Mason Dempsey, Javen Johnson, and Hunter Perkins were all selected to represent the state of Missouri in the BeYOUnion KS-MO All-Star game this summer (6/14) at Mill Valley HS! Congratulations! 🏈
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!
🎥 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.
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+.
The Board recognized the High School choir students who were selected for the All-State Choirs. Last fall, eight Ray-Pec singers were selected for the All-State Choir. This ties the school record for the number of students selected. Four additional singers were selected at All-State Honorable Mention.
The All-State Choir performed in January at the Missouri Choral Directors Association conference.
All-State Choir:
Soprano - Jillian Collom (2-year member)
Soprano, 2nd alternate - Reagan Sheedy
Tenor - Audrey Shepard
Tenor, 1st alternate - Landen Sugar
Bass - Devin Fisher
Bass - Landan Moots
Bass - Mason Rew
Bass, 2nd alternate - Cameron Slavin
All-State Honorable Mention:
Soprano - Serena Bursley
Soprano - Gracie Chambers
Alto - Elizabeth Burton
Alto - Annaliese Busse
From left to right: Serena Bursley, Annaliese Busse, Reagan Sheedy, Jillian Collom, Mason Rew, Audrey Shepard, Landen Sugar, Landan Moots, and Board Member Billy King.
The Board recognized Junior Isaiah Cox for being one of 16 students across the state selected to participate in the 2024 Missouri Music Educators Association All-State Collective. The goal of The Collective is to bring young musicians to work collaboratively to create new and original music. The group gathered during the MMEA conference in January and had a performance of original songs on January 24, during the MMEA conference. Isaiah is pictured with Board Member Billy King.
The School Board on March 21 recognized Ray-Pec High School Senior Gavin Birkett, who placed fifth at the 2024 state wrestling tournament for Class 4 in the 165-pound weight class. He also was a state qualifier in 2023. Gavin was one of the wrestling team captains this year. He was named by the Missouri Wrestling Association to its Academic All-State Team for carrying a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or greater and qualifying for the state tournament. At the time of the tournament, his GPA was 4.15. During this season, Gavin also celebrated his 100th career win. Gavin is pictured with Board Member Billy King.
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 was pleased to have a great showing of performances this last Saturday, March 16th at MSHSAA District Solo & Ensemble Festival. 22 students performed in 21 events.
Two students received an exemplary rating and qualified for state!
Orchestra Exemplary Ratings(State Qualifiers):
Violin & Cello Duet- Charlotte Fobes and Lillian Spruell
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
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. 💛🖤
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!
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!
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! 👏
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
