Middle School

Willow Springs Board Seeks Community Input in Superintendent Search

The Willow Springs School District Board has begun the process of hiring a new superintendent, working with the Missouri School Boards’ Association to guide the search. As parents and community members, your voices are vital to this process.

You know what matters most for your children’s success—strong schools, clear communication, and a leader who values families as partners in education. Your input will help identify the qualities and priorities most important to the district’s next superintendent.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below. It will remain open through November 25, and your feedback will help the Board select a leader who reflects the values of our students, families, and community.

https://tinyurl.com/WSSuptSearch

Bear Pride Swag is back!

Maroon shirts + socks on sale now. 🧦

📅 Orders and payment are due by November 14.

All proceeds benefit the Willow Springs Middle School Student Leadership.

📧 To place an order, email kayladrake@willowbears.com
or return the order form to school.

Make checks payable to Willow Springs School.

❤️ Let’s show our #OneWillowOneFuture pride!

Important update on SNAP benefits and school meal programs (November 2025)
Willow Springs School District

To read more, visit https://www.willowbears.com/article/2510640

Calling All Bear Alumni - We want to hear from YOU! 🐻

Share your journey since graduation and help us celebrate your story with the Willow Springs community.

👉 Fill out our Alumni Feature form here: https://forms.gle/1uHnCE7zphToEcav6

Your story may be featured on our social media platforms and website. Let’s show the world the incredible things our Bear family is accomplishing.

#OneWillowOneFuture #BearAlumni

Wellness Coordinator, Sherry Wiles, reminds us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A healthy start fuels focus, energy, and success all day long. 🍎🥛

👉 Read the full September Wellness Newsletter here: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3379/WSSD/6025012/September_2025.jpg

The Willow Springs School District invites you to nominate the amazing teachers and staff who make a difference every day! Through our "Boosting Our Bears" program, you can celebrate their hard work and dedication. Submit your nominations today—it's quick and easy! Nominations carry over each month, so there's no need to resubmit for previously recognized individuals. 👉 Click here to nominate: https://go.willowbears.com/boostingourbears (All nominations must be submitted through the form.) Let’s Boost Our Bears together! 🐾

Apply and join our team! www.willowbears.com/page/employment

📅Mark your calendars! Free athletic physicals will be available on July 9th beginning at 8:00 am in Munford Gymnasium. All athletes entering grades 7-12 need a valid athletic physical and must have one before the first day of fall practice.

Middle school students in Ms. Tice's class recently delivered thank you notes to Kirby Cauldwell for donating picnic tables to the school! They also recently visited the nursing home in town! #OneWillow

Congratulations to 8th grade student Eavanna Kharitonova for winning 1st place for the west side of Missouri in the Missouri Peace Officer Foundation essay contest!🌟 Along with this honor, she received $300, her classroom teacher received $100, and the school district will receive $100! Congratulations Eavanna!🐻 #OneWillow

🚨 Elementary and middle school summer school forms need to be returned by Friday, May 3rd.

Middle school students that had a 98% attendance percentage or better got to go on a field trip to Noblett Lake last week!🌟 Everyone had a great time!🎣 #OneWillow

The middle school staff member of the week is Mrs. Tammy Henry!🥳 Congratulations and thank you for all that you do!🐻 #OneWillow

Students in Mrs. Wardle's class recently toured the Willow Springs Museum, the Ferguson Building, the Railroad-Welcome area and the prior Horton Hotel location to learn about our local history!🤩 #OneWillow

The 7th grade math classes recently competed in a jump rope contest to collect data to graph! Each class divided into groups to see how many times they could jump at 1:30, 1:00 and 0:30 seconds. Then they took the data from the top 10 jumps to create a box and whisker plot; also discussing the I.Q.R. (interquartile range) and the outliers of the box plot. The class with the greatest upper quartile of 114 was the Maroon 3 Block!💪 #OneWillow

6th grade students in Mrs. Welch's class recently created scale models of the size of objects in our solar system!🪐💫 #OneWillow

The middle school staff member of the week is Mrs. Mindy Cooper!🥳 About Mrs. Cooper: - She taught for 22 years at Richards School in West Plains - This is her first year at Willow Springs - She teaches 7th Grade Science, Kitchen Science and coaches girls track "I love spending time with my family, antique shopping, everything outdoors, traveling, and being involved in my church." Congratulations Mrs. Cooper and thank you for everything that you do!🐻 #OneWillow

8th Grade students in Mrs. Drake's Project STEM class recently spent some time researching and then building model bridges! They tested those bridges until failure. The strongest bridge was built by Sadie Parsons. Her bridge withstood a weight of 4144 grams! #OneWillow

The middle school staff member of the week is Mrs. Amy Bunch-Schmitt!🐻 About Mrs. Bunch-Schmitt: "This is my 16th year in education. During my career I have taught middle school social studies, high school history, 8th grade English/Language Arts, 6th grade math, and now I currently serve as the middle school Reading Interventionist. I enjoy spending time with my family. We love traveling and seeing new places every chance we get." Congrats and thank you for all that you do! #OneWillow