RAYMORE-PECULIAR SCHOOL DISTRICT

Samantha Larkins has earned a spot on the MO Basketball Coaches Association Academic All-State Team after being nominated by Head Coach Jonathan Benson! Sam has helped to create one of the most successful basketball teams for Ray-Pec High School in recent years. Congratulations! This honor is one of the most distinguished scholar athlete awards based upon the following stringent criteria: 1) Senior standing 2) Player in good standing with the team. 3) Possess outstanding moral character. 4) ACT score of 27 composite or above 5) Minimum GPA 3.25

The Ray-Pec Speech and Debate Team is proud to announce that both the Readers Theatre and the Competition One Act received 1st place at the MSHSAA district competition! Their performances qualified them for the State Tournament in April. Congratulations! 👏

Registration for pre-kindergarten programs also begins today, Friday, March 15. Children who will be 4 years old before Aug. 1, 2024, and who reside in the Ray-Pec School District, may register for classes at Shull Early Learning Center. For information, and to RSVP, go to the Shull website: raypec.org/o/selc/page/program-information

Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year begins today, Friday, March 15. If your child will be 5 years old by Aug. 1, 2024, see information about kindergarten registration and screening: raypec.org/page/kindergarten-registration As you register, you will select a time and date for an in-person screening appointment. Screening dates vary by school.

We are celebrating our School Board all month! Meet Board Member Paul Coffman. He was first elected to the Board in April 2017 and is currently serving his third term. He was attracted to Board service because he enjoys putting people in a position to succeed. "Both of my parents were school teachers, and I saw everything they did to put students in a position to succeed. Serving on the Board is a way for me to help put teachers in a position to succeed.” "My four children graduated from Ray-Pec and were blessed by the opportunities and encouragement they received at Ray-Pec. I don’t have children currently attending school, so I think I can look at the big picture to help provide opportunities for all students and their activities.” Thank you, Paul Coffman, for your dedicated service to our District!

It's Opening Day! ⚾️ Ray-Pec Baseball kicks off their season with a doubleheader in Warrensburg. First pitch of Game 1 against Smith-Cotton High School is at 3:00 pm, immediately followed by Game 2 against Warrensburg High School at 5:00 pm. This year you can follow the baseball team using the free GameChanger app. You can find live scoring updates, play-by-play info, and sometimes even a live stream. A link to the app can be found on our website at: raypec.org/o/rphs/page/ray-pec-baseball

🚨 NATIONAL CHAMPION! 🚨 2020 graduate Braden Zaner and his Pitt State teammates are the Division II Indoor Track and Field National Champions for the second year in a row! 🖤🐾💛

Mr. O'Neal's Algebra II class celebrated Pi Day this afternoon with a class photo as the clock read 3.14159 🥧😁

Former Panthers Jordan Jermain and Kian Scroggins are going dancing! 🏀 William Jewell (Jermain) and Sam Houston State (Scroggins) both won their conference and are headed to the NCAA Tournament. Congratulations! 👏🖤💛

Congratulations to Harrisonville 7th grader Mariah Coffey on winning the Cass County Spelling Bee that took place at Ray-Pec on this morning! Mariah qualifies to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., later this spring. Mariah also won the Cass County Spelling Bee in 2023 and represented Cass County at the national event. Runner-up was 7th grader Henry Laffoon from the Belton School District. Other participants: 🖤💛Helen Van Arkel, 8th grader, Raymore-Peculiar School District William Henley, 5th grader, Pleasant Hill School District Zeke Needham, 5th grader, Midway School District Abigail Forgett, 4th grader, Archie School District

Our School Board celebration continues! Meet Board Vice President Deanna Olson. She was elected to the Board in April 2021. "I wanted to be a part of the district and have a voice in guiding the vision of the place that both my husband and I graduated from and where our kids are going to graduate from. Our district and board was doing great things and I wanted to add to it.” What is Deanna's "why" for serving on the Board? “I serve on the board because I am vested in our district and want to see us continue to expand and offer more choices to our kids to prepare them the best we can for life. I am so proud of all the ways we have expanded our options for every student to take advantage of!” Thank you, Deanna, for your dedicated service to our District!

