This afternoon, a bus driver experienced a medical emergency while on their evening route. The driver pulled safely off the road and contacted school staff. District staff and emergency personnel responded to the scene. The bus was then brought back to school.
Two students were on the bus at the time. School personnel immediately attempted to make contact with the families of both students. Both students have safely arrived home following the incident. The driver received medical care at the scene and is in stable condition. We ask that you respect the driver’s privacy during this time.
We know that hearing about a second medical emergency on a school bus in recent weeks may raise concerns about your child’s safety. We take those concerns seriously. As always, we will review how this situation is handled and use it to train and prevent future incidents where possible. The safety of students and staff is always our top priority.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can always reach out to the transportation department by calling any school office and pressing option 2, or by calling the district office at (417) 469 - 3260 and asking for the transportation secretary.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jon Johnson, Superintendent
Our school counselor, Mrs. Barlow, dropped into Senior Language Arts classes today to talk all things future planning! 🚀 Whether your senior is heading to college, jumping straight into a career, joining the military, or exploring trade school, she is here to guide them through:
✅ College Applications
✅ Career Planning & Trade School Options
✅ Scholarships & Financial Aid
✅ FAFSA Preparation & More!
Need Extra Help?
Our counselor is here for both students AND parents! Students may feel free to stop by her office for a walk-in visit or families can reach out to schedule an appointment.
📢 Stay Tuned: Keep an eye out for details about our upcoming FAFSA & Scholarship Night in January!
💡 Senior Resources: Don't forget to check out the Senior Newsletter and her counseling website for helpful guides, deadlines, and planning tools.
Senior Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1muxch28jzFz0Qw3WSKISYOjA-p5NqmGh/view
Counseling Connection Website: https://sites.google.com/willowbears.com/willowspringshscounseling/home
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact her directly. Let's make this senior year count! 🎓✨
Join us this Friday from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Elementary Cafeteria for an evening of fall fun!
Bring the whole family for:
🎯 Games & Prizes
🎟️ Silent Auction
🌭 Delicious Food & Treats
All proceeds from the event will benefit Bears for a Better Christmas to support local families this holiday season. Come out, join the fun, and make a difference! 🐻❤️✨
We are encouraging the kids to dress up! Cute dresses, button up shirts, etc. This is not a prom formal. School dress code must be followed.
Our students took a step outside the classroom and headed to Mammoth Spring State Park for an action-packed field trip. Here’s a peek at what made our day so special:
🐟 The Fish Hatchery: Students got a behind-the-scenes look at aquatic life, learning how the hatchery raises and protects local fish species while gaining a deeper appreciation for native ecosystems.
🚂 The Historic Train Depot: We traveled back in time at the 1886 Frisco Depot Museum! The kids loved seeing historic artifacts, learning about early railroad travel, and experiencing a piece of local history up close.
🍃 Nature Bingo: To cap off the day, students grabbed bingo cards and explored the park’s stunning trails around Arkansas’s largest spring, hunting for plant species, wildlife, and natural landmarks.
A huge thank you to the staff at Mammoth Spring State Park for welcoming us!
Our High School Bear Ambassador Student Leaders were out in full force today spreading some well-deserved love and gratitude across the high school! 🍎📚
They dropped by every classroom to hand deliver special appreciation gifts to all of our amazing teachers. From early morning lesson prep to staying late for after-school activities, our teachers go above and beyond every single day for our students and school community.
To all of our teachers: THANK YOU for your dedication, passion, and endless support. You truly make a difference, and we are so grateful for everything you do! 🤍
🎉 What an incredible Career Fair at Willow Springs High School today! 🎓💼
We had an astounding lineup of 31 local and regional businesses representing a wide range of industries—from healthcare and trades to business, technology, and public service.
Our seniors and upperclassmen made powerful connections with employers who are actively looking to hire qualified graduates right out of high school. Meanwhile, our underclassmen got a valuable head start—exploring diverse career paths, asking smart questions, and discovering what it takes to succeed after graduation.
