Trick-or-treat safely this Halloween!
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office offers these tips for a fun and safe night.
Trick-or-treat in groups, and have young children walk with an adult
Carry a flashlight or glow stick, and wear reflective or light-colored costumes
Use sidewalks, cross at corners, and look both ways
Check all candy before eating it
Visit only well-lit homes, and never go inside a stranger’s house
Drivers, slow down and stay alert, because little ones will be out in the dark
Have a safe and spooky Halloween, Goddard!
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office offers these tips for a fun and safe night.
Trick-or-treat in groups, and have young children walk with an adult
Carry a flashlight or glow stick, and wear reflective or light-colored costumes
Use sidewalks, cross at corners, and look both ways
Check all candy before eating it
Visit only well-lit homes, and never go inside a stranger’s house
Drivers, slow down and stay alert, because little ones will be out in the dark
Have a safe and spooky Halloween, Goddard!
Looking for an easy way to give your student a little extra fun at school? Grab a PTO Punch Card for just $10!
Cards are valid through the end of the semester (December 18th) and can be used by students for various fun school perks. (See sample attached)
👉 Cost: $10 each
🗓️ Valid: Now through December 18th
📍 How to buy: Bring money to office.
Thank you for supporting our school and helping us raise funds for our students! 🎒✨
Cards are valid through the end of the semester (December 18th) and can be used by students for various fun school perks. (See sample attached)
👉 Cost: $10 each
🗓️ Valid: Now through December 18th
📍 How to buy: Bring money to office.
Thank you for supporting our school and helping us raise funds for our students! 🎒✨
Are we seeing double?! 👀
We kicked off Spirit Week with Twin Day, and our students and staff showed up with some awesome matching looks! What a fun way to start the week! 👯♀️
We kicked off Spirit Week with Twin Day, and our students and staff showed up with some awesome matching looks! What a fun way to start the week! 👯♀️
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited for our Fall Spirit Week next week, October 26th–30th!
Please remember that all spirit week outfits must follow our standard school dress code. For students participating in Halloween costumes on Friday, please ensure costumes strictly adhere to the following guidelines:
- No weapons, face coverings, blood, alcohol, or tobacco themes/imagery.
- Blow-up/inflatable costumes are welcome for the morning costume contest, but students will be asked to store them in their lockers for the remainder of the school day.
Thank you for your support in making this a fun and safe week for our students!
We are excited for our Fall Spirit Week next week, October 26th–30th!
Please remember that all spirit week outfits must follow our standard school dress code. For students participating in Halloween costumes on Friday, please ensure costumes strictly adhere to the following guidelines:
- No weapons, face coverings, blood, alcohol, or tobacco themes/imagery.
- Blow-up/inflatable costumes are welcome for the morning costume contest, but students will be asked to store them in their lockers for the remainder of the school day.
Thank you for your support in making this a fun and safe week for our students!
Want more Book Fair? No problem! Keep the party going online. All book purchases over $35 ship free and every purchase earns funds for our school! https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/challengerintermediateschool
#ScholasticBookFairs
#ScholasticBookFairs
Parent-Teacher Conferences are right around the corner, and we’d love your help fueling our teachers!
Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming October 5th-15th. This is the event that excites kids about reading and earns funds for our school! Be sure your child doesn’t suffer Book Fair FOMO—get them prepared to shop at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/challengerintermediateschool
#ScholasticBookFairs
#ScholasticBookFairs
Challenger October Mission Report NewsletterChallenger October Mission Report Newsletter is out!! Click the link below!
https://goddardusd265.edurooms.com/newsletters/challenger-intermediate-school/newsletters/october-mission-report-newsletter-174330
Make sure your kid won’t miss out on the most highly anticipated books of the season! Preorder your copy at our school bookfair from Monday, October 5th-15th.
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! This can’t-miss event gets kids excited about reading and earns funds for our school. SAVE THE DATE for October 5th-15th and start exploring together:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/challengerintermediateschool
#ScholasticBookFairs
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/challengerintermediateschool
#ScholasticBookFairs
Don’t forget! Create a Book Fair eWallet for your child NOW so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Start here: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/challengerintermediateschool
#ScholasticBookFairs
#ScholasticBookFairs
Dear Parents and Guardians,
DUE TO THE HEAT WE HAVE MOVED THE DANCE INDOORS!! Dance is from 3:01-5:20
To ensure a safe, efficient, and smooth dismissal for all our students after the event, we have established specific pickup procedures based on your student's grade level. If you are having another adult pick up your child, please email or call the office with that information.
