RAYMORE-PECULIAR SCHOOL DISTRICT

Today's Staff Spotlight focuses on Ashley Gatlin, one of Raymore Elementary School's first-grade teachers. In this candid conversation, Ashley shares her story about being a teacher in this district and her recent battle with cancer. At a time of year when we pause to reflect on the things we are thankful for, Ashley's story emphasizes not taking life for granted. 🖤🤍 https://youtu.be/vjUqXSF0qVE

On Friday BOE Vice President Deanna Olson took some time to visit the Ninth Grade Center and East Middle School. At EMS she met Lead Custodian Dawn Brumble and got to see the wall FILLED with notes of appreciation that students and staff wrote to Dawn for everything she does to make learning possible! 🖤🩵

Looking for Ray-Pec Apparel? 👕👖 The Panther Market at RPHS is offering some new items for sale! These items are available at the high school. Look at the selections and place orders here: https://raypeck12.revtrak.net/Panther-Market/#/list Customizable options that can be shipped to your home are available here: https://www.rokkitwear.com/school/17574-raymore-peculiar-high-school If you have any questions, please contact Teacher Kim Schrader at kimberly.schrader@raypec.org.

It's the first Girls Basketball game day of the year! ⛹️‍♀️ The ladies will host Raytown South High School tonight at 7 pm! 🏀

The District received a clean audit opinion on its financial statements, compliance with laws and regulations, and internal control over financial reporting for the year ended June 30, 2024. Brian Eckhoff, CPA from Westbrook & Co., P.C., presented the audit results on Thursday night to the Board of Education. Board President Ruth Johnson was pleased with the audit report. "We are proud of the work by our Finance Department to be the best stewards of taxpayer dollars," she said. Read more: https://www.raypec.org/article/1890038

This past Saturday the advanced coding teachers, Mr. Lersch and Mr. Conley took eight RPHS students to compete in the Missouri Hacks Computer Science Competition at MU. The students of Ray-Pec got the opportunity to sit in on a lecture from Professor Jim Ries, witness a VR demonstration, and then compete in teams in one of the Engineering Computer Labs on campus. They were prompted with a problem and had three hours to write and code an original program. They were then judged by a panel of MU Computer Science majors. Ray-Pec represented almost a third of the competitors present in this second annual event!

Ground has been broken on the Integrated Learning House! We can't wait to see some incredible learning opportunities come to life in this new space! 🤩

Applications for the LEAD Center, Cass Career Center (CCC), Southland CAPS (SCAPS), and Summit Technology Academy (STA) are now open for the 2025-2026 school year! There will be an overview of all off-site options and the application process during the Counseling Convo today, 11/21/24. This will take place during Panther Time in the PAC. You can find more information and links to apply to these programs on our website: raypec.org/o/rphs/page/off-site-programs RPHS APPLICATION DEADLINE: All off-site applications must be submitted by January 31st, 2025 (regardless of the deadline listed on the specific site). Any application turned in after this date will be automatically placed on a waiting list.

This is a TEST message from the Raymore-Peculiar School District. We’ve sent this message via phone call, email, text message, and the Focus mobile app notification. We want to be sure you are informed of school cancellations due to inclement weather or an emergency in our school community. If parents didn’t receive a message via a platform you think you should have (please give it a few minutes to send), please first check your phone number and email in Focus and make any updates. Log into the portal, click on your student’s information, and then select Addresses and Contacts. Then click on your name to edit the information. Here are some helpful instructions on requesting changes: Desktop: https://drive.google.com/.../1z43eWu9FmLBH9g52wCy.../preview Mobile: https://drive.google.com/.../1RhcSfb4k5l7U8oy5Ism.../preview Also check to make sure the Focus emails are not going to spam or junk mail folders. Here is how to resolve that: https://www.raypec.org/o/rpsd/page/move-focus-emails-to-your-inbox If you have additional questions, please contact rp.update@raypec.org.

The West Peculiar Fire Protection District stopped by ASC today to do some elevator rescue training! 🧑‍🚒 We're so thankful for our partnerships with local first responders and all that they do to keep our community safe!

The Belton and Ray-Pec faculty competed in women’s and men’s volleyball matches to raise money for St. Jude’s and Heart N Hand and for annual bragging rights. The games were held at Ray-Pec High School Nov 13th. Ray-Pec DECA members coordinated the event this year with help from local sponsors: Pizza Hut, Sonic, and Dominoes. The Ray-Pec women won in 3 sets and the Belton men won in 2 sets.

REMINDER: The Ray-Pec School District will conduct a test of its emergency notification system at tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 20, at noon. We want to be sure you are informed of school cancellations due to inclement weather or in case of an emergency in our school community. We will send a TEST message to the contact information we have on file for staff and parents, including: text, email, phone, mobile app. This will allow individuals to ensure they are receiving district and school information through their desired platforms. We will also post the TEST message to our website and social media accounts. In addition, an email will be sent to subscribers of RP Update. In the event of an actual emergency, the district will also share school cancellation notices on the district information line (816-892-3988) and with local television stations. For more information, see the webpage about inclement weather procedures.

