Unlocking Inclusion: The Impact of the Adaptive Book Library
Every teacher wants their students to thrive in the classroom and during Specials times (like music, science, and library). But for students in our Mixed Abilities classrooms, staying engaged during these times hasn’t always been easy. When classroom content isn’t accessible or at their academic level, it’s hard for these students to fully participate.
For teachers, creating custom theme-based materials for dozens of different learning levels every single week is an exhausting uphill battle.
Thanks to a generous innovative teacher grant from the Goddard Education Foundation (GEF), two Special Education teachers at Amelia Earhart Elementary are changing the game. Amanda Wilson and Christa Larson share a deep passion for providing an adaptive learning environment, and their project is doing just that.
The teaching duo’s innovative teacher grant provided their building a library of adaptive board books and custom-printed books complete with velcro interactive pieces and simple QR codes for easy teacher check-out. Now, when a class is learning about science, music, or the seasons, teachers can instantly grab an adaptive book that matches that exact theme but is tailored precisely to each child’s academic level.
Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Larson shared, “It is our goal that by providing materials to help students be more engaged during their inclusion and Specials times, they will connect more with the content with the adaptive books, learn social skills from being more engaged with their peers, and build deeper relationships with other students that will continue throughout their school journey.
We are so excited to see these books continue to spark joy, connection, and learning at Amelia Earhart Elementary for years to come. Thank you to the GEF and the generous contributors who support innovative education.
Small Station, BIG Impact!
Sometimes innovation in the classroom looks like a dedicated corner of a classroom where breakthroughs happen every single day.
Meet the students of Mrs. Toribio’s Mixed Abilities class at Amelia Earhart Elementary. For these incredible learners, staying regulated, focused, and ready to learn can sometimes feel like a steep uphill climb. “When students are dysregulated they are unable to engage in learning thus losing precious academic time,” shares Mrs. Toribio. “Many students in the Mixed Abilities program can spend a lot of their day in a dysregulated state due to delays in social/emotional learning.”
To help combat this and increase learning time in her classroom, Mrs. Toribio, with the help of a Goddard Education Foundation (GEF) Innovative Teacher Grant, was able to build a brand new Sensory Station directly into her students’ daily learning rotations. Instead of leaving the classroom to regulate, students now have a proactive, independent space right in the classroom to decompress, stimulate fine and gross motor skills, and reset their bodies.
“Utilizing the Sensory Station, which includes different physical manipulatives like stepping stones, balance boards, textured floor mats and tunnels, provides that crucial regulation,” shared Mrs. Toribio. “By providing students with tools that help them to regulate their physical and emotional needs we are able to increase the time our students are in a ready-to-learn state.”
By providing the sensory station, Mrs. Toribio isn’t just teaching academics, she is teaching lifelong regulation skills for independence and success.
Thank you Mrs. Toribio for your dedication and creative teaching, and to the GEF for funding an Innovative Teacher grant that helps ensure every student has the tools, space, and support to thrive.
No More Pressure: Harmonizing Music at Amelia Earhart Elementary
When most adults think about learning the recorder, they likely recall obnoxious, ear-piercing squeaks. For decades, mastering this instrument has been a challenge for developing elementary students who may not have the manipulative skills needed to cover the tiny open holes that prevent air leaks and the inevitable squeaks.
For 3rd and 4th-grade students at Amelia Earhart Elementary, who have been eagerly waiting for their chance to play a recorder, fine motor skill deficits can quickly crush that excitement. But thanks to the help of a Goddard Education Foundation Innovative Teacher Grant, Amelia Earhart Music Teacher Rochelle Mann is changing the “tune” by introducing Nuvo Recorder+ instruments to her classroom.
These recorders feature soft silicone flaps that seal completely with just a gentle press, an upgrade that allows students of all abilities to achieve the correct tone without the squeaks.
“After sampling the new recorder with a student in my music classroom, he immediately went home and exuberantly told his family how he would be playing the recorder just like all his other classmates,” shared Mrs. Mann.
The immediate emotional impact of this grant is undeniable, particularly for special education learners. By providing these upgraded and adaptive recorders for the entire class, music at Amelia Earhart continues to be an inclusive environment that ensures every student can find success with their instrument.
“Student success is the whole reason I wrote this grant,” explains Mrs. Mann. “I have watched first hand students who were frustrated from day one, who had given up ever playing recorders alongside their peers, instantly thrive when switched to the new recorders. With these recorders, every student can feel that joy, pride, and sense of accomplishment.”
These results won’t stop when students leave Amelia Earhart; elementary instrument success can help build that confidence and contribute to future participation in band or orchestra as they continue their journey through Goddard Public Schools.
Thank you, Goddard Education Foundation, for removing the pressure, allowing students to participate in music with minimal stress or fear of failure… and helping every instrument in our #265Family ring out clear and true!
The Goddard Education Foundation is excited to introduce the Goddard Public Schools Hall of Fame Class of 2026!
