Coach Plankers will be seen around the district in a new role this year as the Head Girls and Boys Golf Coach. Coach Plankers has been leading the Boys Soccer program for the past 6 years and has also been the assistant girls 9th grade basketball coach and the assistant boys golf coach. In addition to working with athletes, Coach Plankers is the Assistant Sponsor of the Student Leadership Team simply known as SLT. Coach Plankers is proud to say he's enjoyed every minute of his time as a Panther and can't wait to take over for Coach Carvan who has put over 20 years into the Golf Program at Ray-Pec High School. Coach Plankers is going to continue to work hard, improve on the golfers skills and grow the awesome game of golf. In the classroom, Coach Plankers can be found teaching Spanish 1 and Spanish 2. School leadership has always been a passion of Coach Plankers and he has recently completed his masters in School Leadership from Baker University. Coach Plankers has been refining his leadership skills around the high school serving on the Building Leadership Team. We are lucky to have a teacher, coach, and sponsor like Coach Plankers to lead in our community. As a Kansas State grad Coach Plankers likes to wear purple but when he's not wearing K-State colors he shows his dedication and his Panther Pride to our students who also share in the love of the Panthers black and gold!
After Saturday's production of "Our Town," cast, crew, family members, and alumni took time to celebrate the accomplishments and career of Teacher Todd Schnake, who is retiring in June after 32 years with the Ray-Pec School District.
(Photos by Kay Connelly©2023)
Congratulations to the Ray-Pec High School boys golf team for a fine performance at the district tournament on Thursday in Springfield! The team tied for 5th place out of 15 schools and shot the best team score in RP boys golf in over 15 years. Senior Brayden Findley led the team with a 75, earning All-District honors and qualifying for the state golf tournament to be held May 15-16.
Here's a photo of a few of the Caring About Nutrition volunteers! The Ray-Pec Public School Foundation and Ray-Pec Cares had invited CAN volunteers to an appreciation breakfast on Wednesday.
From left: Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Tom & Connie Circo, Denise and Steve Miller, and Foundation Board President Allison Bruflat.
Here's a photo of a few of the Caring About Nutrition volunteers! The Ray-Pec Public School Foundation and Ray-Pec Cares had invited CAN volunteers to an appreciation breakfast on Wednesday.
From left: Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Tom & Connie Circo, Denise and Steve Miller, and Foundation Board President Allison Bruflat.
Here's a photo of a few of the Caring About Nutrition volunteers! The Ray-Pec Public School Foundation and Ray-Pec Cares had invited CAN volunteers to an appreciation breakfast on Wednesday.
From left: Foundation Executive Director Jodie Huston, Tom & Connie Circo, Denise and Steve Miller, and Foundation Board President Allison Bruflat.
The Ray-Pec High School Robotics team has an Open Shop night from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday, May 4. Come visit our shop, see where we work and what we do, and drive our 2023 competition robot "Callaway"!
We're looking for students interested in not only technical skills like CAD, software programming, and CNC machining, but also students interested in business, logistics, social media, marketing, photography, videography, project management, and sports strategy!
Our shop is located on the northeast corner of the Ray-Pec Academy building at door #14 next to the large overhead door. Email kevin.killingsworth@raypec.org for more information.
On Sunday, May 7, the Ray-Pec Disc Golf Club is sponsoring a free disc golf tournament for any high school student or faculty member interested in learning how to play the game.
Sign ups start at 8:15 a.m. near the baseball concession stands on the Ray-Pec High School campus. While practicing the new course last night, Andrew Brokaw got his 1st hole-in-one on hole #8, which is a 240 foot hole that is heavily guarded by trees. Congrats, Andrew!
Teacher Jamin Swift is the club sponsor.
The Senior Awards Ceremony honoring the Graduating Class of 2023 will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at the Raymore-Peculiar High School Gymnasium. Seniors being recognized will be sent an electronic invitation in their school email. Those Seniors will be recognized for achieving accomplishments such as earning a scholarship, a departmental award and/or other awards. In order to ensure that students are properly introduced, they must report to the main commons and check in no later than 6:45 p.m. Seniors: Please bring/wear your cap, gown, and stole.
