“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew
Ray and Amy Hall, Discovery Intermediate School Family, were awarded the District Attitude Award after being nominated by Mary Kloefkorn and Alexa Heim. Their nominators wrote, “Ray and Amy Hall are the most supportive and kind parents you will find. They are the epitome of kindness and generosity. They started volunteering when Kate was in 5th grade and continue that now that she's in 6th. They are involved in many areas of Discovery and have become an invaluable part of the Discovery family. Ray says "yes" even before you've told him what you need. They show up and are involved in any way they can be. They come early, stay late to clean up, and interact with the students and staff in a positive manner. Not only are they kind and helpful, they are modeling this lifestyle for their daughter, Kate, who now looks for ways to help others and jumps in to help wherever she sees a need. If you told them that they would be nominated for this award, they would humbly brush it off and say it wasn't necessary - that they are just happy to be helpful. That's exactly the reason they should be given this award. We are thinking of keeping Kate at Discovery so we don't lose this awesome family. However, knowing the Hall's they will just tell us to give them a call and they would be happy to come and help with whatever we need.”
"School bus drivers are the people who transport children to their future."
Kristy Evers, Transportation Trainer, received the District Attitude Award after being nominated by Mr. Robert Rehse. Her nominator wrote, “As tends to happen every year, the district is short on bus drivers. That shortage is especially acute for activity drivers for sports. When the district put out feelers at the beginning of the year for coaches to sign up, lots of people were interested. At least until they saw how in-depth the training is and how much information you are required to learn. I decided to dive in anyway and once I did, I discovered Kristy was the perfect person to teach prospective drivers. She has made everything as user-friendly as possible and shows you exactly what you need to know and what are the best ways to learn it. The average person can't parallel park a car. Kristy has a method that if you simply follow the steps, you can parallel park a bus. She has a very calming presence about her teaching style and is very encouraging in her feedback. She understands that you'll make mistakes but helps you learn from them instead of dwelling on them. She made the process very bearable and helped me pass the CDL test on the first try. She is an asset to the district that often goes unnoticed so I believe she deserves this recognition.”
"Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best." –Bob Talbert.
Kaleigh Kear, Challenger Intermediate School Teacher, received the District Attitude Award after being nominated by a Challenger Family. Her nominator wrote, “Mrs. Kear excels with the inclusion of all types of learners and allows students in her math class to be themselves. She did not shy away from my son’s different learning styles and his different wiring. Instead, she reached in to meet him right where he was at. She brought in puzzles and challenges of all kinds. She created a Math Menu that allowed her students to take ownership of their learning and tailor it to their personal strengths and learning styles. But the most impactful thing she did was to just love him. She saw his differences as strengths and she helped him see himself from her perspective as well. By the end of his time with her, my son had learned so much more than just math. He learned to be proud of being a different type of thinker, he learned to feel hope toward his future and he learned to love himself just as he is, because she sure did.”
As we conclude National School Board Appreciation Month, a special thanks to all who joined the USD 265 Goddard Board of Education for last night's BOE Meet & Greet. What a great show of support and engagement from the Goddard community! Discover more about the Goddard Public Schools Board of Education here: https://www.goddardusd.com/page/about-boe.
Did you know that the Goddard Education Foundation helps support USD 265 educators directly, helping them make a difference right in the classroom? They've awarded over 125 Innovative Teacher Grants to classrooms all across the District. The GEF is an independent, nonprofit, community-based organization with a mission to provide resources and enrich educational opportunities for the students and staff of USD 265. Learn more by visiting the Goddard Education Foundation's website directly, or just click the link below!
https://www.goddardef.org/o/gef
Did you know that our Board of Education Members set four Core Beliefs outlined to guide them in leading the District? To celebrate School Board Appreciation Month, please join us for a Board of Education Meet & Greet to visit and learn more about our Goddard USD 265 Board of Education members including Amanda Gish, Nicole Hawkins, Jerry Longabaugh, Mark Richards, Ginger Rose, Jenny Simmons, and Ruth Wood.
Join us for snacks and soft drinks from 6:15 - 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22nd, at the Central Administration Center (201 S. Main St. Goddard, KS 67052). This event is open to the public. Let’s celebrate the pride, growth, and excellence of our #265Family!
To view the list of Core Beliefs for the Goddard USD 265 Board of Education, and learn more about what the BOE does for Goddard Schools, visit the Goddard Public Schools website, or click the link below!
https://www.goddardusd.com/page/about-boe
Due to extreme temperatures and dangerous wind chills that have been forecasted, there will be NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, for Goddard Public Schools. Please be safe, and have a great day! - Dane Baxa
“The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As a reminder, Goddard USD 265 schools and offices will be closed today, Monday, Jan. 15th in honor of this holiday. Wishing everyone a warm and safe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
January is School Board of Appreciation Month! To celebrate, you are invited to meet your Goddard USD 265 Board of Education members including Amanda Gish, Nicole Hawkins, Jerry Longabaugh, Mark Richards, Ginger Rose, Jenny Simmons, and Ruth Wood.
