Hello Families
Welcome to 2023!
We hope you had a wonderful winter break with your families. Students and staff were excited to return and see each other on January 5th.
December was cut a little short with the possibility of crazy weather on the 22nd, and plans had to shift rather quickly to the last day being December 21st. I want to send a HUGE thank you and shout out to our PTA and family members for adjusting the planning, preparation, and party festivities so that students could celebrate before going home for break. This was no easy feat, and we know people had to change plans around to make it happen. We appreciate you, and thank you for making this an awesome day for kids!
December also took our 5th and 4th grade on field trips (virtual and in person)! They had a great time and appreciate our parent volunteers for helping out. Students were able to make some connections between what they had been learning about in class and what is out there in the "real world" and have fun doing it! We are so glad to be able to do field trips again!
Our fifth graders are preparing to host a Science fair this month as well. Information has been shared by their teachers to let families know when this will take place and all of the details. They are working hard on their presentations and can't wait to present them to you!
It's going to be a great month!
If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to give me a call.
Sincerely,
Keri Collison
Principal
LEAP NOMINATIONS OPEN NOW
LEAP is an intervention program for gifted students in grades 2-12 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 4-27, 2023. The nomination form link will be available on January 4, 2023, on the district webpage:
https://forms.gle/mCwCFKFqBct3mYoK6
Our school counselor Latasha Robinson serves as our building LEAP coordinator. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email her or call her at 892-1667.
Important Dates to Remember:
January 13: School Spirit Day: Mismatch day
January 13: 5th Grade Science Museum
January 16: No School - Martin Luther King holiday
January 20: School Spirit Day: Peculiar colors/t-shirts
January 27: School Spirit Day: Career Day
January 30: No School- Staff Collaboration day
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.
Staff Favorites
If you are interested, or had inquired about this, please click on this link:
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."
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.
Check out our PTA website: 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. Our website is: peculiar.ptboard.com
Sign up for AmazonSmile and select PTA Missouri Congress Peculiar Elementary PTA as your preferred charity at smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7125801. Remember to shop for deals at smile.amazon.com, or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon app, and AmazonSmile will donate to us at no cost to you.
Mrs. Keri Collison, Principal
