GHES School Culture
After-School
Kiddos is the school’s after-school program, offering flexible options like drop-in days or scheduled days each week.
Students enjoy snacks, get help with homework, and have time to play outside. Kiddos also partners with off-campus providers to offer additional activities—such as gymnastics and other enrichment programs—giving kids even more ways to learn and have fun after school.
Communications
Seesaw is a communication app used by the school to share important updates, messages, and learning activities from teachers and staff. It helps families stay connected and informed about what’s happening in the classroom and across the school.
The Grizzly Gazette is a weekly newsletter sent every Sunday, keeping you informed about upcoming school events and offering opportunities to get involved through volunteering.
Curriculum Night is held early in the school year and invites parents into the school to learn about what students will be studying and how classrooms are structured for the year.
Teachers share an overview of the curriculum, classroom expectations, and learning goals so families can better support students at home. The evening is offered in two sessions, allowing parents with multiple children to visit more than one classroom.
Corporate Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors (Business Partners) are community businesses that support Garden Hills Elementary by helping fund an enriched educational experience for all students and staff.
Their contributions help support teacher training and grants, offset rising costs for classroom materials and supplies, maintain outdoor recreation and learning spaces, and fund enrichment initiatives throughout the school year.
In return for their support, business partners receive visibility and recognition across the GHES community, including exposure to families, teachers, and school events throughout the year.
Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor can review the school’s sponsorship flyer for donation levels and benefits.
Family Resources in GHES
PRC (Parent Resource Center) is a dedicated space within the school where families can connect, get support, and stay engaged.
Parents can visit the PRC to communicate with the parent liaison, ask questions, and receive help with anything related to their student’s needs—whether it’s school resources, information, or guidance.
Friday Ice Cream Treat Day
Frozen Friday is a fun weekly event where students can bring $1 to school each Friday to pick out an ice cream from the freezer. Volunteers help make it all run smoothly—and it’s a great way to see students in their element! Responsibilities include collecting and counting money, assisting students as they choose their ice cream, and restocking the freezers as needed.
Fundraisers
Grizzly Groove & Run is a two-week school-wide fundraising event held every August, where the entire GHES community comes together to raise money that directly supports the school.
Families, friends, and community sponsors all contribute, helping classrooms work toward shared goals. Instead of individual prizes, rewards are earned as a class, encouraging teamwork, school spirit, and peer support. Students spend time each day motivating their classmates and celebrating progress together.
As goals are met, classrooms earn fun rewards—such as extra recess, themed dance parties, pajama days, outdoor games, or special music playlists during class celebrations.
Grizzly Groove & Run is all about building community, fostering collaboration, and supporting the programs that make Garden Hills special.
100 Days of Giving is Acorn to Oaks Foundation's annual giving campaign to support the GHES Grizzly Fund. Each fall, we raise critical funds to support enrichment programs and experiences for every Garden Hills Elementary student—from STEM and literacy initiatives to field trips, arts programs, teacher training, and campus improvements. 100% of funds raised go directly to the school. Every gift, big or small, helps every GHES Grizzly grow in our GarDEN.
Evening in the Garden (EITG) is The Event of the Year for Garden Hills!
Held each spring, this community celebration is also the school’s largest fundraiser, benefiting the Garden Hills Elementary Foundation – Acorns to Oaks (A2O). Funds raised support key programs and improvements such as curriculum enhancements, teacher training, field trips, Maker’s Space, and major campus upgrades including the field, track, playground, creekside garden, gym AV system, esports room, and more.
EITG brings together teachers, parents, alumni, grandparents, community partners, and prospective families for a fun and meaningful evening in support of GHES.
Guests can enjoy free food and drinks, dancing, games, live entertainment, and both silent and live auctions featuring unique items such as sports tickets, vacation stays, restaurant gift cards, memorabilia, jewelry, and art.
It’s a festive, high-energy night that directly supports the school and helps make GHES exceptional.
More info: https://eveninginthegarden.com
Organizations
Acorns to Oaks (A2O) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting Garden Hills Elementary School.
Its sole purpose is to raise funds that enhance and enrich educational opportunities for every student at GHES. These funds help support programs, resources, and school improvements that go beyond the standard budget, directly benefiting students and teachers.
For more information or inquiries, you can contact:
acornstooaks@gardenhillselementary.org
PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is a group that supports GHES by building involvement, communication, and community across the school.
The PTA helps organize events, programs, and activities that bring students, families, and staff together, strengthening the overall school community.
PTA Meetings are held the first Friday of each month at 7:45 AM, right after morning drop-off, and last about an hour. Meetings include updates on upcoming events, GHES apparel, teacher appreciation, Spirit Nights, and volunteer opportunities. School faculty also share updates on topics such as field trips, testing, and facilities.
GO Team is a school governance group found in all APS traditional and partner schools. It is made up of parents/guardians, instructional staff, and community partners.
The GO Team’s role is to support school improvement by setting and monitoring the school’s strategic plan, approving the annual budget, and recommending innovations that align with the school’s goals.
School Specials
Specials are enrichment classes that students rotate through each week. There are seven in total:
- Art – taught by Ms. Mills
- Media Center – led by Ms. Rice & Mrs. Carrenard (Mrs. C)
- Music – taught by Dr. Holmes
- PE (Physical Education) – taught by Coach Johnson
- Science Lab – led by Ms. McKenzie
- SmartLab – led by Mrs. Wade
- VIBES – led by Ms. Patton & Ms. Redmond
These specials give students a chance to explore creativity, stay active, and engage in hands-on learning experiences outside the regular classroom.
Standardized Testing
The MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment is given three times a year—fall, winter, and spring.
It is an adaptive test, meaning the questions adjust based on each student’s responses. As students answer questions correctly, the test becomes more challenging; if they need support, the questions adjust to better match their current understanding.
MAP results help teachers understand student growth over time and guide instruction to meet individual learning needs.
Milestones is a standardized assessment given to students in grades 3–5.
The testing schedule is set by the district and typically takes place in late April through early May. Milestones helps measure student learning and progress in key subject areas based on state standards, and the results are used to support instruction and academic growth.
Write Scores is an essay writing assessment that begins in 3rd grade.
Students are asked to respond to writing prompts, and their work is evaluated using a scoring scale from 0 to 7. This assessment helps measure students’ writing skills, including organization, clarity, evidence, and overall communication, while also supporting growth in writing over time.