Join us for snacks and soft drinks from 6:15 - 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22nd, for a Board of Education Meet & Greet at the Central Administration Center (201 S. Main St. Goddard, KS 67052). This event is open to the public. Let’s celebrate the pride, growth, and excellence of our #265Family!
Congratulations to Shae Enegren (1st Grade Teacher at Oak Street Elementary School) and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Toribio (Mixed Abilities Teacher at Eisenhower Middle School) for being recognized today with the 2024 Kansas Horizon Award! Each school district can nominate one elementary educator and/or one secondary educator. Goddard USD 265 nominated both Enegren and Toribio, and both won!
The Kansas Commissioner of Education, Dr. Randy Watson, took time to individually call each recipient, inform them and congratulate them. Enegren and Toribio are two of only 32 educators in the state to win this award for excellence in their first year of teaching. According to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), the Horizon Award "identifies and recognizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state." Goddard Public Schools could not be more proud of our Horizon Award winners, as well as all of the excellent educators that call USD 265 home. Thank you for all you do to make our school communities an environment of excellence for our students, staff and families!
Please join us in congratulating Shae & Lizzie on this prestigious award - very well deserved!
Thank you to Laura Rainwater, Sedgwick County Election Commissioner and Goddard USD 265 patron, for taking the time to swear in our newly elected Board of Education members Amanda Gish, Nicole Hawkins, Jerry Longabaugh, and Jenny Simmons!
Due to hazardous winter weather conditions, there will be NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, for Goddard Public Schools. - Dane Baxa
Congratulations to the Goddard High School theatre students who successfully performed their presentation of "Deadline" for the finale of the Kansas Thespian Festival (Jan. 4th - 6th) at Century II this past weekend. The cast and crew members loaded the entire set of the show, constructed the set on-site, teched the entire performance, performed the show, disassembled the set, reloaded it and then returned it all to GHS - all in one day! The students, as well as Jamie Oettle (Director & GHS Theatre Teacher), received a standing ovation at the conclusion of the performance, and there were numerous ratings of excellence awarded in a variety of categories - including GHS receiving the "Gold Honor Troupe" award. Congratulations again to all involved!
Due to hazardous winter weather conditions, there will be NO SCHOOL on Friday, January 5, 2024, for Goddard Public Schools. - Dane Baxa
Have you heard?! USD 265 has a MOBILE APP! Did you forget the lunch menu for tomorrow? Want to be the first to know about snow days? Want to know the latest and greatest events going on in Goddard Public Schools?
Download the USD 265 - Goddard Public Schools mobile app today!
Wishing our school community a happy new year from your #265Family! We can't wait to welcome everyone back for the spring semester. Let's make it a fantastic one!
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less." -C. S. Lewis
Congratulations to Emily Christensen, 3rd Grade Teacher at Explorer Elementary, for receiving the District Attitude Award!
Her nominator wrote, “Emily is an outstanding educator. She goes above and beyond for each and every student. This is evident in her organization, extensive planning, and daily preparation. She has such a kind and empathetic heart with effective classroom management. Her students really adore her. Emily is also an integral part of the third-grade team. She is our FANTASTIC tech support...we can always count on her to help us with any tech question or problem. We think she needs this attitude award because she truly doesn't see how great she really is....we LOVE her!”
Thank you Emily for going above and beyond to positively impact the students, staff, and families of Explorer Elementary! YOU are greatly appreciated!
“The art of conversation lies in listening.” – Malcolm Forbes
Congratulations to Phil Moorhouse, a Science Teacher at Goddard High School, for receiving the District Attitude Award!
His nominator wrote, “I am a new hire to the district and was 'forced' into a relationship called co-teaching for the first time in my career. Phil has made my first experience with co-teaching wonderful. I talk a lot; he listens a lot (haha). I can tell through our discussions on students, and academics in general, that he has a genuine heart for teaching and students. Phil chooses his words wisely and has a lot to offer when he speaks to me and the students. Phil always has a cup of coffee and a smile.”
Thank you Phil for going above and beyond to help others feel heard and valued. We are proud you are a part of our #265Family!
"Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference." – Amy Leigh
Congratulations to Erin Sweetwood, Discovery Intermediate School Educator, for receiving the District Attitude Award!
Her nominator wrote, “Erin is a steady rock at Discovery, she is always there as a listening ear for teachers to share ideas, frustrations, or questions. The whole building knows that Erin is there to support them. As a building, Erin is our go-to for MTSS ideas and implementation. Erin is not only a person who cares about staff but has amazing relationships with the students she sees and works with on a daily basis.”
Thank you for going above and beyond to serve others and for making our #265Family proud!
