Peek at Park Creek

As we begin a brand new school year, one of the most important things we can do together is help our students feel a true sense of belonging at school. When children feel like they belong, they’re more confident, more engaged, and more open to making meaningful friendships.

You can support this at home by establishing routines that help your child come to school rested, prepared, and ready to connect. Simple habits like talking about their day, encouraging kindness, and practicing introductions can go a long way in helping your child build positive relationships in the classroom, cafeteria, and on the playground.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our Cheetahs thrive. It’s going to be a great year full of friendship, growth, and connection.

— Mr. Headrick, Principal

For the safety of all students, we kindly ask that children exit vehicles from the passenger side only during morning drop-off. Exiting from the driver’s side is not permitted, as it puts students in close proximity to moving traffic and creates a serious safety concern.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe!

For the safety of all students, an official afternoon pickup tag is required to pick up your child. If you do not have a tag, please stop by the front office to request one. Thank you for helping us keep dismissal safe and organized.

Our After School Program (ASP) provides a safe and structured environment for students after the regular school day ends. ASP begins at 4:00 PM and ends promptly at 6:00 PM. All students must be picked up by 6:00 PM. To participate, parents must complete a Student ASP form prior to their child attending. The cost for the program is $10 per day. This is a great opportunity for students to complete homework, enjoy activities, and spend time with friends in a supervised setting.

At Park Creek Elementary, we believe that building a safe, respectful, and positive school environment begins with clearly teaching and reinforcing expectations for student behavior. That’s why we use a school-wide Positive Behavior Support (PBS) plan called Cheetahs ROAR, which encourages all students to be Respectful, Obedient, Attentive, and Responsible in every area of the school. Through modeling, daily reminders, and consistent reinforcement, we help our students understand how to make good choices in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, playground, restrooms, specials, and even on the bus. Our goal is to create a learning environment where all students feel safe and supported so they can thrive academically and socially.

To encourage positive behavior daily, students can earn Cheetah Paws and Cheetah Cash for following the ROAR expectations. Also, every week, a student is chosen from each homeroom as the "Cheetah of Week" for demonstrating excellent behavior. These rewards lead to fun incentives such as ROAR Events and access to the Cheetah Store. If a student needs additional behavioral support, we have structured interventions in place to provide guidance and help them succeed. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s growth—together, we can help all our Cheetahs shine!

Students in 1st through 5th grade will receive their laptops this week.

• If a student has an issue with their charger, they may return it by Friday, August 29 for a no-questions-asked replacement from the technology team.

• After Labor Day, students will have two weeks from the date their main device was assigned to report any charger issues without a fee.

• After these grace periods, a $15 replacement fee will apply.

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.

Students may begin bringing $1 for ice cream starting Monday, August 11. Please send the money in a labeled envelope or baggie with your child’s name and teacher’s name.

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!

• August 19
• KID CITY PARENT MEETING (5pm in Cafeteria)
• August 22
• 2nd Grade Pollinator Census
• August 25
• PTO MEETING-4pm
• August 25-29
• Amira K-3 Reading Assessments
• August 27
• PARENT SESSION: LEARN MORE ABOUT PARK CREEK (8:30am in MPR)
• August 29
• Wear Your Favorite College Shirt
• September 1
• Labor Day (No School)
• September 5
• Grandparents Breakfast (7:30am-8:30am)
• September 8-12
• DRC Beacon Assessments
• 4-5 Reading
• 1-5 Math
• September 8
• Family Lunches Begin (See schedule below)
• September 11
• Patriots Day
• September 12
• Fall Picture Day
• September 15-19
• DHS Homecoming Week
• Book Fair
• 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
• 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 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)

Families will receive messages, important updates, and announcements directly from their child’s school. Rooms offers several key benefits:

• A single, unified place for all school-related communication

• Text message notifications—even for users who have not downloaded the Dalton Public Schools app

• Easy, two-way messaging with teachers, administrators, counselors, and other staff

• Stay Connected

👋 Meet Your Principals
During Meet Your Teacher, be sure to stop and say hello to Principal Brandon Headrick and Assistant Principal Erin Roberts! They are thrilled to welcome you to a new year at Park Creek — a place where we belong, we believe, and we build better together. Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, Mr. Headrick and Mrs. Roberts are committed to creating a school where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to grow. They’re excited to partner with you to make this year the best one yet — be sure to say hi and share your Cheetah pride!

OR

📧 Contact them anytime:
Mr. Headrick – brandon.headrick@dalton.k12.ga.us
Mrs. Roberts – erin.roberts@dalton.k12.ga.us

For the safety of all students, the last student checkout and any transportation changes must be made by 2:45 PM each day. Please plan accordingly. Also, a valid photo ID is required when checking out your child. Thank you for helping us keep our Cheetahs safe and secure!

Have a new phone number, address, or emergency contact? Please stop by the front office to update any changes to your family’s information. Keeping your contact details current ensures that we can reach you quickly if needed and helps us keep your child safe. We appreciate your help in keeping our records accurate!

As we begin a new school year, we kindly ask for your patience and extra time during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. The first few days often come with longer lines as students, especially our newest Cheetahs, learn the routines.

Please remember that Kindergarten through 5th grade students should be dropped off and picked up in the back of the school near the gym, while Pre-K and special needs students will use the front entrance.

Plan ahead, drive slowly, and follow all staff directions to help keep everyone safe. With your support and patience, we’ll make the process smoother each day. Thank you for being a partner in creating a calm and safe start and end to the school day!

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.

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