Please review the instructions below carefully before arriving:
5th Grade Pickup
Location: West side of Challenger by the Football field..
Entrance Route: Please enter using the intersection at Walnut and 1st Ave (by the transportation building) south of Challenger.
6th Grade Pickup
Location: Main doors of Challenger, East side of building.
Entrance Route: Please use the main entrance located at Walnut and 3rd Ave (North Side of Building).
Families with Students in Both Grades
If you are picking up both a 5th grader and a 6th grader, please pick up both students at the main doors.
Entrance Route: Use the 6th-grade traffic route (main entrance at Walnut and 3rd Ave).
Note: Please be patient and drive carefully during dismissal, as traffic will be heavier than usual. Volunteers will come to your car to get student names to radio inside for the student.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us make the PTO Dance Party a fun and safe event for everyone. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to the main office.
Sincerely,
Challenger PTO & Administration
DUE TO THE HEAT WE HAVE MOVED THE DANCE INDOORS!! Dance is from 3:01-5:20
To ensure a safe, efficient, and smooth dismissal for all our students after the event, we have established specific pickup procedures based on your student's grade level. If you are having another adult pick up your child, please email or call the office with that information.
Please review the instructions below carefully before arriving:
5th Grade Pickup
Location: West side of Challenger by the Football field..
Entrance Route: Please enter using the intersection at Walnut and 1st Ave (by the transportation building) south of Challenger.
6th Grade Pickup
Location: Main doors of Challenger, East side of building.
Entrance Route: Please use the main entrance located at Walnut and 3rd Ave (North Side of Building).
Families with Students in Both Grades
If you are picking up both a 5th grader and a 6th grader, please pick up both students at the main doors.
Entrance Route: Use the 6th-grade traffic route (main entrance at Walnut and 3rd Ave).
Note: Please be patient and drive carefully during dismissal, as traffic will be heavier than usual. Volunteers will come to your car to get student names to radio inside for the student.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us make the PTO Dance Party a fun and safe event for everyone. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to the main office.
Sincerely,
Challenger PTO & Administration
The tables are set. The programs are ready. The stories are waiting to be celebrated.
Today, more than 25 volunteers came together to put the finishing touches on a very special day for Goddard Public Schools.
Students, Hall of Fame Planning Committee members, Goddard Education Foundation Trustees, Community Relations staff and interns, and other volunteers worked side-by-side to create the beautiful spaces and experiences that will welcome our Goddard Hall of Fame, Class of 2026 honorees, their families, friends, and guests tomorrow at Pathway Church.
From setting tables and preparing programs to arranging displays and working through all of the final details, so many hands have helped make this celebration possible. Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time and talents to help us honor the people and stories that have shaped Goddard Public Schools.
But today was also a reminder of why we do this.
During a break for lunch, our volunteers had the opportunity to get a first look at the Hall of Fame honoree videos that will be shared during tomorrow's celebration. Among those watching were current Goddard High School students and our Community Relations interns, young people who are just beginning to imagine where their own lives might take them.
That is an important part of the purpose of the Goddard Hall of Fame. We celebrate the accomplishments of generations who came before us, but we also share their stories to inspire the generations who will come next.
We want today's students to see themselves in these stories. Our honorees once sat in Goddard classrooms, walked these same hallways, learned from Goddard educators, and wondered what their futures might hold. Their journeys remind our students that where they begin does not define how far they can go, and that someday, their stories may inspire the generation that follows them.
And now, we are ready!
Tomorrow, Friday, September 18, we will celebrate the Goddard Public Schools Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Dan Buchanan
Dr. Mary Cohen (Shinogle)
Jerry Longabaugh
Dr. Michael Vivion
Dr. Christopher Warren
HALL OF FAME BRUNCH & INDUCTION CEREMONY
Pathway Church of Goddard
Brunch & Registration: 10:00 a.m.
Induction Ceremony: 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Guests will enjoy a delicious brunch prepared by Heart of Country Catering and served by Goddard and Eisenhower High School students as we share the stories, accomplishments, and lasting impact of our 2026 honorees.
HALL OF FAME TAILGATE
Goddard High School
5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Join us for Chick-fil-A, snacks, beverages, memorabilia, and an opportunity to reconnect with alumni, retired staff, friends, and members of our #265Family before the Goddard and Eisenhower #ROARon54 football game.
