As we turn the calendar to a new month, it is becoming increasingly clear that summer is flying by. With the arrival of July, we are officially preparing for a new school year filled with new opportunities, new faces, and exciting beginnings.
We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Tom Ryherd to the Perry family as our new Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Ryherd joins Perry Community School District from the Cherokee Community School District, where he served as superintendent from 2023 to 2026, after previously serving as principal of Washington High School in Cherokee. Throughout his career as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent, Mr. Ryherd has demonstrated a passion for student success, innovative learning opportunities, and building strong relationships with students, staff, and families. His diverse educational experiences and commitment to expanding opportunities for all learners will be tremendous assets as he leads Perry Schools into the future.
We are also excited to welcome Mr. Alex Pringnitz as the new Associate Principal at Perry Elementary. Mr. Pringnitz is an experienced instructional leader and doctoral candidate at Drake University with a strong background in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and data-driven decision making to improve student achievement. Most recently, he served as a building interventionist at Urbandale Middle School. At Perry Elementary, Mr. Pringnitz will help oversee our Title I programs, coordinate building-wide reading and math intervention efforts, and support the many daily operations that help our school run smoothly.
Please join us in extending a warm Perry welcome to both Mr. Ryherd and Mr. Pringnitz. We are excited for our students, staff, and families to meet them when the school year begins in August and look forward to the leadership, energy, and expertise they will bring to our school community.
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Perry Schools Superintendent |
Elementary Associate Principal |
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The construction crew has been working tirelessly to get our renovation complete for the start of the school year. There's still a long ways to go, but our office area is nearing completion. The administrative offices, nurses office, and main office are complete. Exterior concrete work is still underway, so our front office will not be opened until the concrete work is finished. |
As part of our renovation, Perry Elementary's front office will feature a secure entry vestibule designed to enhance the safety of our students and staff. Parents and visitors will have access only to the front reception area until they are admitted into the building by office staff. Access to the administrative offices, nurse's office, conference room, and other back-office areas will be restricted through key-fob entry. During the school day, the door leading to the main hallway will remain locked, and visitors will be granted access by our administrative assistants as needed.
As a reminder, all visitors to Perry Elementary are required to present a valid driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to receive a visitor badge before entering the school. We recognize that this process is a change from past practice and appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement these enhanced security measures. The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors remain our highest priority, and maintaining a secure entrance is an important part of providing a safe and welcoming learning environment each day.
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Our Kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms are also undergoing a dramatic transformation this summer. Contractors have completed the demolition phase by removing the existing cabinetry, tile flooring, ceilings, and student restrooms throughout the K-2 wing. We are excited to share that new classroom casework is beginning to arrive and will soon be installed. In the coming weeks, crews will install new flooring, complete the ceiling grid, and finish electrical, technology, and restroom upgrades. These improvements will create modern, functional learning spaces that will serve our students for years to come.
The excitement doesn't stop there! Every classroom from Preschool through 5th grade will receive brand-new furniture before the start of the school year. New student desks, chairs, tables, and collaborative workspaces will be in place when students return in August, providing comfortable, flexible learning environments that support collaboration, creativity, and student success.
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Our new preschool addition continues to make exciting progress each week. The exterior masonry is nearly complete, and inside, the space is beginning to take shape as drywall installation nears completion. While there is still significant work ahead—including the installation of flooring, carpet, cabinetry, technology, electrical systems, and other finishing touches—the transformation has been remarkable. We look forward to welcoming our youngest learners into this beautiful new preschool space when the school year begins in August. |
As a reminder, Perry Elementary's daily schedule will change slightly for the 2026–2027 school year. The building will open for breakfast at 7:45 a.m., and the first bell will ring at 8:00 a.m. Students should be in their classrooms and ready to begin the day by the 8:05 a.m. tardy bell, which marks the official start of the school day. Please note that this is five minutes earlier than last year's start time. Students will be dismissed each day at 3:05 p.m.
Our preschool schedule has also been updated for the upcoming school year. Morning Preschool will meet from 8:05–11:05 a.m., and Afternoon Preschool will meet from 12:05–3:05 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. This change aligns with the district's professional development schedule. Because staff participate in professional development approximately one Monday each month, preschool classes will now be held Tuesday through Friday instead of Monday through Thursday. Please note that preschool will be in session on Wednesdays and will not meet on Mondays during the 2026–2027 school year.
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Classroom teacher assignments will be shared with families on August 1 through ParentSquare. All registered parents and guardians will receive a ParentSquare message identifying their child's classroom teacher.
If you do not receive your child's classroom assignment after August 1, please contact the Perry Elementary School office. Our staff will be happy to assist you in verifying your ParentSquare account and ensuring you have access to important school communications throughout the year.
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School supply lists for the 2026-2027 school year can be found below. Please note that we are extremely fortunate to have several donations of school supplies from our community. In the event that your child or family needs assistance with school supplies, please reach out to the PES office and our school counseling team will assist in providing the necessary supplies to their classroom.
Open House for Perry Elementary Grades 1-5 is scheduled for Monday August 24 from 4:00-5:30pm. Please plan to bring school supplies to open house on August 24!
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August 1:
Teacher Assignments Released in ParentSquare
August 24:
Grades 1-5 Open House 4:00-5:30pm
August 25:
Opening Day for Grades 1-5
TK and KG Family Visits
August 26:
TK/KG Students A-L Attend
August 27:
TK/KG Students M-Z Attend
August 28:
All TK/KG Students Attend
September 1:
First Day PK
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