October News
10/22/23
Hello!
Can you believe we are almost through October already?
Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up next week. If you have not yet scheduled your time with your child's teacher, please reach out and get signed up. Teachers are looking forward to sharing all of the amazing progress your child has made this year!
Our annual BooFest is coming up this week on Thursday night! This is a great night for kids to wear their costumes and come "trick or treat" in our parking lot. Our school staff always comes up with some amazing costumes and trunks, so come check it out! We are still collecting candy donations if you would like to donate to the cause.
Our fourth graders went on their field trip this past week, and had a fun time learning at the Anita B Gorman Conservation Center! They had the perfect weather! We are also starting some pretty cool science projects in these next couple weeks! Be sure to ask your student to share what they are doing at school with you!
We also are hosting our first Book Fair of the school year starting this week. Swing by and check it out! More information below!
Please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Keri Collison
Principal
Important Dates to Remember:
October 23: No School-Staff Collaboration
October 26: BooFest
October 26: PTA meeting after BooFest
October 30-November 3: Book Fair
October 31: Picture Retakes
October 31: Fall Classroom Celebrations
November 1 & 2: Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 1, 2, 3: No School
November 9: 4th Grade Music Performance (6:00 p.m.)
November 10: Veteran's Day Program
November 15: Culver's Night
November 17: Thanksgiving lunch
Come on Out for BooFest this week!
Kids can wear their costumes and go through our parking lot to trick-or-treat.
All of our staff creates a fun trunk and some pretty amazing costumes. We love to see the student costumes too!
We are still accepting candy donations if you would liek to donate a bag or two to the cause.
This is always a fun night for everyone!
The Book Fair is Coming!
"Our Peculiar Elementary Fall Book Fair is one week away but you can start planning now! Check out the video and follow the link for more information! Drop a comment with your favorite children's book for a chance to win $5 towards the fair!"
Thank you to our Watch D.O.G.S.!
Watch D.O.G.S.
Watch D.O.G.S.
Watch D.O.G.S.
Watch D.O.G.S
WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) is a family and community engagement educational initiative.
There are 2 primary goals of the WATCH D.O.G.S. program:
1. To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2. To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Who are WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students)?
WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S.® school. During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well.
Our students are S.T.A.R.S.!
Our school family is focusing on being S.T.A.R.S. in all areas of our school. You may see your student bring home a P3 ticket for demonstrating one of these things during their day. Staff are reviewing these daily, and recognizing students for showing these qualities across the school.
Volunteer Interest
RP Volunteer Application process
If you need any assistance, please call or email the secretaries in the office and they would be happy to help.
Arrival/Dismissal Process:
Arrival/Dismissal Information
Arrival:
■ Students should proceed to the lunchroom if purchasing breakfast or to class as our teachers are excited to begin with their class family at the start of each day!
■ Students should not arrive at school earlier than 8:20 a.m. Staff supervision begins at 8:20 a.m. and students are considered late after 8:35 am.
■ Walkers/Bike Riders -will enter through the front doors.
■ Car riders are to be unloaded using the parking lot/drive through on the west side of the building. We ask that you patiently wait in your car until you reach the front of the line and a staff member welcomes you and your student(s) before they exit your vehicle. Please help your child open their car door if you can to assist staff with a speedy unloading process. Students should not get out of their car until a staff member is present at 8:20 a.m.
■ Bus Riders wait on the bus until a teacher arrives to unload along the front driveway west of the building.
Dismissal:
■ All students are dismissed at 3:50 pm. All dismissal changes should be communicated to our office via phone/email by 2:30pm. This allows sufficient time to notify teachers and students of changes.
● Walkers/Bike Riders will be dismissed to a designated area where teachers will check attendance. Students will be escorted out by a teacher and walked out to the sidewalk area near the fire hydrant at the southeast corner of 3rd Street and Broadway.
○ We ask that parents who are waiting for walkers wait on that sidewalk next to the crosswalk, not near the car rider line, front doors, or buses.