EISENHOWER VS. GODDARD FOOTBALL GAME
District Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Hall of Fame Recognition: Beginning of halftime, approximately 7:45 to 8:00 p.m.
For 142 years, generations of students, educators, families, and community members have helped write the story of Goddard Public Schools. Tomorrow, we have the privilege of celebrating five remarkable people whose lives and service have become part of that story.
The Hall of Fame is more than a recognition of accomplishment. It is an opportunity to honor our past, reconnect generations of our #265Family, and, perhaps most importantly, show the next generation of USD 265-Goddard Public Schools graduates what is possible.
There is still time to join us! Come celebrate these remarkable honorees and the legacy and future of Goddard Public Schools with us tomorrow.
Purchase tickets for the Hall of Fame at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/20haofam/event/2026halloffameevent/
Today, more than 25 volunteers came together to put the finishing touches on a very special day for Goddard Public Schools.
Students, Hall of Fame Planning Committee members, Goddard Education Foundation Trustees, Community Relations staff and interns, and other volunteers worked side-by-side to create the beautiful spaces and experiences that will welcome our Goddard Hall of Fame, Class of 2026 honorees, their families, friends, and guests tomorrow at Pathway Church.
From setting tables and preparing programs to arranging displays and working through all of the final details, so many hands have helped make this celebration possible. Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time and talents to help us honor the people and stories that have shaped Goddard Public Schools.
But today was also a reminder of why we do this.
During a break for lunch, our volunteers had the opportunity to get a first look at the Hall of Fame honoree videos that will be shared during tomorrow's celebration. Among those watching were current Goddard High School students and our Community Relations interns, young people who are just beginning to imagine where their own lives might take them.
That is an important part of the purpose of the Goddard Hall of Fame. We celebrate the accomplishments of generations who came before us, but we also share their stories to inspire the generations who will come next.
We want today's students to see themselves in these stories. Our honorees once sat in Goddard classrooms, walked these same hallways, learned from Goddard educators, and wondered what their futures might hold. Their journeys remind our students that where they begin does not define how far they can go, and that someday, their stories may inspire the generation that follows them.
And now, we are ready!
Tomorrow, Friday, September 18, we will celebrate the Goddard Public Schools Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Dan Buchanan
Dr. Mary Cohen (Shinogle)
Jerry Longabaugh
Dr. Michael Vivion
Dr. Christopher Warren
HALL OF FAME BRUNCH & INDUCTION CEREMONY
Pathway Church of Goddard
Brunch & Registration: 10:00 a.m.
Induction Ceremony: 10:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Guests will enjoy a delicious brunch prepared by Heart of Country Catering and served by Goddard and Eisenhower High School students as we share the stories, accomplishments, and lasting impact of our 2026 honorees.
HALL OF FAME TAILGATE
Goddard High School
5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Join us for Chick-fil-A, snacks, beverages, memorabilia, and an opportunity to reconnect with alumni, retired staff, friends, and members of our #265Family before the Goddard and Eisenhower #ROARon54 football game.
EISENHOWER VS. GODDARD FOOTBALL GAME
District Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Hall of Fame Recognition: Beginning of halftime, approximately 7:45 to 8:00 p.m.
For 142 years, generations of students, educators, families, and community members have helped write the story of Goddard Public Schools. Tomorrow, we have the privilege of celebrating five remarkable people whose lives and service have become part of that story.
The Hall of Fame is more than a recognition of accomplishment. It is an opportunity to honor our past, reconnect generations of our #265Family, and, perhaps most importantly, show the next generation of USD 265-Goddard Public Schools graduates what is possible.
There is still time to join us! Come celebrate these remarkable honorees and the legacy and future of Goddard Public Schools with us tomorrow.
Purchase tickets for the Hall of Fame at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/20haofam/event/2026halloffameevent/
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are incredibly excited for our upcoming PTO Dance Party this Friday the 18th! To ensure a safe, efficient, and smooth dismissal for all our students after the event, we have established specific pickup procedures based on your student's grade level. If you are having another adult pick up your child, please email or call the office with that information.
Please review the instructions below carefully before arriving:
5th Grade Pickup
Location: West side of Challenger by the Football field..
Entrance Route: Please enter using the intersection at Walnut and 1st Ave (by the transportation building) south of Challenger.
6th Grade Pickup
Location: Main doors of Challenger, East side of building.
Entrance Route: Please use the main entrance located at Walnut and 3rd Ave (North Side of Building).
Families with Students in Both Grades
If you are picking up both a 5th grader and a 6th grader, please pick up both students at the main doors.
