Each year at Convocation, Waynesville R-VI employees come together to kick off the new school year with a fun challenge that builds teamwork and excitement. This year, after listening to feedback from the District Climate Team, leaders decided to take a new approach—one that not only strengthens connections within each building but also gives back to the community. Instead of a single districtwide challenge, each school and department participated in its own service project, creating meaningful opportunities to serve others while uniting staff around a shared purpose.

“I am incredibly proud of our schools for embracing this year’s challenge in such a meaningful way,” said Superintendent Hilary Bales “By choosing service projects, our staff not only came together as teams, but also gave back to the communities that support us every day. This reflects the heart of our staff—building strong connections, modeling compassion and making a positive impact beyond the classroom.”