For many years, Memorial Drive Elementary School students have played on, in, and around a metal frame fire truck on the playground. No one seems to remember just how long the firetruck has been in place, but its wear and tear was a tell-tale sign that it was a favorite of students young and old. Ware County Schools maintenance worker Robert Yaun noted the hazards... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive will be observing Read Across America during the week of March 2-March 6. During that week, we will be dressing up to celebrate our love of reading! We will be wearing our shirts on Monday, March 2nd. Shirts are $10 for YXS-AXL, $12-A2XL, $13 A3XL. All money and forms are due January 31st READ MORE >
Do you know how to spell “ascribe”? WCMS sixth grader Chrishaud B. does, and that won him the title of Ware County Schools Spelling Bee Champion! Kent H., an 8th grader from Waycross Middle School, is first runner-up. Chrishaud will advance to the regional tournament to be held in February, with Kent serving as the alternate in the event that Chrishaud is unable... READ MORE >
Click below to see what is coming up in January at Memorial Drive. January Newsletter READ MORE >
Friday, Dec. 20th is an Early Release Day! READ MORE >
The public is invited to attend the 3rd Annual Southeast Georgia First Lego League Robotics Tournament hosted by the Ware County School District STEM Department at the Waycross Middle School gym on Saturday, December 14th. Thirteen teams of ten students in 4th-8th grade will be competing from the following counties: Tift, Camden, Clinch, Pierce, Toombs (Vidalia... READ MORE >
Show your festive holiday spirit by dressing up on the following days:Monday, December 16th: Christmas Morning! Come dressed in your best pajamas! Tuesday, December 17th: Tree Topper Day! Come wearing Reindeer antlers, Santa hats, or Elf ears Wednesday, December 18th: GRINCH DAY! Wear all GREEN! Thursday, December 19th: TACKY... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive's Technology Team did a fantastic job at this year's District Technology Competition. The following teams placed at the competition. Lilah Brooke B. and Hannah H. - 1st Place: Graphic DesignDrake S.-1st Place: Device ModificationChristopher R and Jamaya H- 2nd Place: Audio ProductionJai'la T. and Cassidy W.- 2nd Place: Movie ProductionMaura T.... READ MORE >
When: December 16th What: 5x7 Picture with Santa Cost: $5.00 Thanks for supporting Memorial Drive PTO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!! READ MORE >
Click here to read about the fun festivities planned for December! READ MORE >
DAFFODIL Pre-K registration for the 2020-2021 school year will soon be underway. Parents and guardians are invited to stop by the school, located at 1321 Buchannon St., Waycross, GA, January 13th – 24th to pick up a registration packet. Student registration will be held January 28 – 29, 2020 from 2:15PM to 3:30PM and will continue after the 29th from 2:15PM to... READ MORE >
Happy Thanksgiving from the Ware County Schools Family to yours! Friday, Nov. 22nd is an Early Release Day, followed by Thanksgiving Holidays the week of Nov. 25th. School will resume Monday, Dec. 2nd. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday! READ MORE >
Friday, Nov. 22nd is an Early Release Day! READ MORE >
Students of Memorial Drive Elementary School have been collecting canned goods for the past two weeks during their "Stuff the Turkey" food drive. The class to bring in the most canned goods won a Pizza Party. Mrs. Whitley's 5th grade class won the contest by bringing in nearly 200 cans. Shown donating items to the Salvation Army are members of Mrs. Whitley's class:... READ MORE >
The Ware County Board of Education approved the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Ware County Schools calendars at the November board meeting. The 2020-2021 calendar can be found at https://5il.co/bb0j, and the 2021-2022 is available for viewing at https://5il.co/bb0u. READ MORE >
Progress Reports will be sent home to all students on Thursday, Nov. 14th. Please check your child's backpack. Thank you! READ MORE >
Check out what is happening in November for Memorial Drive! November News READ MORE >
The competition begins Monday, November 4th. The classroom to bring in the most goods will win a yummy pizza party! READ MORE >
You can eat breakfast and get a photo with one of our very own Gator Football Players on November 1st for just $5! Thank you for your support with this fundraiser. Go Gators! READ MORE >
Ware County Schools administrators representing every school were recognized at the October board meeting with a certificate acknowledging “Accreditation with Quality” from the Georgia Accrediting Commission, Inc. READ MORE >
Members of the Ware County Schools transportation staff were recognized at the October Board Meeting for Bus Driver Appreciation Week, which is Oct. 21-25, 2019. We ❤️ our transportation staff! Please let them know how much you appreciate the valuable service they provide. READ MORE >
Members of the Ware County Schools transportation staff were recognized at the October Board Meeting for Bus Driver Appreciation Week, which is Oct. 21-25, 2019. We ❤️ our transportation staff! Please let them know how much you appreciate the valuable service they provide. READ MORE >