● Car Riders will be dismissed in two groups (Kinder, 1st& 2nd, 3rd,4th,5th grade).. All vehicles are to pick up car riders using the parking lots noted for their child’s grade level (see map below)
○ Please make sure you have your green car tag with your child’s first and last name visible in the passenger window of your vehicle. If you need an additional car tag, please notify the front office.
○ No cars should enter the front staff lot during dismissal for the safety of our students, buses and staff. We ask that you do not exit your vehicle.
○ For the safety of your children, please be ready to show your ID if you do not have a car tag or if staff may have a question/concern. We appreciate your patience.
○ Utilize the car rider line if you are picking up your student at dismissal in your car. Please do not park in our parking lots and then ask your child to cross the parking lot to your car. Help us keep our/your student safe by following the car rider procedures.
● Bus Riders will wait in their classrooms until their classroom is called to exit the building.
Free and Reduced Meal Application
CASHLESS SYSTEM - You will no longer be able to send CASH to fund your child's lunch account. Nutrition services can only accept payment by check or online at MySchoolBucks.com .
Free and Reduced Price Meals are available to families who believe they may qualify. If your family chooses to apply please complete our ONLINE "Free and Reduced Meal Price Application Form."
Meal prices for this year:
K-5 Breakfast: $1.90
Lunch $2.75
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.
We have a new website & platform we’re using for the PTA; it lets us do everything PTA that we need all in one spot & makes it user friendly for families too. You can view the PTA calendar, sign up for volunteer spots, shop, pay dues, connect with other parents in your child’s class, & view the student directory if you need contact info for birthday invites to send outside of school. Our website is: https://www.peculiarelementarypta.org/
FirstView bus app
First Student announces FirstView, a free bus tracking and parent communication app.
The FirstView app allows families to:
Track the location and direction of your child's bus.
Set up push or email notifications alerting you when your student's bus is a chosen distance from your stop.
Opt-in direct messaging regarding delays or issues.
To get started, download the FirstView Parent App. Go to firstviewapp.com or find FirstView in the App Store or Google Play. Follow the instructions to download the app to your smartphone.
To set up your profile, open the FirstView app from your home screen. As part of the registration process, you will be asked to provide the District code, which was sent in an email to families of bus riders. If you do not know the district code, contact Casey Thompson at casandra.thompson@raypec.org or (816) 892-1313.
If you do not know your child's bus route, contact First Student at (816) 318-1900 or transportation@raypec.org.
For instructions on following a route, setting up distance alerts, and receiving notifications, please see these instructions.
Support
If you need help with the FirstView app, please contact the customer support team Monday through Friday for assistance.
Call toll-free 888-889-8920 from 7 a.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET
Email Customer Support at support@firstviewapp.com
Use the in-app “✉” button (right corner) to provide feedback
First Student Bus Info
The Ray-Pec School District contracts with First student Bus Company to provide student transportation. To inquire about transportation or to speak with a First Student Bus employee about your child's bus experience, call them directly at 816-318-1900.
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.
MOCAP information
Section 161.670, RSMo requires DESE to publish a MOCAP guidance document on its website and provide the guidance document for all school districts, charter schools and virtual providers in written and electronic forms. The law also requires LEAs to inform parents and guardians of their child’s right to participate in MOCAP by:
- providing a copy of the guidance to every student and parent/guardian enrolled in the LEA at the beginning of each school year;
- providing a copy of the guidance at the time of enrollment for students enrolling at a time other than the beginning of the school year;
- providing a readily viewable link to an electronic version of guidance document on the main page of the LEA’s website; and
- ensuring the availability of the MOCAP program is made clear in the LEAs parent/guardian handbook, registration documents, and LEA website by featuring the MOCAP website link on the LEA’s homepage.
Mrs. Keri Collison, Principal
Email: keri.collison@raypec.org
Website: https://www.raypec.org/o/pes
Location: 201 East 3rd Street, Peculiar, MO, USA
Phone: 816-892-1650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peculiar-Elementary-111829803542835
Twitter: @PeculiarPatrio