Polenta Elementary School

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

🎶🌍 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!

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!

Good afternoon, parents, We kindly ask that you arrive for carpool no later than 4:15 PM today. We've had a number of early checkouts due to field day, and we want to ensure a smooth and timely dismissal for all students. Thank you and have a good evening.

It's Time! The Art to Remember fundraiser is here! Order forms went out on Tuesday, but you don't have to wait. Art to Remember is a fundraising company that takes your child's art and turns it into keepsakes for your family. The best part is that every keepsake order supports the arts at our school. Head to Arttoremember.com and search for your child's name, enter their online code, or upload artwork from home and start shopping! If you log in and don't find any artwork, it is probably because your child was absent the day we made the artwork in Art. You can still participate by uploading your own artwork using the instructions found here: https://www.loom.com/share/d212f3e17ec049188affceacacfd6010. If you have any questions, please email the art teacher at SandraEThornton@johnston.k12.nc.us. Thanks so much for your support, and happy shopping!

bus 736 will be running at least 15 minutes late this morning due to mechanical issues. We are sorry for this inconvenience.

Good afternoon, parents, We kindly ask that you arrive for carpool no later than 4:15 PM today. We've had a number of early checkouts due to field day, and we want to ensure a smooth and timely dismissal for all students. A few reminders: 🔹 Tomorrow is Field Day for Grades 3–5! 9:30 AM: 5th grade, Ms. Coffey’s and Mrs. Parker’s classes, along with the following 4th grade classes: Mrs. Liles, Mrs. Blailock, Mrs. DuPraw, and Mrs. Portnoy-Weeks. 12:30–3:00 PM: 3rd grade, including the following classes: Mr. Bedoya, Ms. McGovern, Mr. Procaccini, Ms. Adams, Mr. Despalo, and Ms. McNeill. 📸 If you are attending Field Day, please remember to bring a valid Photo ID. 📝 EOG Proctors Needed! If you haven’t signed up yet to help proctor for this year’s EOGs, we are still in need of volunteers. Your support makes a big difference! Thank you for your continued partnership, and have a fabulous afternoon!

Field Day Date Change! Due to the weather forecast for Friday, April 11th, we’re moving Field Day so our students can enjoy the fun outside instead of being stuck indoors! 🟡 K–2 Field Day: Wednesday, April 9th 🔵 3–5 Field Day: Thursday, April 10th

Let's hear it for our 2025 JCPS Elementary Science Olympiad participants!!!🧪🥼 Fourteen elementary school teams battled head-to-head in 15 events, including Backyard Biologist, Chew the Fat, Codebusters, and the always popular Pasta Tower competition. Congratulations to Polenta Elementary for winning 1st place in the Junior Varsity and Varsity divisions. Pine Level Elementary took home the 3rd place Varsity trophy, and 4th place Varsity went to Corinth-Holders Elementary School! 🏆🏆🏆 👏Make some noise for all 14 teams and their hard work leading up to the event!👏 Read more about this exciting event: https://bit.ly/4ctq9Bk #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

Congratulations to our Puma Varsity and Junior Varsity Science Olympiad teams for winning first place for both teams in their competitions. These students work tirelessly each week to prepare for this competition. Thank you to the volunteers who work with them each week!

National Assistant Principal Week is April 7th - April 11th. Thank you to our very own Candace Westbrook & EmEm Thompson. We couldn’t do what we do without your tireless commitment and passion for kids. Thank you for helping staff, students, and parents.

Good Evening Families, We are excited to invite you to our Student-Led Conferences for 3rd through 5th grade tomorrow from 5:30 – 7:00 PM! This is a great opportunity for you to see firsthand the progress your child has made this year. While you’re here, don’t forget to stop by our Book Fair to check out some fantastic books and support our school! We are also in need of parent volunteers to help proctor during our upcoming End-of-Grade (EOG) tests on May 9th, May 12th, and May 14th. Your support is essential in making sure our testing days run smoothly. If you are available to help, please visit your child’s teacher’s announcement page for more details on how to sign up. Your time and support make a huge difference for our students! We look forward to seeing families tomorrow night. Have a wonderful evening!

Johnston County Public Schools values your feedback! 💻 The deadline to complete the Family-School Relationships Survey has been extended to Friday, April 4! We are surveying JCPS families in order to gain insight into your perception of our schools and district's effectiveness. To ensure we continue to provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and career, we need your feedback. You may complete the survey online using a computer, tablet, or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/4i1CG0x We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please contact your child’s school.

Johnston County Public Schools values your feedback! 💻 Beginning tomorrow, we will be surveying JCPS families in order to gain insight into your perception of our schools and district's effectiveness. To ensure we continue to provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and career, we need your feedback. You may complete the survey online between March 17th - March 28th using a computer, tablet, or smartphone by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/4i1CG0x We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please contact your child’s school.

We Need Your Help, Parents! Please take the Family—School Relationships Survey between March 17 and 28 to help us with continuous improvement planning and to target support at the school and district levels. Use the following link. surveys.panoramaed.com/johnstoncounty/family

WE NEED YOUR HELP! EOG testing time is quickly approaching. We are looking for volunteers to help proctor. You must be an approved volunteer to assist. Please scan the QR code below to sign up and complete the volunteer process.

It is with great honor and appreciation that in recognition of your hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Polenta Elementary School you are awarded the S.O.A.P award. Your dependability, willingness to take on additional responsibilities—such as driving a bus when needed—and your continuous efforts to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for our students and staff do not go unnoticed. You embody the true spirit of teamwork, always ready to assist with projects and support your fellow custodians. Your behind-the-scenes efforts play a crucial role in keeping our school running smoothly, ensuring that every student and staff member has a comfortable and hygienic place to learn and work. Your positive attitude and willingness to roll up your sleeves to get the job done inspire those around you. On behalf of the entire Polenta Elementary community, we extend our deepest gratitude for all you do. You are truly a vital part of our school. Congratulations, and thank you for your outstanding service!

Congratulations to Ms Melissa Spain for winning the Johnston County Bus Rodeo this week. She will now go on to compete at the Regional level next month. Thank you for always getting our kids to school safely each day! Your Puma family is proud of you!