Mr. Bates currently serves as Assistant Principal of Dixon Road Elementary. He has more than 25 years of experience in education, all in Johnston County, 15 of which were as a school-based administrator.
Mr. Bates’ leadership and guidance will ensure continued excellence for the Thanksgiving Elementary students, staff, and community.
📣📣 JCPS will be open on February 6, 2026, operating on its regular schedule! 📣📣
Based on the current weather forecast, there is a potential for black ice and frozen precipitation. We will remain in contact with local emergency officials and national weather services, and if additional school schedule changes are necessary, we will provide an update by 6 AM, Thursday, February 5, 2026.
School nutrition will serve breakfast upon students’ arrival. Early morning care will open two hours later than the normal start time. All extracurricular activities will resume.
Thank you and have a great evening!
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through these weather events.
Due to the inclement weather and the hazardous road conditions, Johnston County Public Schools will remain closed on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and all extracurricular activities have been canceled. The district will operate under Condition 4 of the inclement weather plan.
Condition 4 is the Remote Learning Day option. Please visit the JCPS website at www.johnston.k12.nc.us/inclementweather for full details.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days and provide updates on district schedule changes.
As always, safety is our top priority as we follow the guidance of local safety and emergency officials. We will continue to monitor the conditions and provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please be safe!
Due to the inclement weather and the hazardous road conditions, Johnston County Public Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and all extracurricular activities have been canceled. The district will operate under Condition 4 of the inclement weather plan.
Condition 4 is the Remote Learning Day option. Please visit the JCPS website at www.johnston.k12.nc.us/inclementweather for full details.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days and provide updates on district schedule changes.
As always, safety is our top priority as we follow the guidance of local safety and emergency officials. We will continue to monitor the conditions and provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
❄️ Please be safe and enjoy a wonderful day in the snow! ⛄️
Due to the inclement weather and the hazardous road conditions, Johnston County Public Schools will remain closed on Monday, February 2, 2026, and all extracurricular activities have been canceled. The district will operate under Condition 4 of the inclement weather plan.
Condition 4 is the Remote Learning Day option. Please visit the JCPS website at www.johnston.k12.nc.us/inclementweather for full details.
We will continue to monitor weather conditions over the coming days and provide updates on district schedule changes.
As always, safety is our top priority as we follow the guidance of local safety and emergency officials. We will continue to monitor the conditions and provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
❄️ Please be safe and enjoy a wonderful day in the snow! ⛄️
Ready, set, KINDERGARTEN! 🎉🎒✏️
Registration is open for the 2026-2027 school year and we’re excited to welcome our newest learners!
Get started today on our website: www.johnston.k12.nc.us/enrollment
Due to the inclement weather and the hazardous road conditions, Johnston County Public Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and all extracurricular activities have been canceled. The district will operate under Condition 4 of the inclement weather plan.
Condition 4 is the Remote Learning Day option. Please visit the JCPS website at www.johnston.k12.nc.us/inclementweather for full details.
As always, safety is our top priority as we follow the guidance of local safety and emergency officials. We will continue to monitor the conditions and provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please be safe!
Due to the inclement weather and the hazardous road conditions, Johnston County Public Schools will remain closed on Monday, January 26, 2026, and all extracurricular activities have been canceled. The district will operate under Condition 4 of the inclement weather plan.
Condition 4 is the Remote Learning Day option. Please visit the JCPS website at www.johnston.k12.nc.us/inclementweather for full details.
As always, safety is our top priority as we follow the guidance of local safety and emergency officials. We will continue to monitor the conditions and provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Please be safe!
Gabriel acts responsibly by completing assignments diligently, leading his peers, and showing strong self-direction. He takes his role as a student seriously and is accountable for his actions and their impact on others.
Congratulations, Gabriel, for being recognized as the January Character Ed Student for Thanksgiving Elementary! 👏
For those of you who use the carpool line, thank you for your patience and understanding as we move 250 cars or more each day. We ask that you pay attention to the adults who are out there in the safety vests, limit your cell phone usage and help us keep all of our students, staff and parents safe.
