🗓️ Reminder: All schools and offices are closed today in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
👑 Principal McCay
In honor of Principal Appreciation Week, we're highlighting one of our amazing principals each day. Today, we are highlighting Mrs. Tina McCay, principal of Goochland Elementary School. With decades of experience and a genuine love for both students and staff, Principal McCay fosters a culture rooted in trust, teamwork, and shared responsibility. Thank you for modeling collaboration and putting students first in everything you do. 🌟
In honor of Principal Appreciation Week, we're highlighting one of our amazing principals each day. Today, we are highlighting Mrs. Tina McCay, principal of Goochland Elementary School. With decades of experience and a genuine love for both students and staff, Principal McCay fosters a culture rooted in trust, teamwork, and shared responsibility. Thank you for modeling collaboration and putting students first in everything you do. 🌟
👑 Meet the Heart of Our Schools 👑
This week, we’re celebrating Virginia Principal Appreciation Week by spotlighting the incredible leaders who serve our students, staff, and families every day. From building relationships to leading with heart, we’ll feature one principal each day — sharing what they love most about their school, what they’re proud of, and a fun fact or two along the way.
Today, we are spotlighting Mr. Andrew Meiller, principal at Byrd Elementary School. Principal Meiller is known for building strong connections and encouraging others to step up and support one another — both inside and outside the school day. Thank you for leading with authenticity and care for your school community.
Stay tuned as we celebrate the heart behind our schools. 🏫 💗
📅 Draft Instructional Calendars Available – We Want Your Feedback!
GCPS has released draft instructional calendars for the 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29 school years and invites families and community members to share feedback.
📣 Please review the draft calendars and submit feedback by Friday, January 30.
Links to the calendars and feedback form are available on the GCPS Calendars webpage.
Community feedback will help inform a February 2026 School Board consideration for approval. Thank you for partnering with GCPS in this important planning work!
GCPS has released draft instructional calendars for the 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29 school years and invites families and community members to share feedback.
📣 Please review the draft calendars and submit feedback by Friday, January 30.
Links to the calendars and feedback form are available on the GCPS Calendars webpage.
Community feedback will help inform a February 2026 School Board consideration for approval. Thank you for partnering with GCPS in this important planning work!
🐾 Watch D.O.G.S. Needed! 🐾
We are excited to invite fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other positive male role models to join our Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program! This program brings strong, positive role models into our school and helps make a big difference for our students.
Interested in joining?
✔️ Complete the background check
✔️ Watch a short video explaining the program and expectations
✔️ Sign up using the link below!
Thank you for supporting our school community. We can’t wait to have you join us!
Questions? Email egraham@glnd.k12.va.us
👉 Sign-up link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DADAF29A0F4CE9-61507209-watch#/
We are excited to invite fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other positive male role models to join our Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program! This program brings strong, positive role models into our school and helps make a big difference for our students.
Interested in joining?
✔️ Complete the background check
✔️ Watch a short video explaining the program and expectations
✔️ Sign up using the link below!
Thank you for supporting our school community. We can’t wait to have you join us!
Questions? Email egraham@glnd.k12.va.us
👉 Sign-up link here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DADAF29A0F4CE9-61507209-watch#/
📢 Kindergarten Registration Alert!
🖥 Online Registration Begins: April 6
🏫 In-Person Screening: April 9
👶 Child must be 5 years old by September 30 of the upcoming school year.
We can’t wait to meet our future students! 🌟
🖥 Online Registration Begins: April 6
🏫 In-Person Screening: April 9
👶 Child must be 5 years old by September 30 of the upcoming school year.
We can’t wait to meet our future students! 🌟
🎉✨ Happy New Year from Goochland County Public Schools ✨🎉
As we welcome the new year, we wish our students, families, and staff happiness, good health, and continued success. May the year ahead be filled with new opportunities, growth, and moments to celebrate together.
Happy New Year from all of us at Goochland County Public Schools! ❤️
As we welcome the new year, we wish our students, families, and staff happiness, good health, and continued success. May the year ahead be filled with new opportunities, growth, and moments to celebrate together.
