Image of the RSHS Boys Basketball Team after winning Districts.

Raytown South High School Boys Basketball is headed to the Final Four!

Your Raytown South Cardinals are headed to the Final Four! The Cardinals secured their spot in the Class 5 State Semifinals with a 66–57 victory over Lincoln Prep in the quarterfinal round this past weekend. Raytown South will travel to Columbia, Missouri to face Sikeston on Friday, March 20th at 6 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.

To celebrate this exciting accomplishment, Friday, March 20 has been declared as Cardinal Day! We encourage students, staff, and community members to show their Cardinal pride by wearing red or South High School gear as we cheer on our team.

Tickets can be purchased here: Link to Purchase Tickets for the Raytown South vs. Sikeston Basketball Game Friday, March 20th

Image of the RQS 2026 school board: Rick Moore, Michael Watson, Jordan Jamerson, Edna Adelusola, Alonzo Burton, Nodie Newton III, and Dr. Madelye Douglas.n

March is School Board Appreciation Month

March is School Board Appreciation Month, and we are grateful for the leadership and dedication of the Raytown C-2 School District Board of Education. Our board members dedicate countless hours to supporting our students, staff, and community while helping guide the future of our schools.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch a special video celebrating our Board of Education:
Link to the School Board Appreciation 2026 Video

Images of guest readers at multiple elementary schools in Raytown.

RQS Celebrates Read Across America Week

Our schools had a wonderful time celebrating Read Across America Week! Students welcomed special guest readers from around the district and spent time sharing their love of books, whether reading in their classrooms or reading to our youngest learners in preschool.

Reading opens the door to imagination, learning, and opportunity, and the habits students build today can have a lifelong impact. We are proud of the excitement and joy our students bring to reading every day.

Images of Raytown students winners at the State Education Conference

Herndon Career Center Students Earn Honors at State Education Conference

Big congratulations to the four outstanding students who represented Herndon Career Center at the Missouri Aspiring Educators Conference and Competition in Columbia!

We’re proud to celebrate:

Kennady Lingle – 3rd Place, Children’s Literature (K–3)

Allison Van Horn – 1st Place, Creative Lecture/TED Talk

Special shoutout to our honorable mentions:

Jaslynn Boyd – 5th Place, Lesson Planning and Delivery (STEM)

Ze’Aubrie Mitchell – 7th Place, Lesson Planning and Delivery (STEM)

Way to showcase your passion for education and make Herndon and Raytown proud.

Image of Freshman Academy students at UMKC.

Freshman Academy Students Participate in College Week

Freshman Academy students participated in an engaging College Week experience from March 2nd - March 20th, where all 9th graders from Raytown and Raytown South High Schools visited both 2-year and 4-year colleges across the Kansas City metro area aligned to their selected career pathways. During these visits, students explored postsecondary programs, learned about scholarship opportunities, and discovered clubs and organizations connected to their interests, all while gaining a firsthand look at college life. As part of the Freshman Academy experience, every student is guaranteed the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a college student, and College Week brought that promise to life by helping students make meaningful connections between their interests and future goals.

Image of high school students and preschool students outside of Raytown High School last spring.

RQS Students Earn the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy

Join us as we celebrate the RQS students from Raytown High School and Raytown South High School who earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy and the Distinguished Seal of Biliteracy.

To achieve the Seal of Biliteracy, students pass a rigorous assessment in reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the mid-intermediate to advanced level and create a sociocultural competency portfolio. Their portfolios showcase cultural awareness, biliteracy skills, and contributions to their school or community, including essays, presentations, and recommendation letters from teachers or community members.