You are invited to attend the 2nd annual Ray-Pec Jazz Showcase at 7 p.m. tonight, March 12, in the high school main gym. The event will feature the Jazz One and Jazz Two bands, as well as the jazz bands from East and South middle schools. There is no admission charge.

Congratulations to the Ray-Pec Bowling Team for finishing in the top five at Zone Finals and advancing to State for the second year in a row! 🎳 The team averaged 213 points per game after winning 13/16 games and also earned a $600 scholarship. Sophomore Elijah Queathem kicked off the tournament by singing a solo of the National Anthem. Senior Jacob Thompson was recognized for signing to continue bowling at the collegiate level with Avila and Senior Connor McCale was recognized for his plans to join the military. The team will compete in the State tournament on May 4. Thanks you to to Aaron's Family Fun Center for hosting the tournament and supporting our community of bowlers.

🎵 March is Music in Our Schools Month! 🏫🎉 It's time to celebrate the incredible impact of music education and give a standing ovation to the teachers who make it all possible! 🎶📚

As a part of their Collaboration Day activities, K-12 PE Teachers participated in a hands-on training from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) at Eagle Glen Elementary this morning. They worked together to practice engaging new strategies for incorporating the manipulative skills and movement patterns within tennis into their classrooms and beyond as a demonstration of lifelong wellness. Following their participation in the training, each building will also receive equipment from USTA to use to incorporate their new learning. 🎾

🎥 Staff Spotlight! 🎥 In this episode of Staff Spotlight, Raymore-Peculiar School District Superintendent, Dr. Mike Slagle, chats with Rachel McClain. Rachel is an art teacher at South Middle School. Art is not only her teaching field, it is one of Rachel's passions in life. Listen to her describe the importance of bringing the art experience to middle schoolers, and how this role helps build dreams for her students. https://youtu.be/dF_RWFVVXWk?si=SxJ5Rx5j28Vc_mhZ

RAYPEC RUSH wrapped up their most successful season in their history! Our competitive show choir, won 2nd runner up on March 9th at Battle High School in Columbia. They also received awards for Outstanding Combo (Band) and BOTH of the Outstanding Soloist Awards: Devin Fisher and Serenity Shepard Congratulations to everyone involved! Choir Members: Annaly Bain-Rowland Kaedyn Blede Delaney Burk Annaliese Busse Landon Busse Jillian Collom Lauren Compton Makenna Copeland Jillian Fairchild Devin Fisher Lauren Giles Caitlin Gregory Jaxon Inmon Michaela Karl Jordan Kim Addison Kyle Piper Martin Alex McDonald Jada Mcmurdo Avery Monnig Bryce Nickel Aurora Orstad Alyssa Padgett Mason Rew Amy Robinson Kyan Roth Amari Russell E’my’Ja Sanders Reagan Sheedy Serenity Shepard Audrey Shepard Director: Stephen Rew Band Members: Blake Bond Jackson Clingan Noelle Cox Bo Helzer Maddox Hoover Mack Stewart Faith Suddarth Riley Zimmerman Band leader: Don Shepard It's a GREAT day to be a Panther!

Construction Update! 👷 The Performing Arts Center is getting closer and closer every day! Take a look at some of our most recent pictures! 🤩

📣 Reminder! 📣 Classes will not be in session on Monday, 3/11/24, to allow for staff collaboration.

We're continuing our month-long celebration of our School Board! Meet Board Member Patty Phillips. Patty Phillips took the oath of office during a special meeting on June 20, 2023. She was selected to fill an unexpired term that became vacant when Ashley Jones resigned from the Board. She was appointed to serve until the next Board election in April 2024. Patty said her reasons for serving on the Board echo the Ray-Pec mission statement: To prepare each student for a successful and meaningful life. “As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I’ve dedicated my entire professional career to children and families. I love being able to serve as a school board member to also help not only children and families but also teachers and staff.” Thank you, Patty Phillips, for your dedicated service to our District!