Entrance Route: Use the 6th-grade traffic route (main entrance at Walnut and 3rd Ave).
Note: Please be patient and drive carefully during dismissal, as traffic will be heavier than usual. Volunteers will come to your car to get student names to radio inside for the student.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us make the PTO Dance Party a fun and safe event for everyone. If you have any questions prior to Friday, please don't hesitate to reach out to the main office.
Sincerely,
Challenger PTO & Administration
We are incredibly excited for our upcoming PTO Dance Party this Friday the 18th! To ensure a safe, efficient, and smooth dismissal for all our students after the event, we have established specific pickup procedures based on your student's grade level. If you are having another adult pick up your child, please email or call the office with that information.
Please review the instructions below carefully before arriving:
5th Grade Pickup
Location: West side of Challenger by the Football field..
Entrance Route: Please enter using the intersection at Walnut and 1st Ave (by the transportation building) south of Challenger.
6th Grade Pickup
Location: Main doors of Challenger, East side of building.
Entrance Route: Please use the main entrance located at Walnut and 3rd Ave (North Side of Building).
Families with Students in Both Grades
If you are picking up both a 5th grader and a 6th grader, please pick up both students at the main doors.
Entrance Route: Use the 6th-grade traffic route (main entrance at Walnut and 3rd Ave).
Note: Please be patient and drive carefully during dismissal, as traffic will be heavier than usual. Volunteers will come to your car to get student names to radio inside for the student.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us make the PTO Dance Party a fun and safe event for everyone. If you have any questions prior to Friday, please don't hesitate to reach out to the main office.
Sincerely,
Challenger PTO & Administration
Our annual CHA math apparel store has launched! We have some awesome items to choose from (NEW LOGO), and it is 100% an effort to build excitement and community. This is not a fundraiser!
All orders are done online, and all orders will be sent to the school.
https://messengerclothing.chipply.com/262480?action=viewall
Twenty-five years ago, our nation watched history change in an instant. Today, on this solemn anniversary, our #265Family pauses to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11th, 2001. We remember the countless first responders, service members, and everyday heroes who ran toward danger to protect others. Their courage and sacrifice remind us what it means to serve something greater than ourselves.
In that same spirit of gratitude, tonight we are proud to honor the first responders and members of our military who continue to serve and protect our communities and our country. All first responders and military personnel, with their ID, will receive FREE admission to tonight’s Goddard High School football game at 7:00 p.m. at the District Stadium, as a small gesture of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
Public education has always been one of America's foundational pillars, built on the belief that an informed, engaged citizenry is essential to a free society. Just as those we honor today gave of themselves for the country, USD 265 teachers and staff show up every day to shape the next generation of citizens, leaders, and neighbors who will carry that legacy forward.
Today, we teach our students not just history, but hope for the future; that unity, resilience, and love of country can rise above even our darkest days. It’s with perseverance and a strong sense of gratitude that we look back to reflect, and look forward with resilient hope for a brighter tomorrow and unity ahead.
Challenger families-
PTO is looking forward to the upcoming after school dance on Friday September 18th!! We want to make sure everyone has a smooth and enjoyable experience!
Please fill out the Google Form below if you would like your student to participate, and take a moment to review the following important reminders.
This will take place right after school on the football fields (weather permitting).
⏰ LAST REMINDER – Permission Slip & Money Due:All permission slips and money are due THIS Friday, September 11th, 2026 by 3:00 PM.— there is NO paper form. Please note that we must have BOTH the completed Google Form AND payment in order for your student to participate. Students without both on file will not be able to attend
Dress code:
Please do not go out and buy anything special for this dance. What the students wear to school that day is what they will wear to the dance (students will NOT be allowed to go change). Please plan accordingly when getting dressed in the morning due to their specials on Friday.
⚠️ Important: If someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your student, please notify the office in advance with the name of the individual who will be picking them up.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We can't wait to celebrate with your students!
Thank you,
Challenger Intermediate School PTO
Parent sign up-
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA9AB2EA1FAC16-65703767-challenger
After School Dance Party Sign Up-
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerF3RbaoMY2Kx03q8Q8yvT_zsab086gTdhJtQ7irATZ_TN4w/viewform?usp=dialog
PTO is looking forward to the upcoming after school dance on Friday September 18th!! We want to make sure everyone has a smooth and enjoyable experience!
Please fill out the Google Form below if you would like your student to participate, and take a moment to review the following important reminders.
