RAYMORE-PECULIAR SCHOOL DISTRICT

On April 11, the Ray-Pec School District welcomed leaders from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Deputy Commissioner Kelli Jones and Missouri State Board of Education Vice President Carol Hallquist toured the LEAD Center and Creekmoor Elementary School to see innovative learning in action. At the LEAD Center, students proudly led the tour and showcased their work across various programs, including real-time interviews with companies from our trade programs! It was a great day to celebrate student voice, hands-on learning, and strong partnerships that prepare our students for success.

Ray-Pec Director of Human Resources Rachel Surls recently visited Washington, D.C., as part of the Missouri Education Policy Leadership Program. She is pictured fifth from left. The Missouri EPLP is a statewide professional learning opportunity designed for school district central office leaders, especially superintendents, and focuses on Public School Advocacy. The program includes monthly learning with regional leaders, statewide sessions, and a culminating Legislative Summit/Advocacy Seminar event in Washington, DC.

Thanks to everyone who supported the recent Major Saver card fundraiser! Almost $31,000 was raised for the Ray-Pec Public School Foundation and the participating elementary and middle schools. Kelly Osborn, President of Major Saver, attended the Administrative Council meeting on April 8 to announce the fundraiser's results.

At the March 20 meeting, Ray-Pec School Board members were thanked for their dedication and service. Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle noted that March is School Board Recognition Month in Missouri. He publicly thanked the board, saying that Ray-Pec students, staff, and families benefit every day from their service. The March 20 meeting was also the last regular meeting for Board Member Bill Lowe. He chose not to run for re-election, and after April 8 will be replaced on the board. Lowe joined the board in November 2018 and has served more than 6 years. He was given a school bell as a token of thanks for his service. From left: Board Vice President Deanna Olson, Paul Coffman, Janet Jones, Bill Lowe, Carol Barnes, and Patty Phillips. Board President Ruth Johnson was out of town and unable to attend the meeting.

🎉 Ray-Pec High School is hosting the 7th annual Senior Project DRIVE Community Night on April 23rd. This is a fantastic opportunity for teachers, community members, and local employers to see our seniors' hard work and help them network with businesses. 🚗 💼 We're looking for around 100 volunteers to help evaluate projects and make this event a success. Interested? Contact Teacher Emily Craig at emily.craig@raypec.org. Let's support our future leaders!

Ray-Pec plans to have in-person school tomorrow. We don’t usually send a message when schools are going to be open, but after this past week, it seems like a good idea! If our plans for tomorrow change, we will communicate by 5:30 a.m. Please remember to use caution while driving, especially in the southern parts of the district. Be patient about possible bus delays, and make sure that students dress warmly. We look forward to seeing our students in class tomorrow.

Due to inclement weather, Ray-Pec Schools will not be in session on Thursday, February 20, 2025. This will be a traditional snow day and no virtual instruction will occur. This day of instruction will be made up on March 10, 2025, which was previously scheduled as a staff collaboration day.

Exciting news for Raymore Elementary! 🎉 Bailey Finau has been named the new principal, effective July 2025! With a strong background in education, leadership, and a passion for fostering inclusive communities, Bailey is thrilled to join the Raymore family. 👏 Currently serving as an assistant principal in the Center School District, Bailey’s extensive experience includes roles in Raytown, where she taught, led summer school, and supported student growth. Her dedication to student success and collaborative leadership will continue to drive Raymore Elementary forward. Bailey and her family—husband Alatini and children Isi (6) and Losa (3)—are excited about this new chapter! Let’s give her a warm welcome! 🏫✨

Due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions throughout the district, Ray-Pec Schools will not be in session tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19, 2025. This will be a virtual instruction day, also known as an AMI Day. AMI stands for Alternative Methods of Instruction. Students will learn from home.

Due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions throughout the district, Ray-Pec Schools will not be in session today, Thursday, February 13, 2025. This will be a virtual instruction day, also known as an AMI Day. AMI stands for Alternative Methods of Instruction. Students will learn from home.