Friday, Oct. 11th is a professional learning day for staff members; students will not come to school. We will observe Fall Break Oct. 14th - 18th. Students will return to school Monday, Oct. 21st. We hope you enjoy Fall Break! READ MORE >
Report Cards will be issued October 10th. Please sign and return it to your child's teacher. READ MORE >
Students in Mrs Walters Class had snack time in the outdoor classroom on Friday. They listened to The Hallo-Wiener by Dave Pilkey and then they enjoyed hot dogs and chips for a snack! Special thanks to the Memorial Drive Nutritional Staff for cooking our hot dogs, they were yummy! READ MORE >
Mrs. Lee's class shared muffins with the office staff on Muffins with Mom morning! READ MORE >
October Newsletter READ MORE >
Whether you cheer for the Waycross Bulldogs or Georgia Bulldogs, Sunset T's has you covered with unique spirit gear designed by Waycross Middle School 8th grader Lauren M! Shop at this link through October 4th to support the Waycross Middle School Student Council: https://stores.sunsetts.com/waycross_middle_student_council/shop/home. Bulldog gear will be available... READ MORE >
Sunset T’s is offering online shopping for all of your Gator Gear needs! Orders are due Sept. 30th and can be picked up from Kim Callahan at Ware County High School during school hours October 9th-11th. Shop and pay right from the ease of your computer at https://stores.sunsetts.com/ware_county_high_school/shop/home! GOOOOO GATORS!! READ MORE >
Pre-K and Kindergarten students had a “grand” time at a special breakfast acknowledging Grandparents Day at Memorial Drive Elementary School. Students greeted grandparents with warm hugs, kisses, and cards. Kindergarten students enjoyed completing a Teddy Graham activity with their special guests. “We had such a great time getting to know all of our grandparents,”... READ MORE >
Please join us for our Annual Title I Meeting on Thursday, September 19th at 2:40 pm or Friday, September 20th at 8:00 am. READ MORE >
Students in Mrs Walters class have been learning about magnets and magnetism in science! This week they discovered which items in a box were magnetic and which were not magnetic by testing each item with a magnetic wand and sorting. Students made magnetic slime and investigated the slime's reaction to earth magnets, and they created a work of art with paint and... READ MORE >
School resumes for all students and staff Friday, September 6th. Progress reports will be issued Monday, September 9th. READ MORE >
The latest track and timeline suggests that we will begin feeling the effects of Hurricane Dorian late Wednesday into early Thursday morning. Winds are expected to gust up to 50mph with sustained winds less than 39mph and rain accumulations less than 1.5in. All Ware County schools and the Central Office will remain closed on Thursday, September 5th. Staff members... READ MORE >
Due to Hurricane Dorian’s potential impact on portions of coastal Georgia, select Ware County Schools facilities will be in use as staging points or shelter for those under mandatory evacuation orders. At this time, all Ware County schools will be closed to students Tuesday and Wednesday. The current projected track suggests associated wind and rain may... READ MORE >
An Important Message from Supt. Smith9/1/199:05pmThe impact of Hurricane Dorian on our area is still unknown at this time. School officials are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to collaborate with EMA and public safety officials to make informed decisions. An official statement regarding the status of schools will be made early in the day on... READ MORE >
All Ware County schools and the Central Office will be closed Monday, September 2nd for the Labor Day holiday. We will reopen Tuesday, September 3rd. At this time, it is unknown how Hurricane Dorian may affect our community. System administrators will meet with our local emergency management officials Tuesday morning, when more information is available, to... READ MORE >
We are excited to announce the kick off our "Together, we're better!" series of daily tips designed to strengthen the parent/child and parent/school relationship. Look for daily tips coming your way beginning Monday, August 26th. They will be posted on our district and school websites in the Live Feed section as well as on our Facebook page. We look forward to... READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Walters class are participating in a novel study of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Robert Dahl this month. At snack time on Tuesday, students enjoyed making and decorating their own chocolate factories, yum! READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School motivates students to follow PBIS expectations and meet AR goals with a visit from the Ware County High School band and cheerleaders. Tiffany Warren, Papani Saini, Kim Smith, and Jennifer Cone also ramp up the audience with a PBIS rap, a reading rendition of the song, Old Town Road, and some stellar dance moves. READ MORE >
We’ve completed our first full week of classes for the 2019-2020 school year! Take some time to talk with your child about how his or her school year is going so far. Here are some questions to jumpstart the conversation so it doesn’t stall with the grunt parents often get when they ask, “How was your day?” See more at... READ MORE >