This will take place right after school on the football fields (weather permitting).
⏰ LAST REMINDER – Permission Slip & Money Due:All permission slips and money are due THIS Friday, September 11th, 2026 by 3:00 PM.— there is NO paper form. Please note that we must have BOTH the completed Google Form AND payment in order for your student to participate. Students without both on file will not be able to attend
Dress code:
Please do not go out and buy anything special for this dance. What the students wear to school that day is what they will wear to the dance (students will NOT be allowed to go change). Please plan accordingly when getting dressed in the morning due to their specials on Friday.
⚠️ Important: If someone other than a parent or guardian will be picking up your student, please notify the office in advance with the name of the individual who will be picking them up.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We can't wait to celebrate with your students!
Thank you,
Challenger Intermediate School PTO
Parent sign up-
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084BA9AB2EA1FAC16-65703767-challenger
After School Dance Party Sign Up-
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerF3RbaoMY2Kx03q8Q8yvT_zsab086gTdhJtQ7irATZ_TN4w/viewform?usp=dialog
We’re excited to share that our school has earned Beanstack’s Reading Culture Spark badge!
This award recognizes schools with at least 10% student participation in Beanstack during the school year. We’re so proud of our students for getting involved, logging their reading, and helping us build a strong culture of reading!
Keep reading, keep logging, and let’s see how far we can go! 📖
This award recognizes schools with at least 10% student participation in Beanstack during the school year. We’re so proud of our students for getting involved, logging their reading, and helping us build a strong culture of reading!
Keep reading, keep logging, and let’s see how far we can go! 📖
A Great Start, and We’re Just Getting Started
The first days of a new school year are about so much more than schedules, classrooms, and learning new routines. They are about building positive relationships. Across Goddard Public Schools, educators and staff have worked intentionally to make sure students feel welcomed, supported and excited to be back at school. At Challenger Intermediate School, that has meant everything from music, fist bumps, and big greetings during morning drop-off to hands-on science experiments, classroom activities, and older students stepping up to help younger classmates. Those moments matter. When students know there are adults who care about them and classmates who support them, it creates the sense of belonging that helps them learn, grow and succeed. As a new school year kicks off, a few members of the Challenger team shared about their first-day-of-school experience and what they're looking forward to most this year.
Darrin San Romani, Principal
A new school year means new beginnings, and Principal Darrin San Romani has been proud to see students and staff making connections from day one at Challenger. One of his favorite moments has been watching sixth graders step up to welcome and help incoming fifth graders. Those leadership opportunities are helping create a strong sense of community throughout the building. Creating a welcoming environment is a priority from the moment students arrive. From music playing in the morning to big greetings and fist bumps, Challenger staff prioritizes every student’s sense of belonging.
“Welcome!” That simple message has been on display all week, especially as students who arrived nervous on the first day quickly became excited to jump out of the car and head into school. And there’s plenty more ahead, with student leadership, robotics, family activities, and more giving students and families opportunities to connect throughout the year.
Jaden Wiley, 5th Grade Teacher (1st Year Teaching)
For first-year teacher Jaden Wiley, building relationships was the focus during the first week of school. His fifth graders played games, learned more about their new teacher and had opportunities to share about themselves with their classmates. Those early conversations are already helping build a classroom community where students feel comfortable being themselves. “I am hoping to create a sense of family here in my classroom,” Wiley shared. It’s clear that one of the highlights of the week was seeing students look out for one another, checking on classmates and helping pick each other up when they needed it.
Doug Mann, 5th Grade PLTW Science Teacher
What better way to start the school year than by getting hands-on with science? Fifth-grade science teacher Doug Mann jumped right into STEAM activities and hands-on projects during the first week at Challenger. One favorite was the “Fred the Gummy Worm” challenge, where students worked together to rescue Fred from his plastic cup boat. For Mann, activities like these are about more than having fun, they’re about helping students discover a love for science early on. He’s looking forward to a year filled with STEAM projects, including robotics activities later in the year.
His goal? “Hooking kids to science” and hopefully inspiring them to keep exploring it long after they leave his classroom.
Megan Alexander, School Counselor
The first week of school is full of new faces, new routines and, for some students, a few nerves. School Counselor Megan Alexander has been excited to see those nerves turn into confidence as students settle into Challenger.
Alexander shared that several parents reached out before the first day with concerns about their children feeling nervous. But when she checked in with those students afterward, she heard a very different story, they were doing great and thriving. Seeing staff help students feel comfortable and at home has been especially rewarding.