Congratulations to the following Raytown High School students for achieving this impressive milestone in Spanish:

Javier Bejarano

Mariah Collins

Alan Fausto Hernandez

Patience Garrett

Jada Jones

Nathalie Martinez Portillo

Noah Mata

Mario Torres

Paul Wolken

Congratulations to the following Raytown South High School students for achieving this impressive milestone in Spanish:

Daniel Barron

Adrian Olivares

Leah Salazar-Rosales

Ashley Ramirez

Daniela Gonzalez-Gonzalez

Daniel Landaverde

We are proud to celebrate Raytown School District students who have earned the Distinguished Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish:

Rachael Garcia Terrazas - Raytown High School

Galilea Murillo - Raytown High School

Ximena Pizano Torres - Raytown High School

Fatima Valeria Ruano - Raytown High School

Monserrat Mora-Cardenas - Raytown South High School

Photos at elementary field trips to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Elementary Students Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Elementary students from Eastwood Hills, Fleetridge, and Robinson recently had the exciting opportunity to visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City!

Over the past few weeks, students explored incredible works of art, learned about different styles and cultures, and enjoyed experiencing a new environment outside of their classrooms.

Image of Cameron James student at Raytown High School.

Raytown High School Student Cameron James Performs at JAMSFest 2026

Raytown High School student Cameron James took the stage at JAMSFest on March 15, performing alongside Jamal Roberts, the 2025 winner of American Idol, and other talented local artists at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. This event was put on by the Future Leaders Outreach Network, an organization that combines education and entertainment, while teaching self-regulation and healthy relationships.

Congratulations to our District Teacher of the Year and Support Staff Employee of the Year Recipients!

The 2025-26 Teacher of the Year is Rendy Eisenhauer. Rendy is a 5th grade teacher at Norfleet Elementary. She is known for her strong leadership, dedication to student growth, and commitment to supporting colleagues across the building and district.

The 2025-26 Support Staff Employee of the Year is Denae McDougle. She is an instructional assistant at Northwood School. She is known for her ability to connect with both students and staff, always taking time to check in, offer support, and lift the spirits of those around her.

Congratulations to our Brian D. Blankenship Heart of the Matter and Distinguished Leadership Award Winners!

The 2025 Distinguished Leadership awardee is Blue Ridge Elementary Principal, Krista Phillips. Krista leads with a student-centered focus, values open communication, and is dedicated to supporting both students and staff so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

The 2025 Brian Blankenship Heart of the Matter award was presented to two individuals who truly embody the heart of education.

Tyler Britt, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Tyler has long been known throughout Raytown Quality Schools as a positive and trusted presence, someone colleagues turn to for encouragement, thoughtful guidance, practical ideas, and often a well-timed laugh.

Hua Zhong, Advanced Technician in Information Systems and Technology. In his role supporting the district’s technology systems, Hua sees staff members not simply as people submitting help tickets, but as partners who deserve patience, care, and meaningful support.

Support the Raytown Educational Foundation Major Saver Campaign

The Raytown Educational Foundation is raising funds through its Major Saver campaign to create meaningful opportunities for students across the district. From classroom resources to scholarships and student programs, community support makes these experiences possible. Whether you’re a community member, staff member, parent, or someone who wants to support education, this is your chance to make a difference!

Purchase your card from any elementary school student using the link below.

Link to Purchase Major Saver Cards to Support the Raytown Educational Foundation

Decorative Image of Women's History Month

March 2026 Recognition and Observance Days

March 1st - 31st: Women's History Month
March 1st - 31st: Dance in Schools Month
March 1st - 31st: Youth Art Month
March 1st - 31st: National Music in Schools Month
March 1st - 31st: National Theater in Schools Month
March 1st - 31st: Middle Level Education Month
March 1st - 31st: School Board Appreciation Month
March 2nd: National Read Across America Day
March 2nd - 6th: School Social Workers Week
March 6th: Maintenance Employees Day
March 16th - 20th: Math, Engineering, Technology and Science Week
March 14th: Pi Day
March 17th: St. Patrick's Day
March 30th - April 3rd: Spring Break

To view our district calendar, visit our website here.

Have something you want to see us share in our newsletter or social media? Email us at communications@raytownschools.org for consideration.