Bluejay Bulletin
September 2023 Newsletter
Bluejay Bulletin
October No School Dates
- October 4th (Teacher Professional Development)
- October 20th (Teacher Work Day)
- October 26th and 27th (Family Teacher Conferences)
RQS Day - October 12th
On Thursday, October 12 the district will launch the inaugural RQS Day!
We invite you to celebrate with us by showing your RQS pride by wearing red, blue or any RQS spiritwear.
Please join us in celebrating all things RQS. We encourage you to post photos to social media using the hashtag #RQSDay.
Quarter One Ends October 13th
The first quarter ends on October 13th. Students should ensure all work is submitted prior to this date. Once quarter grades are stored, grade cards will be emailed and available on Sisk12.
Picture Retakes - Monday October 23rd
Students who missed our initial picture day or students needing to retake their photos can do so on October 23rd. Senior Retakes will be on October 30th. Students will be called down for retakes during the school day.
Winter Sport Family Meeting - October 23rd
All students and families interested in participating in our Winter sports programs will need to attend our Winter Sports Family meeting on October 23rd at 6:30PM in the Main Gym. After our whole group meeting, individual sports will have meetings to talk about their seasons. Please reach out to Robert Johnson (robert.johnson@raytownschools.org) with any questions.
VU Scholarship Day (Juniors and Seniors) - October 25th!
Raytown Quality Schools has partnered with VU Scholarships!
VU (pronounced "View") is a platform that matches high school students with college/university scholarships AHEAD of application. Utilizing this unique process, students can receive scholarship offers from their partner colleges/universities instantaneously, opening up the student's mind to college choices they have yet to consider. There is no cost, and no requirement for the student to take any action unless they wish to formally apply with that school.
If families or students wish to opt-out of VU Scholarships, please complete this google form.
In the coming weeks and on October 25th, students will receive information regarding what scholarships they have received. During Family Teacher Conferences, Junior and Senior families please feel free to meet with your student's Counselor, RWL Coordinator, or College Advisor regarding this opportunity!
Family - Teacher Conferences
Halloween Costumes at School
School appropriate Halloween costumes are permitted on Halloween. However, students cannot wear face coverings.
92% Or Better Attendance = Free Entry to Home Athletic Events
All students with attendance of 92% or better will receive free entry into all regular season home athletic events! Students can verify their attendance at the gate when they arrive.
Attendance and Tardies
Regular attendance at school is vital to a student's success in high school. At Raytown High School, we have a goal that 90% of our students are at school 90% of the time. Last year, we fell well below our goal with 58% of our students attending 90% of the time. As we seek to improve upon this goal, here are some reminders about attendance at school. Remember every MINUTE counts!
- School begins at 7:15 and ends at 2:20 (Wednesdays at 12:55).
- Students who arrive at school after 7:25 are considered a late check-in. Unexcused late check-ins are considered tardy.
- To excuse an absence, please email rhsattendance@raytownschools.org or call (816) 268-7310.
- Excessive tardiness will result in consequences from administration.
Student Drop Off and Parking Update
Car Rider Drop-Off/ Pick-Up: (see pictures below)
- Car Riders can drop off on 61st street and on the East side of the building. You will enter the parking lot via Blue Ridge Blvd. Using the first entrance. (PICTURED BELOW)
- Cars will proceed to the second lane and drop students off just past the curve and the crosswalk. (PICTURED BELOW)
- Due to the high volume of bus riders, once traffic has stopped and you are in the drop off lane, (past the traffic barricade) please let out your student.
- Students will need to proceed up the car lane to the crosswalk to avoid bus traffic. This is a safety measure. Do not step over the orange chains on the cones. (PICTURED BELOW)
- When picking up students, please pull to the second lane and pull around to the crosswalk area to leave enough room for cars to pass who are ready to leave before you.
Student Parking Update
Construction for the new auxillary gym has begun! This will impact parking around campus as the work progresses. Please refer to the below photo for the impacts to our South parking lot.
Cell Phone Policy
As we start the 2023-2024 school year, we wanted to reach out to our families to share a reminder about our expectations related to student use of personal electronic devices. For many years our procedures and policy have prohibited the use of student electronic devices during instructional time, this includes, but is not limited to, cellular phones, headphone/earbuds, smart watches, et cetera. We want to remind students and families that this policy will remain in effect.
- It is our expectation that students will refrain from using their personal devices during class time for any purpose.
