Tuesday Talk with Dr. Dain

Dear Piper Nation,

Happy Tuesday!

I don’t know about you, but life feels REALLY busy right now! School and athletics are in full swing, we’re wrapping up the first quarter, and believe it or not, the holidays are just around the corner. The days feel shorter, and time seems more precious than ever.

As an educator, mother, and wife, I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel when you’re trying to meet everyone’s expectations. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget to take a moment for yourself. A great source of energy and reminders of best practice comes from the Harvard Business Review "Tip of the Day," which you can sign up for here. I thought I would share the tip I recently read that resonated with me:

I gave it a shot after reading the tip—and it helped! These quick practices allowed me to pause, catch my breath, and refocus, even during a busy day that included an evening board meeting. These daily tips are simple but they make a huge difference, and I encourage you to try them out!

Remember, in the Piper School District, we are all in this together, and taking care of ourselves allows us to better support one another. Let’s keep pushing forward, embracing each challenge with balance and intention. And as always, #BELIEVETHEHYPE!

For the last decade or so, social scientists have become increasingly aware and concerned about the rise of reported loneliness among children and adults. In fact, it’s become such an alarming topic of study in recent years that some people groups (particularly millennials) are often branded “the lonely generation” and there is increasing awareness of how this is affecting mental and physical health. While loneliness is not a new thing for some people, the increase in lonely young adults, parents and teenagers is often attributed to these three things:

1. Lack of Social Connections - often due to relocation, career changes or social anxiety.
   
2. Life Changes and Transitions - such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, or ending a relationship.
   
3. Reliance on Digital Interactions - there is increasing data showing a dependency on social media or online relationships can lead us to superficial connections online and in real life.
   

Additionally, if loneliness has ever been something you may be experiencing, here are some questions to consider:

1. Do I seldom connect in meaningful ways with people who are not my family?
2. Do I find myself wishing I had more adult friends?
3. Do I have negative feelings about my lack of friends after being on social media?
4. Do I sometimes wonder if I’m “friend material”?

If your response to the above questions is more yes than no, then it might be time to seek some connection in your life. This can look like attending social events that you’re invited to instead of staying in; setting up playdates for your kids where you think the other parents might connect well with you; or it can even be as simple as getting to know a fellow coworker that you find interesting. Trust me, I know reaching out to others can be awkward and just plain hard, but there is no denying the improved quality of life and fulfillment you will find once you do.

Stay well friends,

Laura Moore, LCPC

District Mental Health Professional

Piper Unified School District 203 is proud to announce that it has been awarded a generous grant of $198,000 from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. This grant will support the continued implementation of the district’s Real World Learning strategic plan, designed to increase the number of graduates prepared for life, work, and learning in the Kansas City region. Click here for the full press release.

The Piper School District is proud to announce its 2024 star distinctions, awarded by the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas State Board of Education through the Kansans Can Star Recognition Program. This program highlights district achievements in key outcome areas that matter most to Kansans. Click here for the full release.

We are pleased to announce that our new communication service regarding student attendance is now in effect. This service will notify you when your child has an unexcused absence from school, enhancing our partnership in supporting your child’s education.

This system is essential for keeping you informed about your child’s attendance, allowing for timely follow-up on any unexplained absences. Please note that notifications will only be triggered for unexcused absences; other attendance records will not prompt a call.

We believe this enhancement will significantly improve our communication and help maintain a consistent line of support between home and school. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering your child’s educational experience.

It is great to see the enthusiasm and excitement the Piper community has for supporting our students’ athletics and activities. Attending these events is a great way to come together to show school and community spirit. We thank you for your support of our students, coaches, and activity supervisors.

As our district has continued to grow over the past several years, so have crowds at district events. The larger crowds make supervision of unsupervised youth even more difficult. We have had a few concerning issues where student safety has been compromised.

In an effort to provide a safe, positive, and fun fan experience, parental supervision of middle school and elementary school students will be required at ALL district functions for the 2024-25 school year (unless otherwise noted by the building principal or other administrator). Middle school and elementary school students MUST attend games with a parent, guardian, or trusted adult. Unsupervised students will not be permitted to enter the events.

For football games, as per last year, the expectation is that young people sit in the stands with their parent or guardian or on the hill with staff supervision. Students will be able to access concessions and restroom facilities without supervision but will be directed back to their seats to enjoy the game.

The November Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, November 11, at 6 p.m., in the Board Room. Community stakeholders who wish to address the Board of Education should complete the following form (linked below) and send the completed form to the Board Clerk, Kim Buckner, at kim.buckner@piperschools.us no later than end of day on Monday, November 11.

Access Board Docs (Agendas and Corresponding Reports)

Reminder that patrons can access agendas and corresponding reports via the website prior to or after each Board of Education meeting. For access, click here, where you will find agendas and reports from previous Board meetings.

The October Certified Staff Winner is Rachel Mirch from Piper Creek Elementary School. Rachel was nominated eight times by her colleagues!

The first colleague said, “Rachel is such an asset to our team at Creek. She works so hard and cares for her kids so much. I love getting to work with her! She has made such an impact on me as an educator and I am grateful to have her as someone to look up to.”

Another colleague said,”Rachel goes above and beyond for her students and the teachers she assists. She’s always positive and willing to help whenever and wherever is needed.”

The next co-worker said, “I am thrilled to nominate Rachel Mirch, a special education teacher at Piper Creek, for the Hype Squad recognition. Rachel consistently goes above and beyond to support her students, both academically and socially-emotionally. Her patience, kindness, and professionalism shine through in everything she does. Rachel has a unique ability to connect with her students, meeting them exactly where they are, and tailoring her instruction to meet their individual needs. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. Her passion for teaching and her unwavering commitment to helping students grow make her an invaluable asset to our school district. Rachel is truly deserving of this recognition for the incredible impact she makes every day.”

The next colleague said, “Rachel always goes above and beyond for her students. She also is a huge support to the staff, always willing to help out whenever she can.”

Another colleague said, “Rachel is an amazing teacher and team player. She works hard every day and always puts kids first.”

The next co-worker said, “Rachel has been doing everything in her power to service each and every kid on her caseload. She does it with grace and a smile everyday, even with immense stress. She deserves to be recognized for all that she does.”

Another colleague said,” Rachel has already gone above and beyond this year to support me and my students. She is an invaluable member of our team.

The last coworker said, “Rachel is an absolutely phenomenal teacher at Piper Creek. She is an amazing educator, reaching students who normally struggle so much. She is always someone you can count on to go the extra mile. She works well beyond the normal expectations of a teacher because seeing students succeed means so much to her. As a teammate, she is a great source of advice and is someone that you can learn more from. She always checks on you to see how you’re doing and goes out of her way to help you make your day just a little brighter. She is the absolute best!”

The October Classified Staff Winner is Christine Teasley from Piper Middle School. Christine is an amazing part of our Piper community. A community member said, “I think it is very important to have a happy and energetic teacher to greet the kids in the morning!” Another community member said, “The kids love Ms. Teasley! She brightens our middle schoolers day!”