Happy New Year from all of us at Goochland County Public Schools! ❤️
✨🎁 Happy Holidays from Goochland County Public Schools 🎁✨
We wish our students, families, and staff a joyful and restful holiday filled with love, warmth, and cheer. May this season bring moments of connection, reflection, and happiness as we look ahead to the new year.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Goochland County Public Schools! ❤️
We wish our students, families, and staff a joyful and restful holiday filled with love, warmth, and cheer. May this season bring moments of connection, reflection, and happiness as we look ahead to the new year.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Goochland County Public Schools! ❤️
❄️ Winter Break Reminder for Families ❄️
Winter break is December 22 – January 2, and students will not be in school during this time.
We wish all of our families a restful and enjoyable break filled with time to relax and recharge. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year!
Winter break is December 22 – January 2, and students will not be in school during this time.
We wish all of our families a restful and enjoyable break filled with time to relax and recharge. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year!
A huge otter-thank you to all the grown-ups who made a splash at our holiday read-alouds this morning! 📚💙 This beloved GES tradition on the day before Winter Break always fills our hearts (and ears!) with joy.
We hope our otter-amazing families have a cozy, fun, and restful Winter Break! ❄️✨
We’ll see all our otters back in their habitat on Monday, January 5, 2026—we can’t wait! 🦦💫
We hope our otter-amazing families have a cozy, fun, and restful Winter Break! ❄️✨
We’ll see all our otters back in their habitat on Monday, January 5, 2026—we can’t wait! 🦦💫
❄️✨ Winter Wonderland Lodge Day! ✨❄️
Yesterday our students came together for a magical, winter-themed Lodge Day filled with creativity, teamwork, and tons of fun! From crafting to an indoor snowball fight (the coolest way to learn the names of our lodge mates!), the energy and smiles were everywhere. ⛄️💙
Our service project was equally heartwarming — together, our students collected over 200 pairs of gloves, socks, and hats for Goochland Cares. 🧤🧦🧣
We are so proud of their generosity and community spirit!
Thank you to everyone who helped make today otterly amazing! 🦦❄️💫
Yesterday our students came together for a magical, winter-themed Lodge Day filled with creativity, teamwork, and tons of fun! From crafting to an indoor snowball fight (the coolest way to learn the names of our lodge mates!), the energy and smiles were everywhere. ⛄️💙
Our service project was equally heartwarming — together, our students collected over 200 pairs of gloves, socks, and hats for Goochland Cares. 🧤🧦🧣
We are so proud of their generosity and community spirit!
Thank you to everyone who helped make today otterly amazing! 🦦❄️💫
🎄✨ You’re Invited to Get a Little Tacky! ✨🎄
Families, come out TONIGHT from 5:00–6:00 PM to enjoy 5th Grade’s 2nd Annual Tacky Light Display at Goochland Elementary School!
Expect bright lights, big smiles, and plenty of festive fun created by our amazing 5th graders. 🎶💡 It’s the perfect way to add some sparkle to your evening!
We can’t wait to see our GES families there — let’s light up the night together! 🦦🎄
Hot cocoa + snacks = the perfect pre-winter break pick-me-up! Thank you to Ms. McDaniel’s class for bringing the Otter Snack Shack to our teachers today. ☕🦦❄️
📣Lodge Day is Tomorrow!
Don’t forget to show your Lodge pride by coming dressed head-to-toe in your Lodge Colors! Let’s fill the school with spirit and celebrate our amazing community.
🧤🧦 Also—tomorrow is the FINAL day of our Hats, Mittens/Gloves, and Socks Collection for Goochland Cares. If you’re able, please send in your donations to support local families in need. Every item makes a difference!
Thank you for helping keep our community warm—and spirited! 💙💛❤️
🎉 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year Spotlight 🎉
Today we’re proud to celebrate Goochland Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Kelly Edwards!
Mrs. Edwards’ classroom is a place of joy, calm, and purpose. She knows her students as individuals and creates a nurturing environment where every learner is supported and challenged to grow academically, socially, and personally. Her flexibility, optimism, and commitment to meeting the needs of all students shine through in her daily work with students and colleagues.
Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Edwards is a trusted leader and generous teammate—co-founding the GES Kids News Program and leading the Goochland New Teacher Mentorship Program to support students and educators across the division.
Congratulations, Mrs. Edwards! 💙📚✨
Today we’re proud to celebrate Goochland Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Kelly Edwards!
