Goshen Creek Elementary

Dear Goshen Creek Families,

As we head into a very busy month, I want to begin by expressing my deepest gratitude to you. Thank you for sharing your most precious blessings with us every single day. We are committed to working hard and being our best so that our students, in turn, can be their best. We truly appreciate your efforts in ensuring our Sharp Pines arrive prompt, prepared, and ready to grow each morning.

March is filled with incredible opportunities for our students. This week alone is packed with excitement, including Read Across America Home Connection Activities, the Book Fair, our "KISS" Breakfast, the PTA Spring Meeting, Open House, the Kindergarten Music Performance, and Spring Pictures. This week, we will only have morning assembly on Monday & Friday morning to allow for all of the events on campus. We hope to see you at all of the exciting events on campus. If you have any questions, as always, do not hesitate to contact the front office so we can help.

Please take a few minutes to review the important dates and the weekly schedule below to ensure you don’t miss a single moment of the magic happening on campus or information coming home.

📅 Important Academic Dates to Calendar

• March 6: 5th Six Weeks Progress Reports Due

• April 12: 5th Six Weeks Grades Due

• April 16: 5th Six Weeks Report Cards sent home

• April 17: 5th Six Weeks Celebration Assembly

• April 17: Sharp Pines & Choose Love Ambassadors (Lunch with Loved Ones - Invite Only)

• May 1: 6th Six Weeks Progress Reports Due

• May 19: 6th Six Weeks Celebration Assembly & Awards Day

• May 19: Sharp Pines & Choose Love Ambassadors (Lunch with Loved Ones - Invite Only)

• May 20: End of Year Awards Day & Class Party Day

🗓️ March at a Glance

Week of March 2–6 (Read Across America & Book Fair)

• Daily: Student Paw Point Store During Power Hour, Book Fair, and Read Across America Home Connection Activities.

• Tuesday, March 3: No Assembly - Students go straight to class; GT STEM Field Trip; 7:10 AM KISS (Kids Invite Someone Special) Breakfast.-

• Wednesday, March 4: 7:10 No-Assembly - Students go straight to class; AM KISS Breakfast.

• Wednesday, March 4: Spring PTA Meeting in the Cafe (Come join us!)

• Thursday, March 5: Spring Pictures; Open House (5:00–6:00 PM); Book Fair Family Night 5- 7 PM; Kindergarten Music Program (6:00 PM).

Week of March 9–13

• Monday, March 9: Reed’s Book Club & Choir Practice (3:10 PM).

• Tuesday, March 10: Math Benchmark Test

• Tuesday, March 10: 120th Day of School for First Grade

• Friday, March 13: Early Release at 12:00 PM. Dismissal begins at 11:45 AM

March 16–20: Spring Break (No School)

Week of March 23–27

• Monday, March 23: Professional Development/ Work Day for Staff (No school for students).

Week of March 30–April 3

• Monday, March 30: Choir Epic Waters Festival.

• Tuesday, March 31: Garden Club (3:45 PM).

• Wednesday, April 1: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day.

• Friday, April 3: School Holiday (No School).

Please continue to check your student's folders and our media platforms to ensure you have all the important information. Thank you for being such vital partners in your child's education!

Warmly,

Wendy Ashley

Goshen Creek Elementary

Wendy Ashley, GCES Principal Email: WAshley@Springtownisd.net

Amy Baker, GCES AP Email: ABaker@Springtownisd.net

Katie Orsburn, GCES AP Email: KOrsburn@Springtownisd.net

Chrystal Sisk, GCES Counselor Email: ChSisk@Springtownisd.net

Officer Dews, GCES SRO Email: NDews@Springtownisd.net

Haley Meeks, GCES Principal Secretary: HMeeks@Springtownisd.net

Nikki Wiens, GCES Receptionist Email: NWiens@Springtownisd.net

Jody Atchley, GCES PEIMS Clerk Email: JAtchley@Springtownisd.net

Ashley Hall, GCES Nurse Email: AHall@Springtownisd.net

📚 Book Vending Machine Update: Celebrating Our Sharp Readers!

We are thrilled to share the success of our new book vending machine! Thanks to your incredible support of the school store, we have officially begun rewarding our Goshen Creek Elementary Sharp Readers.

Highlights & Celebrations

• Our First Recipients: Congratulations to the students who earned their inaugural coins! These readers were recognized for their hard work in building reading stamina and accuracy.

• The Big Moment: Our halls were filled with joy as students traded their earned coins for a brand-new book to keep.

• Building a Culture: This program is more than just a reward; it’s about fostering a lifelong love of reading across our entire campus.

Reading 20 minutes a day can help each student increase their vocabulary, word accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. Be sure to keep those reading logs, record & share videos of your child reading with your child's reading teacher, and make it a family routine every night. Students can earn PAW Points and Caught Reading Tickets for these moments.

Below is our March Home Connection Project for Read Across America!

