Just a few construction updates to start the morning. The PAC walls continue to go up and the Raymore Elementary School playground is nearing completion! 👷
We kicked off the 2023-24 school year with a bang this morning! 💥 All Ray-Pec staff filled the high school gym for convocation and to celebrate the beginning of another wonderful school year.
"This morning, our celebration is all about the dreams of our students. Students are coming to us wanting to have a successful and meaningful life. That’s our mission. And that’s their dream. It is our job to make that dream possible. All of us, and I mean anyone in this room employed or in an elected leadership role of the Ray-Pec School District, has the duty to deliver on or support the mission of our school district. Everyone. Our theme for this year is that we are all 'Dreammakers.'"
At the end of the ceremony Superintendent, Dr. Mike Slagle, asked all staff who were committed to being "Dreammakers" for students to stand. What a scene. 🖤💛
Welcome Back Ray-Pec Panthers! Below are a few things that you need to know about the first day of school! We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday, August 22 at 7:25 a.m.
A new school year calls for some new ways to follow everything going on around the Ray-Pec School District. There are ✨𝐵𝑅𝒜𝒩𝒟 𝒩𝐸𝒲✨ Facebook and Instagram accounts for both Ray-Pec High School and the Ray-Pec Ninth Grade Center.
Be sure to give them a follow for updates and information about the exciting things going on a each building. We're very proud of the students and staff around the district and we want to do a better job of telling their stories.
Here are the links to the only 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 pages for both buildings:
RPHS Facebook: facebook.com/RaymorePeculiarHighSchool
RPHS Instagram: instagram.com/raypechighschool/
RPNGC Facebook: facebook.com/RaymorePeculiarNinthGradeCenter
RPNGC Instagram: instagram.com/raypecngc/
Make sure your student's immunizations are up to date for the new school year. This particularly impacts students entering kindergarten, 8th grade, and high school.
The Cass County Health Department is offering walk-in clinics July 31 through Aug. 18 for back to school immunizations. You may also obtain the vaccinations at your health care provider.
District website for immunization requirements: https://www.raypec.org/page/health-services
Missouri’s annual back-to-school sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 4th, and runs through midnight on Sunday, August 6th. During this time, certain back-to-school purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing, diapers, and other qualifying items as defined by statute are exempt from all state and local sales tax. 💻✏️🎒👕
New this year, in addition to the state sales tax, local sales tax will also be waived in all cities, counties, and special tax districts.
Learn more about qualifying purchases in the Missouri Department of Revenue’s news release.
Big news!
Retired teachers can return to the classroom without interrupting their monthly pension income! Educators can continue to draw full retirement while earning a full teaching salary and benefits - without retirement contributions! We are looking for retired teachers to join the Ray-Pec School District for 2023-24, as well as special education teachers and more!
Visit our website to view current openings: www.raypec.org/o/rpsd/page/work-for-ray-pec
Ever considered driving a bus for the Raymore-Peculiar School District? Come give one a test drive on Aug. 3! If you like it, training is provided, pay starts at $19/hour (paid a minimum of 5 hours per day), and you get a $3,500 signing bonus! You can also sign up to just drive activity trips.
Online registration is now open for the 2023-2024 school year!
Check your email for a message from the school district with instructions to complete the registration forms and submit proof of residency online.
Most families can complete the required registration forms online. This means that you will not need to attend an in-person registration event.
Read more about online registration here: https://www.raypec.org/o/rpsd/page/online-registration
Congratulations to Matthew Como, incoming senior at Ray-Pec High School, on being named to the All-Tournament Team for the 17 USA Bracket at the USA Volleyball National Tournament!
The tournament was held July 3-6 in Salt Lake City. Matthew’s team, MAVS 17 Red, finished in the top 8 of the USA bracket.
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School students who attended the Missouri Boys and Girls State program for 2023 at Lindenwood University!
Boys State participants were: Jaxon Inmon, Patrick Martin, and Hayden Scammacca.
Girls State participants were: Emma Browning, Audrey Mitchell, and Katrina Tilawen.
Thanks to local organizations for sponsoring our students to be able to attend!
Hey, Panthers! Some Ray-Pec athletic camps are taking place in July and August!
Check here for information about baseball, cross country, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, and orchestra camps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gUsUEA-lZpsREfMtPdhhujQFRcljDmTAAh2KbBun4ls/edit?usp=sharing
The School Board on June 22 recognized Hayden Kurtz, an incoming senior at Ray-Pec High School. She is pictured with Board Member Bill Lowe. Hayden participated in the javelin throw at the state track and field meet on May 27. Her throw of 38.83 meters earned her 6th place for Class 5.
Pictures from last week's Summer School classes for middle & high school students! Including: Latin Cuisine class making fried plantains; Health students showing impacts of tobacco; staff enjoying a refreshing treat; students making paper mache fruit in art class; and a human inchworm competition in P.E.
Congrats to Ray-Pec 2023 graduate Zander Dombrowski on being named Most Valuable Player of the Missouri vs Kansas All-Star Football Game!
Missouri defeated Kansas 16-8 at the June 16 game, hosted by Ray-Pec High School at Panther Stadium.
A few pictures from the Ray-Pec High School tennis camp on June 13! The camp was offered for middle school students to learn some fundamental skills and have exposure to the sport. Thanks to 2023 Senior Shannon Finn, Senior Grant Hornbeck, Senior Alden Brokaw, and Ray-Pec grads Kobe Bennett and Shane McDonald for helping with instruction and skill demonstration.
All of the Ray-Pec High School Summer School students in English 1, 2, 3, Personal Finance, Art Foundations, Biology, and American History are simultaneously enrolled in a project course in which they work with a subject matter expert (SME) to help them answer a question using the design thinking process.
In these pictures, students are working with experts from the Kansas City Zoo, Johnson County Crime Lab, and Truman Library. Not pictured: Students are also working with Jeffrey Jacobs from Bank Midwest to help them determine how financial decisions can impact future goals.
All-state! Congratulations to Hayden Kurtz on placing 6th in the javelin throw for Class 5 at the state track and field meet on May 27. Her top throw was 38.38.
Congratulations to the families of the Treble Chamber and Chamber Singers from Ray-Pec High School and to the families of the singers from Voci from South Middle School! These three groups recently participated in the Worlds of Fun Music Festival, and every judge gave every group the highest possible rating. In addition, Voci received an overall rating of 2nd Place for the Middle School Division for the entire weekend of performances!
On Monday, there was a reception to celebrate retirees at Ray-Pec High School. From left: Todd Schnake, Paul Carvan, Steven Miller, Dana Bowlen, Jerry Edson, Cristie McCullough, and Angela Snyder. Best wishes in retirement!
