The Piper Prairie Press

September 27, 2024

May 21, 2025

Dear Piper Families,

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow will wrap up our last day of the 2024-2025 school year! As we conclude another year, I want to take a moment to wish you a joyful and restful summer. I hope you find time to slow down, soak up the season, and truly enjoy time together as a family.

Serving as the Principal of Piper Prairie these last three years has been one of the greatest honors of my career. I am deeply grateful for the trust you've placed in our school and for the opportunity to be part of your children’s educational journey. It has been a privilege to watch them grow, learn, and shine and as I transition into my new role in the district as Student Services Director, look forward to continuing supporting all students. In addition to my departure, I wanted to celebrate the following staff who are also transferring positions or leaving the district.

Tricia Dwyre: Piper Early Childhood
Crystal Dalsing: Piper Creek
Michelle Foster: Piper Creek
Chris Cain: Piper Creek
Laura Porras: Piper Middle School
Beth Halda: Piper Middle School
Daneen Kelsey: District Mental Health
Lisa DeVries: Retirement

Finally, we strongly encourage you to take a moment in the next few weeks to register your children for the upcoming school year. We currently have only 43% of our students enrolled. We ask families planning to return next year to complete this process as soon as possible so we can continue to build class lists and plan for next year. If you need assistance with enrollment, we encourage you to take advantage of the June 2nd Enrollment event. I hope you all have an amazing summer.

Proud to be a Prairie Pirate,

Darcey Bast
Principal, Piper Prairie Elementary

Important Dates

MAY

Thursday, May 22nd - Last Day of School for Piper Students: PreK, K-8 (full day)

JUNE

Monday, June 2nd - District Enrollment Event

JULY

*log into Skyward to pay educational fees.

AUGUST

Wednesday, August 13th - First Day of School for Elementary Students

click here to access your Family Access Skyward Account

Open Enrollment Event June 2, 2025

If you have not enrolled your students for next year, it is time to complete this. You will not be asked to pay educational fees until after July 1st. One of the requirements for enrollment is accurate residency and it is crucial we begin this process now. As you may have noticed when you visit our district website, an alert stating buildings are at capacity. We need our current families to enroll now to make sure our proposed numbers match keeping and hiring quality educators in our building! Visit Skyward and enroll this week!

If you would like in person assistance please attend! See flyer below!

PEF Golf Classic

Fabulous Faculty!

Piper Pirate Food Pantry

🌞 Piper Summer Activities 🏀🏐⚾

Piper Summer Activities

2025 Boys Basketball Summer Basketball

Our camps are designed to:

1. Create a love of the game

2. Teach fundamentals and skills

3. Compete

4. Build great teammates

Location: PHS 13021 Leavenworth Road Kansas City, KS 66109

Cost: See below for details on each grade level

Zelle (preferred): 7857649824

Venmo: @sw3245

Cash App: $sw3245

Check: Made out to Steve Wallace at PHS.

Cash: Please send it to Steve Wallace at PHS.

Please register by April 15th to be guaranteed a t-shirt.

Walk-ups and late registration will be accepted, but t-shirts are not guaranteed.

Questions? Email Steve Wallace. steve.wallace@piperschools.us

MS Academy Entering Grades 6th-8th

June 2nd-June 25th

Mon.-Wed. (after Pirate Iron)

10:10am-11:10am PHS Main Gym

Cost: Pay on or before TAX DAY April 15th $60, after April 15th $75

Sign Up: https://forms.gle/oyWWfhKVXTGqcZMu9

Elementary Camp Entering Grades 1st-5th

Mon. June 2nd-Thur. June 5th

12pm-1:30pm @ PHS

Cost: Pay on or before TAX DAY April 15th $60, after April 15th $75

Sign Up: https://forms.gle/XfPq6QYc9g4LmSWk6

💜 Notes from your School Nurse 🩺

RECYCLED INFORMATION

K-5 Transition Information

SCHOLASTIC CRIME STOPPERS

We are excited to announce our partnership with the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission as we launch the KC Crimestoppers 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 KC Crimestoppers 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.

Nominate a Piper Hype Squad Member HERE

Helpful Links

2024-2025 Piper K-5 Elementary Student Handbook

2024-2025 Piper School District Calendar

2025-2026 Proposed Piper School District Calendar

Piper Prairie Elementary Website

2024-2025 Piper District Student Code of Conduct

Piper Prairie Counseling Page

Click here reach our counselors, connect to our Counseling Social Media, find Parent Resources, or sign up to be a Watch Dog.

Interested in becoming a Watch D.O.G. or Hero of the Hallway?

Fill out this interest form to be a Piper Prairie Watch D.O.G.

Email our counselors to find out more information about becoming a volunteer through the Watch D.O.G.S. program.

daneen.kelsey@piperschools.us

serena.keenan@piperschools.us

Piper School District Home Page

Y Club Before or After School Care

Click here to find information about before or after school child care at Prairie. Y Club is run by the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, not Piper School District.