Peculiar Patriot Newsletter
1-9-2022
Welcome to 2022!
Hello Peculiar Families!
We hope you had a nice couple of weeks off of school with your families! We were so excited to see all of our students back at school on Monday!
The weather sure got colder, and we were able to dodge some of the snow and ice we thought we might be getting. We appreciate you all helping your children remember to bring their devices and chargers back to school.
We have been battling a lot of sickness this past week already. Please remember to keep your student home if they are having flu/cold-like symptoms. This will help us all stay healthy at school and at home. If you have questions about whether to keep your child home, please don't hesitate to call and talk with Mrs. Rexroad. She is happy to answer any questions.
This week will be a short week as we are getting ready to end our first semester. Teachers will be working on report cards at the end of this week, and hard copies will be sent out on the 19th.
We will be starting our Winter NWEA testing the following week, so please be sure to have your student at school ready to go that week. If your child brings his/her computer home (4th and 5th grade only), please help them remember to bring those back every day. We appreciate your help with that, as our testing is completed on our computers.
The LEAP nomination window is now open. Please see information below if you wish to nominate your child for LEAP.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out through email, or give us a call at 816-892-1650.
-Keri Collison
Principal
Important Dates to Remember:
- January 14: No School for students (staff work day)
- January 17: No School
- January 21: Spirit Day: Wear your favorite sports team
- January 27: Spirit Day: Wear your craziest socks
- January 28: No School
- January 31: PTA meeting 6:30 p.m. (school library)
LEAP Nominations
LEAP is an intervention program for gifted students in grades 2-8 who have been identified as gifted learners. Students must meet qualifying levels on identified assessments in order to participate in LEAP. The levels are prescribed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and have been adapted to the Ray-Pec LEAP program.
Nomination Period Now Open
Each year, parents or teachers may nominate students in grades 1-7 for candidacy to be evaluated for LEAP. The nomination period is from January 3-28, 2022. The nomination form link will be available on January 3, 2022, on the district webpage:
http://www.raypec.k12.mo.us/889/LEAPGifted-program
Our school counselor, Mrs. Robinson, serves as our building LEAP coordinator. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email her or call her at 892-1650.
Congratulations to Our Peculiar Elementary Spelling Bee Winners!
The following students have won our building spelling bee:
Landon Wheeler, 5th Gr. (Mrs. Shaul)
Emma Harrison, 5th Gr. (Mrs. Shaul)
Kaiden Stewart, 4th Gr. (Mrs. Coleman)
Next, they will be attending the virtual district spelling bee on Jan 12th @ 9:00 am.
Way to go!
Your kid counts!
The Ray-Pec School District is offering child developmental screenings on Jan. 14 at Shull Early Learning Center. Screening times are available for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Parent educators for the Parents as Teachers program will conduct the screenings, which will include fun activities in the areas of motor, communication, problem solving, social emotional, and early learning skills. Please allow 45 minutes for screenings for children ages 6 months to 3 years old, and allow an hour and 15 minutes for screenings for children ages 3 to 5. You will also have the opportunity to consult with behavior specialists for parenting strategies and connect with community resources. Informational flyer
Want to send in birthday treats for your student?
Please contact your child's teacher to let her know when and find out how many.
Then, please check our approved snack list and choose something from the list to send in.
Teacher Favorites
Here is the most current list:
Want to be a substitute teacher?
Are you interested in serving as a substitute teacher in the Ray-Pec School District? It's a great way to earn extra income, while maintaining flexibility in your schedule, and helping the school district.
You can now become certified as a substitute by completing a 20-hour online course at a cost of $180. Previously, individuals had to have 60 hours of college credit to begin the process.
Here are the steps:
To become a sub for Ray-Pec, you must obtain certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Complete an online substitute certificate application. For assistance, follow instructions in the Educator Certification System Help Guide. You will create a profile and complete an application. A $50 fee is required.
Submit required supporting documentation to DESE. This includes transcripts showing college credit or certificate of completion from approved substitute training and diploma (or equivalent).
Fingerprint/background check.
The 20-hour online substitute teacher training course includes professionalism, honoring diversity, engaging students, classroom management techniques, basic instructional strategies, supporting students with special needs, and working with at-risk youth. Take the online training here: Frontline Education
The cost of the application, online training, and background check will require a total investment of about $275. Substitute teachers are paid $14 per hour. Long-term substitutes are paid at a higher rate. Subs have flexibility in accepting assignments at particular schools or on particular days.
