Over the weekend six STUCO representatives traveled to Carthage High School for the MASC (Missouri Association of Student Councils) state convention. Students and advisors met with other councils from across the state and discussed different ways to “turn the tide” in our schools and work to improve school culture overall. 💛🖤
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!
Over the weekend Girls' Soccer fell to Park Hill South 3-2 in the first round of the Platte County Girls Soccer Invitational ⚽️
The second round of the tournament kicks off tonight at 5:00 pm as your Panthers take on Platte County High School! 🖤🐾💛
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! 👏
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!
Mr. O'Neal's Algebra II class celebrated Pi Day this afternoon with a class photo as the clock read 3.14159 🥧😁
🚨 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! 🖤🐾💛
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! 🎶📚
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.
Construction Update! 👷
The Performing Arts Center is getting closer and closer every day! Take a look at some of our most recent pictures! 🤩
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!
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!
We are celebrating our School Board all month!
Meet Board Member Carol Barnes.
Carol worked for the District for 30 years, retiring in 2017, before being elected to the Board in April 2022.
“My ‘Why’ is to ensure that our students have the skills they need to successfully transition to the next level of learning and beyond. Beginning at the elementary level, our children need a strong foundation in language, social, motor, and emotional development to ensure positive academic outcomes. Faculty and staff, our ‘Dream Makers.’ need to feel safe, valued, and supported as they educate and guide our children on their journey.”
Thank you, Carol Barnes, for your dedicated service to our District!
The Ray-Pec Council of PTAs wants to recognize the amazing volunteers across our district with the Ray-Pec Volunteer of the Year award.
Any volunteer may be nominated for the award. Nominees and finalists for the VoTY award will be notified using the contact information you provide. All finalists will be individually recognized, and a winner announced, during the Volunteer of the Year presentation and reception at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in the Board Room at the Ray-Pec Academy. Please complete the nomination form by March 23: https://forms.gle/qiuXrGPjw7gUwT6d8
