Tuesday Talk with Dr. Dain

Dear Piper Community,

We are thrilled to announce the incredible success of the Piper Educational Foundation’s 19th Annual Auction, which took place this past Saturday! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity and support of our community, staff, and sponsors, we raised nearly $49,000—marking this as the most successful auction in our history.

These funds will directly support programs and initiatives that benefit the students and staff of the Piper School District, ensuring that we continue to provide exceptional educational opportunities. From enriching classroom resources to supporting innovative student programs, your contributions will make a lasting impact.

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our Auction Committee Co-Chairs, Harmonie Hawes, Melanie Bakarich, and Sandy Hennessey, whose passion and dedication were truly the heart of this event. Their tireless efforts, vision, and leadership were instrumental in making this year’s auction an unforgettable success. Thank you for putting your heart and soul into every aspect of the evening. Your commitment to the Piper community is truly inspiring!

A huge thank you also goes out to the entire Auction Committee. Your hard work, meticulous planning, and creative energy were essential to achieving this record-breaking milestone.

19th Annual Auction Committee

Dr. Amy Adam

Mallory Baker

Amy Bolend

Beth Daze

Theresa Fisette

Kelsey Hawes

Katelyn Kaminski

Luann Palmer

Lisa Sullivan

Finally, to our sponsors, staff, and the entire Piper community—thank you for your unwavering belief in and dedication to our district - you make our mission possible!

Presenting Sponsor:

Security Bank of Kansas City

Supporting Sponsor:

Kansas City Kansas Community College

Table Sponsors:

Baron Contracting

Harmonie Hawes

Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU)

Michelle Hereford - American Family Insurance

Piper Optimist

Sandra & Bob Hennessey

Wright Liquor

With heartfelt appreciation,

Dr. Jessica Dain, Superintendent

Piper USD 203

Laura Moore, District Mental Health Coordinator

Have you ever heard the term “gaslighting” and wondered just what that means exactly or wonder how it’s related to traumatic experiences? Maybe you’ve heard someone say they’ve been “gaslit” by someone else or perhaps you became aware that it was happening to you. No matter where you got your information, being gaslit is a very real and unpleasant experience for anyone and it can be so devastating for survivors of chronic stress and trauma. If you have ever wondered what it was or how to handle it, then I am here to support and enlighten you!

What is it?

Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that occurs when someone tries to control another person (or situation) by getting them to question or doubt themselves. There are several types of gaslighting and some include coercion, lying, and reality questioning. One common example of gaslighting is when someone uses hurtful words and then minimizes your defensive feelings by saying something like, “It was just a joke” or “You’re way too sensitive.”

Why does it happen?

Often the person who gaslights you is someone who will struggle with accepting responsibility for their own actions and will shift blame to everyone else except themselves. Despite how sharply this can land on a person, keep in mind that the gaslighter behavior is not always malicious; sometimes it’s the subtle response to unprocessed childhood trauma or the effects of a psychological condition or personality disorder.

How does it affect you?

The person who experiences gaslighting for a prolonged period of time can experience poor self-esteem, and uncertainty about their reality and some can develop mental illness such as anxiety or depression.

How to deal with it?

If you’ve ever wondered how to address this behavior towards you, then here are some tips:

1. Talk to others about what’s happening - it’s important to find someone who can validate your experience!
2. Remember it’s not your fault - there is NOTHING you could have done differently to avoid this; a gaslighter will attempt to control and manipulate anyone.
3. Don’t try to argue with them - you cannot logically combat the irrational. It’s usually best if you protect your peace and walk away from the discussion or even the relationship.
4. Practice trusting yourself again - after prolonged gaslighting, it can take time learning to trust your instincts again.

Remember that the picture a gaslighter paints of you is rarely the truth of who you are.

Stay well friends,

Laura Moore, LCPC

District Mental Health Professional

Amber Buck, Community Outreach & Inclusion Coordinator

BLAZE by the Numbers

BLAZE is our district’s Inclusion Council. BLAZE is an acronym for Building Latitude, Access, and Zeal through Equity. Each school in our district has multiple members who lead equity efforts, act as sounding boards to colleagues regarding cultural connections, and spearhead building-specific and district-wide initiatives. Below are some of our proudest accomplishments since forming in April 2022 and partnering with district and community stakeholders.

