Kim York is ending 12 years of service on the Ray-Pec School Board. She was first elected in 2011, & has served four 3-year terms. This year, she chose not to run for re-election. Kim was Board President in 2012, 2013 & 2106, and vice president in 2017. Thanks for your service!
The Ray-Pec School Board on March 28 honored Teacher Carma Richey. Ms. Richey teaches English Language Arts during the morning at the high school. In the afternoon, she teaches the Teacher Academy at the LEAD Center. Students in the program spend two days per week learning about becoming an educator. The other three days each week, students are in district classrooms working with teachers and students at the middle and elementary schools.
Last week, Ms. Richey attended the Council of Chief State School Officers Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., with Missouri Commissioner of Education, Dr. Margie Vandeven. During the conference, Ms. Richey participated in a panel discussion and shared about Ray-Pec’s use of federal grant funds to start the Teacher Academy program.
The people attending the conference included Chief Officers of education for each state, members of Congress, and members of the Biden Administration. The panel’s goal was to convince those in attendance that Grow Your Own programs should be included in the national education budget. Ms. Richey was selected to attend because DESE identified Ray-Pec as having an “exceptional program.”
She is pictured with Board President Ruth Johnson
The Raymore-Peculiar School Board on March 28 honored RPHS Senior Brynn Elkins, who placed 4th at the State Wrestling Meet last month. She is the first girl from Ray-Pec High School to be All-State in wrestling. This was her second time to compete at the state tournament. She is pictured with Board President Ruth Johnson.
A prescribed burn is planned from noon to 2 p.m. today in the one-acre Outdoor Classroom area east of Ray-Pec High School. Some high school science classes will be participating as observers, and other students will be documenting the event.
Do not worry if you are near the school campus and see the smoke or fire.
The Outdoor Classroom is planted with native prairie plants. Prescribed burning, sometimes called controlled burning, involves the controlled application of fire by a team of fire experts under specific weather conditions to improve ecosystems.
There will be no disruption to the school day, and learning will continue as usual.
The School Board tonight honored Aiden Daly, the 2023 Ray-Pec District Spelling Bee Champion. Aiden is an 8th grader at South Middle School.
The District Bee was held virtually on Jan. 11. After 11 rounds of competition, Aiden was declared the winner after successfully spelling the word “subsequent.” He then represented Ray-Pec in the Cass County Spelling Bee earlier this month.
He is pictured with Board President Ruth Johnson.
Ray-Pec High School announces that Aubree Bell will lead the Panther Volleyball Team, beginning with the 2023-2024 season.
Coach Bell joined the Ray-Pec School District last August as a physical education teacher at Ray-Pec High School. She also served as the volleyball assistant coach last fall.
Coach Bell previously played competitive volleyball for 11 years. Her playing experience began with six years for PVA at the Elite Club Level and ended with five years at the University of Central Missouri. During Coach Bell's time at UCM, she earned three All-Conference awards. The UCM Jennies were the Regular Season Champions as well as the Post Season Conference Champions.
Currently, Coach Bell is coaching club volleyball in the Kansas City area. She said she has big plans for the Ray-Pec Volleyball Program. She said that her high school, club, and college volleyball experiences have taught her the importance of leadership, teamwork, and valuable life lessons.
This Ray-Pec grad is a national champion!
2021 Ray-Pec graduate Conner Gittings, a 4-yr member of the Ray-Pec Trap Shooting Team, competed at the Division II National Championships earlier this month in Las Vegas. Conner broke 100/100 targets, and pulled off the 5-man shoot-off, which took an additional 30 targets.
Conner is currently a sophomore, shooting for Upper Iowa University, in Fayette, Iowa. As a team they also placed 3rd in the HOA (High Over All), Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
Teacher Carma Richey represented the Raymore-Peculiar School District and the teaching profession on March 21 as part of a national panel talking about the importance of "Grow Your Own" teaching programs.
Ms. Richey attended the Council of Chief State School Officers Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., with Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Margie Vandeven. Ms. Richey and Teacher Kayley Pak from Park Hill Schools were invited to attend after being identified as having "exceptional" programs for students interested in careers in education.
Ms. Richey teaches English Language Arts at Ray-Pec High School and the Teacher Academy at the LEAD Center.