Looks like Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle caught a whopper!
While visiting Peculiar Elementary School today, Dr. Slagle took part in Chris Roller's physical education class, where students are learning fishing skills. These students are in Brittney Coleman's fourth grade class.
The Raymore-Peculiar School Board on April 27 recognized students who were selected for the Missouri All-State Choir. Participation in the All-State Choir is the highest honor a singer can receive in the state of Missouri.
From left: Soprano Jilliam Collom, Bass Miles Sellami (All-State Honorable Mention), Alto Tallie Scott, Soprano Bailey Roe, Soprano Leticia Turner (All-State Honorable Mention), Soprano Brooklyn Burk, Tenor Xander Blackmon (2-year member), Tenor Dalton Ballinger, and Bass David Marin (All-State Honorable Mention).
They are pictured with Board Member Carol Barnes. Not pictured is Alto Hannah Moroney.
The Raymore-Peculiar School Board on April 27 honored Yajaira Reed Tellez, the 2023 Ray-Pec Support Staff Employee of the Year. She is the Teacher Associate in the English Language Learners program at Creekmoor Elementary School. She also serves as a Spanish translator for the District. She is pictured with Board Member Carol Barnes
The School Board on April 27 honored members of Citizens 4 RP, a community group formed to support Prop RP-1 on the April 4 ballot. From left: Cathy Wansing, Erin Burks, & Board Member Carol Barnes.
In an elementary school classroom today, School Board President Ruth Johnson watches while a student works on an assignment about directions and patterns of the moon.
Johnson accompanied Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle on some classroom visits today. Dr. Slagle regularly visits classrooms in schools across the District.
On Wednesday, April 19, the RPHS English 4 seniors participated in their annual Community DRIVE Night presentations. The evening began with their tri-fold displays in the dome, and then moved to their individual presentations. Teachers, admin, business owners, and community members are just some of the people who were evaluators for the presentations. The seniors were tasked with presenting on their Client-Connected Projects, along with explaining their team's Design Thinking Process and how they achieved the attributes based on our school's 'Portrait of a Ray-Pec Grad'.
On April 21, School Board Vice President Deanna Olson and Board Member Bill Lowe talked with the Teacher Academy Scholar Teachers about the school board's role in education and what board members do for the district.
What a weekend for Ray-Pec Theatre! State Champions in Readers Theatre, State Champions in Duet Acting (Sav Jordan and Devin Fisher), and State Runner-Up for the One Act Play!
In addition, five other events placed in the top 6 in the state, and Ray-Pec earned second place in the overall speech sweepstakes at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), State Speech, Debate, & Theatre Championships on April 22 at Missouri State University.
Congratulations to:
Dramatic Interpretation--Andrew Burton--3rd Place
Nigel Norvell--Poetry Interpretation--4th Place
Humorous Interpretation--Corbin Williams--5th Place
Duo Interpretation--Irelynn Sloan and Elijah O'Brien--5th Place
Original Oratory--Sav Jordan--6th Place
The morning of Wednesday, April 19, School Board Member Bill Lowe joined Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle to greet students arriving at Eagle Glen Elementary School. April 21 will be Sgt. Lowe's last day in uniform as he is retiring after a 28-year career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Congrats on your retirement, and thanks for your service! (He is continuing to serve as a School Board member.)
“This is a place where students can experience learning in a different way.” - Dr. Mike Slagle, Ray-Pec School District Superintendent
In creating the Ray-Pec LEAD Center, the district wanted to create an experience for students that was unlike what they had experienced before and complement their high school experience. With opportunities for real-world learning, career and technical education, teacher training, entrepreneurial experiences and more, students are not only engaged in a traditional learning experience, but also prepared to propel into their next avenues of life.
A group of retired Ray-Pec employees enjoyed lunch together on Tuesday at the Administrative Services Center.
From left: Mary Dobson, Ellen Wilfong, Carol Brandt, Shelley Presley, Dorthy Jungmeyer, Karen Helzer, and Joyce Webb.
The lunch was sponsored by the Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation. If you'd like to be notified of future retiree get-togethers, send an email to jodie.huston@raypec.org.
