Elementary Updates and Information

October 15, 2025

Hello, Gordon Creek families!  

As you know, Halloween is fast approaching and we are excited to celebrate together. Please see the information below regarding Halloween festivities: 

Halloween Parade: We will have a full school Halloween parade on October 31st at 9:45 am.  Students will parade on the sidewalk from the exterior gym exit doors, on the sidewalk in front of the school, then re-enter through our side doors.  Each class will take this parade route one time.  Cones will be set up in the bus loop for spectators after our buses depart around 9:20 am.  The parade will begin with our 5th graders, then 4th and so on, with our kindergarten students as the grand finale.  

This event is weather dependent.  We will not have a rain date.

If classrooms choose to have Halloween events they will contact families directly.  

Halloween Costumes: All students may wear simple Halloween costumes to school on October 31st.  We ask that all students adhere to the following guidelines:

• No inflatable costumes, guns, weapons, blood make-up, violent, or inappropriate apparel are allowed. 
• Costumes should be simple; students will need to be able to sit in their seats comfortably and maintain all safety protocols throughout the day.
• Students should wear their costumes to school on that day if possible.  Staff may not be able to help all students in and out of costumes in the time provided.
• Students will need to be able to use the bathroom independently while wearing their costumes.
• This event is to celebrate the children.  We ask that spectators not wear costumes to the parade.

Families choosing not to have their child participate in Halloween activities should notify their child’s teacher.

We look forward to a fun time with our students!

 

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September 4, 2025

Hello Gordon Creek Families!

The school year is off and running, as the students and staff are getting to know one another and building important relationships and routines. It is a special time for me as we welcome students back and get to see all the first day smiles!

The primary purpose of this message is to share information regarding the Meet the Teacher Nights scheduled in the upcoming weeks.  This year we have two distinct Meet the Teacher Nights. 

• Kindergarten Meet the Teacher Night - Monday, September 8 at 6:30 pm
  • We are trying something new this year to provide our kindergarten families with a more timely and tailored opportunity to meet with the kindergarten staff, and so are running a Kindergarten specific Meet the Teacher Night.  Families will have a presentation in their child's classroom with their teacher(s) focused on the kindergarten experience, expectations, and to provide an opportunity to ask question.
• Grades 1 - 5 Meet the Teacher Night - Thursday, September 25 at 6:30 pm
  • This evening program will be for families of students in grades 1 - 5.  Their will be presentations in your child's classroom with their teacher(s), and opportunity to tour the building to see the various spaces and meet with other staff such as the humanities teachers, academic interventionists, speech teachers, and other school staff.  
  • Kindergarten parents are welcome to come back for this event if they would like to tour the building and meet other school staff, but the formal presentation portion with the kindergarten teachers is on September 8 as shared above.

Our goal is to improve our programming and your experience.  Our new format aims to achieve that for our kindergarten families, while maintaining our high standards and expectations for all families. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Best,

Don Brandt

Principal

 

August, 2025

Dear Families of Incoming Kindergarten Students,

We are so excited to welcome you and your child to our school community! We know that the transition to kindergarten is a big milestone for both students and families, and we want to ensure you feel supported every step of the way.

We are writing to inform you of a change in our traditional kindergarten orientation schedule. In past years, we have held a traditional kindergarten orientation on the same day as our school-wide BBQ. This year, after careful consideration, we have decided to change this process to better meet the unique needs of our newest students and their families.

Instead of the traditional orientation, we will be holding two separate events:

• School-Wide Walk-Through: Kindergarten students and families, like those in all other grades, are invited to our annual walk-through event. This is a great opportunity to bring supplies, explore the school, find classrooms, and get comfortable in the building.  This informal “open house” begins at 2:30 pm.  You may come and go as you please.  There will also be the opportunity to attend a bus safety presentation from members of our transportation department, followed by a short bus ride.  There will be a presentation beginning at 2:30 pm and another at 3 pm in the bus loop in front of Gordon Creek.  This is optional and is only for incoming Kindergarten students and their parents.
• Kindergarten Meet the Teacher Night: We have scheduled a dedicated evening specifically for our kindergarten students and their families. This event will provide a more intimate and focused experience for you to meet your child's teacher, ask questions, and learn more about what to expect. Our kindergarten-specific Meet the Teacher Night will be on Monday, September 8, at 6:30 PM.