Established in 2018, the Hall of Fame celebrates, honors, and recognizes the extraordinary service, success, and achievements of our alumni, retired staff, and dedicated friends of education.
Join us in celebrating the Class of 2026:
* Dan Buchanan, Former Educator & Coach
* Dr. Mary Cohen (Shinogle), Goddard High School Class of 1986
* Jerry Longabaugh, Former Educator, Administrator, and Current USD 265 Board of Education Representative
* Dr. Christopher Warren, Goddard High School Class of 1992
* Dr. Michael Vivion, Goddard High School Class of 1962
Save the Date!
Please join us on September 18, 2026, to celebrate the Class of 2026.
Keep an eye out for event details, registration opens in July.
Stay tuned as we highlight each of our individual inductees in the coming weeks. Let's join together to celebrate the past and inspire the future of Goddard Public Schools.
Learn more about the Goddard Hall of Fame and read about past Honorees HERE or https://www.goddardef.org/o/gef/page/hall-of-fame .
We are incredibly proud of our students and staff for fully embracing Beanstack this year and making reading such a fun and exciting part of our school community. The love for reading was definitely strong this year!
And the best part? We’re just getting started! Beanstack will be back next year, and we’re aiming for even BIGGER reading goals and even MORE minutes!
Fueling Innovation with EarhART
At Amelia Earhart Elementary, the halls are no longer just corridors, they are a rotating museum of student imagination. While the school currently operates without a designated art class, teacher Angi Webster saw an opportunity to ensure creativity didn’t fall through the cracks. With the support of an Innovative Teacher Grant from the Goddard Education Foundation, Webster launched “EarhART,” a school-wide initiative that turns every student into a featured artist.
“Our teachers incorporate art whenever they can, but resources and time are often limited,” Webster explains. “EarhART was designed to fill the gap, engaging the entire school community through themed gallery exhibits.” EarhART is a school-wide program designed to fill the artistic gap.
Instead of a traditional classroom setting, EarhART turns the entire school into a living gallery. Each quarter, students are challenged with a themed creative project—like the Spring quarter project "Falling into Creativity" exhibit, which combines nature, print media, and the vibrant colors of autumn.
The impact goes deeper than paint and paper. By integrating art history, science, and literacy into each theme. EarhART helps over 500 students in grades K-4 develop the fine motor skills and critical thinking necessary for success in all subjects. Perhaps most importantly, it invites families to be a part of the process, celebrating student achievements through quarterly gallery walks.
"EarhART brings art to Earhart," says Webster. "It’s about building momentum and showing our students that their creativity has a permanent home here."
Thanks to your generosity, the school was able to purchase the initial supplies and gallery display materials needed to make this vision a reality. Now, with a permanent gallery space and plans for an after-school art club, the future at Amelia Earhart Elementary is looking much more colorful.
Check out this video to learn more about EarhART at Amelia Earhart Elementary!
Your support of the Goddard Education Foundation makes “aha moments” like these possible. When you give, you aren’t just buying supplies, you’re fueling the innovation that makes our schools unique.
Dear Goddard Public Schools Staff and Families,
Neighbors United Goddard is happening tomorrow, Saturday, April 25, 2026, and we would love for you to be part of this incredible day of service and community connection.
We are still looking for volunteers to join us. Registration will take place at the Goddard District Stadium from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m., and there are still plenty of project sites available for individuals and families to serve together. Click below for more details:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1499152881939945
Volunteers can expect a meaningful and fun experience, along with a free event t-shirt, breakfast, and lunch. Whether you come on your own or bring the whole family, this is a great opportunity to give back while spending time together in service to our community.
In addition to volunteer projects, there are two special opportunities taking place at the Goddard Linear Park Pavilion, 108 N. Main Street:
Plant and Seed Swap Event, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Bring a piece of your garden to share, such as plant cuttings, divided perennials, seeds, or small garden items. Participants can drop off items as early as 8:00 a.m. and then “shop” beginning at 10:00 a.m. It is a fun and simple way to trade plants and grow something new while connecting with others in the community. In addition, students from the Goddard High School Ecology and Biology programs, under the leadership of teacher Darcie Lowry, have cultivated 100 indoor houseplant starter kits that will be given away to community members who stop by. This work is an extension of a Goddard Education Foundation Innovative Teacher Grant, bringing classroom learning to life while giving back to the community in a meaningful way. CLICK HERE for more details:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1784640216043365
Sports Equipment Donation and Pickup
Drop off gently used sports equipment between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Families in need are invited to pick up equipment from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All remaining donated items will go back into our community through local junior league programs, helping ensure every child has access to the equipment they need to participate. A special thank you to the Summer Ball Showdown for coordinating this opportunity. Click below for more details:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2189421978525736
We encourage everyone to follow the Neighbors United Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NeighborsUnitedGoddard for updates. In the event of severe or dangerous weather, any cancellation will be announced by 7:00 a.m. If the event has already begun and conditions change, volunteers will be safely dismissed and further communication will be provided.
