Polenta Elementary School

We are ecstatic to announce that Dr. Takicey M. Dunston, Principal of Benson Elementary and Mrs. Lauren Strickland, newly appointed Assistant Principal of Polenta Elementary (formerly Assistant Principal of Pine Level Elementary) have been recognized as the JCPS 2025-2026 Principal and Assistant Principal of the year, respectively. 🎉

JCPS is grateful that you have chosen to bring your passion for education to the students and staff in our school district!

Congratulations to both of these forward-focused leaders on this honorable recognition! 👏

#ForwardConference2025

#GreatThingsAreHappeninginJCPS

📢It has been reported that JCPS students have received more than 66.2 million in scholarship offerings for the 2024-2025 school year! This is an amazing 18 million more than scholarship offerings received during the 2023-2024 year!📢 A great deal of the offerings have been accepted and will cover tuition costs as these students continue their educational journeys! 💲JCPS is proud of the efforts that go into securing scholarship funding, and we celebrate the students, staff, and parents who work hard to make it happen! 💲 Great things are truly happening in JCPS!

North Carolina is home to a large population of active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran armed services members, and the state’s public schools reflect that. In 2019, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction launched the Purple Star Award Designation initiative to recognize the state’s strong military presence and support for military families. The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families. JCPS had 17 schools receive the Purple Star Award Designation. They are as follows: Benson Middle Clayton High School Cleveland High School Corinth-Holders Elementary Corinth-Holders High Four Oaks Elementary Meadow School McGee's Crossroads Elementary Polenta Elementary Princeton Elementary Princeton Middle/High Smithfield-Selma High South Johnston High School South Smithfield Elementary Swift Creek Middle School West Johnston High School Thanksgiving Elementary We are proud of these designations and honored to recognize our military families in this way!

🎉 Last Day of School! 🎉 To our amazing students and families—what a year it’s been! Today we close the chapter on a school year filled with growth, joy, and unforgettable moments. Whether you're moving up to middle school or returning next year, we are SO proud of each and every one of you. 💙 To our 5th graders—congratulations! You’ve led with heart and shown what it means to be a true Puma. We’ll miss you dearly, but we know you’re ready for this next big step! And to our families—thank you for your endless support, partnership, and love. We couldn’t do this without you. Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and fun-filled summer! ☀️📚 Don’t forget to laugh, explore, and always… Be Kind. 💛 With gratitude, Staff of Polenta Elementary #LastDayOfSchool #PumaPride #BeKindAlways #ThankYouPumas

It is the last day of school, which means we are just minutes before our students will be enjoying a summer full of fun! Here's to wishing everyone a safe break! See you next year!!!

We are excited about the end of year and the awards ceremonies that will be taking place the last couple of days. Please note the day and time your child has their award ceremonies. We will begin to check ID's, 45 minutes before the time listed and will start letting parents in 15 minutes before. If you have any questions please reach out to your child's teacher. Thursday, May 15th (11:15 am) - Kindergarten ( Schenker, Parker, Taggart, Benson) Thursday, May 15th (1:15 pm) - Kindergarten ( Marsland, Gonzalez, LeBoeuf, Boyd) Friday, May 16th (10:00 am) - First Grade (S. Adams, Yandun, Bartholow, Sampson) Friday, May 16th (12:00 pm) - First Grade (Lester, Simon, LIttle, J. Adams) Monday, May 19th (10:00 am) - 2nd Grade (Sousa, Duran, Lee, Walfall, Arrabaca) Monday, May 19th (12:30 pm) - 2nd Grade (Vaughn, Vero, Boggs, Glenn) Tuesday, May 20th (10:00 - 10:30) - 4th Grade Awards Tuesday, May 20th (1:00 - 1:30) - 3rd Grade Awards Wednesday, May 21st (10:00 am) - 5th Grade (Brown, Carraway) Wednesday, May 21st (11:30 am) - 5th Grade (Salemo, Roe) Wednesday, May 21st (1:00 pm) - 5th Grade (Kapusta/Ferrell/Moreno)

Miss Parker's EC classroom at Polenta Elementary was filled with love, laughter, and the sweet smell of brunch!💕 The students celebrated Mother’s Day a little early by hosting a heartwarming Mommy & Me Brunch, where they proudly presented handmade gifts created just for their amazing moms. 🥰 It was a moment filled with smiles, hugs, and unforgettable memories. Thank you to all the wonderful mothers and grandmothers of these amazing children. You are truly cherished! 💐💖 Thank you to Ms. Kenyatta Echard and Ms. Erica Manley for the beautiful decorations and delicious food.

all testing is finished for today.

