Tri-Lakes Education Briefs

Branson Schools

Branson Schools celebrate Courtwarming

Students and staff enjoyed Courtwarming Week, February 10-14. Branson High School Student Council members coordinated themed spirit days, and Tegan Asbury and Ellie Sutherland were crowned Courtwarming King and Queen. (Photos submitted)

Pirate Stadium gets seating upgrade

Branson High School’s Pirate Stadium received a major refresh with brand new seating. This upgrade complements the recently updated turf, ensuring a modern and comfortable environment for fans. “We’re all about creating a great experience for everyone who comes out to support our students,” says Athletic Director Brandon Wilson. We’re thankful for your support in creating a top-tier facility for both student-athletes and our community!

Celebrating excellence: WonderWorks unveils 2024-25 WonderKids winners

Each year, teachers around the country are encouraged to nominate students for the WonderWorks WonderKids student achievement program held at each of the six locations. Students can be nominated for a variety of categories, meant to highlight their achievements in and out of the classroom. WonderWorks is announcing the list of amazing WonderKids winners for the 2024-2025 school year. To celebrate this incredible accomplishment, winners were invited to a special celebratory webinar event in partnership with SeaWorld, introducing the young participants to the fascinating career field of marine biology.

WonderWorks Branson winners are:

Creative Genius: Maddox W. (1st Grade), Adeline F. (3rd Grade), and Adelind S. (4th Grade)

Future Scientist: Hayes D. (2nd Grade), Luke W. (Kindergarten), Milo G. (6th Grade), and Dayton A. (3rd Grade)

Math Marvel: Mia T. (11th Grade), Deklin G. (4th Grade), Marley K. (Kindergarten), Preston E. (7th Grade), and Harper F. (Kindergarten)

Model Citizen: Mary Ann G. (7th Grade), TJ G. (4th Grade), Kasen S. (5th Grade), and Grace B. (5th Grade)

Hollister Schools

Hollister High School JROTC qualifies for nationals

The Hollister High School Army JROTC Color Guard has secured a spot at the national level after an outstanding performance at the 3rd Brigade National Qualifier meet recently at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri. Competing against 32 teams from 10 states, the Hollister team defied expectations by finishing in third place, earning them a trip to the national competition in Daytona, Florida.

The new Hollister JROTC Color Guard Team, comprised of Cadet Captain Ashanty Torres (Executive Officer & Color Guard Commander), Cadet Major Sadie Gomez (Battalion Commander & Drill Team Commander), Cadet Command Sergeant Major Mary Helman (Command Sergeant Major & Inspection Commander), and Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Grace Cohen (S-1 & Exhibition Commander), put in months of early morning training. Surpassing all expectations, their dedication, discipline and perseverance propelled them to a top-three finish, a feat rarely seen in a new program.

Hollister Wrestlers qualify for State

Three Hollister High School wrestlers have punched their tickets to the 2025 Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Boys Wrestling State Championships. Freshman Carter Whitman, sophomore Cole Escobar, and junior Bryson Whitman will compete at the state tournament on February 26-27 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri.

Reeds Spring Schools

RSHS Cheerleaders place second at state competition

Reeds Spring High School’s cheerleaders weren’t just supporting the Wolves—they were the ones being cheered on as they secured second place at the Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association Game Day State Competition. Competing in Class 3A, the squad delivered three high-energy routines, impressing judges with their precision, creativity and showmanship.

The team was evaluated on several key elements, including music incorporation, props, synchronization, formations, visual appeal and overall performance.

Cross Country: Six RSHS cross country runners were named to the Academic All-State Team. These student-athletes had to score 25 or higher on the ACT and have a grade point average of 3.6 or higher. Congratulations to Dane Thierbach, Jaxon Gregg, Connor Love, Kaylee Geniuk, Claire Ross and Jenna Adams.

Boys Basketball: The Wolves lost to Fair Grove 64-38. Brody Pettigrew scored 16 points.

Taneyville Schools

Tanger Outlets Branson announces 2024 TangerKids Grants winners

As part of a continued commitment to support education and invest in the local community, Tanger Outlets Branson recently announced its 2024 TangerKids Grants recipients. Local winners include Taneyville School to update library books and Blue Eye High School for STEM projects and graphing calculators.

Tanger will donate over $190K across the country to fund classroom investments through the TangerKids 2024 Grants program. Title 1 schools represent more than 60% of the recipients selected by Tanger centers. ​ ​

Tanger Branson celebrated TangerKids Day on Jan. 31 with check presentations at Taneyville and Blue Eye schools. To learn more about TangerKids Grants, please visit grants.tanger.com.