Byrd Elementary

Please enjoy our first weekly newsletter for the school year, News from the Nest for the week of 8/18/25. --> https://secure.smore.com/n/kga9c

Byrd Eagles, we are ready for a GREAT year!

The hallways are shining, the classrooms are bright,
Our school doors are opening—what a joyful sight!
Backpacks are ready, new stories to write,
Together we’ll learn, hearts soaring in flight.

New friends to meet and adventures to share,
Teachers are waiting with kindness and care.
We’ll laugh and we’ll wonder, discover, and play,
A magical start to a brand-new school day.

So welcome, dear students, both big ones and small,
We’re so glad you’re here—let’s give it our all!
A year full of learning, of dreams taking flight,
There’s nothing we can’t do—our future is bright💛🦅

📢 Staggered Start Reminder 📢
To help our youngest and newest learners get settled, we have a staggered start for the first two days of school:

📅 Monday, August 18
✅ First day for Preschool, Kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade students ONLY

📅 Tuesday, August 19
✅ All students attend school

We can’t wait to see everyone back and ready for an amazing year!!

📚 Free Books for Goochland’s Youngest Readers! 📚

Goochland Social Services, in partnership with the Henrico Education Foundation, is excited to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to our community!

Children from birth to age five can receive a free, high-quality book every month — no income requirements, no strings attached.

Our goal: reach 85% of all eligible children in Goochland. Let’s make it happen!

📲 Parents & guardians can register quickly through this link: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/

Together, we can spark a lifelong love of reading in Goochland’s youngest residents! ❤️

📚✨ Back-to-School Night is almost here! ✨📚

On Thursday, August 14th, join us for an evening of connection and preparation as we get ready for another incredible school year!

Elementary Schools (Byrd ES, Goochland ES, Randolph ES)
🕓 4:00–6:30 p.m.

Goochland Middle & High School
🕔 5:00–7:30 p.m.

Preschool & Kindergarten Orientations – A special time for our youngest learners and their families to meet their teacher and receive important information.
📍 Byrd ES – 2:00 p.m.
📍 Goochland ES – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Randolph ES – 4:00 p.m.

We can’t wait to see our GCPS families! 🐾❤️

The GEF EdVentures after-school academic enrichment program is set to launch 🚀 for the 2025-26 school year on August 18.
Only $98/week!
Spaces are available at Byrd Elementary School and Randolph Elementary School.
Limited spaces at Goochland Elementary School.
Our program is designed to enhance and maximize the learning potential of Goochland County Public Schools elementary students in grades K-5. We provide a safe environment with enriching learning opportunities tailored to each school’s unique needs.
Academic Support:
🚀 Homework assistance
🚀 Reading comprehension tutoring
🚀 Math skills development
Exploratory Activities:
🚀 Book club and creative writing
🚀 Chess
🚀 STEM/Robotics
🚀 Public speaking
🚀 Athletics and yoga
🚀 Arts and music
Enroll your child today for GEF EdVentures and launch them into a brighter future!!
https://goochlandedu.org/gef-edventures/

Thank you to our amazing art teacher, Mrs. Fairservice, for giving the Free Little Library in front of our school a much needed facelift! The library is now stocked with some great titles!

Byrd Eagles, the popsicles are chilled and the playground is ready for you! We hope to see you today from 3-5 for popsicles on the playground!

Come on out to Byrd this beautiful morning to help cleanup our courtyard for learning activities! We will be there from 9:30-11:30.

We are so proud of our Byrd Eagles playing on the Goochland Coach Pitch All-Stars team! They are representing our state at the World Series this weekend! These boys work hard on and off the field! Keep up the great work Cullen, Easton, Carter, and Cody!

Join us for a fun playdate on the playground! Come enjoy popsicles, meet new friends, and connect with other Byrd families before school starts. 💛🦅💙 📅 When: August 10 ⏰ Time: 3:00–5:00 PM 📍 Where: Byrd Playground We can't wait to see you there!

We’re planning a Courtyard Clean-Up Day to get our outdoor learning space ready for the start of school! Join us on Monday, August 4th, from 9:30–11:30 AM. We’d love to have any helping hands—students, families, and friends are all welcome! Let’s work together to make our courtyard shine. 🌿✨

We hope to see Byrd Eagles at the Goochland Library Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Party today! If you cannot make it to the party, then you can still join the program: https://pamunkeylibrary.beanstack.org/reader365

🌟✨ A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away… Byrd Elementary students decided to celebrate Star Wars Day on May 5th instead of May 4th! 🚀 Why? Because "Revenge of the Fifth" is just as epic! 🎉 With lots of Star Wars shirts and big smiles, the Force is definitely strong with these young Padawans. 💫

🎉 Congratulations to our 2025 GCPS Rookies of the Year and Employee of the Year! 🎉 Each year, we recognize staff members who have made an incredible impact in their first year with Goochland County Public Schools. These individuals were nominated by their colleagues for their dedication, positivity, and excellence in their roles. 👏 Join us in celebrating our Rookies of the Year: 🌟 Sara Adams (Byrd Elementary) 🌟 Candace Morris (Goochland Elementary) 🌟 Jocelyn Pullen (Randolph Elementary) 🌟 Jessica Savage (Goochland Middle) 🌟 Kristen Borsari (Goochland High) We are also thrilled to recognize Barbara Hayden, Instructional Assistant at Byrd Elementary, as our GCPS Employee of the Year! Barbara is known for her kind and caring nature and her deep commitment to the students she supports each day. 💙 Help us congratulate these incredible team members who make GCPS such a special place to learn and grow!

🌾🐄 GCPS 4th graders had a blast at Ag Day! What started as Erin Henley’s senior project in 2008 has grown into a beloved tradition, connecting students to the heart of our agricultural community. From farm equipment and baby calves 🐮 to bees 🐝, goats 🐐, chickens 🐓, and homemade ice cream 🍦—our kids learned firsthand how agriculture touches every part of our lives. Huge thanks to our local farmers, FFA & 4H members, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Manakin Soil, and so many others who made this day hands-on, educational, and unforgettable! 💚🌱

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at STEM Camp 2025! Join us for A Children’s Engineering/STEM Initiative: Think, Plan, and Build - 21st Century Skills! Dates: June 3–6, 2025 Time: 8:30–11:45 AM Location: Goochland High School (GHS) Cost: $125 (payments made through OSP) Registration Deadline: May 16, 2025 Students from PK-8th grade will dive into hands-on experiences like building barns and baking bread, exploring the fascinating world of sharks, racing CO₂-powered cars, and designing robots for competition! Spaces are limited, so don’t wait—register today! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScq4FsMOtOe9AMsxWu3IyxyvK8ee-96anF4LMzZg6dEWyXVtQ/viewform

Tonight is Movie Night at Byrd! Arrive at 7 to play on the playground, and the show will start at 7:30. Concessions and Krispy Kreme donuts are available (cash or Venmo to purchase)! Bring blankets, chairs, and pillows to get comfy on the field for the movie! This is a free event sponsored by the Byrd Parent Group!

Join us on Friday, March 21 as we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing your most colorful, mismatched socks! Let’s show our support and spread awareness — because what makes us different is what makes us special! 💙💛 #RockYourSocks #WorldDownSyndromeDay