conferences will be from 1:00-6:00 pm today. • There will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, October 27th for Fall Break. • There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 30th for Professional Development Day.

October is #NationalPrincipalsMonth! Today we're highlighting and celebrating Mr. Chris Rodgers, Willow Springs Elementary School Principal. Mr. Rodgers has worked in education for 21 years, 13 of those years in administration. Here's a short Q&A with Mr. Rodgers! Q: What do you want students and staff to know about you? A: That I want what is best for kids and to help them learn and grow. We often have to make tough decisions, but every decision made is in the best interests of students and staff. I know I’m blessed to work with a building full of amazing teachers that share the same passion for educating our kids and preparing them for the future. Q: What do you like most about being an educator? A: It’s a very rewarding job and I love the opportunity to make a difference in our kid’s lives. You can form relationships to last a lifetime with both students and staff. Q: What advice would you give to someone seeking a career in education? A: Education is a very challenging field, but very rewarding. My advice to others is to always do what you believe is right and what is best for the kids. Teaching kids is all about what you can do to improve their quality of life and it’s a great opportunity to build relationships. Lastly, it is important to find a balance; remember to prioritize your life, faith, family and then your career! Thank you Mr. Rodgers for all that you do, we appreciate you! #OneWillow

On Saturday, the Willow Chess Team hosted the annual Sally Hatton Memorial Chess Tournament! The high school was represented by six players and won the second team spot. Kyle Collins-Redd was the undefeated winner, Caleb Leichliter was in fourth and earned 4.5 points out of six matches, Isaac Miller and Joseph Mansfield won three games each, Matt Sabulao earned 2.5 points, and Sophia Barrett earned two wins. The middle school was represented by six players and won the second team spot. Sabastian Puher and Otto Schuette earned four wins out of six games, tying for the third place. Heidi Bennett, Kyell Robertson, Ayden Bennett and Aubrey Miller got three points each, and tied for seventh. The elementary school was represented by Kane Bennet, who won first place, Michael Iacovlev, who was in third place, and Tristan Bennet, in fourth place. They helped the school win the first team overall. Great job, Bears!🐻♟ #OneWillow

🚨 Important information regarding Parent/Teacher Conferences! Thursday, October 26th will be an early dismissal day due to Parent/Teacher Conferences. Dismissal will be 12:45 PM. All buildings (except for preschool) will have Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 26th from 1:00-6:00 PM. 🐻 High School Information - Parents should have been contacted by their student's GAP teacher to schedule an appointment for their conference. If you have not made an appointment, contact your student's GAP teacher. If you're unsure who your student's GAP teacher is, you may contact the High School office. 🐻 Middle School Information - Teachers have scheduled times to meet with each parent. If a parent has a specific teacher they want to meet with, you will be given time to meet with that teacher. If you don't have an appointment scheduled, contact the Middle School office. 🐻 Elementary School Information - Teachers have scheduled times to meet with each parent. If you don't have an appointment scheduled, contact the Elementary School office. The Get Roasted Coffee Company truck will be set up from 2:00-6:00 PM. The book fair will also be set up in the elementary and middle school libraries for families to shop at until 6:00 PM. #OneWillow

The Elementary and Middle School Books Fairs are open to shop this week! 📖 Students can shop all week. Families are invited to shop on Thursday, October 26th during parent teacher conferences. Shop online and/or purchase gift cards at this site: https://efairs.literati.com/?school=willow-springs-elementary-school-willow-spgs-mo

First grade students had so much fun visiting McWilliams Pumpkin Patch yesterday!🎃 #OneWillow

Please help us welcome our next new teacher feature, Mrs. Kameron Thomas! About Mrs. Thomas: "Hello! While I may be new to WSES, I am not new to fourth grade. This is my third year teaching fourth grade. This is kind of a welcome home since my husband (Chris) and I are Willow alumni. We have two children, Brynlee and Everly. I enjoy being outdoors, spending time with my family and reading. Willow Springs has always been my home, but I am excited to now also work in the community that I love!" Welcome to Bear Nation Mrs. Thomas, we're so happy you're here!🐻 #OneWillow