We believe this new format will give our kindergarten families the opportunity to grow more comfortable with our school, increase in-person opportunities to ask questions, and learn everything you need to know to prepare for the school year. We look forward to seeing you all at these events and beginning a fantastic new school year together.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Warmly,

Donald Brandt

Principal

 

 

August 15, 2025

 

Dear Gordon Creek students and families,

 

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year at Gordon Creek Elementary School!  We are excited to begin another great year with our Gordon Creek students, families, and staff members as we celebrate being Better Together.  It is an honor and privilege for us to serve the families and students of this community by providing the best all around experience for our students.   I recently heard a quote that read “you can’t find community; you have to build community.” We can’t wait to continue building with you! 
 

Our team of staff has been hard at work this summer preparing classrooms, facilities, and materials for the school year.  We look forward to providing a high quality educational environment for your children to learn and have fun.  Thank you in advance for your support and communication as we enter the new school year.  Please take a few minutes to review the remainder of this letter containing essential information that will be helpful to you for the start of school.

 

Important Dates:

 

• Tuesday, September 2: Open House and Welcome Back Barbeque

This will be an exciting day for the Gordon Creek community as we open our doors to all students and families for classroom visits and the 15th Annual Gordon Creek BBQ!

• Students in all grades (Kindergarten through Fifth) are invited to take part in a self-guided open house from 2:30 - 3:30 pm.  We suggest bringing in your child’s school supplies to drop-off in the classroom so they don’t have to haul them in on the bus Thursday morning, as well as explore the building and meet GC staff prior to, and throughout, the BBQ.  
• Our BBQ tradition continues with food and festivities in the GC courtyard from 3 - 5 pm!  Please refer to the flier in this mailing for details on how to sign-up for the BBQ so we can plan accordingly as the event seems to get bigger and bigger each year!

 

• Thursday, September 4: Our First Day of School!

The elementary school day begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m.  Students begin entering the building at 9:00 am.  Please send a note to school if you will be picking your child up early, or if they normally ride school transportation but you will be picking them up at dismissal.  You will be asked to present identification when picking up your child.

 

• Thursday, September 11: First PTA Meeting

The first PTA meeting of the year will be held on September 11 at 7 p.m.  The meeting will be held virtually.  I encourage you to attend the meeting and to become an active member of this organization that does so much for our students and school community.  Please be on the look out for PTA news and the link to the virtual meeting via email, their newsletter, and/or the PTA Facebook page.  

 

• Meet the Teacher Nights 

We are trying something new this year and hosting two Meet the Teacher Nights:

• Kindergarten will have their Meet the Teacher Night on Monday, September 8 at 6:30 pm.  
• Grades 1 - 5 will have their Meet the Teacher Night on Thursday, September 25 at 6:30 pm.  

 

                                                                                                                                   

Important Information:

 

• BSCSD to Provide Free Meals Daily for All Students for the 2025-2026 School Year: All students enrolled in the District will be able to receive ONE FREE breakfast meal and ONE FREE lunch meal daily at school for the 2025-2026 school year. The no-cost meals are the result of the USDA’s expanded Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP rules dictate that free breakfast and lunch offerings must be complete meals which consist of protein, fruits, vegetables, milk, and grain. Students will need to take at least three food components (one of the components must be 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable) for their free lunch meal. For breakfast, the requirement is three items (one of which must be a fruit or vegetable) to receive a free meal.

 

No action is required for Ballston Spa families/students to be eligible. However, the district still needs to account for all meals served and so we ask that you please complete and return the Free and Reduced Meal application if you qualify.  Completing the Free and Reduced Meal Application may also help you qualify for additional services, fee waivers, and other benefits. 

 

If you have any further questions, please contact Food Services Manager Bob Wood at 518-884-7290 x3328

 

• Included with this letter you will find a tag that indicates your child’s teacher and grade level.  We ask that this tag be pinned or tied to your child’s book bag each day for the first week of school.  This tag is a tremendous help to us to ensure that each child finds their way to the correct classroom in the morning and on to the assigned school bus at dismissal. 

 

• Bus information for your child can be found in the MyRide K-12 app in late August.  

 

Enjoy the remainder of your summer and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.  I look forward to seeing you at the BBQ as we kick-off another great year at Gordon Creek!  

 

Sincerely,

Donald Brandt

Principal

 

 

 

 

Hello, BSCSD Elementary families.  Please see our updates from the week below.  

-BSCSD Elementary Principals

 

Important Upcoming Dates

• Kindergarten Screening Dates:
  • Gordon Creek: June 9, 10, and 11

Please see additional information coming home with fun end of year events!