Polo Community Unit School District

The Polo Community School District announces a vacancy on its Board of Education and is now accepting applications from interested community members. To be considered for this position, please submit a letter of interest to Dr. Kelly Mandrell at kmandrell@poloschools.net. The deadline for submitting your application is Tuesday, May 14th at 4:00 p.m. Please note that due to board composition regulations, we are unable to accept applications from residents of Buffalo Township at this time. Accepting an applicant from Buffalo Township would result in a majority of board members residing in that township. To determine if your residence is within Buffalo Township, you may utilize the following interactive map: https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=71&LayerID=592&PageTypeID=1&PageID=953&KeyValue=14-35-377-004 We encourage interested and eligible community members to apply for this important role in shaping the future of our schools.

Polo parents:, if your child needs a physical for school, the Ogle County Health Department has them for $25. Grades PreK (first year only), Kindergarten, 6th and 9th all need full school physicals. Any Aplington or High School athlete not in 6th or 9th grades must turn in a sports physical before the first practice. Make your appointments soon!

First grade students in Mrs. Phillips class really enjoyed their class plays on Friday.

Jeffrey Donaldson has been selected as our May 2025 Student of the Month! High School Staff voted for him because he displays exemplary citizenship, leadership, and academic achievement! He has earned a $100 scholarship from the Polo School Foundation which is presented here by member, Alissa Zeigler. Jeffrey has answered a few questions about himself: Parents: Jeff and Ana Donaldson Siblings: Henry Donaldson, Karen Cazango Favorite class: Holocaust & Genocide Favorite teacher: Mr.Barger School activities in which you participate: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Bass fishing, B.L.I.N.D, Student Council, Varsity club, Spanish club, FCCLA. What will you do after high school? After high school I plan on attending Sauk Valley Community College to study Criminology / Law enforcement. What is something you learned in high school that you think you’ll never use? Proofs in Geometry If you could create any new class at your school, what would it be? A AP Gym class What does it take to be a successful high school student? Working hard, turning your work in on time, asking for help, and building good relationships with your peers. Do you have a job? Yes, I deliver for Ciminos on sundays and a Lifeguard in the summer How would you describe your group of friends? Fun, Chill What do you do in your free time? In my free time I fish, golf, and play videogames with friends What kind of music are you listening to? Rock and Rap If you could go anywhere in the world for free, where would it be? Dubai What is the best way to cheer you up? Sweet treat or my dogs What is your life’s philosophy? A smile is a universal welcome Do you have any pets? Yes, Two Golden doodles, Rizzo and Sugar What would you do if you received $1 billion all of a sudden? I would buy gifts for my family, and then I’d buy myself a new car then save the rest. Is there anything else you want people to know about you? Your favorite: Number: 7 Movie: grown ups TV Show: the rookie Color: blue Food: pizza Song: MILLION DOLLAR BABY ● What class do you find really engaging and why? The class I find most engaging and interesting would be Holocaust & Contempt Genocide, taught by Mr. Barger. I find it most engaging because we already learn about these topics in previous classes but in this class specifically we go more in depth on the events and have discussions, and watch documentaries on events and how they took place. ● What are your career and post-graduation plans? Post-Graduation I plan on attending Sauk Valley Community College and study Criminology / Law Enforcement. After Sauk I plan on going to the Illinois State Police Academy. ● What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in? Outside of sports my favorite extracurricular activities are B.L.I.N.D, B.L.I.N.D has helped me with my leadership skills and connecting with my younger peers and helping them and myself step outside of our comfort zones. My other favorite activity would be Bass Fishing. My friends and I have been on the bass fishing team all four years of highschool and every year it’s such a fun time, even if we don’t catch fish. ● Please share a moment, group event or activity at school that was meaningful or memorable. My most memorable moment was my junior year. My friends and I were on the bass fishing team and we won the sectional championship and a couple weeks later competed in the state tournament for a weekend and caught only 1 fish. It was our school's first bass fishing state tournament appearance. ● What is your hope for the future? My hope for the future is to start a family and have a career within the state police and be able to give back to my community.

We are so proud of our State Qualifiers for Aplington Boys Track! The following kids will be heading down to state next weekend... Cooper Robieson - 7th High Jump Asher Weilacher - 7th 800m and 1600m Abram Garcia - 8th 800m and 1600m 7th 4x200m Relay - Henry Hillison, Jonny Rowland, Cooper Robieson, Noah Zeman - Alternates Benton Mekeel, Ethan Albee 8th 4x400m Relay - Knox Chesnut, Ryder Faivre, Carter Quaco, Abram Garcia Alternates Jonny Rowland, Jayden Reed Our 7th grade Boys Track also earned the title of Sectional Champions, tying with Prophetstown. Congratulations to all competitors today!