This is the time of year where sickness is everywhere. We are asking that kids wash their hands multiple times a day. We are asking that you not send your student to school if they are running fever. This will help keep all of our buffaloes safe. Thank you and Good Night.
Are you interested in a meaningful career with lasting rewards? Are you passionate about shaping the future?
Join Johnston County Public Schools at our Job Fair on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Smithfield-Selma High!
Why JCPS?
✅ Competitive pay
✅ State health benefits
✅ Opportunities for growth and incentives
✅ A great place build your career and life
Don't miss this opportunity! Scan the QR code or register at: https://bit.ly/jobfair2026
Can’t wait and want to join the team today? The job vacancies page here: www.johnston.k12.nc.us/employment
Good evening parents and students! This is Mr. Jewett, principal of Thanksgiving Elementary School, with some important information.
I wanted to remind all of you that we have an early release tomorrow- students will be dismissed for carpool and buses at 1:55pm. Also, we do not have After School Care tomorrow- there is no after school care on early release days.
School will be closed for students from Monday, December 22nd through Monday, January 5th for Christmas Break. Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 6th.
I also would like to take this opportunity to say "Thank You!" to all of our staff, students, and families. Thanksgiving Elementary School has been one of the greatest blessings to me personally and professionally; and it is because of all of the love and support you have shown me over the years. I know I may be leaving to go open Wilson's Mills High School, but Thanksgiving will always be home.
I love you all and I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!
JCPS is thrilled to announce an exciting community event you won’t want to miss! Our wonderful partners, the Johnston County Ed Foundation, will host a Harlem Wizards basketball fundraiser on February 9, 2026, at Smithfield-Selma High School. The event will begin at 6:30 PM and doors will open at 5:30 PM.
We invite all JCPS families, staff, and community members to join us for an unforgettable night of high-flying basketball where some of JCPS’s most captivating athletes will compete against the Harlem Wizards! Come cheer as some of your favorite principals, teachers, coaches, and support staff step onto the court for some friendly competition, school spirit, and lots of laughs. This high-energy evening promises fun, laughter, and unforgettable entertainment for students, families, and staff, all while supporting a great cause.
🏀 Who are the Harlem Wizards?
The Harlem Wizards are a nationally renowned basketball entertainment team known for their incredible ball-handling skills, jaw-dropping trick shots, and interactive, family-friendly showmanship. Blending athletic talent with comedy and crowd engagement, the Harlem Wizards create an electrifying experience that delights audiences of all ages while promoting positive messages about teamwork, education, and community.
🏀 Who is the Johnston County Ed Foundation?
This event is spearheaded by the Johnston County Education Foundation, which plays a vital role in supporting JCPS by investing directly in our educators and classrooms. Through grant funding and other initiatives, the Foundation helps bring innovative instructional projects to life, supports creative teaching strategies, and enhances learning opportunities for students across the district. Events like this fundraiser make it possible for the Foundation to continue expanding its impact in JCPS schools.
So, if you are looking for great entertainment, for an even greater cause, mark your calendar now and get ready for a night of excitement, community engagement, and fun for everyone!
🎟️ To register, click here: https://bit.ly/4anzlrL
It is with both excitement and sadness that I am sending all of you this message. I have accepted the position as the principal of the new Wilson's Mills High School and the school board approved the change at last night's school board meeting. This has been a very difficult internal conflict. I love Thanksgiving Elementary School with all of my heart- this is home. However, after a lot of prayer, I felt led to take on the challenge of opening the new high school.
This change will happen very quickly. My last day at Thanksgiving Elementary School will be on Monday, December 22nd, and I will begin the new position on Friday, January 2nd. The interim principal for Thanksgiving Elementary will be Mrs. Kathy Parrish. She is a retired principal that has served JCPS for many years as the principal of Four Oaks Elementary School. I know Mrs. Parrish very well and I know she will do a wonderful job as the interim principal until a new principal of Thanksgiving Elementary School is named.
I want you to know that the love and support the families of TES have shown me these past 4 and a half years has been one of the best blessings of my life. I will always be a Buffalo and you will always have a special place in my heart. I love you guys and I know TES will remain a special place because of the amazing staff, the amazing students, and the amazing families. Love you guys!