GCES Principal Update

Wendy Ashley - GCES Principal WAshley@Springtownisd.net

Amy Baker - GCES Assistant Principal ABaker@Springtownisd.net

Tanya Wear - GCES Assistant Principal TWear@Springtownisd.net

Chrystal Sisk - GCES Counselor ChSisk@Springtownisd.net

Dear Goshen Creek Elementary Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! On behalf of our entire Goshen Creek Elementary family, we are thrilled to open our doors and welcome each of you back to campus. We hope you have enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with time to relax, recharge, and make special memories with family and friends.

Thank you for your continued commitment to being All In for our campus, our staff, and most importantly, our students. Your partnership and support are essential to the success of every child, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you this year. Together, we will continue to build a caring, safe, and engaging learning environment where every student can thrive.

Please take a few moments to review the information in this newsletter. It includes important reminders and updates about the first weeks of school, including the First Day of School, Meet the Teacher, our GCES PTA-sponsored Tears and Cheers event, transportation information, and much more.

School Fundraiser & Playground Update: I am excited to share a proposed rendering of our future Goshen Creek Elementary playground addition! We hope to make this dream a reality following our fall fundraiser, and we look forward to sharing this exciting journey with our school community.

Kindergarten Kickoff was a success! What an incredible evening it was as we welcomed our newest Goshen Creek Elementary Porcupines and their families to campus. It was a joy to see so many smiling faces as our future students toured the school, met our staff, participated in activities, and took the first exciting steps in their educational journey. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so special. We are excited to officially welcome our newest Porcupines to the Goshen Creek Elementary family and look forward to an amazing 2026–2027 school year together!

Transportation Request Forms Due Date and Welcome Back to Campus Postcards: To help us prepare for a smooth start to the school year, please complete the Transportation Request Form in Skyward no later than Thursday, August 6, 2026. Completing this form will ensure your child's transportation arrangements are in place for the first day of school. The form will close on Monday, August 6th, but will reopen after the conclusion of the first day of school.

Postcards: Our Goshen Creek Elementary teachers will created a personalized welcome postcards for every Goshen Creek Elementary student. These special notes will be mailed on Friday, August 7, so be sure to keep an eye on your mailbox over the weekend or early next week for a special surprise from your child's teacher! On these cards will include a personal message from your child's teachers and a reminder to bring their school supplies on Monday, August 10, 2026.

Meet the Teacher NIght: We also look forward to seeing everyone at Meet the Teacher Night on Monday, August 10. We encourage families to bring their child's school supplies that evening to help make the first day of school easier and more organized. During Meet the Teacher, families will complete an important forms, including dismissal information, student T-shirt sizing for the spirit shirts generously provided by our GCES PTA, and other information that will help us build a strong partnership with your family.

Parent Pick-up Cards: That evening of Meet the Teacher, you will also receive your Parent Pick-Up Cards, which are required for afternoon dismissal beginning on the very first day of school. These cards play an important role in maintaining the safety and security of every student. If you arrive without your card during dismissal, you will be asked to park and present a valid photo ID so we can verify your identity before releasing your child.

First Day of School: On the first day of school, parents and guardians are welcome to walk their child directly to the classroom. To make the transition as smooth as possible, we will not hold our morning assembly on the first day.

Assembly: Beginning on the second day of school, our regular morning procedures will begin. Students may be dropped off at either of our designated campus drop-off locations. Breakfast is served daily for purchase in the cafeteria, and students should report directly to breakfast or morning assembly upon arrival. Assembly begins promptly at 7:30 a.m. and concludes at 7:35 a.m., when our instructional day begins.

First Week Dismissal: We ask for your patience and grace as we help teach the end of day procedures and systems to all of our students. We strive to keep everyone safe, secure, and successful and we ask for your help maintaining procedures. We know the first week will take longer, but by the second week. Please take a moment to read all about our student drop-off and student pick-up procedures below.