- It is our expectation that these devices be stored in a pocket, bag, or backpack during class time. It is not appropriate or acceptable for these devices to be sitting out on desks tops, in student laps, or otherwise on display and/or easily visible/accessible. Additionally, it is NOT permissible for these items to be plugged in and charging during class time.
- District policy prohibits the use of any recording device without the expressed permission of the Board of Education or their designee.
- Students are permitted to appropriately use their devices during non-class times (i.e. passing periods, before/after school, during lunch time in the cafeteria, et cetera).
Teachers will be vigilant in addressing this concern and sending student to see their assistant principal when students fail to meet this expectation. Assistant principals will work to implement the following disciplinary scope and sequence:
1st Offense: Written Warning, Turn in device to the office for the remainder of the school day (student may pick-up the device), Email/letter to parent
2nd Offence: Turn in device for remainder of the school day (parent must pick-up the device), Email/letter to parent
3rd Offense: Turn in device for remainder of the school day (parent must pick-up the device), Formal Student Electronic Device Behavior Plan developed, Parent Phone Conference
4th Offense & Beyond: ISS, Turn in device for remainder of the school day (parent must pick-up the device), Parent In-Person Conference, Review and revision of Student Electronic Device Behavior Plan. Plan must include provision requiring the student to turn in the phone to the office daily for no less than 2 consecutive quarters.
In the last several years, we have seen a significant increase in students using these devices for non-academic purposes during academic time. Watching videos, using social media sites, playing video games, texting/chatting, and a variety of other observed off-task behaviors have no purpose or place during class time. While these off-task behaviors are concerning enough, we have even greater concern in the dramatic increase in students engaging in inappropriate behavior through the use of personal devices during school hours. Often, these issues occur using websites/apps that school officials and parents may be unaware of and/or unable to access to appropriately monitor student/child usage. Harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, provocation and planning of violence/fighting, threats, viewing and transmission of pornographic material, and “sexting” are just a few of the disturbing behaviors that we have dealt with in the last few years. These behaviors are not acceptable. They present a clear danger to our students and the good order and morale of the school.
Technology has many benefits, but it also has some detractors that can be disruptive, dangerous, and inappropriate. There is a time and place for appropriate use of such personal devices, but that is not during class time. We provide every student a laptop, which we are able to more closely monitor through security protocols to inhibit, limit, and/or eliminate many of the concerning off-task behaviors. I want to reiterate that personal devices will not be used during class time for any purpose, they should not be visible or otherwise in use.
We understand that parents also use these devices to communicate with their students. We ask that parents understand that students will need to review such communication outside of class time. Should a parent need to immediately communicate with their student for some emergency purpose, we ask that you contact the office so that we can have your student called out of class to communicate with you in a private location. We also know that this practice will not completely eliminate the issues related to inappropriate use of personal electronic devices, but it is our hope that we can reduce such behaviors and help students refocus on class instruction and positive productive peer interactions.
We encourage every parent to have open discussion with their student(s) about how to responsibly and appropriately use these devices. We need your help and support in ensuring that our classrooms remain a safe, productive, and positive place for students and staff to learn and work.
Food Services Updates
Free and Reduced Application: The application for free and reduced lunch can be filled out at any point during the school year. Links and information to this Federal program can be found on the district webpage under food service. Parents or guardians needing additional information should contact the FS office at 816-268-7076.
Meal Prices:
- Breakfast is free for students at all grade levels. Adult breakfast is now $2.00.
- Lunch prices are as follows: HS Full Pay is $2.45; Adult lunch is $3.10. Cash or MyPaymentsPlus meal accounts can be used to place funds on accounts as needed.
- Reduce lunch at all grade levels is $.40.
- ASMP is still free for students at all grade levels.
- MyPaymentsPlus link can be found on the district website under FS.
- Will continue to be posted online prior to each month's services.
- Will continue to have food allergens supports in place for all programs and at the point of sale daily. Medical forms listing food allergies should be sent to the FS.
- Will continue to have food allergen lists, carb lists, etc. posted on the Food Service website aligned with each monthly menu. .
-ASMP (After School Meal Program):
- HS ASMP began on 9/4/23
- Students can retrieve an after school meal in the cafeteria after dismissal or after practices until 5:30PM.
Football Parking & Gate Entrances
Our parking and gates will be different at our home football games. Please refer to the below map for parking and entering games.