As the year continues, she is looking forward to watching students build strong connections with their teachers and staff. Alexander shared, “I’m excited to see students continue to make connections with staff.”
Building Connections All Year Long
Excitement and opportunities at Challenger mirror what happens all throughout Goddard Public Schools, educators and staff creating environments where students know they are welcomed, valued, and cared for. Thanks is owed to all teachers, support staff, administrators, and families for making the beginning of this school year such a positive one! And we're just getting started. As the #265Family moves beyond the excitement of the first days, we encourage families to stay connected. It takes all of us working together to create an incredible school year for students. Here's to a year filled with relationships, opportunities, discovery, and continuing to build the #265Family!
Story and pictures contributed by Tessa Carson, USD 265 Intern.
The first days of a new school year are about so much more than schedules, classrooms, and learning new routines. They are about building positive relationships. Across Goddard Public Schools, educators and staff have worked intentionally to make sure students feel welcomed, supported and excited to be back at school. At Challenger Intermediate School, that has meant everything from music, fist bumps, and big greetings during morning drop-off to hands-on science experiments, classroom activities, and older students stepping up to help younger classmates. Those moments matter. When students know there are adults who care about them and classmates who support them, it creates the sense of belonging that helps them learn, grow and succeed. As a new school year kicks off, a few members of the Challenger team shared about their first-day-of-school experience and what they're looking forward to most this year.
Darrin San Romani, Principal
A new school year means new beginnings, and Principal Darrin San Romani has been proud to see students and staff making connections from day one at Challenger. One of his favorite moments has been watching sixth graders step up to welcome and help incoming fifth graders. Those leadership opportunities are helping create a strong sense of community throughout the building. Creating a welcoming environment is a priority from the moment students arrive. From music playing in the morning to big greetings and fist bumps, Challenger staff prioritizes every student’s sense of belonging.
“Welcome!” That simple message has been on display all week, especially as students who arrived nervous on the first day quickly became excited to jump out of the car and head into school. And there’s plenty more ahead, with student leadership, robotics, family activities, and more giving students and families opportunities to connect throughout the year.
Jaden Wiley, 5th Grade Teacher (1st Year Teaching)
For first-year teacher Jaden Wiley, building relationships was the focus during the first week of school. His fifth graders played games, learned more about their new teacher and had opportunities to share about themselves with their classmates. Those early conversations are already helping build a classroom community where students feel comfortable being themselves. “I am hoping to create a sense of family here in my classroom,” Wiley shared. It’s clear that one of the highlights of the week was seeing students look out for one another, checking on classmates and helping pick each other up when they needed it.
Doug Mann, 5th Grade PLTW Science Teacher
What better way to start the school year than by getting hands-on with science? Fifth-grade science teacher Doug Mann jumped right into STEAM activities and hands-on projects during the first week at Challenger. One favorite was the “Fred the Gummy Worm” challenge, where students worked together to rescue Fred from his plastic cup boat. For Mann, activities like these are about more than having fun, they’re about helping students discover a love for science early on. He’s looking forward to a year filled with STEAM projects, including robotics activities later in the year.
His goal? “Hooking kids to science” and hopefully inspiring them to keep exploring it long after they leave his classroom.
Megan Alexander, School Counselor
The first week of school is full of new faces, new routines and, for some students, a few nerves. School Counselor Megan Alexander has been excited to see those nerves turn into confidence as students settle into Challenger.
Alexander shared that several parents reached out before the first day with concerns about their children feeling nervous. But when she checked in with those students afterward, she heard a very different story, they were doing great and thriving. Seeing staff help students feel comfortable and at home has been especially rewarding.
As the year continues, she is looking forward to watching students build strong connections with their teachers and staff. Alexander shared, “I’m excited to see students continue to make connections with staff.”
Building Connections All Year Long
Excitement and opportunities at Challenger mirror what happens all throughout Goddard Public Schools, educators and staff creating environments where students know they are welcomed, valued, and cared for. Thanks is owed to all teachers, support staff, administrators, and families for making the beginning of this school year such a positive one! And we're just getting started. As the #265Family moves beyond the excitement of the first days, we encourage families to stay connected. It takes all of us working together to create an incredible school year for students. Here's to a year filled with relationships, opportunities, discovery, and continuing to build the #265Family!
Story and pictures contributed by Tessa Carson, USD 265 Intern.
Don't forget!! Picture Day is tomorrow!! See attached forms to order online.
