Tuesday Talk with Dr. Dain

Dear Piper Nation!

The first full week of school is always an exciting time! Students are starting to feel more confident as they navigate their classes, and they’re getting a good grasp of the routines and expectations in each one. By the time Labor Day Weekend rolls around, both teachers and administrators know we’ll be hitting our stride, ready for a fantastic year of learning and growth.

This year, the first day of school was especially bittersweet for me. Instead of being with Pirate Nation, I was by my father’s side with my mother and sister as he passed away, having bravely fought illness for over a decade.

My father was my first true love, like dads are for many young girls. With my mother working early in the mornings, it was my dad who got me ready for daycare and, eventually, school. My earliest memories of him are filled with the morning rush, always accompanied by Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story.” He taught me how to shoot free throws and insisted on my sister and I shooting 100 left-handed layups a day. My dad was not only incredibly smart and funny but also had a knack for teasing my friends and referees. He instilled in me the importance of hard work, effective communication, and excelling in school, all while making sure we found joy in the journey.

In the past eight weeks, I knew his passing was near. While I tried to prepare myself for the profound loss my mom, sister, and I would feel, I wasn’t ready for the flood of memories shared by those whose lives my father touched in ways I hadn’t known. One of the most moving messages came from an elementary school friend. Though we grew apart as we transitioned to middle and high school, after 43 years, she reached out with a heartfelt message upon hearing of my dad’s passing:

“Oh the many happy memories I have with your parents. My home was not always a happy place to be but yours was always peaceful and uplifting. Your parents showed me that it was possible to provide a stable environment for kids and still be fun. I remember that sitting room off your kitchen as being one of the warmest places of my childhood.”

I was completely taken aback after reading this message. I spent just as much time at her house as she did at mine, yet I never realized the pain she must have been carrying all those years, hidden from everyone. It made me reflect on my role as a parent, the children I serve in the Piper School District, and the incredible opportunity I have as both an educator and a parent to leave a positive, lasting impact on a child’s life. And of course, it reminded me of how fortunate I am to be my father’s daughter.

As we gear up for a fantastic school year, whether you work inside or outside the home, remember that little eyes are always watching. Never underestimate the power you have to be a positive influence, not only on your own child but on any child you care about. Friends, we are truly the lucky ones!

Cheers to Opportunity and an amazing 2024.2025 school year!

Dr. Jessica Dain, Superintendent

Piper USD 203

*If interested, please find here a link to my father’s obituary. His was a life well-lived!

The September Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, September 9, 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, September 2.

Please note, the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing will begin at 5:45 p.m., followed by the Budget Hearing at 5:50 p.m.

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.

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.

We are thrilled to schedule the parade starting at 5 p.m. and the powderpuff game kicking off at approximately 7 p.m. This decision is deeply rooted in our commitment to ensuring that all students, including those who participate in Friday night activities, have the opportunity to be part of the Thursday night Homecoming parade and festivities. We look forward to celebrating with you all and making this Homecoming the best one yet! #BELIEVETHEHYPE

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 student 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.

Thank you for helping us with these updated procedures to help make Piper USD 203 athletics and activities a safe and positive experience for all.

Did you know that sometimes dealing with changes in your life can be a lot like experiencing a crash? More like a system crash rather than a literal one that is!

For many people, even the most expected of changes that we face in our personal or professional lives can have a very disruptive impact on us. When that happens, it can easily feel like you’re unraveling or spiraling in your situation and I am here to tell you that is completely expected!

While change often can’t be avoided, there are a few helpful ways to process these events where they do the least amount of damage to your system.

1. Accept the change as soon as you’re able. Just like in a crash, people will often end up more hurt when they brace against the impact. In my work, I will often tell people who are resisting hard things, “The sooner your brain can accept what’s happened, the sooner your heart will have peace.” Accepting your situation will bring you relief if you allow it!

2. Move slowly through your feelings. While you’re accepting your change, honor each and every feeling you have and move at your own pace. The key is to just keep moving no matter how slow!

3. Script a story about your change. Often when others know you're going through something difficult, there can be a lot of questions from well meaning people about how you are adapting. Know that in the middle of these questions not everyone is owed yourstory and it’s okay to have a scripted response such as, “The new job is different but I’m getting more used to it each day!”

And finally, while you’re going through difficult changes in life, please don’t forget to reach out to

others when you feel the isolation creep in. You’re doing big and challenging things and there is

no prize handed out for those that shoulder all the difficulty by themselves.

Stay well friends,

Laura Moore, LCPC

District Mental Health Professional

Amber Buck, Community Outreach and Inclusion Coordinator

Since 2021, Piper Schools has been collaborating with the non-profit consulting firm Beloved Community thanks to a partnership with the Kauffman Foundation. According to the latest Equity Audit by Beloved Community, our efforts have led to significant progress. We’ve made strides in how diverse and inclusive our school system is, with noticeable improvements in participation, cultural relevance, and feelings of belonging.

Our Diversity score went up from “emerging” to “developing” with a 24% increase in the participation of diverse students, teachers, and community members.

Our Inclusion score also improved from “emerging” to “developing”. We saw a 24% increase in how culturally relevant our activities are for diverse groups. There was a 13% increase in shared voice and power. And, we had an 8% increase in feelings of belonging.

This was and continues to be a team effort. From our Read & Play Days and Pirate PALS programs that connect students building-to-building, to reviewing policies for bias, to providing professional learning for staff, we’re keeping inclusivity at the forefront of all we do.

This man pushed and pulled furniture everywhere in that building. He has made schedules, ordered furniture. Looked for furniture, probably has had to say no quite a few times and shake his head and move on! The Drs are great as well, their nomination time will come! Thank you Tim for making sure we were ready!