"Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten." - David Ogden Stiers
Mrs. Whelan and Mrs. Truzzolino's 2nd Grade Class at Explorer Elementary School were presented the District Attitude Award from the Goddard USD 265 Board of Education.
"This is our first year to co-teach together. We have chosen to create a schedule that provides an inclusive environment throughout the entire day. With this set-up, all of our students receive individualized instruction in a variety of ways including whole-group lessons, small-group lessons in either of our classrooms, and Walk-To-Learn services provided by our 2nd grade staff and MTSS Reading team. This model allows students with identified special education needs to participate alongside their non-identified peers while having access to grade-level and modified curriculum. Our students are also new to this type of classroom setting. We have been blown away by the amount of grace, understanding, and kindness they have shown each other naturally and without our prompting. One of our students has a very specific set of needs and behaviors the class has learned and accepted from the start of our school year. Without this model, this specific student would not typically spend his entire day in a general education classroom. However, instead of shying away from his needs, our students have embraced them. A few kids have led the way for the entire class to love and care for him. It started with them walking with him to and from recess, playing soccer with him, and building with our hashtag blocks.
It has since blossomed into them taking on a bigger role and following the prompts us teachers have set in place. They ask him yes, please/no, thank you questions, sign and verbalize "help, please" when they recognize he is getting frustrated, sit quietly and patiently when it is his turn to participate in morning meetings and throughout the day and walk him through our different routines just like his teachers do. They give praise and a never-ending amount of hugs and fist bumps. They truly define the meaning of acceptance, inclusion, and the power of love. This solidifies our motives in creating an inclusive co-teaching classroom. So with our overwhelming amount of pride and his mom's permission, we would like to nominate our class for a district attitude award. We know nominating an entire class isn't traditional, but we genuinely believe they are making a difference in his life, their own lives, and ours."
Thank you for inspiring ALL students for lifelong success!
Families,
This is a reminder that this years yearbooks are on sale right now!
March 1st will be the last day to order.
Students in Mrs. Clapp's kindergarten class created a kinder hospital today. Kids did activities all day as doctors. Fortunately, several of these young healthcare kids were able to help bandage Mrs. Schraders injured finger.
Join us from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7th, 2024 in the Eisenhower High School cafeteria for the USD 265 Special Education Services Fair! There will be an array of service vendors and support organizations for individuals with special needs, as well as free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches while supplies last. USD 265 staff that attend will even be entered in a raffle for some great prizes! This event is aimed to help provide support, information and connect resources with those that need them. Come help us help our community!
It was a "centers" day on the checkout day last week! Look at those smiles! I love the team work it took to make that tower!
More "fun seats" on library checkout day!
Library fun from the week! A 3rd grade class earned a board games day after checkout, and kindergarten earned "fun seats" on checkout day!
Library fun from the week! A 3rd grade class earned a board games day after checkout, 1st graders love to share books, and a book display for Valentine's--"Books our teachers love!"
Explorer currently has an opening for a Life Skills Para Educator. The role of this position is to assist the teacher as she prepares instructional materials and works with elementary students who have physical disabilities. Duties include supervision, working with children individually or at centers in the classroom and may also include assisting children with feeding and toileting needs. The pay rate for this position is $14.25/hour and the job is approximately 37-37.5 hours per week (8:20am – 4:15pm). If you are interested or would like more information, email or call Mr. Hollas shollas@goddardusd.com / 794-4281.
Explorer Families,
I’d like to invite you and your child to join us for our upcoming school board meeting. Explorer students will begin the meeting by leading the Pledge of Allegiance followed by each student introducing themselves. We encourage parents to take pictures during the event.
Date and Time: Monday February 19, meet at 6:50 PM. The meeting starts at 7:00PM
Location: District Office, 201 S. Main St. Goddard-west entrance
I anticipate the pledge and introductions concluding by 7:10 PM.
If you would like your child to participate, please use the sign up genius link below. Feel free to email me with any questions at shollas@goddardusd.com.
Thank you,
Sean Hollas
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B48AEAB2AA2FC1-explorer
Just a reminder, Spring pictures are tomorrow!
Families,
It's yearbook time again! Forms will be coming home today and are due back by March 1st.
Attention families, if you are interested in attending the annual State of the District Address at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, February 27th at Eisenhower Middle School, please email Mr. Hollas at shollas@goddardusd.com.
Our superintendent Dr. Henry will be discussing education at the local and state levels.
Sign up for the Spring golf session is now open!
Please see the attached flyer.
The 4th graders built Wayside School! We read the silly book in library then each class designed 7-8 stories for the 30 story school! They did a great job!
Please join us in celebrating the Super Bowl by joining in on Spirit week! February 5th -8th! Please see the flyer!
**Sorry all. We updated Tuesday, as it is picture day. Sorry for any inconvenience or confusion.
It's almost time for the book fair! Scan the QR code to see the schedule, set up an eWallet, or shop online! Thank you for your support!
Attention families, we originally had a joint K-4 site council meeting scheduled for Monday, January 29th but due to some scheduling conflicts, it has been moved to 6:00 PM Thursday, February 1st and it will be at Clark Davidson Elementary School. We are going to have some teachers from GMS who are Capturing Kids Hearts trainers present and explain the program to our families. All parents and family members are welcome to attend, the meeting should last about 45 minutes. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sean Hollas
"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.”
Don't feel like cooking tonight? Join us at Chick-fil-a for spirit night.