Myah Ackeberg has been selected as our April 2025 Student of the Month! High School Staff voted for her because she displays exemplary citizenship, leadership, and academic achievement! She has earned a $100 scholarship from the Polo School Foundation which is presented here by member, Alissa Zeigler. Myah has answered a few questions about herself: Parents: Lora and David Ackeberg Siblings: None! Favorite class: Spanish IV Favorite teacher: I can’t decide!!! Probably Mrs. Coy, Mrs. Cole, or Señora School activities in which you participate: Cheer (football and basketball), Student Council, Spanish Club, FCCLA, NHS What will you do after high school? Study textile science and theatre at the University of Missouri, and work in costume design in New York after I graduate What is something you learned in high school that you think you’ll never use? Limit definition of derivatives! (Sorry Mr. Morrison! 😉) If you could create any new class at your school, what would it be? A theatre or creative writing class. What does it take to be a successful high school student? Getting to know your teachers and not being afraid to ask for help if you need it! Do you have a job? Yes! I’m a server at Buffalo Wild Wings How would you describe your group of friends? The smartest, kindest, most beautiful girls I know. What do you do in your free time? I like to sew, read, play video games, and spend time with my family and friends. What kind of music are you listening to? Lots of Hozier currently! (I’m seeing him in concert in July, eeeeee!) If you could go anywhere in the world for free, where would it be? Italy or Greece! What is the best way to cheer you up? Food. (Cheesecake or pasta, preferably) What is your life’s philosophy? Life is made up of moments. Dream big, but don’t forget to focus on the little things too :) Do you have any pets? Yes! I have two dogs, Fletcher and Marmee, and a cat, Jed Your favorite: Number: 27 Movie: Legally Blonde TV Show: Brooklyn 99 Color: Orange Food: Cheesecake Song: You Are In Love by Taylor Swift ● What class do you find really engaging and why? The most engaging class I’m currently taking is Spanish VI with Senora G. She is such a kind and cheerful person, and an amazing teacher as well! I’ve taken Spanish with her all four years of high school, and she makes learning the material feel so easy and fun. It’s also a smaller class (only 6 of us!) so we are a very close knit group and are able to work one-on-one a lot. Senora G is an amazing teacher and you can always tell she loves teaching and loves her students! ● What are your career and post-graduation plans? This fall I will be attending the University of Missouri (Mizzou!) to double major in Textile/Apparel Management and Theatre! I want to move to New York after college and work in costume design for Broadway and off-Broadway productions. At Mizzou I’m hoping to make lots of friends, try new clubs and activities, and hopefully study abroad! ● What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in? One of my favorite extracurricular activities I’ve done in high school is cheer. I didn’t do cheer in middle school, and I never pictured myself as a cheerleader until I went out on a whim my freshman year. Now, I can’t imagine having never been a cheerleader! I loved getting to help with homecoming and school spirit, and I’ll never forget the amazing memories and friendships I made with my teammates. This year I also helped out as a peer mentor for the Shining Stars choir program through Woodlawn Arts Academy. Shining Stars is a choir program for adults with special needs in the Sauk Valley area. We practice twice a week in the spring and put on a concert in April. This was the first year I helped with the program, and seeing all our performers get to shine on stage was such an amazing and unforgettable experience! ● Please share a moment, group event or activity at school that was meaningful or memorable. One of my favorite memories from school was getting to cheer with all of my friends this season. We have all grown so much since we were baby cheerleaders a few years ago and learned so many new skills! I also got to choreograph our Senior Night routine for basketball cheer, and I was so proud of how it turned out. I’m so happy with how much we all grew and were able to achieve in our last year cheering together. ● What is your hope for the future? In the future, I hope I’m living it up in the city and doing what I love! I want to live a life surrounded by good friends, good art, good food, and a career that I’m passionate about. I also want to be able to give back to my community and inspire others to follow their dreams like I did. :)

Congratulations to the following seniors on signing at their respective colleges to further their career in academics and athletics ! Bridget Call - Volleyball, Indiana University at Columbus Abbigail Merrell - Cheerleading, Drake Cheyenna Wilkins - Softball, Judson Logan Nelson - Football, UW Platteville

Aplington students Chloe Majors and Grady Boothe have earned the prestigious title of this year's IPA winners! Accompanied by Dr. Mandrell, they are now on their way to Dixon to celebrate their achievement at the IPA leadership luncheon.

On Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th, weather permitting the Polo Community Unit School District will be putting a broadleaf weed application on Centennial Elementary's lawn.

Check out this opportunity located in Dixon for School Physicals and Sports Physicals .

Mark your calendars for May 11th! https://forms.gle/2PfRLg4hu5viy78MA

The Fun Fair is in full swing at Centennial School! Join us for an evening of games, food, and excitement—happening now until 7:30 PM. Don’t miss the fun!

Third grade has had a very busy April learning about Earth Day, the water cycle, trees, participating in the embryology project to hatch chicks, taking their first IAR tests and going on a field trip to the Sterling Theater. Each year every 3rd grade student is given a White Pine seedling from the Ogle County Soil and Waste Conservation District to take home and plant. Each classroom had a successful year in hatching chicks and learning about the stages through incubation all the way until hatching day!!

Last nights baseball and softball games that were cancelled will be played tonight. Senior night will start at 4:15

Tonight's high school baseball and softball games have been cancelled due to the weather and field conditions. We will let everyone know when it will be rescheduled.

Aplington Families - Any student going into 6th, 7th or 8th grade next year - There is 1 week left to order your School Kits. Order Online at www.shopttkits.com Use Account#: 10870

This year Aplington Middle School has partnered with SchoolKidz to provide parents a convenient, easy, and affordable way to order their student’s school supplies for the upcoming school year. Order deadline - May 15, 2025 Pick-up week - July 28 - August 1 Order at - http://www.shopttkits.com/ Use Account#: 10870

Today, Centennial welcomed storyteller Karen Schmidt for a special assembly. Our students had a wonderful time participating in this engaging and interactive experience. Thank you, Mrs. Schmidt, for entertaining and inspiring our students this afternoon!

The baseball and softball games at Amboy tomorrow have been moved up 30 minutes to ensure we are able to finish the suspended games from last night and get the scheduled game in as well. This also means there will be no JV game tomorrow.

Behind every successful school and every supported student are our amazing administrative professionals. Your attention to detail, organizational skills, and commitment make a real difference every single day. Thank you for your vital contributions to our district's success! We have the best group!