Happy American Education Week! This week, we’re celebrating our incredible Ray-Pec educators who nurture and empower our students every day. Whether in a teaching or support position, we are all in this together, and we all have a role to play. Your hard work and dedication makes a difference in the lives of our students. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to provide excellence in education in the Ray-Pec School District! 🖤💛 #HereWeGo

Congratulations to Jayden Peek, who was selected as Cass Career Center's Senior Young Professional of the Month for November! Jayden is a student in the Cass Career EMT Academy. The award is sponsored by the Cass County Elks Lodge #2791 and celebrates the outstanding work of Cass County youth.

Mark your calendars! 📆 The Ray-Pec Boys and Girls Basketball teams would like to invite fans of all ages to their first annual "Late Night at Ray-Pec" event on Friday, November 22nd! The kick-off event is similar to those found at major college programs. The teams will be introduced, there will be an intersquad scrimmage, shooting games with fan interaction, player meet and greets and more! There is no charge for admission. The event will start at 7:00 pm. Please join us for a great night to kick off the basketball season!

Katie Huff and three LEAD Center students appeared on SONIC Locker Room Radio yesterday to explain what the Enterprise & Design program is and showcase how Special Education is integrated as well. Give it a listen! ⤵️ https://slr.news/schools/raymore-peculiar/11-13-24

Take a look Through the Eyes of LEAP Students! 🎥 Hear what they like about LEAP and the unique ways they are challenged in class. https://youtu.be/NNUREnsmIfg

Boys Swimming heads to the St. Peters Rec-Plex for the State Swim meet happening today and tomorrow! Good luck boys!

Ray-Pec 7th and 8th grade choir students participated in the West Central Missouri Music Educators’ Association 7th and 8th Grade Honor Choir event on Nov. 2 on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. Students were responsible for preparing music in advance, and spent many hours in rehearsal on Nov. 2 before performing the music in a concert that afternoon on the Hendricks' Hall stage. East Middle School 7th Grader C.J. Gooch was chosen to sing a solo out of 40 students auditioning. Shea Twenter is the vocal music teacher at East Middle School. Lezlie Waltz is the vocal music teacher at South Middle School. Participants from East Middle School: Back row, from left: Emma Dudley, Julia Mayberry, Emma Paxton, Laney Testerman, and Irelynn Miller. Front row: Emme Mundy, Lyndlee Vandiver, Harper Linn, C.J. Gooch, and Dexter Stone. Participants from South Middle School: Back row, from left: Makayla Prince, Lizzie Howe, Kennedy Smith, Allie Compton, and Bri Taylor. Front row: Ky Price, Cannon Bennion, Johanna Matlock, Elle Orstad, and McKenzie Dubert. Foreground: Teacher Lezlie Waltz

Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School students named to the All-District Band! Auditions took place on Nov. 9 at Warrensburg High School. All-District Band Members Flute: Bella Kelch, 3rd chair, Honorable Mention Band Clarinet: Gerhard Sturm, 7th chair, Honor Band; Sophia Williams, 8th chair, Honor Band; Reagan Thomas, 10th chair, Honor Band; Lana German, 17th chair, Honor Band; Peyton Holts, 22nd chair, Honor Band; Aria Banks, 24th chair, Honor Band; Isabella Weis, 6th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Hezekiah Ramos, 14th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Ivy Moody-Scott, 15th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Zoe Ayers, 20th chair, Honorable Mention Band Bari Sax: Faith Suddarth, 2nd chair, Honor Band Trumpet: Ben Lust, 4th chair, Honor Band; Elijah Cox, 5th chair, Honor Band; Isaac Heuwinkel, 6th chair, Honor Band; Jesse Johnson, 7th chair, Honor Band; Coleson Mott, 8th chair, Honor Band; Kris Smither, 8th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Jackson Peek, Honorable Mention Band, first alternate French Horn: Blake Bond, 2nd chair, Honor Band Trombone: Evan Thompson, 5th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Gary Deal, 6th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Vincent Blankenship, 8th chair, Honorable Mention Band; Kenneth Gethers, 9th chair, Honorable Mention Band Baritone: Lexie Panuco, 2nd chair, Honorable Mention Band Tuba: Cade Lane, 1st chair, Honorable Mention Band; Isaac Wells, 3rd chair Honorable Mention Band Percussion: Zak Houston, 2nd chair, Honorable Mention Band All-District Orchestra Members Trumpet: Isaac Heuwinkel, 2nd chair French Horn: Blake Bond, 2nd chair All-District Jazz Members Tenor Sax: Mack Stewart, first alternate Drum Set: Jackson Clingan