Staff and students celebrate a new year of learning in Wildcat Nation by wearing red and black. Beads and tattoos were sold for a PBIS fundraiser. Thanks for all the support! Go Wildcats! READ MORE >
Thank you to Waycross Bank & Trust Staff for donating school supplies to Memorial Drive! READ MORE >
Stay informed with updates and important information about Memorial Drive by reading our monthly newsletters! Click here for August's newsletter. READ MORE >
School resumes for Ware County students on Thursday, August 1, and motorists will be sharing the road with school buses once again. Please allow additional time in your daily commute to accommodate more traffic on the roadways. Our Transportation Department operates with our children’s safety as its number one priority. Help them reach their goal of delivering... READ MORE >
Back to School Links: Car Rider Information Supply List A Successful Kindergarten Transition Brochure READ MORE >
The countdown to the 2019-2020 school year is officially on! Students will report to school on August 1, 2019. Ware County Schools will host Open House on Monday, July 29, 2019. We will continue to offer staggered times to help you get to as many school locations as needed. See the Open House flyer for times. Ninth graders are invited to attend a special... READ MORE >
If you are a resident of Ware County/Waycross whose child attended home school or virtual school during the 2018-2019 school year and you would like to enroll your child in Ware County public schools in August of 2019, please contact Dr. Reginna Germano by email at rgermano@ware.k12.ga.us or by phone at 912-283-8656 to register for grade placement testing. The test... READ MORE >
The Ware County School District is proud to announce the achievement and status of the Georgia School Boards Association’s (GSBA) 2019 Exemplary School Board recognition. The recognition program is designed to showcase best practices in school governance and leadership. GSBA recognizes good school board governance to foster educational community cultures in... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School has been selected by the Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators (SSTAGE) to receive the 2019 SSTAGE Star Award for Promising Practices at the elementary school level. In making this decision, the SSTAGE Board of Directors Site Team considered the following characteristics of effective implementation of the Pyramid of... READ MORE >
An Important Announcement from Superintendent Jim L. LeBrun and Ware County Schools Chief of the Department of Public Safety Danny Christmas: Earlier this school year, the Ware County School System implemented security checkpoints at Memorial Stadium. Please be advised that security screenings will be in force at all gates prior to and during this Saturday's... READ MORE >
Kindergarten and first grade students at Memorial Drive Elementary School recently had a visit from Miss Georgia Angus Princess, Nancy Murray. She is the daughter of Herbie and Becky Murray of Folkston, Georgia and a student at Charlton County High School. Crowned Miss Georgia Angus Princess in December, Nancy has since made it her mission to spread awareness of... READ MORE >
Shown accepting Young Citizenship Award certificates for the third nine weeks are Memorial Drive fifth grade students Keira Murray. and Eli Twilley. This award is given on behalf of the Waycross Exchange Club to students who are nominated by their teachers for demonstrating citizenship, attitude, academics, service, leadership and sportsmanship. Also shown is... READ MORE >
Congratulations to the following students for being selected for the third nine weeks "Bringing Up Your Grade Award." This award is sponsored by our local Kiwanas Club and is given to one student per grade level who has worked hard to bring up their grades. Shown accepting the awards (L-R) is Josiah P. (K), Brayden S. (1), Zoe M. (2), Czadrik L. (4), and Iven P.... READ MORE >
Kindergarten and first grade students at Memorial Drive Elementary participated in radKIDS training, led by school counselor Tiffany Warren with assistance from Detective Taylor Luciano of the Waycross Police Department, Community Awareness and Education Coordinator Zina Ponsell of Magnolia House, and P.E. Coach Rebecca Kirkland. Through radKIDS, students gained... READ MORE >
The Ware County Board of Education has selected Mr. Bert Smith as the sole finalist to fill the position of Superintendent of Ware County Schools. As prescribed by Georgia law, the school board will allow 14 days for public input. Official action will be taken at the May 23rd called meeting at 10:00am to move Mr. Smith from Principal at Ware County High School to... READ MORE >
The Ware County High School Gator Baseball Camp, designed for students ages 5-12, will be held May 30th and 31st from 9:00am - 12:00pm at Ware County High School. See details in the flyer. To register, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/yyr2lr5u. Contact Coach Jamie Ammons at jammons@ware.k12.ga.us if you have any questions. GOOOOO GATORS!! READ MORE >