• 1 cultural community showcase
• 1 three-year equity plan for the district in support of students’ needs
• 2 mental health community nights
• 10 equity leadership trainings for BLAZE members
• 10 policy recommendations created by the LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Educators group
• 16 Read & Play days focused on literature about diverse cultures during federally-recognized months of celebration
• 30+ Piper Middle School clubs kick-started
• 137 books curated and purchased for Read & Play days
• 200+ staffers trained in diversity, equity, and inclusion
• $200,000 grant dollars from the Kauffman Foundation awarded in 2022-23

In alignment with CDC and KDHE, the Piper School District has adopted the following guidelines in relation to COVID-19 infections.

A person can begin returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, BOTH are true:

· Symptoms are improving overall, AND

· No fever is present, without using fever-reducing medications.

As always, if your student is too ill to attend class or needs medications due to illness prior to coming to school please keep them home.

We will be conducting a Safety Information Workshop on October 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Piper Middle School. The evening will commence in the Auditorium with a comprehensive District Presentation. Following this, we will facilitate two breakout sessions where parents will have the opportunity to engage directly with their respective building principal and building safety and security officer. These sessions will focus on reviewing specific building procedures and addressing any questions you may have.

To accommodate parents with children across multiple schools, we will offer two consecutive parent sessions, ensuring that attendees have the chance to participate in presentations from at least two different school buildings. This workshop will address our current safety protocols, provide updates on new security measures, and offer practical guidance on supporting your child’s safety both at school and online. We highly encourage all parents to attend and engage in these essential discussions.

School Messenger will go LIVE with Attendance Calls TOMORROW, Wednesday, October 2, beginning at 11 a.m. Please read the details below, which outlines what to expect.

For students in grades K-5, you will receive an automated call at 11 a.m. if an Unexcused Absence is recorded. This call will include your child's name, the school building they attend, and a notification that they were reported absent.

For students in grades 6-12, you will receive two calls: one at 11 a.m. and another at 3 p.m. These calls will provide your child’s name, their building, and the specific class where the absence was noted.

This system is crucial for keeping parents informed about their child’s attendance and ensuring that any issues are addressed promptly. By receiving timely notifications, you will be better equipped to follow up on unexplained absences and work with us to support your child’s educational experience. Please note that these notifications will only be triggered for Unexcused Absences; other types of 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.

We are excited to announce some changes to our Homecoming parade procedures this year! In partnership with the Optimist Club, the Piper School District has moved the traditional Friday night Homecoming Parade to Thursday, October 3. As such, all Thursday games scheduled for Thursday, October 3, for our middle school and high school teams, have been rescheduled.

The parade will begin at 5 p.m. and the powderpuff game will kick off at approximately 7 p.m. We look forward to celebrating with you all and making this Homecoming the best one yet! #BELIEVETHEHYPE

Details:

4 p.m. Parade lines up off Independence Boulevard from Donahoo Road

5 p.m. Parade begins - drives past Early Childhood Center and past Piper Creek Elementary and the District Stadium toward Piper Middle School. The route will turn down Knetter Way and then the parade will end on the South side of the Middle School. Parents will be able to pick up their students at this location.

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 October Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, October 14, 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, October 7.

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 Summer EBT program application period has been extended. If you did not receive the automatic, one-time $120 payment (per eligible child) in July, you can apply today.

Children who attended a Kansas school participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and were eligible to get free or reduced-price meals during the 2023-24 school year, whether or not they received free or reduced-price meals, may be eligible for this benefit. Applications must be received by 5 p.m., October 15, 2024.

A colleague said, "Mr. Ladish has gone above & beyond in his efforts to grow the PHS Theater program, as well as connecting interested students with all sorts of additional opportunities and resources around the Greater Kansas City area. He's enthusiastic, and supportive, and helps his students truly see how their love of theater can extend well beyond their high school years and even into future career opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Ladish! We appreciate you!"