April is School Library Month and this week is National Library Week! 📚
Whether you're diving into a classic novel, researching a topic, or simply finding a quiet space to unwind, libraries offer something for everyone. Let's give a round of applause to librarians and library staff for their dedication in fostering a love for reading and learning. 👏 #NationalLibraryWeek #LoveLibraries #ReadMore 📖✨
The first edition of the RPHS PRISM Multi-Media Art and Literature Magazine has been printed. Thank you to five LEAD Center students that worked hard to bring the vision to life and put this 64 page, full-color magazine together - fully funded by sponsors! The PRISM is ready for purchase at the price of $5 each!
Art Teacher Amy Hellums has 250 copies of the magazine available for purchase.
If you'd like to purchase one in support of our RPHS artists and writers, send an email to amy.hellums@raypec.org. All proceeds from the magazines sold will go toward scholarships for a few 2024 seniors that have artwork/ literature published in the PRISM.
🎉 Today, we celebrate Paraprofessionals Appreciation Day! 🌟
Let's take a moment to honor the incredible dedication and hard work of our paraprofessionals. Your commitment to supporting students and educators does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do! 👏 #ParaprofessionalsAppreciationDay #ThankYouParas
Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open!
If your child will be 5 years old by Aug. 1, 2024, see information about kindergarten registration and screening. As you register, you will select a time and date for an in-person screening appointment. Screening dates vary by school.
As we near the end of March, we're wrapping up our Board of Education celebration.
Last but not least, meet Board Member Bill Lowe.
He was appointed to the board in 2018 to fill a vacancy when Kim Bailey was selected to serve on the State Board of Education. He was then elected in April 2019 to his first term and re-elected in April 2022.
"I believe in the motto of service above self. The school board provides me the opportunity to serve the community of Raymore and Peculiar in an impactful way."
What is Bill's "why" for serving on the Board?
"It is my belief that when a school district provides avenues of success for each student, the community as a whole benefits. When families decide to move into communities, they often look to see what type of education the school district is providing. Our school district has always provided students with a high level of education and opportunities to learn those critical thinking skills necessary for future success. I wanted to ensure those standards continued as well as meet the needs of future industry opportunities. It is important to have leaders on the board that put the success of the district above self. There are times when decisions are made that not everyone is going to like. A leader still has to make those decisions in the context of what is best for the district as a whole."
Thank you, Bill, for your dedicated service to our District!
Our tutoring coordinator has spent the last month traveling across the district to visit approximately 80 tutors working with students of all ages! In addition to helping students across the district, the tutoring class also helps students accomplish the 50 tutoring hours required to earn A+.
🎥 New Video! 🎥
https://youtu.be/5AwrbWEmsJM
This episode of Through the Eyes has us looking down the sights! Hear what our Trap Shooting team has to say about all of the benefits of their sport.
If it's still March, we're still celebrating our Board of Education!
Meet Board Member Billy King.
He was first elected to the Board in April 2018 and is currently completing his second term. "I am a proud Ray-Pec graduate, and I want to make sure that the district is a safe environment for all students. Everyone in the district matters. We are all here to make sure the kids have the best learning experience possible."
Thank you, Billy King, for your dedicated service to our District!
🎥 Staff Spotlight 🎥
https://youtu.be/ziFG8zDFbQw
In this episode of Staff Spotlight, Raymore-Peculiar School District Superintendent, Dr. Mike Slagle, chats with David Perkins. David is the Lead Custodian at the LEAD Center.
Congratulations to all of our Teacher and Support Staff Employee of the Year nominees!
Our 2024 Teacher of the Year is Monica Crabtree, 5th grade teacher at Peculiar Elementary!
Our 2024 Support Staff Employee of the Year is Colleen Warchola, Kitchen Manager at Timber Creek Elementary!
Ray-Pec Learning Lens is back with another episode! 🎥
https://youtu.be/j_Rt2Z1enps
When we say that our mission is to Prepare EACH student for a successful and meaningful life, we mean EACH student. Check out how the Transition Skills program helps prepare students with disabilities for life after high school. To learn more about the Transition program, visit our website here: raypec.org/page/special-services
Special Olympics Basketball crushed it at State!
We had an amazing weekend of basketball in St. Louis and appreciate all the support. Our Unified Partner 3 on 3 teams ended up playing each other for medals!
Names of athletes/unified partners in pictures left to right:
1️⃣ Team in Yellow - earned Silver 🥈:
Phoebe Benson (Unified Partner), Emery Vaughan (Unified Partner), Kendalynn Torrance, Liam Lambertz, Owen Vanzandt, Owen Vaughan
Team in Black - earned Bronze 🥉:
Mallory Anderson, Sabrina Peek, Carter Nussbeck, Grant Hornbeck (Unified Partner)
2️⃣ Team in Yellow - Earned Gold 🥇:
BreAunna Ruiz, Trey Gethers, Elijah George, Caleb Nelson
Team in Black - Earned Silver 🥈:
Shawn Hunt, Dustin Haning, Ryan Hilliard (Unified Partner), J'Qwan Blackmon, Jag Davis
3️⃣ Mia Benson got the Gold 🥇 in Individual wheelchair skills!
If you’ve driven past Peculiar Elementary School this week, you may have noticed excavation work under way at the corner of Third Street and South Street.
This corner of the school property is being developed as a pickleball court that will be available for use by students, staff, and patrons. The project is a partnership between the school district, the Peculiar Charitable Foundation, and the City of Peculiar.
The Ray-Pec School Board approved donating approximately 0.48 acre of land on the school’s site to the Peculiar Charitable Foundation. The foundation is paying to construct the courts.
The school and school district have the first right of usage for the courts, and signage posted at the courts will indicate when the court is available for public use. Parking for the pickleball court will be allowed on the 12 southern parking stalls, and signage will be posted at those stalls.
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!
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!
🎵 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. 🎾