Thank you for continuing to make Goddard Public Schools such a strong and caring community.
Thank you again to our incredible parents, we are so grateful for your generosity and support!
This honor reflects the strong relationships, safe environment, and positive culture our staff works so hard to build every single day. We are incredibly proud of our students, staff, and families for making Earhart such a special place to learn and grow.
Thank you for being part of what makes our school community so amazing , we are truly honored!
Small Hands, Big Ideas: Exploratory STEM Bins at Earhart
In early childhood education, one of the most powerful tools for learning isn’t a textbook, it’s play. With the help of an Innovative Teacher Grant, Mrs. Hummer’s preschool class at Amelia Earhart Elementary now has Exploratory STEM Bins to inspire learning in a fun, inclusive way.
Whether a child is an English Language Learner, has physical limitations, or is navigating a cognitive delay, the STEM bins offer a universal language of exploration. In this setting, every child, regardless of ability, can collaborate, create, and solve problems side-by-side.
“Exploratory play in Pre-K meets children’s need for hands-on learning allowing them to investigate, and experiment. It’s a free way for children to practice essential skills and social interaction,” shares Mrs. Hummer. These bins address the urgent need for hands-on, self-directed discovery and build a vital foundation of collaborative learning. By prioritizing the experience of discovery over simple content, we are empowering our youngest learners to develop the critical thinking and fine motor persistence they will need for a lifetime of academic success.
We are deeply grateful to the Goddard Education Foundation for providing these vital building blocks; your investment ensures that every child, regardless of their starting point, has the opportunity to investigate, experiment, and thrive. Thank you for helping us turn our classroom into a place where the next generation of engineers and innovators can begin their journey with confidence.
Event Details:
Goddard High School (GHS)
Monday, April 13th
1:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Goddard High School Parking Lot
Eisenhower High School (EHS)
Thursday, April 16th
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Eisenhower High School Parking Lot
During these times, community members in the area may notice a significant presence of emergency vehicles, including police, fire, and other first responders, with active lights and sirens. This activity is part of a planned simulation and training exercise.
We want to reassure our community that these events are fully coordinated, controlled, and focused on student education. There is no active emergency, and students and staff are not in any danger. We’d like to additionally take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all of the agencies involved in bringing this experience to our school communities:
D.U.I Victims Center of Kansas
Garden Plain Police Department
Kansas Highway Patrol
Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department
Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Wichita Fire Department
Wichita State University Police
USD 265 School Police
USD 265 Transportation
We appreciate your understanding and support as we work together with our community partners to provide meaningful learning experiences that help keep our students safe. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the well-being of our students and schools!
If possible, we kindly ask that appointments be scheduled after 11:00 AM on testing days. This helps ensure students have the time they need to fully complete their assessments without feeling rushed.
Thank you for your support in helping our students succeed, we know they’re going to do great!
Wait Until 8th is a parent‑led pledge that helps families delay giving their child a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. The goal isn’t to avoid technology, it’s to give kids more time to develop focus, social skills, and healthy habits before navigating smartphones and social media. The pledge works by building strength in numbers. When families in the same grade commit together, kids feel less pressure to be “the only one without a phone.”
Voluntary and family‑driven
Allows basic phones or smartwatches for calls/texts
Backed by growing research on child development and screen use
Learn more:
Official site & pledge details: Wait Until 8th https://www.waituntil8th.org/
Why parents wait: Why Wait? https://www.waituntil8th.org/why-wait
If this aligns with your family’s values, consider signing the pledge and waiting together with other parents in our community.
Take the pledge: https://www.waituntil8th.org/take-the-pledge [waituntil8th.org]
If possible, we kindly ask that appointments be scheduled after 11:00 AM on testing days. This helps ensure students have the time they need to fully complete their assessments without feeling rushed.
Thank you for your support in helping our students succeed, we know they’re going to do great!
#265Family, we’re hard at work gearing up for the 2026–2027 school year, and we can’t do it without YOU! Mark your calendars for these upcoming, new student enrollment events: Tag your neighbors and friends who are moving or have just moved into Goddard Public Schools to join us!
KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT EVENTS
- Thursday, April 9th, 2026
- 6:30–7:30 p.m.
- At each individual elementary school
For families with incoming Kindergarteners - meet the staff, explore the building, and get your little learner ready for their big adventure! Not sure which school your address falls under? Check district boundaries at the link in our bio!
PRE-K PRE-ENROLLMENT EVENT
- Thursday, April 16th, 2026
- 4:30–7:30 p.m. (Come & Go)
- Challenger Intermediate School
Is your child turning 3 or 4 years old on or before August 31st, 2026, and living within GPS boundaries? Come learn about our incredible Pre-K programs!
Sign up, register, or learn more: https://www.goddardusd.com/o/gps/page/enrollment-26-27
