Patrick Hemmingsen led a 𝓬𝓸𝓸𝓵 lesson this morning as part of the wrap-up of a QFT (Question Formulation Technique a.k.a. Right Question Method) that his AP Chemistry students have been investigating this month. Students investigated intermolecular forces, phase changes, and freezing point depression to help answer the question, "Why does adding salt to icy steps and roads prevent them from freezing?"
In the lab portion of the lesson, students were able to use these properties to turn coffee creamer cups into bite sized ice cream treats. Students were VERY engaged and the experience helped students solidify their understanding of the concepts. This method of teaching was a focus at the Innovation Summit earlier this year!
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School Students of the Month for November! Kendyll Gethers and Carter Chatfield will be recognized by the Belton-Raymore Rotary Club. Mikayla Chick and Jackson Graham will be recognized by the Ray-Pec Sunrise Optimist Club.
The Ray-Pec High School Band and Orchestra are in Florida! They performed the soundtrack to "Despicable Me" on a Universal Soundstage and learned about sound design and the art of Foley.
Directors are: Jennifer Byrne, Briana Henzel, and Dillon Jarrett.
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School Students of the Month for October! Keeton Scrivener and Kynah Simmons were honored by the Ray-Pec Sunrise Optimist Club. Landon Moots and Taryn Bower were honored by the Belton-Raymore Rotary Club.
Ray-Pec Learning Lens is back with a new episode! 🎥
Check out the new Anatomage Table at the High School and hear what students have to say about using it! To learn more about the Anatomage table, you can visit their website here: anatomage.com/table/
Last night the Board of Education recognized Kaitlyn Doss and Jennifer Johnson for their National Board Certification. Last spring, both of them took steps to obtain accreditation through the National Board Certification of School Nurses.
Jennifer Johnson is the district’s nurse supervisor. Kaitlyn Doss is a nurse at the high school.
This board certification is a formal recognition of advanced knowledge, competence, and a personal commitment to excellence in the specialty of school nursing. The mission of the national board is to advance the health and learning of students, and wellness of the school community, through a rigorous national certification process. Their certification is good for 5 years.
Congratulations to you RPHS Varsity Girls' Tennis team who won the prestigious Belton Invitational tennis tournament! Individual winners included: A-flight singles winner Dulce Dunham, B-flight winner Dailyn Rodriguez, A-flight doubles winners Abigail Sheldon & Nicholina Sheldon.
English 4 students who were introduced to the Design Thinking Process yesterday through an activity where they worked in groups to solve a problem and used Legos to create prototypes for their solutions.
They will officially begin their client connected projects in the coming weeks and present on their work at Senior Drive Night in April.
This school year, a special house will be constructed on the grounds of Raymore-Peculiar High School. It will be located on the south side of the school, between the two loading docks. The Integrated Learning House will be an actual house designed for students with special needs to practice the skills needed to live on their own. Students will not live in the house, but will use the house as a classroom to learn a variety of tasks.
Here are two concept drawings of the Integrated Learning House.
Here's a link to the longer story on the website: https://www.raypec.org/article/1769083
The Girls' Golf team took home some more hardware today as they took first place at the Lee's Summit West Tournament at Fred Arbanas Golf Course. All 5 players finished in the top 10. Addie Swan was the top finisher for the tournament, shooting a 78. Also medaling was Vanessa Ocampo, Alexis Brown, McKenna Raymond and Ansley Harper.
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School Students of the Month for September! Devin Fisher and McKenna Raymond will be honored by the Belton-Raymore Rotary Club. Carter Younger and Sophie Dick will be honored by the Ray-Pec Sunrise Optimist Club.
Tennis news! Congratulations to Ray-Pec High School Senior Dulce Dunham for her bronze medal finish at today's Platte County invitational!
Two tournaments, two wins! Today the Ray-Pec Girls Golf Team traveled to Lakewood Oaks Country Club and took 1st place as a team at the Lady Jaguar Invitational! ⛳️
The Panthers were led by:
Addie Swan, 2nd 79
Ansley Harper, 7th 84
On Friday the Girls' Golf team hosted the Ray-Pec Scramble Tourney at Hoots Hollow and the Varsity Panthers took home first place! The 2 person scramble teams were led by:
-Addie Swan and Vanessa Ocampo who finished 2nd overall with a score of 66
-McKenna Raymond and Ansley Harper finished T3 with a 69
-Alexis Brown and Giana Hunt finished T9 with an even par 72
Did you know that Ray-Pec High School has a beekeeping club? 🐝 Known as the Ray-Pec Beekeeping Society, the club formed last year and maintains two hives. Teacher Joshua Henry is the sponsor of the club, which typically meets during Panther Time. Normally, students work with Mr. Henry to inspect the hives, but earlier this month, Teachers Kevin Crean and Kacey Huffman helped with the hive inspection. The club typically checks the hives throughout the spring, summer, and fall, and leaves them alone during the winter.
The club also has an Instagram account: @rphsbeekeepingsociety
The grades of students involved in a sport or activity continue to be higher than the grades of students who do not participate in an activity. In her annual program update, Activities & Athletic Director Dr. Kristina Martin shared yearly GPA averages for the 2023-24 school year:
Athletics: 3.42
Band/Choir/Orchestra: 3.5
Drama: 3.695
Scholar Bowl: 4.31
No Sport or Activity: 2.86
1,051 students at Ray-Pec High School were involved in one or more sports or activities last year, including the newly added esports program and Girls Flag Football who was one of 32 teams to compete for a national championship, representing the Kansas City Chiefs. An additional, 1,416 students participated in an activity at the middle school level.
See the entire presentation here: raypec.org/page/2024-2025-board-meetings
The Peculiar Chamber of Commerce held their monthly coffee event at the new PAC this morning! Local business leaders and community members got a sneak peek of the PAC and were treated to a short performance by our middle school orchestra! ☕🎻
Our very own Ruth Johnson's term as Missouri School Boards' Association President has come to a close. As always, Ruth made the Ray-Pec School District proud with her strong leadership and commitment to serving others. 🖤💛
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School students who attended the American Legion Missouri Boys State and the American Legion Auxiliary Missouri Girls State at Lindenwood University! The program is designed to educate and train Missouri's young leaders in functional citizenship, leadership, and government. Nearly 1,000 student leaders build an entire state government in a single week.
Pictured left to right: Kendyll Gethers, Makayla Coleman, Sophie Dick, Carter Younger, Elijah Cook, Eyan Karr and Mason Rew.
Last week, summer school students participated in the presentation of their project showcase! Students worked the past 4 weeks on a collaborative project using the design thinking process to explore an essential question related to the content area they enrolled in. Students created trifold presentations to showcase their learning and shared their ideas with the community and some of our middle school students. Finally, our students presented individually to community evaluators to share how the project work they completed helped them to develop 6 traits that all Raymore-Peculiar High School students should master before graduation.
