Goochland Elementary School

Don't let this sneak up on you! 👻 Time to get those costumes ready for our "Otterly Spooktacular Event" at Goochland Elementary.
We can't wait to see all the ghosts, goblins, and superheroes walking our hallways on Tuesday, October 28th, from 5-7 PM.
What will you be this year? We're so excited to find out!🎃

👉 Questions? Reach out to our PTA at 📧 gesptavoice@gmail.com

🎉 Celebrating Excellence, Courage, Creativity, Honor, and Optimism! 🎉

At our October 14 School Board meeting, we had the pleasure of recognizing outstanding GCPS students, staff, and community members who exemplify our five core values — Excellence, Courage, Creativity, Honor, and Optimism (ECCHO).

This fall, more than 50 nominations were submitted by staff for individuals who make a difference in our schools every day. From those nominations, 10 ECCHO Award winners were selected and celebrated for living out these values in all they do.

Congratulations to our ECCHO Award recipients:
🏆 Abbey Pray & Ashby Cronin, GHS Students
🏆 Heather Rhoads, Community Member & Volunteer
🏆 Joseph Jackson, GCPS Bus Driver
🏆 Molly Voss, GMS Teacher
🏆 Crystal Neilson-Hall, GHS Teacher
🏆 Mary Paige David & Olivia Exum, GHS Teachers

We’re so proud to honor these individuals who inspire others and make GCPS such a special place to learn and work!

🍴 Dawg Treats is Back! 🍴

Goochland High students Alexis Phillips and Addison Bryce are sharing their love of food—and culture—through Dawg Treats, a student-led culinary project! From calzones and beef tacos to tres leches cake, they’re bringing international flavors to our home football games.

Proceeds support Goochland’s culinary program, funding student field trips and hands-on learning opportunities. You can find the retrofitted food bus near the flagpole from gate opening until the end of the third quarter. Cash and credit accepted!

Come out, grab a bite, and taste the world with Dawg Treats! 🌟

📚🇺🇸 This week, all GES students in grades 2–5 participated in Reading Revolution Week in Virginia (October 13–17, 2025)!

Leading up to Yorktown Victory Day (October 19), this week celebrates the Reading Revolution—encouraging students to learn about the people, places, and events of the Revolutionary era, freedom and democracy, the Constitution, and the civic principles that helped shape our nation.

Students listened to Henry and the Cannons: A True Story of the American Revolution by Don Brown and explored how one man’s determination helped change the course of history. ❤️💙🤍

📚 Book clubs are underway at Goochland Elementary📚

Fifth grade students kicked off their first book club meetings by choosing a book that interested them, joining classmates who picked the same title, and reading parts of their book aloud together. Each group then set an independent reading goal for the week.

Next week, these young readers will meet again to discuss what they’ve read and set new goals as they continue their literary adventures! 🌟

🦦 Lodge shirts are almost here! 🎉 Families who ordered lodge shirts can expect delivery the week of October 20. We can’t wait to see our Otters showing off their lodges on Friday, October 24!

✨ “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop ✨

Our Raise Craze kindness campaign is in full swing! 💙 The Blue Lodge is currently in the lead for donations and registrations — but the race isn’t over yet! 🏁 Which lodge will take the lead next?

We’re just under $4,000 toward our $10,000 goal — every act of kindness and every registration makes a difference! 💛

✅ Register your student at https://raisecraze.com/join
✅ Enter our school code: 700-301
✅ Add 5–10 email addresses of friends and family who might want to support your child’s kindness campaign

Let’s keep spreading kindness, Otters! 🦦💙💛

The Goochland County School Board will hold its next regular meeting on October 14, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Goochland County Administration Building (1800 Sandy Hook Road, Room 250). GCPS School Board agendas can be found here: https://glnd.community.highbond.com/Portal/

All are welcome to attend.

💛 “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou 💛

At GES, our Otters are making others feel seen, appreciated, and loved through Acts of Kindness as part of our Raise Craze Fundraiser! 🦦✨

Each small act makes a big impact — from kind notes to helping hands, our students are spreading joy across our school and community. 💕

👉 Haven’t registered yet?
Join us at https://raisecraze.com/join
Use our school code: 700-301
Let’s continue to serve, not sell — and make kindness unforgettable! 🌟

👶 Curious about your child’s development?
Join us for Child Check — a free developmental screening for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers! 💫

🗓 When: Tuesday, November 4 | 9 AM – 2 PM
📍 Where: Goochland Elementary School, 2000 Bulldog Way

Our team will help you see if your child has the skills expected for their age — it’s quick, fun, and informative!

✨ Can’t make it that day? No problem!
For children birth to 2 years, call Jeanine Vassar at (804) 657-2010
For children ages 3–5 years, call Wendy Travis at (804) 556-5321

Let’s make sure every Goochland kiddo is growing, learning, and thriving! 💕

💙 “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” – Kid President 💙

At GES, we’re doing just that through our Raise Craze Fundraiser — spreading kindness, showing gratitude, and making a difference one good deed at a time! 💕

Every act of kindness counts, and every registration helps us reach our goal while teaching our Otters the power of compassion. 🦦✨

👉 Haven’t registered yet?
It’s easy! Visit https://raisecraze.com/join
Enter our school code: 700-301
Choose your Acts of Kindness and start making waves of kindness today! 🌊

💙✨ GES Families – Our Raise Craze Fundraiser is LIVE! ✨💙

Instead of selling products, our Otters are raising money by spreading kindness! From Oct. 6–24, students will complete Acts of Kindness (like our Veterans Project on Lodge Day, Oct. 24) while asking friends & family for support.

🌟 Goal: $10,000
🌟 Funds support: Otterly Spooktacular, Learning Garden shade, pull-up bars, BrainPOP & more!

👉 Register here: https://raisecraze.com/join
School Code: 700-301

Let’s spend time serving, not selling—and show the power of kindness in action! 💌🇺🇸

This week our 3rd grade Otters wrapped up lesson 2 of 6 in their Kindness series with Goochland Pet Lovers! 🐾💛 Students are learning how even small acts of kindness can make a big difference for both people and pets. 🦦

💛 A huge THANK YOU to the Landis family for treating our GES staff to a delicious breakfast this morning! 🍩🧁☕ Your kindness filled our bellies and our hearts. We’re so grateful for families who go above and beyond to support our Otter community! 🦦💛

Stay tuned as we prepare to kick off this year's fundraiser called Raise Craze on October 6th. More details are coming regarding how to register your student for this year's inclusive fundraiser. The official start is October 6th and concludes on the 1st Lodge day of the year - October 24th!

👉 Questions? Reach out to our PTA at 📧 gesptavoice@gmail.com

🚑➗ Today our 5th grade students “checked in” to the GES OR (Order of Operations Room) for a special math experience! 🧮💉 Through role play, students became surgeons working together to carefully “operate” on math problems. Collaboration + critical thinking = a successful procedure! 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

🎉🚌 Congratulations to Bus 93 for earning the award of Best Bus Behavior for September! 🎉
A huge thank you to Mr. C for his outstanding leadership and care for our students each day. 💛👏

Way to go, Bus 93 – keep up the great work! 🚍✨

🇺🇸 Veterans Day Display at GES 🇺🇸
We are creating a special tribute to honor the veterans in our GES families. 💙❤️

If you have immediate family members who are veterans (grandparents, parents, or siblings), please take a moment to fill out this quick form by Monday, October 27.
👉https://tinyurl.com/GESVeterans

Thank you for helping us recognize and celebrate the heroes in our community!