Hundreds attended USD 265's 2025 Bond Informational Kick-off Event at Oak Street Elementary School last Monday. District leaders, board members, and staff were on hand to showcase proposed improvements including new buildings for our growing student population, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced safety and security measures.
The event featured architectural presentation information and detailed funding breakdowns, demonstrating the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. Visit the new USD 265 bond website for FAQs, a tax impact calculator, and complete project details: https://www.goddardusd.com/page/2025-bond.
Mark your calendars and make a plan to VOTE on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025! You can help shape the future of Goddard Public Schools! Your support continues the legacy of educational excellence for current and future students. Click the link below to read the full story!
https://www.goddardusd.com/article/2129172
Please join us in congratulating Challenger Intermediate School Robotics “Team Alpha” on making it to the VEX IQ Worlds Championship, and Clark Davidson Elementary School 4th Grader, Alivia Gish, for being named Robotics “Student of the Year” for making a positive impact on her whole robotics team. Grab a copy of The Times-Sentinel Newspaper to get the full story today!
You can also catch the 2025 Spring Sports Guide, a 20-page, semi-annual publication that includes local high school sports schedules, team photos, rosters, and preview stories. Read about the Eisenhower High School & Goddard High School baseball, softball, track and field, boys’ golf, girls’ soccer, girls’ swimming and diving, and boys’ tennis teams. Keep an eye out and pick up a copy of the TSN throughout the spring season for coverage on all local teams.
Good luck to all the #265Family student athletes competing this season!
Please join us as we applaud some very special staff members in our #265Family - our Assistant Principals! These committed educators work tirelessly behind the scenes to support students, staff, and school communities throughout the year. Their hard work, problem-solving skills, and positive attitudes help make a real difference every day. THANK YOU for all you do to positively impact the students of Goddard Public Schools!
Let’s take a moment today to celebrate the incredible school librarians that call Goddard Public Schools home, and go above and beyond every day to enrich students’ educational experiences! Their commitment to providing vital resources, cultivating a supportive academic environment, and guiding classes through literary lessons that they’ll carry with them for a lifetime. Thank you to each of our dedicated librarians for everything you do to continue to empower ALL students to expand their horizons every day!
Don’t forget! Kindergarten Enrollment Events are taking place this evening across the district, at each of the K-4/elementary schools. Need help determining which school your residence aligns with? Confirm by checking the district boundaries by clicking the link below.
https://www.goddardusd.com/o/gps/page/school-boundaries
Today, and every day, we celebrate the work of our amazing para-educators here in USD 265! The dedication, care, and support that these education professionals provide each and every day for our school communities is unparalleled. Their hard work providing individualized support makes a huge difference in the lives of students, and fosters a positive learning environment. From the entire #265Family, THANK YOU for all you do to help educate students for lifelong success!
USD 265 is proud to provide elevated classroom opportunities to all students! One point of pride is that Goddard Public Schools offers Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses and modules - available at all grade levels, districtwide. PLTW provides transformative learning experiences through engaging, hands-on, STEM-based coursework. USD 265 has 40 different PLTW options that help students with college and career readiness.
Want to learn more? Click the link below!
https://www.goddardusd.com/o/gps/page/project-lead-the-way
Don’t forget to join us TONIGHT from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. (come & go) at Oak Street Elementary School (501 N. Oak St. Goddard, KS 67052) for the Bond Informational Kick-Off Event! There will be details on the upcoming bond, ways to stay informed, and other opportunities to get involved. Come learn more solutions for the future of Goddard Public Schools!
Have you heard?! To assist prospective families interested in moving into Goddard Public Schools or considering the Non-Resident Student Application process, the District is hosting a “Family Tour Day,” on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025. You can attend one school tour, or the whole day. All members of your family participating in the Family Tour MUST be pre-registered by the end of the day on Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 to attend. Register for Family Tour Day by clicking the link below!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczQw2jHiTJkLqnOb5BEqWp_4IvTByct6zEhG_8tRO_2nYTVg/viewform?usp=sharing
The USD 265 Strategic Plan for 2025 - 2030 has been finalized, and is available on the district website! This robust roadmap represents countless hours of collaborative planning, community input, and innovative thinking to ensure every student receives a world-class education. More than just a document, the USD 265 Strategic Plan is a blueprint for action that includes measurable goals, educational best practices and belief statements, and resource prioritization and allocation methods to maximize impact.
At USD 265, we believe education is a shared responsibility and that we must continue to pursue educational excellence by providing connected and advanced opportunities for ALL students. We invite every member of our Goddard family to explore the details of this plan and join us in bringing this vision to life. Together, we're building something remarkable: an educational legacy that will benefit generations to come! Click the link below to visit the district website and check out the 2025 - 2030 Strategic Plan for Goddard Public Schools.
https://www.goddardusd.com/documents/boe/426408
Recently the Goddard Education Foundation wrapped up a Staff Appreciation Breakfast tour, serving ALL schools and departments of USD 265. From January through March, GEF staff and business partners came together to say THANK YOU to all 1,200+ staff members of Goddard Public Schools. It’s moments and memories like these that make our #265Family such an amazing thing to be a part of!
SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendars for next Monday, March 31st, to learn more about the upcoming bond election for Goddard Public Schools. Open to the public, come-and-go style, this informational gathering will provide the community with the detailed list of projects and how they will impact students. The Bond Informational Kick-Off Event will be held from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. next Monday, March 31st, 2025 at Oak Street Elementary School (501 N. Oak St. Goddard, KS 67052). We can’t wait to see you there!
Welcome back, #265Family! We’re excited to announce the finalized USD 265 District Calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. This calendar can always be found on your school’s main website, or the district website, any time. It provides exact dates for seasonal breaks, first and last days of school, screening days, graduation dates, and more. Download and print yours today!
