Board Highlights

Piper High School launched its first Unified Basketball season this fall, advancing our commitment to becoming a Special Olympics Kansas Unified School. Four athletes were joined by enthusiastic peer partners, including many varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball players, who brought encouragement and teamwork to every practice and game.

Following a skills assessment and practice match day on October 3, the Pirates competed in the Metro Regional Tournament at Gardner-Edgerton High School on October 17, earning second place in the Level 1 Division!

Thank you to Coach Wallace, Zoie Hayward, our dedicated support staff, and all participating athletes and peer partners for making this inaugural season a success. We look forward to expanding Unified Sports opportunities that build friendships, celebrate abilities, and strengthen our Connected Culture Among All.

Congratulations to juniors Morgan Laird and Sloane Winkelbauer and senior Rylee Burke for representing Piper at the 5A State Golf Championships! Their hard work, dedication, and steady improvement helped cap a successful season for Piper Girls Golf.

At Regionals, the Pirates finished just 10 strokes shy of qualifying the entire team for State. All three individual qualifiers competed hard at the State Championships, with Morgan finishing just one stroke short of advancing to the second day.

We are proud of these student-athletes for their perseverance and for representing Pirate Nation so well. With three State qualifiers and a strong regional performance, Piper Girls Golf has plenty to celebrate and build upon as the program works toward qualifying a full team next season!

For the second consecutive year, Piper’s girls’ cross country team qualified for the 5A State Championships! Senior Oliver Bass also earned an individual trip to State after placing 11th at Sub-State, capping four years of dedication and steady improvement.

The girls’ team included Breckyn Shaw, Jaslyn Wiseman, Marisol Arenas, Alexis Bayless, Keeley Baxter, Mary Alvey, Addie Stelle, and Alice Allen. Marisol also earned an individual medal with her 14th-place finish at Sub-State.

With just one minute and 20 seconds separating Piper’s top eight girls, teamwork was the program’s superpower. These runners pushed one another to improve, creating a wave of purple on the course and finding success together.

Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes for the discipline, perseverance, and hundreds of training miles behind their accomplishments. We’re proud of how they represented Pirate Nation and look forward to building on this State tradition!

Congratulations to Chloe Jackson, Social Studies teacher and Head Cheer Coach at Piper Middle School, on receiving the November Certified True North Award!

Chloe brings positivity and enthusiasm to every part of her work. Her engaging Social Studies lessons make her classroom a place students want to be, while her dedication before and after school helps her cheer team feel prepared, confident, and ready to succeed.

Her nominator praised her energy and commitment to students, highlighting the difference she makes as both a teacher and coach.

Thank you, Chloe, for the care, encouragement, and dedication you bring to Piper Middle School. Pirate Nation is proud to celebrate you!

Congratulations to Emily Clark, Piper High School bookkeeper, on receiving the November Classified True North Award!

Since joining PHS in 2025, Emily has strengthened bookkeeping practices, improved efficiency, and kept accounts in excellent order. Her contributions extend throughout the school as she supports students, families, teachers, and colleagues with knowledge, initiative, and a willingness to help.

From assisting the office team to stepping in for afternoon parent-loop supervision, Emily helps keep daily operations running smoothly. Her colleagues appreciate her valuable insights and the many behind-the-scenes contributions that make a difference every day.

Thank you, Emily, for your dedication and the care you bring to our Pirate crew. Pirate Nation is proud to celebrate you!