Friday, February 1, 2019 is World Read Aloud Day (WRAD).  This is a day that educators around the world will use to acknowledge the importance of sharing stories and celebrate the power of the Read Aloud.  WRAD is a global literacy movement that is intended to spread a love and joy for reading and sharing stories with others.  Teachers at PRE will use WRAD to challenge students to grab a book, find an audience, and read aloud.  We hope that our PRE families will also take a moment at home on this day to share in the reading of a story or two.  This will demonstrate to students that reading is enjoyable to more than just students and also worth doing outside the school day.  Click on the WRAD link for additional information or to view some read aloud resources that can be used as you and your family celebrate WRAD.   

Richland Two Choice and Magnet Programs

Applications are now being accepted for Richland Two's Choice Program.  Richland Two students are assigned to schools based on their residential addresses.  However, students may apply to a magnet school or another school within the district through the Choice Program. Choice offers parents and students residing in Richland School District Two the opportunity to request permission to attend schools other than assigned residential schools. Parents must apply electronically in December or May for placement that will take effect the following school year. Only students residentially zoned for Richland School District Two are eligible to apply and participate in a Richland Two Choice Program.  The deadline to submit online applications is Thursday, January 30, 2019.  Click on the Choice Program link, if you would like additional information or to apply for expanded choice or one of the magnet programs. 

Our LAST PRE Spirit Night of the Year!

Thursday, January 31st,  we will host our last spirit night of the year at CiCi’s Pizza. Please join us anytime from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at the Village at Sandhills location. A portion of all sales will be donated to PRE, so we hope you will consider taking the night off from cooking and joining us for a night of fun at CiCi’s! 

See you there!

Our Student Leader Search is ON!!

Does your child have leadership qualities waiting to be developed? 

Are they interested in making a difference in the Explorer Community? 

Are they ready and willing to serve as a role model for their peers?  

Polo Road Elementary is excited to offer 2 NEW mentoring programs for boys and girls this year! Girls of Leadership and Distinction (G.O.L.D.) and Kind Intelligent Noble Gentlemen Students (K.I.N.G.S) are  organizations that will focus on inspiring students  to grow into strong, smart, and bold leaders of the future.  Our purpose is to help  develop leadership skills inside and outside of the classroom that will be of benefit in their current and  future goals and endeavors. We provide positive mentoring experiences, goal-setting, character building workshops, and service learning opportunities that utilize collaboration, motivate personal empowerment, and inspire creativity.  

Boys and girls who are interested in participating  must be in good standing academically and behaviorally in all classes and have a desire to participate as there is an application process.  Students may pick up an application from the front office. All applications must be returned to the front office with a parent signature by Friday, February 1, 2019. Selected students will be notified by February 4, 2019. 

Spring Book Fair

Health Room Visits

We have experienced an increase in the number of students having to visit the health room for stomach aches brought on as a result of eating spicy snacks such as Takis and hot Cheetos.  While these type snacks may be enjoyable, they do not always agree with the stomachs of our elementary students.  We are therefore encouraging parents to consider sending in alternative food items for snack-time.  Attached is also an article from WebMD about the potential gastritis caused by these type snacks.  

Girls on the Run

Online registration is now open for the spring session of the Girls on the Run (GOTR) program.  GOTR is a ten-week program designed to help girls develop essential skills to navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness.  The program is intended to inspire girls to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind.  All girls in grades 3-5 are eligible to participate.  Those who want additional information on the program can visit www.gotrcolumbia.org.  The spring session begins February 12, 2019 and will end with a 5K on May 4.  Participants will practice directly after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays (except half days) from 3:30pm-4:45pm.  The cost to participate is $150, but there are scholarships available to students who qualify.  Anyone interested in registering a 3rd-5th grade girl can click on the following registration link.  Hard copies of the application are also available at the school.  

Dr. King Holiday

In honor of the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, all Richland Two schools and district offices will be closed Monday, January 21, 2019.  We look forward to seeing all students back at school, Tuesday, January 22.

4K Program

Below is a flyer that contains information about the application process regarding 4K for the upcoming school year.  Parents must attend one of the informational sessions that will be hosted on several evenings throughout February and March.  To help with numbers, schools are clustered on different evenings and, while not required, families may prefer to come on the night designated for their zoned school.

D.A.R.E.

Through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program (D.A.R.E.), the 5th grade students at PRE have been learning strategies for and the importance of resisting drugs and violence. One of the components of the program invites students to enter a writing contest where they write essays relating to what they have learned. Congratulations to the following contest winners: Kenek Alcerro, Ja'Darion Ballard, David McCrea, Damaris Enriquez, and Hailey Frick. We would also like to congratulate Camryn Guinyard, as she was the school winner for the contest! As a culminating activity, all 5th grade students participated in the D.A.R.E. graduation this past Wednesday.

Family Literacy Night

Box Tops for Education

Did you know that you can easily support our school by simply clipping Box Tops and sending them in to school with your child?  Here is some additional information regarding the collection of Box Tops in support of PRE:

• Polo Road Elementary earns $0.10 for every unexpired Box Top sent in to school, and every little bit counts toward our school goal!
• There are numerous everyday household items that have Box Tops.  Click here to view some of the participating products or to download a complete list.
• Families can clip Box Tops and attach them to PRE's Box Top Collection Sheet or just send in unexpired Box Tops in a sandwich bag.  
• There is also a Box Tops Bonus App that can be downloaded to turn everyday receipts into cash for our school.  It's free and it's easy.  Click here to learn more or to download the app.
• The deadline for the next Box Top submission is March 1, 2019, and we need the help of everyone to reach our school goal of $1,000.
• Consider providing grandparents and other friends who do not have school-age children with a collection form so that they too can help us reach our collective goal.
• Visit the Box Tops website if you would like additional information on the program.

Family Literacy Night

We have some Morning Care spots available for the 2nd semester.  Those interested must complete an application and commit to the semester fee of $210.  The fee will then be added to the student's fee account and can be paid online in Parent Portal.  It is not necessary to pay the entire $210 at one time; the weekly fee is $10 regardless of the number of days per week the student attends.  The Morning Care program is open daily from 7:00am-7:30am.  Students must be walked into the school and signed in in the media center on days of participation.  Contact Mrs. Christensen at pchriste@richland2.org for an application.  Students can begin attending Morning Care as soon as applications are completed and submitted. 

Class Pictures

Class pictures will be taken this Monday, January 14.  Individual student photos will not be taken, but rather photos of entire classes with homeroom teachers.  We are therefore asking that all students dress in uniform attire for their class photos.  Order envelopes were sent home with students this week.  The cost is $10.  Parents can still send in the $10 on Monday to order a picture.  All checks should be made payable to Strawbridge Studios.

Is a FUTURE JR. CHEF in your midst?

Calling all “FUTURE CHEFS!” @sodexoUSA is looking for your favorite healthy Mexican recipe! If you are a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader, pick up your entry form in the main office or cafeteria...TODAY!