Normal Instructional Day and Tardy Bell: Please note that 7:35 a.m. is also our tardy bell. If your child is not inside the building by 7:35 a.m., a parent or guardian must escort them to the front office to sign them in. Students arriving after 7:35 a.m. will be marked tardy. Your partnership in ensuring students arrive on time each day helps establish positive routines and maximizes valuable instructional time.

As we begin another incredible year together, we sincerely thank you for your patience, understanding, and partnership as we implement daily procedures designed to keep every student safe and secure. By working together, we can provide an exceptional educational experience for every child.

We are honored to serve your family and cannot wait to welcome our Porcupines back to campus. Here's to an amazing 2026–2027 school year filled with learning, growth, friendships, and unforgettable memories!

Together, we are All In for our students, our staff, and our community.

With appreciation,

Wendy Ashley
Principal
Goshen Creek Elementary

Here is a quick information chart to assist with planning appointments or vacations. We hope that this document is helpful to help avoid students missing lesson delivery and classroom time. We appreciate you and your partnership.

Please take a few moments to read the information sheet and scan the QR code to download the app. Doing so will help ensure clear communication and strong connectivity between home and school.

Our Goshen Creek Elementary teachers have completed a handwritten postcard for each student, and they were placed in the mail today, Friday, August 7, 2026. Be sure to keep an eye on your mailbox for this special delivery, which should arrive on Monday!

We encourage all families to bring their child's school supplies to Meet the Teacher Night to help ensure a smooth and successful first day of school. If you need assistance with school supplies, please attend the Back to School Bash on Sunday, August 9, or let your child's teacher know so we can help.

Several tables will be set up to assist families with confirming their child's teacher, picking up a campus map to locate classrooms, and accessing a QR code for the Transportation Request Form if you have not already completed it. Representatives from our Springtown ISD Nutrition Department and Transportation Department will also be on campus to answer questions and help families get everything set up for a successful start to the school year.

We cannot wait to open our doors on Monday, August 10, and welcome all of our Goshen Creek Elementary families to campus for the 2026–2027 school year. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our front office. We truly appreciate your partnership and support as we work together to ensure every student's success.

On the first day of school, parents and guardians are welcome to walk their child directly to the classroom. To help make the transition as smooth as possible, we will not hold our morning assembly on the first day. We kindly ask that all parents and guardians entering the building with their child use the front entrance. Beginning on the second day of school, our regular morning procedures, including morning assembly, will resume.

Ways You Can Help Keep Drop-Off & Pick-Up Safe

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal for all students.

• Display your car rider tag in your front window every day. Car tags will be distributed at Meet the Teacher.
• No car tag? Please park and bring a photo ID to the front office for student verification.
• Update Skyward to ensure all emergency contacts and approved pick-up individuals are current.
• Wait until 3:00 p.m. to arrive for afternoon pick-up to help reduce traffic congestion.
• Practice with your child by having them recognize and respond to their first and last name during dismissal.
• Follow staff directions and use the designated drop-off and pick-up lanes.
• Pull forward before loading or unloading, and if your child needs help buckling, pull into the parking lot after loading.
• Drive slowly and observe all speed limits and speed bumps to keep everyone safe.
• Be patient and kind, especially during the first few weeks as everyone learns the routines.

Together, we can make arrival and dismissal safe, smooth, and successful for every Goshen Creek Porcupine! 🧡🖤

Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is a nationally recognized program that encourages fathers, father figures, and other positive male role models to get involved and make a difference on campus. These volunteers support our school by helping with arrival and dismissal, assisting in classrooms, encouraging students, and promoting a safe, welcoming environment for all. At Goshen Creek Elementary, our Watch D.O.G.S. play a powerful role in building relationships and showing our students the importance of being “All In” for their school community. We invite all dads and father figures to stop by our booth tonight at Kindergarten Kickoff to learn more and sign up to be a part of this amazing program. We can’t wait to partner with you this year!