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/
Thank you for working your magic behind the scenes and helping our staff and students stay connected, productive, and ready to learn. You truly are our school’s I.T. wizard! 🪄💻⭐
Each student was nominated by their teacher for demonstrating respect through their kind words, thoughtful actions, positive choices, and the way they treat others.
We are so proud of these student leaders for being wonderful examples of what it means to show RESPECT every day!
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.
Bring your best smile and make some memories!
These students show respect through their words, actions, and everyday choices. Small acts of respect can make a BIG difference!
Sign Up for After-School Golf is still open!
What: TGA After-School Golf Enrichment
When: Tuesdays 4:05 - 5:05 pm (Starts September 15th)
Where: Here at Apollo
Who: All Apollo students!
Cost: $136.00/ 8-weeks
5% discount when you sign up for 2 sessions
10% discount when you sign up for 3 sessions
10% Sibling discount (SIBDISKS)
They focus on skill-building, character development, and making golf fun and accessible to every child — no experience or equipment needed.
Paw Shop!!!!
First paw shop of the year will be on Friday September 18th.
Participation in the paw shop is optional.
This is just a little shop with trinkets, stickers, water bottes and fun little things like that, that all kids love!
Envelops will be sent home for money to be sent in with your student if you would like them to be able to purchase anything.
Thursday, Aug. 27th 6pm - 9pm
20% of admissions are donated back to Apollo!
📅 Monday, August 24
⏰ 5:30 p.m.
📍 Apollo Library
WE ARE HIRING SPECIAL EDUCATION PARAS!
Are you, or someone you know, interested in working with children on a school schedule? We've got what you need!
Please reach out to the Mr. C with any questions or interest!
cchristensen@goddardusd.com; 316-794-4090
Please send $1.00 with your student for popsicles on the playground September 4th!
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! 🙌
✨Bonus Points✨ New teacher assignments should be in Skyward by then.
We hope to see you then! 🎉
Are you, or someone you know, interested in working with children on a school schedule? We've got what you need!
Please reach out to the Apollo Office with any questions! 316-794-4090
Multiplying Potential: The GHS Math Challenge
For many young students, a high school building can feel intimidating. But for a group of third through eighth-grade USD 265 students, math teacher at Goddard High School Joel Burgeson’s innovative GHS Math Challenge is creating an avenue for excitement, belonging, and highlighting academic success.
The idea sparked after the GHS Math Club competed in regional college math relays during the 2024-2025 school year. Seeing how much his high schoolers benefited from the STEM-focused environment, Mr. Burgeson, with the help of his Math Club students, designed a localized event to “spark and maintain interest in mathematics” for younger USD 265 students, giving them an opportunity to experience their own math competition.
During the half-day event on May 7th , 161 top-performing math students (approximately 20 students from each K-8th school) got to take part in a brief math lesson, tackled problems aligned with Kansas Math Standards, completed group mathematical activities, and toured Project Lead the Way labs and math classrooms at Goddard High School; finishing off their field trip with lunch alongside GHS Math Club high schoolers. Elementary teachers praised the event, noting “it was so nice to have an extra incentive that motivated students at the end of the school year and celebrated our top math performers with a fun challenge.”
Beyond test scores, this program builds mathematical confidence in our younger USD 265 students. In fact, freshmen who previously experienced the challenge shared that being in the building made them feel “ more confident that they were prepared to make the transition from middle school to high school.”
“Improving student participation in math and other STEM disciplines was the focus of the GHS Math Challenge,” shares Mr. Burgeson. “Increased effort and math achievement will be the immediate measure that students are learning. Looking forward, this Innovative Teacher Grant provides a powerful investment to expand the program to host even more students from across the District in the future. What do you call that kind of District-Wide dedication to STEM? As Mr. Burgeson puts it: “Answer = SUCCESS!”
Thank you Goddard Education Foundation for helping multiply potential for our #265Family!
