Peek at Park Creek

As we continue building a strong foundation for the school year, we’re focusing on two important values that help every student thrive: respect and responsibility.

At school, we’re encouraging students to treat others with kindness, listen to different perspectives, take ownership of their actions, and follow through on commitments. These daily habits help create a safe, caring, and inclusive environment where every child can belong and succeed.

You can help nurture these values at home by encouraging respectful language, setting consistent expectations, and celebrating responsible choices. When children see respect and responsibility modeled both at school and at home, they grow into confident learners and caring friends.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our Cheetahs grow into their best selves.

— Mr. Headrick, Principal

A few years ago, an exciting discovery was made right here on our school’s property! The stream that borders Park Creek Elementary and flows into Mill Creek is a breeding ground for the Trispot Darter (Etheostoma trisella), an endangered fish species with stunning coloring.

Unfortunately, litter can entangle fish or be mistaken for food, leading to starvation or poisoning. By helping clean our stream, you can take part in protecting an endangered species and preserving the health of our local environment. It’s also a wonderful hands-on learning experience for students and families to see the impact we can make in our own backyard.

On Saturday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Keep Dalton-Whitfield Beautiful and Limestone Valley RC&D will host Park Creek Pollution Pickup! We’ll be picking up litter along our school’s stream. Removing the trash will help prevent it from reaching the darters’ breeding grounds, where it can harm or kill aquatic life.

We’d love to have you join us! No RSVP is needed. Just meet at Park Creek Elementary that morning. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Wear safe, comfortable shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

Let’s work together to keep our stream healthy and help protect this special species!

Monday:

Pre-K- 10:30-11:10

2nd Grade- 11:50-12:30

Tuesday:

1st Grade- 10:40-11:30

Wednesday:

Kindergarten-11:00-11:40

5th Grade- 12:20-1:00

Thursday:

4th Grade- 12:00-12:40

Friday:

3rd Grade-11:15-12:00

1. Sign-In: Parents are required to sign in at the school office and receive a visitor's badge before entering the cafeteria.

2. Designated Area: Parents will eat at the tables in "Cheetah Park" so that parents and their children can eat together. Parents will only be allowed to eat with their child(ren), no other students will be allowed.

3. Student’s Schedule: Parents should be aware of their child's lunch schedule and arrive on time to avoid disrupting the class schedule.

4. Focus on Your Child: It’s recommended that parents focus on spending time with their child during lunch rather than interacting with other students or being on a device.

5. Healthy Food: If bringing lunch, parents are encouraged to bring healthy options.

6. Respect School Rules: Parents should set a positive example by modeling good manners and respect for school staff and rules. Parents should follow the same cafeteria rules as students, including cleaning up after themselves.

7. Do Not Check Out Students: Parents should not check out their child after lunch unless there is a pre-approved reason. This helps maintain consistency in the school day and avoids disruptions to the child’s learning schedule.

8. Limited Time: Lunch periods are 30 minutes, so parents should be mindful of the time and leave promptly after the lunch period ends to allow students to return to class.

9. No Sharing Food: For safety reasons, sharing food with other students is discouraged to prevent allergic reactions or other issues.

10. Special Events: There will be special events or days that will impact this schedule. The school will notify families in advance.

11. Sign-out: After lunch, parents are required to sign out at the school office.

We love celebrating special moments with our students! Parents are welcome to send cupcakes or a small treat for the entire class to enjoy after lunch or recess in honor of their child’s birthday. To help us keep the day running smoothly, please coordinate with your child’s teacher in advance if you plan to send a birthday treat.

We kindly ask that you do not send balloons, large decorations, or party favors, as we are unable to accommodate these during the school day. While we do not hold birthday parties during instructional time, we’ll be sure to make your child feel celebrated in a fun and meaningful way.

Thank you for partnering with us to create a joyful and focused learning environment!

September 1

Labor Day (No School)

September 3

Chorus Parent Meeting (5pm)

September 5
Grandparents Breakfast (7:30am-8:30am)

DHS Football Players on Morning Duty

September 8-12
DRC Beacon Assessments

• 4-5 Reading
• 1-5 Math

Kid City Begins

September 9

Chorus Begins Afterschool (Pickup 5pm)

September 11
Patriots Day

Orff Ensemble-Percussion (Pickup 4:45pm)

September 12
Fall Picture Day

September 15-19
DHS Homecoming Week
Book Fair

September 15-October 15

Hispanic Heritage

---Sign-up to read to your child's classroom (Information Below)

September 17
Constitution Day

September 18
Open House: Literacy Focus and Hispanic Heritage Celebration (5:30pm-7:00pm)

September 19
Early Release 12:15pm
4pm- DHS Homecoming Parade (Park Creek 25th Anniversary)

September 22
Virtual Learning Day for Students

September 22-26
Park Creek GYM CLOSED for Floor Resurfacing

September 24
Lions Club Vision Screening

September 29
School Council Meeting @ 12pm

October 1

Parent Meeting-Parenting in a Digital World (8am and 4pm)

October 3
Fall Festival (5:30-7:30pm)

October 9
End of 1st Term/Quarter
Early Release 12:15pm

October 10
Student Holiday (No School)

October 13
Student Holiday (No School)

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to invite you to our Volunteer Read Aloud event, taking place from September 15 to October 8, 2025, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our parents and guardians to come together and celebrate the joy of reading while honoring the rich culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.

• Event Details

  • Dates: September 15 – October 8, 2025

  • Location: Park Creek Elementary

  • Times:

    8:40AM:
    2nd Grade

    9:40AM:
    3rd Grade

    10:30 AM:
    4th or 5th Grade

    11:15 AM:
    4th or 5th Grade

    12:30PM:
    Pre-K

    1:00PM:
    Pre-K

    1:50 PM:
    Kindergarten or 1st Grade

    2:40 PM:
    Kindergarten, 1st , 2nd , or 3rd Grade

    
    

Join us for engaging stories, fun activities, and a chance to inspire a love for reading in our children. We would love to see you there!

If you have any questions or need help signing up, please reach out to our Parent Involvement Coordinator:

📧 mariluz.vazquez@dalton.k12.ga.us
📞 (706) 428-7700

Thank you for your continued support!

I love seeing and hearing all the great things happening at Park Creek. If you have a positive story to share, please send an email to Principal Headrick.

August 2025

Email: brandon.headrick@dalton.k12.ga.us

Website: https://parkcreek.daltonpublicschools.com/
Location: 1500 Hale Bowen Dr, Dalton, GA 30721
Phone: 706-428-7700
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/parkcreekschool