Johnston County Public Schools

Cooper Academy students and staff hosted their very own Cultural Celebration & Food Festival full of music, food, and lots of fun! To prepare, students met with elementary students from other countries via video calls, learned traditional songs and dances from other countries, learned other languages, and prepared foods from other countries to sample. Administrators and staff extend a huge round of applause to the families who supported the event in many ways!🌎 #CooperAcademy

Make some noise for the next December 2023 Character Education Award recipient Abigail Workman! A Pine Level Elementary fifth grader, she was recognized for Responsibility - being accountable for your own actions. She is open-minded, and respects the viewpoints of others. Workman shows responsibility by working hard to complete her work in class. Continue working hard!!! https://bit.ly/3GFFoYK #PineLevelElementary

A big round of applause for Jake Barnes, a December 2023 Character Education Award recipient! Barnes was recognized for Self Discipline - doing your best in all situations. He is a trusted, rational, and natural problem solver, and great classmate! Barnes displays every positive character trait Every.Single.Day! Staff and peers say he is one of a kind and will accomplish many great things in life. Way to go!!! https://bit.ly/3GFFoYK #MicroElementary

Christmas Break is just a couple of days away!🎄🎁 For students following the traditional school calendar, Wednesday, December 20, 2023 is an early release day. Then students will be out of school from Thursday, December 21, 2023 - Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Students return to school on Wednesday, January 2, 2024.

Preston Thompson is our next December 2023 Character Education Award recipient! Thompson, an eighth grader at North Johnston Middle, is being recognized for his compassion - treating others as you would like to be treated. He is quick to share a kind word, compliment, or smile with others. He also lends a hand to other classmates who may need some help. Administrators and teachers describe him as kind with integrity and a great sense of humor. Thompson's peers say he is a loyal friend who is always there for them. Congratulations and keep it up!!! 😎 https://bit.ly/3GFFoYK #NorthJohnstonMiddle

Let's hear it for Tinsley Pate, for being recognized as a December 2023 Character Education Award recipient! A fifth grade student at Glendale-Kenly Elementary, Pate was nominated for the character trait of self discipline - doing you best in all situations. Read more about this incredible student: https://bit.ly/3GFFoYK Great job!👏👏

Laura Ochoa, a kindergarten instructional assistant at Micro Elementary, is JCPS December 2023 Classified Employee of the Month! Ochoa is a bright spot at the school, always smiling, and willing to help with everything from providing coverage for other teachers, to translating for the school's Spanish families. Thank you and keep smiling!😎 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

We are so excited to announce that Auxiliary Services and Safety Offer Chase Ferrell is JCPS November 2023 Certified Employee of the Month! Ferrell's unwavering commitment and dedication to a safe and secure environment for all JCPS students and staff is priceless. As a leader, he is grateful, appreciative, and humble. Always giving accolades to those around him, we must thank not only Ferrell, but his united team of unsung heroes also! Thank you! 🎇✨ #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

We are excited to announce our 2023-2024 Living Legends! The three honorees are Ethel Armwood, Ruth High, and Bruce Bunn. Between them they have about 100 years as educators. The Living Legend Award is presented to former Johnston County Public Schools educators who were dedicated to the children they taught, and left a legacy of influential teaching styles. Congratulations and Thank You for dedicating your careers to the education of the next generation! 💝 #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt had a very exciting, yet productive visit to Cleveland Elementary this morning! During the visit Superintendent Truitt engaged in conversation with JCPS Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy, board of education members, cabinet members, and Cleveland Elementary principals and staff, before heading into a few classrooms to witness instruction at its best. Afterwards, Superintendent Truitt was welcomed to engage in a panel conversation with teachers from each grade level, where she shared thoughts, heard of the school's academic growth, answered questions regarding future initiatives, and even talked about her experiences while being a teacher here in Johnston a few years back. Cleveland Elementary and JCPS is thankful for the visit!

JCPS will host a Choice Programs Information Night on Tuesday, December 12, at Smithfield-Selma High, 6 PM to 8 PM. Attendees will be provided 15 minute information sessions about the various programs offered to 8th graders and a Q&A session. Students are able to apply for the programs now! The application window for students wanting to attend High School Choice Programs will end on February 21, 2024.

“Mathletes” from 10 JCPS middle school teams participated in the MATHCOUNTS district competition at Johnston Community College. The competition consisted of four separate rounds that included sprint, target, team, and countdown. McGee's Middle student Orrin Lam took top honors in the individual rounds, and the Cleveland Middle Rams earned first place in the team events. Congratulations to all of our "mathletes"!∑

Nine kindergarten classes from Four Oaks Elementary walked to the local post office to send their letters to Santa. They stopped along the way for pictures with the Christmas inflatables in front of Four Oaks Town Hall. Even Principal TJ Parrish wrote a letter to Santa on behalf of all Four Oaks Elementary students, asking that he give them their well deserved toys! 🎅🎁

On December 7, 1941, the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service launched the United States into World War II. Today we remember the 2,403 Americans that lost their lives that day. 🇺🇸

Custodial teams from all 48 JCPS gathered to enjoy some food and fellowship at the Custodians Christmas Celebration! Everyone was in the holiday spirit as they were served a delicious meal, won raffle prizes, and created holiday memories at the photo booth. JCPS custodians are are the unsung heroes of the district maintaining clean and safe learning environments for all students and staff. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our custodial teams!🎄

All fifth graders at Polenta Elementary were recently treated to a robot demonstration by the G-Force Robotics Team. Polenta's STEM Enhancement Teacher Lauren McCall invited the team to visit, building on the students' STEM curriculum. The all-female team showed off the robot they built named SPITFIRE, answered lots of questions from the students, and donated books to the media center encouraging girls in STEM. ⚙🗜

Superintendent Dr. Bracy, Area Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Patty Whittington, and Chief Academic Officer Anna Kuykendal were escorted by Principal Leigh White to visit a few classes at Riverwood Elementary this morning to engage with students and teachers. They were able to assist students with their work, brainstorm staff, and discuss educational goals and strategies with school leadership. The visits are an ongoing effort by the district to focus on being actively involved in the classrooms and providing the support needed to help JCPS students achieve their best! #GreatThingsAreHappeningInJCPS

December is here! See this month's calendar of events and get a sneak peek of January's as well!

JCPS will host a Choice Programs Information Night on Tuesday, December 12, at Smithfield-Selma High, 6 PM to 8 PM. Attendees will be provided 15 minute information sessions about the various programs offered to 8th graders and a Q&A session. Students are able to apply for the programs now! The application window for students wanting to attend High School Choice Programs will end on February 21, 2024.

Johnston County Publics Schools conducted a mock reunification exercise today at North Johnston Middle. The event was part of an ongoing effort to improve the district's emergency plan. During the event students from Micro Elementary were taken to North Johnston Middle in a mock evacuation, and then their parents went through the reunification process to be reunited with their students. The event was a great success. JCPS thanks our local law enforcement, emergency management, and school government officials for their continued support of our students, families, and schools!