We invite you to create these fun moments at home to help us celebrate a love for reading. To help us celebrate reading across our community, we would love for you to take pictures of your family reading at home!

We will create a specific thread on our Goshen Creek Facebook Page where you can share these photos with other "Sharp Pines" families.

Goshen Creek Families:

Help us celebrate Read Across America with our Dr. Seuss-themed Home Connection Project! We invite you to make reading a nightly family event by diving into a classic Dr. Seuss book together.

Each day, we will highlight a different Seuss favorite along with a special activity to do at home. Please take pictures of these "treasured memories" and share them with us! We want to celebrate your family making reading a fun, nightly practice.

Please take a moment to click the link above and help us "Toot the Horns" of our incredible staff members! We want to say thank you for the countless ways they make a difference in the lives of our students and community.

On Tuesdays, we love to recognize our staff for their dedication, but we want to hear from you! Please take a moment today to show gratitude to a member of our Goshen Creek family. We are truly blessed with the best staff, students, and community. Thank you for helping us celebrate those who make Goshen Creek such a special place!

🍳 Kids Invite Someone Special (KISS) Breakfast

We are so excited to host our students and their special guests! Please note the following breakfast and entry details:

• Pre-Registered Guests: If you signed up before the event, breakfast will be provided for you and your student.

• Walk-in Guests: If you were unable to pre-register, you and your student are still more than welcome to attend! However, please bring your own breakfast to enjoy, as we only have enough school-provided meals for those who signed up in advance.

• Book Fair Access: Students and their guests may visit the Book Fair together between 7:10 AM and 8:00 AM.

• Entry & Exit: To ensure a smooth flow, all parents and guests must check in through the side gym doors and exit the event through the front doors.

Dear Goshen Creek Elementary Families,

Thank you for making our fundraiser a success so far. Your support will allow us to provide Campus

Improvements and Family Events. If you would like to donate, there is still time. Just click on this link:

https://app.pop4kids.org/reg/code/4DFG3

Please log back into your personal donation page to ensure your student has reached their goal. Tokens

are awarded throughout the fundraiser, so make sure your student uses their tokens on the Spin-to-Win

game before the fundraiser ends. Every dollar raised makes a difference in the lives of our students!

Please turn in cash and check donations in an envelope labeled with your student's name(s) to the main office by Wednesday, Mar. 11. Please make checks payable to Goshen Creek PTA.

Thank you to all our families for making this program a huge success! Our staff and students appreciate you!

Sincerely,

Wendy Ashley

🏫 Goshen Creek Open House, Book Fair, & Kindergarten Performance

We are excited to welcome our families into our halls for an evening filled with student work, shopping, and music!

Since our campus is departmentalized this year, we want to ensure you have the opportunity to see the hard work your child is doing in all their subjects. Please note the schedule for the evening:

• Classroom Visits (5:00 – 6:00 PM): Please visit both your child's Reading/Social Studies classroom and their Math/Science classroom to view their latest projects/work and meet their teachers. Sign-in Sheets will be located in both classrooms, as well as a sign-up sheet for spring conferences with teacher(s).

• Book Fair Family Night (5:00 – 7:00 PM): The Book Fair will be open in the library! This extended time allows you to shop before or after the musical performance.

• Kindergarten Musical (6:00 PM): At 6:00 PM, our classroom visits will conclude as we move to the gym to watch our amazing Kindergarten students perform their spring musical.

We cannot wait to see everyone there! Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together for our students' success.

🎒 2026–2027 Springtown ISD Student Registration

It is almost time to welcome our new and returning Sharp Pines! Please see the details below regarding the registration process for the upcoming school year:

• Online Registration Opens: April 1, 2026. All Springtown ISD registration can be completed conveniently through our online portal/Skyward.

• In-Person Support at Goshen Creek: April 23, 2026. We will host an on-campus registration opportunity specifically for our Kindergarten families or any parents who need assistance with the online system. (10 Am - 7:30 PM)

📞 Questions?

If you need any assistance or have questions regarding the registration process, please reach out to Jody Atchley:

• Email: JAtchley@Springtownisd.net

• Phone: 817-220-0272

We look forward to another incredible year of growth at Goshen Creek!

Your Back-to-School Guide is here and ready for you! It's packed with everything you need to get your child’s school year off to a smooth start—school supplies, start times, and more!

Find your child’s campus page, check out the details, and make sure you're ready for the first day.

Click here to view: bit.ly/sisdbacktoschool

We can't wait to welcome everyone back on August 13th—it’s going to be a great year! #PorcupineFamily #BackToSchool

Health Services
Nurses now need parent permission to provide care such as first aid, health checks, or screenings (unless it's an emergency).
Without opting in on this form, your student will not be able to visit the nurse—even for something like a Band-Aid

These forms are required for the 2025–2026 school year, and it’s very important that they are filled out as soon as possible.

