Polk School District

👀🌳🎨🏆SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND THAT MEANS THE CEDAR VALLEY ARTS FESTIVAL IS THIS WEEKEND!🎨🏆🌳👀 Our Polk School District students have been working hard on their art submissions! All student artwork will be displayed throughout the festival! Mark your calendars and come support our students! There will be arts, crafts, food, and entertainment for the whole family! Also be on the lookout for our Mobile Learning buses and check out all of the parent and student resources we have available for our families on site!❤️💛🖤 #cedarvallleyartsfestival #polkproud #springisintheair

Please help us congratulate Rockmart Middle School student, Camari Peek! Camari was selected to play for USA Softball of Georgia and compete against some of the best girls across the country in just a few months! Her team will have a unique opportunity to showcase their softball skills in Oklahoma City, OK and play in the Hall of Fame Stadium that hosts the College World Series every year. The Southeast region is loaded with talent - with close to 200 girls trying out, it was an intense process. We are #PSDProud to have Camari represent Polk County! 💛🖤❤️

Polk School District recently completed our routine accreditation process with Cognia. We are proud to announce that all of our campus locations have earned Cognia® Accreditation. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school is accredited and recognized across the nation as a school that meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. School accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Polk School District a nationally recognized mark of quality for our district. It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students and community we serve. To earn Cognia accreditation, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to internal and external review. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term. Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish. Polk School District is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards and is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.” Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org About Cognia Cognia is a global, nonprofit improvement organization dedicated to helping institutions and other education providers grow learners, teachers, and leaders. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, and improvement services within a framework of continuous improvement. Serving 40,000 public and private institutions from early learning through high school in more than 90 countries, Cognia brings a global perspective to advancing teaching and learning. Find out more at cognia.org.

Joi us in congratulating our Rockmart High School Yellow Jackets Baseball team — 2024 Region 7-AA CHAMPIONS! 🏆🐝🖤💛🖤🐝🏆 We are #PSDProud!!! 💛🖤❤️

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2024 YOUTH LEADERSHIP POLK GRADUATES! The Youth Leadership Polk program was designed to encourage students to participate as leaders in their schools and to continue to promote and enhance the quality of life for themselves and their community as they further their education and begin their careers. Each session provides opportunities for students to tour different industries, businesses, public service departments, and government facilities in Polk County. We appreciate the Polk County Chamber of Commerce and all of their efforts to provide these opportunities to our students through the Youth Leadership Polk program! ❤️🖤💛 We are #POLKPROUD! #psdtheplacetobe #youcanmakeadifference #polkga #youthleadershippolk Cedartown High School: Paola Barrientos Mikaylin Bevins Caroline Branch Makailyn Calhoun Rachel Clark Lola Denton Zoe Guzman Mikiyah Hawkins Angel Infante Taylor Johnson Jakhiya Johnson Sergio Lopez Ester Vail-Lopez Tyler Wade Janiyah Ware Hunter Watters Chase Womack Rockmart High School: Bailey Booth Zion Bradley Dayla Cetino-Hernandez Sam Chatham Eathyn Davis Hayley Garrett Michael Hall Kylie Hicks Trey Luke Briley Malone Chloe Motes Ella Purser Laeticia Sedjro Hagen Sharp Caroline Sproull Grayton Winters Alysha Wright

🌞🌷☘️🌻WELCOME BACK 🌳🌸🌿🌾 We hope all of our Polk School District families had a safe and rejuvenating week! We are excited to welcome our students back tomorrow, April 16th!

YOU LEAD, YOU SUPPORT, YOU CARE! ❤️🖤💛 Happy Paraprofessional Day to our AMAZING Paraprofessionals! Thank you for all you do to serve our students and families! #PSDProud #psdtheplacetobe

🏆🎾CAN WE SAY THREE-PEAT?🎾🏆 CONGRATULATIONS to our Rockmart High School Girls Tennis Team---REGION CHAMPS for the THIRD year in a row!!! 🎾🖤💛🖤🐝🏆 We are #PSDProud 💛🖤❤️ #psdtheplacetobe

ATTENTION SENIORS PLANNING TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE! The application to apply for Polk Career Connect is now open! What is Polk Career Connect? Polk Career Connect is a week-long program where members of local industries teach classes on understanding benefits packages, workplace safety, and industry expectations. We take the program participants on a tour of the participating industries so they can see the various work environments. They have opportunities to network with hiring managers during breakfasts, lunches, tours, and classes throughout the week-long program. Each participant interviews with all the participating industries and can receive multiple job offers. Participants get to decide which offer is best suited to serve their future career goals! We have hiring commitments from the following local industries: Advent Health, Atrium Health Floyd, City of Rockmart, Miura, Novo, Parker Meggitt, and Polk County Public Service. Graduating seniors can APPLY to Polk Career Connect TODAY! The week-long program will take place from June 3rd thru June 6th. Any senior that would like to learn more about the program can reach out to one of the contacts listed below. PCCCA-Cedartown: Gina Reilly Work-Based Learning Coordinator greilly@polk.k12.ga.us Alyson Reaves Life Skills Instructor areaves@polk.k12.ga.us Brigitte Tillery Assistant Principal btillery@polk.k12.ga.us PCCCA-Rockmart Jennifer During Work-Based Learning Coordinator jennifer.during@polk.k12.ga.us Jennifer Ruff Life Skills Instructor jennifer.ruff@polk.k12.ga.us Brandy Henderson Assistant Principal brandy.henderson@polk.k12.ga.us

Join us in CONGRATULATING Cedartown High School Junior, Kaylee Matsko! She was selected as a FINALIST for the Governor's Honor Program in Agriculture! We are #PSDProud! ❤️🖤💛 What is the Governor's Honor Program? The Governor's Honors Program (GHP) in Georgia is a highly competitive and prestigious educational program designed to recognize and nurture exceptionally gifted high school students. Established in 1963, the program aims to provide a challenging and enriching academic experience for Georgia's most talented students. Participation in the Governor's Honors Program is considered a significant achievement and reflects the highest level of academic and artistic excellence among Georgia's high school students. The program plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders, scholars, and artists in the state. Finalists are offered the opportunity to participate in a residential summer program at a participating post-secondary institution. The Governors Honors Program offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom and is designed to provide students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global thinkers, innovators, and leaders.