Goddard Public Schools has an administrative opening available, and we want YOU to be a part of our #265Family! Come join a community that promotes positive growth and professional development, with competitive salary and benefits. Goddard Public Schools is a family, and when you're here, you'll feel right at home. As the 17th largest school district in the state, immediately adjacent to Wichita, you can enjoy both the amenities of a suburban community, with a small town feel. USD 265 seeks educators with a commitment to high achievement for all students, and the ability to build a stimulating, supportive, and caring educational environment. Goddard is growing, and growth brings resources that enhance our mission to educate ALL students for lifelong success!
To learn more, contact Nick Grummert at ngrummert@goddardusd.com, call 316-794-4000 today, or click the link below!
https://www.applitrack.com/goddardusd/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Administration
Attention parents of little learners - mark your calendars for our annual spring enrollment events!
The Kindergarten Enrollment Event will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 and will take place at each individual elementary school. Check out school boundaries here: https://www.goddardusd.com/o/gps/page/school-boundaries.
The Pre-K Enrollment Event will be held from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. (come and go) on Thursday, April 10th, 2025 and will take place at Challenger Intermediate School.
Learn more about early learning options and resources in Goddard Public Schools by visiting https://www.goddardusd.com/page/early-learning today!
REMINDER - All schools and district offices will be closed next week: Monday, March 17th - Friday, March 21st, 2025. Wishing everyone a restful and relaxing spring break, from our #265Family to yours!
“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” – Bob Talbert
Congratulations to Brandon Sommer, Math Teacher at Eisenhower High School, for receiving the District Attitude Award from the USD 265 Board of Education!
Sommer was nominated by Stephanie Robinson, who shared, “I am honored to nominate Mr. Brandon Sommer for the District Attitude Award. As a math teacher, Dive coach, and sponsor of clubs that create an inclusive environment, Brandon embodies the qualities of a dedicated educator and mentor. His impact reaches beyond the classroom, shaping a positive culture in our school and community.
Recently, at a swim meet, I had the privilege of witnessing Brandon’s unwavering support for his athletes, his willingness to assist another coach, and his kindness toward my Yearbook staffer and me. His encouragement and enthusiasm were contagious as he cheered on his students, offering guidance and celebrating their hard work. He not only focuses on his own team’s success but also extends his support to those around him, always lifting people up with his positivity and genuine care. When last year's yearbook came out, he was the first colleague to reach out to me and compliment my students' hard work. I appreciated this so much and it really exemplifies how Brandon goes out of his way to make everyone feel seen, heard, and respected. Even though we are in two different departments and on two different floors, Brandon took the time to reach out to me at the busiest point in the year: the start of school. That is just the kind of person he is!
Beyond coaching, Brandon has been incredibly supportive of the Yearbook staff, taking the time to provide insight into the new swim team while ensuring we felt welcome and informed. His openness and willingness to collaborate have made a meaningful impact on our work, and his perspective has been invaluable in helping us capture this incredible new opportunity for our students with the swim team. Brandon exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator, mentor, and colleague. His kindness, leadership, and dedication make our school a better place, and I truly appreciate all that he does. He is incredibly deserving of this recognition, and I am honored to be his colleague!”
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” - Helen Keller
Congratulations to Lisa Farrell, USD 265 Nutrition Services - Kitchen Manager at Goddard Middle School, for receiving the District Attitude Award from the USD 265 Board of Education!
Farrell was nominated by an anonymous peer, who shared, “I would like to nominate Lisa Farrell for the district’s attitude award! I’ve had the pleasure of working with and observing her enthusiasm and willingness to serve the patrons, families, and fans who attend sporting events at Goddard! Her servant approach and ability to connect with everyone she comes across is inspiring, and her positivity is always infectious! Everyone knows her, and there are no handshakes involved when she greets her ‘fan club,’ only hugs! She is also very patient in modeling how to serve in the concession stands and puts in an untold amount of hours to make the system work, behind the scenes!”
“The best education does not happen at a desk, but rather engaged in everyday living – hands on, exploring, in active relationship with life.” – Vince Gowmon
Congratulations to Abigail Garcia, Kindergarten Teacher at Amelia Earhart Elementary School, for receiving the District Attitude Award from the USD 265 Board of Education!
Garcia was nominated by Hillary Thackery, who shared, “Abby is truly an exceptional teacher. She loves her students so deeply and it shows in every facet of her teaching. My daughters both had her as their Kindergarten teacher, and she has set the foundation for them to succeed academically and emotionally as they began their journey into school. Abby has an amazingly involved, thoughtful, and intentional teaching style that has not only given my kids a golden standard for their academics in which they experienced tremendous growth, but they also feel loved and seen. It is hard to put into words the positive impact she has left on my kids, but even my older child who is no longer in Abby's class still reaches out to her as a mentor and for guidance. I feel very privileged to have Abby at Amelia Earhart, and for my kids to have her as their teacher. She is a gift to the school and district, and is deserving of every recognition possible!”
Calling anyone who has been positively impacted by a member of our #265Family! This week is your last chance to nominate someone for the #265Family Award. This gives YOU the opportunity to recognize the outstanding faculty and staff who are making a profound difference every day, AND gives them the chance to win $100 cash!
Our community recognizes the vital role each and every USD 265 staff plays in creating a thriving and supportive learning environment for students. Whether it’s a teacher, bus driver, para-educator, administrator, support staff, custodian, or any other valued member of our dedicated team - they are ALL eligible for this award!
Click the link below to nominate your #265Family hero today!
https://forms.gle/7nRTfQbkbem9d18g7
Let’s celebrate and show appreciation for the amazing work and dedication of our USD 265 employees. We truly are better together!