Mrs. Edwards’ classroom is a place of joy, calm, and purpose. She knows her students as individuals and creates a nurturing environment where every learner is supported and challenged to grow academically, socially, and personally. Her flexibility, optimism, and commitment to meeting the needs of all students shine through in her daily work with students and colleagues.
Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Edwards is a trusted leader and generous teammate—co-founding the GES Kids News Program and leading the Goochland New Teacher Mentorship Program to support students and educators across the division.
Congratulations, Mrs. Edwards! 💙📚✨
🎉 Congratulations to our 2025–2026 Teachers of the Year! 🎉
We are incredibly proud to recognize these outstanding educators who inspire, challenge, and support our students every single day. Their dedication to teaching and learning strengthens our schools and our entire GCPS community.
🌟 Randolph Elementary – Mrs. Michelle Clark
🌟 Goochland Elementary – Mrs. Kelly Edwards
🌟 Byrd Elementary – Mrs. Holly Swift
🌟 Goochland Middle – Mrs. Molly Voss
🌟 Goochland High – Mr. Ryan Maloney
Please join us in celebrating these amazing teachers and the impact they make on the lives of our students! 🍎✨
We are incredibly proud to recognize these outstanding educators who inspire, challenge, and support our students every single day. Their dedication to teaching and learning strengthens our schools and our entire GCPS community.
🌟 Randolph Elementary – Mrs. Michelle Clark
🌟 Goochland Elementary – Mrs. Kelly Edwards
🌟 Byrd Elementary – Mrs. Holly Swift
🌟 Goochland Middle – Mrs. Molly Voss
🌟 Goochland High – Mr. Ryan Maloney
Please join us in celebrating these amazing teachers and the impact they make on the lives of our students! 🍎✨
🐾 It’s simply otter-standing!
Join us in celebrating GES Teacher of the Year, Kelly Edwards!
Her dedication, creativity, and big heart make our school a better place every single day.
We’re otter-ly grateful to have her guiding our students! 💙✨
Join us in celebrating GES Teacher of the Year, Kelly Edwards!
Her dedication, creativity, and big heart make our school a better place every single day.
We’re otter-ly grateful to have her guiding our students! 💙✨
This December, take an otterly delightful stroll through our StoryWalk featuring A World of Cookies for Santa by M.E. Furman! 🌍🎅
Follow Santa on a tasty trip around the globe as children everywhere prepare cookies (and other treats!) for his visit. From gingerbread to gingersnaps, discover how every country adds its own sprinkle of sweetness to the holiday season.
So bundle up, bring your family, and enjoy a festive outdoor story full of cookies, kindness, and Christmas cheer — we promise you’ll have an otterly good time! 🦦💫
Follow Santa on a tasty trip around the globe as children everywhere prepare cookies (and other treats!) for his visit. From gingerbread to gingersnaps, discover how every country adds its own sprinkle of sweetness to the holiday season.
So bundle up, bring your family, and enjoy a festive outdoor story full of cookies, kindness, and Christmas cheer — we promise you’ll have an otterly good time! 🦦💫
📅 School Board Meeting Rescheduled 📅
The School Board meeting originally scheduled for this week has been moved to Tuesday, December 16 at 5:00 p.m. We are starting earlier than usual to allow staff and families time to attend the Goochland High School Band Concert at 7:00 p.m. the same evening. We appreciate your flexibility and hope many of you will be able to join us for both the meeting and the performance. 🎶
The School Board meeting originally scheduled for this week has been moved to Tuesday, December 16 at 5:00 p.m. We are starting earlier than usual to allow staff and families time to attend the Goochland High School Band Concert at 7:00 p.m. the same evening. We appreciate your flexibility and hope many of you will be able to join us for both the meeting and the performance. 🎶
Due to the forecast for winter weather, Goochland County Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, December 8th. Current predictions indicate snowfall beginning in the early morning and continuing throughout the day, with the possibility of 1–2 inches or more, accompanied by temperatures that are expected to remain below freezing. These conditions may create hazardous travel for buses and drivers, and the safety of our students and staff is always our top priority.
All after-school and evening activities are also canceled. We encourage families to stay safe and warm and enjoy the snow day ahead. Thank you for your understanding and support!
All after-school and evening activities are also canceled. We encourage families to stay safe and warm and enjoy the snow day ahead. Thank you for your understanding and support!