Huge congratulations to the incredible Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year finalists at Ray-Pec! Your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to our students and community are truly inspiring. You make a difference every single day. Here's to all the hard work you do to shape bright futures! All of the finalists will be honored and the winners will be announced at a reception on March 19th at the Ray-Pec High School Performing Arts Center.

We are proud that the Ray-Pec Performing Arts Center has been selected as the JE Dunn Construction Quality Project of the Year for 2024! This beautiful facility is a tremendous place to showcase our outstanding performing arts programs. It provides more seating than our previous auditorium and includes updated technology, wing space, and a fly system for theatre sets. Thanks to our community for supporting the 2021 Prop S bond issue that made this project possible. With this recognition from JE Dunn, more people will learn about the Ray-Pec PAC!

The Ray-Pec Band and Color Guard presents the annual Father-Daughter Dance from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Ray-Pec South Middle School, 20501 S. School Rd. Girls in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to attend with their father or another special adult. The Starry Night Father-Daughter Dance is a fundraiser event held for the Band and Color Guard. The event includes dancing, games, treat and more. Souvenir gifts will be available for purchase. Advance tickets, if purchased by Jan. 31 : $30/couple, $20 for each additional girl. Tickets purchased after Jan. 31: $35/couple, $20 for each additional girl. Buy tickets here: tinyurl.com/starry-dance Print friendly flyer

The School Board recognized AsmaulHusna Suleiman as the runner-up at the District Spelling Bee. She is a 7th grader at East Middle School. She is pictured with Board Vice President Deanna Olson. Spellers from the seven elementary schools and two middle schools competed in the the event on Jan. 15 at Ray-Pec High School. The winner was McKenzie Dubert, an 8th grader at South Middle School. After nine rounds, McKenzie won the bee by correctly spelling the word “sorbet.” McKenzie will represent Ray-Pec at the Cass County Spelling Bee. McKenzie was unavailable to attend the Board meeting.

Ray-Pec plans to have in-person school tomorrow. We don’t usually send a message when schools are going to be OPEN, but after last week, it seems like a good idea! If there is a change to our plans for tomorrow, we will communicate by 5:30 a.m. Please remember to use caution while driving, especially in the southern parts of the district; be patient about possible bus delays, and make sure that students dress warmly. Monday morning temperatures are predicted to be cold!

Due to continued inclement weather conditions throughout the district, Ray-Pec schools will not be in session on Friday, Jan. 10. This will be a virtual instruction day, also known as an AMI Day. AMI stands for Alternative Methods of Instruction. Students will learn from home. Watch for information from your child’s school.

Due to continued inclement weather conditions throughout the district, Ray-Pec schools will not be in session on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. This will be a virtual instruction day, also known as an AMI Day. AMI stands for Alternative Methods of Instruction. Students will learn from home. Watch for information from your child’s teacher or principal regarding the AMI day. We are actively monitoring the aftermath of this week’s significant storm. While our priority is to reopen buildings as soon as possible, the storm's impact poses ongoing challenges. Ray-Pec crews are collaborating with local public works and our transportation provider to ensure safe and functional conditions. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Due to continued inclement weather conditions throughout the district, Ray-Pec schools will not be in session on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. This will be a virtual instruction day, also known as an AMI Day. AMI stands for Alternative Methods of Instruction. Students will learn from home. Watch for information from your child’s teacher or principal regarding the AMI day.

Due to the ice, snow, and extremely cold temperatures, Ray-Pec schools will not be in session on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. This will be a traditional inclement weather day and no virtual learning classes will be held.

Due to the severe winter weather conditions, there will be no school on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. This will be a traditional inclement weather day and no virtual learning classes will be held. This is a significant storm that will take time to clear and make roadways and walkways passable. Our goal is to have students back in our buildings as soon as we can, but we realize that the timing and severity of this storm presents us with challenges. Our Ray-Pec building and grounds crews will continue to work with our cities’ and county public works departments and our bus transportation provider to bring us back to workable conditions as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding. A decision as to how to make up today’s inclement weather day will be made later in the school year. Activities All elementary school, middle school, and high school after-school activities and evening events will be canceled and/or rescheduled. Child Care BOOST (Best Out of School Time) is the program that provides before- and after-school care. BOOST will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6.