Tuesday Talk with Dr. Dain
Greetings Piper Nation,
As temperatures plummeted this morning, I couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved that today was a professional development day. It meant our students could stay cozy at home instead of braving the freezing weather before sunrise. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one grateful for the timing—frosty fingers and toes are never ideal!
While our staff stayed warm indoors collaborating and growing professionally, we remained focused on the work that helps us provide the best for our students. As winter settles in, please know that we continue to closely monitor the weather and temperatures each day. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are always our top priorities, whether it’s ensuring safe travel to school or keeping everyone warm and secure throughout the day.
We encourage families to bundle up and prepare for the cold in the days ahead. And, as always, thank you for your continued support and partnership in making Piper a great place to learn and grow—even when the weather outside is anything but warm.
Stay safe, stay warm, and remember: #BELIEVETHEHYPE!
Warmly,
Dr. Jessica Dain
Superintendent, Piper USD 203
K-5 ELEMENTARY INFORMATIONAL SESSION
Join Us Tomorrow, January 22
We invite all Early Childhood, Piper Prairie, and Piper Creek parents to attend an important informational meeting tomorrow, on Wednesday, January 22nd, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at Piper Prairie Elementary, located at 3131 N. 122nd St., in the Cafeteria. This meeting will focus on the upcoming transition to two K-5 elementary buildings, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
We look forward to seeing you there!
SCHOLASTIC CRIME STOPPERS
Dear Pirate Nation,
We are excited to announce our partnership with the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission as we launch the Scholastic Crime Stoppers anonymous reporting system in our district. Using the free P3 reporting app, students, staff, families, and community members can report suspicious activity, threats, or concerning behaviors that will be reviewed 24 hours a day by live screeners.
These reports can include pictures, videos, or other information that may be helpful to law enforcement.
Because these tips are reported to law enforcement agencies, reports made through the app do not necessarily need to be school-related; concerns within the Piper community or the greater Kansas City metro area can be shared on the app as well.
Tips that involve district schools will be forwarded to the district’s school resource officer, security staff, school administrators, and district administrators.
Reporters can remain anonymous.
Helpful tips could lead to cash rewards.
Please note that the P3 app will not replace the district’s bullying reporting system, but will serve as another layer to support our safety and security protocols within the school district. Having a reporting tool available to our students, staff, families, and community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week will allow us to better partner with law enforcement to be proactive regarding security concerns.
Information about Scholastic Crime Stoppers and the P3 app will be shared with students and families throughout the district, with an emphasis at Piper Middle School and Piper High School. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your student’s principal.
PIPER EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION TRIVIA NIGHT
PIPER CULTURAL SHOWCASE
JOIN PIPER MILITARY FAMILIES NETWORK
The Piper School District is proud to support our military families! We are excited to announce that we are creating a dedicated Military Families Network to keep you informed, connected, and supported. By signing up, you'll receive important updates, exclusive resources, and opportunities tailored to our military families.
To join, simply fill out a quick form with your name, contact information, and the first and last name and grade level of your students. Thank you for your service and for being a valued part of the Piper community!
SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH THE DISTRICT
Help Us Share Our Story!
Katelyn Kaminski, Director of Communications
Exciting things are happening every day across our district, and we want to showcase them! From engaging classroom activities to inspiring Real World Learning labs, we’re on a mission to capture the moments that make Piper extraordinary.
Have a fun lesson, unique project, or special event coming up? Let us know! Also, if you or your students have received an award or recognition, we’d love to celebrate that too.
Send your photo opportunities and accolades to the Communications Office, at katelyn.kaminski@piperschools.us, and together, we’ll highlight the amazing work happening in our schools.
FREE DENTAL SCREENINGS FROM DR. EIKENBARY
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Brad Eikenbary, DDS, Piper Family Dentistry, for generously offering free dental screenings to Piper students once again this year! His continued support helps ensure our students have access to essential dental care, contributing to their overall health and well-being. Thank you, Dr. Eikenbary, for making a difference in our school community!
- February 7: Piper High School
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE REPORTING SYSTEM
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.
DISTRICT FUNCTIONS & PARENT SUPERVISION
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.
FEBRUARY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
The February Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, February 10, 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, February 3.
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.
#HYPESQUAD
Piper Educational Foundation is excited to announce that sales are now open for the next installment of the Giving Wall! A personalized plaque on the Piper Giving Wall is a meaningful way to honor alumni, future alumni, community members, and business partners who support our students and staff. Click the link above to purchase a plaque!
January marks annual School Board Recognition Month, a time to honor the dedicated service and volunteerism of the Board of Education members. Their commitment to shaping the future of education is deeply appreciated, as their efforts uphold and enhance the district's standards of excellence.
Decisions made behind the scenes often profoundly impact students, educators, and families, laying the foundation for brighter futures. This celebration serves as a reminder of the vital role Board members play in our community and in the lives of young learners.
Thank you to our current Board of Education members (pictured above left to right):
Larry Beashore, Allison Armstrong, Jeb Vader, Desiree Fergus, Julian Wells, Ashley Biondi, and John Bakarich III.