"Opting in" will help us ensure we can continue supporting your student in every way possible

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 & 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!

It’s time to submit your application for free or reduced-price school meals. A new application is required every school year—even if your student received benefits last year.

Apply online at www.schoolcafe.com or download the SchoolCafe app to get started.
Quick
Confidential
Could help even if you don’t think you qualify

Every application submitted helps support our schools. Don’t wait—apply today! #PorcupineFamily

The first day of school is two days away!

If your child will be riding the bus this year, don’t forget to complete the Bus Rider Registration Form so we can get them safely to and from school. Please call the bus barn at 817-220-1700 to verify registration and Goshen at 817-220-0272 to confirm first day, first week, & normal mod of dismissal procedures.

Fill out the transportation form here: bit.ly/busridershipform

Let’s get ready for a great school year! #PorcupineFamily #BackToSchool2025

Our assembly begins promptly at 7:30 AM. It is crucial that all students arrive on time, prepared, and ready to begin. During our assemblies, we will cover:

• Goshen's Golden Rules
• Social norms and character lessons
• Activities to build reading stamina
• Celebrating our birthdays

Additionally, every six weeks, we will recognize our students’ hard work through our celebration assemblies, where we honor achievements in honor roll, attendance, Sharp Pines, and Choose Love Ambassadors.

We encourage all parents to sign up for Skyward Access, as it is essential for monitoring your child's grades and progress throughout the school year. More information will be coming soon about our student handbook & grading information.

Attendance Information

Attendance Information- All absence excuse notes/letters are to be sent to Mrs. Jody Atchley in the front office. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact her at JAtchley@Springtownisd.net.

Attendance Laws- Regular school attendance is essential. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s education. The student and parent should avoid unnecessary absences. Two important state laws—one dealing with compulsory attendance and the other with how attendance affects the award of a student’s final grade or course credit—are discussed below:

1) At the elementary level, students are considered absent if they come to school 20 minutes after the start of the school day or if they are checked out from school 20 minutes before the end of the school day.

-Upon returning to school after being absent, late to school, leaving early from school, or sent home, the student must bring a note that is signed by the parent/guardian that describes the reason for the absence

-When a student incurs three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period, the law requires the school to send notice to the parent. The notice will:

• Remind the parent of his or her duty to monitor the student’s attendance and require the student to attend school;

• Inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures.

A court of law may impose penalties against the parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. The district may file a complaint against the parent if the student incurs ten or more unexcused absences within a six-month period in the same school year.

2) Attendance for Credit or Final Grade (All Grade Levels) To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student must attend the class at least 90 percent of the days it is offered. A student who attends fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered will be referred to the attendance review committee. The committee will determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we kindly ask that you take a few moments to review our morning and afternoon drop-off zones. The Parent Hub contains more detailed information regarding these procedures, which are designed to ensure the safety and efficiency of our student pick-up and drop-off.

Car Tags:
Your child will receive their car tags with student ID numbers during the Meet the Teacher event. These tags will be essential for parent pick-up starting on day one. All parents, guardians, or individuals picking up students must display their car tags visibly in the window.

Identification Check:
If you do not have your car tag, you will be required to park and present identification for student safety.

Emergency Contacts:
Please ensure that all your current information is up to date within Skyward. Make sure that anyone who may pick up your child is listed as an emergency contact.

Helpful Tips for Smooth Drop-Off/Pick-Up:

• Familiarize yourself with the designated drop-off zones and their procedures.
• Arrive a few minutes early to reduce wait times.
• Follow all staff directions to ensure the safety of all students.
• Remind your child of their pick-up location and process.

We appreciate your cooperation as we work together to keep our students safe. Thank you for your attention to these important details!

Six Helpful Tips to Help Prepare Your Child

1. Practice Name Responses:
   Have your child practice responding after hearing their first and last name. This will help them respond quickly during dismissal when we call names.

2. Arrival Time for Pick-Up:
   Please don’t arrive for student pick-up until 3:00 PM. Students will not be released until 3:20 PM. Arriving at three helps prevent traffic jams on Pojo and Highway 199.

3. Use Your Car Rider Tag:
   Ensure you have your car rider tag every day. This is crucial for the safety and efficiency of the pick-up process.

4. Be Kind in Line:
   Remember that the first week can be challenging. Kindness and patience in line will help us all succeed.

5. Assistance with Buckling Up:
   If your child needs help buckling up, please pull into the parking lot or out of the way of the loading zone. This allows the line to continue moving smoothly.

6. Observe Speed Limits:
   Speed bumps have been added in both the pick-up and drop-off lines to encourage slower speeds and enhance safety for everyone.

After a few weeks, the pick-up line will clear in just 15-20 minutes. We appreciate you sharing your precious child or children with us and working together to ensure everyone is safe, secure, and successful.

Warm regards,

Wendy Ashley
Principal
Goshen Creek Elementary School