For more information: https://www.raypec.k12.mo.us/133/Substitute-Teachers
Inclement Weather Information:
During the 2021-2022 school year, inclement weather days will result in a virtual instruction day. This means that students will learn at home on that day, and the school day will not be made up later in the year. For students in the Virtual Instruction Program of Ray-Pec (VIPR), classes will continue as usual. Students who attend school in-person will attend classes online or have learning activities pre-assigned to them.
Communication about inclement weather days
In the event of a virtual instruction day due to inclement weather, the district will use these methods to communicate effectively:
Our School Messenger service will be used to send a recorded telephone message to all employees and the family of each student.
A text message will be sent via Textcaster. You can sign up here.
All subscribers of RP Update, the district's electronic newsletter, will receive an email. Subscribe by sending a message to rp.update@raypec.org.
Information will be shared on local television stations (4, 5, 9, and 41).
An update will be available via the district information line at 816-892-3988.
The announcement will be posted on the district website, Facebook page, and via Twitter.
Timing of the announcement
The decision to implement a virtual instruction day will be made as early as possible - preferably the night before. Sometimes conditions change overnight. In the event of rapidly changing weather conditions, a weather announcement may be made on the day of the cancellation. In those instances, we will try to send make the notification by 5:30 a.m.
Elementary school activities
In the event of a virtual instruction day due to inclement weather, all elementary after-school and evening events will be cancelled and/or rescheduled.
Middle school activities
In the event of a virtual instruction day due to inclement weather, all middle school events will be cancelled and/or rescheduled. This includes after-school practices and meetings, and evening activities.
High School activities
Watch for separate notifications about high school events or activities. In some cases, those activities may continue as scheduled.
Panther Pride/Shark’s Den
In most cases, Panther Pride and Shark’s Den will be open to provide care to families who are already enrolled in those programs. They will open at 8 a.m. on inclement weather/virtual instruction days.
If the District implements an unplanned early release, it is important to have arrangements for younger children. If you will not be available, please ensure someone is available to care for your child if early dismissal occurs.
The decision to close school is always a difficult one. Every effort will be made to consider the safety of the students, the safety of the faculty, and the convenience to parents when making such decisions. Your cooperation, understanding, and assistance is appreciated. However, parents and guardians are in the best position to determine the safety for their students based on nearby conditions.
As temperatures drop, it is important for students to dress appropriately, and allowances for potential bus delays should be part of the planning process. Student drivers are encouraged to use parent or school-provided transportation when road conditions are less than ideal. If you have questions regarding school dismissal, call the building your child attends or the District Administrative Services Center at 816-892-1300.
PTA INFORMATION
We invite all families to join the Peculiar PTA as members of our school community. Joining the PTA does not obligate you any job, but gives you the opportunity to contribute and vote on decisions for our school family. PTA membership is $10 per family.
Please click the link below to complete the membership form: PTA Membership Form
Our PTA also compiles a school directory to be distributed to only families in our building. Peculiar Elementary can not distribute personal communication between families, so the PTA provides contact information for the families. Each family may provide as much or little contact information as they choose.
PTA School Directory
Here is the link to our current directory. 2021-2022 Peculiar Elementary Directory
Apple Bus Info
The Ray-Pec School District contracts with Apple Bus Company to provide student transportation. To inquire about transportation or to speak with an Apple Bus employee about your child's bus experience, call Apple Bus directly at 816-318-1900, or you may send an email to Apple Bus at rp@applebuscompany.com.
Quick Tip Reporting:
Report school safety and bullying concerns through Quick Tip.
Quick Tip is an online method of reporting a school safety or bullying issue, or concern about a student. Users may click on the link and complete the information requested. Tip reporters may enter personal contact information or remain anonymous. It is accessible through the link below or on the district website.
Peculiar Elementary Mission & Vision
Mission:
Preparing each student for a successful and meaningful life.
Vision:
A future-focused community with a commitment to lifelong learning.
Mrs. Keri Collison, Principal
Email: keri.collison@raypec.org
Website: http://www.raypec.k12.mo.us/90/Peculiar-Elementary
Location: 201 East 3rd Street, Peculiar, MO, USA
Phone: 816-892-1650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peculiar-Elementary-111829803542835
Twitter: @PeculiarPatrio