Polk County College and Career Academy

SAFETY UPDATE: Polk School District families, As your Superintendent, but most importantly as a parent, I understand the uneasiness and uncertainty you may be experiencing regarding your child’s safety while at school. Last week’s horrific event proved that we can never put too much emphasis on protecting our most valuable assets–our children. As such, we have many security measures in place to protect our students and staff on a daily basis. Some of these safeguards which have been in place for three years or more include Centegix alert badges for all employees, multiple metal detectors at all schools/district facilities, access controls on all external doors, KIST (Keep It Safe to Teach) locks installed on classroom doors and throughout the building, mental health therapists, and a fully staffed Police Department that includes an officer at every school in our district, including two at each of our high schools, one of which is a K-9 officer. This list, however, is not exhaustive of all of our safety efforts because we do not want to compromise our security measures by sharing them publicly with those that could potentially use the information to do harm. We hope you can appreciate this added layer of protection. As a district, we firmly believe that school safety is a shared responsibility. We ask that you take the time to have a conversation with your student(s) about the importance of their actions, especially when it comes to potential threats. We ask that all stakeholders that see something, say something by reporting alarming information to school authorities or through our anonymous tip line. In addition, we ask that you stress the consequences for students that make threats, whether spoken or written, in person or online. Any such act directed towards our students, staff, or schools, upon investigation, will result in the appropriate charges by our law enforcement officers. Please discuss the seriousness of such behavior with your child. Lastly, we ask for your continued partnership in helping us maintain a secure environment by adhering to our district policies and procedures. While they are not always convenient, they are all in place to protect those in our care. It takes all of us to ensure our schools are a place where staff can teach and students can learn because they feel safe and secure. Respectfully, Dr. Katherine M. Thomas, Superintendent

🚨IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

YOU CAN NOW PAY ONLINE! We are excited partner with School Window to provide an online payment option for our families and community this year! Scan the QR code or follow the link below to visit our online store! ❤️🖤💛 #whateverittakes #makeithappen #PSDProud #psdtheplacetobe https://polkcountyga.schoolwindow.com/estore.html

Please see the attached Right to Know Notification for the 2024-2024 school year. Check out our Family Engagement page for more resources! https://www.polk.k12.ga.us/page/family-engagement

COMPLETE YOUR ANNUAL REGISTRATION FORMS ONLINE! Polk School District has made it quicker and easier for families to complete required yearly forms by moving them online. Annual Registration is your opportunity to complete necessary back-to-school forms such as parent/guardian contact information, parent consent information and other district and state required forms. **Please note: Registration forms must be completed each year for all students K-12** Enrollment Instructions (English Version) https://5il.co/2tlpt Enrollment Instructions (Spanish Version) https://5il.co/2tlpu

📣 It’s almost TIME to CATCH THE BUS! Join Us for our Transportation Bus Rider Rally! 🚌 Is your student planning to ride the bus for the 2024-2025 school year? If so, don’t miss this IMPORTANT event! Please attend the designated meeting for your child’s school to obtain critical information, meet your driver, and much more! See the attached flyer for details. We look forward to seeing you there! 🚍

✂️✏️2024-2025 Elementary Supply List 📒🖍 Middle School and High School supply lists will be provided by individual teachers. #psdtheplacetobe ❤️🖤💛

📣🏫2024-2025 OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION📕✏️ We are SO EXCITED to welcome our students and families back to kick-off the 2024-2025 school year! Please be sure to check your schools' website and social media for additional procedural details regarding Open House.

☀️☀️OUR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM IS BACK!☀️☀️ ‼️FIRST PICK-UP DAY IS THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH!‼️ Summer is here and Polk School District is excited to announce the return of our Summer Feeding Program, providing FREE meals to any child 18 and under. This will include seven (7) breakfast and seven (7) lunch meals. Please see the flyer below for details regarding pick-up locations and times. We look forward to serving the families of Polk County this summer! #psdtheplacetobe #PSDProud ❤️🖤💛

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: 📚✨ School Schedules for the 2024-2025 School Year! ✨📚 As we are closing out yet another school year, we are excited to share the arrival and dismissal times for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Please see the graphic below for details regarding drop-off/start/dismissal times. We look forward to another fantastic year of learning, growth, and success with our Polk School District families! Have a wonderful summer!