On Saturday, May 17th the delicious and generous City Barbeque (110 Cabela Drive) is donating back 20% of Dine-In, Takeout, Delivery, Drive thru & Pick up orders to support a great cause -- Polenta Elementary PTA! On behalf of Polenta Elementary PTA you’re invited to join us and eat out, not only in support of the organization, but to show one of your Garner restaurants some love too! We ask that you RSVP here: https://grouprai.se/e301264 (even if you’re not completely sure) so City Barbeque knows roughly how many orders to expect & so you have access to all the event details. We hope you can make it, and please feel free to forward this invitation to your friends and family. Thanks in advance for your support! Kristy Polenta Elementary PTA

Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Puma Family Moms! We hope you enjoy a fabulous weekend filled with love, laughter, and special moments with your children and families. Thank you for all you do—today and every day!

Today is National School Nurse Day and JCPS is excited to celebrate those who are committed to the well-being of our students each day! Please help us celebrate and champion these dedicated healthcare leaders today and every day of the year! #SND2025 #SchoolNurses

🍎🎉 Happy National Teacher’s Day! 🍎🎉 Today, we celebrate the mentors, guides, and everyday heroes who shape our world. Whether in the classroom, online, or behind the scenes, your dedication and passion for education light the path for generations to come. You don’t just teach lessons, you inspire dreams. 🌟 To every JCPS teacher who’s making a difference, we thank you!❤ #ThankATeacher

Summer is nearly here and May holds a lot of important events! 🎓📚 Make sure you don't miss a thing!📅 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

We just wanted to take a moment to remind you that if you are planning to participate in the Free Summer Meal Packs must be pre-ordered by today, Monday, April 28th. Complete your pre-order using the link below: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScONf.../viewform

🎶🌍 Get Ready for an Unforgettable Night! 🌍🎶 📅 Thursday, April 24, 2025 🕠 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Mark your calendars and bring the whole family! 🎉 We’re kicking off the evening with a show-stopping performance from our incredible Puma Treble Maker Chorus in the cafeteria at 5:30 PM! 🎤🎶 You won’t want to miss these rising stars! Then the celebration continues in the gym with our Annual Multicultural Night! 🌎✨ Get ready to take a trip around the world without leaving campus — explore diverse cultures through music, food, displays, and interactive fun! 🌍🥁🍜🎨 This is more than an event — it’s a celebration of who we are! 💛 Come celebrate culture, community, and creativity! 🎉🌟 #PumaPride #MulticulturalMagic #TrebleMakersLive #CelebrateTogether #FamilyFunNight

Puma Family- It's almost time for Staff Appreciation Week and our PTA needs your help! Staff Appreciation will be held May 2nd- May 8th this year! We have the best staff in Johnston County, let's show them some love. May 2nd is our Duty Free Lunch we provide for the teachers! If you can help cover a shift, please check out this link in ways to help cover lunch duty! Can't be here in person and still want to help? Our PTA has created an Amazon wish list and has a Venmo if you would like to make a monetary contribution. Duty Free Lunch: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4CA5AB22ABFA7-55947139-staff Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2KMZ169734J92?ref_=wl_share Venmo @polenta-elementarypta Email: Polentaelementarypta@gmail.com for any questions. Thanks in advance!

Johnston County Public Schools hosted its 31st annual Flame For Learning Awards celebration this evening, naming William Marshall as the 2025 Teacher of the Year! Marshall, a teacher and alumnus of West Johnston Wildcats, was one of four finalists, which included Heather Bryant of Clayton High School, Lois D'Agostino of West View Elementary, and Brooke Hayward of Riverwood Elementary School. On behalf of Johnston County Public Schools, the Johnston County Board of Education, and the Johnston County Coalition of Chambers, congratulations to all of the nominees and William Marshall, our 2025 Teacher of the Year! Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/4cKeLkA

Spring Break may be over, but the BEST part of the school year is just beginning! We hope your break—and Easter weekend—were filled with joy, rest, and special moments. Now it’s time to hit the ground running and make every day count. Let’s bring that same energy and focus into the classroom as we push toward greatness! Tomorrow, we’re back—and better than ever. Let’s finish this year with purpose, pride, and positivity. The Puma Family doesn’t coast to the finish line… we sprint through it! #PumaPride #FinishStrong #WeArePumas #BackAndBetter #PurposeDriven #AllIn

🚨 Free 5 Day Meal Packs for children and teens age 18 and under this summer! 🚨 Pre-order today at: bit.ly/summermealpacks Visit www.johnston.k12.nc.us/schoolnutrition for more information!