USD 265-Goddard Public Schools

💙💛 It Takes a Community to Launch a School Year!

Tomorrow, the doors will open, buses will roll, classrooms will come to life, and more than 6,300 students will begin another year of learning, growing, and becoming across Goddard Public Schools.

But the first day of school doesn’t begin on the first day.

It begins weeks and months before, with people coming together, giving their time, sharing their resources, solving problems, building relationships, welcoming new faces, and doing whatever it takes to make sure our students and educators are ready.

As we prepare to welcome students back on Monday, August 10, we simply want to say THANK YOU, Goddard!

Over the past several weeks, we have seen an incredible example of what makes our so special.

🎯 At our Community Education Retreat, district leaders, community stakeholders, and advocates came together to establish a shared vision for the year ahead and strengthen the connection between our schools and community.

🐾 At our CAT Kickoff Rally, dozens of community organizations joined us to welcome new families and connect them with the resources, relationships, and opportunities available throughout Goddard.

🩺 Through the support of Goddard Education Foundation business partners Lange Real Estate, Vrana Chiropractic & Acupuncture, The LightHouse Chiropractic & Acupuncture andHomegrown Chiropractic, students had access to sports physicals as they prepared for the year ahead.

🎒 Through our Drive, local organizations, churches, businesses, and community members stepped forward to help make sure students have the supplies they need to succeed. Community events including Goddard Area Welcome & Resource HUB We’ve Got Your Backpack and Jessica Holle, Realtor - Holle Homes, Keller Williams Hometown Partners Back-to-School Bash brought even more generosity and excitement to the effort.

🍎 We welcomed 50 new educators into the Goddard Public Schools family through New Teacher Orientation, with the Goddard Lions Club, First National Bank, Cofellow Coffee Parlorand Credit Union of America making significant contributions to help us give them a warm Goddard welcome.

💙 Then, all 1,200+ Goddard Public Schools educators and staff members came together at The Cotillion for District Orientation, an opportunity to reconnect, be inspired, and prepare together for the students we are privileged to serve.

🎁 And on Friday, Goddard Education Foundation's All-Blue business partner, Credit Union of America, traveled throughout the district delivering personal welcome and thank you bags to every staff member in Goddard Public Schools, an incredible gesture reminding our people that their work is seen, valued, and appreciated.

But launching a school year also depends on countless hours of work happening behind the scenes throughout the summer.

💻 Our USD 265-Technology Team has worked tirelessly to prepare Chromebooks, technology systems, software programs, and the tools our students and educators will rely on from the moment school begins.

🔧 Our Maintenance and Grounds Teams have spent the summer preparing our buildings and grounds, making sure each of our schools is ready to welcome students back with pride.

🚌 Our Transportation Team has been preparing buses, driving and practicing routes, and working through countless details so thousands of students can travel safely and successfully to and from school.

🍎 Our Nutrition Services Team has been preparing kitchens, planning breakfast and lunch service, and helping families navigate free and reduced price meal applications so our students are ready to learn each day.

🛡️ Our Goddard Public Schools Police Department has continued its work around safety and security, including preparing to implement a new visitor management system across our schools this year.

📚 And across our school front offices, administration, and District Office, teams have worked throughout the summer on enrollment, staffing, schedules, communication, logistics, and thousands of details necessary to welcome more than 6,300 students back for a great start to the school year.

These photos may capture individual events, but together, they tell a much bigger story.

They tell the story of a community that is invested in educating ALL students for lifelong success!

Tomorrow morning, a student will climb onto a bus. A family will walk through the doors of a school. A teacher will welcome a classroom full of students. Breakfasts and lunches will be served. Chromebooks will open. Hallways will fill. Learning will begin.

And behind every one of those moments are hundreds of people who helped make them possible.

Thank you, Goddard, for showing up. Thank you for investing in our educators and staff, for supporting our families, and most importantly, believing in our students.

The work has been happening all summer. Tomorrow, we get to see it come to life.

💙💛 Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year, Goddard Public Schools!

Special thank you to Whiskey River Photography for some of the contributed photos.

REMINDER - Open House will be held at each school TONIGHT! (Thursday, August 6th, 2026)

Pre-K - 6th Grade Open House will be held from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
7th - 12th Grade Open House will be held from 5:15 - 7:15 p.m.

Meet your child(ren)’s principal and teachers, and get materials and resources that will help your family start the school year off right!

The start of the school year is just around the corner. A reminder that the first day of school for all students is next Monday, August 10th. We can’t wait to welcome back the entire to the buildings for another fantastic year of learning, connection, and little moments that last a lifetime. Be sure to visit your school’s website for the latest and greatest ahead of tomorrow’s open house events!