☀️☀️OUR SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM IS BACK!☀️☀️ ‼️FIRST PICK-UP DAY IS THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH!‼️ Summer is here and Polk School District is excited to announce the return of our Summer Feeding Program, providing FREE meals to any child 18 and under. This will include five (5) breakfast and five (5) lunch meals. Please see the flyer below for details regarding pick-up locations and times. We look forward to serving the families of Polk County this summer! #psdtheplacetobe #PSDProud ❤️🖤💛

📚🌟 Exciting Opportunity: APPLY TODAY for The Polk School District Educational Foundation Scholarship for the Boys & Girls Club Summer Program! 🌟📚 We are excited to announce the Polk School District Educational Foundation Scholarship Program for students to participate in the summer program at the Boys and Girls Club of Polk County! This is a fantastic chance for our students to learn, grow, and have fun over the summer. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity! Check out the attached flyer for all the details and scan the QR code to apply! Please note: * Available for Polk School District students aged 5 - 18. ** There will be a central pick-up/drop-off site for Rockmart students that need transportation. There will be NO residential pick-up/drop-off. ***All funds will be dispersed directly to the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County. You can also apply using the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgC47gOBt13S3iZQUzr6Dw4NZljevfWOhOnji0YgPpkGIAxg/viewform?usp=sf_link

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

WEATHER ALERT! Polk School District will maintain a regular schedule tomorrow, Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Please be aware of the single-digit temperatures forecasted for tomorrow and ensure your student is prepared for these conditions. ATTENTION BUS RIDERS! Download the Here Come The Bus app TODAY using the link below. Here Comes The Bus will provide up to the minute information regarding bus arrival times. This will help limit your child's exposure to the cold temperatures expected tomorrow morning. Download Here Come The Bus HERE! https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4056/PSD/3183481/HCTB_PSD_Flyer.pdf

IMPORTANT UPDATE! Based on the winter weather advisory for our area that extends throughout the evening into morning hours, Tuesday, January 16, will be a Learn-from-Home day for Polk School District. Please refer to communication channels from your student’s respective school/teacher for guidance and expectations regarding assignments. Thank you for your continued understanding and partnership. Stay safe and warm!

➡️ATTENTION SENIORS: APPLY TODAY!⬅️ Family Savings Credit Union is offering the C. V. Glassco Memorial Scholarship to FOUR graduating seniors! Scan the QR code for more information. Deadline to apply is March 1, 2024! ❤️🖤💛#Classof2024

IMPORTANT! Based on conversations with our Local Emergency Management office regarding the potential for severe weather tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9, including flash flooding and high wind gusts, Polk School District is delaying school two hours to allow our bus drivers/riders and student drivers to navigate their daily routes in the daylight. We apologize for any inconvenience but will always make decisions in the best interest of our students and staff, keeping safety our first priority. Thank you for continuing to support us in our efforts. Time Change Examples include: If your bus picks you up at 6:45 on a normal school day, they will pick you up at 8:45. If you normally drop your child off at 7:15, you will drop off at 9:15. If the tardy bell rings at 7:35 daily, it will ring at 9:35. Dismissal times will remain the same.

🎉🎉NEW YEAR, NEW APP!📲📲 ➡️➡️➡️DOWNLOAD TODAY! Be sure to: ✅ENABLE notifications! ✅Download the app with the official PSD logo and a black background. PLEASE NOTE: If your app has a white background, it is not the updated version of the app, and is no longer functioning.

🎉📆SAVE THE DATE!📆🎉 Plan to join us at our annual spring semester BACK-TO-SCHOOL event! Everyone is welcome! Come stock up supplies for the rest of the school year for FREE! 📗✂️🖍📓✏️ #PSDProud #psdtheplacetobe #FamilyEngagement

MAKE IT A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER FOR A POLK SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT THIS YEAR! 🎅🎄🎁 The Polk School District Educational Foundation has set up an Amazon Wish List if you are interested in sponsoring a student for Christmas! You can scan the QR code or visit the link below! Let's make this holiday season magical for everyone! https://a.co/9CTwbg3 If you have any questions, please contact Meagan Carter at mcarter@polk.k12.ga.us