A massive THANK YOU to the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce for your partnership, hard work, and dedication to helping us organize this event. Thank you to the following local businesses for taking time out of your day to connect with our students. Our community's support makes all the difference in preparing our students for a bright future! 🌟👏
Simmons Bank
Leonardo DRS
Waggoner Home Center - Retail & Construction
Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative
Missouri Department of Conservation
Robert Hollis Shelter Insurance
Main Street Wellness Center
Penmac Staffing
Coastal Energy Corporation
West Plains Bank and Trust Company
West Plains Daily Quill
Willow Springs Public Library
Willow Healthcare
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Jasper Engines and Transmissions
Children's Behavioral Services LLC
Lakeland Pharmacy
United Country Real Estate - The Ozarks
Bailey Chevrolet
Three Rivers Hospice
Ozarks Health Care
L&R Industries
Vintage Floral
Southern Missouri Technical Institute
Gilbert Industries
Ozark Marketing
Poor Farms Cattle
Howell County Sheriff's Office
American Pride Roofing
📅 Friday, October 23, 2026
⏰ Early Dismissal at 12:45 PM
Parent teacher conference information below!
We are excited to invite you to our High School Parent-Teacher Conferences this Friday, October 23, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM!
📍 What to expect:
Grade Cards: Please start by picking up your student’s grade card at the front entrance when you arrive.
Teacher Visits: After picking up grade cards, feel free to drop in and visit with any of your student's teachers.
🙌 Students are encouraged to attend with their parents!
We look forward to seeing you Friday afternoon and working together for your student's success!
Scheduled by teacher: 2:00–4:00 PM.
If your teacher did NOT contact you, please drop in anytime between 4:00–6:00 PM.
WSMS Student Leadership will provide treats 🍪. See you Friday!
Save the Date: Middle School Social- November 6th
We are encouraging the kids to dress up! Cute dresses, button up shirts, etc. This is not a prom formal. School dress code must be followed.
Today, we want to recognize and celebrate our Superintendent Dr. Jon Johnson, for the leadership, dedication, and commitment shown to Willow Springs R-IV Schools! 🐻
Thank you for the time, hard work, and countless decisions that help keep our district moving forward and ensure our students and staff have the support they need to succeed. Your leadership makes a difference in our schools and our community!
Please join us in wishing our Superintendent a wonderful Happy Boss’s Day! We appreciate all you do for our Willow Springs Bears! 🐻
GO BEARS!
Missed picture day or need a retake? We’ve got you covered! 😊
Picture Retake Day is coming up! 📷✨ Be sure to mark your calendars so students have another opportunity to get that perfect school picture!
📅 Date: October 20, 2026
To order please visit: http://inter-state.com/order
Order codes are as follows:
Elementary: 0536WJN
Middle School: 0538RKU
High school: 0600CMF
Please reach out to your school office if you have any questions.
6:00PM || Board Conference Room
| Live: https://youtube.com/live/KwE4EZ9Hhpw
| Agenda: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=208&MID=26876
This morning one of our buses was involved in a minor accident. While running a morning route, a driver partially left the roadway and struck a mailbox. Students were on the bus at the time of the incident and the parents of all students involved were contacted promptly.
All students were safely transported to the district following the incident. Out of an abundance of caution, everybody involved was given the opportunity to be evaluated by our nursing staff when they arrived on campus. The safety of our students is always our top priority. District administration is currently reviewing the situation to ensure standard transportation safety protocol is followed and help prevent similar occurrences in the future.
If you have any questions, you can always reach out to the transportation department by calling any school office and pressing option 2, or by calling the district office at (417) 469 - 3260 and asking for the transportation secretary.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jon Johnson, Superintendent
The Literati Book Fair is quickly approaching! October 19-23!
Find your teacher's wish list at our Online Literati Store to shop their favorite finds and refresh their classrooms.
Note: many of these items can only be found online!
Find your teacher's wishlist.
https://literati.com/a/wishlists/bookfair/0198aebb-b917-9b76-2e40-954ce8a543d7