After considering input from school administrators, parents, and community stakeholders, Ware County School System board members opted to discontinue the clear or mesh backpack requirement for the 2019-2020 school year. The decision was announced at the April 25th board meeting. Students may revert to using backpacks constructed of standard canvas material. Rolling... READ MORE >
An account has been created at Ameris Bank to assist the Buck Thigpen Family due to the recent storm that destroyed their home. Donations can be made at either bank location: 2110 Memorial Drive or 505 Haines Avenue. Pictured left to right: Buck, Chael, and Heather Thigpen READ MORE >
Due to the enhanced chance of high winds, tornadic activity, downed trees, and power outages, all Ware County Schools and the Central Office will be closed on Friday, April 19, 2019. Staff will not be required to report. Safety remains our top priority. READ MORE >
Kindergarten Transition Day is Monday, May 13th at 8:30am. Pre-K students and their parents are invited to visit the elementary school they will attend in the 2019-2020 school year for orientation. Please contact the elementary school your child will attend for more information. READ MORE >
You don’t want to miss the 1st annual Ware County High School Talent Show, happening April 25th at 6:30pm. Tickets are available for $2 pre-sale during all lunches or for $5 at the door. The talent show is sponsored by BETA Club; funds raised from the show will go towards reducing the expenses of 8 students who are going to BETA Nationals in Oklahoma City. The... READ MORE >
Mark your calendar to come see WCHS Gator Productions present “Shrek The Musical” April 18th, 19th, and 20th at the Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be available at the door. You don’t want to miss it! READ MORE >
Autism Awareness Day is April 27th from 9am-12pm. Come join us for this important event. Details are available on the flyer. READ MORE >
The Ware County School System will observe Spring Break April 1 - 5, 2019. Students will be released early on Friday, March 29th. Buses will release at the following times:Ware County Learning Center - 11:00AMDAFFODIL Pre-K - 11:30AMCenter Elementary School - 11:45AMAll other Elementary Schools - 12:00PMWare County High School - 12:30PMWare County Middle School... READ MORE >
Registration for STEM Camp for students who have finished 1st - 7th grades by June 1, 2019 is now open. Check the flyers for more information. READ MORE >
Check out the latest edition of the Gator Futures newsletter featuring information about our CTAE programs! READ MORE >
Principal Linda Houseal announced that registration is still open for DAFFODIL Pre-K for the 2019-2020 school year. Parents and guardians are invited to come by the school, located at 1321 Buchannon St., to pick up a registration packet. Completed registration packets may be returned between the hours of 2:15pm - 5:00pm daily until all classes are filled. Note:... READ MORE >
Principal Linda Houseal announced that registration is still open for DAFFODIL Pre-K for the 2019-2020 school year. Parents and guardians are invited to come by the school, located at 1321 Buchannon St., to pick up a registration packet. Completed registration packets may be returned between the hours of 2:15pm - 5:00pm daily until all classes are filled. Note:... READ MORE >
Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-2020 is open March 18 - 29, 2019 daily from 8:00am - 3:00pm. Parents and guardians should go to the school for which their child is zoned to complete the registration process. Please bring with you" Proof of Child’s Residence Child’s Certified Birth Certificate Child’s Complete Georgia Immunization Record ... READ MORE >
The Ware County Board of Education will meet in a Called Meeting on Friday, March 15, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. to discuss personnel items and any other miscellaneous items. The meeting will take place at 1301 Bailey Street. The public is invited. The meeting agenda is posted prior to the meeting and the minutes are posted as well on the system web page at... READ MORE >
Area superintendents and the Executive Director of Okefenokee RESA met with various legislators, the Lt. Governor, and other state dignitaries under the Gold Dome on Monday, March 4th to discuss important educational issues and pending legislation. They are pictured here on the interior steps of the Capitol. READ MORE >
On Friday, February 15th, Gov. Brian Kemp signed his first piece of legislation into law. Senate Bill (SB) 25 specifies when traffic should stop for school buses that are loading or unloading passengers. SB 25 reverses last year’s House Bill (HB) 978, which allowed oncoming traffic to continue on a four-lane divided highway if there was a painted turn lane dividing... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary would like to invite all former Wildcats to our 60th Anniversary Celebration! Former Wildcats include any past students, faculty, or stakeholders. Please join us Friday, March 1, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. for a walk down memory lane as we celebrate 60 years of excellence in education. If you are interested in participating, please call the front... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School recently donated hygiene and canned food items to the House of Hope, a local charity that offers emergency assistance to the Waycross community. During the month of January, students brought in needed items, and the winning homeroom was awarded a pizza party. Bringing in the most items this year was Mrs. Trina Dill's first grade... READ MORE >
