Brookside Elementary

08/23/2026

Dear Brookside Families,

Our students are off to a great start as they settle into their back to school routines! In the mornings, please remember that all students need to arrive at school by 7:30 a.m. because our teachers start instruction first thing in the morning.

If you have a kindergarten student or your child is a new student in North Carolina, please remember that immunization records and a health assessment must be turned in by 30 calendar days from when they start school.

This past week we practiced our school safety drills to ensure students know what to do in the event of an emergency. I am so proud of students for doing such a great job. Continue to remind them that their job is to always: stop, look, and listen to their teacher in the event of an emergency or a safety drill.

This coming week students will continue to take back to school assessments so that we can gauge where they are in their learning and make a plan to best support each of our students. Remind your child to work hard and show what they know! Our third graders will take their NC Beginning of Grade (BOG) test on Wednesday, August 26th. Please ensure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, and arrive at school on time.

Remember to mark your calendars for our Title I Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 3rd 5:00-6:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our Title I programming, as well as specific grade-level content and classroom expectations.
Thank you for your continued support. We’re looking forward to another great week ahead.

Go Bulldogs! 💛🐾

08/18/2026

Consider joining the PTO! We can't do it without our amazing parents!

08/16/2026

Dear Brookside Families,

What an amazing first week back to school! It was truly a pleasure to see so many smiling faces and to feel the excitement and energy in our hallways. Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work through the arrival and dismissal routines.

Here are a few important reminders to help keep things running smoothly and safely:

Car Line Safety:
In both the morning and afternoon car lines, please do not pass other vehicles. For the safety of all students, we ask that everyone wait patiently for the cars in front to move forward before proceeding.

Student Pick-Up ID Requirement:
To ensure the safety and security of our students, all parents and guardians must present a valid, government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport) when signing out a student during school hours.

Car Tags for Afternoon Pick-Up:
Beginning this week, please use your new car tags for afternoon pick-up. If you do not have a car tag, kindly park and come into the front office to sign your child out. Remember, all students should be picked up by 2:45 pm each afternoon.

Kindergarten Full Days Begin Monday:
We are thrilled to welcome our Kindergarteners for their first full day on Monday! Kindergarten parents, please pull up to the bicycle rack and pull over or park in a designated space to safely secure your child in their booster seat. This helps keep the car line moving efficiently.

Back-to-School Paperwork:
Please check to ensure that all necessary forms and paperwork have been completed and returned to your child’s teacher.

Safety Drills:
This week, we will begin practicing our back-to-school safety drills. Please talk with your child about the importance of stopping, looking, and listening to their teachers during any drill or evacuation procedure.

Save the Date – Title I Curriculum Night:
Mark your calendars! We look forward to seeing you at our Title I Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 3rd at 5:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our Title I programming, as well as specific grade-level content and classroom expectations.

Thank you again for a fantastic first week. We’re looking forward to a year full of learning, growth, and success!

Go Bulldogs! 💛🐾

08/13/2026

08/09/2026

Dear Brookside Families,

We’re so excited to welcome our students back to Brookside Elementary School for the 2026–2027 school year! Please read the information below for important details to help your student start the school year off strong.

Back-to-School Open House
As a reminder, our Back-to-School Open House will be held tomorrow, Monday, August 10, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during this window; you do not need to arrive right at 5:00 p.m.

Homeroom lists will be posted by grade level on the glass windows near the gym. These lists can be accessed from the sidewalk area outside the building. Once you have determined your child’s homeroom teacher, please enter through the front main entrance of the school.

You do not need to bring any items with you to Open House. However, you are welcome to bring your child’s school supplies if you would like to help them carry their supplies into the building.

Open House Parking & Traffic
Please do not park on the front main road, on the hill, as you enter the main parking lot. This can prevent the flow of traffic in and out of the parking lot.

Additional parking will be available in our bus parking lot. The side gate beside the building will be open for one-way traffic only, from the front lot to the back lot. Families who park in the front of the building are asked to exit through the back parking lot onto Rhyne Carter Road. Please refer to the traffic map included in the email version of this message for additional guidance.

Bus Transportation
As a reminder, families must register for bus transportation each school year, even if your child rode the bus during the previous school year. Please keep in mind that new bus registration requests can take up to 48 hours to fully process. If you need bus transportation, please sign up as soon as possible.

First Days of School
The first day of school for students in First through Fifth Grade is Wednesday, August 12.
Kindergarten students will participate in a staggered phase-in on Thursday, August 13, and Friday, August 14 from 8:00-11:00 am. All Kindergarten students must be car riders on these days. More information about staggered entry will be shared at Open House.

The first full day of school for all Kindergarten students will be Monday, August 17, 2026.

Our doors will open for students each day at 7:05 a.m. Students may not be dropped off before this time.
For your child’s safety, if your student arrives after 7:30 a.m., a parent or guardian will need to park, es**rt the student into the building, and sign them in.

Please expect increased traffic during the first few days of school. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this back-to-school transition period. Traffic patterns typically improve quickly!

We are looking forward to seeing all of our Brookside families and beginning another wonderful school year together! Thank you for your partnership, patience, and support as we welcome our students back to school. Let’s make it a strong start—Go Bulldogs! 💛🐾

08/08/2026

A special thanks to the Gastonia Police Department and your partners for your generosity in supporting our teachers and students at Brookside! 🖤💛

We can’t wait to welcome our students back! 🍎✏️

08/05/2026

🎉 Thank You! 🖤💛

A huge THANK YOU to all of our amazing families who came out for Kindergarten Signing Day! It was so much fun meeting our newest little Brookside Bulldogs and celebrating this exciting milestone with you. 🐾

We can't wait to welcome each of you back as you begin your kindergarten journey. It's going to be an incredible year!

📸 If you attended Signing Day, we'd love to see your pictures! Please feel free to share your favorite photos in the comments below so we can celebrate together.

Welcome to the Brookside family, little Bulldogs! 💛🖤