🚌📚 LAST CHANCE! Fill the Bus is happening TODAY! 🐄

This is your FINAL opportunity to donate school supplies before the bus rolls out! Our GHS & EHS cheer squads are teaming up with Chick-fil-A 21st & Maize to fill the bus for local students — and YOU can help!

📍 Chick-fil-A 21st & Maize (10515 W. 21st St. W)
🕙 TODAY, August 4 | 10 AM – 2 PM

Bring a school supply donation → walk away with a FREE Chick-fil-A sandwich. It's that simple!

Every item collected will be distributed to classrooms across the District to help fill in needs throughout the first semester — your donation goes straight back to local teachers and students. 💙

Most needed:
✏️ Backpacks
✏️ #2 pencils, pens, crayons, markers, colored pencils
✏️ Glue sticks & block erasers
✏️ Folders, notebooks, rulers
✏️ Scissors, highlighters, dry-erase markers

Come see our cheerleaders in action and help send local classrooms into the semester fully stocked. Don't miss this last chance to make a difference! 🙌

Goddard Public Schools Families,

As we prepare to welcome students back for another incredible school year, we simply want to say thank you. Because of the extraordinary generosity of the Goddard community, local businesses, churches, civic organizations, volunteers, and countless individual donors, the annual school supply drive has once again been an overwhelming success. Whether you donated a backpack, purchased school supplies, made a monetary contribution, or volunteered your time, you have made a meaningful difference for students and families throughout Goddard Public Schools.

Thanks to YOUR generosity, we are confident that every Goddard Public Schools student in need will have the opportunity to choose the backpack they want and fill it with the school supplies they need for a successful start to the school year. That is something our entire community can be proud of!

Goddard Public School’s, Backpack-to-School
School Supplies Pick-Up Event

TODAY (Monday, August 3rd, 2026)
5:30–7:30 p.m. (or while supplies last)
Pathway Church Goddard
18800 W. Kellogg Dr., Goddard, KS
IMPORTANT: Student(s) must be present to receive school supplies.

It is time for the annual #265 Supplies Drive, helping ensure all students in our community start the school year equipped for success! You can make a difference in a student's education by donating essential school supplies.

How to Donate:
Drop off new, unused school supplies at designated collection bins around the district and local community centers.

Most Needed Items:
- Pencils and Pens
- Crayons and Markers
- Notebooks and Loose-Leaf Paper
- Folders and Binders
- Backpacks
- Glue Sticks and Scissors
- Tissues and Sanitizing Wipes

Shop the Amazon Wish List & Show Your Support from Anywhere:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/UB3X40CYCF7R

Become a $265 Supplies Champion & Donate Direct Funds Here:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ygp4i5/

Every donation, big or small, makes a huge impact on a child's learning journey. Thank you for supporting our Goddard students and schools!

If your family is in need of school supplies, the #265 Supplies pick-up event is Monday, August 3rd, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (or while supplies last) at Pathway Church Goddard. PLEASE NOTE: Student(s) MUST be present to receive supplies.

Why Goddard? Because you deserve more than just a job!

At USD 265, our staff community is the heart of everything we do. We have intentionally built a culture where educators do not just work - they thrive, grow, and stay. You can feel it driving down Main Street, at a Friday night game, under the stage lights, and in our classrooms every single day.

What sets Goddard Public Schools apart?
We Grow Our Own: With an impressive staff retention rate and a district full of homegrown USD 265 alumni-turned-educators, there is a reason people choose Goddard and stay in Goddard.
Grow Roots & Bring Your Family: Our unique Staff Choice Enrollment means even if you live outside the district, your children can attend USD 265 schools.
Mentorship That Means Something: Experienced Goddard teachers guide our newcomers with real-world experience and genuine care.
A Culture You Can Feel: Enjoy the "sweet spot" of a suburban district - not too big, not too small. Get the tight-knit family feel alongside competitive pay, top-tier resources, and professional growth opportunities.
Support That Actually Supports: Confidential Staff Guidance and Parent Guidance platforms ensure you and your family have the resources you need, when you need them.
Competitive Pay: Enjoy one of the highest teacher base pay rates in the Wichita metro area because we know your true worth.

Ready to join our or explore new career opportunities within the district? We have transitioned to a new platform for all job postings and application processing. Click the link below to check out our updated careers page to view open positions, substitute opportunities, and instructions on how to apply today!

https://jobs.redroverk12.com/org/GoddardUSD265