🐄We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Hunter Cattle Company to bring you the most delicious, fresh beef straight from a Georgia farm!🚜🌾 Tomorrow, our middle and high school students will have the opportunity to try our newest menu addition: Philly Cheesesteak with GA Grown Vidalia Onions and Shiitake Mushrooms!😋🌱 We are #PSDProud! ❤️🖤💛 #PSDnutrition #FuelingGA #eatlocal #georgiagrown #farmtoschool

FRESH VEGETABLES COMING SOON! 🍅🥦🥒🌶🌽🥕🥔🧅 The Polk School District School Nutrition department is promoting healthy eating and wellness by launching three new mini garden projects at Cherokee Elementary School, Northside Elementary School, and Van Wert Elementary School. These projects aim to cultivate healthier lifelong eating habits, enhance learning experiences, and raise awareness about the benefits of locally grown foods. To kick off our mini garden project each school was provided raised garden beds, soil, tools, seeds, water barrels, and composting units. Plans are in place to expand the projects to include small greenhouses and introduce worms to aid in composting efforts. This initiative was made possible through the Farm to School/Georgia Organics Grant that was awarded to our School Nutrition department! We are excited to see how this great opportunity will provide our students with the resources to learn about locally grown foods through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. We are #PSDProud! 💛🖤❤️

Congratulations to our Polk School District Elementary Honor Chorus students on an INCREDIBLE performance last night! We are so proud of these talented students and the hard work and dedication they have put in to prepare for this event! 🎤🎹🎼 A special thanks to our Music teachers Billy Walker, Kaila Chivers, Chuck Isbell, Justin Ballew, Cindi Hicks, Alee Hatch, and Tim Warren that work diligently to provide these opportunities for our students! ❤️🖤💛 We are #PSDProud! #psdtheplacetobe

CDC Health Advisory: Increase in Global and Domestic Measles Cases and Outbreaks: Ensure Children in the United States and Those Traveling Internationally 6 Months and Older are Current on MMR Vaccination. Please visit link for full advisory. https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4056/PSD/4112214/CDC_Health_Advisory_-_Measles.pdf The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and U.S. measles cases and to provide guidance on measles prevention for all international travelers aged ≥6 months and all children aged ≥12 months who do not plan to travel internationally. Measles (rubeola) is highly contagious; one person infected with measles can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals with whom they come in close contact. From January 1 to March 14, 2024, CDC has been notified of 58 confirmed U.S. cases of measles across 17 jurisdictions, including seven outbreaks in seven jurisdictions compared to 58 total cases and four outbreaks reported the entire year in 2023.

SERVICE. BRAVERY. HONOR. 🏅 Polk School District Police Officer, Leslie Coppock was awarded the Medal of Valor in recognition of service above the call of duty from the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. The Medal of Valor is awarded for "Actions above and beyond the call of duty; and exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind; or an unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life." We could not be prouder to have Officer Coppock as a part of our team. She dutifully serves the students and families of Polk County on a daily basis and works tirelessly to keep our students, staff, and schools safe. We are #PSDProud! ❤️🖤💛

Congratulations to our Cedartown Middle School Tennis Teams! CMS Girls placed 3rd in the Region and our CMS Boys won FIRST PLACE and are REGION CHAMPS!!! 🐾🎾🏆 We are incredibly proud of these athletes and coaches for all of their hard work and dedication! We are #PSDProud! ❤️🖤💛 #psdtheplacetobe

IT'S WELLNESS WEDNESDAY! 🥗🥗 As part of our Wellness Wednesday initiative, all Polk School District employees were treated with a fresh salad for lunch today! A HUGE thanks to our fabulous School Nutrition staff for working diligently to make this happen! We are PSDProud! 💛🖤❤️ #PSDnutrition #FuelingGA #georgiagrown

📣📣ONLY TWO MONDAYS LEFT TO REGISTER! 📣📣 Polk School District is excited to announce our Pre-K/Kindergarten registration dates for the 2024-2025 school year! Please be sure to carefully review document requirements listed on the attached flyer. *Students will not be able to register without a legal parent/guardian present* **Legal parent/guardian MUST have a valid photo ID** ***Students MUST register at their zoned elementary school*** Please contact the school for which you are zoned if you have any questions.

We were honored to welcome Sharon Malone, Andrea Sorrells, Rick Brown, and Judy Angle from the Polk Retired Educators Association to present their New Teacher Grant at our Regular Session Board Meeting! Join us in congratulating grant recipient Mrs. Olivia Cornwell, English/Language Arts Teacher at Cedartown Middle School. We are #PSDProud! 💛🖤❤️

At our Regular Session Board Meeting we recognized two of our fabulous Advanced Placement (AP) teachers from Rockmart High School that had overall AP test scores above the Georgia and Global average! Mr. Steven Eubanks teaches our AP Economics course at RHS. His overall average score was 74.1%. His students scored 1.8% higher than the state average and 9.4% higher than the global average! Mrs. Vivian Bleecker is our AP Language teacher at RHS. Her overall average score was 72.2%. Her students scored 12.1% higher than the Georgia average and 16.1% higher than the global average. We could not be prouder of the work these phenomenal educators are doing in and out of the classroom! We are #PSDProud! ❤️🖤💛