Parents/Guardians looking to apply for Intradistrict Transfer to a different school within the district for the 2019-2020 school year must complete this form and submit it to the Ware County Board of Education by 4:30pm on Feb. 28th. https://5il.co/6evj READ MORE >
Willow D., a fifth grader at Wacona Elementary School, has won the district spelling bee and will advance to the regional tournament to be held later this month; the winning word was candidate. Sixth grader Dallas B., from Ware County Middle School, is first runner-up and will serve as the alternate in the event Willow is unable to compete. All contestants... READ MORE >
The Georgia Deparment of Education's Parent Satisfaction Survey for parents/guardians whose children receive Special Education Services is now open. The survey helps the state determine perceptions of the success of parent engagement efforts. The survey will remain open through May 31st. Please click the link to access the survey. NOTE: This survey is only for... READ MORE >
The Response to Intervention (RtI) and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) teams from Memorial Drive Elementary School presented this past week in Athens, Georgia at the Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators (SSTAGE) Conference.Presenting on academic, gifted and behavior RtI tiers and PBIS procedures were (L-R), Mrs. Tiffany Warren... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School recently held a Cookie Dough fundraiser. Students in each grade level who sold the most cookies earned a special treat! Top sellers for the fundraiser were treated to lunch at Cracker Barrel. Winners were Damari B., Hosea W., Ally M., Rylee M., Cayla F., Reese W., Sadie W. and Summer C. Not pictured: Dylan C. and Bentley O. Dr.... READ MORE >
Fourth grade students from Memorial Drive Elementary School recently visited South Georgia State College for STEM DAY. The professors from SGSC held STEM classes for elementary students. The students went to 4 lessons where they were able to engage in a science activity, technology activity, engineering activity, and a math activity. Students worked in groups to... READ MORE >
September was a month of exceptional talent in the art department at Memorial Drive Elementary School. Students in grades kindergarten through fifth worked hard to learn different concepts of art. Artists of the month include: (FRONT ROW L-R): Ali S. (kindergarten), Kevin R. (second grade)(BACK ROW L-R): Mrs. Kim Smith - art teacher, Emilee B. (first grade),... READ MORE >
Congratulations to the Quiz Bowl team from Memorial Drive Elementary School for winning 1st place at a recent tournament!Pictured (back row L-R) Drake S., Eli T., Rylee M., Kasen G., Micah T., Rudra P., Uriah B., Christian W., Joshua S., (front row L-R) Darah D., Hannah H., Ja’lia T., Lilah Brooke B., Molly F. READ MORE >
students at Memorial Drive collected items to Stuff the Turkey to assist needy families in the area during the holiday season. As a result, 519 items were donated to the Salvation Army. Congratulations to Mrs. Tabitha Barnard's first grade class on bringing in 220 items and being the winning class for a pizza party! Shown donating items are students from Mrs.... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School inducted 27 fourth and fifth grade students into the National Elementary Honor Society. The new inductees join 18 fifth grade members. The evening’s keynote speaker was Miss. Savannah Furman, former Memorial Drive Student and NEHS member. She encouraged the students by walking them through the four pillars of NEHS (Scholarship,... READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Brooke Thomas's class visited the media center to assist "Chef Maxwell" in preparing a story stew. The children helped substitute media specialist Gail Maxwell identify the story elements in the book “Officer Buckle and Gloria” in order to learn the value of each part of a story. The students had a wonderful time discovering the various story... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Kindergarten students have been learning about community helpers. Students were visited recently by bankers from Waycross Bank & Trust. They learned about what a bank is and what a bank does. Each student received their own Waycross Bank & Trust piggy bank to begin saving their money. Thank you to Waycross Bank & Trust for supporting our students. ... READ MORE >
Congratulations to Memorial Drive Elementary's 1st Nine Weeks Young Citizenship Award recipients. This award, given on behalf of the Waycross Exchange Club, recognizes fifth grade students Rudra P. and Destiny A., who are pictured with Principal Dr. Shawn Benefield. READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Kim Smith's Art Class at Memorial Drive Elementary School have been busy learning about elements of art. In an effort to celebrate their hard work, Mrs. Smith has developed an "Artist of the Month" program. One student is chosen from each grade level for each month throughout the school year; students earn the recognittion by conveying great... READ MORE >