During the CCSSO conference, Ms. Richey shared about Ray-Pec's Teacher Academy program. The people attending the conference included Chief Officers of education for each state, members of Congress, and members of the Biden Administration. The panel’s goal was to convince those in attendance that Grow Your Own programs should be included in the national education budget.
Congratulations to Ray-Pec High School Business Teacher Travis Conley on being selected to receive the Warren C. and Dorothy B. Lovinger Graduate Student Scholarship for continuing his Master's degree program at the University of Central Missouri!
Congratulations to the South Middle School Students of the Month for February! They were honored for being organized. Back row, from left: Audrey Newton, Nathaniel Boze, Keaton Lindell, Alexis Brown, and Nathan Ayers. Second row: Brianna Biondo, Addison Gaster, Kennedy Moner, Brielle Ryberg, and Skyar Waller. Third row: Paxton Lehman, Reggi Cox, Myla Branick, and Ella Weaver. Front row: Andrew Smither, Elizabeth Howe, Grant Thomas, and Katie Mayes. Not pictured: Charles Kille and Jazmyn McClendon.
Ray-Pec Winter Guard invites you to enjoy a free showcase featuring the Winter Guard's Show "Rainbow" and a number of solo and small group acts. The showcase starts at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, March 16, at the Raymore-Peculiar High School Dome Gym.
The Ray-Pec High School bowling team placed 3rd at divisional finals and is headed to State! Front, from left: Coach Jeff Gish, Fiona West, Tallie Scott, and Teacher Sponsor Brenda Tilawen. Back row: Michael Lindsey, Bailey Cain, and Jacob Thompson. Not pictured is Dawson Parish.
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School Bowling team on their finish last weekend in Zone Finals. With a game average of 208, the team advanced and will represent Northwest Missouri in May at the State competition! They also earned $1,000 in scholarships. Any students interested in joining the team next year should contact Teacher Brenda Tilawen.
A group of Ray-Pec High School students participated in "Introduce a Girl to Construction Day" today. The event, sponsored by JE Dunn, included visits to the Builders Association Training Facility and the JE Dunn headquarters to learn from skilled trade professionals about construction opportunities.
Ray-Pec High School students are working with the elementary schools to collect lip balm to donate to Operation Uplift. The lip balm will be included in care packages for deployed military personnel.
February Students of the Month
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec East Middle School Students of the Month for February! They were recognized for having amazing listening skills. Front row, from the left: Eighth graders Sawyer Griffin, Kennadie Olvera, Garrin Solomon, Aria Banks, Zavier Kirk, and Matylda Schnarr. 2nd row: Seventh graders William Cammisano, Hannah Dykstra, Trevor Boehmer, Mac Northcraft, and Lexie Schram. Not pictured is Brylee Kent. 3rd row: Sixth graders Burke Gulliford, Liam Harrison, Annabelle Watson, Laura Lingard, Sierra Lopez, and Jamos Nikodym.
Two recent Ray-Pec grads earned All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association honors in the mile during the MIAA meet on Monday, Feb. 27. Braden Zaner, running for Pittsburg State University, placed 5th with a 4:07 mile, and Tyler Swift, running for Emporia State University, placed 7th with a 4:12 mile. Braden and Tyler are both 2020 Ray-Pec grads. During the race, Braden and the top four finishers broke the old MIAA record. In addition, Braden won the MIAA indoor 5K run in 14:24 and has provisionally qualified for NCAA Division 2 Nationals. Braden is the son of Teachers Bob Zaner and Tara Zaner, who both teach at Creekmoor Elementary. Tyler’s father, Jamin Swift, teaches at Ray-Pec High School.
RP School Board on Feb. 23 honored Special Olympics athletes for success at the regional basketball tournament. Three Ray-Pec Unified 3-on-3 teams won 1st place & qualified for state. The Team Skills team placed 3rd.
Congrats to 3 Ray-Pec girls wrestlers on qualifying for state! These girls qualified by placing in the top 4 of their brackets at the District tourney: Senior Brynn Elkins, 2nd place, 155 lbs; Senior Cayley Maynard, 3rd place, 170 lbs; & Junior Anna Fahrni, 4th place, 235 lbs.
Tonight's girls basketball games vs. Lee's Summit West have been canceled. Games are rescheduled for tomorrow following this schedule:
4:00 JV girls in Main Gym;
5:30 JV boys in Dome Gym;
6:00 Varsity Girls in Main Gym;
7:30 Varsity Boys in Main Gym.