Please help us welcome our next new teacher feature, Mrs. Kameron Thomas! About Mrs. Thomas: "Hello! While I may be new to WSES, I am not new to fourth grade. This is my third year teaching fourth grade. This is kind of a welcome home since my husband (Chris) and I are Willow alumni. We have two children, Brynlee and Everly. I enjoy being outdoors, spending time with my family and reading. Willow Springs has always been my home, but I am excited to now also work in the community that I love!" Welcome to Bear Nation Mrs. Thomas, we're so happy you're here!🐻 #OneWillow

Picture Retake Day is Tuesday, October 24th!📸 If you're satisfied with your child's picture, no further action is required. If you purchased and were unhappy with your picture package, please send your picture package to school with your student on retake day. Your retake picture package will be produced and shipped to the school four weeks after retake day. Please note, if your child is photographed on the original and retake picture days, the retake picture will replace the original picture in certain products, like the yearbook. Students who were absent for picture day should come to school prepared to have their picture taken. If you have not pre-ordered, please use the retake order code that is designated for your school below to place your order at: https://inter-state.com/Order?utm_campaign=Coordinator%20Program%20-%20Retake&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=217333162&utm_content=217333162&utm_source=hs_automation High school order code: 80702DF Middle school order code: 80705Y Elementary school order code: 80700Q To see your order history, check your Inter-State account by visiting: https://inter-state.com/SignIn?s=/account/orders

Reminder! The Elementary and Middle School will be hosting book fairs the week of October 23rd!📖 To buy Literati gift cards for the upcoming book fairs, visit this site: https://efairs.literati.com/?school=willow-springs-elementary-school-willow-spgs-mo

The Willow Springs Elementary School is celebrating Fire Safety Week! Firefighters from the Willow Springs Fire Department and the Pomona Fire Department brought fire trucks and did lessons/demonstrations for our students! Students got to watch videos and ask the firefighters questions. They also got to go outside to see the trucks and their tools! Thank you to the Willow Springs Fire Department and Pomona Fire Protection District 2 for volunteering their time today to talk to our students! #OneWillow

It’s #TeacherProud and #BearProud Tuesday! Willow Springs is excited to join other school districts across the region in celebrating teachers and district staff on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Teacher Proud Recipients: 🐻Anita Ellis - Willow Springs Elementary School 2nd grade Interventionist 🐻Heather Miller - Willow Springs Middle School 6th grade Social Studies Teacher 🐻Jenny Payne - Willow Springs High School Math Teacher Bear Proud Recipient: 🐻Teresa Vanhorn - Custodian Congratulations to this month's recipients, we are so grateful for all the hard work and dedication you give to our district and students! #OneWillow

Thank you to G & W Foods for their donation to the Willow Springs Elementary School for collecting 1% of all the receipts brought in by our elementary students from last year! #OneWillow

The Elementary and Middle School are excited to announce that the online book fair is now open! 📖 Shop BOTH BUILDINGS at this link: https://efairs.literati.com/?school=willow-springs-elementary-school-willow-spgs-mo Students can shop in person the week of October 23rd. Families are invited to shop on Thursday, October 26th during parent teacher conferences. Watch for more information being sent home soon! #OneWillow

The Elementary and Middle School will be hosting book fairs the week of October 23rd! More information is coming soon.

Please help us give a warm welcome to one of our newest teachers, Michaela Rodgers! About Mrs. Rodgers - "Hello, I'm Michaela Rodgers. This is my first year teaching and I'm teaching 3rd grade! I grew up here in Willow Springs and went to school here K-12. I'm super excited to get to come back and work in the school district that raised me!" Welcome to Bear Nation! We're so happy to have you!

We want to thank West Plains Bank and Trust Company for their partnership and donation of $15,673 to the school district from proceeds raised through the Community Debit Card Program!

There will be no school on Monday, September 11 for professional development day.

Join us Thursday, Sept. 7th from 4-6 pm for Grandparents Night!

There will be no school on Monday, September 4th for Labor Day!